Glandular Epithelial Cells (glandular + epithelial_cell)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Ultrastructural study of the intracellular behavior of four mineral elements in the lactating mammary gland cells: Study using conventional transmission electron microscopy

MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 12 2008
Ayadi Ahlem
Abstract The effects of parenteral injection of aluminum, indium, gadolinium, or terbium in rats have been previously studied in several organs such as the liver, the kidneys, etc., but never in mammary glands. In this work, we have attempted to study the subcellular localization of these elements after their intraperitoneal administration. Their subsequent effects in the lactating mammary gland cells have also been studied. Our results using conventional transmission electron microscopy have shown that the lysosomes of the mammary glandular epithelial cells are the intracellular site of accumulation of the studied elements. Our results have also show intracellular deteriorations such as an expanded ergastoplasm and altered mitochondria after intraperitoneal injection of aluminum and indium. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Estrogen-induced uterine abnormalities in TIMP-1 deficient mice are associated with elevated plasmin activity and reduced expression of the novel uterine plasmin protease inhibitor serpinb7

MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2009
Xuan Zhang
Abstract Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) is a multifunctional protein capable of regulating a variety of biological processes in a wide array of tissue and cell types. We have previously demonstrated that TIMP-1 deficient mice exhibit alterations in normal uterine morphology and physiology. Most notably, absence of TIMP-1 is associated with an altered uterine phenotype characterized by profound branching of the uterine lumen and altered adenogenesis. To begin to assess the mechanism by which TIMP-1 may control these uterine events, we utilized steroid-treated ovariectomized wild-type and TIMP-1 null mice exposed to estrogen for 72 hr. Administration of estrogen to TIMP-1 deficient mice resulted in development of an abnormal uterine histo-architecture characterized by increased endometrial gland density, luminal epithelial cell height, and abnormal lumen structure. To determine the mediators which may contribute to the abnormal uterine morphology in the TIMP-1 deficient mice, cDNA microarray analysis was performed. Analysis revealed that expression of two plasmin inhibitors (serpbinb2 and serbinb7) was significantly reduced in the TIMP-1 null mice. Associated with the reduction in expression of these inhibitors was a significant increase in plasmin activity. Localization of the novel uterine serpinb7 revealed that expression was confined to the luminal and glandular epithelial cells. Further, expression of uterine serpinb7 was decreased by estrogen and showed an inverse relationship with plasmin activity. We conclude from these studies that in addition to controlling MMP activity, TIMP-1 may also control activity of serine proteases through modulation of serine protease inhibitors such as serpinb7. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 160,172, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Mapping pro- and antiangiogenic factors on the surface of prostasomes of normal and malignant cell origin

THE PROSTATE, Issue 8 2010
Adil A. Babiker
Abstract BACKGROUND Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels by capillary sprouting from pre-existing vessels. Tumor growth is angiogenesis-dependent and the formation of new blood vessels is associated with the increased expression of angiogenic factors. Prostasomes are secretory granules produced, stored and released by the glandular epithelial cells of the prostate. We investigated the expression of selected angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors on the surface of prostasomes of different origins as well as the direct effect of prostasomes on angiogenesis. METHODS VEGF, endothelin-1, endostatin, and thrombospondin-1 were determined on prostasomes from seminal fluid and human prostate cancer cell lines (DU145,PC-3,LNCaP) using different immunochemical techniques. Human dermal microvascular endothelial cells were incubated with seminal and DU145 cell-prostasomes and with radioactive thymidine. The effect of prostasomes on angiogenesis was judged by measuring the uptake of labeled thymidine. The presence of any deleterious effects of prostasomes on the endothelial cells was investigated using thymidine assay and confocal laser microscopy. RESULTS VEGF and endothelin-1 were determined on malignant cell-prostasomes (no difference between cell lines) but not determined on seminal prostasomes. The same applies for the expression of endostatin but with much higher expression on malignant cell-prostasomes with obvious differences between them. Seminal and DU145 cell-prostasomes were found to have anti-angiogenic effect which was more expressed by DU145 cell-prostasomes. No deleterious effect of prostasomes on endothelial function was detected using either thymidine assay or microscopy. CONCLUSIONS Prostasomes contain pro- and anti-angiogenic factors that function to counteract each other unless the impact from one side exceeds the other to bring about dysequilibrium. Prostate 70: 834,847, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


The expression of androgen-responsive genes is Up-Regulated in the epithelia of benign prostatic hyperplasia

