The Italian law on body donation: A position paper of the Italian College of Anatomists.

In Italy, recent legislation (Law No. 10/2020) has tuned regulations concerning the donation of one's postmortem body and tissues for study, training, and scientific research purposes. This study discusses several specific issues to optimise the applicability and effectiveness of such an important, novel regulatory setting.

Chemical etching in processing cortical bone specimens for scanning electron microscopy.

Transverse and longitudinal sectioning of undecalcified cortical bone is a commonly employed technique for investigating the lamellar structure of the osteons. Since a flat surface is required, the specimen has to be grinded and then polished. Whereas the smear of debris and inorganic/organic deposits left by these treatments cannot be removed by ultrasonication alone, a chemical treatment of the specimen surface with either a basic or an acid etching solution is currently employed.

Osteoblast-osteocyte transformation. A SEM densitometric analysis of endosteal apposition in rabbit femur.

Transformation of osteoblasts into osteocytes is marked by changes in volume and cell shape. The reduction of volume and the entrapment process are correlated with the synthesis activity of the cell which decreases consequently. This transformation process has been extensively investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) but no data have yet been published regarding osteoblast-osteocyte dynamic histomorphometry.

Morphometry and patterns of lamellar bone in human Haversian systems.

The lamellar architecture of secondary osteons (Haversian systems) has been studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in transverse sections of human cortical bone. Na(3) PO(4) etching was used to improve the resolution of the interface between neighboring lamellae and the precision of measurements. These technical improvements permitted testing of earlier morphometry assumptions concerning lamellar thickness while revealing the existence of different lamellar patterns.

The fibrillar organisation of the osteon and cellular aspects of its development : a morphological study using the SEM fractured cortex technique.

The collagen architecture of secondary osteons was studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) employing the fractured cortex technique and osmic maceration. Fibrillar orientation and the change in their direction in sequential lamellae was documented where lamellar formation was ongoing, as well as in resorption pits where osteoclasts had exposed the collagen organisation of the underlying layers. Applying an adaptive stereo matching technique, the mean thickness of matrix layers removed by osteoclasts was 1.

Atherosclerotic alterations in human carotid observed by scanning electron microscopy.

Atherosclerosis involves all the layers of the artery wall, but the events involving the intimal portion are fundamental to understand the evolution and gravity of lesions. This study shows that scanning microscopy is instrumental for better understanding the physiopathology of this disease.

Anatomy of the intracortical canal system: scanning electron microscopy study in rabbit femur.

The current model of compact bone is that of a system of longitudinal (Haversian) canals connected by transverse (Volkmann's) canals. Models based on histology or microcomputed tomography lack the morphologic detail and sense of temporal development provided by direct observation. Using direct scanning electron microscopy observation, we studied the bone surface and structure of the intracortical canal system in paired fractured surfaces in rabbit femurs, examining density of canal openings on periosteal and endosteal surfaces, internal network nodes and canal sizes, and collagen lining of the inner canal system.

Scanning electron microscopy evaluation of the link between a new dentinal desensitizer and dentine.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interaction of a novel dentinal desensitizer Twin Pro with enamel-dentinal adhesive preparations or filling materials and dentine using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technology.

Methods: Black's I class cavities were drilled extracted molar teeth free of caries or fissures, and the cavities disinfected. The specimens were divided into 4 groups of 2 teeth each treated as follows: Group A: Twin Pro, fluid (Tetric-Flow Vivadent) and micro-hybrid (Tetric-Ceram Vivadent) composites placed on the etched (Liner Bond 2V Clearfil) cavities.

Ultrastructural localization of tyrosine hydroxylase in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells: effect of stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin.

Using immunocytochemistry coupled to fluorescence and electron microscopy, we investigated the expression and ultrastructural localization of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, EC 1.14.16.

Evidence of rat tail tendon proteoglycans at emission field scanning electron microscopy.

Alcian blue (AB) in critical electrolyte concentration (CEC) was used for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on rat tail tendon. Segments with diameters of 4 to 9 nm are evident in the perifibrillar area with their lengths ranging from 180 to 400 nm. Frequently the segments adhere closely to collagen gap zones.

The paracoronal (marginal) cells of fungiform papilla of Rana esculenta.

Paracoronal secretory cells can be observed outside the sensorial area of the fungiform papilla of Rana esculenta. The morphology of these cells, the type of secretion and their function have, to date, only been incidentally described. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the paracoronal cells appear as swallow's-nest-shaped formations with openings 10-15 microns in diameter.

The role of proteoglycans in maintaining collagen fibril morphology.

The aortic wall contains various heterogenous proteoglycan populations which interact in different ways with other components of extracellular matrix. Proteoglycans (PGs) are known to provide structural support to the vessel wall as well as to influence specific physiological functions of the tissues. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Chondroitinase AC (Chase), Streptococcal Hyaluronidase (Hyase) and Heparanase on human aortic wall collagen which had been treated previously with 4M GuHCl, in order to verify the effects of selective glycanolytic treatment on type I collagen fibril ultrastructure.

Morphological features of different regions in frog crista ampullaris (Rana esculenta).

The cellular organization of different regions of the crista epithelium from the frog posterior semicircular canal was studied by light, transmission and scanning microscopy. The sensory epithelium consists of hair cells surrounded by supporting cells and basal cells located close to the basement membrane. Three types of hair cells, namely club-like, cylindrical and pear-like cells differentially distributed along the crista could be recognized on the basis of their shape.

