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Factors determining prognosis in 100 patients with recent onset of congestive heart failure (CHF) were evaluated. The 1 year, 3 year, 5 year, and 10 year survival rates in the entire CHF group were 78.5%, 59.8%, 50.4% and 14.7%, respectively. No correlations between age, sex, heart rate and cardiothoracic ratio, and the cumulative survival rate were found. The prognosis of patients with CHF due to underlying coronary artery disease or primary cardiomyopathy was poor compared with that of patients with other types of heart disease. Patients whose NYHA classification was class III or VI had a significantly lower survival rate than those in class II. Patients with lower left ventricular stroke work and consecutive ventricular premature depolarization also had a significantly lower survival rate. These results suggest that functional status, underlying heart disease, left ventricular stroke work, and the presence of ventricular tachycardia provide important information regarding the long-term prognosis in patients with congestive heart failure.

An unique case of primary acquired sideroblastic anaemia (PASA) with hyperactive thrombopoiesis is described. Chromosome study revealed that the bone marrow cells of the affected patient contained t(1;3)(p36;q21). A prominent feature was marked megakaryocytic hyperplasia with dysmegakaryocytopoiesis. The platelet count temporarily exceeded 500 x 10(9)/1. In addition, we studied the cellular distribution of the unusual chromosome abnormality in this case. Few erythroid colonies (CFU-E and BFU-E) were observed and normal numbers of CFU-GM were formed. Some metaphases containing the clonal karyotypic abnormality were found in the granulocyte-macrophage colonies. However, no abnormal metaphases were apparent in preparations of T and B lymphocytes. The findings in the present case suggest that the long arm of chromosome 3 may contain a region involved in the regulation of megakaryopoiesis. Furthermore, our results strongly indicate that the target cell for chromosomal change is not a pluripotent stem cell (common to lymphoid and myeloid cells) but a progenitor cell common to all myeloid lineages.

Effects of iv norepinephrine (NE) on renal function were investigated retrospectively in 15 patients with hyperdynamic septic shock. All patients had either a low systolic BP less than 80 mm Hg, and/or oliguria less than 0.5 ml/kg-h. We examined their serum creatinine level (SCr), daily urine flow (UF), 24-h creatinine clearance (Ccr), and hemodynamic indices before and during NE infusion. Before NE administration, the patients were divided into those with with a serum lactate level (Lac) less than 20 mg/dl (group A, n = 9) and greater than 20 mg/dl (group B, n = 6). NE was infused continuously at rates between 0.05 and 0.24 microgram/kg.min which increased systolic BP by greater than or equal to 20 mm Hg. Cardiac index was not significantly changed in either group. In group A, NE increased both UF (p less than .05), and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) (p less than .01), but did not affect Ccr. In group B, NE did not increase UF nor SVRI, and decreased Ccr significantly (p less than .05). It is concluded that NE increased UF and SVRI only when Lac was in normal range; otherwise, NE reduced renal function. Thus, when administering NE to increase UF, both Lac and renal function should be monitored carefully.

Acousticolateral systems were examined by means of the horseradish peroxidase tracing method in a teleost (Sebastiscus marmoratus). The torus semicircularis projected bilaterally to the optic tectum, nucleus ventromedialis thalami of Schnitzlein ('62), and reticular formation; contralaterally to the torus semicircularis; and ipsilaterally to the nucleus preglomerulosus of Schnitzlein ('62) and the inferior olive. No topographic organization was detected between the torus semicircularis and the nucleus preglomerulosus. Ipsilateral inputs to the torus were from dorsal telencephalic areas (pars centralis, Dc; pars dorsalis, Dd; and the dorsal part of pars medialis, dDm) and the optic tectum. Contralateral inputs to the torus were from the torus semicircularis, a caudal part of the cerebellum, and a portion of the trigeminal complex. The torus also received bilateral input from the nucleus ventromedialis thalami, nucleus of lemniscus lateralis, nucleus medialis, anterior octaval nucleus, descending octaval nucleus, and the reticular formation. Retrogradely labeled cells in the octaval nuclei were seen predominantly subsequent to HRP injections in the medial torus, while cells in the nucleus medialis were retrogradely labeled following injections into the lateral torus. HRP injections into the nucleus preglomerulosus labeled cells in the superficial region of the torus, while injections into the nucleus ventromedialis thalami labeled cells in the deep region. The nucleus preglomerulosus received inputs bilaterally from the nucleus of the lemniscus lateralis and reticular formation and ipsilaterally from the dorsal telencephalic areas (Dc, Dd, and dDm) and the torus semicircularis. In turn the nucleus preglomerulosus projected to Dd and Dm. Fibers arising in the nucleus ventromedialis thalami ended in Dc, Dd, Dm, and area ventralis pars supracommissuralis (Vs). Homology between the nucleus preglomerulosus and the central thalamic nucleus in amphibians, the nucleus reuniens in reptiles, the nucleus ovoidalis in birds, and the medial geniculate body in mammals is discussed.

