La gouttelette cytoplasmique résiduelle du spermatozoïde

The cytoplasmic droplet of spermatozoa is a small outpouching of cytoplasm observed in man and many mammalian species. This cytoplasmic persistance on spermatozoa is of unknown significance. It is associated with infertility and is due to a spermiation or epididymal maturation abnormality. Several etiological mechanisms have been suggested. Seminal fructose and testosterone concentrations have been correlated with the presence of cytoplasmic droples. Creatine kinase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzymes in the droplet and products of lipid peroxidation could be used as biochemical markers of this cytological abnormality. There is a significant increase in cytoplasmic droplets in HIV seropositive and in khat addicted subjects. Deleterious effects on fertility could be due to membrane modifications of the spermatozoa and/or reactive oxygen species generation via enzymatic activities in the residual cytoplasm.     

Quelques organismes sporadiques du plancton de la région d'Amsterdam

Sans résuméLaboratoire du Service Medical et Sanitaire de la ville d'Amsterdam.     

Kyste du tractus thyréoglosse dégénéré révélant un microcarcinome papillaire multifocal de la thyroïde

The malignant degeneration of thyroglossal duct cyst (TDC) is a very rare phenomenon. It occurs 1% of operated cysts where papillary carcinoma represents the most frequent pathological type. The authors report a clinical observation of a papillary carcinoma of thyroid occurring in a thyroglossal duct cyst concomitant to a multifocal micropapillary thyroid discovered in a 21-year-old woman. A total thyroidectomy was performed. A complementary treatment by radioactive iodine 131 (3,7 GBq) was undertaken. Two years later, the patient is doing well and does not present any sign of recurrence. In the light of this observation, the authors propose to report the diagnosis and therapeutic aspects of degenerated thyroglossal duct cyst.     

Innervation du muscle rétracteur antérieur du byssus (ABRM) de Mytilus edulis L.

Summary Detection of nerve structures containing 5-HT were described in the anterior byssus retractor muscle (ABRM) in Mytilus edulis L. after using the fluorescence microscope technique of Falck. We are able to confirm our previous results and assumptions given by histology and electron microscope studies: the neuromuscular en passage junctions, largely distributed within the ABRM, contain 5-HT.     

Métastase du tissu mou révélant un carcinome folliculaire différencié de la thyroïde

Differentiated thyroid cancer occupies a very important place within the framework of thyroid pathology, representing 90% of thyroid cancers. A nodular goiter generally summarizes the clinical picture. Nevertheless, remote metastases can be revealing. The elective localizations of these metastases are by descending order of frequency: lung, bone, mediastinal lymph nodes, kidney, liver and adrenal glands. Soft tissue metastases are extremely rare and exceptionally revealing of the neoplasm. We report one case of follicular thyroid carcinoma revealed by soft tissue metastases of the arm.     

Intérêt du dosage de la testostérone biodisponible dans les dysérections

Is serum non-sex hormone binding globulin-bound (non-SHBG-bound) testosterone more sensitive than total testosterone (T) in men presenting érectile dysfonction? Non-SHBG-bound testosterone level has been shown to undergo decrease whereas SHBG level increases in middle-aged men without érectile dysfonction. Serum SHBG increase has been found in secondary organic etiology of érectile dysfonction. The aim of this work was to study hormonal status in men presenting érectile dysfonction. Serum SHBG, T, bioavailable T, luteinizing hormone (LH) and folliculin stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were measured in 40 men presenting érectile dysfonction. They were divided into four groups according to their etiology: psychogenic, vasculogenic, iatrogenic, and unknown etiologies. In order to consider the effect of the age, each group was compared with age-related healthy controls without any érectile dysfonction. Non-SHBG-bound-T decreased with age and SHBG increased, while serum T was similar in young and elderly control subjects. In the vasculogenic subjects, SHBG was higher than in the controls, but not significantly. In the patients with érectile dysfonction of unknown etiologies, non-SHBG-bound-T was lower than in the controls without increase of SHBG. In the psychogenic patients, SHBG was higher than in the controls while total T was similar in both groups. This study allowed to investigate androgen status of men suffering of érectile dysfonction according to their etiology. The following step would be to study the rate of success of appropriate hormonal therapy in patients in which peripheral hypogonadism occurs.     