Collagenase-extractable proteoglycans from lesion-free areas of human aorta.

Different proteoglycan (PG) populations were isolated from normal human aorta by extraction of minced tissue with 4M GuHCl and by further digestion of the residue with collagenase. Dissociative extraction induced a complete disappearance of Alcian Blue positive material, which was demonstrable by transmission electron microscopy before the treatment around collagen fibrils and in pericellular areas. However, 4M GuHCl extraction solubilized only an average of 60% of aorta total hexuronate content.

Primary osteoma cutis. Clinical, morphological, and ultrastructural study.

Primary osteoma cutis arises in the deeper dermis for no apparent reason and presents as mature, lamellar, and osteonic bone; secondary cutaneous osteomas are correlated with inflammatory processes, scars, or dysembryoplasia and are always composed of osteoid. Ultrastructural findings of primary cutaneous osteomas have not been reported to date. Light and electron microscopic findings of a case of primary osteoma cutis are described: mineralized areas may be divided into macrocalcification and microcalcification.

Collagen fibril ultrastructure alters after glycanolytic digestion.

Fixed fragments of bovine nasal septum cartilage were digested for six hours either with testicular hyaluronidase or streptomyces hyaluronidase or flavobacter chondroitinase ABC, and observed with a transmission electron microscope. Collagen fibril diameters (D) were measured to evaluate the effect of enzymatic digestion on the fibril size. This resulted in an increased frequency (17% to 47%) of "thin" fibrils (80 to 32 nm), followed by a decrease (65% to 31%) of the frequency of "mid" fibrils (32 to 64 nm).

Scanning electron microscopy of proteoglycans in metaphyseal cartilage.

Alcian blue (AB) was used for scanning electron microscope investigations on metaphyseal cartilage. In the pericellular area three-dimensional network connecting the cell membrane surface to the lacunar wall is evident. The network is formed by very long rod-like filaments about 50 nm thick.

The dependency of collagen fibrillogenesis in vitro on fibroblast culture conditions. Fibroblasts in mono- and multi-layers.

The extracellular matrix produced by monolayer and tridimensional cultures of fibroblasts was investigated using histochemical and ultrastructural methods. In monolayer cultures, collagen and proteoglycans produced by fibroblasts could not be organized into morphologically recognizable structures. Tridimensional fibroblast cultures produced a well organized matrix with periodic, parallel ordered collagen fibrils of 50 nm diameter, criss-crossed by alcianophylic segments 6-10 nm thick in diameter and 100-300 nm in length, parallel to each other, perpendicular to the collagen fibrils and spaced 67 nm from each other.

Morphology of epiphyseal apparatus of a ranid frog (Rana Esculenta).

Morphological, histochemical and ultrastructural investigations on epiphyseal apparatus of Rana Esculenta were made. The most important findings were the following: 1) metaphyseal cartilage is localized inside proximal diaphyseal compact bone as a plug; 2) metaphyseal cartilage do not reduce in thickness during ageing; 3) metaphyseal cartilage do not show vascular invasion and do not mineralize in degenerative zone; 4) trabecular bone was not at all evident in this animal; 5) external periosteum is well vascularized and proliferates in correspondence to marginal epiphyseal end of the diaphyseal. From these results the hypothesis that the ranid frog bone growth is not due to metaphyseal metabolism (as in avian and mammals) but to bone periosteal marginal mineralization is reached.

Ultrastructural findings of congenital dyserythropoietic sickle cell beta thal-associated anemia.

The ultrastructural findings of erythroblasts and reticulocytes in one case of congenital dyserythropoiethic anemia (CDA) associated with a haemoglobinopathy, sickle cell beta thalassemia minor (Type V CDA), is described. The observations can be summarized as follows: 1) A lot of large breaks are present in the erythroblast nuclear envelope. 2) Nuclear membrane evaginations are filled with dense loose chromatin.

Ca - and Na , K -ATPase activities in the fungiform papilla of the tongue of Rana Esculenta (Anura Ranidae).

In the fungiform papilla of Rana esculenta (Anura Ranidae), the Ca -ATPase is mainly distributed on the basolateral membrane of the sensory area cells (i.e., neuroepithelial, supporting, and mucous cells).

Ultrastructure of periprosthetic Dacron knee ligament tissue. Two cases of ruptured anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Light- and electron-microscopic investigations were performed on two failed Dacron ligaments that had been removed from 2 patients shortly after failure of the implant 2-3 years after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. Two different cell populations and matrices were correlated with closeness to the Dacron threads. Fibroblasts surrounded by connective tissue with collagen fibrils were located far from the Dacron threads.

Ultrastructural aspects of human nonunion.

A histological study on the tissue of nonunion of tibias of two young patients was performed to evaluate the ability of cells to start the mineralization of the matrix. The observations can be summarized as follows: 1) Tissue vessels often appear occluded by thrombotic material; 2) Fibroblasts and chondrocytes found in the nonunion tissue seemed normal, with a good secretion apparatus; 3) The cell membranes were able to produce matrix vesicles; 4) Matrix vesicles and cell membrane looked positive to ALPase reaction, 5) Hydroxyapatite crystals could be observed in the cell matrix or inside matrix vesicles. It may be concluded that cells populating nonunion tissue are well equipped to induct the mineralization of the matrix, but the absence of a blood supply, enough to bring them a normal calcium amount, is the real reason for the nonunion.