Localization of the Antigen and Antibodies in the Placenta of Immunized Sheep

ABSTRACT: Placentomata of sheep immunized with human serum albumin (HSA) were examined. Both HSA and immunoglobulins were found in the maternal part and maternofetal border of the placenta using FITC labelled antisera on paraffin sections. Radiolabelled HSA was also detected in the fetal blood. The ultrastructure of placentomata revealed immunopathological process.     

Two new species of Eimeria Schneider 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the broad-toothed field mouse, Apodemus mystacinus Danford and Alston 1877 (Rodentia: Muridae) from Jordan

Coprological examination of 40 Apodemus mystacinus Danford and Alston 1877 from Jordan revealed oocysts of three species of genus Eimeria. Two species are described as new. Eimeria zuhairamri sp. n. has broadly ellipsoidal oocysts 29.6 (27.0–34.0)×23.3 (22.0–25.0) m with distinctly granulated wall and oocyst residuum. Endogenous development occurs in jejunum and ileum. Eimeria alorani sp. n. has oocysts 26.9 (23.0–29.0)×19.3 (18.0–22.0) m with smooth wall and absent residuum. Endogenous development is confined to the caecum. The third species, developing in jejunum, has oocysts morphologically indistinguishable from Eimeria uptoni. The identity of E. uptoni and the taxonomy of Eimeria of Apodemus are discussed.     

The effects of hyaluronan on bone resorption and bone mineral density in a rat model of estrogen deficiency-induced osteopenia

Hyaluronan, or hyaluronic acid (HA), is an essential component of extracellular matrices. HA of appropriate molecular weight and concentration can induce osteoblast differentiation and bone formation in vitro. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of HA of different molecular weights on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss in rats. Adult female Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to bilateral OVX or sham surgical procedure (sham). OVX rats were treated with: HA of molecular weight of 0.75 MDa at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day and with HA of molecular weight of 1.62 MDa at a dose of both 0.5 mg/kg/day and 1 mg/kg/day. HA was applied orally once a day during the 8-week period after ovariectomy. Body weight, urinary pyridinoline (Pyr), deoxypyridinoline (DPyr) corrected for urinary creatinine, serum nitrite/nitrate concentrations and whole body and femoral bone mineral density (BMD) were measured. HA treatment had no effect on the body weight gain in OVX rats. Excretion of urinary Pyr and Dpyr significantly increased in OVX rats compared to sham controls. The higher molecular weight HA (1.62 MDa) significantly reduced urinary Pyr and DPyr concentrations measured on day 28 after ovariectomy (p < 0.001). Serum concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites, nitrite/nitrate significantly decreased in OVX rats in comparison with sham controls (p < 0.001). HA of both 0.75 MDa and 1.62 MDa molecular weights significantly enhanced serum nitrite/nitrate concentrations in OVX rats. There was a clear reduction of whole body and femoral BMD in untreated OVX rats. The higher molecular weight HA decreased both whole body and femoral BMD loss. Our results show that orally applied HA of high molecular weight (1.62 MDa) inhibits bone resorption and provides a protective effect on bone density in ovariectomized rats.     

Lack of effect of ouabain on sodium transport across the rat placenta

The umbilical vascular bed of the rat placenta was perfused in situ. Ouabain (10^–4M) in the perfusion fluid had no effect on the unidirectional flux of Na⁺ from the maternal (electrically negative) to the foetal (electrically positive) side of the placenta, or on the transplacental potential difference. This was taken to indicate that there is no significant active transport of Na⁺ across the placenta of the rat.     

