DYNAMIC CHANGES OF ITO CELLS IN EXPERIMENTAL LIVER CIRRHOSIS OF RAT

That Ho cells in rat liver express desmin was confirmed by immunohistochemical technique. Consequently, changes of desmin-positive cells, lysozyme-positive cells and fibronectin were further studied in experimental cirrhosis of rat. It was found that desmln- positive cells, with the transitional feature between Ito cells and myofibroblasts or fibrobiasts under electron microscope, increased in number and expression of desmin in the necrotic areas as well as in the cellular fibrous septa, but decreased in number in the fibrous septa except those areas closed to the edges of the septa. These results suggested that Ito cells, myofibroblasts and fibroblasts might belong to the same cellular system and play an important role in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis. Meanwhile, it was also noted that changes of both fibronectin and lysozymepositive cells were correlated with those of desmin-positive cells. These provide evidence in vivo that flbronectin and Kupffer cells might exert certain effects on the migration a     

Isolated dihydroxyacetonephosphate-acyl-transferase deficiency in rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata: clinical presentation,metabolic and histological findings

Abstract Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP) is clinically characterized by symmetrical shortening of the proximal limbs, contractures of joints, a characteristic dysmorphic face, and cataracts. In the classical form an impairment of several peroxisomal functions and enzymes (plasmalogen synthesis, phytanic acid oxidation, 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase) has been repeatedly shown. Recently a variant involving only the peroxisomal dihydroxyacetonephosphate acyltransferase (DHAP-AT) has been described. We present a patient with isolated DHAP-AT deficiency and all clinical, radiological, and pathological features of classical RCDP. For the first time, microscopy and immunocytochemistry of hepatocytes could be performed. Conclusion In contrast to studies on classical rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata which have shown enlarged peroxisomes in numbers varying from hepatocyte to hepatocyte, the peroxisomes in our patient seem to be normal in size, number and shape.     

雌激素对去势宫内膜影响的形态计量评价

作者采用SD成年雌鼠切除双侧卵巢建立去势模型,并设雌二醇治疗组及假手术对照组。利用计算机图像分析技术对去势大鼠及雌二醇治疗后大鼠宫内膜形态变化进行了形态计量测量。结果表明:去势10周后大鼠子宫内膜呈明显萎缩性改变,而雌激素治疗后子宫内膜呈早期增生性改变。宫内膜厚度、子宫上皮细胞高度、宫内膜腺上皮细胞高度、宫内膜腺体体积分数和数密度、腺腔内径等指标可以反映宫内膜增生程度。作者认为,形态计量分析是研究宫内膜病理值得推荐的方法。     

Relationship Between Spine Bone Mineral Density and Vertebral Body Heights

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between lumbar spine bone mineral density (LS-BMD) and the vertebral body heights with advancing age and years since menopause. One hundred and sixty-three women ages 39–74 years (77 normal premenopausal, ages 39–54, and 86 normal postmenopausal, ages 46–74 years) were studied. LS-BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Vertebral heights were evaluated, using morphometry, as the sum of anterior (AHs), middle (MHs), and posterior (PHs) vertebral body heights from T₄ to L₅. The AHs/PHs ratio at the same level was also calculated. AHs, MHs, PHs, and AHs/PHs ratio directly correlated with LS-BMD; the correlations are AHs r = 0.80, P < 0.0001, MHs r = 0.75, P < 0.0001, PHs r = 0.76, P < 0.0001, and AHs/PHs r = 0.66, P < 0.001. Both LS-BMD and AHs are inversely correlated with age, and the regressions fit with both linear and cubic curves. The statistical significance of the correlations persists while maintaining age constant. The linear regression curve of AHs with age indicates that the spine height decrement rate is 2.12 mm/year, corresponding to 7.4 cm in 35 years. AHs decreases immediately after menopause fitting with a cubic curve model, with a decrement rate of about 3 cm in the first 5 years after menopause. We conclude that the measurement of the sum of vertebral body heights could usefully integrate LS-BMD evaluation in the clinical and epidemiological investigation of osteoporosis. Received: 30 May 1997 / Accepted: 14 November 1997     

Morphometrical and Cell Kinetic Studies of Normal Human Colorectal Mucosa

Morphometric and cell kinetic studies were performed on normal mucosa in 30 specimens of surgically resected colorectum. The average crypt length was 372 ± 57μm in the proximal colon and 506 ± 65μm in the distal colon, and the average cell numbers per crypt column in these regions were 76.4 ± 8.9 and 80.3 ± 8.8, respectively. In the proximal and distal colon, goblet cells constituted 23.3 ± 3.4% and 25.2 ± 4.0%, respectively, of the total cells in each crypt, and in both regions entero chromaffin cells constituted about 1%. The labeling indices of the proximal and distal colon were 9.4 ± 3.9% and 8.2 ± 2.2%, respectively. Combined microautoradiography and periodic acid Schiff reaction on selected cases revealed that the labeling indices of columnar cells and goblet cells were 11.0 ± 2.0% and 7.0 ± 3.2%, respectively. It was suggested that the increased number of larger goblet cells in crypts of the sigmoid colon and rectum resulted in an increase of crypt length and a decrease in the labeling index. These results provide information on the morphological and cell kinetic characteristics of normal mucosa of the colon and rectum. Acta Pathol Jpn 39: 725 730, 1989.     

