Ezrin, a membrane cytoskeleton linking protein, is a member of ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) that regulates cell shape, motility and cell to cell interaction via linking the contractile elements of the cell to transmembrane proteins. Ezrin, through this mechanism, has been thought to play an important role in cancer progression and distant metastasis. In addition, high levels of ezrin expression have been noted in many cancers, such as breast, colon, osteosarcoma, and prostate cancer. Gynecologic cancer cells, with high levels of ezrin expression, have more invasive potential than that of the lower levels of ezrin expressed cancer cells. High levels of ezrin expression are also related to the advanced histological grade and poor outcome. Recently, several reports have also demonstrated that ezrin expression is enhanced and almost localized at the membranous portion in high stage tumor cells and metastatic gynecologic cancer cells. Therefore, in the near future, ezrin levels and its cellular location might serve as essential markers for the metastasis of gynecologic cancers.
Breast ; Cell Communication ; Cell Shape ; Colon ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; Cytoskeleton ; Membranes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteosarcoma ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Proteins

PURPOSE: To verify the stability and effect of OcuLarsol(R), which was newly developed for irrigating solution, by evaluating influence on cornea. METHODS: In vivo study group, after an irrigation and aspiration instrument was put into rabbit's anterior chamber: one eye was irrigated with OcuLarsol(R) for 15 minutes, and the other eye with the balanced salt solution (BSS(R), Alcon, USA). After the operation, corneal changes were observed for a week. In vitro study group, after enucleating of rabbits' eyeballs, corneas were mounted in a dual chambered specular microscope and perfused with glutathione bicarbonate Ringer's solution (GBR) for one hour: one cornea of the pair was perfused with OcuLarsol(R) and the other cornea was perfused with BSS(R) for 2-3 hours. After perfusion, corneal swelling rates and endothelial permeability were measured. RESULTS: In vivo study group, central corneal thickness measurement and endothelial cell count showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups on the day of operation, and 1st, 3rd and 7th day after the operation (p>0.05). Corneal endothelial observation with Alizarin red S, HandE stain, and scanning electron microscope detected no difference in cell shape and density. In vitro study group, corneal swelling rates and endothelial permeability showed no significant difference between OcuLarsol(R) and BSS(R) group and transmission electron microscope showed endothelial cells with normal organelles in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between the two irrigating solutions, BSS(R) and OcuLarsol(R), in terms of effect and side effects.
Anterior Chamber* ; Cell Shape ; Cornea ; Corneal Pachymetry ; Endothelial Cells* ; Glutathione ; Hand ; Organelles ; Perfusion ; Permeability

Analysis of endothelial morphology by computer assisted digitizer and image analysis program provides very useful indices of cell shape and size which appear to correlate to the monolayer's functional status. To study the influences of the Alizarin red S staining, which is commonly used in animal experiments of corneal endothelium and vital staining, on the morphologic characteristics of corneal endothelium, morphometric data(density, area, coefficient of variation, perimeter, shape factor, hexagonality, lengths) obtained by specular microscopy of the endothelium are compared to data obtained by Alizarin red S staining of the endothelium of the excised cornea. Mean endothelial cell area was measured as 389.58 +/- 37.14 micrometer2, density was 2588 +/- 251 cells/mm2. The corresponding values measured after Alizarin red S staining, cell area was 407.42 +/- 45.3 micrometer2 and density was 2484 +/- 294 cells/mm2. But no significant differences were noted in comparing all morphometric data obtained by staining to that obtained from specular microscopy. Therefore, Alizarin red S staining combined with cell morphometric analysis could provide valuable data in a cornea which lacks clarity limits or precludes specular microscopy.
Animal Experimentation ; Cell Shape ; Cornea ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Corneal* ; Microscopy*

Adipose derived stem cells (ADSC) are good candidates for the replacement of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells due to their abundance, multipotency property, and easier accessibility. In order to explore the behavior of these cells in response to mechanical stimulation, in this study we have investigated the effects of uniaxial dynamic mechanical loading on ADSC's morphology. Stem cells derived from the fat tissue of human and after an overnight culture were seeded on a silicone rubber strips. Afterwards, cells were subjected to a uniaxial dynamic loading in three different groups. Cell images were evaluated considering different morphological parameters. Fractal dimension decreased significantly after loading while in control groups there were a significant increase (p<0.05), approving that cyclic strain would lead to more aligned and organized cells. Cell orientation also increased significantly (p<0.05). Moreover cells' orientation angle, 24 hour after loading does not change compared to the observations immediately after loading, which attests to the practicality of the cyclic strain in functional tissue engineering. Cell width decreased and cell length increased which led to a significant increase in cell shape index (p<0.05). Results confirmed that uniaxial dynamic loading affects cell morphological parameters comparing their values before and after loading. In addition, the number of cycles are also an important factor since different number of cycles lead to different amounts of certain morphological parameters. Conclusively, cyclic strain can be a practical method in the field of functional tissue engineering.
Bone Marrow ; Cell Shape ; Fractals ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Methods ; Silicone Elastomers ; Stem Cells* ; Tissue Engineering

GH3 cells are derived from rat pituitary tumor cells that secrete prolactin and growth hormone, and important in studying prolactin-secreting pitutary tumors. This study was performed to examine the effects of polylysine on growth and differentiation of GH3 cells by means of (a) cell attachment assay (b) cell count and bromodeoxyuridine labeling and (c) immunohistochemistry for prolactin in the absence or presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF). Cell shape, attachment to the culture surface and growth of GH3 cells were not affected by polylysine coating. The percentages of prolactin-immunoreactive cells were higher in the cells cultured on the polylysine-coated surface compared to those on the plastic surface. Cell number and BrdU incorporation were lower in the EGF-treated cells on both culture surfaces. The results provided basic information on the effects of polylysine coating on GH3 cells in culture and suggested that polylysine coating was useful for the study on GH3 cells because it enhanced cell differentiation as well as it provided stronger attachment than plastic surfaces.
Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cell Count ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Shape ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Growth Hormone ; Immunohistochemistry ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Plastics ; Polylysine* ; Prolactin ; Rats*

The microfilaments of hepatocyte are distributed throughout the vicinity of cell membranes, especially numerous around the region of bile canaliculus, and provide the maintenance of cell shape, cellular wall tension, canalicular motility, the secretion for bile, etc. To evaluate the relationship between the microfilament and alteration of cell shape, we examined the morphological changes of cultured rat hepatocytes, following treatments with phalloidin or cytochalasin D with fluorescent and electron microscopes. 1. In the fluorescent micrographs, actin microfilament was distributed near the plasma membrane and bile canaliculus. 2. Both drugs, phalloidin or cytochalasin D, produce the cytoplasmic protrusions from the surface. Their shapes were pedunculated with narrow neck or bulged with broad base, respectively. 3. In the phalloidin treated group, cytoplasmic protrusion was seperated from the internal cytoplasm by microfila-ments networks at the narrow base. In contrast, in the cytochalasin D treated group, cytoplasm was bulged with broad base and kept in direct continuity with the canalicular ectoplasm. 4. Pericanalicular ectoplasm of phalloidin treated group was widened and accumulated with microfilaments. But, bile canaliculus of cytochalasin D treated group was markedly dilated and devoid of microvilli, and the ectoplasm was almost disappeared. Considering above results, dysfunction of microfilaments leads to the structural changes and inhibition of bile secretion of hepatocytes.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Animals ; Bile ; Bile Canaliculi ; Cell Membrane ; Cell Shape ; Cytochalasin D* ; Cytoplasm ; Hepatocytes* ; Microvilli ; Neck ; Phalloidine* ; Rats*

