Microvasculature of regular and irregular areolae of the areola-gland subunit of the porcine placenta: structural and functional aspects

To examine the vasculature of the areola-gland subunit of advanced pig placenta, tissues from ten animals between 43 and 112 days of gestation were prepared for histology and for scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts from both maternal and fetal sides. Regular areolae, tributary to one gland only, are round with a wide-meshed and smooth subepithelial capillary network on the maternal side, which is similar to the pre-implantative stage and bordered by an abrupt rim towards the interareolar maternal capillary network. On the fetal side, the capillary network follows papillae which protrude into the areolar cavity or converge to form a ring towards the areolar periphery. Irregular areolae, in contrast, have indistinct boundaries and are characterized by two or more gland openings. The maternal capillary network has moderate density and follows the corrugations, whereas the fetal capillary network is basically two-dimensional with some blunt sinusoidal protrusions. Vessel architecture of both areolar types implies facilitated external inflow of blood into the areola on arteriolar as well as on capillary levels, whereas the outflow from the areolar capillaries comprises venules converging into one or two areolar stem veins, and therefore conducts venous blood in a manner different from that of the interareolar region. It is suggested that this arrangement could favour vascular control mechanisms in uterus, placenta and fetus. On the basis of these observations and the discussion, it is suggested that these areolaspecific vessel systems are important for sustaining the characteristic substance transfers in the areola, the secretion, metabolism and absorption, which according to the literature are not the same in the regular as in the irregular areolar type of the porcine areola-gland subunit of the placenta.     

Morphological characterization of different human cervical mucus types using light and scanning electron microscopy

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted on human cervical mucus using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The objective was the morphological characterization of the different mucus types, with samples taken from the lumen of the cervix and from the different secretory zones of the cervical mucosa. METHODS: A total of 230 samples from 195 women were spread out on slides and air dried. The phenomenon of 'ferning' was observed and assessed in these samples using both LM and SEM. Further samples from the lumen of the cervix and the different secretory crypts were spread out on cover slips and fixed with glutaraldehyde (2.5%) to be studied by SEM. RESULTS: The results show the presence of four different morphological mucus types, namely L, S, P and G, in both types of sample using dried and fixed techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Mucus from the lumen of the cervix appears to be a morphologically heterogeneous entity. It contains different types of secretions, the proportions of which vary throughout the menstrual cycle. The different mucosal types show different types of crystallization, different patterns of ultrastructure (probably related to the arrangement of the glycoprotein network) and are produced in different secretory zones of the crypts in the cervix.     

星形细胞瘤微血管密度与病理分级的相关性

目的 探讨星形细胞瘤微血管密度（MVD）与病理分级的关系。方法 对磁共振成像（MRI）术前诊断及手术病理证实的幕上星形细胞瘤石蜡标本进行免疫组化染色,测定MVD。结果 随着星形细胞瘤级别的增加,MVD值增高,且Ⅰ、Ⅱ级与Ⅲ、Ⅳ级之间有显著差异（P＜0．01）;MVD随着肿瘤直径增大而增加,但无显著差异（P＞0．05）。结论 MVD与星形细胞瘤恶性表型及生物学行为密切相关,可作为判断星形细胞瘤恶性程度的指标。     

血管内皮生长因子在乳腺癌中的表达及其与腋窝淋巴结转移的关系

目的：探讨血管内皮生长因子（ＶＥＧＦ）和微血管密度（ＭＶＤ）与乳腺浸润性导管癌腋窝淋巴结转移的关系。方法：采用ＬＳＡＢ法对６５例浸润性导管癌术后根治标本,进行ＶＥＧＦ的表达和微血管密度的测定。结果：６５例乳腺癌的 ＭＶＤ为（４７．６±２２．４）个,ＶＥＧＦ总阳性率为 ８０．００％;ＶＥＧＦ、ＭＶＤ与淋巴结转移有关,在腋窝淋巴结转移的乳腺癌组织中,ＶＥＧＦ的阳性率 ８８．８９％（３２／３６）,ＭＶＤ（５６．６±２０．５）,均明显高于无腋窝淋巴结转移者ＶＥＧＦ的阳性率 ６８．９６％（２０／２９）,ＭＶＤ（３１．３±１８．９）．差异有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０５）;ＶＥＧＦ和 ＭＶＤ在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的表达具有显著的正相关（ｒ＝８.２１３,Ｐ＜０．０５）。结论：ＶＥＧＦ与乳腺癌血管生成密切相关;ＶＥＧＦ表达的增高及 ＭＶＤ的增加对乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移可能有促进作用。     

腭裂修复术后患者与正常人群颅颌面形态的比较研究

应用X线头影测量方法对4～7岁时曾接受腭裂修复术的腭裂患者（现年龄为18～25岁）的颅颌面形态进行测量分析,将结果与湖北籍正常人群测量资料比较,结果表明腭裂修复术后患者颅底发育未受影响,面突角显著减少,上颌骨长度显著缩短,下颌角增大,下颌平面陡度增大,腭裂患者在4～7岁时接受手术治疗,至成年时存在不同程度的颅颌面发育畸形。     

Culture of epithelial cells derived from the oviduct of different species

This study proposes a procedure for the isolation and cultureof oviduct epithelial cells of several species. In-vitro cultureon such a feeder seems to allow full embryonic development andviability. The inner linings of Fallopian tubes from mouse,rabbit, cow and human were trypsinized and the epithelial cellswere enriched with Percoll gradient. Isolated cells, obtainedin high yield with good viability, were maintained in monolayerculture in B2-Menezo medium supplemented with serum, which alsosupports early embryonic development in vitro. The plated primarycultures reached confluence within 8 days, producting a monolayerof cohesive polygonalcells. Associated with this large epithelialcall population, ciliated cells as wellas polykaryotic cellsand few fibroblastic nestswere observed. After the first sub-culture,the ciliated cells disappeared and the epithelial cell monolayergrew rapidly to confluence with in 3 days and displayed contactinhibition. No epithelial cell growth could be obtained inculturein the absence of serum. The addition of oestrogens had no effecton any of the cultured oviductal epithelial cells. A sponotaneousalteration was observed in morphology and growth after severalpassages, the number of which depends mainly upon the species     

Quantitative cell and matrix changes in human humeral head osteoarthritic cartilage

A new quantitative method was devised both to establish an objective standard for morphometric diagnosis and to determine the extent of degeneration in osteoarthritic cartilage. Eight normal and forty-eight osteoarthritic humeral heads, subsequently confirmed by light microscopy, were obtained at necropsy. The articular cartilage was observed in situ with a laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) and morphometric measurements determined cell density (cells/mm), cell volume fraction (%) and mean cell volume (microm3). The osteoarthritic cartilages were classified according to the following four characteristics: increase in thickness, increase in cell volume fraction, decrease in cell volume fraction, and fibrous pannus. Deviations in cell density and cell volume fraction from normal means were calculated as extent of degeneration. Our present approach aims to provide valuable clues, such as objective stereological information and a unique reference for biochemical and traditional morphological analyses, that clinicians will be able to use in combination with other methods in order to establish a reliable diagnosis.