The effects of norethisterone oxime (NETO) on ovum transport and development, and on morphological changes of oviducts in rabbits were studied to evaluate the mechanism of its anti-implantation action.
NETO 2 mg/kg/day was given to mature rabbits from day 1 through day 3 or from day 2 through day 4 of pregnancy by gavage. The animals were anesthesized after various hours of administration, the oviducts were dissected out and divided into 6 equal segments. Ova in each segment and sometimes those in the uterus were collected by flushing the tube with saline. The ova were then observed microscopically for normality. Histological sections were made from different portions of the oviducts, stained with HE and PAS and examined microscopically. Recovery rate of ova was generally lower than that in control animals. Ovum transport was first accelerated and then retarded or even blocked. Ova which eventually entered the uterus might develop into blastocysts, but they were smaller in size. Mucin coat of ova markedly reduced in thickness. Mucin secretion from epithelial cells was less. Some degenerated ova appeared in the oviducts.
The oviducts were tortuous, hyperplasia existed in the epithelial cells. The mucosa exhibited edema, and the circular muscle layer thickened without increase in the number of muscle cells. This indicated a status of muscular contraction. Dilatation and congestion of capillaries appeared in the muscular layers and serosa. All these manifestations were so prominent that the lumen of ampullary isthmic junction and isthmus portion was significantly narrowed and the transportation of ova thus blocked.
The changes caused by NETO were very similar to those caused by exogenic estrogen. It is suggested that anti-implantation action of NETO in rabbit experiment is mainly related to its estrogenic activity.
A rapid semi-quantitative enhanced luminescence enzyme immunoassay for plasma factor VIII related antigen, which uses instant photographic film to detect the light emission, has been developed and validated using clinical specimens
Based on two associations of hepatocellular carcinoma with lupoid hepatitis and 10 such cases reported in the literature, a pathological study was undertaken to compare this small group of patients with general population of lupoid hepatitis in terms of sex and age distribution, duration of illness and underlying liver pathology, etc., and to attempt to clarify the possible predisposing factors to the occurrence of hepatoma in these patients. 21 patients with lupoid hepatitis were found from 54 241 autopsies (0.04%). Four patients were male (19 %) and 17 female (81 %). The average age at autopsy was 41 years with a mean duration of illness of 4.2 years. The occurrance of two associations with hepatoma among lupoid patients constituted 9.5%. In contrast, 12 patients with hepatoma showed a higher male/ female ratio of 4/6, a mean age of 59 years and a mean duration of illness of 16 years. The above data indicate that maleness and older age with long duration of disease in patients with lupoid hepatitis are more predisposed to the development of tumor. The possible mechanisms of carcinogenesis in these patients are discussed.
In rat hemorrhagic shock, we found that like dexamethasone, anisodamine (654-2) might increase the stability of hepatic lysosomes and improve the prognosis of shock. In vitro experiments showed that anisodamine had no direct stabilizing effect on isolated hepatic lysosomal granules from shocked rats probably due to its mechanism of action different from steroid. Experiments with isolated perfused liver exhibited that 654–2 could abate the labilization of lysosomes caused by hypoxia. From the above results it can be inferred that anisodamine might have a direct cell protection effect on the hypoxic or ischemic liver, and the protective action of 654–2 on lysosomes during shock is a consequence of its cell protection action.
In this study, we investigated the possible role of leukotrienes in the mediation of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) in rats. Diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC), an inhibitor of leukotriene synthesis, can block HPV, while minimally affecting the angiotensin II pressor response. The inhibition of HPV by DEC was not affected by cyclooxygenase or histamine H1-receptor blocker, and the HPV response could be increased by cyclooxygenase blocker. It is suggested that the inhibitory effect of DEC on HPV may not be related to the actions of prostaglandins, histamine and angiotensin II. HPV in male Sprague-Dawley rats and female Hilltop rats was completely and significantly counteracted by the leukotriene receptor blocker FPL55712, respectively. This lends further support to the hypothesis that leukotrienes might be the most important mediators of HPV in rats.
The distribution and morphological changes of intrahepatic blood vessels in CCl4-induced cirrhotic rat liver were studied. The terminal hepatic arterioles (THA) and terminal portal venules (TPV) showed a marked hemangiomatous or racemose proliferation during the early and middle stage of cirrhosis. The connective tissue around the hyperplastic nodules was rich in small vessels. The hepatic veins (HV) were decreased in number and slightly flattened and tortuous. The number of hepatic and portal venules decreased in the advanced stage. Their branches were arranged in rings and loops. Many anastomoses had formed in the middle and advanced stages of cirrhosis. The hepatic sinusoids showed stenosis and obliteration throughout the experiment. The results indicated that in early stage THA and TPV were increased and hepatic veins were decreased in number, but in advanced stage, Portal veins (PV) and HV were all reduced and showed marked morphological changes. The blood supply of regenerative nodules was derived mainly from PV and, to a lesser extent, from HA.
By anatomical study in 40 cadaver legs it was shown that the blood of the medial leg flap is supplied by the ramus saphenus, which is the cutaneous branch of the descending genicular artery. Venous drainage of the flap is by the great saphenous vein. The medial femoral condyle and the great saphenous vein serve as the markers of the top and the longitudinal ax s of the flap respectively. The vascular pedicle is about 10 cm in length, the flap measures 10×20 cm. This paper presents our experience in the use of the medial leg flap. The largest flap was 16×18 cm as an island flap or a free flap in 6 cases for repairing soft tissue defect of the knee, heel and hand with satisfactory results.
Recently preservation of traumatized spleen has been advocated. Splenic autotransplantation has been proposed as a method for preserving splenic function. This paper reports our experience with autotransplantation of splenic tissue in adults. During a 5-year period from 1981–1985, 102 patients with injured spleen underwent conservative surgery at our institute, 54 of whom received autotransplantation of splenic slices into omental pouches. One patient died of multiple organ failure 2 days after operation,. and another one developed adhesive intestinal obstruction and, therefore, required reoperation 5 months after the first surgical intervention. Histologic studies of this patient’s transplants revealed extensive fibrosis. 42 of the 54 patients were followed up, only 10 maintained a regular follow-up schedule. It was found that the neutrophil leukocyte to lymphocyte ratio was reversed in 7 cases, andα-naphthyl-acetate esterase assay showed the excessive peripheral lymphocytes to be mainly B lymphocytes. The size, volume, function and fibrosis of the transplants are also discussed.
On the basis of the general principles of cytocentrifuge, a simplified device has been designed, by which the cells in suspension can be concentrated and spread monolayerly onto a focal area on a microscope slide in one operation. The morphological details of the cells are well preserved.
This simplified cytocentrifuge has been applied clinically for several years. It has proved to be a useful tool in concentrating scanty neoplastic cells, abnormal and normal cells such as those in cerebrospinal fluid, ascites, urine and some other cell suspensions for cytological evaluation. The detective rate of specimens is highly increased, and much time can be saved, as compared with the traditional methods. The device has been simplified in structure and can De easily installed in an ordinary electrical centrifuge. In contrast to the same sort of tool used both abroad and at home, it is much cheaper and more convenient in clinical application.