Histochemical evidence for a somatotopic organization of the rubrospinal projection in the rat

Résumé La technique de l'acétylthiocholine démontrant l'activité de l'acétylcholinesterase fût employée pour indiquer la perte régionale d'enzyme des cellules nerveuse du noyau rouge du rat à la suite d'une lésion du faisceau rubrospinal. Les lesions aux niveaux thoraciques inférieurs du cordon médullaire donnent lieu à une perte d'enzyme des cellules dans la partie ventrale de la moitié caudale du noyau rouge. Cependant, les lésions du faisceau aux niveaux cervicaux du cordon médullaire donne lieu à une perte d'enzyme de la partie ventrale ainsi que de la partie dorsale de la moitié caudale du noyau. On suggère que cela indique une organization somatotopique de la projection rubro-spinale chez le rat.

---

---

Supported by a grant from the Canadian Medical Research Council.     

Uptake of exogenous protein by supraependymal cells of the feline area postrema

Summary Supraependymal cells occurring on the surface of the feline area postrema were examined for phagocytic ability. It was shown that they could ingest exogenous horseradish peroxidase that was experimentally introduced into the brain ventricular system. The cells thus bear functional as well as ultrastructural attributes of macrophages, similar to those found in the third ventricle and subarachnoid space.We thank J. Stevens and A. Fenton for technical assistance. Supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada.     

Multiple ADH genes are associated with upper aerodigestive cancers

Alcohol is an important risk factor for upper aerodigestive cancers and is principally metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymes. We have investigated six ADH genetic variants in over 3,800 aerodigestive cancer cases and 5,200 controls from three individual studies. Gene variants rs1229984 (ADH1B) and rs1573496 (ADH7) were significantly protective against aerodigestive cancer in each individual study and overall (P = 10(-10) and 10(-9), respectively). These effects became more apparent with increasing alcohol consumption (P for trend = 0.0002 and 0.065, respectively). Both gene effects were independent of each other, implying that multiple ADH genes may be involved in upper aerodigestive cancer etiology.