L'intérêt chorologique de quelques groupements forestiérs du Morvan,France

Because of its geographical position the Morvan region has certain peculiar climatological conditions which, despite the distance from the sea, permit the development of a characteristic Atlantic vegetation. Forest communities of Quercion robori-petraeae and Carpinion betuli are described and compared with the associations already distinguished for France. A chorological synthesis of the Quercion robori-petraeae and Carpinion betuli communities is made for a considerable part of France and the phytogeographical importance of the Morvan region is revealed.

Nomenclature des espèces d'après Flora Europaea, par Tutin et al. (1964–1980); nomenclature syntaxonomique d'après Rameau (1981) et Oberdorfer (1978).     

Variations de l'incidence des fractures de l'extrémité supérieure du fémur chez les personnes agées de la région de Québec.

To estimate the incidence of fracture of the proximal end of the femur in people aged 50 years or older living in the Quebec area in 1971, 1976 and 1981 we determined the number of admissions for such fractures to the 15 acute care hospitals in the region. From 1971 to 1981 the number of fractures increased by 71%; the increases for those aged 75 to 84 years and 85 years or over were 98% and 118% respectively. The variation is only partly explained by changes in sex and age distribution of the population; the incidence rates also increased. Among men aged 75 to 84 years the incidence rate per 1000 person-years rose from 2.63 in 1971 to 5.22 in 1981, an increase of 98%; the corresponding figures for men aged 85 years or more were 9.76 and 16.91, an increase of 73%. Among women aged 75 to 84 years the rate rose from 7.28 to 8.81, an increase of 21%; the corresponding figures for women aged 85 years or more were 20.40 and 24.27, an increase of 21% and 19% respectively.     

Intérêt de l’introduction à la nomenclature du test de détection des HPV

Le cancer du col de l’utérus reste un problème de santé publique puisque 900 000 nouveaux cas sont diagnostiqués chaque année de par le monde [Luthra] et il est responsable en France de plus de 1600 décès par an. Pourtant, depuis plus de 40 ans, le dépistage de masse des précurseurs du cancer invasif est tout à fait réalisable et le traitement des anomalies cervicales pré-invasives amène généralement à la guérison.     

«Noir de Diaminobenzidine»: Une nouvelle méthode histochimique de révélation du fer exogène

Résumé Une nouvelle réaction de mise en évidence histochimique du fer exogène, utilisé comme traceur pour l'étude des connexions dans le système nerveux central, est décrite. Elle comporte la transformation du fer en bleu de Prusse, lequel est utilisé comme catalyseur de l'oxydation de la diaminobenzidine par l'eau oxygénée. La diaminobenzidine oxydée précipite sous forme d'un produit insoluble de couleur brun-noir. Cette réaction présente une sensibilité et un contraste nettement supérieurs à ceux de la réaction classique de Perls.

---

Diaminobenzidine black as a new histochemical demonstration of exogenous iron

Summary A new reaction for the histochemical demonstration of exogenous iron, used as a tracer for the study of connectivity in the central nervous system, is described. It consists of, first, the conversion of iron into Prussian blue, which acts secondarily as a catalyst for the oxidation of diaminobenzidine by hydrogen peroxide. The oxidized diaminobenzidine precipitates by polymerization and gives rise to a brown-colored insoluble reaction product. This reaction has a strikingly better sensitivity and contrast than the classical Perls's reaction.

