Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease (Mpro) autocatalytically releases itself out of the viral polyprotein to form a fully active mature dimer in a manner that is not fully understood. Here, we introduce several tools to help elucidate differences between cis (intramolecular) and trans (intermolecular) proteolytic processing and to evaluate inhibition of precursor Mpro. We found that many mutations at the P1 position of the N-terminal autoprocessing site do not block cis autoprocessing but do inhibit trans processing. Notably, substituting the WT glutamine at the P1 position with isoleucine retains Mpro in an unprocessed precursor form that can be purified and further studied. We also developed a cell-based reporter assay suitable for compound library screening and evaluation in HEK293T cells. This assay can detect both overall Mpro inhibition and the fraction of uncleaved precursor form of Mpro through separable fluorescent signals. We observed that inhibitory compounds preferentially block mature Mpro. Bofutrelvir and a novel compound designed in-house showed the lowest selectivity between precursor and mature Mpro, indicating that inhibition of both forms may be possible. Additionally, we observed positive modulation of precursor activity at low concentrations of inhibitors. Our findings help expand understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 viral life cycle and may facilitate development of strategies to target precursor form of Mpro for inhibition or premature activation of Mpro.

• MeSH
• Antiviral Agents * pharmacology   chemistry   MeSH
• COVID-19 Drug Treatment MeSH
• HEK293 Cells MeSH
• Protease Inhibitors pharmacology   chemistry   MeSH
• Coronavirus 3C Proteases * metabolism   antagonists & inhibitors   chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mutation MeSH
• Drug Discovery * methods   MeSH
• Proteolysis MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 * enzymology   drug effects   metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

TFE3 rearrangements characterize histogenetically, topographically, and biologically diverse neoplasms. Besides being a universal defining feature in alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) and clear cell stromal tumor of the lung, TFE3 fusions have been reported in subsets of renal cell carcinoma, perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa), epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and ossifying fibromyxoid tumors. TFE3 -related neoplasms are rare in the head and neck and may pose diagnostic challenges. We herein describe 22 TFE3 fusion neoplasms affecting 11 males and 11 females aged 4 to 79 years (median, 25) and involving different head and neck sites: sinonasal cavities (n = 8), tongue (n = 4), oral cavity/oropharynx (n = 3), salivary glands (n = 2), orbit (n = 2), and soft tissue or unspecified sites (n = 3). Based on morphology and myomelanocytic immunophenotype, 10 tumors qualified as ASPS, 7 as PEComas (3 melanotic; all sinonasal), and 5 showed intermediate (indeterminate) histology overlapping with ASPS and PEComa. Immunohistochemistry for TFE3 was homogeneously strongly positive in all cases. Targeted RNA sequencing/FISH testing confirmed TFE3 fusions in 14 of 16 successfully tested cases (88%). ASPSCR1 was the most frequent fusion partner in ASPS (4 of 5 cases); one ASPS had a rare VCP::TFE3 fusion. The 6 successfully tested PEComas had known fusion partners as reported in renal cell carcinoma and PEComas ( NONO, PRCC, SFPQ , and PSPC1 ). The indeterminate tumors harbored ASPSCR1::TFE3 (n = 2) and U2AF2::TFE3 (n = 1) fusions, respectively. This large series devoted to TFE3-positive head and neck tumors illustrates the recently proposed morphologic overlap in the spectrum of TFE3 -associated mesenchymal neoplasms. While all PEComas were sinonasal, ASPS was never sinonasal and occurred in diverse head and neck sites with a predilection for the tongue. The indeterminate (PEComa-like) category is molecularly more akin to ASPS but shows different age, sex, and anatomic distribution compared with classic ASPS. We report VCP as a novel fusion partner in ASPS and PSPC1 as a novel TFE3 fusion partner in PEComa (detected in one PEComa). Future studies should shed light on the most appropriate terminological subtyping of these highly overlapping tumors.

• MeSH
• Sarcoma, Alveolar Soft Part * genetics   pathology   MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Phenotype MeSH
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease MeSH
• Gene Rearrangement * MeSH
• In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence MeSH
• Immunohistochemistry MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Biomarkers, Tumor * genetics   analysis   MeSH
• Head and Neck Neoplasms * genetics   pathology   chemistry   MeSH
• Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms * genetics   pathology   chemistry   MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors * genetics   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common malignant tumor in women worldwide. Detecting different biomarkers together on single cells by novel method mass cytometry could contribute to more precise screening. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) cervical samples were collected (N = 53) from women categorized as normal and precancerous lesions. Human papillomavirus was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction, while simultaneous examination of the expression of 29 proteins was done by mass cytometry (CyTOF). Differences in cluster abundances were assessed with Spearman's rank correlation as well as high dimensional data analysis (t-SNE, FlowSOM). Cytokeratin (ITGA6, Ck5, Ck10/13, Ck14, Ck7) expression patterns allowed determining the presence of different cells in the cervical epithelium. FlowSOM analysis enabled to phenotype cervical cells in five different metaclusters and find new markers that could be important in CC screening. The markers Ck18, Ck18, and CD63 (Metacluster 3) showed significantly increasing associated with severity of the precancerous lesions (Spearman rank correlation rho 0.304, p = 0.0271), while CD71, KLF4, LRIG1, E-cadherin, Nanog and p53 (Metacluster 1) decreased with severity of the precancerous lesions (Spearman rank correlation rho -0.401, p = 0.0029). Other metaclusters did not show significant correlation, but metacluster 2 (Ck17, MCM, MMP7, CD29, E-cadherin, Nanog, p53) showed higher abundance in low- and high-grade intraepithelial lesion cases. CyTOF appears feasible and should be considered when examining novel biomarkers on cervical LBC samples. This study enabled us to characterize different cells in the cervical epithelium and find markers and populations that could distinguish precancerous lesions.

• MeSH
• Cervix Uteri pathology   metabolism   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Uterine Cervical Dysplasia diagnosis   pathology   MeSH
• Papillomavirus Infections pathology   diagnosis   virology   MeSH
• Kruppel-Like Factor 4 * MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Biomarkers, Tumor * genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Uterine Cervical Neoplasms * diagnosis   pathology   genetics   MeSH
• Precancerous Conditions * pathology   diagnosis   MeSH
• Flow Cytometry * methods   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Minimal residual disease (MRD) is one of the most important prognostic factors in multiple myeloma (MM) and a valid surrogate for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Recently, MRD negativity was approved as an early clinical endpoint for accelerated drug approval in MM. Nevertheless, there is limited evidence of MRD utility in real-world setting. In this retrospective multicenter study, we report outcomes of 331 newly diagnosed MM patients with MRD evaluation at Day+100 after autologous stem cell transplantation using flow cytometry with a median limit of detection of 0.001%. MRD negativity was reached in 47% of patients and was associated with significantly prolonged median PFS (49.2 months vs. 18.4 months; hazard ratios (HR) = 0.37; p < 0.001) and OS (not reached vs. 74.9 months; HR = 0.50; p = 0.007). Achieving MRD negativity was associated with PFS improvements regardless of age, International Staging System (ISS) stage, lactate dedydrogenase (LDH) level, or cytogenetic risk. Importantly, MRD positive patients benefited from lenalidomide maintenance versus no maintenance (18-months PFS: 81% vs. 46%; HR = 0.24; p = 0.002) while in MRD negative patients such benefit was not observed (p = 0.747). The outcomes of our real-world study recapitulate results from clinical trials including meta-analyses and support the idea that MRD positive patients profit more from lenalidomide maintenance than MRD negative ones.

• MeSH
• Transplantation, Autologous MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Lenalidomide administration & dosage   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Multiple Myeloma * diagnosis   mortality   therapy   pathology   MeSH
• Prognosis MeSH
• Flow Cytometry * methods   MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Neoplasm, Residual * diagnosis   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Neoplasm Staging MeSH
• Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation methods   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH

Host infectiousness to insect vectors is a crucial parameter for understanding the transmission dynamics of insect-borne infectious diseases such as leishmaniases. Despite their importance, critical factors influencing the outwards transmission of Leishmania major, including parasite distribution within the host body and the minimum number of skin amastigotes required for vector infection, remain poorly characterized. To address these gaps, we studied these parameters in the natural North African reservoir host Meriones shawi and in BALB/c mice infected with a low parasite dose. Using qPCR, we quantified Leishmania loads in different zones (regions) of infected ear pinnae, whereas microscale infectiousness was evaluated via microbiopsies and fluorescence microscopy. The amastigote distribution within infected ears was heterogeneous, with pronounced differences between the lesion center, lesion margin, and visually unaffected surrounding skin. Phlebotomus papatasi females that fed in areas where no amastigotes were detected via microscopy did not become infected. In M. shawi, lesion margins have emerged as the most effective source of infection. The number of amastigotes at bite sites where sand fly females became infected ranged from 4--500, with as few as 2--10 amastigotes sufficient to initiate vector infection. This low infection threshold was confirmed by experiments in which P. papatasi was fed through a chick-skin membrane. In contrast, the BALB/c mouse model showed only minor differences in infectiousness between lesion centers and margins. The minimum infectious dose in BALB/c mice was approximately 100 times greater than that in M. shawi, with successful infections occurring at sites containing 1,500-10,000 amastigotes. These findings advance our understanding of Leishmania transmission by addressing critical knowledge gaps and enabling more accurate modelling of cutaneous leishmaniasis epidemiology. Moreover, this study highlights the importance of incorporating natural host models in research, as the dynamics of disease progression and transmission parameters can differ significantly between natural hosts and standard laboratory models.

• MeSH
• Gerbillinae * parasitology   MeSH
• Insect Vectors * parasitology   MeSH
• Skin parasitology   MeSH
• Leishmania major * physiology   pathogenicity   MeSH
• Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous * transmission   parasitology   MeSH
• Disease Models, Animal MeSH
• Mice, Inbred BALB C MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Parasite Load MeSH
• Phlebotomus * parasitology   MeSH
• Disease Reservoirs * parasitology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

BACKGROUND: The treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is correlated with the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy (ICB) targeting programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) or its cognate receptor (PD-1) on cancer cells or infiltrating immune cells. Analysis of PD-L1/PD-1 expression in tumor tissue represents a crucial step before PD-L1/PD-1 blocker usage. METHODS: We used directed evolution of protein variants derived from a 13 kDa Myomedin loop-type combinatorial library with 12 randomized amino acid residues to select high-affinity binders of human PD-L1 (hPD-L1). After the ribosome display, individual clones were screened by ELISA. Detailed analysis of binding affinity and kinetics was performed using LigandTracer. The specificity of Myomedins was assessed using fluorescent microscopy on HEK293T-transfected cells and cultured cancer cells in vitro, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections of human tonsils, and FFPE tumor samples of NSCLC patients. RESULTS: Seven identified PD-L1 binders, called MLE, showed positive staining for hPD-L1 on transfected HEK293T cells and cultured MCF-7 cells. MLE031, MLE105, MLE249, and MLE309 exhibited high affinity to both human and mouse PD-L1-transfected HEK293T cells measured with LigandTracer. The diagnostic potential of MLE variants was tested on human tonsillitis tissue and compared with diagnostic anti-PD-L1 antibody DAKO 28-8 and PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx antibody. MLE249 and MLE309 exhibited an excellent overlap with diagnostic DAKO 28-8 (Pearson ́s coefficient (r) = 0.836 and 0.731, respectively) on human tonsils on which MLE309 exhibited also excellent overlap with diagnostic 22C3 antibody (r = 0.876). Using three NSCLC tissues, MLE249 staining overlaps with 28-8 antibody (r = 0.455-0.883), and MLE309 exhibited overlap with 22C3 antibody (r = 0.534-0.619). Three MLE proteins fused with Fc fragments of rabbit IgG, MLE249-rFc, MLE309-rFc and MLE031-rFc, exhibited very good overlap with anti-PD-L1 antibody 28-8 on tonsil tissue (r = 0.691, 0.610, and 0.667, respectively). Finally, MLE249-rFc, MLE309-rFc and MLE031-rFc exhibited higher sensitivity in comparison to IHC 22C3 antibody using routine immunohistochemistry staining system Ventana, which is one of gold standards for PD-L1 diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the development of MLE Myomedins specifically recognizing hPD-L1 that may serve as a refinement tool for clinical PD-L1 detection.

• MeSH
• B7-H1 Antigen * metabolism   MeSH
• HEK293 Cells MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
• Lung Neoplasms * diagnosis   metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung * diagnosis   metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Protein Binding MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Hypoparatyreóza s hypokalcemií je jednou z nejčastějších komplikací operací štítné žlázy. Od roku 2022 využíváme ve Vojenské nemocnici v Brně peroperační vizualizaci příštítných tělísek (PT) pomocí autofluorescenčního systému Fluoptics, Fluobeam® LX (FF®). Cílem práce je prezentovat princip této metody a zhodnotit přínos pro operatéry a pacienty. Materiál a metody: Během každé operace štítné žlázy používáme systém FF®, který na podkladě fluorescenčních vlastností příštítných tělísek umožňuje jejich časnou peroperační detekci. Retrospektivní analýzou posuzujeme přínos této metody pro naše pracoviště. Sledujeme vliv zapojení systému FF® během tyreoidálních výkonů na snížení incidence neúmyslného odstranění PT, pokles výskytu pooperační hypokalcemie a vliv použití FF® na délku operace. Výsledky: Bylo hodnoceno celkem 309 pacientů. Soubor operovaných bez využití FF® zahrnoval 163 pacientů, soubor s použitím FF® 146 pacientů. PT bylo v souboru bez FF® neúmyslně odstraněno v 16,6 %, v souboru s FF® v 4,1 % případů. Pokles hladiny sérového vápníku < 2,00 mmol/l v pooperačním období jsme zaznamenali v souboru bez FF® v 18,4 %, v souboru s FF® ve 13,7 %. Pokles hladiny vápníku s nutnou dlouhodobou substitucí byl v souboru bez FF® 5,5 %, v souboru s FF® 0,7 %. Průměrná doba trvání totální tyreoidektomie s použitím FF® se prodloužila o 10,9 min, doba trvání hemityreoidektomie se prodloužila o 2,4 min. Závěr: Dosavadní zkušenosti s peroperačním fluorescenčním zobrazením příštítných tělísek na našem pracovišti prokazují významný pokles incidence nechtěného odstranění PT. Snížení výskytu dočasné i trvalé hypokalcemie nebylo statisticky významné. Celková doba operace se prodloužila v řádu jednotek minut.

Hypoparathyroidism with hypocalcemia is one of the most common complications of thyroid surgery. Since 2022, at the Military Hospital Brno, we have been using intraoperative visualization of the parathyroid glands (PG) with Fluoptics, Fluobeam® LX (FF®) autofluorescence system. We would like to present the principle of this method and evaluate the benefits for surgeons and patients. Materials and methods: During thyroid surgery, we use the FF® system, which based on the fluorescent properties of PG, enables early intraoperative detection. Through a retrospective analysis, we assess the benefit of this method-especially the effect of using the FF® system during thyroid procedures on the reduction of the incidence of inadvertent resection of PG, the decrease in the incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia, and the effect of the use of FF® for the duration of the operation. Results: A total of 309 patients were evaluated. The group of patients operated without using FF® included 163 patients, and the group using FF® included 146 patients. PG was unintentionally removed in 16.6% of cases in the group without using FF®, and in 4.1% of cases in the group using FF®. A drop in the serum calcium level below 2.00 mmol/ l was registered during the postoperative period in 18.4% in the group without using FF® and 13.7% in the group using FF®. Long-term calcium substitution was necessary in 5.5% cases in the group without using FF®, and 0.7% in the group using FF®. The average duration of total thyroidectomy using FF® increased by 10.9 minutes, and the duration of hemithyroidectomy increased by 2.4 minutes. Conclusion: According to our experience, intraoperative fluorescence imaging confi rms a decrease in the incidence of inadvertent resection of PG. Reduction in the incidence of temporary and permanent hypocalcemia was not significant. The mean operative time was extended in units of minutes.

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Fluorescence MeSH
• Hypocalcemia blood   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Optical Imaging * methods   MeSH
• Parathyroid Glands * diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Thyroidectomy methods   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH

Myoepithelial neoplasms of the skin and soft tissue still represent a confusing and somewhat controversial field in pathology as it appears that this category includes several different entities. However, recent studies have suggested that both apocrine mixed tumors (AMT) and cutaneous myoepitheliomas (CM) harbor identical chromosomal rearrangements involving the PLAG1 gene and hence may represent a morphological spectrum. The aim of the present study was to share our institutional experience with these tumors and specifically focus on studying their immunohistochemical and molecular features to further assess their relatedness. Eleven cases of AMT and 7 cases of CM were collected and analyzed using immunohistochemistry (IHC), PLAG1 FISH, and Archer FusionPlex assay. There were 14 male and 4 female patients with ages ranging from 26 to 85 years (median 55.8 years, mean 58.5 years). AMTs were mainly located in the head and neck (n = 10), while CMs were mainly located in the acral sites (n = 5). PLAG1 IHC was diffusely strongly positive in 14/17 (82%) cases, whereas a single case of AMT diffusely expressed HMGA2. Both tumor groups showed PLAG1 gene fusions which were detected in 6/13 analyzable samples (AMT, n = 4 and CM, n = 2), and included TRPS1::PLAG1 (n = 3), NDRG1::PLAG1 (n = 1), CTNNB1::PLAG1 (n = 1) and a novel PXDNL::PLAG1 fusion (n = 1). The remaining 5 cases were negative, 5 were not analyzable and the single case positive for HMGA2 by IHC revealed a potential HMGA2 gene rearrangement. The cases were further studied by FISH, with 12/17 cases showing PLAG1 gene rearrangement (AMT, n = 8 and CM, n = 4). Altogether, 14/18 cases showed PLAG1 gene rearrangement by at least one of the methods. PLAG1 immunohistochemistry had a 92% specificity and sensitivity. Our study provided additional data to suggest that AMT and CM share overlapping morphological and immunohistochemical features as well as molecular background characterized by PLAG1 gene fusions and thus represent a morphological spectrum. In addition, we identified a novel PXDNL::PLAG1 fusion and suggested that rare cases may harbor HMGA2 gene alterations which seem to be mutually exclusive with PLAG1 gene fusions. The relatedness of these tumors to salivary gland myoepithelial neoplasms and distinctness from eccrine mixed tumors and other skin and soft tissue myoepithelial neoplasms with EWSR1/FUS fusions is discussed.

• MeSH
• DNA-Binding Proteins * genetics   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Gene Rearrangement * MeSH
• In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence MeSH
• Immunohistochemistry * MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Myoepithelioma * genetics   pathology   MeSH
• Biomarkers, Tumor * genetics   analysis   MeSH
• Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed genetics   pathology   chemistry   MeSH
• Skin Neoplasms * genetics   pathology   MeSH
• Sweat Gland Neoplasms genetics   pathology   MeSH
• HMGA2 Protein * genetics   MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH

Many photosensitive substances suitable for photodynamic therapy (PDT) have limited applications due to their insufficient solubility in polar solvents. Our research overcomes this challenge by means of nanotechnology in order to transform hydrophobic compounds into stable aqueous solutions, enabling them to use their full potential and unique properties in cancer therapy. In this study, the novel nano-composite cGQDs-PEG-curcumin was developed to overcome the insolubility of curcumin in water and its extraordinary efficacy in PDT was evaluated. Complex characterization was performed using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), FTIR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Further analysis involved fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), and its cellular localization was mapped with confocal microscopy. In order to evaluate PDT effectiveness, cells treated with cGQDs-PEG-curcumin were irradiated with 5 J/cm2 of 414 nm light. After irradiation, cell viability assay, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection, comet assay, and γH2AX-based DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) detection were assessed and revealed a remarkable ability of the nano-composite to induce DNA damage after irradiation without ROS production. Our findings highlight the potential of cGQDs-PEG-curcumin as a cutting-edge PDT agent, capable of disrupting cell membrane and nucleolar integrity and impairing ribosomal synthesis, which is crucial for proliferating tumour cells.

• MeSH
• Cell Nucleolus * drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded drug effects   MeSH
• Photochemotherapy * methods   MeSH
• Photosensitizing Agents * pharmacology   MeSH
• Graphite * chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Curcumin * pharmacology   chemistry   MeSH
• Quantum Dots * chemistry   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
• Neoplasms * drug therapy   MeSH
• Polyethylene Glycols * chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• DNA Damage * drug effects   MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Survival drug effects   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The distribution and morphology of neuronal degeneration were observed and analyzed in each sector of the zona incerta in a lithium‐pilocarpine (LiCl) Wistar rat model of status epilepticus in 12, 15, 18, 21, and 25‐day‐old rats and survival intervals of 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours. Status epilepticus was induced via intraperitoneal (IP) injection of LiCl (3 mmol/kg) 24 hours before an injection of pilocarpine (40 mg/kg, IP). Motor seizures were suppressed by paraldehyde (0.3‐0.6 ml/kg, IP) two hours after status epilepticus onset. Animals were anesthetized using urethane and perfused with phosphate‐buffered saline followed by 4% paraformaldehyde. Brains were sectioned and Nissl stained for map guidance, with fluoro‐Jade B fluorescence used to detect degenerated neurons. Fluoro‐jade B‐positive neurons were plotted to a standard stereotaxic atlas, their distribution was quantified, and their long‐axis diameter was measured. Fluoro‐jade B‐positive neurons were found in pups aged 15 days and older 24 hours after status epilepticus, in which their numbers increased, and their perikaryon size decreased with advancing age. Thus, neuronal damage severity was dependent on age and survival interval. Neuronal damage was only found in the rostral sector of the zona incerta, a region that exhibits a small number of inhibitory neurons and is reciprocally connected to the limbic cortex. This system of hyperactivity, coupled with inhibitory neurons, may be the underlying cause of the neuronal degeneration and explain why it was confined to the rostral sector of the zona incerta.

• MeSH
• Lithium Chloride toxicity   MeSH
• Nerve Degeneration * pathology   etiology   MeSH
• Fluoresceins MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Disease Models, Animal MeSH
• Neurons * pathology   MeSH
• Animals, Newborn MeSH
• Pilocarpine toxicity   MeSH
• Rats, Wistar MeSH
• Status Epilepticus * pathology   chemically induced   complications   MeSH
• Age Factors MeSH
• Zona Incerta * pathology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH