To observe the cellular expression of extracellular matrix components during mouse skin regeneration, the wounded skin samples were processed by immunoelectronmicroscopic methods, using primary antibodies for fibronectin, collagen type IV and laminin. The tissues were observed under transmission electron-microscope. The results were summarized as follows. 1. The granulation tissues and x-cells were observed in the wound margin at 18 hr post injury. The number of fibroblasts was increased in the granulation tissues at 1 day post injury. 2. The expression of fibronectin was observed in x-cells at 18 hr post injury, and in fibroblasts at 1 day post injury. In x-cells, after 1 day post injury, the expression of fibronectin was decreased. 3. At 1 day post injury, the expression of collagen type IV was increased in fibroblasts whereas not in x-cells. 4. The expression of laminin was increased by 18 hr post injury, but decreased after 1 day post injury. On the basis of above findings, in mouse, the regenerations of wounded skin were faster than other animals. The first step, infiltration response, was processed till 18 hr or 1 day post injury. The second step, fibroblast proliferation phase, began at 1 day post injury. In the regenerations of wounded skin, x-cells migrated to the wound region and activated, earlier than fibroblast. Thereafter, x-cells which appeared to be transformed into fibroblasts, played an important role in the synthesis of fibronectin and collagen type IV, and the formation of granulation tissue, with migrated fibroblasts to the wound region.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Collagen Type IV ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibroblasts ; Fibronectins ; Granulation Tissue ; Laminin ; Mice* ; Regeneration* ; Skin* ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalance of morphological variation of the kidney secondary to junctional parenchyma, as well as to analyze the ultrasonographic features of junctional parenchyma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and eighty two kidneys of 141 patient without clinical or radiologic evidence of renal disease were prospectively analysed using ultrasound. In all patients, ultrasonograms were obtained in sagittal, coronal and transaxial planes. The kidney was considered to have morphological variation if the ulrasonogram demonstrated junctional parenchymal defect or line ; those showing such variation were classified as one of three types :continuous, discontinuous, or junctional parenchymal line or defect without junctional parenchyma. The prevalance and ultrasonographic features of the kidneys were evaluated. RESULTS: Morphological variation was noted in 71 cases(25%). the continuous type accounted for 54% of these, the discontinuous type for 38%, and junctional parenchymal defect or line without junctional parenchyma for 8%. In all cases, junctional parenchyma was located approximately at the junction of the upper and middle third of the kidny, and had the same echogenecity as the renal cortex. CONCLUSION: An understanding of the morphological variation of the kidney resulting from junctional renal parenchyma would be helpful in differentiating pseudo tumor from true renal neoplasm.
Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Kidney* ; Ultrasonography*