Some aspects concerning the peculiarities of the pterygoid venous plexus in man related to age

The pterygoid venous plexus (pt.v.pl.) was studied in 54 human heads (adults, children, fetuses) halved in the middle sagital plan, using microdissections and injections with PVC, coloured gelatin and roentgenopaque masses. In adults, the pt.v.pl. was closely related to the external pterygoid muscle. The superficial variant (more frequent) maintained connections with the facial vein through a venous network named by us "plexus pterygo-temporo-buccalis". The deep variant (less frequent) could be included in the system of venous plexuses placed at the basis cranii. Its tributaries, accompanying the lingual nerve, established connections with the veins of the sublingual compartment (a fact not yet mentioned in the literature). In children and old humans the pt.v.pl. was formed only by some large veins giving a radiate structure ("starfish-shaped" plexus) corresponding to the first and second portion of the maxillary artery. These results revealed that the pt.v.pl. is a unique formation which could be more developed laterally or medially in comparison with the external pterygoid muscle, in relation with the superficial or deep position of the maxillary artery. The practical importance of the pt.v.pl. is emphasized.     

Some peculiarities of the rotator cuff muscles

The authors studied the origin, course and insertion as well as some peculiarities of RC muscles on 25 cadaverous fixed limbs. They discovered that RC muscles exchange muscle bundles and are secured by synovial sheaths. They described the articular muscles in all of the observed muscles, including the deltoid muscle, which significantly stretch the capsule of the glenohumeral joint. They expressed the opinion that the subscapular bursa enhances motions in the shoulder joint. Due to the possibilities of arthroscopic diagnostic and treatment methods, they are convinced that more attention must directed to this issue from both the morphological and functional perspective.     

Hidden genetic diversity in the green alga Spirogyra (Zygnematophyceae, Streptophyta)

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The unbranched filamentous green alga Spirogyra (Streptophyta, Zygnemataceae) is easily recognizable based on its vegetative morphology, which shows one to several spiral chloroplasts. This simple structure falsely points to a low genetic diversity: Spirogyra is commonly excluded from phylogenetic analyses because the genus is known as a long-branch taxon caused by a high evolutionary rate. RESULTS: We focused on this genetic diversity and sequenced 130 Spirogyra small subunit nuclear ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) strands of different origin. The resulting SSU rDNA sequences were used for phylogenetic analyses using complex evolutionary models (posterior probability, maximum likelihood, neighbor joining, and maximum parsimony methods). The sequences were between 1672 and 1779 nucleotides long. Sequence comparisons revealed 53 individual clones, but our results still support monophyly of the genus. Our data set did not contain a single slow-evolving taxon that would have been placed on a shorter branch compared to the remaining sequences. Out of 130 accessions analyzed, 72 showed a.     

Some peculiarities of the dynamics of the immunoglobulin M structure

The isotropic mobility of separate regions of the intact molecule of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and its Fab and (Fc)5 fragments was studied using spin-labeling of carbohydrate (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-aminopiperidine-1-oxyl) and peptide (2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-dichlorotriazinylaminopyrrolidine-1-oxyl) moieties. The spin-labeled oligosaccharide groups (OGs) in the Fab region are shown to have much more amplitude of anisotropic motion than those in the (Fc)5 region. The spin label in the latter is evidently attached in the C mu 3 domain to one of its OGs which is probably stabilized by ionic contacts between terminal N-acetylneuraminic acid residue and the peptide moiety of the IgM molecule. When the amount of the glycosidase-cleaved carbohydrate does not exceed 10-15%, most OGs affected are of the Fab region. Upon profound splitting (greater than or equal to 50%) the OGs of the (Fc)5 region are also affected; that results evidently in loosening the ionic contacts between the shortened OGs and the peptide moiety of IgM, and consequently in increasing mobility of the former. The structure of the (Fc)5 region of IgM is labile; after detaching this moiety from the intact IgM molecule, its structure is stabilized, but one of its domains (C mu 3) becomes more mobile than it is in the intact IgM molecule; at the same time the amplitude of anisotropic motion of OG bound here is decreased. In the latter case, this decrease depends on the sequence of spin-labeling and fragmentation. The most probable cause of stabilization of the (Fc)5 fragment is the heating of IgM solution to 56 degree C during fragmentation with trypsin. At this temperature the tau value for the (Fc)5 fragment is unusually low, equaling 23 ns. The spin-labeling in the peptide part of IgM occurs mostly in the Fab region which is a rather rigid moiety as expected.     

