Okajimas folia anatomica Japonica最新文献

We examined the dorsal lingual surfaces of an adult giraffe (giraffa camelopardalis) by scanning electron microscopy. The filiform papillae on the lingual apex consisted of slender and thick conical papillae. The connective tissue core of the filiform papilla was flower-bud-like in shape. The filiform papillae on the lingual body consisted of large conical papillae and the fungiform papillae were round in shape. The connective tissue core of the fungiform papilla was rose-like in shape. The filiform papillae on the lingual prominence consisted of more large conical papillae than that of the lingual body. The connective tissue core of the filiform papilla was trianglar in shape. The large lenticular papillae were limited on the lingual prominence. The connective tissue core of the lenticular papilla consisted of small spines. The vallate papillae were located on both sides of the posterolateral aspects. The vallate papillae were flattened-oval in shape and the papillae were surrounded by a semicircular trench. The top of the connective tissue core of the vallate papilla had a rough surface with no spines.

Androgen is closely involved as the cause of rupture of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in human. In dogs, however, factors contributing to rupture of ACL remain unknown. In this study, expression of androgen receptor (AR) and histological distribution of blood vessels in ACL, and serum testosterone concentration were investigated in relation with age and sex to confirm whether canine ACL is an androgen-responsive tissue. Materials of ACL were obtained from 26 dogs: 12 young female Beagles, 2 old female mixed breeds, 9 young male Beagles, and 3 old male mixed breeds. In all canine ACL, positive AR expression was recognized in the nuclei of the fibrocytes, fibroblasts, synovial cells, and vascular endothelial cells of ACL. Expressions of AR were lesser in old males compared to the young males; however, females had no age difference in expression. Distributions of blood vessels in the synovial membrane of the ligament were fewer in old dogs both of males and females than youngs. Although distributions of vessels in the interstitium were apparently fewer in young females. Serum testosterone concentration was significantly higher in young males. Females had no age difference in the levels. From these results, it is suggested that canine ACL is an androgen-responsive tissue, and this consideration seems to closely relate to the epidemiological background that the incidence of rupture of ACL of dogs is higher in females than in males.

Hormones have been reported to be involved in salivary gland's growth and development, but few studies have investigated the effects of glucocorticoids on the morphology of the sublingual glands around the weaning period. The objective of this study was to ascertain the effects of glucocorticoid administration on rat sublingual glands around the weaning period. Male Wistar rats were administered triamcinolone, a glucocorticoid, once every other day from 8 days after birth (experimental group). A control group was given vehicle only. The sublingual glands were then extracted at 15, 20, 25, and 30 days after birth. Samples thus obtained were subjected to Alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff staining, lectin staining, and immunohistochemical staining to assess cellular proliferative potential. And acinar cell circumferences were measured. We found that glucocorticoid had no effect on the production of acid or neutral mucopolysaccharides by acinar cells around the weaning period. Glucocorticoid administration resulted in hypertrophy of acinar cells between 15 and 30 days after birth. Early appearance of changes in α-mannose, α-glucosamine, and N-acetylglucosamine in secretory granules suggested that glucocorticoid may have acted to promote cell differentiation. The glucocorticoid had no effect on the proliferative potential of sublingual gland acinar cells around the weaning period.

The vagal motor neurons project to the gastrointestinal tract by way of the gastric, celiac and hepatic branches of the vagus trunk. We have examined whether single neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV) have collateral projections to the stomach, the duodenum and the intestines using a double-labeling tracing method. Following application of Fluorogold to the cut end of the accessory celiac branch and injection of cholera toxin subunit b (CTb) into the body of stomach, many Fluorogold- and CTb-labeled neurons were found throughout the DMV. Most CTb-labeled neurons (about 90%) were also labeled with Fluorogold. When Fluorogold was applied to the cut end of the accessory celiac or the gastric branch and CTb was injected into the duodenum, many Fluorogold-labeled neurons and CTb-labeled neurons were found in the DMV. About 20% of CTb-labeled neurons were also labeled with Fluorogold. These results indicate that many neurons in the DMV send collateral projections to both the stomach and the intestines innervated by way of the celiac branch. However, many neurons in the DMV projecting to the duodenum do not project to the stomach or the intestines caudal to the duodenum.

