No abstract available.
Blindness, Cortical* ; Diagnosis* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Fibroblasts* ; Fluorouracil* ; Rats*

The intervertebral discs of the dog from the newborn, the 1 year old, and the 5 years old were examined about the cell morphologies and their structural changes according to the advancement of age by histomorphometry and electron microscopy. The three regions of the disc - the nucleus pulposus, the inner and outer annulus fibrosus were considered. Each region was divided into the three zones - the peripheral, intermediate, and central zones. The cell morphology of the three regions were as follows : A. The nucleus pulposus 1. At the newborn, the cells of the nucleus pulposus had long cytoplasmic processes forming large extracellular vacuoles. In the peripheral and intermediate zones, the cells with euchromatic nucleus had fine cytoplasmic granule-like fibers and some of free ribosomes. In the central zone, the cells with heterochromatic nucleus had many cytoplasmic vacuoles filled with free ribosomes. 2. At the 1 years old, the cell-group composed of 4 to 8 cells contacted each other with their cytoplasmic processes. In the peripheral zone, the elliptical chondroblast-like cells with euchromatic nucleus had well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. In the intermediate zone, the foam-like large round cells with euchromaic nucleus had multiple cytoplasmic vacuoles filled with granular contents. In the central zone, the cells with heterochromatic nucleus had large cytoplasmic vacuoles, and seemed to be degenerated type of the outer zone-cells. 3. At the 5 years old, the cells in the periphery were rhomboid or polygonal with euchromatic nucleus, and had broad cytoplasmic contact surface with adjacent cells. They had small cytoplasmic vacuoles, well-developed Golgi apparatus and rough endoplasmic reticulum. The cells in the intermediate zone had heterochromatic nucleus and a lot of variable size of cytoplasmic vacuoles, and seemed to be degenerated form of the cells of the periphery. In the central zone, the star-like cells with heterochromatic nucleus had multiple sharp cytoplasmic processes and vacant cytoplasm because of large cytoplasmic vacuoles. B. The cartilaginous part and the inner annulus fibrosus 1. At the newborn, the outer zone of the cartilaginous part of the intervertebral disc showed the isogenous group with 2 to 3 chondrocytes within the cell nest. The cells were distributed mainly around the blood vessels, and had euchromatic nucleus. They had small cytoplasmic vacuoles, well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and abundant ribosomes. The cells of the inner zone showed heterochromatic nucleus, well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and expanding terminal cisternae. 2. At the 1 year old, the inner annulus fibrosus was divided into the fibrocartilaginous part and the hyaline cartilaginous part. The former, the outer zone showed the cell nest with 2 to 4 of elliptical chondrocytes which had euchromatic nucleus, small cytoplasmic vacuoles and scattered fine granules. The latter, the inner zone showed the chondrocytes within the dissociated cell nest with heterochromatic nucleus. They had disperse rough endoplasmic reticulum and microvilli-like cytoplasmic processes. 3. At the 5 years old, the annulus fibrosus was composed mainly of fibrocartilage. The chondrocyte showed heterochromatic nucleus, long cytoplasmic processes, large cytoplasmic vacuoles and densely packed abundant granules. C. The outer annulus fibrosus 1. At the 1 year old, the outer annulus fibrosus was composed of the palisading collagenous bundles. The chondrocytes with heterochromatic nucleus located in the cartilage cell nest. The cells had well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and Golgi apparatus, and 4 to 5 processes of interterritorial matrix surrounded the collagenous bundles. 2. At the 5 years old, the collagenous bundles were invaded by the processes of interterritorial matrix, and made them incomplete ones. The cell had heterochromatic nucleus and scanty cytoplasm containing small mitochondria and poorly developed organelles. The Summary of The Above Mentioned Findings Are : 1. The cells of the nucleus pulposus were degenerated gradually from the periphery toward the center. 2. The cells of the nucleus pulposus were degenerated gradually according to the aging process. 3. With age, the cells of the annulus fibrosus were degenerated, the hyaline cartilage was replaced gradually by fibrocartilages, and fragmentation of the collagenous bundles appeared. 4. The older the age, the smaller the nucleus of the nucleus pulposus cells, and the larger the nucleus of the annulus fibrosus cells were encountered in the histomorphometric measurement.
Aging ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Cartilage* ; Child, Preschool ; Chondrocytes ; Collagen ; Cytoplasm ; Dogs* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Fibrocartilage ; Golgi Apparatus ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Hyaline Cartilage ; Infant, Newborn ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mitochondria ; Organelles ; Ribosomes ; Vacuoles

