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Anat Rec (anat + rec)
Selected AbstractsROCK inhibitor (Y27632) increases apoptosis and disrupts the actin cortical mat in embryonic avian corneal epitheliumDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 3 2004Kathy K.H. Svoboda Abstract The embryonic chicken corneal epithelium is a unique tissue that has been used as an in vitro epithelial sheet organ culture model for over 30 years (Hay and Revel [1969] Fine structure of the developing Avian cornea. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger A.G.). This tissue was used to establish that epithelial cells could produce extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as collagen and proteoglycans (Dodson and Hay [1971] Exp Cell Res 65:215,220; Meier and Hay [1973] Dev Biol 35:318,331; Linsenmayer et al. [1977] Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 74:39,43; Hendrix et al. [1982] Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 22:359,375). This historic model was also used to establish that ECM proteins could stimulate actin reorganization and increase collagen synthesis (Sugrue and Hay [1981] J Cell Biol 91:45,54; Sugrue and Hay [1982] Dev Biol 92:97,106; Sugrue and Hay [1986] J Cell Biol 102:1907,1916). Our laboratory has used the model to establish the signal transduction pathways involved in ECM-stimulated actin reorganization (Svoboda et al. [1999] Anat Rec 254:348,359; Chu et al. [2000] Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41:3374,3382; Reenstra et al. [2002] Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 43:3181,3189). The goal of the current study was to investigate the role of ECM in epithelial cell survival and the role of Rho-associated kinase (p160 ROCK, ROCK-1, ROCK-2, referred to as ROCK), in ECM and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) -mediated actin reorganization. Whole sheets of avian embryonic corneal epithelium were cultured in the presence of the ROCK inhibitor, Y27632 at 0, 0.03, 0.3, 3, or 10 ,M before stimulating the cells with either collagen (COL) or LPA. Apoptosis was assessed by Caspase-3 activity assays and visualized with annexin V binding. The ROCK inhibitor blocked actin cortical mat reformation and disrupted the basal cell lateral membranes in a dose-dependent manner and increased the apoptosis marker annexin V. In addition, an in vitro caspase-3 activity assay was used to determine that caspase-3 activity was higher in epithelia treated with 10 ,M Y-27632 than in those isolated without the basal lamina or epithelia stimulated with fibronectin, COL, or LPA. In conclusion, ECM molecules decreased apoptosis markers and inhibiting the ROCK pathway blocked ECM stimulated actin cortical mat reformation and increased apoptosis in embryonic corneal epithelial cells. Developmental Dynamics 229:579,590, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Lymphatic/Blood Endothelial Cell Connections at the Capillary Level in Adult Rat MesenteryTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2010Jennifer L. Robichaux Abstract Analyses of microvascular networks with traditional tracer filling techniques suggest that the blood and lymphatic systems are distinct without direct communications, yet involvement of common growth factors during angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis suggest that interactions at the capillary level are possible. To investigate the structural basis for lymphatic/blood endothelial cell connections during normal physiological growth, the objective of this study was to characterize the spatial relations between lymphatic and blood capillaries in adult rat mesenteric tissue. Using immunohistochemical methods, adult male Wistar rat mesenteric tissues were labeled with antibodies against PECAM (an endothelial marker) and LYVE-1, Prox-1, or Podoplanin (lymphatic endothelial markers) or NG2 (a pericyte marker). Positive PECAM labeling identified apparent lymphatic/blood endothelial cell connections at the capillary level characterized by direct contact or direct alignment with one another. In PECAM labeled networks, a subset of the lymphatic and blood capillary blind ends were connected with each other. Intravital imaging of FITC-Albumin injected through the femoral vein did not identify lymphatic vessels. At contact sites, lymphatic endothelial markers did not extend along blood capillary segments. However, PECAM positive lymphatic sprouts, structurally similar to blood capillary sprouts, lacked observable lymphatic marker labeling. These observations suggest that nonlumenal lymphatic/blood endothelial cell interactions exist in unstimulated adult microvascular networks and highlight the potential for lymphatic/blood endothelial cell plasticity. Anat Rec 293:1629,1638, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Developmental Changes of Cell Adhesion Molecule Expression in the Fetal Mouse LiverTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2010Yoshinori Sugiyama Abstract Developmental changes of cell adhesion molecule expression, especially in nonparenchymal cells, have hardly ever been analyzed in the murine liver. The present study was undertaken to immunohistochemically examine the expression of NCAM, ICAM, VCAM, and N-cadherin during mouse liver development and in fetal liver cell cultures. NCAM was transiently expressed in mesenchymal cells of the septum transversum and sinusoidal cells in liver development. In vitro studies demonstrated that desmin-positive stellate cells expressed this cell adhesion molecule. NCAM expression in periportal biliary epithelial cells and connective tissue cells also coincided well with bile duct remodeling processes in the perinatal periods. Expression of ICAM and VCAM was transiently restricted to hepatoblasts, hepatocytes and hemopoietic cells in fetal stages. N-cadherin was expressed not only in hepatoblasts and hepatocytes, but also in nonparenchymal cells such as endothelial cells, stellate cells and connective tissue cells, however the expression was weak. These results suggest that each cell adhesion molecule may play an important role during development in hepatic histogenesis, including hepatoblast/hepatocyte-stellate cell interactions, hemopoiesis, and bile duct morphogenesis. Anat Rec 293:1698,1710, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Stochastic Morphometric Model of the Balb/c Mouse LungTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2010Pierre Madl Abstract The laboratory mouse is often used as a human surrogate in aerosol inhalation studies. Morphometric data on the tracheobronchial geometry of three in situ lung casts of the Balb/c mouse lung produced by the Air Pollution Health Effects Laboratory were analyzed in terms of probability density functions and correlations among the different airway parameters. The results