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Abstract Background Oncological results of radiotherapy for locally advanced prostate cancer (PC) are significantly improved by simultaneous application of LHRH analoga (e.g. goserelin). As 85% of PC express LHRH receptors, we investigated the interaction of goserelin incubation with radiotherapy under androgen-deprived conditions in vitro. Methods LNCaP and PC-3 cells were stained for LHRH receptors. Downstream the LHRH receptor, changes in protein expression of c-fos, phosphorylated p38 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 were analyzed by means of Western blotting after incubation with goserelin and irradiation with 4 Gy. Both cell lines were incubated with different concentrations of goserelin in hormone-free medium. 12 h later cells were irradiated (0 – 4 Gy) and after 12 h goserelin was withdrawn. Endpoints were clonogenic survival and cell viability (12 h, 36 h and 60 h after irradiation). Results Both tested cell lines expressed LHRH-receptors. Changes in protein expression demonstrated the functional activity of goserelin in the tested cell lines. Neither in LNCaP nor in PC-3 any significant effects of additional goserelin incubation on clonogenic survival or cell viability for all tested concentrations in comparison to radiation alone were seen. Conclusion The clinically observed increase in tumor control after combination of goserelin with radiotherapy in PC cannot be attributed to an increase in radiosensitivity of PC cells by goserelin in vitro.

The mammalian primary olfactory system consists of a set of different telencephalic structures, including paleo-, archi-, periarchi- and mesocortical components. We present the first characterisation of the normal and connectional anatomy of the primary olfactory cortex of the common marmoset, a microsmatic simian species increasingly used in primate research. The centrifugal and centripetal bulbar projections were determined by injections of the anterograde and retrograde tracer wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase and fluorescent dyes into the ipsilateral main olfactory bulb. The efferent projections of the marmoset bulb are organised entirely ipsilaterally and are established via a rudimentary medial olfactory tract and the dominant lateral olfactory tract. Target areas are the anterior olfactory nucleus, the entire prepiriform cortex, ventral tenia tecta, periamygdaloid cortex and the rostral part of the entorhinal cortex. The bulbar axons predominantly terminate in the outer part of layer I. The anterior olfactory nucleus receives a weak additional input within layer II and III, which is not found in macrosmatic rodents. Further anterograde labelling was found in the endopiriform nucleus deep under the prepiriform cortex and within an anterolateral strip of the olfactory tubercle. However, control injections into the olfactory tubercle suggest that the marmoset olfactory tubercle receives a bisynaptic olfactory input only. Retrograde labelling after bulb injections revealed that, except for the olfactory tubercle, all primary olfactory cortices contributed to an ipsilateral bulbopetal feedback projection. Like in rodents, the only bulbopetal projection organised bilaterally in the marmoset is maintained by the anterior olfactory nucleus. With few exceptions, the projections of the marmoset olfactory brain are organised similarly to that of the macaque monkey or those of macrosmatic species., (Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel)