This report describes the development of a new panel of monoclonal antibodies produced following immunization of mice with cultured rat microglial cells. Using these new reagents and previously defined antibodies that bind to microglia or macrophages, the responses of parenchymal microglia, perivascular "microglial" cells, and infiltrating macrophage/monocytes were examined in 4 divergent models of central nervous system reaction. These were brain abscess, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, Wallerian degeneration, and stab wound. No single new antibody was specific only for microglia; all antibodies positively staining microglial cells also labeled various subsets of macrophage/monocytic cells in normal tissues of the immune system. Moreover, the results indicate that microglia are capable of different levels and a variety of types of response, as defined by the molecules they elaborate. These findings suggest that these CNS resident cells belong to the extended monocyte/macrophage/dendritic cell family and that they do not respond in a stereotypic manner to all forms of CNS insult.

A glioma cell line, CNS-1, was developed in the inbred Lewis rat to obtain a histocompatible astrocytoma cell line with infiltrative and growth patterns that more closely simulate those observed in human gliomas. Rats were given weekly intravenous injections for a six month period with N-nitroso-N-methylurea to produce neoplasm in the central nervous system. Intracranial tumor was isolated, enzymatically and mechanically digested, and placed into culture. The tumor cell line injected subcutaneously on the flanks of Lewis rats grew extensively in situ as cohesive tumor masses but did not metastasize. Intracranially, CNS-1 demonstrated single cell infiltration of paranchyma and leptomeningeal, perivascular, and periventricular spread with expansion of the tumor within choroid plexus stroma. CNS-1 cells titrated in right frontal brain of Lewis rats at 10(5), 5 x 10(5), 10(5), 5 x 10(4) cells per group had mean survival times ranging from 20.5 to 30.2 days. CNS-1 was immunoreactive for glial fibrillary acidic protein, S100 protein, vimentin, neural cell adhesion molecule, retinoic acid receptor alpha, intercellular adhesion molecule, and neuron specific enolase. The CNS-1 cells commonly had one or more trisomies of chromosomes 11, 13 or 18; losses, possibly random, of chromosomes (3, 5, 19, 30, X or Y) were noticed, and a marker chromosome made up of approximately 3 chromosomes was usual. Comparisons of CNS-1 to 9L gliosarcoma tumor were made. The glial CNS-1 tumor model provides an excellent system in which to investigate a variety of immunological therapeutic modalities. It spreads within brain in a less cohesive mass than 9L and is accepted without rejection in non-central nervous system sites by Lewis rats.

We describe a variation of selective dorsal rhizotomy for spastic cerebral palsy that involves sectioning of the dorsal spinal roots immediately caudal to the conus medullaris. The operation entails an L1-L2 laminectomy, ultrasonographic localization of the conus medullaris, and partial deafferentation of the L1-S2 roots with electromyographic testing under an operating microscope. In 66 children with cerebral palsy, the operation reduced spasticity in the lower extremity without complications, e.g., motor weakness, neurogenic bladder, and sensory loss. It offers several important advantages over alternative techniques.

We describe a variation of selective dorsal rhizotomy for spastic cerebral palsy that involves sectioning of the dorsal spinal roots immediately caudal to the conus medullaris. The operation entails an L1-L2 laminectomy, ultrasonographic localization of the conus medullaris, and partial deafferentation of the L1-S2 roots with electromyographic testing under an operating microscope. In 66 children with cerebral palsy, the operation reduced spasticity in the lower extremity without complications, e.g., motor weakness, neurogenic bladder, and sensory loss. It offers several important advantages over alternative techniques.

Childhood meningiomas are unusual, and meningiomas in patients less than 1 year of age are exceedingly rare. We report a case of a meningioma with malignant histologic features in a 6-month-old child who has had an excellent postoperative course. The pathologic features in relation to prognosis, as well as the magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of the case are presented. The litrature is reviewed and implications for therapeutic management are discussed.