of this statistical analysis reveal significant differences in diameters and branching angles between major and minor progeny branching off from the same parent airway at a given airway bifurcation. Number of bronchial airways generations along a given path, expressed by the termination probability, branching angles, and daughter-to-parent diameter ratios indicate that the location of an airway with defined linear airway dimensions within the lung is more appropriately identified by its diameter (or its parent diameter) than by an assigned generation number. We, therefore, recommend classifying the mouse lung airways by their diameters and not by generation numbers, consistent with our previous analysis of the rather monopodial structure of the rat lung (Koblinger et al., J Aerosol Med 1995;8:7,19; Koblinger and Hofmann, J Aerosol Med 1995;8:21,32). Because of lack of corresponding information on respiratory airways, a partly stochastic symmetric acinar airway model was attached to the tracheobronchial model, in which the number of acinar airways along a given path was randomly selected from a measured acinar volume distribution. The computed distributions of the geometric airway parameters and their correlations will be used for random pathway selection of inhaled particles in subsequent Monte Carlo deposition calculations. Anat Rec 293:1766,1786, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The Pleural Curtain of the Camel (Camelus dromedarius)THE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2010Gerald R. Buzzell Abstract The visceral pleura of the camel (Camelus dromedarius) possesses a fibrous curtain of pleural threads or extensions along its basal margins, which extends into the pleural cavity of the costophrenic recesses. These threads are lined by mesothelium and have a core or stroma, which is largely collagenous. Small threads are avascular and nearly acellular. In larger proximal threads, blood vessels in the stroma are often arranged in a branching network, with irregular endothelia surrounded by several incomplete basal laminae. Lymphocytes and other inflammatory cell types aggregate in the stroma near blood vessels. The threads are lined by typical mesothelium except in patches close to the main pleural surface. These patches consist of layers of loosely applied cells with numerous cellular processes and features suggestive of phagocytosis. The position of the pleural curtain in the costophrenic recess and the presence of possibly phagocytotic cells suggest that the pleural curtain stirs, samples, and cleans the pleural fluid. The pleural curtain appears to be a feature of camelids and has also been seen in giraffes. Anat Rec 293:1776,1786, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The Cytoskeletal Regulator Zyxin is Required for Viability in Drosophila melanogasterTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2010Patricia J. Renfranz Abstract The zyxin family of proteins function as cytoskeletal regulators in adhesion, actin assembly, and cell motility. Though fibroblasts derived from zyxin-null mice show striking defects in motility and response to mechanical stimuli, the mice are viable and fertile. In Drosophila melanogaster, the family is represented by a single homologue, Zyx102. To study the role of zyxin during development, we generated a zyx102 RNA-interference transgenic line that allows for the conditional knockdown of Zyx102. When UAST-zyx102-dsRNAi expression is driven broadly by Actin5C-GAL4, loss of Zyx102 results in lethality during the pharate adult stage, a narrow developmental window during which the fly must molt, resorb molting fluid, fill adult trachea with air, and execute a behavioral program to eclose. Zyx102 knockdown animals attempt to emerge, but their adult trachea do not fill with air. If dissected from the pupal case, knockdown individuals appear morphologically normal, but remain inviable. Anat Rec 293:1455,1469, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Development of the Tarsometatarsal Skeleton by the Lateral Fusion of Three Cylindrical Periosteal Bones in the Chick Embryo (Gallus gallus)THE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2010Yuichi Namba Abstract An avian tarsometatarsal (TMT) skeleton spanning from the base of toes to the intertarsal joint is a compound bone developed by elongation and lateral fusion of three cylindrical periosteal bones. Ontogenetic development of the TMT skeleton is likely to recapitulate the changes occurred during evolution but so far has received less attention. In this study, its development has been examined morphologically and histologically in the chick, Gallus gallus. Three metatarsal cartilage rods radiating distally earlier in development became aligned parallel to each other by embryonic day 8 (ED8). Calcification initiated at ED8 in the midshaft of cartilage propagated cylindrically along its surface. Coordinated radial growth by fabricating bony struts and trabeculae resulted in the formation of three independent bone cylinders, which further became closely apposed with each other by ED13 when the periosteum began to fuse in a back-to-back orientation. Bone microstructure, especially orientation of intertrabecular channels in which blood vasculature resides, appeared related to the observed rapid longitudinal growth. Differential radial growth was considered to delineate eventual surface configurations of a compound TMT bone, but its morphogenesis preceded the fusion of bone cylinders. Bony trabeculae connecting adjacent cylinders emerged first at ED17 in the dorsal and ventral quarters of intervening tissue at the mid-diaphyseal level. Posthatch TMT skeleton had a seemingly uniform mid-diaphysis, although the septa persisted between original marrow cavities. These findings provide morphological and histological bases for further cellular and molecular studies on this developmental process. Anat Rec 293:1527,1535, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Variations in the Thickness and Composition of the Skin of the GiraffeTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2010Farzana Sathar Abstract This study examined the skin of two 1- to 2-year-old male giraffes and one adult male, determining skin thickness and histological structure with reference to it functioning as a component of the features required for the maintenance of blood pressure, dermal armor, or thermoregulation. It has been argued that a tight skin surrounding the extremities of the giraffe aids in the movement of fluid against gravity, hence preventing pooling of blood and tissue fluid (edema), but the skin has also been implicated in the thermoregulatory capacities and defensive anatomy of many mammalian species. In one of the younger giraffes, one-half of the skin was analyzed from which close to 170 sites were measured. In