Autopsy Case of Bilateral Optic Nerve Aplasia with Microphthalmia: Neural Retina Formation Is Required for the Coordinated Development of Ocular Tissues.

Human congenital anomalies provide information that contributes to the understanding of developmental mechanisms. Here we report bilateral optic nerve aplasia (ONA) with microphthalmia in the autopsy of the cadaver of a 70-year-old Japanese female. The gross anatomical inspection of the brain showed a cotton thread-like cord in the presumed location of the optic nerve tract or chiasm.

Lymphatic Stomata in the Adult Human Pulmonary Ligament.

Background: Lymphatic stomata are small lymphatic openings in the serosal membrane that communicate with the serosal cavity. Although these stomata have primarily been studied in experimental mammals, little is known concerning the presence and properties of lymphatic stomata in the adult human pleura. Thus, adult human pleurae were examined for the presence or absence of lymphatic stomata.

Recent developments in morphology of lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes.

This paper reviews the morphology of lymphatics and lymphangiogenesis in vivo, microenvironments that promote lymphangiogenesis, and the structure and function of lymph nodes. Lymphatic capillaries consist of a single layer of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) and have valves, while collecting lymphatics are endowed with smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and valves besides a single layer of LECs. In the embryonic rat diaphragm, LECs first migrate presumably according to interstitial fluid flow and later join to form lymphatic vessels.

Myxoid liposarcoma with EWS-CHOP type 1 fusion gene.

Background: In myxoid liposarcoma (MLS), the t(12;16)(q13;p11) chromosomal translocation and its resultant fusion transcript, the human translocation liposarcoma (TLS)-CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein (CHOP), are found in the majority of cases. On the other hand, the variant translocation, t(12;22)(q13;q12) creating the Ewing sarcoma (EWS)-CHOP fusion transcript, is detectable in a limited number of cases.

Patients And Methods: Tissue from MLS arising in the left thigh of a 19-year-old female was analyzed for possible detection of chromosome translocation and fusion transcript.

A case of double aortic arch accompanied by sub-aortic and pre-aortic left brachiocephalic veins and anomalous origin and course of left vertebral artery.

During the elective course of human dissection at the University of Toyama in 2007, we encountered a rare case of double aortic arch accompanied by sub- and pre-aortic left brachiocephalic veins (LBV), and anomalous origin and course of the left vertebral artery in a Japanese elderly female. The double aortic arch formed a complete vascular ring that encircled the trachea and the esophagus. The sub-aortic LBV traversed below the aortic arches between the ascending aorta and the trachea.

Distribution of internal elastic lamina and external elastic lamina in the internal carotid artery: possible relationship with atherosclerosis.

The intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) is a muscular artery and lacks external elastic lamina (EEL). Stenosis of the intracranial ICA is relatively uncommon, but the most common site is the cavernous portion. The characteristics of the arterial wall structures were examined using serial 3-mm sections of 32 intracranial ICAs obtained from 50 cadavers to identify where the EEL disappeared.

Specificity of fusion genes in adipocytic tumors.

Background: In subsets of adipocytic tumors, specific chromosomal translocations lead to the generation of fusion genes. The high mobility group A2 (HMGA2)-lipoma preferred partner (LPP) and the reciprocal LPP-HMGA2 represent such fusion genes in lipoma, while the human translocation liposarcoma (TLS)-CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein (CHOP) and the Ewing sarcoma (EWS)-CHOP in liposarcoma. However, the specificity of these fusion genes has not been established in a variety of adipocytic tumors.

Light harvesting by a periodic mesoporous organosilica chromophore.

Light aqueduct: Periodic mesoporous organosilica exhibits strong light absorption due to densely packed organic chromophores within the pore walls. Light energy absorbed by 125 biphenyl groups in the pore walls is funneled into a single coumarin 1 molecule in the mesochannels with almost 100% quantum efficiency, and results in significant enhancement of emission from the coumarin 1 dye.

Phospholipase Cgamma2 is necessary for separation of blood and lymphatic vasculature in mice.