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have strong self-renewal ability and multiple differentiation potential. Some studies confirmed that spreading shape and area of single MSCs influence cell differentiation, but few studies focused on the effect of the circularity of cell shape on the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs with a confined area during osteogenic process.METHODS: In the present study, MSCs were seeded on a micropatterned island with a spreading area lower than that of a freely spreading area. The patterns had circularities of 1.0 or 0.4, respectively, and areas of 314, 628, or 1256 µm² . After the cells were grown on a micropatterned surface for 1 or 3 days, cell apoptosis and F-actin were stained and analyzed. In addition, the expression of β-catenin and three osteogenic differentiation markers were immunofluorescently stained and analyzed, respectively.RESULTS: Of these MSCs, the ones with star-like shapes and large areas promoted the expression of osteogenic differentiation markers and the survival of cells. The expression of F-actin and its cytosolic distribution or orientation also correlated with the spreading shape and area. When actin polymerization was inhibited by cytochalasin D, the shape-regulated differentiation and apoptosis of MSCs with the confined spreading area were abolished.CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that a spreading shape of low circularity and a larger spreading area are beneficial to the survival and osteogenic differentiation of individual MSCs, which may be regulated through the cytosolic expression and distribution of F-actin.
Actins ; Antigens, Differentiation ; Apoptosis ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Shape ; Cytochalasin D ; Cytosol ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Osteogenesis ; Polymerization ; Polymers

OBJECTIVETo observe the morphology of hypertrophic scar tissue and explore the expressions and distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor beta activated kinase 1(TAK1 )in these tissues.

METHODHematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining,immunofluorescence,and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the localization and expression of VEGF and TAK1 in 15 hypertrophic scar tissues and 10 normal skin tissues.

RESULTSMorphological observation showed that the dermal fibroblasts in hypertrophic scar were disorderly and densely arranged (compared to the normal skin). Immunofluorescence displayed that the expressions of VEGF and TAK1 in hypertrophic scar tissue were higher than in normal skin tissues. Real-time polymerase chain reaction showed the mRNA expressions of both VEGF and TAK1 were significantly higher in hypertrophic scar tissue than in normal tissue (P<0.01, P<0.05,respectively).

CONCLUSIONSHypertrophic scar tissue has higher collagen fibrosis degree and higher TAK1 and VEGF expressions than the normal skin. VEGF and TAK1 can be used as the reference indicators for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of hypertrophic scar and serve as new therapeutic targets.

OBJECTIVE: To explore more reliable standards for identifying vestibular hair cells of saccule and utricle prepared in studies with patch clamp technique under inverted phase contrast microscope. METHOD: The length and width of two type's hair cell's were measured besides the length of cilia, and all datas were analyzed statistically. RESULT: The width and length of cilia of two types hair cells in saccule and utricle from guinea pig were similar. The length of type I was longer than that of type II, so the ratio between length and width was larger and the ratio of the length between cilia and cell body was small. CONCLUSION Two type's hair cells of saccule and utricle from guinea pig may be distinguished through the ratio of cell body's length and width even the ratio of the length between cilia and cell body, besides the standards before.
Animals ; Cell Shape ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair Cells, Vestibular ; cytology ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Saccule and Utricle ; cytology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper was to investigate whether the reflected synovio-capsular flap, covering one-third of the remaining peripheral after partial removal of two-thirds of the central medial meniscus of rabbit knee, contributes to the regeneration of meniscus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty rabbits were used in this study. In each rabbit the right knee was used for the experimental group in which the synovio-capsular flap was reflected after a partial meniscectomy, while the left knee, with only a skin incision, was used for the control group. The width and thickness of the regenerated menisci were measured with the Vernier calliper, and evaluated grossly by Hematoxylin-Eosin (H-E) staining, histochemically by safranin-O staining, and subcellularly by transmission electron microscopy at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after the operation. RESULTS: The width and thickness of reflected synovio-capsular flaps gradually decreased until reaching a normal size. After eight weeks, there was no statistical difference between the experimental and control group. Twelve weeks after the operation, immature fibrocartilage cells appeared in the central portion of the reflected synovio-capsular flaps in 7 out of 8 rabbit knees. Sixteen weeks after the operation, more mature cartilage cells and their halos, stained very deeply with safranin-O, appeared in 6 out of 8 rabbit knees. In electron microscopic examination of cell shape, normal cell process and nuclear shape were observed with the passage of time. Rough endoplasmic reticulum and chromatin transparence peaked at 12 weeks and gradually returned to normal shape at 16 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the reflected synovio-capsular flap in rabbit was incorporated with the remaining peripheral portion of the meniscus and became a normal meniscus-like structure.
Cartilage ; Cell Shape ; Chromatin ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Fibrocartilage ; Knee ; Menisci, Tibial ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Skin