Okajimas folia anatomica Japonica最新文献

 Okajimas Folia Anatomica Japonica was first published in 1922 through the private funding of Professor Keiji Okajima, the first head of the Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine. Back then it was the only western-language anatomical journal available in our country, through which the researchers could present their achievements worldwide. To this date, for about 100 years, it has been published periodically by the editorial committee in the department.  This time, the committee decided to put a break constructively; we suspend publication of this journal while anticipating the future resumption as a form adapted to the times. Accordingly, we have closed new submissions on September 30, 2019. Thank you for understanding and continuous support for Okajimas Folia Anatomica Japonica.

Embryo implantation is an immunologically paradoxical event. In humans and rodents, blastocysts adhere to uterine epithelium and then invade into endometrial stroma, while maternal body is protected from extraneous materials by its immune system. Eosinophils, a kind of leucocytes involving parasitic infections and allergic response, increase in number in uterus when serum estrogen level is elevated during estrus cycles. However, response of uterine eosinophils to ovarian estrogen during peri-implantation period is not clear. Therefore, we investigated the distribution of eosinophils in murine peri-implantation uterus. On day 0.5 of pregnancy, eosinophils were found primarily in endometrial stroma near the luminal epithelium, whereas they were primarily distributed in basal endometrium and myometrium on day 3.5 of pregnancy. The number of uterine eosinophils on day 4.5 of pregnancy was significantly increased by inhibition of maternal estrogen action. Collectively, our results indicate that the ovarian estrogen negatively regulates uterine eosinophil distribution during peri-implantation period and provide insight into a role of maternal immune system in embryo implantation.

In this study, the results of our previously reported technique of quantitative analysis by using microscopic image analysis of tissue image slices to calculate the proportion of the area of the tunica media occupied by of elastic fibers was compared with Janzen et al.'s technique at the carotid bifurcation. This particularly analyzed the area of transition between the common carotid and the internal carotid, to observe the quantitative changes in elastic fiber content. The data obtained from our quantitative analysis of elastic fibers were clearly at variance with those obtained by counting the number of elastic fibers. The amount of elastic fibers in the tunica media (the elastic fiber ratio) decreased from the proximal carotid artery (the common carotid) to the bifurcation, then peaked in the internal carotid immediately after the bifurcation before declining again.

We microscopically examined the dorsal lingual surface of an adult lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus). The tongue of the chimpanzee was about 13 cm long. Filiform papillae on the lingual apex consisted of several pointed processes. There were dome-shaped fungiform papillae scattered among the filiform papillae. The connective tissue cores of those filiform papillae consisted of processes of various size, while these of the fungiform papillae had several ditches. The vallate papilla was surrounded by a groove and pad, and were flattened-oval shaped. The connective tissue cores of the vallate papillae were covered with numerous small spines. Many foliate papillae were observed on the posterolateral regions of the tongue. After removing epithelium from the foliate papillae many processes became apparent.

We examined the dorsal lingual surfaces of an adult Chapman's zebra by scanning electron microscopy. The filiform papillae of the lingual apex consisted of a main papilla and smaller secondary papillae. The fungiform papillae were round in shape. The filiform papillae of central region of the lingual body were needle-like in shape. The filiform papillae of posterior region of the lingual body were hair-like in shape. Many grooves were observed on posterolateral regions and the fungiform papillae were observed on the inside of some grooves. The vallate papillae were located on both sides of the posterior region and surrounded by a groove. The anatomical characteristic of the lingual surface of the Chapman's zebra is the fungiform papillae on the inside of some grooves.