Atypical isoenzymes of PKC-iota, -lambda, -mu: relative distribution in mouse foetal and neonatal organs.

PKC-iota, -lambda and -mu are recently cloned and characterized as members of the alternative group of this family of protein kinases. We performed an immunohistochemical study about the expression of PKC-iota, -lambda and -mu in tissues and organs of mouse foetuses and newborn mice, in order to evaluate their peculiar functions during the developmental stages. The specificity of the antibodies was tested by Western-blotting experiments with whole extracts from 15-day mouse foetuses or neonatal mice.

Histochemical and ultrastructural investigation on the cytotypes in the mouse Harderian gland.

The presence of melatonin and other biogenic indoleamines in the Harderian gland has been proposed by various authors. In the present work we would have investigated which of the cytotypes of the mouse Harderian gland might be involved in melatonin turnover. For this aim we employed the osmium tetroxide-zinc iodide (ZIO) histochemical technique that has been proposed useful to identify indole monoamines.

On the presence of a secondary cartilage in the mental symphyseal region of human embryos and fetuses.

The presence of a secondary cartilage in the mental symphyseal region was examined in this study. A double-staining method with alcian blue and alizarin red S was performed on both whole human embryos and fetuses (developmental age between 8 and 17 weeks, crown-rump length, CRL, between 37 and 124 mm) and their disjointed mandibles. Histological and histochemical techniques were applied to transverse serial sections of whole disjointed fetal heads.

Autopsical observations on the blood vessels in the human lower limb.

The heterolateral femoral triangles (Scarpa's triangles, trigona femoralis) have been examined in 48 dead adult subjects of Trieste to detect relevant macroanatomical variations, performing the autopsical method. Interesting differences have been found in the topography of blood vessels, above all the arteries, from that described as normal, or better, more frequent, in the literature. The three most relevant anatomical variations for both arteries and veins are described in detail; summarizing tables and related graphics are presented for the globality of the examined cases.