Anatomical variation in the abdominal aorta is common and extremely important. We found a rare variation of the abdominal aorta in a Korean male cadaver during a routine dissection course. The superior mesenteric artery gives off a small branch for the descending colon, named accessory left colic artery due to its distribution. The inferior mesenteric artery arises normally from the abdominal aorta and supplied the sigmoid colon and the upper part of the rectum. This variation was rare and it has not been reported previously in Korean. Knowledge of the arterial variation in this region is considerable important during abdominal surgery and invasive procedures. The authors describe this previously unreported case and discuss the clinical implications of such a variant with a brief review of the literature.
Aorta, Abdominal ; Arteries ; Cadaver ; Colic ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Rectum

Neuropeptides are widely distributed throughout skin, gastrointestinal tracts, and nervous and immune systems. Neuropeptides act to mediate the vasodilation and induce mast cell activation in humans and rats in vitro. However, the mechanism of the cutaneous neuropeptides-induced mast cell activation and the extent of the vascular permeability by cutaneous neuropeptides are not fully understood. This issue was investigated by the injecting six cutaneous neuropeptides-atrial natriuretic peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide, neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide-into the skin of rats and by treatment of six cutaneous neuropeptides in rat peritoneal mast cell (RPMC) in vitro. All of the cutaneous neuropeptides increased the significant vascular permeability by the injection into the back skin of normal rats. All of the cutaneous neuropeptides also induced the mast cell degranulation and the histamine release from RPMCs, in a dose-dependent pattern, and increased the calcium uptake and decreased the level of cAMP of RPMCs in vitro. The effects of cutaneous neuropeptides on the vascular permeability and mast cell activation were inhibited by mast cell stabilization agent, disodium cromoglycate. These findings show that cutaneous neuropeptides can induce the mast cell activation by not only increasing the calcium uptake and decreasing the level of cAMP in RPMCs, but also the increment of vascular permeability in the skin of rats.
Animals ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Calcium ; Capillary Permeability ; Cromolyn Sodium ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Histamine ; Histamine Release ; Humans ; Immune System ; Mast Cells ; Neuropeptide Y ; Neuropeptides ; Rats ; Skin ; Somatostatin ; Substance P ; Vasodilation

The knowledge of arterial patterns of donor and recipient sites is very important for performing a flap surgery. In order to perform a flap surgery using the rectus abdominis muscle knowledge of the distributions, tributaries, and anastomoses of the inferior epigastric artery is necessary. The aim of this study was to establish the clinical and anatomical characteristics of the inferior epigastric artery for flap surgery in Koreans. Sixteen fresh cadavers were injected bilaterally with a radiopaque dye solution through the brachial and popliteal arteries, radiographic images were obtained after the anterior abdominal wall was removed surgically. Subsequently, the anterior abdominal walls of the cadavers were dissected and measured by using metric and non-metric methods. In a majority of the cadavers (83.9%), the inferior epigastric artery had only one main stem. Between the umbilicus and the xiphoid process, the most common type of the anastomosis was multiple anastomoses (Type IV, in 32.1% of the cases), followed by no anastomosis (Type I) and single anastomosis (Type II) in 25% of the cases, respectively. The intramuscular branch of the inferior epigastric artery originated from below the umbilicus in 60.7% of the cases and above it in 39.3% of the cases. The peritoneal branch was further divided into 3 types: lateral, medial, and umbilical. One of them coexisted with other branch of specimen. The peritoneal branch commonly originated from the intramuscu-lar branch. The perforating branch, with an external diameter of greater than 0.5 mm, was clinically significant, was dis-tributed around the umbilicus. The number of arterial branches directly perforating the rectus abdominis muscle was greater than that of those traveling anteriorly. The results of this study may enhance the anatomical knowledge of clinicians with respect to flap surgery or surgical treatments involving the anterior abdominal wall.
Abdominal Wall ; Cadaver ; Epigastric Arteries ; Humans ; Muscles ; Popliteal Artery ; Rectus Abdominis ; Tissue Donors ; Umbilicus

Balance between bone-resorbing osteoclats and bone-forming osteoblasts is important in bone homeostasis. In particular, increased osteoclast formation and activity are responsible for bone diseases such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, periodontal disease. Natural metabolites of plants have recently received much attention as lead compounds for the development of novel therapeutic strategy. The purpose of this study was to search the natural products to inhibition osteoclast differentiation. Water extract of papaya significantly inhibited receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) in a dose dependent manner. However, water extract of papaya did not affect cytotoxicity when compared with control. Water extract of papaya inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK induced by RANKL. The mRNA expression of c-Fos, NFATcl, TRAP and OSCAR induced by RANKL was inhibited by water extract of papaya treatment. Also, water extract of papaya suppressed the protein expression of c-Fos and NFATc1 in BMMs treated with RANKL. Taken together, these results suggest that papaya may be a useful drug in the treatment of bone-related disease.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Biological Agents ; Bone Diseases ; Bone Marrow ; Carica ; Homeostasis ; Macrophages ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoporosis ; Periodontal Diseases ; Phosphorylation ; RANK Ligand ; RNA, Messenger ; Water

The developmental changes of convergence ratios of medial nucleus of trapezoid body (MNTB) axons to single lateral superior olive (LSO) neuron were investigated using voltage clamp technique in homologous (cir/cir) circling mice, animal model for the congenital deafness with autosomal recessive inheritance. As the developmental reduction of convergence ratio reported in rats indicates the presence of synaptic refinement, we aimed to find out whether the similar reduction of convergence ratio also occurs in circling mice. Heterologous (+/cir) mice were used as control and mice younger than postnatal (P) day 4 or older than P9 were used. The convergence ratios of MNTB axons to single LSO neuron were 29.16+/-2.7 (n=12, P9) in homologous (cir/cir) mice, while they were 37.89+/-3.8 (n=9, P9) in heterozygous (+/cir) mice. The significant changes were observed only in heterozygous (+/cir) mice, which indicated that synaptic refinement of MNTBLSO synapses occurs in heterozygous (+/cir) mice, not in homozygous (cir/cir) mice. Considering homologous (cir/cir) mice being animal model for the congenital deafness, our data might contribute to the understanding of developmental changes of brain stem auditory circuits of congenitally deaf patients.
Animals ; Axons ; Brain Stem ; Deafness ; Humans ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Neurons ; Olea ; Rats ; Synapses ; Wills

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Despite extensive researches, the etiology of this disease is still unknown; however, the prevalence of PD is lower in the population of cigarette smokers. In this study, the effects of nicotine were investigated on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease animal model and the spontaneous locomotor activity was analyzed. In comparison with MPTP-induced PD animals, nicotine-treated PD animals exhibited significant improvement in the number of dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc, the relative density of dopaminergic axon terminals in the striatum, and locomotor activity. Also, MPTP-induced astrogliosis was prevented by nicotine treatment. These results suggest that the dopamine depletion in the SNpc and striatum and the decreased spontaneous locomotor activity were prevented by nicotine treatment in the MPTP-induced PD animal model.
1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine ; Animals ; Dopamine ; Dopaminergic Neurons ; Models, Animal ; Motor Activity ; Nervous System Diseases ; Nicotine ; Parkinson Disease ; Presynaptic Terminals ; Prevalence ; Specific Gravity ; Substantia Nigra ; Tobacco Products

In ischemic strokes, apoptosis is caused by excitotoxicity, ionic imbalance, oxidative/nitrosative stress, and apoptotic-like pathways. Nitric oxide (NO), a free radical, is elevated after ischemic insult. NO, which is generated primarily by neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), promotes neuronal damage following ischemia. Evidence obtained in recent years has demonstrated that endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mediated cell death plays an important role in cerebral ischemia. Agmatine is an endogenous substance synthesized from L-arginine by arginine decarboxylase (ADC) and is present in mammalian brain. We had previously reported that agmatine contributes to neuroprotection against ischemic injury. In continuation of our earlier work, we intended to investigate whether agmatine protects brain from transient global ischemia, and also tried to determine the neuroprotective mechanism of agmatine. Twenty minutes of transient global ischemia was induced by 4 vessel occlusion (4-VO). Agmatine (100 mg/kg, IP) was administered simultaneously with reperfusion. Samplings of brain were done at 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after reperfusion to determine the effect of agmatine on ischemic injured hippocampus. ER-damage was also investigated using electron microscope. Results showed that agmatine treatment prevented delayed neuronal cell death in hippocampal CA1 neurons after global cerebral ischemia. It also blocked NOS expression in the rat brain. Agmatine induced the increased expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (Grp78). These results suggest that agmatine inhibits the production of NO by decreasing the expression of nNOS and iNOS on global forebrain ischemia and the neuroprotective effect of agmatine were concerned with the ER stress-mediated condition.
Agmatine ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Arginine ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Carboxy-Lyases ; Cell Death ; Electrons ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hippocampus ; Ischemia ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Prosencephalon ; Rats ; Reperfusion ; Stroke

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived protein with anti-diabetic and anti-angiogenesis properties that improves both glucose metabolism and insulin resistance via the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) cascade. Diabetic cognitive deficits are correlated with dysregulation of energy metabolism in the hippocampus. In the present study, we investigated the expression of adiponectin-mediated AMPK cascade proteins in the hippocampus of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Diabetes was induced by STZ (55 mg/kg) injection intraperitoneally. Twenty-four weeks after induction of diabetes, mice were sacrificed. Results showed that decreased serum adiponectin levels and increased expression of hippocampal adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) was expressed in diabetic mice. Phosphorylated AMPK, acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), and eNOS expression levels were increased in the hippocampus of diabetic mice. The immunoreactivity of glucose transporter 1 in the endothelium of hippocampal blood vessels was also increased. These results indicate that adiponectin-mediated AMPK cascade activation may play a role in catabolic process that is involved in diabetic neurodegeneration.
Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase ; Adenosine ; Adiponectin ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Endothelium ; Energy Metabolism ; Glucose ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative ; Hippocampus ; Insulin Resistance ; Mice ; Protein Kinases ; Proteins ; Receptors, Adiponectin ; Streptozocin

Arterial variations in left upper limb were observed in an embalmed cadaver. The second part of the axillary artery divided into two stems, medial and lateral stems. The lateral stem was deeper than the medial one and the median nerve was located between these two stems. The lateral stem divided into five branches: the subscapular, two anterior circumflex humeral, a posterior circumflex humeral, and profunda brachii arteries. The medial stem adopted its course superficial to the median nerve, and then divided into the ulnar and radial arteries at elbow level. The present authors describe a previously unreported case and discuss the clinical implications of such a variant.
Arteries ; Axillary Artery ; Brachial Artery ; Cadaver ; Elbow ; Median Nerve ; Radial Artery ; Upper Extremity

Multiple variations of the infrahyoid muscle combined with appearance of cleidohyoideus muscle were found in a Korean male cadaver (age : 82) in a routine dissection. In this case, the hyoid bone descended to the level of the upper half of the thyroid cartilage. Then, the mylohyoid, stylohyoid and geniohyoid muscles, which attach to the hyoid bone, descended to the same level. An unusual cleidohyoideus muscle attached from the superior border of the medial third of the clavicle to the hyoid bone was observed bilaterally at the superficial layer. At deeper layer, the sternohyoid muscle, which was additionally attached to the first rib as well as sternum and clavicular head, appeared bilaterally. In the same layer, the left omohyoid muscle was partially merged to the muscle mass of sternohyoid and attached to the hyoid bone. In the deepest layer, the sternothyroid muscle was attached to the medial half of the first rib. The nerves that innervated this infrahyoid muscle originated from the cervical plexus, devoid of the ansa cervicalis.
Cadaver ; Cervical Plexus ; Clavicle ; Head ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Male ; Muscles ; Ribs ; Sternum ; Thyroid Cartilage