The expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in the ovaries of pigs was examined to study the involvement of nitric oxide, a product of NOS activity, in the function of the ovary. Western blot analysis detected three types of NOS in the ovary, including constitutive neuronal NOS (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS); eNOS immunoreactivity was more intense compared with that of iNOS or nNOS. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated the presence of nNOS and eNOS in the surface epithelium, stroma, oocytes, thecal cells, and endothelial cells of blood vessels. Positive immunoreactions for nNOS and iNOS were detected in the granulosa cells from multilaminar and antral follicles, but not in those of unilaminar follicles. iNOS was detected in the surface epithelium, oocytes, and theca of multilaminar and antral follicles. Taking all of the findings into consideration, the observed differential expression of the three NOS isoforms in the ovary suggests a role for nitric oxide in modulating reproduction in pigs.
Animals ; Blotting, Western/veterinary ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry/veterinary ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase/*biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Ovarian Follicle/*enzymology/growth&development ; Swine/*physiology

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), a pineal neurohormone, is a hydroxyl radical scavenger and antioxidant, and plays an important role in the immune system. We studied the effect of exogenous melatonin on the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). EAE was induced in Lewis rats by immunization with rat spinal cord homogenates. Subsequent oral administration of melatonin at 5 mg/kg significantly reduced the clinical severity of EAE paralysis compared with administration of the vehicle alone (p<0.01). Infiltration of ED1 macrophages and CD4 T cells into spinal cords occurred both in the absence and presence of melatonin treatment, but melatonin-treated rats had less spinal cord infiltration of inflammatory cells than did the control group. ICAM-1 immunoreactivity in the blood vessels of EAE lesions was decreased in melatonin-treated rats compared to vehicle-treated rats. These findings suggest that exogenous melatonin ameliorates EAE via a mechanism involving reduced expression of ICAM-1 and lymphocyte function associated antigen-1a in autoimmune target organs.
Animals ; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/*immunology/prevention & control ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/analysis/*immunology ; Male ; Melatonin/administration & dosage/*physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Spinal Cord/chemistry/pathology

Tracheopathia osteoplastica(TO) is a rare, clinical and pathologic benign condition of unknown cause and characterized by submucosal cartilaginous or bony projections into tracheobroncheal lumen, usually not involved posterior membranous portion of tracheobroncheal tree. We report two cases of tracheopathia osteoplastica that involved trachea and both main bronchus, diagnosed by chest CT, fiberoptic bronchoscopic biopsy.
Biopsy ; Bronchi ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Trachea

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign uterine tumors. They are estimated to be present in at least 20% of all women of reproductive age and may be asymptomatic in 40-50% of women older than 40 years of age. They may be subserosal, intramural, or submucosal in location within the uterus or located in the cervix, in the broad ligament, or on a pedicle. But it seems to be rare to experience a intraligamentary huge leiomyoma in the broad ligament.Recently we have experienced a case of intraligamentary huge leiomyoma with its weight of 3146 gm in 45 year-old primiparous woman. We present this case with a brief review of the literature.
Broad Ligament ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Middle Aged ; Uterus

The vast majority of malignant tumors involving the vagina are secondary spread from primary malignant lesion of the cervix uteri, the sigmoid colon, the bladder and the vulva. Primary invasive carcinoma of the vagina remains among the rare gynecologic malignant tumor. The diagnosis of primary carcinoma of the vagina requires that the cervix and the vulva be intact and no clinical evidence of other primary tumors exist. Greater than 80-90% of all vaginal tumors are squamous cell type. We experienced two cases of primary vaginal cancer of 68 years old woman without any other gynecologic disease and 67 years old woman after hysterectomy for benign desease. We presented these cases with a brief review of related literatures.
Aged ; Cervix Uteri ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell ; Urinary Bladder ; Vagina ; Vaginal Neoplasms* ; Vulva

To examine the involvement of phospholipase D (PLD)isozymes in postnatal testis development, the expression ofPLD1 and PLD2 was examined in the mouse testis atpostnatal weeks 1, 2, 4, and 8 using Western blot analysisand immunohistochemistry. The expression of both PLD1and PLD2 increased gradually with development frompostnatal week 1 to 8. Immunohistochemically, PLDimmunoreactivity was detected in some germ cells in thetestis and interstitial Leydig cells at postnatal week 1.PLD was mainly detected in the spermatocytes andresidual bodies of spermatids in the testis after 8 weeksafter birth. The intense immunostaining of PLD in Leydigcells remained unchanged by postnatal week 8. Thesefindings suggest that PLD isozymes are involved in thespermatogenesis of the mouse testis.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Isoenzymes ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Phospholipase D/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Spermatogenesis/physiology ; Testis/*enzymology/growth & development

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) plays an important role in reproduction and social activities in ruminants including goats. A morphological study on the structure of VNO and its epithelial cells was carried out in Korean black goats. Grossly, the VNO of Korean goats opens into mouth through incisive ducts. Microscopically, the epithelium of VNO consisted of medial sensory epithelium and lateral non-sensory epithelium. Several blood vessels and nerve bundles were observed in the lamina propria encased by vomeronasal cartilage. Immunohistochemical staining showed that protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 was immunostained in the receptor cells of the sensory epithelium and in some cells of the non-sensory epithelium. Galectin-3 was mainly observed in the supporting cells of sensory and non-sensory epithelium. Lectins including wheat germ agglutinin, Ulex europaeus agglutinin, Bandeiraea simplicifolia lectin Isolectin B4, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin and soybean agglutinin used in this study were bound in VNO sensory, non-sensory epithelia as well as in the lamina propria with varying intensity. Collectively, this is a first descriptive morphological study of VNO of Korean black goat with special reference to lectin histochemistry.
Blood Vessels ; Cartilage ; Dolichos ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Galectin 3 ; Goats ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lectins ; Mouth ; Mucous Membrane ; Plant Lectins ; Reproduction ; Ruminants ; Soybean Proteins ; Soybeans ; Triticum ; Ulex ; Vomeronasal Organ