Primary retroperitoneal seminoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy. A case report

A fine needle aspiration biopsy specimen of a retroperitoneal mass was submitted for cytologic evaluation. Malignant cells were found, and the cytologic appearance was consistent with seminoma although the clinical possibilities included lymphoma and adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Cytologic features of the needle biopsy specimen included uniform neoplastic malignant cells with round nuclei and nucleoli and clear or pale-staining cytoplasm. The cells were found singly or in groups of two or three cells. Lymphocytes were intermingled with the neoplastic cells.     

Coenzyme A in dog kidneys during hypothermic perfusion

In kidneys perfused hypothermically for 48 hr, both major intracellular pools of CoA (present in cytosol and mitochondria) decreased when solutions with intracellular or extracellular electrolyte composition without CoA precursors were used. The presence of substrates such as glucose or caprylic acid in the perfusate did not counteract the depletion of CoA.The addition of the CoA precursors pantethine and adenosine together with respiratory substrates to the perfusion medium counteracted the loss of CoA. The best solution in this respect among 16 different perfusates tested contained palmitic acid and l-carnitine together with CoA precursors and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. With this solution, we obtained good preservation of the cytosolic and the mitochondrial pool of CoA.     

Computed tomographic anatomy of the kidneys and the retroperitoneal space

The authors described the anatomy of the kidneys and retroperitoneal space in health on the basis of CT of 90 patients. Five typical levels in CT (ensuring all necessary data on roentgenomorphological traits of the kidneys and retroperitoneal space in the kidney area) were singled out. Some roentgenometric data on kidney cross-sections as well as the quantitative densitometric characterization of the parenchyma of the kidneys, renal sinus and adjacent tissues were presented. X-ray anatomy of the renal fascia, pararenal space and perirenal fatty space of the kidney with different parts of the retroperitoneal space was described.     

A novel class of unstable 6-thioguanine-resistant cells from dog and human kidneys

Thioguanine-resistant primary clones were grown from single cell suspensions obtained from dog and human kidneys by enzymatic digestion. In medium containing a relatively high concentration (10g/ ml) of thioguanine, thioguanine-resistant primary clones arose from each source at frequencies ranging from 10^–4 to 10^–5. A reduction in total hypoxanthine uptake was found in the thioguanine-resistant primary clones which had developed in thioguanine medium, consistent with a reduction in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase activity. When these thioguanine-resistant primary clones were subsequently grown in the absence of thioguanine and assayed for the thioguanine-resistant phenotype and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase activity, it was found that most were now thioguanine-sensitive and yielded cell free extracts with substantial amounts of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase activity. In contrast, thioguanine-resistant human clones grown continuously in the presence of thioguanine yielded cell free extracts with little or no detectable hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase activity. Southern blot analysis demonstrated no structural alterations in the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase gene in thioguanine-resistant primary human kidney clones. These results suggest that a novel mechanism(s) for thioguanine resistance and the control of hypoxanth phosphoribosyltransferase expression may occur in dog and human kidney cells.Abbreviations AG 8-azaguanine - APRT adenine phosphoribosyltransferase - DAPI 4-6 diamino-2-phenylindole - DV Dulbecco-Vogt - HAT hypoxanthine, aminopterin, thymidine - HPRT hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase - PRPP 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate - TG 6-thioguanine - TG^r thioguanine-resistant - TG^s thioguanine-sensitive - TIP thymidine triphosphate     

Case report of primary retroperitoneal hydatid cyst

Hydatid cyst develops in retroperitoneal space without accompanied lesion in other organs is defined as primary retroperitoneal hydatid cyst. It is extremely rare though hydatid cyst may affect every organ in human body. A 15 years old boy presented with a giant retroperitoneal cyst and hydatid cyst was suspected. Thorough examination did not revealed lesions in liver, lung, kidney or other organs. The diagnosis was confirmed through laparotomy. The diagnosis is difficult, but the possibility should be considered before operation to prevent spillage or fatal anaphylactic shock. Living in an endemic area, ultrasonography, CT or serology test is helpful in the diagnosis of this disease. Total cystectomy is the ideal surgery, if not possible or at high risk, partial pericystectomy is acceptable.     

Fertilizing capacity of the cryptorchid rat

Rats were surgically made bilaterally cryptorchid and after 4-8 days the testes were returned to the scrotum. After 70 days fertility was tested by pairing with females. Fertility was restored in 5/6 rats with testes cryptorchid for 4 or 5 days, but only 2/9 were fertile when the duration of cryptorchidism was 6-8 days. The sterility was due to irreversible degeneration of the spermatogonial stem cells. The testes of infertile males were smaller and lighter than those of fertile males and the seminiferous tubule diameters were reduced.     

Adipokine gene expression in dog adipose tissues and dog white adipocytes differentiated in primary culture.

Obesity and its associated disorders are increasing in companion animals, particularly in dogs. We have investigated whether genes encoding key adipokines, some of which are implicated in the pathologies linked to obesity, are expressed in canine adipose tissues. Using RT-PCR, mRNAs encoding the following adipokines were detected in dog white adipose tissue: adiponectin, leptin, angiotensinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, IL-6, haptoglobin, metallothionein-1 and 2, and nerve growth factor. The adipokine mRNAs were present in all fat depots examined. Fractionation of adipose tissue by collagenase digestion showed that each gene was expressed in mature adipocytes. The mRNA for TNFalpha was not evident in adipose tissue, but was detected in isolated adipocytes. Fibroblastic preadipocytes from gonadal white fat were differentiated into adipocytes in primary culture and adipokine expression examined before and after differentiation (days 0 and 11, respectively). Each adipokine gene expressed in dog white adipocytes was also expressed in the differentiated cells. These results demonstrate that dog white adipose tissue expresses major adipokine genes, expression being in the adipocytes. Investigation of adipokine production and function will provide insight into the mechanisms involved in obesity-related pathologies in dogs and serve as a model for the related human diseases.