The lymphatic vasculature originates from the blood vasculature through a mechanism relying on Prox1 expression and VEGFC signalling, and is separated and kept separate from the blood vasculature in a Syk- and SLP76-dependent manner. However, the mechanism by which lymphatic vessels are separated from blood vessels is not known. To gain an understanding of the vascular partitioning, we searched for the affected gene in a spontaneous mouse mutant exhibiting blood-filled lymphatic vessels, and identified a null mutation of the Plcg2 gene, which encodes phospholipase Cgamma2 (PLCgamma2), by positional candidate cloning.

Structure and function of rat lymph nodes.

The lymph node comprises a critical crossroad for encounters between antigen presenting cells, antigens from lymph, and lymphocytes recruited into lymph nodes from the blood. The node consists of spaces lined with lymphatic endothelial cells and parenchyma. The former spaces can be divided into the subcapsular sinuses, lymphatic labyrinths in the deep cortex, intermediate sinuses, and medullary sinuses.

Organization and developmental aspects of lymphatic vessels.

The lymphatic system plays important roles in maintaining tissue fluid homeostasis, immune surveillance of the body, and the taking up dietary fat and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. The lymphatic system is involved in many pathological conditions, including lymphedema, inflammatory diseases, and tumor dissemination. A clear understanding of the organization of the lymphatic vessels in normal conditions would be critically important to develop new treatments for diseases involving the lymphatic vascular system.

Lymph circulation in the liver.

The liver produces a large amount of lymph, which is estimated to be 25 to 50 % of lymph flowing through the thoracic duct. The hepatic lymphatic system falls into three categories depending on their locations: portal, sublobular, and superficial lymphatic vessels. It is suggested that 80 % or more of hepatic lymph drains into portal lymphatic vessels, while the remainder drains through sublobular and capsular lymphatic vessels.

A development of atheromatous plaque is restricted by characteristic arterial wall structure at the carotid bifurcation.

Background: It is said atheromatous plaque is located very focally, but there have been few reports regarding this matter. Various aspects of the pathogenesis of the development of atheromatous plaque at the carotid bifurcation have previously been discussed. We have noted the correlation of plaque localization with characteristics of the cervical carotid artery wall.

Bilateral variations of the vertebral arteries: the left originating from the aortic arch and the left and right entering the C5 transverse foramina.

During the dissection course for second year medical students at the University of Toyama in 2005, we encountered variations of the bilateral vertebral arteries: the left directly came off from the aortic arch as the third branch between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery and entered the transverse foramen of C5, instead of C6, whereas the right originated from the right subclavian artery and entered the transverse foramen of C5. The present vertebral artery of each side was possibly formed by the 6th cervical intersegmental artery linked with the longitudinal anastomoses between the cervical intersegmental arteries. Detailed knowledge of vertebral artery variations is crucially important for surgical treatment of blood vessels in the brain, neck and chest.

Establishment and characterization of conditionally immortalized endothelial cell lines from the thoracic duct and inferior vena cava of tsA58/EGFP double-transgenic rats.

The basic biology of blood vascular endothelial cells has been well documented. However, little is known about that of lymphatic endothelial cells, despite their importance under normal and pathological conditions. The lack of a lymphatic endothelial cell line has hampered progress in this field.

Activation of MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways by fibronectin requires integrin alphav-mediated ADAM activity in hepatocellular carcinoma: a novel functional target for gefitinib.

We have shown that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib ('Iressa', ZD1839) inhibits the development of intrahepatic metastases of hepatocellular carcinoma CBO140C12, and EGFR transactivation by tumor necrosis factor-alpha is a possible target of gefitinib. In the present study, we focused on the fibronectin (FN)-dependent signaling pathway to further elucidate the antimetastatic activity of gefitinib in CBO140C12 cells. We initially observed that FN induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 and Akt, as well as cell proliferation and CBO140C12 cell invasion.

Surgical anatomy of the cervical carotid artery for carotid endarterectomy.