No abstract available.
Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor*

Transplantation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in experimental animal models has been used to study germ line stem cell biology and to produce transgenic animals. The species-specific recipient model preparation is important for the characterization of SSCs and the production of offspring. Here, we investigated the effects of surgically induced cryptorchidism in dog as a new recipient model for spermatogonial stem cell transplantation. Artificially unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism was induced in ten mature male dogs by surgically returning the testis and epididymis to the abdominal cavity. The testes and epididymides were collected every week after the induction of artificial cryptorchidism (surgery) for one month. To determine the effect of surgical cryptorchidism, the seminiferous tubule diameter was measured and immunohistochemistry using PGP9.5 and GATA4 antibodies was analyzed. The diameters of the seminiferous tubules of abdominal testes were significantly reduced compared to those of the scrotal testes. Immunohistochemistry results showed that PGP9.5 positive undifferentiated spermatogonia were significantly reduced after surgical cryptorchidism induction, but there were no significant changes in GATA-4 positive sertoli cells. To evaluate the testis function recovery rate, orchiopexy was performed on two dogs after 30 days of bilateral cryptorchidism. In the orchiopexy group, SCP3 positive spermatocytes were detected, and spermatogenesis was recovered 8 weeks after orchiopexy. In this study, we provided optimum experimental conditions and time for surgical preparation of a recipient canine model for SSC transplantation. Additionally, our data will contribute to recipient preparation by using surgically induced cryptorchidism in non-rodent species.
Abdominal Cavity ; Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Antibodies ; Biology ; Cryptorchidism* ; Dogs ; Epididymis ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Orchiopexy ; Recovery of Function ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatocytes ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatogonia ; Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Stem Cells* ; Testis

No abstract available.
Skin*

In this report, we describe ovarian mixed germ cell tumor in a patient with Turner syndrome. Right ovary was replaced by a 15 x 11 x 10cm teratomatous benign tissue and small area of mixed malignant germ cell tissue. The malignant germ cell portion was composed of embryonal carcinoma and loose reticular area of yolk sac tumor and syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells. Left ovary was streak gonad. This is the first reported case of mixed germ cell tumor with Turner syndrome in Korea.
Carcinoma, Embryonal ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Female ; Germ Cells* ; Giant Cells ; Gonads ; Humans ; Korea ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; Ovary ; Trophoblasts ; Turner Syndrome*

We aimed to identify predictive markers of peri- and postpartum disorders in dairy cows. Data regarding peri- and postpartum disorders, serum metabolites, body condition score (BCS), and rectal temperature, were collected from 227 dairy cows, which were allocated to healthy (n = 57) and diseased (n = 170) groups. Serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration was higher in diseased than healthy cows 4 weeks before (p < 0.01) and immediately after (p = 0.05) calving. Serum alanine aminotransferase (AST) activity was higher (p < 0.05) in diseased than healthy cows 1 and 2 weeks after calving, whereas total cholesterol (TCH) concentration was lower (p < 0.05–0.0001) in diseased cows 4 weeks before, and after calving. BCS was higher (p < 0.05) in diseased than healthy cows 4 weeks before calving, but lower (p < 0.01) in diseased cows 8 weeks after calving. Rectal temperature was higher (p < 0.05–0.01) in diseased than healthy cows between 2 and 14 days postpartum. In conclusion, high serum NEFA and AST concentrations and lower TCH concentration during the peripartum period, and high prepartum BCS and postpartum rectal temperature, could be used as biomarkers to predict the subsequent development of peri- and postpartum disorders.
Alanine Transaminase ; Biomarkers ; Cholesterol ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Peripartum Period ; Postpartum Period

We aimed to identify predictive markers of peri- and postpartum disorders in dairy cows. Data regarding peri- and postpartum disorders, serum metabolites, body condition score (BCS), and rectal temperature, were collected from 227 dairy cows, which were allocated to healthy (n = 57) and diseased (n = 170) groups. Serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration was higher in diseased than healthy cows 4 weeks before (p < 0.01) and immediately after (p = 0.05) calving. Serum alanine aminotransferase (AST) activity was higher (p < 0.05) in diseased than healthy cows 1 and 2 weeks after calving, whereas total cholesterol (TCH) concentration was lower (p < 0.05–0.0001) in diseased cows 4 weeks before, and after calving. BCS was higher (p < 0.05) in diseased than healthy cows 4 weeks before calving, but lower (p < 0.01) in diseased cows 8 weeks after calving. Rectal temperature was higher (p < 0.05–0.01) in diseased than healthy cows between 2 and 14 days postpartum. In conclusion, high serum NEFA and AST concentrations and lower TCH concentration during the peripartum period, and high prepartum BCS and postpartum rectal temperature, could be used as biomarkers to predict the subsequent development of peri- and postpartum disorders.

This study investigated the effects of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administration (Experiment 1) and a controlled internal drug-releasing (CIDR) insert (Experiment 2) after timed artificial insemination (TAI) on the pregnancy rates of dairy cows. In Experiment 1, 569 dairy cows that underwent TAI (day 0) following short-term synchronization with prostaglandin F(2α) were randomly allocated into two groups: no further treatment (control, n = 307) or injection of 100 µg of gonadorelin on day 5 (GnRH, n = 262). In Experiment 2, 279 dairy cows that underwent TAI (day 0) following Ovsynch were randomly allocated into two groups: no further treatment (control, n = 140) or CIDR insert treatment from days 3.5 to 18 (CIDR, n = 139). The probability of pregnancy following TAI did not differ between the GnRH (34.4%) and control (31.6%, p > 0.05) groups. However, the probability of pregnancy following TAI was higher (odds ratio: 1.74, p < 0.05) in the CIDR group (51.1%) than in the control group (39.3%). Overall, CIDR insert treatment at days 3.5 to 18 increased pregnancy rates relative to non-treated controls, whereas a single GnRH administration on day 5 did not affect the pregnancy outcomes of dairy cows.
Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Insemination, Artificial* ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy*