Objective To explore possible mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis by investigating the ultrastructural dynamic changes of liver tissue, especially several kinds of cells related to hepatic fibrosis.. Methods. Murine schistosomal hepatic fibrosis model was established by infecting mice with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae. Routine transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the liver tissue. H.E. staining was used for examining the pathological changes. . Results . H.E. staining showed that the model was established successfully. Ultrastructural observation showed that at the 6th week after infection, the necrosis of hepatocytes around the acute granulomas occurred; the number of sinusoidal endothelial fenestrae and vitamin A droplets in fat-storing cells decreased; large phagosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum could be seen in the cytoplasm of Kupffer′s cells. At the 8th week, steatosis was found in some hepatocytes, some microvilli emerged on a few inter-hepatocytic surfaces and the inter-hepatocytic spaces were enlarged. Large collagen fibrillar bundles filled in the perisinusoidal spaces, and capillarization of hepatic sinusoids was observed. Secretory vesicles filled with collagen fibrils appeared in the cytoplasm of fat-storing cells with large amount of collagenous fiber bundles surround the cells. Rough endoplasmic reticulum increased in Kupffer′s cells. At the 10th week, fat-storing cells were activated and transformed into myofibroblasts. At the 12th week, the number of myofibroblasts decreased but that of fibroblasts and fiber cells increased. . Conclusion . Activation of fat-storing cells and transformation from fat-storing cells into myofibroblasts are the critical link in the development of hepatic fibrogenesis following schistosome infection. Kupffer′s cells, necrotic hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells may relate to the activation of fat-storing cells. Capillarization of hepatic sinusoids possibly accelerates the development of hepatic fibrosis.

AIM: To investigate the changes of ultrastructure in early diabetic rat cornea and the pathogenesis of diabetic keratopathy. METHODS: 20 Sprague-Daxley rats were sacrificed 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks after induction of diabetes mellitus by streptoxotocin. 20 untreated rats at the same age were used as normal controls and were sacrificed at the same intervals. The ultrastructures of cornea were observed with transmission electronic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: During the experimental period, the corneal ultrustructure of diabetic rats showed that epithelial and endothelial cells were swollen, the mitochondrions in the cytoplasm were swollen and increased. The collagen fibers appeared in disarrangement 10 weeks after streptoxotocin treatment. The endothelial of cornea was damaged from the periphery to the center gradually. CONCLUSION: The ultrastructural changes of cornea leads to dysfunction in streptoxotocin-induced diabetic rats, which may be related to the abnormal metabolism in hyperglycemia condition.

AIM: To obverse the expression and localization of urocortin on ultrathin cryosections of syncytiotrophoblast of human term placenta with immunocytochemistry technique under transmission electron microscope. METHODS: The human term placenta tissue from Cesarean delivery and normal labor were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, and then divided into two parts. One part was for regular immunocytochemistry under microscope, and the other part was used to prepare ultrathin cryosections for immunocytochemistry under transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: 1.Uroncortin mainly distributed in cytoplasm of syncytiotrophoblast of human term placenta under microscope. Urocortin also appeared in cytoplasm in some stromal cells. 2. Under transmission electron microscope, the anti-urocortin gold particles were observed in cytoplasm of syncytioptrophoblast ultrathin cryosections and sited on rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. The anti-urocortin gold particles also appeared on nucleus and nuclear membrane of syncytiotrophoblast. CONCLUSION: Syncytiotrophoblast of human term placenta synthesized and secreted urocortin. The internalization of urocortin within syncytiotrophoblast nuclear indicates that urocortin may act as intracrine.

Objective To explore predictive value of endometrial receptivity and pregnancy outcome by hysteroscopy examination at the phase of implantation window in unexplained infertile women.Methods From Oct.2007 to Mar.2009,93 unexplained infertile women underwent hysteroscopy examination at 7-9 days after a spontaneous ovulation in Family Planning Research Institute of Guangdong Province.According to the endometrial glandular openings and vascular shape,79 cases without pathological endometrial changes were divided into 60 cases in good endometrium group and 19 cases in poor endometrium group.The following clinical parameters were analyzed and compared between two groups,including endometrial configuration,thickness,secretion,the development and number of pinopodes,vascular distribution,and the level of sex hormone,leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and glycodelin in the uterine flushing,and pregnancy outcome.Results (1)There was no statistical difference in the level of serum estrogen and progesterone at the phase of implantation window,which were (518 ± 176)pmol/L,(40 ±20)nmol/L in good group and (513 ±244) ptnol/L,(37 ± 19) nmol/L in poor group (P<0.05).The endometrium thickness at periovulatroy and implantation window days (1.06 ±0.10)cm/(1.16 ± 0.08)cm in good group did not show significant difference with (0.93 ±0.12) cm /(1.02 ±0.10) cm in poor group (P>0.05).The proportion of type A,B and C endometrium at periovulatory days were 63% (12/19),37% (7/19) and 0 (0/19) in good group and 23% (14/60),77% (46/60) and 0 (0/60) in poor group.When compared with those of type A or B between two groups respectively,it all showed statistical difference (P<0.05).However,at phase of implantation window,endometrium configurations were all type B at both groups.(2)90% (17/19)of women in good group and 7% (4/60)of women in poor group showed normal endometrial secretion function,which showed significant differences (P< 0.01).(3)The percentage of fully developed pinopodes and abundant pinopodes [84% (16/19) and 90% (17/19)] in good group were significantly higher than 42% (25/60)and 57% (34/60) in poor group (P<0.05).(4) The level of CD_(34) expression and microvessel density[MVD; (40.1 ± 1.2) positive unit(PU) and(21.7 ±4.0)/high power field (HP)] in good group were significantly higher than(18.1 ± 1.3) PU and (8.5 ± 1.3)/HP in poor group (P< 0.01).(5)The level of LIF and glycodelin in uterine flushing [(72 ± 54)ng/L and (196 ±20)μg/L] in good group were significantly higher than (15±16) ng/L and (116 ±26) μg/L in poor group (P<0.05).(6) The rate of clinical pregnancy,spontaneous abortion and term delivery were 74% (14/19),0 (0/14) and 100% (14/14) in good group and 23% (14/60),14% (2/14) and 86% (12/14) in poor group,the rate of clinical pregnancy and term delivery in good group were significantly increased when compared with those in poor group (P<0.01).Conclusions Hysteroscopy examination at the phase of implantation window could reflect the development of glandular openings and vasculature.It is a preferable method to evaluate the endometrial receptivity and predict pregnancy outcome.