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the main treatment for atherosclerotic plaque of the cervical internal carotid artery. The surgical anatomy of the carotid arteries was studied in the carotid triangle of 49 cadavers. The carotid bifurcation was located at the level of the lower third of C-3.

Morphological changes in capillaries in the ischemic brain in Wistar rats.

The microvasculature in the brain plays a vital role in the maintenance of brain perfusion, and fulfills the dynamic requirements of normal brain functions. It is well known that collateral circulation can be induced by ischemia in cerebral infarctions, but it is not known whether cerebral ischemia affects microvasculatures in the ischemic region. In the present study, we examined quantitatively serial changes in capillaries following bilateral common carotid artery ligation in Wistar rats.

Three-dimensional architecture of elastin and collagen fiber networks in the human and rat lung.

Collagen and elastin fibers are the major components of the lung connective tissue, but their spatial organization has not been well documented. We have demonstrated the three-dimensional architecture of collagen and elastin fiber networks in the human and rat lung using scanning electron microscopy. These networks in their original forms were extracted by an alkali-water maceration technique and a formic acid treatment, respectively.

Origins and pathways of fluid entering sublobular lymphatic vessels in cat livers.

The liver, which produces a large volume of lymph, has a lymphatic system which can be classified into three categories: portal, sublobular, and superficial lymphatic vessels. As little is known about the origin and pathways of sublobular lymph, this study demonstrates pathways of interstitial fluid flowing into sublobular lymphatic vessels. Livers from cats whose thoracic ducts were either ligated or non-ligated were examined by light-, transmission electron- and scanning electron-microscopy (SEM).

Reversible light-driven structural changes between the mono- and bilayer stacking alignments in 4-octadecyloxystilbazolium arylcarboxylate films.

The present investigation deals with the light-driven morphological changes in multilamella films of N-methyl-4-octadecyloxystilbazolium arylcarboxylates (C18OStz+X-) cast on glass slides. The results of XRD analysis show a photostimulated layer expansion and shrinkage of the stacked thin films along the c-axis under alternative illumination at >350 and 254 nm, respectively. It was revealed that such lamellar changes could be switched either way by a reversible transformation between the mono- and bilayer units in these stacked multilamella films.

Fluid and cellular pathways of rat lymph nodes in relation to lymphatic labyrinths and Aquaporin-1 expression.

The aim of the present study was to examine the organization of lymph fluid and cellular pathways and distribution of the membrane water channel Aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) in rat lymph nodes. Lymph fluid and cellular pathways within lymph nodes were examined by fluorescent protein tracer/confocal microscopy and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), While the distribution of AQP-1 was studied immunohistochemically. Tracer studies showed the subcapsular sinuses continued directly at the hilum or via the intermediate sinuses to the medullary sinuses, and lymphatic labyrinths originating with blind-ends in the deep cortex drained into medullary sinuses.

Pathways for movement of fluid and cells from hepatic sinusoids to the portal lymphatic vessels and subcapsular region in rat livers.

It has long been a mystery how fluid and migrating cells in the hepatic sinusoids reach lymphatic vessels in the portal tract. Here we describe previously-unknown channels that connect the space of Disse with the portal tract in the rat liver. Transmission electron microscopy was performed on livers injected with either horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or lipopolysaccharide, and scanning electron microscopy was carried out on livers macerated with KOH.

Synapses on GABAergic neurons in the basolateral nucleus of the rat amygdala: double-labeling immunoelectron microscopy.

Although the basolateral nucleus (BL) of the amygdala is known to contain an abundance of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons that regulate the amygdaloid projection neurons and influence storage and consolidation of memory, it remains to be determined what type of neuronal input controls GABAergic neurons in the BL. We examined the synapses that GABAergic neurons form with GABAergic and noradrenergic neurons and terminals with unknown transmitters by double-labeling immunoelectron microscopy using anti-GABA and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) antisera. The medium and small dendrites of the GABAergic neurons were shown to receive symmetric, inhibitory-type synapses from GABAergic axon terminals and asymmetric, excitatory-type synapses from noradrenergic axon terminals.