the other young and adult giraffes, spot tests to confirm the pattern observed in the fully analyzed individual were undertaken. It was discovered that the skin varied in thickness across the entire body and within regions of the body. Histological evaluation revealed that the skin was mostly collagenous, although interesting patterns of elastic fiber densities were also apparent. The skin in the neck and legs exhibited a morphology that may assist in cardiovascular regulation of blood flow to and from the head and legs, and the skin of the trunk and anterior neck has the possibility of functioning in a protective role. The analyses performed could not add any new data regarding the thermoregulatory role already described for giraffe skin. Anat Rec 293:1615,1627, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Disease Stage Characterization of Hepatorenal Fibrocystic Pathology in the PCK Rat Model of ARPKDTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2010Stephen B. Mason Abstract The rat Pck gene is orthologous to the human PKHD1 gene responsible for autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). Both renal and hepatic fibrocystic pathology occur in ARPKD. Affected humans have a variable rate of progression, from morbidly affected infants to those surviving into adulthood. This study evaluated the PCK rat, a model of slowly progressive ARPKD. This model originated in Japan and was rederived to be offered commercially by Charles River Laboratories (Wilmington, MA). Previous studies have described the basic aspects of PCK pathology from privately held colonies. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of rats from those commercially available. Rats were bred, maintained on a 12:12 hr light/dark cycle, fed (7002 Teklad), and water provided ad libitum. Male and female rats were evaluated from 4 through 35 weeks of age with histology and serum chemistry. As the hepatorenal fibrocystic disease progressed beyond 18 weeks, the renal pathology (kidney weight, total cyst volume) and renal dysfunction (BUN and serum creatinine) tended to be more severe in males, whereas liver pathology (liver weight as % of body weight and hepatic fibrocystic volume) tended to be more severe in females. Hyperlipidemia was evident in both genders after 18 weeks. Bile secretion was increased in PCK rats compared with age-matched Sprague Dawley rats. The PCK is an increasingly used orthologous rodent model of human ARPKD. This characterization study of hepatorenal fibrocystic pathology in PCK rats should help researchers select stages of pathology to study and/or monitor disease progression during their longitudinal studies. Anat Rec 293:1279,1288, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Quantifying Mental Foramen Position in Extant Hominoids and Australopithecus: Implications for its Use in Studies of Human EvolutionTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2010Chris A. Robinson Abstract The location of the mental foramen on the mandibular corpus has figured prominently in debates concerning the taxonomy of fossil hominins and Gorilla gorilla. In this study we quantify the antero/posterior (A/P) position of the mental foramen across great apes, modern humans and Australopithecus. Contrary to most qualitative assessments, we find significant differences between some extant hominoid species in mental foramen A/P position supporting its potential usefulness as a character for taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses of fossil hominoids. Gorilla gorilla, particularly the eastern subspecies, with a comparatively longer dental arcade and fossil and extant hominins with reduced canines and incisors tend to exhibit more anteriorly positioned mental foramina. Conversely, Pan troglodytes exhibits more posteriorly positioned mental foramina. Variation in this character among Gorilla gorilla subspecies supports recent taxonomic assessments that separate eastern and western populations. In all taxa other than Pan troglodytes the A/P position of the mental foramen is positively allometric with respect to dental arcade length. Thus, within each of these species, specimens with longer dental arcades tend to have more posteriorly positioned mental foramina. Those species with greater sexual dimorphism in canine size and dental arcade length (i.e., Gorilla gorilla and Pongo pygmaeus) exhibit more extreme differences between smaller and larger individuals. Moreover, among great apes those individuals with greater anterior convergence of the dental arcade tend to exhibit more posteriorly positioned mental foramina. Dental arcade length, canine crown area and anterior convergence are all significantly associated with mental foramen A/P position, suggesting that these traits may influence taxonomic variation in the A/P position of the mental foramen. Anat Rec 293:1337,1349, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Microanatomy of the Mandibular Symphysis in Lizards: Patterns in Fiber Orientation and Meckel's Cartilage and Their Significance in Cranial EvolutionTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2010Casey M. Holliday Abstract Although the mandibular symphysis is a functionally and evolutionarily important feature of the vertebrate skull, little is known about the soft-tissue morphology of the joint in squamate reptiles. Lizards evolved a diversity of skull shapes and feeding behaviors, thus it is expected that the morphology of the symphysis will correspond with functional patterns. Here, we present new histological data illustrating the morphology of the joint in a number of taxa including iguanians, geckos, scincomorphs, lacertoids, and anguimorphs. The symphyses of all taxa exhibit dorsal and ventral fibrous portions of the joints that possess an array of parallel and woven collagen fibers. The middle and ventral portions of the joints are complemented by contributions of Meckel's cartilage. Kinetic taxa have more loosely built symphyses with large domains of parallel-oriented fibers whereas hard biting and akinetic taxa have symphyses primarily composed of dense, woven fibers. Whereas most taxa maintain unfused Meckel's cartilages, iguanians, and geckos independently evolved fused Meckel's cartilages; however, the joint's morphologies suggest different developmental mechanisms. Fused Meckel's cartilages may be associated with the apomorphic lingual behaviors exhibited by iguanians (tongue translation) and geckos (drinking). These morphological data shed new light on the functional, developmental, and evolutionary patterns displayed by the heads of lizards. Anat Rec 293:1350,1359, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Temporal and Spatial Distribution of the Cannabinoid Receptors (CB1, CB2) and Fatty Acid Amide Hydroxylase in the Rat OvaryTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2010P. Bagavandoss