     

Suivi pluriannuel du peuplement à Abra alba dans la partie méridionale de la Mer du Nord (région de Dunkerque-France)

The Abra alba community is considered as a faunistical unity well established on coastal areas of North Sea. This community shows, since several years, very important recruitments of certain species. Since 1978, recruitments of Abra alba, Tellina fabula, Phyllodoce (Anaïtides) mucosa, Lagis koreni or Lanice conchilega have been observed. However these demographic phenomena does not affect the structure of the community, which shows, through rank-frequency diagrams, the characteristic of a mature population, principally constituted of 7 species.An annual cycle study shows a succession of recruitments of several species. A correspondance factorial analysis was realised from grain size datas as well as abundances of 18 main species. This analysis shows an annual cycle which seems to be linked to the clay part. Maximal values of clay part appears in summer and minimal values at the end of winter or early springtime.The hydrological parameters studied, allowed to make the difference between external factors (continental contributions, phytoplanctonic activity etc...) and benthic activity.

     

Innervation du muscle rétracteur antérieur du byssus (ABRM) de Mytilus edulis L. et de Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk.

Summary Specific and non specific cholinesterase activities were demonstrated in the ABRM of Mytilus edulis L. and Mytilus galloprovincialis L. by means of different techniques. The results were found identical for both species: neuromuscular junctions en grappe-type scarcely distributed within the ABRM, contain AChE.According to the histochemical inhibition tests, (a) the eserine inhibits AChE activity of the ABRM with a level of 5·10^–5 M or higher, (b) the ChE non specific activities are inhibited by iso-OMPA level between 5·10^–5 to 10^–4 M.The histo- and cytochemical observations were completed by showing the existence of neuromuscular junctions containing small clear vesicles: they probably are the morphological support for ACh presence.Moreover, specific and non specific ChE activities were localized in the glio-interstitial cells. AChE precipitates were developped along the ABRM sarcolemma, some muscle mitochondria and in the intercellular spaces remain enigmatic.

---

---

L'auteur dédicace cette contribution à son père, Mr. Anthime Gilloteaux à l'occasion de son 75ème anniversaire     

Étude paléontologique du genre Sabinia (Rudiste à canaux)des récifs du Campanien de Tunisie

Campanian rudist reefs of Central Tunisia are rich in pallial-canal rudists, belonging to the genus Sabinia. The Djebel Serraguia layer shows well-preserved samples allowing to make a detailed paleontologic study. A new sub species of a previously observed species from the Maastrichtian of Yugoslavia and Turkey is described. Identified for the first time on the african margins, this new taxon gives interesting data concerning systematic and evolution of the genus Sabinia, as well as the relationships between reef provinces during the Upper Senonian. The biosedimentologic role of Sabinia within tunisian reefs is pointed out.     

dÉcologie des diatomées d'eau douce de la région centrale du Portugal

Tychoplanktonic and epilithic diatom samples were taken monthly during one year at 18 sites in small lowland rivers in the northern central region of Portugal. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to explore the relationships between measured environmental variables and patterns in the diatom assemblages. Conductivity, HCO₃⁻, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were the most significant environmental variables influencing the structure of the tychoplankton and of the epilithon. Other less important variables, such as K⁺, Fe, N(NO₃⁻), and Na⁺ also explained significant (P < 0.05) amounts of variance. The ordination diagrams showed very similar distribution of the tychoplanktonic and epilithic diatom samples. At sites with similar geomorphology as in this study, it is possible to use only one of these samples for water quality evaluation. The optima and tolerances of some diatom taxa were calculated for the most influential variables. Although the diatoms showed high tolerances to some environmental parameters, it was possible to establish groups of taxa with defined and distinctive ecological preferences. Two species groups stood out depending on the alkalinity and mineralization of the water. With a moderate conductivity (> 600 μS·cm⁻¹), alkaline pH, HCO₃⁻ concentrations equal or higher than 150 mg·l⁻¹, the first group includes Achnanthes hungarica Grunow, Amphora pediculus (Kützing) Grunow, Bacillaria paxillifera (O. F. Müller) Hendey, Cymatopleura solea (Brébisson) W. Smith, Navicula accomoda Hustedt, Navicula lanceolata (Agardh) Ehrenberg, Navicula trivialis Lange-Bertalot, Nitzschia hungarica Grunow. In waters of lower conductivity (varying between 72 and 262 μS·cm⁻¹) slightly acid pH (6 to 6.5) and HCO₃⁻¹ lower than 46 mg·l⁻¹ the following species were common: Achnanthes oblongella Östrup, Achnanthes subatomoides (Hustedt) Lange-Bertalot, et Archibald, Cymbella gracilis (Ehrenberg) Kützing, Cymbella naviculiformis Auerswald, Diatoma mesodon (Ehrenberg) Kützing, and Eunotia exigua (Brébisson) Rabenhorst. Considering COD, two further groups were distinguished. At high values (> 40 mg·l⁻¹) the following taxa were observed: Achnanthes delicatula (Kützing) Grunow, Navicula capitata Ehrenberg var. hungarica (Grunow) Ross, Nitzschia nana Grunow, Pinnularia interrupta W. Smith, Thalassiosira pseudonana Hasle & Heimdal, Thalassiosira weisflogii (Grunow) Fryxell et Hasle. For lower values than 19 mg·l⁻¹, we found Cymbella naviculiformis Auerswald, Diatoma mesodon (Ehrenberg) Kützing, Eunotia exigua (Brébisson) Rabenhorst, Fragilaria arcus (Ehrenberg) Cleve, and Nitzschia epithemioides Grumow var. disputata (Carter) Lange-Bertalot.     

