Visualization of the carotid body in situ in fixed human carotid bifurcations using a xylene-based tissue clearing method.

The anatomy of the carotid body (CB) and its nerve supply are important, because it is a potential therapeutic target for treatment of various clinical conditions. Visualization of the CB in situ in fixed human anatomical specimens is hampered by obscuring adipose and connective tissues. We developed a tissue clearing method to optimize identification of the CB.

Age-Related Variation in Sympathetic Nerve Distribution in the Human Spleen.

The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAIP) has been proposed as an efferent neural pathway dampening the systemic inflammatory response via the spleen. The CAIP activates the splenic neural plexus and a subsequent series of intrasplenic events, which at least require a close association between sympathetic nerves and T cells. Knowledge on this pathway has mostly been derived from rodent studies and only scarce information is available on the innervation of the human spleen.

A comparative anatomical and histological study on the presence of an apical splenic nerve in mice and humans.

The cranial pole of the mouse spleen is considered to be parasympathetically innervated by a macroscopic observable nerve referred to as the apical splenic nerve (ASN). Electrical stimulation of the ASN resulted in increased levels of splenic acetylcholine, decreased lipopolysaccharide-induced levels of systemic tumor necrosis factor alpha and mitigated clinical symptoms in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis. If such a discrete ASN would be present in humans, this structure is of interest as it might represent a relatively easily accessible electrical stimulation target to treat immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

A Retrospective Analysis of Female Müllerian Duct Anomalies in Association With Congenital Renal Abnormalities.

Study Objective: Müllerian (paramesonephric) duct anomalies (MDAs) are associated with several coexisting congenital abnormalities, including renal abnormalities. Although congenital renal abnormalities may remain asymptomatic, the consequences should not be underestimated. In both the literature and clinical practice, it remains necessary to improve awareness of the co-occurrence of different congenital renal abnormalities in women with MDAs.

Sympathetic nerve distribution in human lymph nodes.

Various lymph node functions are regulated by the sympathetic nervous system as shown in rodent studies. If human lymph nodes show a comparable neural regulation, their afferent nerves could represent a potential therapeutic target to treat, for example, infectious or autoimmune disease. Little information is available on human lymph node innervation and the aim of this study is to establish a comprehensive and accurate representation of the presence and location of sympathetic nerves in human lymph nodes.

Where do human sperm and egg meet?

Although it is commonly accepted that fertilisation in humans occurs in the ampulla of the fallopian tube, the peritoneal cavity might represent an alternative fertilisation site. Studies substantiating both fertilisation sites were reviewed and new insights on the fertilisation site in humans are discussed, including their implications for reproductive medicine.

A parapagus dicephalus tripus tribrachius conjoined twin with a unique morphological pattern: a case report.

Background: Conjoined twinning is a rare congenital malformation with an incidence of about 1.5 per 100,000 births. Because no consensus has been reached regarding the dysmorphology, thorough descriptions of conjoined twins as part of teratological collections can be useful to increase knowledge of this congenital malformation.

Morphological hallmarks facilitating distinction of omental milky spots and lymph nodes: an exploratory study on their discriminative capacity.

Background: Omental milky spots (OMSs) are the primary lymphoid structures of the greater omentum. However, the presence of lymph nodes (LNs) has occasionally been mentioned as well. Understanding which lymphoid structures are present is of significance, especially in gastric tumor metastasis; tumor deposits in omental LNs suggest local lymphatic spread, whereas tumor deposits in OMSs suggest peritoneal spread and hence extensive disease.

Splenic artery loops: Potential splenic plexus stimulation sites for neuroimmunomodulatory-based anti-inflammatory therapy?

Introduction: The splenic plexus might represent a novel neuroimmunomodulatory therapeutic target as electrical stimulation of this tissue has been shown to have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects. Tortuous splenic artery segments (splenic artery loops), including their surrounding nerve plexus, have been evaluated as potential stimulation sites in humans. At present, however, our understanding of these loops and their surrounding nerve plexus is incomplete.

Sympathetic nerve tissue in milky spots of the human greater omentum.

Omental milky spots (OMSs), small lymphoid structures positioned in the greater omentum, are involved in peritoneal immune homeostasis and the formation of omental metastases. Sympathetic nerve activity is known to regulate immune function in other lymphoid organs (e.g.

Development of a mRNA profiling multiplex for the inference of organ tissues.

Forensic characterisation of organ tissue generally occurs through histological and immunological assays of limited sensitivity. Here, we explore an alternative approach and examine a total of 41 candidate mRNA markers for their ability to differentiate between brain, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, heart, kidney and skin. Various selection rounds are applied involving 85 organ tissues (36 excised autopsy specimens and 49 frozen tissue sections, with at least ten specimens for each organ type), 20 commercially available RNAs from different human tissues and at least two specimens of blood, saliva, semen, vaginal mucosa, menstrual secretion or touch samples.

Brain penetration of synthetic adenosine A1 receptor agonists in situ: role of the rENT1 nucleoside transporter and binding to blood constituents.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) transport of synthetic A(1) receptor agonists was studied in an in situ brain perfusion model in the presence and absence of the selective nucleoside transport inhibitor S-(4-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine (NBTI). For 8-methylamino-N(6)cyclopentyladenosine (MCPA), N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), 2'deoxy-N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (2'dCPA) and 5'deoxy-N(6)-cyclopentyl adenosine (5'dCPA) the brain uptake clearance was low with values of 0.0045+/-0.

The influence of the P-glycoprotein inhibitor zosuquidar trihydrochloride (LY335979) on the brain penetration of paclitaxel in mice.

We determined the effect of zosuquidar.3HCl, an inhibitor of P-gp, on the penetration of the anticancer drug paclitaxel into the brain. Zosuquidar.

Increased penetration of paclitaxel into the brain by inhibition of P-Glycoprotein.

P-Glycoprotein (Pgp) in the blood-brain barrier limits the uptake of substrate drugs into the brain. We have determined the efficacy of several (putative) inhibitors of Pgp (cyclosporin A, PSC833, GF120918, and Cremophor EL) on the penetration of paclitaxel into the mouse brain. Pgp inhibitors were administered p.