Oxidation status of β-thalassemia minor and Hb H disease, and its association with glycerol lysis time (GLT50).

β-Thalassemia (β-thal), especially β-thalassemia major (β-TM), is reported to be related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhanced oxidation status. It is reflected by increased malondialdehyde (MDA), by membrane lipid peroxidation and decreased by the newly developed total antioxidant capacity (TAC). However, there is less evidence for β-thal minor and Hb H (β4) disease on its association with oxidation status.

Degeneration of the stria vascularis during development in melanocyte-deficient mutant rats (Ws/Ws rats).

Developmental changes in the stria vascularis of white spotting (Ws) rats were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopes and by diaminobenzidine-staining techniques. The stria of Ws/Ws homozygote rats was found to have both pigmented and non-pigmented portions. While the pigmented portions possessed intermediate cells in the same manner as the stria of wild +/+ rats, the non-pigmented portions lacked the cells.