Anatomical Sciences Journal
Volume:10 Issue: 1, Winter 2013

Among the components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membrane (BM), laminitis heterotrimeric glycoprotein (laminin) and collagen type IV are the most important. In a previous study we have examined the role of collagen type IV in the developing lens capsule. The present study aims to determine the appearance and distribution of laminin in the BM and ECM of lenses during visual system morphogenesis. Pregnant Balb/C mice were randomly selected and maintained under normal conditions. The presence of a vaginal plug was assumed as day zero of pregnancy. From embryonic days 11 to 20, pregnant animals were sacrificed and their fetuses were collected for histotechnical prossessing. Our data revealed that laminin appeared during the early stage of gestation (day 12) in the BM of the anterior epithelial lens cells. The amount of laminin gradually increased in the ECM and posterior lens capsule epithelial cells until days 14-18. After this period, a strongly positive laminin reaction was not observed in any part of the lens structure. These findings establish the importance of the laminin molecule in the developing optic cup (OC) and lens differentiation. It could be assumed that any changes in the presence of laminin during the critical period of eye development may result in visual system defects such as cataracts or congenital eye abnormalities.

Melatonin acts as an indirect antioxidant and is a powerful direct free radical scavenger and direct responses to melatonin in the gonads are detected. This study aims to investigate the influence of different doses of melatonin on preantral follicle development and oogenesis of in vitro cultured mouse ovarian follicles. Preantral follicles with diameters of 150–175 μm were mechanically isolated from NMRI mouse ovaries. Follicles were cultured in droplets of α-minimal essential medium (α-MEM) supplemented with 5% FBS, 100 mIU/ml rhFSH, 1% ITS, 100 IU/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin in conjunction with varying doses of melatonin (0, 1, 10, 100 nM and 100, 500 pM) for six days. On day six, in vitro ovulation was induced by the addition of hCG/rEGF to the culture medium and after 16-20 h the maturation state of the oocytes was assessed. There was a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the number of surviving follicles in the groups that received 10, 100 nM and 500 pM melatonin compared to the other groups. After induction of in vitro ovulation, follicles in groups that received 1, 10, and 100 nM melatonin had higher ovulation rates (P<0.05) compared with the other groups. Oocyte maturation capacity was adversely influenced by five concentrations of melatonin and GV arrest was significantly higher compared to the control group (P< 0.01). Our data indicates that a dose of 100 pM melatonin has no toxic effects onfollicular development and can be used to reduce oxidative stress in follicle culture systems.

The present study used a histological evaluation method to examine the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on healing an experimentally-induced pressure sore in a rat model. There were 36 adult male rats used in this study. Under general anesthesia and sterile conditions, we used forceps to create one pressure sore on each rat. A double layer of folded skin from the dorsal region was held with the highest forceps pressure grade for two hours, followed by 30 minutes of relaxation. This was repeated 12 times over three consecutive working days, and created a pressure sore after seven days. Next, rats were randomly divided into three control and three experimental groups. The experimental groups received intraperitoneal injections of PTX (50 mg/kg) for 14, 21, and 28 days after the pressure sore was created. Control groups received a similar volume of saline solution. Rats were euthanized, after which samples were extracted from the wound area and prepared for light microscopy examination. We calculated the number of neutrophils, macrophages, fibroblasts, blood vessel sections, and thicknesses of the newly formed epidermis and dermis. Although the values of some studied parameters were higher in the experimental group, there were no significant differences noted between the experimental and control groups. In this study PTX did not increase any histological parameters. Thus, the effects of PTX on the pressure sore model seem to result from different mechanisms.

Among the endocrine diseases, hypothyroidism is the commonest after diabetes.Thyroid hormones (T3,T4) are essential for genital organs function. Apoptosis process in ovarian cells plays a significant role of development in ovarian follicles. The aim of the present study was determine the apoptotic index induced by hypothyroidism in rat ovarian follicles. In the present study, twenty female mature wistar rats were used with age of 2.5 months and weight of 200-250 (g). Rats were divided into test and control groups. In test group chemical hypothyroidism induced by propylthiouracil (PTU;500 mg/L) in drinking water. The control group only received normal drinking water. After three weeks the rats were killed and their ovaries removedand were fixed for tissue preparation. TUNEL technique were used for determine of apoptosis. Cells count done by stereological method. Data were analyzed by t-test and one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test. Significance was accepted at P<0.05. The findings showed that the apoptotic index had a significant decrease in late antral and graffian follicles (P=0.000) and no significant decrease in preantral and early antral follicles (P>0.05) in hypothyroid group. All granulosa cells were TUNEL-positive in primary follicles but no cell was seen in primordial follicles in groups. The results of the present study showed that the hypothyroidism may be vigorous decreased of apoptotic index in antral and graffian follicles. Hypothyroidism increased the number of luteal bodies and decreased the number of graffian follicles in ovarian tissue.