Etude histochimique des Mucopolysaccharides de lépiderme et des organes récepteurs du système de la ligne latérale du gymnarque,Gymnarchus niloticus

Résumé Diverses réactions histochimiques (A.P.S. et bleu de toluidine) démontrent que l'épiderme du Gymnarchus niloticus est riche en mucopolysaccharides. Ils se rencontrent à la fois dans le cytoplasme des cellules superficielles de l'épiderme et au niveau des organes récepteurs cutanés de la ligne latérale. Les mucopolysaccharides dans les cellules épidermiques superficielles sont neutres.Les mucopolysaccharides des cavités intraépidermiques des organes de type B et C et du canal de l'organe de type A sont métachromatiques, La métachromasie est due à la présence d'un radical acide carboxylé. Les particularités dans la constitution et la répartition du mucus au niveau de ces trois organes résident dans le fait que l'invagination de la cellule sensorielle de l'organe de type A est occupé par du mucus neutre et que le cytoplasme de la petite cellule de l'organe de type C contient du mucus acide de même nature que celui de la cavité intraépidermique.Il faut admettre que l'origine des mucopolysaccharides réside dans les cellules de soutien qui entourent la cellule sensorielle.

---

Histochemical investigation of the mucopolysaccharides in the epidermis and lateral line sensory organs of gymnarchus niloticus

Summary The mucopolysaccharide content of different epidermal structures in Gymnarchus niloticus has been demonstrated by two histochemical methods, periodic acid Schiff (P.A.S.) and toluidine blue. Mucopolysaccharides are present in the cytoplasm of the superficial cells and in the three specific cutaneous sensory organs of the lateral line system, type A, B and C.The superficial epidermal cells contain only neutral mucopolysaccharide.The mucopolysaccharides of the intraepidermal cavities in the type B and C organs as well as in the pores of the type A organ are acid; the metachromatic reaction of the toluidine blue demonstrates the presence of an acid carboxylic radicle.Histochemical analysis of the pore contents of the type A organ reveals that the mucus in the pore is acid while that of the sensory cell invagination is neutral.Histochemical differences were determined between the two sensory cells of the organ type C: the cytoplasm of the small sensory cell contains acid mucopolysaccharides while that of the large sensory cell is free of it, although the cytoplasmic invagination (extracellular) of the latter is filled with acid mucus.The results suggest that the mucus in each organ type is produced by the supporting cells surrounding the sensory cells.

---

---

Je tiens à remercier le Docteur T. Szabo, dont les conseils pour la présentation de ce travail m'ont été des plus précieux.

---

Ce travail a été aidé par le contrat No. 659-535 de la D.R.M.E. conclu avec le Docteur T. Szabo, Maître de Recherche au C.N.R.S. Avec la participation de Madame L. Planque, technicienne au C.N.R.S.