Ventrally emigrating neural tube cells migrate into the developing vestibulocochlear nerve and otic vesicle

Virtually all cell types in the inner ear develop from the cells of the otic vesicle. The otic vesicle is formed by the invagination of non-neural ectodermal cells known as the otic placode. We investigated whether a recently described cell population, originating from the ventral part of the hindbrain neural tube known as the ventrally emigrating neural tube (VENT) cells, also contributes cells to the otic vesicle. The ventral hindbrain neural tube cells were labeled with the fluorescent vital dye DiI or replication-deficient retroviruses containing the LacZ gene in chick embryos on embryonic day 2, after the emigration of neural crest from this region. One day later, the labeled cells were detected only in the hindbrain neural tube. Shortly thereafter, the labeled cells began to appear in the eighth (vestibulocochlear) cranial nerve and otic vesicle. From embryonic day 3.5-5, the labeled cells were detected in the major derivatives of the otic vesicle, i.e. the endolymphatic duct, semicircular canals, utricle, saccule, cochlea, and vestibulocochlear ganglion. That the emigrated cells originated from the ventral part of the hindbrain neural tube was confirmed by focal application of DiI impregnated filter paper and with quail chimeras. It is concluded that, in addition to the otic placode cells, the otic vesicle also contains the ventrally emigrating neural tube cells, and that both cell populations contribute to the structures and cell types in the inner ear. It is well known that inductive signals from the hindbrain are required for the morphogenesis of the inner ear. The migration of the hindbrain neural tube cells into the otic vesicle raises the possibility that the inductive effect of the hindbrain might be mediated, at least in part, by the ventrally emigrating neural tube cells and that, therefore, a mechanism exists that involves cells rather than diffusible molecules only.     

Effects of opiates on the growth of neuron-enriched cultures from chick embryonic brain

Neuron-enriched cultures derived from 6-day-old chick embryo cerebral hemispheres were treated with morphine or methadone, 10(-5) M or 10(-6) M, on days 4-6 or 6-8 in culture and were evaluated morphologically and biochemically at day 9 using phase contrast microscopy and choline acetyltransferase activity (ChAT) as a cholinergic marker. The treatment of the cultures with morphine markedly affected their growth pattern; specifically, we observed an increased number of flat cells presumptively glia, and aggregates sided by flat cells and devoid of thick bundles of neuritic processes that normally characterize neuron-enriched cultures. These morphologic changes were reflected in a drastic decrease of ChAT activity in cultures treated from day 4 to day 6 but not from 6 to 8. In contrast to morphine, exposure to 10(-6) M methadone from day 4 to day 6 resulted in reduced ChAT activity but the growth pattern of the cultures remained morphologically intact. We suggest that morphine exerts a general neurotoxic effect whereas methadone may affect some specific cholinergic function.     

Biochemical and ultrastructural alterations produced by miconazole and econazole in Trypanosoma cruzi

Miconazole and econazole, two fungicide imidazole derivatives, completely inhibited growth of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tulahuen strain) at concentrations of about 20 muM. Culturing of T. cruzi in the presence of lower doses of imidazole derivatives produced: decrease of 5,7-diene sterol content in epimastigotes (including ergosterol); disappearance of the nuclear chromatin, vacuolization and decrease in the electron density of the cytoplasm; selective surface alterations as revealed by an increased response to wheat-germ- and phytohemagglutinin. At variance with the effect of miconazole on Candida (De Nollin et al. (1977) Antimicrobial. Agents Chemother. 11, 500-513), miconazole and econazole, under the experimental conditions used, did not increase the rate of hydrogen peroxide generation by T. cruzi.     

人胚呼吸道上皮细胞非时序DNA合成

为研究和比较化学致癌物对人呼吸道上皮细胞和纤维母细胞的损伤及损伤后DNA修复合成的差异,作者用直接致癌物4-硝基喹啉-1-氧化物(4-NQO)和间接致癌物3,4-苯并芘(BaP)处理人胚鼻咽、气管上皮细胞和纤维母细胞,用放射自显影术测定这3种细胞的非时序脱氧核糖核酸合成(UDS)。用4-NQO处理后,这3种细胞的UDS均呈明显的剂量依赖(dose dePendency)关系,但气管和鼻咽上皮细胞UDS平均分别是纤维母细胞的3.0和2.4倍。用BaP处理后,气管和鼻咽上皮细胞UDS呈现明显的剂量依赖关系,而纤维母细胞未见这种关系。气管和鼻咽上皮细胞的UDS平均分别是纤维母细胞的8.6和3.0倍。     

麦胚提取物对辐射损伤修复的实验研究

目的 研究麦胚提取物对小鼠辐射损伤修复的调节和保护作用。方法 采用辐射前或辐射同时饲喂一定量的麦胚提取物，观察小鼠经X射线一次性全身照射后的临床症状、30d存活率、骨髓微核率、外周血白细胞总数在不同时间的变化。结果 与对照组(单纯照射)比较，饲喂麦胚提取物可使小鼠的头面部皮肤、小肠黏膜、肾脏损伤症状得到明显改善；30d存活率为86．17％(P＜0．01)，提高存活率41．79％，保护系数为1．72；骨髓微核率4．62‰；比对照组(12．14‰)降低(P＜0．01)；外周血白细胞总数在7，13，20，30d均显回升(P＜0.05，P＜0．01，P＜0．01，P＜0．01)。结论 麦胚提取物对小鼠辐射损伤修复有一定程度的调节和保护作用，对于辅助肿瘤放射治疗具有重要意义。     

