Tuberculosis of elbow and wrist joints - usefulness of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in morphological changes evaluation.

Tuberculosis is an infection disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium atipics. The disease involves first of all the lungs (about 95% of patients). The changes were recognized in locomotive system in about 20% of cases of the other location and they occurred mainly in the vertebral column, hip - joint and knee - joint [1].

Preliminary pharmacokinetic studies of Ukrain in rats.

Ukrain (thiophosphoric acid derivative of Chelidonium majus L. alkaloids) was administered to rats i.p.

Rearranged mitochondrial genomes are present in human oocytes.

Using quantitative PCR, we have determined that a human oocyte contains approximately 100,000 mitochondrial genomes (mtDNAs). We have also found that some oocytes harbor measurable levels (up to 0.1%) of the so-called common deletion, an mtDNA molecule containing a 4,977-bp rearrangement that is present in high amounts in many patients with "sporadic" Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) and progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO).

Patterns of immunocytochemically detected Z-DNA in the recrudescing testicular epithelium of the Turkish hamster (Mesocricetus brandti).

Z-DNA has been considered a labile but essential structural form of DNA in recombination and gene expression, two significant activities in mammalian seminiferous epithelium. The present study has utilized the recrudescing testes of Mesocricetus brandti to study in detail the potential Z-DNA sites in specific testicular cell types as detected by an immunoprobe. Testicular regression was physiologically induced by modifying environmental photoperiods and/or temperature.

Some characteristics of oogenesis in the female Turkish hamster subjected to modified environments.

The hibernating female Turkish hamster (Mesocricetus brandti) was utilized for a study of possible in vivo effects of cold on oocyte maturation. Such a physiologic model offered an opportunity to analyze the ability of oocytes exposed to prolonged periods of reduced core temperature and/or light to subsequently mature to Metaphase II. Detailed observations of core temperatures, torpor/arousal, serum estradiol, and ovarian histology were made.

The Cycle of the Seminiferous Epithelium of the Turkish Hamster (Mesocricetus brandti): (spermatogenesis/duration of cycle/turkish hamster).

The Turkish hamster (Mesocricetus brandti) has become a desirable species for experimentation in testicular function, photoperiod, reproductive hormones and hibernation. Basic data on the kinetics of the seminiferous epithelium have not yet been published. In the present study, the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium was divided into eight stages based on the overall cellular associations of 1540 cross sections of tubules.

Unique state of sexual dimorphism of crossing-over in diplotene spermatocytes and oocytes of Mesocricetus brandti, a species with neonatal oogenesis.

Sexual dimorphism of recombination has been held by classic genetic theory to disfavor the heterogametic sex. Assessment of chiasma frequencies at the diplotene stage of meiosis has been used as a valid measure of this concept and in many species has revealed, as expected, an increased frequency in female vs. male germ cells.

The chromomere map of the pachytene spermatocyte of the Turkish hamster (Mesocricetus brandti).

The chromomere map of the early to mid pachytene spermatocyte of the Turkish hamster (Mesocricetus brandti) is described. Each autosomal bivalent was identified and a total of 304 chromomeres was found. A sex bivalent with a despiralized Xq protruding from the sex vesicle and a small number of the polymorphic 16q bivalents were observed.

The pachytene chromomere map of the oocyte of the Turkish hamster (Mesocricetus brandti).

A study of the chromomere maps of the sex and twenty autosomal bivalents of Turkish hamster pachytene oocytes was carried out. The average total number of chromomeres in early/mid pachytene autosomes was 280 with 91 on the p (short arm) and 189 on the q (long arm). The submetacentric X1 chromosome had 20 chromomeres and the metacentric X2 had 27.

Colcemid effects on homologue pairing and crossing over during fetal mouse oogenesis.

Colcemid was administered to gestational day 13 female mice to test effects on homologue pairing, synapsis and recombination of fetal oogenesis. Pairing abnormalities were detected in pachytene oocytes by light and electron microscopy examination of bivalents and synaptonemal complexes. Reduction of total chiasmata per treated diplotene oocyte (22.

The immunocytochemical localization of potential Z-DNA sites in human testicular tubule epithelium.

Z-DNA has been detected in several pro- and eukaryotic cells and possible roles in regulating transcriptional activity and meiotic recombination proposed. The present study examined the localization of reaction product to potential Z-DNA sites in human testicular tubule epithelium from three subjects using an avidin-biotin complex (ABC)-immunoperoxidase method with a specific rabbit antibody previously shown to react with rat spermatogonial nuclei. A total of 46,626 cells were scored, of which 5656 were Sertoli cells.

Infertility in a patient with abnormal spermatogenesis and in utero DES exposure.

A young azoospermic patient is described whose spermatogenesis reflected an abnormality of meiosis. A diagnosis of asynapsis of chromosomes during early spermatogenesis was made by cytogenetic examination of a testicular biopsy. Standard histologic examination gave no indication of this abnormality.