Some peculiarities in the behavioral reactions of the lophophore and the trophic structuring of the colonies of the post-Paleozoic Stenolaemata (bryozoa)

Some peculiarities in the behavioral reactions of the lophophore, a feeding apparatus of the living marine bryozoans, are discussed. In bryozoans of the class Stenolaemata the position of the lophophore is regulated by the autozooidal peristome. In post-Paleozoic Stenolaemata the individual and collective activities of the lophophores are determined by the peculiarities in the trophic structuring of colonies, which are established based on the individual or group arrangement of autozooidal apertures. Two main types of the trophic structuring are distinguished: individual and group structuring. The adaptive significance of the trophic structuring consists in the effective extracting of food particles from water currents. In combination with the peculiarities of the colonial organization of post-Paleozoic Stenolaemata, the types of trophic structuring of colonies can be used when characterizing taxa of different levels.     

Two glucosylated abscisic acid derivates from avocado seeds (Persea americana Mill. Lauraceae cv. Hass)

Phytochemical investigation of avocado seed material (Persea americana Mill., Lauraceae) resulted in the isolation of two glucosylated abscisic acid derivates. One of these was not known as a natural product and can be regarded as a potential 'missing link' in abscisic acid metabolism in plants. After fractionation by high-speed countercurrent chromatography, and multiple steps of column chromatography, structures were elucidated by 1D-, 2D-NMR, electrospray-MS to be the novel beta-d-glucoside of (1'S,6'R)-8'-hydroxyabscisic acid, and (1'R,3'R,5'R,8'S)-epi-dihydrophaseic acid beta-d-glucoside. Absolute configuration was determined by circulardichroism, optical rotation, and by NOE experiments.     

Ultrastructural observations on the development of male gametes in Allostoma sp. (Plathelminthes,Prolecithophora)

In the prosobranch snail Littorina littorea (L., 1758) the ultrastructure of the prostate gland cells (pgc) in males and the altered glandular epithelium of the pallial oviduct of females in intersex stage 3 is compared. Regarding form, structure, organelles and secretory products the pgc in males are identical with the corresponding gland cells of the females. Consequently these results demonstrate that in females of intersex stage 3 the epithelium of the pallial oviduct, which originally consists of several (3) glandular parts, is transformed into a male prostate gland.     

Potential biological role of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in male gametes

Maintaining the integrity of sperm DNA is vital to reproduction and male fertility. Sperm contain a number of molecules and pathways for the repair of base excision, base mismatches and DNA strand breaks. The presence of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), a DNA repair enzyme, and its homologues has recently been shown in male germ cells, specifically during stage VII of spermatogenesis. High PARP expression has been reported in mature spermatozoa and in proven fertile men. Whenever there are strand breaks in sperm DNA due to oxidative stress, chromatin remodeling or cell death, PARP is activated. However, the cleavage of PARP by caspase-3 inactivates it and inhibits PARP's DNA-repairing abilities. Therefore, cleaved PARP (cPARP) may be considered a marker of apoptosis. The presence of higher levels of cPARP in sperm of infertile men adds a new proof for the correlation between apoptosis and male infertility. This review describes the possible biological significance of PARP in mammalian cells with the focus on male reproduction. The review elaborates on the role played by PARP during spermatogenesis, sperm maturation in ejaculated spermatozoa and the potential role of PARP as new marker of sperm damage. PARP could provide new strategies to preserve fertility in cancer patients subjected to genotoxic stresses and may be a key to better male reproductive health.