The loss of the uterine epithelium surrounding blastocyst is important in bringing the trophoblast into close association with the endometrial stroma during embryonal implantation in several laboratory rodents. It is usually assumed that the epithelial cells die during this process, but the cause of epithelial cell death remains speculative. This study was performed to investigate the mechanism of epithelial cell death during implantation in the endometrium of rat uterus throughout days 5-9 of pregnancy by light and electron microscopy. Cathepsin-D reactivity, detected by imunohistochemistry, was localized to all viable epithelia, some degenerating epithelial and decidual cells between days 5-9 of pregnancy. DNA fragmentation, detected by TUNEL staining, was observed in degenerating epithelial and decidual cells throughout days 6-9 of pregnancy. Cellular fragments within lumen and phagosome within trophoblasts were reacted positively to TUNEL staining. Electron microscopy revealed that the epithelium lining the antimesometrial chamber was sloughed off into the lumen on day 6 of pregnancy. Its cell organelles appeared healthy but its nucleus was condensed and irregular shaped. The detached epithelial cells lining the antimesometrial chamber on day 7 of pregnancy contained condensed and fragmented nuclei, but exhibited different morphological pattern according to the intactness or loss of cytoplamic organelles and membrane. And these cells were surrounded and phagocytosed by trophoblasts. On day 7 of pregnancy, syncytial knots were formed, and later these knots and most of detached epithelial cells were severely degenerated. Some decidual cells nearby the lumen were also degenerated at this period. These results indicate that the epithelial cell death of rat uterine endometrium during implantation is mainly due to the process of apoptosis and these dying cells are removed by trophoblasts.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blastocyst ; DNA Fragmentation ; Endometrium ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium ; Female ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Membranes ; Microscopy, Electron ; Organelles ; Phagosomes ; Pregnancy ; Rats* ; Rodentia ; Trophoblasts ; Uterus*

The present study was carried out to clarify the anatomical changes of lumbar intervertebral discs by aging. Anterior height, posterior height, anteroposterior diameter of intervertebral discs were measured on 512 normal plain lateral radiographs of lumbosacral spine. And the indices of disc wedging and relative disc height were calculated. There was a cephalocaudal gradient of increase in the indices of disc wedging in all age groups. The indices of relative disc height were constant at all lumbar levels. These suggest that the lower disc is more wedge shaped and the height of discs changes in the constant ratio with that of vertebral body.
Aging* ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Spine

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Joints*

No abstract available.
Cartilage* ; Fetus* ; Humans* ; Osteogenesis* ; Talus*

No abstract available.
Fetus* ; Humans* ; Pituitary Gland*

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Ligaments*

No abstract available.
Gerbillinae

The soleal line in 115 (left; 61, right; 54) cases of tibiae was studied morphometrically by the method of Mysorekar and Nandedkar. 1. The soleal line showed a uniform character throughout in 26 cases and a mixed characters in 89 cases. The bones showing uniform character were seen generally as a lineal line or wide line. 2. The soleal line having mixed characters divided into three parts. In the upper and middle thirds, the major type of line was wide line. In the lower third, the line was commonly seen as a lineal line. In about 12% of the bones examined the line was seen as a groove, particularly in the middle and lower thirds. 3. The soleal line commenced 1-2cm below the fibular facet In about 61% of cases. 4. The length of the soleal line was 10.5cm, and the ratio to that of the tibia was about 30%. The results of this study provide the characters of the soleal tne of the tibia in Korean. The soleal line, unlike the textbook description, generally shows mixed characters of a line.
Methods ; Tibia*

The development of aorticpulmonary bodies was studied by electron microscope in human fatuses ranging from 40mm to 260mm crowm-rump length. The aorticpulmonary bodies were observed in the wall of the aorta, and of the pulmonart trunk and arteries. At 40mm fetus, the aorticopulmonary bodies were composed of clusters of primitive glomus cells, primative supporting cells, unmyelinated nerve fibers, and capillaries. The primitive glomus cells possessed large nuclei, dense-cored vesicles, many Golgi complexes, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and, multivesicular bodies, the primitive supporting cells were agranular with attenuated cytoplasmic processed which partially ensheathed the primitive glomus cells. Synaptic contacts between the axon terminals and the aoma of primitive glomus cells were first observed. The primitive glomus cells increased somewhat in size and number by 90mm fetus, but retained essentially the same characteristics as at the earlier stage. Desmosome-like contacts between glomus cells and adjacent cells were commonly seen. At 160mm fetus, the glomus cells had increased accumulations of all organells and numerous dense cored vesicles. The supporting cells completely invested the glomus cells. Two types of nerve terminals were observed. One type contained small agranular vesicles which was identified as cholinergic axon terminal. The other contained a majority of small granular vesicles which was classfied as adrenergic axon terminal. Synaptic contacts between the cholinergic axon terminals and the soma of the glomus cell were observed. During next prenatal stage up to 260mm fetus the glomus cells and the supporting cells resembling those in adult were present. It is concluded that the ultrastructural features of these aorticopulmonary bodies are similar to those of the carotid body. It is therefore suggested that the aorticopulmonary bodies of the human fetures have a chemorecepter function similar to that of the carotid body.
Adult ; Aorta ; Arteries ; Capillaries ; Carisoprodol ; Carotid Body ; Cytoplasm ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Fetus* ; Golgi Apparatus ; Humans* ; Multivesicular Bodies ; Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated ; Presynaptic Terminals

Six hundred fifty-one metacarpal bones of Koreans were studied for variations in articular and non-articular surface and the number, position and direction of the diaphyseal nutrient foramina. The facets for articulation of the metacarpal bone with one another showed very frequent variations from the standard text-book description. The number and the sites of entry of the diaphyseal nutrient foramina also showed considerable variations. These findings show no apparent racial difference in variations of metacarpal bones between a Korean and an Indian.
Metacarpal Bones*