Sexual dimorphism of the extraorbital lacrimal glands in SF-1 knockout mice

Sexual dimorphism (SD) represents all the differences between males and females of the same species. SD of the murine lacrimal gland and the major effect of testosterone on its formation are well documented. Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1, NR5a1) is a nuclear receptor essential for the fetal development of steroid hormones producing organs and SF-1 knockout mice (Sf-1 KO) are therefore born without gonads and adrenal glands. The aim of this study was to investigate whether SD in lacrimal glands is present in the absence of exposure to sex hormones during development. Lacrimal glands from adult Sf-1 KO male and female mice without hormonal exposure, and from males that were treated with testosterone propionate (TP) prior to sacrifice, were examined. After sacrifice, glandular tissue was processed using standard histological procedures. Paraffin sections were analysed by stereology and immunostained against the androgen receptor (AR). Our results showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the mean volumes of acini, connective tissue or ductal system between males, females, and males on TP. The same pertains to the mean length of the ducts in all three groups. In the absence of sex hormones, sex chromosomes proved to be insufficient in inducing sexual dimorphism in LG. However, nuclei of the acinar cells in males on TP were positive for AR, whereas in males without TP no expression of AR was detected. Administration of TP induced the expression of AR in the nuclei of acinar cells of males but did not affect the morphology of LG. We conclude that SD in the lacrimal gland is not present in Sf-1 KO mice and this suggests that sex hormones have a major role in the development of SD in the lacrimal gland.     

Ein Vergleich der Glucose-, Ketonkörper- und Glycerinspiegel im Nabelschnurblut und im Placentarblut

Zusammenfassung 1. Die Bestimmung von Ketonkörpern, Glucose und Glycerin getrennt in Nabelartcrie, Nabelvene, Placentararterie und Placentarvene ergab für Glycerin und Ketonkörper im Placentarblut meist etwas höhere Werte als im Nabelschnurblut.2. Es folgt daraus, daß es nicht zulässig ist, aus experimentellen Gründen Placentarblut an Stelle von Nabelschnurblut zu verwenden.3. Durch die Analyse der möglichen Ursachen kamen wir zu dem Schluß, daß es sich bei diesen Veränderungen wahrscheinlich um eine Widerspiegelung des placentaren Stoffwechsels handelt. Hämodynamische Einflüsse jedoch sind nicht auszuschließen.4. Es ist möglich, daß der Vergleich von Placentarblut und Nabelschnurblut unter normalen und pathologischen Bedingungen zum Studium des Stoffwechsels der Placenta in situ einen Beitrag liefern kann.

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Summary 1. The separate determination of ketone bodies, glucose and glycerol in umbilical cord artery and vein, placental artery and vein resulted in elevated levels of glycerol and ketone bodies in placental blood compared to cord blood.2. It is concluded that for experimental purposes cord blood is not to be replaced by placental blood.3. In analysing the possible facts we drew the conclusion that these results indicate a representation of the placental metabolism. Hemodynamic factors were not to be excluded, however.4. The comparison of placental with cord blood under normal and pathological conditions will possibly add to the study of placental metabolism in situ.

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Herrn Prof. Dr.G. Joppich zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet.

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Die Arbeit wurde von der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft unterstützt (Wo 69/7).

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Stipendiat der Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, 1967/68.     

Buchbesprechungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Distribution of cytoskeletal and contractile proteins in normal and tumour bearing salivary and lacrimal glands

Summary We have evaluated by means of immunocytochemistry the distribution of various cytoskeletal and contractile proteins (cytokeratins, vimentin, desmin and -smooth muscle actin) in 23 salivary or lacrimal gland primary tumours (15 pleomorphic adenomas and 8 carcinomas in pleomorphic adenoma), one third of which contained areas of normal gland. Normal epithelial luminal cells were stained by cytokeratin antibodies with a general specificity, while myoepithelial cells were selectively stained by a monoclonal antibody (SK2-27) reacting in immunoblots with cytokeratin polypeptides 14, 16 and 17, according to the classification of Moll et al. (1982) and by an antibody directed against -smooth muscle actin (Skalli et al. 1986). In pleomorphic adenomas, both epithelial and myoepithelial cells displayed typical topographic distributions; moreover, myoepithelial cells showed two distinct cytoskeletal phenotypes. These findings could account in part for the heterogeneity of aspects observed in this tumour. In carcinomas, malignant cells were always positive to cytokeratin antibodies with general specificity and myoepithelial cells were absent as judged by anticytokeratin SK2-27 and anti--smooth muscle actin immunostainings. However, interestingly, there was in all cases a strong positivity for -smooth muscle actin in stromal cells, similarly to what has previously been described for mammary carcinoma (Skalli et al. 1986). Our findings may be useful for the interpretation of the histogenesis of salivary and lacrimal tumour and stromal cells.