A highly sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) for oxytocin was developed and used to measure oxytocin concentrations during both suckling and parturition in individual rats. In urethane-anaesthetized rats, the suckling stimuli, provided by ten pups, induced intermittent increases in intramammary pressure of about 10 mmHg. This was associated with a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in serum oxytocin levels from 19.5 +/- 4.5 (S.E.M., n = 9) to 49.1 +/- 7.4 pmol/l (n = 9) in the samples taken within 30 s from the time of the peak in the pressure. These rises in serum oxytocin returned rapidly to the basal levels as expected from the short half-life (1.46 min) of oxytocin in general circulation. On day 22 or 23 of gestation, serum oxytocin levels remained stable until 0-0.5 h before the first fetus was expelled. They then increased significantly (P less than 0.01) from 27.6 +/- 4.6 pmol/l (n = 19) in samples taken 0-0.5 h before to 45.1 +/- 5.6 pmol/l in samples taken after the expulsion of the first fetus and gradually increased until the last fetus was expelled. Serum oxytocin concentrations then declined but remained higher than those observed before the first fetus had been born until at least 1-1.5 h after the expulsion of the last fetus. Thus, this oxytocin RIA revealed increased concentrations of the hormone in blood during both suckling and parturition in the rat.

The autoimmune origin of the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) was documented by passive transfer of its electrophysiological features from humans to mice with IgG. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy has demonstrated a loss of active-zone particles in human LEMS and in its mouse passive transfer model. These data imply that the active zones are targets of the pathogenic LEMS autoantibodies. Immunolocalization of the antibodies has been hindered, however, by a paucity of active-zone particles (about 50/micron2 normally and still lower in LEMS) and by diffusion artifacts in the immunoperoxidase method. To obviate these problems, we employed sensitive avidin-biotin detection systems, both peroxidase and ferritin labels, and quantitative immunoelectron microscopy and end-plate morphometry. We compared mice treated with LEMS IgG, control IgG, and no IgG. In all mice, nonspecific background staining was found in the basal lamina covering the muscle fibers and Schwann cells. When a single 10-mg dose of IgG was injected intravenously, IgG samples from 12 patients produced significant immunostaining of the mouse active zones; from 7 patients they did not. Higher doses of intraperitoneally injected IgG (20 mg, three times a day for 2 days, or 10 mg/day for 15 days) from each of 4 patients (3 of whose IgG previously transferred LEMS to mice) caused significant immunostaining of mouse active zones: (1) the mean density (no./micron presynaptic membrane length) of positive active zones was 0.91 in the immunoferritin study and 0.72 in the immunoperoxidase study (control values, 0.12 and 0.02); and (2) 43% of the ferritin particles in the primary cleft were concentrated at the active zones and the rest were scattered randomly (control value, 5.3%). The findings indicate that LEMS IgG binds to the active zones of the presynaptic membrane.

The effect of an increase in plasma osmolality on the milk-ejection reflex of rats was studied. The lactating rats, at day 8-12 of lactation, were anesthetized with urethane (1.1 g/kg, i.p.) and 8-11 pups which had been separated from their mother 16-18 h were put to the nipples to suckle. In 21 of 47 rats studied an intermittent pattern of milk ejection was recorded with a latency of 15-74 min (group-I rats). The mean interval between recurring milk ejections was 8.3 +/- 0.6 (S.E.M.) min and the mean amount of oxytocin released at each milk ejection estimated in 11 of them was 0.26 +/- 0.04 mU. The remaining 26 rats showed no milk ejection throughout the nursing period of more than 90 min (group-II rats). The intraperitoneal injection of 1.5 M NaCl (1 ml) had no effect on the interval between milk ejections but increased the amount of oxytocin released at each milk ejection by 2.4 times in group-I rats, as the plasma osmolality changed from 297.9 +/- 2.7 mOsm/kg to 310.4 +/- 3.6 mOsm/kg. On the other hand, the 1.5 M NaCl injection induced recurring reflex milk-ejections in all of the group-II rats, while the plasma osmolality increased from 307 +/- 2.8 mOsm/kg to 320 +/- 3.1 mOsm/kg. The mean interval was not significantly different from that observed in the group-I rats. The sensitivity of the mammary gland to oxytocin was not altered by the 1.5 M NaCl injection. The injection of isotonic NaCl had no effect on the milk-ejection reflex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is an autoimmune disease that can be transmitted from human to mouse with immunoglobulin G (IgG). Electrophysiological studies indicate that LEMS IgG acts on presynaptic voltage-sensitive calcium channels, probably reducing their number, and freeze-fracture electron microscopy demonstrates that LEMS IgG has an effect on the presynaptic active zone particles, which represent putative voltage-sensitive calcium channels. The active zone particles, normally arranged in double parallel rows, move closer together, form clusters, and are reduced in number. The morphological data suggest modulation of the active zone particles crosslinked by LEMS IgG. If this were the case, then only divalent LEMS IgG and F(ab')2 should alter the deployment of active zone particles and monovalent Fab should be without effect. To test this hypothesis, mouse diaphragms were exposed to control and LEMS IgG and IgG fragments in organ culture for 24 hours and then studied by quantitative freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Divalent LEMS IgG and F(ab')2 aggregated and depleted the active zone particles, whereas monovalent Fab had no effect. The findings reconfirm that the active zone particles are targets of LEMS IgG and are direct evidence for modulation of the particles by LEMS IgG. The findings are in harmony with parallel electrophysiological studies of the effects of LEMS IgG fragments on transmitter release in the same diaphragm muscles (Lang et al, J Physiol 1987;390:173P).

A case of blast crisis in chronic myelogeneous leukaemia (CML) in which two distinct cell lineages were involved is presented. The phenotype of blasts in lymph nodes was T11 (CD2)+, Ia+, TdT+, suggesting T cell lineage. On the other hand, blasts in bone marrow and peripheral blood expressed platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex on their surface, suggesting megakaryocyte lineage. Cytogenetic analysis of lymph node and bone marrow cells revealed the abnormalities, inv(7) (p15q34) and t(1;3) (q23;q21), respectively, as well as the presence of the Ph1 chromosome in both cell types. Rearrangement of the T cell receptor beta-chain gene was detected in lymph node blasts, although blast cells in peripheral blood showed a germ line configuration. The involvement of T cell and megakaryocyte lineages in the blast crisis phase of CML was confirmed in our phenotypic and genotypic analysis, and the pathogenic association between blast crisis lineages and the additional chromosome abnormalities present is discussed.

Peroxidase was prepared from extracts of barley leaves and separated into seven components, different in pI. The purification procedure comprised two parts. The first part was based on the fact that all the components had practically the same molecular weights. It consisted of fractionations with acetone and ammonium sulfate, ion-exchange chromatographies on CM-cellulose and DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, and molecular-sieve chromatography on Ultrogel AcA44; the components were all purified together to near homogeneity on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the procedure resulted in 1,200-fold purification with a yield of 39%. The ion-exchange chromatographies were carried out under conditions such that the components would not be adsorbed. In the second part, the enzyme preparation was separated into the seven components by repeating isoelectric electrophoresis. Their isoelectric points (pI) were 6.3, 6.8, 7.4, 8.3, 8.5, 8.7, and 9.3. The components other than the pI 6.3 and 6.8 components were each purified to homogeneity in the electrophoresis. The seven components thus prepared were the same in molecular weight on SDS-gel electrophoresis (44,000) and showed absorption maxima at the same wave-lengths (403, 496, and 534 nm), RZ (A403/A275) ranging from 2.09 to 2.81. Their protoheme IX contents were 0.81-1.07 mol/mol, and their true sugar contents 15-26% (g/g). The amino acid compositions suggest that the five components described above are not real isoenzymes, but exhibit different pI values due to differences in glycosyl residue. The pI 9.3 component was crystallized in spite of its high sugar content.

The effects of lesions of the spinal cord on the milk-ejection reflex evoked by suckling were studied in urethane-anesthetized lactating rats. All lesions were made between C6 and C7 vertebrae and milk ejection was monitored by recording intramammary pressure. In the first experiment on the rats with bilateral lesions, a 3-h suckling test with 5 pups on each side was performed. Eleven (84.6%) of 13 rats with the section of the dorsal funiculus (Group 2), and 12 (85.7%) of 14 rats with the combined section of the dorsal and ventral funiculi (Group 4) displayed regular milk ejection. The incidence of milk ejection in both groups was not significantly different from 81.8% (9 rats) of the 11 sham-operated rats (Group 1). In contrast, none of the 12 rats with bilateral section of the lateral funiculus (Group 3) displayed milk ejection and the incidence of milk ejection was significantly lower than that in Group 1. In the second experiment on the rats with unilateral section of the lateral funiculus, bilateral suckling with 10 pups (5 pups on each side) and unilateral suckling (both ipsilateral and contralateral to the lesion) with 5 pups were consecutively performed in the 10 rats. Milk ejection was induced in 50% by contralateral suckling and in 100% by bilateral suckling, and the incidence was significantly higher than that (0%) observed during ipsilateral suckling. A significant difference in the incidence of milk ejection was also observed between contralateral and bilateral sucklings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A case of multilocular renal cyst is presented. The patient, a 65-year-old female, who had had macroscopic hematuria since 1979, came to our hospital in 1986. Computed tomography demonstrated a cystic mass with septa enhanced by contrast medium. The lesion was located at the anterior aspect of the midportion of the left kidney. These findings suggested a multilocular renal cyst. Therefore, enucleation of the mass was performed after confirmation of the absence of malignant cells in the septum on the frozen slide. Histological diagnosis was the same as the clinical diagnosis. We reviewed 65 cases of multilocular renal cyst in Japan and discuss preoperative diagnosis and operative procedure.

A case of renal cell carcinoma with heterotopic bone formation is presented. We will review the reports and radiographic findings of Japanese cases and comment on their hypovascularity.

Fiber connections of the nucleus ventromedialis thalami (VM) of Schnitzlein (J. Comp. Neurol. 118:225-267, '62) in a teleost (Sebastiscus marmoratus) were examined by means of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracing method. This nucleus receives fibers from the ipsilateral telencephalon (area dorsalis pars centralis), contralateral retina, contralateral VM, ipsilateral optic tectum, ipsilateral torus semicircularis, contralateral corpus cerebelli, contralateral sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve, bilateral bulbospinal reticular formation, contralateral obex region, and contralateral dorsal portion of upper spinal segments. In turn, axons arising from VM terminate in the dorsal telencephalic areas (pars centralis, pars dorsalis, and pars medialis) ipsilaterally, ventral telencephalic area (pars supracommissuralis) bilaterally, nucleus prethalamicus of Meader (J. Comp. Neurol. 60:361-407, '34) bilaterally, nucleus dorsomedialis thalami bilaterally, VM contralaterally, optic tectum bilaterally, torus semicircularis bilaterally, and nucleus lateralis valvulae ipsilaterally. Based on the cytoarchitecture and fiber connections, VM is subdivided into rostral and caudal components. The caudal part of VM in Sebastiscus is considered to be a multimodal thalamic complex that contains some cells that constitute the dorsal thalamus in other vertebrate groups.

The secretory profile of prolactin and oxytocin in response to suckling stimuli by litters was studied in unanesthetized and urethane-anesthetized lactating rats. Serum prolactin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. Oxytocin released at milk-ejection reflex was monitored by the changes in the intramammary pressure and/or the characteristic pup's reaction associated with the milk ejection. Serum prolactin concentrations began to rise earlier than the first milk ejection in unanesthetized rats, but they were never elevated without the appearance of milk ejections in urethane-anesthetized rats. Pulsatile fluctuation in serum prolactin levels at 6-15 min intervals was observed in the nursing period when 10 pups were suckling continually. The intermittent milk-ejection reflex occurred not always but preponderantly (64-91%) when the serum prolactin levels were at the nadir of the fluctuation. Injection of an estimated dose of oxytocin released at each milk ejection (1 mU) did not change the serum prolactin levels. These results indicate that the mechanism for prolactin release may be more susceptible to the effects of anesthesia than that for oxytocin release in response to the suckling stimuli and that the release of both the hormones is pulsatile in nature and be influenced by a common biological clock during the nursing period.

Clinical responses of patients with acute leukemia (AL) following the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) to the standard therapy are poor. It is considered that the greatly decreased hemopoiesis in these cases is responsible for their clinical picture. We studied leukemia-associated inhibitory activity (LIA), which inhibited human granulocyte-macrophage progenitors, in these patients. Peripheral blood (PB) mononuclear cells (MNC) suppressive to granulocyte-macrophage colony formation were present in 3 of 5 cases of de novo AL and in 3 of 4 cases of AL following MDS. The PB MNC-cultured media from these cases also suppressed colony formation. The elution patterns of LIA of these cases were almost identical in gel chromatography. These results suggest that LIA may be responsible for the suppression of normal granulopoiesis in some patients with AL developed from MDS, and that the profound derangement of normal hemopoietic capability in these cases may be due to multiple complex factors.

Intramuscular nerves were obtained at autopsy from five adult controls and were morphometrically analyzed. The number of myelinated fibers was directly proportional to the diameter of the fascicles. The fascicles were grouped into six sizes according to diameter. For each group, the normal range of distribution of the number of myelinated fibers could be estimated. Fiber size distribution and myelinated fiber density were also calculated. A unimodal fiber size distribution was observed for the small fascicles (less than 50 microns in diameter), and a bimodal pattern was observed for the large fascicles. Total myelinated fiber density was high in the small fascicles, and it decreased as the fascicles became larger in size, approaching the values observed in the large peripheral nerves. This study will be helpful in objectively evaluating morphological changes of intramuscular nerves in adult neuromuscular disorders.

A gene homologous to the Escherichia coli dnaA gene and two flanking 'regulatory' regions which contain nine and four DnaA-boxes respectively, are located in the replication origin region of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome. Attempts to isolate an autonomously replicating fragment from these 'regulatory' regions in order to identify oriC have been unsuccessful because the DnaA-box-containing regions strongly inhibited plasmid transformation particularly when inserted into a high-copy number plasmid pUB110. Using two plasmids differing in copy number, the two regions were subdivided into three regions, A, B and C, each containing five, four and four DnaA-boxes respectively, which differed in level of inhibition of transformation. Region C is downstream of the 'dnaA' gene and inhibits transformation in high-copy but not in low-copy number plasmids. When a part of the DnaA-boxes was deleted from the incompatible plasmids, they became transformable and produced slow-growing transformants in which the initiation frequency of chromosomal replication was selectively reduced. Fast-growing revertants were found containing the same number of plasmids as the parent but with single base changes in the DnaA-boxes. These mutations were in the most highly conserved bases of the DnaA-box sequence. This indicates that a sequence-specific interaction of the DnaA-box, probably with the B. subtilis DnaA protein is responsible for the observed incompatibility and thus appears to be involved in control of initiation frequency of the chromosomal replication.

In the freeze-fractured presynaptic membrane of the motor end-plate, the active zones consist of two parallel arrays and each array contains 10- to 12-nm particles arranged in two rows. In the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) and in mice treated with 10 mg/day of LEMS IgG, administered intraperitoneally for several weeks, there was a paucity and disorganization of the active zones, and clusters of 10- to 12-nm particles appeared. To further define the changes in the active zones, mice were studied that had been treated over 2 days with 104 to 180 mg of IgG. Treatment transferred the physiological defect of LEMS. Control mice received normal human IgG or no IgG. The spacing and density (number/unit area) of active-zone particles were evaluated in presynaptic membrane P-faces using computer-assisted stereometry. In the normal active zone, the distance between particles in a given row and between adjacent rows of an array was less than, but the distance between the two arrays was greater than, the distance between the two antigen-binding sites on human IgG. In mice treated with LEMS IgG, the initial alteration in the active zone was a decrease in the distance between particles in a given row and between adjacent rows of an array; the distance between the two arrays remained unaltered. In more affected active zones, the parallel orientation of the rows was disturbed and the arrays became clusters. There was a significantly reduced density of active zones and of large-membrane particles associated with all active zones and clusters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ganglioglioma is a rare brain tumor which occurs in an infant and young adult. The term "ganglioglioma" was originally proposed by Ewing in 1926 and subsequently adopted by Courville in 1930. Histogenesis of ganglioglioma is still speculative, but the hypothesis that ganglioglioma is derived from hamartomatous sympathetic neurons is generally thought to be probable. Gangliogliomas of the brain arise frequently from the temporal lobe, frontal lobe, cerebellum and spinal cord. Its growth is gradual and clinically it is a benign tumor, but its malignant transformation has been reported. Ganglioglioma is a tumor composed of both neuronal and glial cells, but the ratio of these two-cell components varies a great deal from case to case and in different areas even of the same tumor. The authors experienced a cerebellar ganglioglioma in an infant which was successfully removed. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies of the biopsy specimen have been done. That is, histopathological staining with H-E (hematoxylin eosin), PTAH (phosphotangustic acid hematoxylin), cresyl-violet and Bodian, and electron microscopical studies were performed. Also the authors immunohistochemically examined the presence or absence of GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein), NSE (neuron specific enolase), S-100 alpha and beta subunits. Histopathologically, the authors could find nerve fiber, glial fiber and identify neuronal cells which had Nisslgranules in the cytoplasm. Electron microscopically the authors could distinguish the neuronal cells which had large nuclei and prominant nucleoli from the glial cells which had processes filled with intermediate glial filaments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effects of microelectrophoretic applications of neurotransmitter substances and their antagonists on the activity of paraventricular oxytocinergic neurones were studied in urethane anesthetized lactating rats. Oxytocinergic neurones were identified by their antidromic response to the stimulation of the neurohypophysis and by their characteristic high frequency discharge of action potentials approximately 15-20s before reflex milk ejection. Acetylcholine (ACh) excited the majority (75%) of paraventricular oxytocinergic neurones, and none of the cells was inhibited in its activity by ACh. In about half of the oxytocinergic cells, atropine and hexamethonium reduced the number of action potentials during the burst discharge preceding reflex milk ejection. Noradrenaline (NE), dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) reduced the activity of most (75-100%) of oxytocinergic neurones, and none of the cells was excited by these catecholamines. These results suggest that paraventricular oxytocinergic neurones receive excitatory cholinergic inputs and inhibitory noradrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic inputs.

The authors investigated the immunohistochemical localization of S-100 protein in normal human brain and glioblastoma tissues by the peroxidase anti-peroxidase method of Sternberger. In normal human brain the positive immunoperoxidase reaction for S-100 protein was observed in astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells, Bergmann's glial cells and epithelial cells of choroid plexus. No positive staining was revealed in any cortical neurons. Immunoelectron-microscopically, the electron dense positive reaction for S-100 protein was seen throughout the cytoplasm, nucleoplasm and cell processes of astrocyte as well as oligodendrocyte. The positive reaction for S-100 protein was demonstrated occasionally in association with cytoplasmic membrane or the membrane constituting cell organelles. We suspect that this observation indicates the existence of membrane-bound form of S-100 protein. In glioblastoma cells, the positive reaction for S-100 protein was relatively weak in intensity as compared with astrocytes, and the degree of positive staining varied from cell to cell. Subcellular localization of S-100 protein in glioblastoma seemed to be essentially similar to that of normal astrocyte. There are some recent reports concerning immunohistochemical localization of alpha and beta subunits of S-100 protein. As compared with these reports, the present immunohistochemical results indicate that the rabbit anti-S-100 antibody embloyed in the present study is mainly against beta subunit of S-100 protein. Although there have been many reports concerning immunohistochemical localization of S-100 protein, the biological role of S-100 protein is still speculative. Some hypotheses are advocated in connection with the possible biological role of S-100 protein. For example, the modulation of synaptic transmission by S-100 protein, the participation of S-100 protein in hormonal secretion and in transport of cations through lipid membrane, the activation of protein kinase and the promotion of disassembly of microtubules by S-100 protein are postulated. It is hard to assume the biological role of S-100 protein based on the immunohistochemical results alone. The present study clearly indicates that S-100 protein exists widely in the cytoplasm, nucleoplasm, cytoplasmic membrane, outer membranes of cell organelles and cell processes of glial cells as well as glioblastoma cells. From these results we assume that S-100 protein plays an important role of intracellular transport of cations as one of the calcium binding proteins.