A quantitative analysis of mitochondria during fetal mouse oogenesis.

A quantitative analysis of mitochondrial populations during the meiotic prophase of mouse oogenesis was carried out. The mean absolute area occupied by mitochondria and the mean number of mitochondria per cell increases in a linear fashion from pachytene through dictyate. The mean area occupied by mitochondria increases at pachytene and thereafter.

An analysis of the chromomere map and chiasmata characteristics of human diplotene spermatocytes.

A complete chromomere map of early/mid diplotene human spermatocytes has been developed which permits identification of each bivalent. Bivalents 9, 16, 17, and 19 demonstrated unique cytogenetic characteristics at this meiotic stage. The mean chiasma frequency per spermatocyte was 45.

Chromosome 21 behavior during fetal oogenesis in Down's syndrome.

Oogenesis of four cases of 47,XX,+21 at gestational ages of 19 and 20 weeks was studied using pachytene cytogenetic methods. We found a variable pattern of pairing behavior of the 21 chromosomes among the cases, which included partially synapsed trivalents, a bivalent plus a univalent, and three univalents. The bivalent/univalent conformation of 21 chromosomes predominated.

Immunocytochemical evidence for methylation of the inactive X chromosome in human fetal oogonia.

The state of DNA methylation of the X chromosomes of human interphase oogonia from a 46,XX and a 46,XX/47,XXX fetus at 17 weeks of gestation was tested immunocytochemically with an antibody to 5-methylcytosine (5MeC). Of 1637 oogonial nuclei from the 46,XX fetal ovary, 313 (19.1%) contained Barr bodies, of which 93.

The hibernating male golden hamster as a model for studying homologue pairing, chiasma formation and disjunction during spermatogenesis.

Although many studies have been made in an attempt to understand the mechanisms of chromosome pairing and genetic recombination, data on mammalian oogenesis and spermatogenesis are sparse. In the experiments reported here, spermatogenesis of the hibernating male golden hamster was used to test the effect of hibernation in the cold on some essential aspects of meiosis in this species. It was demonstrated that this physiologic state can result in increased duration of preleptotene synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), abnormalities in bivalent pairing, reduced crossing-over, and increased chromosomal nondisjunction.

Aging and aneuploidy in human oocytes and follicular cells.

The incidence of chromosomal aneuploidy in the oocyte and surrounding follicular cells in women of different ages was investigated. Oocytes and granulosa cells derived from ovarian specimens from a random population of 289 adult patients ages 16 to 76 years undergoing gynecologic surgery for nonovarian pathology were cultured for short periods, and cytogenetic preparations were scored for chromosome number and morphology. Of 91 oocytes harvested at second meiotic metaphase, five oocytes revealed a chromosomal abnormality.

DNA synthesis studies in pre-meiotic mouse oogenesis.

DNA fiber autoradiography was used in mouse oogenesis to test Callan's hypothesis that a longer S phase results from a reduction in the number of active initiation sites. The data indicated that the premeiotic increase in the duration of S phase in mouse oogenesis was characterized by a rapid initial rate of chain growth and a larger replicon size when compared with replicating DNA of somatic mouse cells. These findings were at variance with those in mouse spermatogenesis and also did not support the Callan hypothesis of activation site repression.

Unique effects of spindle inhibitors on mammalian oocyte meiosis.

The effects of Nocodazole, reported to be a rapidly reversible inhibitor of microtubules in somatic cells (1), and Colcemid, a classic microtubule inhibitor, were studied for their effects on mouse and cow oocyte in vitro meiotic resumption. When present throughout the maturation period to Metaphase II/Polar Body I, both compounds predictably inhibited progression at Metaphase I (MI). An unexpected effect was seen on mouse germinal vesicle breakdown (GVB) with both inhibitors, but not in cow oocytes tested with Nocodazole.

Complete chromomere map of mid/late pachytene human oocytes.

A complete chromomere map of the mid/late human pachytene oocyte has been developed from ovaries of 35 fetuses at 18-22 weeks gestation. Bivalents, which were all specifically identifiable, were more extended than comparable human spermatocyte bivalents. The total number of chromomeres found was 639, exceeding both the number of human pachytene spermatocytes and the number of mitotic bands seen in metaphase somatic chromosomes.

Fiber DNA studies of premeiotic mouse spermatogenesis.

The technique of fiber DNA measurement was used to study the possibility that the lengthening of the DNA "S" phase previously reported for mouse premeiotic spermatogonia was due to a reduced number of initiation sites. The mean replicon size of neonatal mouse preleptotene cells was similar to sizes reported for adult mouse somatic cells. A slow rate of DNA chain growth was observed in all cells from day 1 through days 10-12 of age.