Abstract Although the effects of ,9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on ovarian physiology have been known for many decades, its mechanism of action in the rat ovary remains poorly understood. The effects of THC and endocannabinoids on many cell types appear to be mediated through the G-protein-coupled CB1 and CB2 receptors. Evidence also suggests that the concentration of the endocannabinoid anandamide is regulated by cellular fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Therefore, we examined the rat ovary for the presence of CB1 and CB2 receptors and FAAH. The CB1 receptor was present in the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE), the granulosa cells of antral follicles, and the luteal cells of functional corpus luteum (CL). The granulosa cells of small preantral follicles, however, did not express the CB1 receptor. Western analysis also demonstrated the presence of a CB1 receptor. In both preantral and antral follicles, the CB2 receptor was detected only in the oocytes. In the functional CL, the CB2 receptor was detected in the luteal cells. FAAH was codistributed with CB2 receptor in both oocytes and luteal cells. FAAH was also present in the OSE, subepithelial cords of the tunica albuginea (TA) below the OSE, and in cells adjacent to developing preantral follicles. Western analysis also demonstrated the presence of FAAH in oocytes of both preantral and antral follicles. Our observations provide potential explanation for the effects of THC on steroidogenesis in the rat ovary observed by earlier investigators and a role for FAAH in the regulation of ovarian anandamide. Anat Rec 293:1425,1432, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Analysis of Cardiac Development in the Turtle Emys orbicularis (Testudines: Emidydae) using 3-D Computer Modeling from Histological SectionsTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2010Laura M.F. Bertens Abstract In this article we present a 3-D modeling study of cardiac development in the European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis (of the reptilian order Testudines). The study is aimed at elucidating the embryonic development of the horizontal septum in the ventricle and underscoring the importance of 3-D reconstructions in studying morphogenesis. Turtles possess one common ventricle, partly divided into three cava by a vertical and a horizontal septum, of which the embryonic origins have so far not been described. We used serial sectioning and computerized high-resolution 3-D reconstructions of different developmental stages to create a chronological overview of cardiogenesis, in order to study this process. This has yielded a new understanding of the development of the horizontal septum and (directly related) the looping of the heart tube. This looping is found to be markedly different from that in the human heart, with the turtle having two clear bends in the part of the heart tube leaving the primitive ventricle, as opposed to one in humans. It is this particular looping that is reponsible for the formation of the horizontal septum. In addition to our findings on the ventricular septation this study has also yielded new insights into the developmental origins of the pulmonary vein. The 3-D reconstructions were built using our platform TDR-3-D base and enabled us to study the developmental processes in specific parts of the turtle heart separately and in three dimensions, over time. The complete 3-D reconstructions have been made available to the reader via internet using our 3-D model browser application, which allows interactive viewing of the models. The browser application can be found on bio-imaging.liacs.nl/galleries/emysorbicularis/TurtleGallery.html, along with additional images of both models and histological sections and animation sequences of the models. By allowing the reader to view the material in such an interactive way, we hope to make optimal use of the new 3-D reconstruction techniques and to engage the reader in a more direct manner. Anat Rec 239:1101,1114, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The Anatomy of the Gastrointestinal Tract of the African Lungfish, Protopterus annectensTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2010José M. Icardo Abstract The gastrointestinal tract of the African lungfish Protopterus annectens is a composite, which includes the gut, the spleen, and the pancreas. The gut is formed by a short oesophagus, a longitudinal stomach, a pyloric valve, a spiraling intestine, and a cloaca. Coiling of the intestine begins dorsally below the pylorus, winding down to form six complete turns before ending into the cloaca. A reticular tissue of undisclosed nature accompanies the winding of the intestinal mucosa. The spleen is located along the right side of the stomach, overlapping the cranial end of the pancreas. The pancreas occupies the shallow area, which indicates on the gut dorsal side the beginning of the intestine coiling. In addition, up to 25 lymphatic-like nodes accompany the inner border of the spiral valve. The mesenteric artery forms a long axis for the intestine. All the components of the gastrointestinal tract are attached to each other by connective sheaths, and are wrapped by connective tissue, and by the serosa externally. We believe that several previous observations have been misinterpreted and that the anatomy of the lungfish gut is more similar among all the three lungfish genera than previously thought. Curiously, the gross anatomical organization is not modified during aestivation. We hypothesize that the absence of function is accompanied by structural modifications of the epithelium, and are currently investigating this possibility. Anat Rec 293:1146,1154, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Onset of Apoptosis in the Cystic Duct During Metamorphosis of a Japanese Lamprey, Lethenteron reissneriTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2010Mayako Morii Abstract A nonparasitic lamprey in Japan, Lethenteron reissneri, stops feeding prior to the commencement of metamorphosis. Resumption of feeding cannot take place due to major alterations in the digestive system, including loss of the gall bladder (GB) and biliary tree in the liver. This degeneration of bile ducts is considered to depend on programmed cell death or apoptosis, but molecular evidence of apoptosis remains lacking. Using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining and immunohistochemistry with an antibody against active caspase-3, we showed that epithelial cells of the cystic duct (CD) and GB became TUNEL-positive by the early metamorphosing stage. Immunohistochemical staining of active caspase-3, a key mediator in the apoptotic cascade, showed that the apoptotic signal was initiated in the region around the CD in the