Regeneration of myelinated fiber after crush injury is retarded in sciatic nerves of mutant Japanese quails deficient in neurofilaments

Regeneration of myelinated fibers in the sciatic nerve 2 weeks after crush injury was studied morphometrically in mutant Japanese quails deficient in neurofilaments and in normal quails (controls). There were fewer regenerated myelinated fibers per nerve at 10 mm (R₁) and 20 mm (R₂) distal to the crush site in mutants than in controls (P < 0.05). Both median and maximum diameters were smaller (P < 0.01) in mutants than in controls. On electron microscopy, transverse axonal area and axonal circumference were smaller (P < 0.001) at both R₁ and R₂ in mutants than in controls. The number of myelin lamellae was less (P < 0.01) in mutants than in controls at R₁, but was similar at R₂. There were fewer myelin lamellae in relation to axonal area in mutants than in controls at R₁ (P < 0.0001) and R₂ (P = 0.0032). The results indicate a retardation of both radial growth of axons and myelination around axons of the same size in mutants compared with controls. Such retardation may be explained by the deficiency of neurofilaments and the altered relationship between Schwann cell and axon in the mutant. Received: 18 December 1995 / Revised, accepted: 20 May 1996     

Peripheral neuropathy in mutant diabetic mouse [C57BL/Ks (db/db)]

Summary A new animal model for the study of diabetic neuropathy is presented. The homozygote (db/db) of the mouse strain C57BL/Ks shows severe diabetes with longstanding hyperglycemia. Electrophysiological studies showed severely decreased motor nerve conduction velocity. Morphometric examination of sensory and motor nerves at different levels revealed absence of large myelinated fibers, with morphological features indicative of axonal atrophy.Supported by Grant No. MA-5857 from the Medical Research Council of Canada     

Morphologic findings in central bronchi correlated to lung function data in obstructive airways disease.

Quantitative analyses of morphologic findings are the condition of clinico-pathological correlation studies. These quantitative analyses are possible by morphometry. The present correlation study shows that morphometry may therefore contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of obstructive airways disease: decreasing bronchial lumen and increasing volume of grandular ducts are correlated to increasing airways resistances (clinical parameters: RAW, FEV1). Increasing volume of bronchial muscles is correlated with resistance of airways at quiet breathing (RAW) and less with increasing residual volume (RV). Increasing volume of bronchial glands and glandular ducts is correlated with increasing resistance at forced expiration which is clinically shown by decreasing FEV1. These findings can be interpreted as follows. Airway resistances are mainly influenced by airway narrowing.At quiet breathing, muscle constriction is an additional cause of increasing airflow resistance due to bronchial narrowing. At forced expiration, however, mucus plugs probably limit the airflow because thickening of bronchial glands points to increased secretory activity. Until now it is not possible to understand why bronchial muscle volume correlates with residual volume.     

Exposure to forced swim stress alters morphofunctional characteristics of the rat thymus

The aim of this study was to investigate whether chronic stress, induced by repeated daily swimming during 21 days, alters the morphofunctional parameters in the thymus of adult rats. Our results showed that chronic stress reduced thymus mass, total number of thymocytes, volume of the thymus compartments and numerical density of thymocytes within thymus inner cortex and medulla. However, the percentage of apoptotic cells and the level of corticosterone were significantly increased. The percentages of CD4-CD8-TCRβ^low/high and CD4-CD8+TCRβ^-thymocytes were significantly increased, while the percentage of the least mature CD4+CD8-SP TCRβ⁻ thymocytes was significantly decreased.

These results show that recurred swimming procedure induces thymus hypotrophy and elevated percentage of DN TCRβ⁺ cells.     

Morphological changes of the soleus motoneuron pool in chronic midthoracic contused rats

This study investigated the morphological features of the soleus motoneuron pool in rats with chronic (4 months), midthoracic (T8) contusions of moderate severity. Motoneurons were retrogradely labeled using unconjugated cholera toxin B (CTB) subunit solution injected directly into the soleus muscle of 10 contused and 6 age- and sex-matched, normal controls. Morphometric studies compared somal area, perimeter, diameter, dendritic length, and size distribution of labeled cells in normal and postcontusion animals. In normal animals, motoneurons with a mean of 110.4 +/- 5.2 were labeled on the toxin-injected side of the cord (left). By comparison, labeled cells with a mean of 93.0 +/- 8.4 (a 16% decrease, P = 0.006) were observed in the chronic spinal-injured animals. A significantly smaller frequency of very small (area, approximately 100 microm2) and medium (area, 545-914 microm2) neurons, and a significantly higher frequency of larger (area, >914 microm2) neurons was observed in the labeled soleus motoneuron pools of injured animals compared with the normal controls. Dendritic bundles in the contused animals were composed of thicker dendrites, were arranged in more closely aggregated bundles, and were organized in a longitudinal axis (rostrocaudal axis). Changes in soleus motoneuron dendritic morphology also included significant decrease of total number of dendrites, increased staining, hypertrophy of primary dendrites, and significant decreased primary, secondary, and tertiary branching. The changes in size distribution and dendritic morphology in the postcontusion animals possibly resulted from cell loss and transformation of medium cells to larger cells and/or injury-associated failure of medium cells to transport the immunolabel.