Astrocytes, the most abundant glia in the central nervous system, modulate neuronal survival and function. Astrocytic functions are mediated by synthesis and secretion of wide ranges of polypeptides through mechanism (s) poorly understood. Among these, TGFβs are synthesized and released by the astrocytes. In this study, the involvement of Wnt signaling pathway on the synthesis of TGFβs by the astrocyte was investigated. Cultured rat astrocytes were therefore treated either with Wnt3a 20 ng/ml) alone for 24 hours or in combination with sFRP-1 (400 ng/ml) for a further 24 hours. Cells were then harvested and examined for the expression of TGFβs and the Wnt target gene, cyclin D1. In this study, we were able to show that 1) treatment Wnt3a alone for 24 hours induced the expressions of TGFβs and cyclin D1; 2) The effect of Wnt was inhibited by pre-treatment with sFRP 1, that is, sFRP-1 pre-treatment significantly blocked the Wnt-induced expressions of TGFβs and cyclin D1. This study therefore provides the first evidence for the involvement of Wnt signaling pathway in the synthesis of TGFβ proteins by cortical rat astrocytes.

The purpose of present study is to compare anthropometric characteristics of the adult cranium between Iranian and Pakistani residents in two specific areas where people have special characteristics in the features of their heads and faces. This cross-sectional investigation was performed on 300 adult inhabitants of Qazvin, Iran and 356 residents of Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan. Participants were selected randomly and did not have any physical deformities or any previous history of trauma. Measurements were performed in an anatomical position on the cephalic length, cephalic breadth, and auricular height. Cephalic length, cephalic breadth and auricular height in females from Qazvin were significantly higher than those of DG Khan (p<0.05). According to the findings, 82% of males and 58% of females from Qazvin were megacephalic while 25% of males and only 1% of females of DG Khan were megacephalic. The prominent cranium form in males from DG Khan was mesocephaly (41%), whereas it was microcephaly (85%) in females from DG Khan. The mean cephalic index was as follows: Qazvin males 88.19±5.78) and females (86.54±3.23); DG Khan males (84.11±3.7) and females (85.27±6.09). For DG Khan residents, the cranial capacity was 1348.4±122 cm3 for males and 1189.3±180.5 cm3 for females. At the same time, the brain weight was 1395.5±126.2 g in males and 1230.9±186.8 g in females. This study shows the existence of differences in cranium dimensions between residents of Qazvin, Iran and DG Khan, Pakistan as well as in different regions of each country.

The findings of cephalometry studies are widely applied in medical and engineering fields. Cephalometry measurements are affected by genetics‚ age‚ gender‚ and social‚ economic and geographic factors.This study assesses cephalometry of the neurocranium in male newborns in Kermanshah,Iran by an anthropometry method to confirm or reject the theory of brachycephalization (i.e., a spread in the width of the average head). This was a cross–sectional, descriptive study conducted on 103healthy male newbornsborn by natural childbirth in Kermanshah during 2012. The newborns’ heights were measured by a stadiometer and their weight was obtained by using a newborn's scale.The neurocranium circumference was determined by a millimeter scaled tape. and the length and breadth of the neurocranium by Martin Saler cephalometry.Data were analyzed by SPSS. cephalic index and neurocranium classification were determined by the classical cephalometry method. The mean and standard deviation of the newborns’ anthropometry and cephalometry measurements were: 506±20 cm (height), 3219±35 g (weight), 352±12 cm (head circumference), 115±4 mm (neurocranium length), 94±3 mm (neurocranium breadth), and 81±3 (cephalic index). A total of 49% of the newborns were brachycephalic and 3% were dolichocephalic. the results shows that the cephalic index of Kermanshahi male newborns are larger than those of Turkman Qazvin, Native Fars and Tehran.whereas thay are less than observed in Sistan and Baluchistan.The study confirms that anthropometry factors (i.e. age, genetic, etc.)impact these newborns. The cephalization theories in these newborns are also confirmed.

Anatomic variations in forensic extrahepatic bile ducts is common. Knowledge of extrahepatic bile duct variations is important for surgeons in order to prevent iatrogenic damage during surgery. This study aims to determine the variations in extrahepatic bile ducts among 150 cadavers located at the Kerman Medicine Organization.We performed autopsies on 150 cadavers. Bile ducts were exposed and studied to determine their anatomic variants and diameters.We observed anatomic variants of the biliary tree in 7 cadavers (4.6%). In 3 (2%)cadavers,theright hepaticduct was missing, in 2 (1.33%) the left hepatic duct was missing and 6 (4%) didnothaveacommon hepaticduct. In one case the common bile duct was absent.We may conclude that the Variation of bile duct is different in multiple population.