late larval phase. In later stages, active caspase-3-positive epithelial cells were also observed in the large intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) and peripheral small IHBDs. At the early metamorphosing stage, bile canaliculi between hepatocytes were dilated and displayed features resembling canaliculi in cholestasis. Onset of apoptosis around the CD, which is the pathway for the storage of bile juice, and progression of apoptosis towards the large IHBD, which is the pathway for the secretion of bile juice, may lead to temporary intrahepatic cholestasis. The present study represents the first precise spatial and temporal analysis of apoptosis in epithelial cells of the biliary tract system during metamorphosis of any lamprey species. Anat Rec 293:1155,1166, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Ablation of Systemic Phosphate-Regulating Gene Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (Fgf23) Compromises the Dentoalveolar ComplexTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2010E.Y. Chu Abstract Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is a hormone that modulates circulating phosphate (Pi) levels by controlling Pi reabsorption from the kidneys. When FGF23 levels are deficient, as in tumoral calcinosis patients, hyperphosphatemia ensues. We show here in a murine model that Fgf23 ablation disrupted morphology and protein expression within the dentoalveolar complex. Ectopic matrix formation in pulp chambers, odontoblast layer disruption, narrowing of periodontal ligament space, and alteration of cementum structure were observed in histological and electron microscopy sections. Because serum Pi levels are dramatically elevated in Fgf23,/,, we assayed for apoptosis and expression of members from the small integrin-binding ligand, N-linked glycoprotein (SIBLING) family, both of which are sensitive to elevated Piin vitro. Unlike X-linked hypophosphatemic (Hyp) and wild-type (WT) specimens, numerous apoptotic osteocytes and osteoblasts were detected in Fgf23,/, specimens. Further, in comparison to Hyp and WT samples, decreased bone sialoprotein and elevated dentin matrix protein-1 protein levels were observed in cementum of Fgf23,/, mice. Additional dentin-associated proteins, such as dentin sialoprotein and dentin phosphoprotein, exhibited altered localization in both Fgf23,/, and Hyp samples. Based on these results, we propose that FGF23 and (Pi) homeostasis play a significant role in maintenance of the dentoalveolar complex. Anat Rec 293:1214,1226, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Histological and Ultrastructural Characterization of Developing Miniature Pig Salivary Glands,THE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2010Jian Zhou Abstract Salivary glands are a classic model of organ development and differentiation. Miniature pigs are considered as a unique animal model for salivary gland researchers in the fields of gene transfer, radiation damage, and functional reconstruction. However, there is little information about the development of miniature pig salivary glands. The present article was designed to study the developmental stages of salivary glands in miniature pigs using histological and ultrastructural methods. Sections from E40, E60, E80, E95 embryos, and P0 pups were stained with hematoxylin,eosin, Alcian blue, or periodic acid-schiff. Selected specimens were also processed for electron microscopy. The development of the miniature pig salivary glands can be divided into five different stages that refer to the stages of the developing mouse submandibular gland. The histological characteristics of the miniature pig salivary glands at different developmental stages were synchronously verified at the ultrastructural level. Interestingly, the development of the miniature pig parotid gland trailed that of the submandibular gland by ,15 days. Our study provides first-hand data regarding the morphological organogenesis of salivary glands in the miniature pig and provides a foundation for further research on this model. Anat Rec 293:1227,1239, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Ectodomain SheddingTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Kazutaka Hayashida Abstract The extracellular domain of several membrane-anchored proteins is released from the cell surface as soluble proteins through a regulated proteolytic mechanism called ectodomain shedding. Cells use ectodomain shedding to actively regulate the expression and function of surface molecules, and modulate a wide variety of cellular and physiological processes. Ectodomain shedding rapidly converts membrane-associated proteins into soluble effectors and, at the same time, rapidly reduces the level of cell surface expression. For some proteins, ectodomain shedding is also a prerequisite for intramembrane proteolysis, which liberates the cytoplasmic domain of the affected molecule and associated signaling factors to regulate transcription. Ectodomain shedding is a process that is highly regulated by specific agonists, antagonists, and intracellular signaling pathways. Moreover, only about 2% of cell surface proteins are released from the surface by ectodomain shedding, indicating that cells selectively shed their protein ectodomains. This review will describe the molecular and cellular mechanisms of ectodomain shedding, and discuss its major functions in lung development and disease. Anat Rec, 293:925,937, 2010. © 2010 Wiley,Liss, Inc. [source] Temporal Changes in Expression of FoxA1 and Wnt7A in Isolated Adult Human Alveolar Epithelial Cells Enhanced by HeparinTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2010K.B.C. Apparao Abstract Pre- and postnatal developmental studies of the lung have provided compelling evidence demonstrating multiple factors that orchestrate alveolar epithelial cell differentiation. The extent to which reactivation of certain developmental pathways in the adult might influence the course of differentiation of alveolar type 2 cells (AT2) into AT1 cells is not known. In this study, we examined selected members of the forkhead (Fox) family of transcription factors and the Wnt (wingless) family of signaling proteins for expression during human alveolar cell differentiation in vitro and determined their potential responses to sulfated components of extracellular matrix (ECM), like those shed from cell surfaces or found in basement membrane and modeled by heparin. Isolated adult human AT2 cells cultured over a 9-day period were used to define the temporal profile of expression of targeted factors during spontaneous differentiation to AT1-like cells. FoxA1 protein was upregulated at early to intermediate time points, where it was strongly elevated by heparin. Gene expression of wnt7A increased dramatically beginning on day 3 and was enhanced even further on days 7 and 9 by heparin, whereas protein expression appeared at days 7 and 9. These temporal changes of expression suggest that sulfated ECMs may act to enhance the increase in FoxA1 at the critical juncture when AT2 cells commence the differentiation process to AT1 cells, in addition to enhancing the increase in wnt7A when the AT1 cell phenotype stabilizes. Collectively, these factors may act to modulate differentiation in the adult human pulmonary alveolus. Anat Rec, 293:938,946, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Identification and Expression Analysis of a Novel CW-Type Zinc Finger Protein MORC2 in Cancer CellsTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Gui-Ling Wang Abstract Microrchidia2 (MORC2) is a member of the MORC protein family that is localized to both the nucleus and cytoplasm when transiently expressed in gastric cancer cells. We identified and analyzed the functional domains of MORC2, which has specific unique structural characteristics compared to the other MORC proteins. Our data showed that nuclear localization signals (NLS) of MORC2 was mainly dependent on the NLS amino acids (aa) 657,781 and cytoplasmic localization of MORC2 was attributed to the nuclear export signal (NES) aa 481,657. Moreover, the NLS appears to predominate over the NES in the localization of full-length human MORC2 indicating that MORC2 is localized mainly in the nucleus. Our results also demonstrated that the NLS (aa 657,781) and proline-rich domain within MORC2 C-terminus were required for the transcriptional repressive role in cancer cells. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Lung eNOS and iNOS are Reoxygenation Time-Dependent Upregulated After Acute HypoxiaTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Alma Rus Abstract Nitric oxide plays a critical role in many physiological and physiopathological processes in the lung. Changes in the NO/NOS (Nitric Oxide/Nitric Oxide Synthase) system after hypoxia situations remain controversial in this organ, so that the aim of this work is to perform a complete study of this system in the hypoxic lung after different reoxygenation times ranging from 0 h to 5 days posthypoxia. This is a novel follow-up study carried out in Wistar rats submitted for 30 min to acute hypobaric hypoxia. We measured endothelial and inducible NOS (eNOS, iNOS) mRNA and protein expression, location, and in situ NOS activity as well as nitrated protein expression and location. In addition, NO levels were indirectly quantified (NOx) as well as the apoptosis level. Results showed an increase in eNOS mRNA, protein, activity as well as eNOS positive immunostaining at 0 h posthypoxia, coinciding with raised NOx levels. Contrary, iNOS, nitrated protein expression and apoptosis level augmented during the final reoxygenation times. The lung NO/NOS system provokes two responses to the hypoxia/reoxygenation processes: (i) eNOS is responsible of the immediate response, producing NO, which causes vasodilation and bronchodilation, and (ii) iNOS is related to the second late response, which seems to be involved in some of the deleterious consequences that hypoxia induces in the lung. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Atypical Fetal Prostate Development is Associated with Ipsilateral Hypoplasia of the Wolffian Ducts in the ACI RatTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Luke E. Hofkamp Abstract For over a half century, the ACI (August × Copenhagen) rat has been a primary model for studying renal agenesis and ipsilateral hypoplasia (IHP) of the Wolffian-derived structures (WDS). Because the ACI rat is also used as a model for prostate research, it is important to examine the relationship of IHP and urogenital sinus (UGS) development. The prostate is dependent on androgens for proper growth and differentiation. Alteration in androgen production and/or delivery to the UGS has the potential to perturbate normal development. In this study, we investigate whether the ipsilateral loss of the WDS is associated with altered prostate development. Digital images of serial-sectioned fetal ACI rat UGS were used to create three-dimensional (3-D) surface-rendered models of the developing prostate, seminal vesicle, vas deferens, and utricle on gestational day 21. The number and volume of prostate ducts developing from the UGS were calculated from the 3-D model data. Animals exhibiting IHP had a significant decrease in total fetal prostate volume (40%; P < 0.005) with significant regional specific differences when compared with normal male ACI rats. Anatomical and histological differences in the utricle, abnormal histology of the ipsilateral testes, and a truncation of the ipsilateral Wolffian ductal mesenchyme were also seen in the animals with IHP. Additional research is needed to further understand the mechanisms and consequences of IHP on prostate growth and development. Alterations to normal prenatal development of the male accessory sex organs can have important consequences for the growth and morphology of the adult gland. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D as Significant Markers for Assessment of Lymphangiogenesis and Lymph Node Metastasis in Non-Small Cell Lung CancerTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Yukuan Feng Abstract Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and VEGF-D induce lymphangiogenesis through activation of VEGF receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) and have been implicated in tumor spread to the lymphatic system. Lymph node dissemination critically determines clinical outcome and therapeutic options of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the relationship of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and lymph node metastasis in cancers, including NSCLC, is still controversial. To evaluate the relationship between lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis, the expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in NSCLC tumors were detected by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR). QRT-PCR revealed that in marginal region VEGF-C and VEGF-D mRNA was significantly higher than in tumor center, and VEGF-D mRNA was also higher than that in peritumoral lung tissue. Immunohistochemically, we observed the same heterogeneous expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D proteins. The group with high expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in marginal region had a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis compared with the group with low expression. Furthermore, the group with high expression of VEGF-D in marginal region had a higher incidence of lymphatic invasion. The group with high peritumoral lymphatic vessel density (LVD) had higher expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D mRNA compared with the group with low peritumoral LVD. Our studies suggested that the expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D at invasive edge was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis or lymphatic invasion in patients with NSCLC and may be involved in regulation of lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis in NSCLC. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The Aberrant Expressions of Nuclear Matrix Proteins During the Apoptosis of Human Osteosarcoma CellsTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Zhen-Li Zhao Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate altered expressions of nuclear matrix proteins (NMPs) of human osteosarcoma (OS) MG-63 cells during curcumin-induced apoptosis of human OS MG-63 cells. MG-63 cells were cultured with curcumin (7.5 mg/L) for 72 hr. Morphological alterations of cells were captured using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, and cell cycle distribution was estimated by flow cytometry. NMPs were selectively extracted and subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) analysis. Western blots were performed to determine changes in the expression levels of specific NMPs. The results demonstrated that typical characteristics of apoptosis were observed. Cellular chromatin agglutinated, cell nuclei condensed, and apoptotic bodies were formed after treatment with curcumin. The 2-DE results displayed 27 NMPs, 21 of which were identified to have change in expression levels significantly during apoptosis. The altered expressions of three of these NMPs (nucleophosmin, prohibitin, and vimentin) were further confirmed by immunoblotting. These findings indicated that the apoptosis of MG-63 cells was accompanied by the expression alteration of NMPs. Our results might help to reveal the relationship between NMPs and the regulation of gene expression in the process of apoptosis, as well as provide the basic concepts for future studies on the mechanisms of apoptosis and the therapy for bone diseases. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effect of the Photoperiod and Administration of Melatonin on the Pars Tuberalis of Viscacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus): An Ultrastructural StudyTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Edith Perez Romera Abstract The pituitary pars tuberalis (PT) is a glandular zone exhibiting well-defined structural characteristics. Morphologically, it is formed by specific secretory cells, folliculostellate cells, and migratory cells coming from the pars distalis. The purpose of this work was to investigate differences in specific cellular characteristics in the PT of viscachas captured in summer (long photoperiod) and winter (short photoperiod), as well as the effects of chronic melatonin administration in viscachas captured in summer and kept under long photoperiod. In summer, the PT-specific cells exhibited cell-like characteristics with an important secretory activity and a moderate amount of glycogen. In winter, the PT-specific granulated cells showed ultrastructural variations with signs of a reduced synthesis activity. Also, PT showed a high amount of glycogen and a great number of cells in degeneration. After melatonin administration, the ultrastructural characteristics were similar to those observed in winter, but the amount of glycogen was higher. These results suggest possible functional implications as a result of morphological differences between long and short photoperiods, and are in agreement with the variations of the pituitary-gonadal axis, probably in response to the natural photoperiod changes through the pineal melatonin. The ultrastructural differences observed in PT, after melatonin administration, were similar to those observed in the short photoperiod, thus supporting the hypothesis that these cytological changes are induced by melatonin. Anat Rec, 293:871,878, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Evidence for the Influence of Diet on Cranial Form and RobusticityTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Rachel A. Menegaz Abstract The evolutionary significance of cranial form and robusticity in early Homo has been variously attributed to allometry, encephalization, metabolic factors, locomotor activity, and masticatory forces. However, the influence of such factors is variably understood. To evaluate the effect of masticatory loading on neurocranial form, sibling groups of weanling white rabbits were divided into two cohorts of 10 individuals each and raised on either a soft diet or a hard/tough diet for 16 weeks until subadulthood. Micro-CT was used to quantify and visualize morphological variation between treatment groups. Results reveal trends (P < 0.10) for greater outer table thickness of the frontal bones, zygomatic height, and cranial globularity in rabbits raised on a hard/tough diet. Furthermore, analyses of three-dimensional coordinate landmark data indicate that the basicrania of hard/tough diet rabbits exhibit more robust middle cranial fossae and pterygoid plates, as well as altered overall morphology of the caudal cranial fossa. Thus, long term increases in masticatory loads may result in thickening of the bones of the neurocranial vault and/or altering the curvature of the walls. Differences in cranial regions not directly associated with the generation or resistance of masticatory forces (i.e., frontal bone, basicranium) may be indirectly correlated with diet-induced variation in maxillomandibular morphology. These findings also suggest that long-term variation in masticatory forces associated with differences in dietary properties can contribute to the complex and multifactorial development of neurocranial morphology. Anat Rec, 293:630,641, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Masticatory Loading, Function, and Plasticity: A Microanatomical Analysis of Mammalian Circumorbital Soft-Tissue StructuresTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Eldin Ja, arevi Abstract In contrast to experimental evidence regarding the postorbital bar, postorbital septum, and browridge, there is exceedingly little evidence regarding the load-bearing nature of soft-tissue structures of the mammalian circumorbital region. This hinders our understanding of pronounced transformations during primate origins, in which euprimates evolved a postorbital bar from an ancestor with the primitive mammalian condition where only soft tissues spanned the lateral orbital margin between frontal bone and zygomatic arch. To address this significant gap, we investigated the postorbital microanatomy of rabbits subjected to long-term variation in diet-induced masticatory stresses. Rabbits exhibit a masticatory complex and feeding behaviors similar to primates, yet retain a more primitive mammalian circumorbital region. Three cohorts were obtained