Decreased numbers of cholecystokinin-immunoreactive nerve cells in the cerebral cortex of LEC rats with a hereditary hepatitis.
The distribution of CCK-immunoreactive cells was investigated by the indirect fluorescence method in the cerebral cortex of LEC (Long-Evans Cinnamon) rats which have recently been introduced as a model of jaundice and hepatic encephalopathy. Reduction of CCK-immunoreactive nerve cells was observed in the brains of LEC rats with stage III to V hepatic encephalopathy in comparison with the rats without hepatic encephalopathy. These observations were confirmed by counting the CCK-positive nerve cells at magnification x 125. 3 microscopic fields per animal were immunostained and CCK-immunoreactive nerve cells counted. The number of CCK-immunoreactive cells per field was 28.5 +/- 0.7 (mean +/- SEM, n = 5) in rats without hepatic encephalopathy, and 14.1 +/- 2.0 (n = 3) in rats with stage III to V hepatic encephalopathy. Thus, the number of CCK-immunoreactive nerve cells was significantly less in rats with stage III to V hepatic encephalopathy (p less than 0.05). A decrease in CCK-immunoreactive nerve cells was not observed in the rats with stage I or II hepatic encephalopathy. This study shows that there is a relationship between the severity of hepatic encephalopathy and the number of CCK-immunoreactive nerve cells in the cerebral cortex.
Madarame
T
T
First Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan.
Tateishi
K
K
Yoshida
T
T
Miura
Y
Y
Suzuki
K
K
Mikawa
S
S
Masuda
T
T
Hamaoka
T
T
Takeichi
N
N
Kobayashi
H
H
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000473:pathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats
D002766:Cholecystokinin