The Japanese macaque is an endemic species consisting of two subspecies: Macaca fuscata fuscata (MFF) and Macaca fuscata yakui (MFY). The MFY is indigenous to Yakushima Island and represents a subspecies of MFF that lives from Honshu to Shikoku and Kyushu, Japan. However, the differences in the skulls of the MFY and MFF are unknown, despite these subspecies having different skull sizes. The maxillary sinus (MS) indicates that the features of the frontal view reflect the transversal growth of the maxilla of the skull. In this study, we show the MS structures of the MFF (n = 9, 18 sides) and MFY (n = 10, 20 sides) using a cone-beam computed tomography instrument. Base on three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed images the MS and nasal cavity were found to present almost to no significant differences between MFF and MFY. However, we designated three classifications of the sinus floor based on the 3D MS images of these Japanese macaques: a round-like shape (type a, MFF = 66.7% (12/18), MFY = 45% (9/20)), a flat-like shape (type b, MFF = 22.2% (4/18), MFY = 35% (7/20)), and an irregular shape (type c, MFF = 11.1% (2/18), MFY = 20.0% (4/20)). The sinus floor shapes of the MFF were mostly type a, while those of the MFY were mostly type b. The prevalence of a root contacting the cortical bone is higher in the canine (26.7%, (8/30)) and second premolar (20%, (6/30) of the MFY at the nasal cavity, moreover, this value is higher in the third molar (42.9%, (9/21)) of the MS in the MFY. These results suggest that the features of the floor of the MS are related to the differences in maxillary root apices teeth between MMF and MMF.

Arylsulfatase A (ArsA) has been regarded as a lysosomal enzyme involved in the degradation of sulfolipids. We previously reported the colocalization of non-enzymatic ArsA with heparan sulfate proteoglycan on cell surfaces in the mouse liver using tissues processed with phosphate-buffered saline containing Ca2+ and Mg2+. In vitro analysis also revealed the tight binding of ArsA to heparin. These results suggest that ArsA functions as a component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). To characterize ArsA as a component of ECMs, we extended our comparison to the distribution patterns of ArsA and the major hepatic ECM components (types I, III, IV and V collagen, fibronectin, and laminin) in the mouse liver at the ultrastructural level under the same conditions that allow the detection of ArsA. Here, we show that ArsA is distributed not only on the cell surfaces of endothelial cells and hepatocytes, but also on the collagen fibrils in the space of Disse. ArsA is additionally colocalized with these major hepatic ECM components on both the luminal and abluminal sides of sinusoidal endothelial cells as well as in the space of Disse. These findings reveal a novel structure of hepatic ECMs containing ArsA.

The injection of acrylic resin into vessels is an excellent method for macroscopically and microscopically observing their three-dimensional features. Conventional methods can be enhanced by removal of the polymerization inhibitor (hydroquinone) without requiring distillation, a consistent viscosity of polymerized resin, and a constant injection pressure and speed. As microvascular corrosion cast specimens are influenced by viscosity, pressure, and speed changes, injection into different specimens yields varying results. We devised a method to reduce those problems. Sodium hydroxide was used to remove hydroquinone from commercial methylmethacrylate. The solid polymer and the liquid monomer were mixed using a 1 : 9 ratio (low-viscosity acrylic resin, 9.07 ± 0.52 mPa•s) or a 3:7 ratio (high-viscosity resin, 1036.33 ± 144.02 mPa•s). To polymerize the acrylic resin for injection, a polymerization promoter (1.0% benzoyl peroxide) was mixed with a polymerization initiator (0.5%, N, N-dimethylaniline). The acrylic resins were injected using a precise syringe pump, with a 5-mL/min injection speed and 11.17 ± 1.60 mPa injection pressure (low-viscosity resin) and a 1-mL/min injection speed and 58.50 ± 5.75 mPa injection pressure (high-viscosity resin). Using the aforementioned conditions, scanning electron microscopy indicated that sufficient resin could be injected into the capillaries of the microvascular corrosion cast specimens.

This study was conducted in order to examine the effects of early postnatal maternal separation stress on the age-dependent fluctuations in the expression levels of neurotrophic factor ligands and receptors in the developing cerebellum. Wistar rats were separated from their mothers for 3 h each day during postnatal days (PND) 10 to 15. The expression level of mRNA for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and type-1 IGF receptor (IGF-1R) were evaluated in the cerebellum on PND16, 20, 30, and 60 with real-time RT-PCR. The mRNA levels of cerebellar BDNF in maternally separated rats were increased on PND16, while the other variables showed no significant alterations at any of the time points examined. However, the effects of an identical maternal separation on the cerebral cortex were previously reported to be completely different. These results indicate regional differences in the responses of neurotrophic factor ligands/receptors between the cerebellum and cerebral cortex. Given that neurotrophic factors play important roles in brain development, alterations in these factors may interrupt normal brain development and ultimately, lead to functional disruptions.

Thrombopoietin (TPO) and its receptor, c-Mpl, play the crucial role for the development of megakaryocyte and considered to regulate megakaryocytopoiesis. Previously we reported that TPO increased the c-mpl promoter activity determined by a transient expression system using a vector containing the luciferase gene as a reporter and the expression of the c-mpl gene is modulated by transcription through a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent pathway in the megakaryoblastic cells. In this research, to elucidate the required elements in c-mpl promoter, the promoter activity of the deletion constructs and site-directed mutagenesis were measured by a transient transfection assay system. Destruction of -77GATA in c-mpl promoter decreased the activity by 22.8%. Our study elucidated that -77GATA involved in TPO-induced c-mpl gene expression in a human megakaryoblastic cell line, CMK.