as weanlings and raised on different diets until adult. Following euthanasia, postorbital soft tissues were dissected away, fixed, and decalcified. These soft tissues were divided into inferior, intermediate, and superior units and then dehydrated, embedded, and sectioned. H&E staining was used to characterize overall architecture. Collagen orientation and complexity were evaluated via picrosirius-red staining. Safranin-O identified proteoglycan content with additional immunostaining performed to assess Type-II collagen expression. Surprisingly, the ligament along the lateral orbital wall was composed of elastic fibrocartilage. A more degraded organization of collagen fibers in this postorbital fibrocartilage is correlated with increased masticatory forces due to a more fracture-resistant diet. Furthermore, the lack of marked changes in the extracellular composition of the lateral orbital wall related to tissue viscoelasticity suggests it is unlikely that long-term exposure to elevated masticatory stresses underlies the development of a bony postorbital bar. Anat Rec, 293:642,650, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The Immunohistochemical Characterization of Human Fetal Olfactory Bulb and Olfactory Ensheathing Cells in Culture as a Source for Clinical CNS RestorationTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Kai Liu Abstract Clinical studies have expanded the therapeutic olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) transplantation to different human Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases. In fact, the OEC transplantation in clinic is a mixture of olfactory bulb cells; they even have not demonstrated that they have such a subpopulation yet. However, as a source of OECs transplantation, the development and identification of human fetal OECs are still need more understanding, because some surgery try to restoration CNS injury with a more purity of OEC cultures generated by a number of different procedures. In this article, twelve human fetal olfactory bulb (OB) samples were obtained from six fetuses in 20 weeks of gestation, it was studied by immunofluorescence on histological sections and cultured cells with multiple antibodies under confocal microscopy. The P75NTR positive OB-OECs (olfactory ensheathing cell from the olfactory bulb) were present in both outer olfactory nerve layers and glomerular layer. The percentage of OB cells in culture, about 22.31 was P75NTR positive, 45.77 was S100,, and 31.92 was GFAP. P75NTR and GFAP were coexpressed with S100,, respectively; however, P75NTR was not coexpressed with GFAP in human fetal OECs. It is suggested that the localization and development of human OECs in OB are different to those in rodent, and the P75NTR immunohistological staining is still necessary to identify and characterize human fetal OECs in culture before transplantation. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] S -Allyl- L -Cysteine Sulfoxide Inhibits Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Induced Monocyte Adhesion and Intercellular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 Expression in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial CellsTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Chai Hui Abstract Garlic and its water-soluble allyl sulfur-containing compound, S -Allyl- L -cysteine Sulfoxide (ACSO), have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, inhibiting the development of atherosclerosis. However, little is known about the mechanism(s) underlying the therapeutic effect of ACSO in inhibiting the formation of atherosclerostic lesion. This study aimed to investigate whether ACSO could modulate tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-,)-induced expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, monocyte adhesion and TNF-,-mediated signaling in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. While TNF-, promoted the intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 mRNA transcription in a dose- and time-dependent manner, ACSO treatment significantly reduced the levels of TNF-,-induced intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 mRNA transcripts (P < 0.01). Furthermore, ACSO dramatically inhibited TNF-, triggered adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to endothelial cells and porcine coronary artery rings. Moreover, ACSO mitigated TNF-, induced depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and overproduction of superoxide anion, associated with the inhibition of NOX4, a subunit of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase, mRNA transcription. In addition, ACSO also inhibited TNF-,-induced phosphorylation of JNK, ERK1/2 and I,B, but not p38. Apparently, ACSO inhibited proinflammatory cytokine-induced adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and related intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression, maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential, and suppressing the overproduction of superoxide anion in endothelial cells. Therefore, our findings may provide new insights into ACSO on controlling TNF-,-mediated inflammation and vascular disease. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effect of Maternal Protein Restriction During Pregnancy and Lactation on the Number of Cardiomyocytes in the Postproliferative Weanling Rat HeartTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Kyungjoon Lim Abstract Maternal protein restriction leads to a reduction in the number of cardiomyocytes in the rat heart at birth. However, in rats, cardiomyocytes continue to proliferate until about 2 weeks after birth. Hence, this study aimed to examine the effect of maternal protein restriction, on the number of cardiomyocytes in the young rat heart at a time point when the cardiomyocytes have ceased proliferating and are terminally differentiated. Female Wistar Kyoto rats were fed either a normal protein diet (NPD; 20% casein) or a low protein diet (LPD; 8.7% casein) during pregnancy and lactation. Offspring (seven males and seven females per group) were perfusion fixed at 4 weeks of age. Heart volume and total cardiomyocyte number were determined using stereological techniques. At 4 weeks of age, body weights in both male and female LPD offspring were significantly reduced compared with NPD controls whereas relative heart volumes were significantly increased in LPD offspring. Total number of cardiomyocytes was not significantly different between groups. In both groups, there was a significant linear correlation between cardiomyocyte number and heart volume. In conclusion, total cardiomyocyte number in the postproliferative rat heart does not appear to be affected by maternal protein restriction per se but is directly related to heart size. Anat Rec, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||