THE PROSTATE, Issue 16 2009
Katherine J. O'Malley
Abstract BACKGROUND Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases among aging men in the United States. In addition to aging, the presence of androgens is another major risk factor in BPH development. However, whether androgen signaling is altered in BPH remains unclear. To determine androgen signaling in BPH, we characterized the expression of four different androgen-responsive genes, Eaf2/U19, ELL2, FKBP5, and PSA, in BPH and adjacent normal glandular epithelial cells. METHODS A set of 17 BPH specimens were resected from patients over 60 years of age with clinical symptoms of BPH. Laser-capture microdissection (LCM) was used to isolate glandular epithelial cells from BPH areas and adjacent normal areas, separately. LCM isolated cells from individual specimens were lysed and RNA isolation, reverse transcription, and real-time PCR were performed using CellsDirectÔ One-Step qRT-PCR Kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). RESULTS All of the assayed genes displayed increased expression, from ,2- to ,6-fold, in BPH as compared to the adjacent normal epithelial cells. We also generated a composite androgen response index based on the expression levels of the four genes, which provides a reliable readout for overall androgen action. Our study showed that the composite androgen response index in BPH is ,4-fold as compared to that in the adjacent normal tissues. CONCLUSIONS Androgen signaling is significantly elevated in BPH relative to the adjacent normal prostate. Understanding the mechanisms causing elevated androgen signaling may lead to novel approaches for prevention and/or treatment of BPH. Prostate 69: 1716,1723, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Pseudo-placentational Endometrial Cysts in a Bitch

ANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 1 2010
C. Bartel
Summary Cystic alterations of the canine endometrium compromise reproduction and fertility of the bitch and may lead to life-threatening diseases, such as pyometra. Even without clinical evidence, reduction of the uterine lumen by cysts implicates disturbances during migration, nidation and development of the embryo. Several studies point to the high variability of morphology of uterine endometrial cysts but they lack detailed analyses of alterations. In the present study, immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the expression of steroid hormone receptors (oestrogen, progesterone), proliferation activity, inflammation and infection in the cystic affected tissue regions in contrast to the normal endometrium. Oestrogen receptor expression showed a high density of receptors throughout the surface epithelial cells, crypt epithelial cells, glandular epithelial cells and stromal cells of the normal endometrium as well as the cystic affected regions. Proliferation in the cysts was verified in the middle and basal cells of the crypts. Neither in the endometrium nor in the cysts inflammatory processes or evidence of infection could be detected. Furthermore, lectin histochemistry and electron microscopic methods showed that lectin binding patterns and cell morphology of internal epithelial lining and surface epithelium of the cysts can be used to characterize and distinguish different types of cystic alterations. Analogies between epithelial cells of the glandular chambers of the canine placenta and the cystic cellular morphology, steroid hormone receptor distribution as well as lectin binding patterns of the endometrial cysts, as observed in this study, suggest to introduce the term ,pseudo-placentational endometrial cysts'. [source]


Localization of Hyaluronic Acid in the Seminal Vesicles of the Miniature Pig

ANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 1 2007
A. Sakairi
Summary We studied the detailed localization of hyaluronic acid in the seminal vesicles of the miniature pig, using hyaluronic acid-binding protein as a specific histochemical probe at the ultrastructural level. According to the results, the basolateral surface of the plasma membrane of the glandular epithelial cells, was found to contain hyaluronan. However, abundantly present was hyaluronan in the subepithelial connective tissue, in particular, in the extracellular matrix surrounding the fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, small blood vessels and capillaries. The substance was also observed in the surface coat of the plasma membrane of the fibroblasts, but not in that of the smooth muscle cells. The findings suggest that hyaluronan in the seminal vesicles of the miniature pig is synthesized onto the surface coat of the plasma membrane of the fibroblasts, is contributed to the extracellular matrix, and consequently concentrates in the subepithelial connective tissue. The substance may particularly be involved in a variety of cellular functions to maintain morphological organization as well as to regulate physiological homeostasis in the reproductive organ of this species, rather than participate in sperm functions. [source]


Oxytocin mRNA content in the endometrium of non-pregnant women

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
Margareta Steinwall
Objective To study oxytocin mRNA in the human endometrium at different phases of the menstrual cycle. Design An exploratory study in non-pregnant women. Setting The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lund University Hospital, Sweden. Participants Thirty-three women of fertile age undergoing hysterectomy or endometrial curettage on routine benign gynaecologic indications. Methods Endometrial tissue was obtained throughout the menstrual cycle. The presence of oxytocin mRNA was investigated by in situ hybridisation and by real time PCR. Main outcome measures Oxytocin mRNA signalling intensity found by in situ hybridisation of tissue obtained at different times of the menstrual cycle. Relative amounts of oxytocin mRNA measured by real time PCR. Results The signal for oxytocin mRNA obtained by in situ hybridisation was more pronounced in glandular epithelial cells than in stromal cells. Furthermore, it was most marked around mid-cycle. The expression of oxytocin mRNA was confirmed by real time PCR. Conclusions The results indicate that oxytocin may be synthesised in the endometrium of non-pregnant women, particularly in the glandular epithelial cells. Hormone released from these sources may have a paracrine action on the uterus. Oxytocin mRNA expression seems to be ovarian hormone dependent with the highest concentration around mid-cycle. [source]