Development and Intrauterine Fate of Normal and Abnormal Human Conceptuses

Using the data from the Kyoto Collection of Human Embryos, three main topics related to normal and abnormal development of human embryos are discussed. 1) Wide variability was noted in developmental stage of human embryos at any given gestational age. This was true not only for the estimated ovulation age but also for ‘coital’ age in single coital cases. Such diversity in human prenatal development may be, at least in part, ‘normal’ biological variability and it should be taken into account when assessing the teratogenic risk of environmental agents to human embryos. 2) At the early postimplantation period prior to major organogenesis, the percentage of morphologically abnormal embryos is high (> 30%), which supports the clinical finding that a substantially large proportion of human conceptuses are eliminated at an early stage of pregnancy, often without the knowledge of the mother. The fate of undifferentiated abnormal embryos is not certain and should be studied. 3) Life-table estimates for normal and abnormal human conceptuses showed that more than 10% of all embryos recognizable at 5 weeks gestation are malformed or ‘potentially’ malformed. Because of selective intrauterine death of malformed embryos and fetuses, the proportion of the malformed drops to 2.4% by age 8 weeks and 1% at term. The cumulative intrauterine mortality rate of malformed conceptuses was estimated to be 93%, while the corresponding rate for normal conceptuses was 18%.     

Clinical outcomes of two different endometrial preparation methods for cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer in patients with a normal menstrual cycle

Aim:  To compare the clinical outcomes of cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer among patients with a normal menstrual cycle who had natural or hormone-replacement cycles.
Methods:  From January 2004 to June 2006, cryopreserved embryos following conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were thawed and transferred in a total of 720 natural cycles and 136 hormone-replacement cycles.
Results:  Cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer in patients who had a natural or hormone-replacement cycle resulted in clinical pregnancy in 43.1% and 40.4%, respectively; a rate of miscarriage of 14.5% and 23.6%, respectively; and a rate of ongoing pregnancy and delivery of 36.5% and 30.9%, respectively. None of these differences were statistically significant.
Conclusions:   Patients with a normal menstrual cycle who have natural or hormone-replacement cycles can be expected to have comparable clinical outcomes with cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer. (Reprod Med Biol 2007; 6 : 53–57)     

二硫化碳对大鼠胚胎发育及血清锌和铜含量影响的研究

本文观察了CS_2对大鼠胚胎发育及血清锌、铜含量的影响。发现胚胎着床前死亡率升高,胎鼠皮下出血、心包淤血及骨骼骨化不金的发生率增高。但无明显的致畸效应。14.1及103.9ng/m~3的CS_2对妊娠大鼠的血清锌、铜含量无明显影响。说明CS_2对大鼠的胚胎毒性与其对妊娠大鼠血清锌、铜含量的影响之间没有关联。     

鸡胚第一对弓动脉的发生

用印地安墨汁注入活体鸡胚心脏，在体现显微镜下观察１１２例第１０～２０期鸡胚第一对弓动脉的发生。第一对弓动脉于第１０期出现，至第２０期退化消失。第一对弓动脉出现时尚无相应的第一咽弓，随着第一咽弓的出现，第一对弓动脉的起始端形成一个突入第一咽弓内的动脉瘤样隆起，此隆起随着第一咽弓的增大逐渐发育成一对贯穿第一咽弓的弓状血管。第一对弓动脉可以分为位于第一咽弓内的近侧段和位于此咽弓之外，与背主动脉相连的远侧段。     

In vitro preimplantation mouse embryo development with incubation temperatures of 37 and 39°C

Embryos from two strains of mice were used to assess the effect of incubation temperature on pronuclear and twocell development to the morula/blastocyst (M/B) stage. Embryos from B6D2F2 and B6SJLF1 strains were cultured in medium M16 at either 37 or 39°C until 120 hr post human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or 0, 24, or 48 hr at 37°C and the remaining time at 39°C. Overall M/B development for pronuclear embryos was 0.6, 0, 32.3, and 52.4% for 0—96, 24—72, 48—48, and 96—0 hr at 37 and 39°C, respectively. Only 0—96 and 24—72 hr at 37 and 39°C were not different (P >0.10). Overall M/B development for two-cell embryos was 48.1, 78.1, and 98.0% for 0—72, 24—48, and 72—0 hr at 37 and 39°C, respectively. Percentage development at each time was different (P <.01) for each category. Additionally, the number of nuclei for morulae and blastocysts tended to be higher for embryos initiating culture at the two-cell stage compared to pronuclear embryos. The first cell cycle was most dramatically affected by a 2°C increase in incubator temperature. More advanced embryos can tolerate slight increases in incubator temperature more readily than pronuclear embryos.