Structure and physiology of mammalian vas deferens in relation to fertility regulation

The structural and functional integrity of the vas deferens and its role in ensuring the fertilizing ability, viability of spermatozoa and their survival in the vas deferens, are elucidated. The regulation of the function of the vas deferens and the differential androgen dependency of its two regions have been discussed in relation to its secretory and absorptive activities as well as its contractility. The importance of ascorbic acid in maintaining its functions has also been investigated. The potentiality of the use of an androgen antagonist, steroids (testosterone, estradiol benzoate), prostaglandins, copper devices, vasectomy, vasocclusive agents, effects of nutr itional deficiencies, human chorionic gonadotropin-antiserum and plant products as antifertility agents have been discussed.     

Papanicolaou stain: Is it economical to switch to rapid, economical, acetic acid, papanicolaou stain?

OBJECTIVE: To standardize an inexpensive and rapid Papanicolaou staining technique with limited ethanol usage. STUDY DESIGN: Smears from 200 patients were collected (2 per patient) and fixed in methanol. Half were subjected to conventional Papanicolaou and half to stain ing with rapid, economical, acetic acid Papanicolaou (REAP) stain. In REAP, pre-OG6 and post-OG6 and post-EA36 ethanol baths were replaced by 1% acetic acid and Scott's tap water with tap water. Hematoxylin was preheated to 60 degrees C. Final dehydration was with methanol. REAP smears were compared with Papanicolaou smears for optimal cytoplasmic and nuclear staining, stain preservation, cost and turnaround time. RESULTS: With the REAP method, cytoplasmic and nuclear staining was optimal in 181 and 192 cases, respectively. The staining time was considerably reduced, to 3 minutes, and the cost per smear was reduced to one fourth. The staining quality remained good in all the smears for > 2 years. CONCLUSION: REAP is a rapid, cost-effective alternative to Papanicolaou stain. Though low stain penetration in large cell clusters is a limitation, final interpretation was not compromised.     

Multiple duplications of yeast hexose transport genes in response to selection in a glucose-limited environment

When microbes evolve in a continuous, nutrient-limited environment, natural selection can be predicted to favor genetic changes that give cells greater access to limiting substrate. We analyzed a population of baker's yeast that underwent 450 generations of glucose-limited growth. Relative to the strain used as the inoculum, the predominant cell type at the end of this experiment sustains growth at significantly lower steady-state glucose concentrations and demonstrates markedly enhanced cell yield per mole glucose, significantly enhanced high-affinity glucose transport, and greater relative fitness in pairwise competition. These changes are correlated with increased levels of mRNA hybridizing to probe generated from the hexose transport locus HXT6. Further analysis of the evolved strain reveals the existence of multiple tandem duplications involving two highly similar, high- affinity hexose transport loci, HXT6 and HXT7. Selection appears to have favored changes that result in the formation of more than three chimeric genes derived from the upstream promoter of the HXT7 gene and the coding sequence of HXT6. We propose a genetic mechanism to account for these changes and speculate as to their adaptive significance in the context of gene duplication as a common response of microorganisms to nutrient limitation.      

On the specificity of alcoholic acidic silver nitrate reagent for the histochemical localization of ascorbic acid. A reappraisal.

The specificity of the alcoholic acidic silver nitrate staining method for the histochemical localization of ascorbic acid was reappraised. It was found that the method is by and large better suited for the localization of ascorbic acid in both animal and plant tissues due to its greater specificity, which is ensured by employing reagent made in carbon dioxide saturated glass distilled water as well as by carrying out the reaction at a low temperature (0-4 degrees C) and at a pH of 2-2.5.     

Critical role of fine needle aspiration cytology and immunocytochemistry in preoperative diagnosis of pediatric renal tumors

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate accuracy and role of immunocytochemistry (ICC) in cytologic diagnosis of pediatric renal tumors. STUDY DESIGN: Fine needle aspirates from 75 cases of pediatric renal tumors were studied. Radiologic-guided aspirations were performed, with 6-7 smears stained with Papanicolaou and Giemsa stains. Smears were screened without the knowledge of final histologic diagnosis. Subsequently, clinical details, final histology and diagnosis rendered by the original cytologist were noted to judge accuracy of diagnosis by a sensitized cytologist. Five neuroblastomas that entered close differentials for Wilms tumor were also evaluated. ICC studies were also performed after staining. RESULTS: Of 58 Wilms tumors, 5 were misdiagnosed; 3 renal rhabdoid tumors and 1 clear cell sarcoma were missed on cytology. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas presenting as renal masses were accurately diagnosed on cytology, but primitive neuroectodermal tumors (n = 3) and renal cell carcinomas (n = 2) were not accurately diagnosed. Accuracy rate improved from 65% to 92% on review by a cytologist aware of cytologic features of pediatric renal tumors. CONCLUSION: A good accuracy rate of diagnosis of pediatric renal tumors can be achieved by priming pathologists to typical features of tumors. Immunocytochemistry plays a supportive role in cases with atypical morphology or unusual presentations.     

Cytologic findings in infiltrating micropapillary carcinoma and mucinous carcinomas with micropapillary pattern

OBJECTIVE: To examine the observation that some mucinous carcinomas have a micropapillary pattern and are mucinous variants of the highly angioinvasive infiltrating micropapillary carcinomas (IMPC). STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated cytologic findings of 13 IMPC and 55 mucinous carcinomas for comparative features. RESULTS: In mucinous carcinomas, 37 of 50 (74%) had a micropapillary pattern. This group included 27 cases with pure mucinous micropapillary morphology (MUMPC), 8 MUMPC associated with a ductal carcinoma of the IMPC type (MUIDC) and 2 cases of mixed mucinous carcinomas with an MUMPC and a solid variant ofpapillary carcinoma (SVPC) component. On cytology both IMPC and mucinous carcinomas with micropapillary pattern demonstrated the micropapillary pattern, that is, angulated clusters or abortive papillae and ball-like clusters. However, the IMPC smears revealed numerous singly scattered tumor cells and larger fragments with shrub-like branching and the MUMPC had psammoma bodies. The mixed MUMPC and SVPC showed the classic cytologic features of MUMPC admixed with abundant singly dispersed tumor cells in the background representing the SVPC component. CONCLUSION: Although IMPC and the MUMPC share the micropapillary pattern on histologic examination, mucin alters the appearances in aspirates. Recognition of this morphologic spectrum will help in understanding the behavior of these tumors.     

Responses of the pea (Pisum sativum L.) leaf metabolome to drought stress assessed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

While many compounds have been reported to change in laboratory based drought-stress experiments, little is known about how such compounds change, and are significant, under field conditions. The Pisum sativum L. (pea) leaf metabolome has been profiled, using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, to monitor the changes induced by drought-stress, under both glasshouse and simulated field conditions. Significant changes in resonances were attributed to a range of compounds, identified as both primary and secondary metabolites, highlighting metabolic pathways that are stress-responsive. Importantly, these effects were largely consistent among different experiments with highly diverse conditions. The metabolites that were present at significantly higher concentrations in drought-stressed plants under all growth conditions included proline, valine, threonine, homoserine, myoinositol, γ-aminobutyrate (GABA) and trigonelline (nicotinic acid betaine). Metabolites that were altered in relative amounts in different experiments, but not specifically associated with drought-stress, were also identified. These included glutamate, asparagine and malate, with the last being present at up to 5-fold higher concentrations in plants grown in field experiments. Such changes may be expected to impact both on plant performance and crop end-use. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Effects of CdCl2 on the secretory functions of sex accessory glands of rats

The effects of cadmium chloride (Cd) alone (1 mg given as a single injection) or in combination with ascorbic acid (AA; 100 mg/day for 10 days) on the secretory functions of sex accessory glands of rats were studied in healthy male albino rats. Animals were sacrificed after 10 days treatment and the seminal vesicles (SVs), dorsolateral prostate (DLP), ventral prostate (VP), bulbourethral glands (BU), and coagulating glands (CO) were excised and weighed. Weight of all accessory glands were decreased by 10 days treatment with Cd. Cd + AA gave similar results. AA concentration increased in all glands and was significantly increases in CO (p less than .01). Levels of ascorbogin increased in all glands except CO and BU and in the latter a significant (p less than .001) increase was found. The rate of AA utilization increased significantly (p less that .001) in the accessories. A significant (p less than .001) reduction in the activity of succinate dehydrogenase was observed in Cd-treated rats with a further reduction with combined treatment. Alkaline phosphatase decreased (p less than .001) after Cd treatment but AA in combination restored it to control levels. Cd increased acid phosphatase (p less than .001) and was further activated by Cd + AA. Phosphorylase activity was elevated with Cd (p less than .001) but recovery occurred in SV and BU with Cd + AA. Glycogen increased (p less than .001; .01) with both treatments as did citric acid. Protein results were inconsistent with Cd but activation was found in most glands under combined treatment. The results reveal that most androgen-dependent biochemical constituents and organ weights were affected significantly by a single injection of Cd. AA had a protective and beneficial influence on the restoration of structural integrity and metabolism in sex accessory glands.     

Comparative RFLP-based genetic maps of barley chromosome 5 (1H) and rye chromosome 1R

Summary A genetic map of barley chromosome 5 (1H) was constructed using DNA markers. Seventeen loci were mapped to 15 locations, and these included the known-function loci (in order from the most distal on the long arm) XAdh (alcohol dehydrogenase), XLec (homologous to wheat germ agglutinin), XHor3 (D-hordein), XPpdk (pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase), centromere, XIcal (chymotrypsin inhibitor), and 6 loci in the B- and C-hordein cluster towards the end of the short arm. The gene order on the barley map agreed closely with that of chromosome 1 of rye. Intervarietal comparisons showed that single-copy cDNA and genomic DNA probes revealed about twice the level of RFLPs found in wheat.     

RFLP-based genetic map of the homoeologous group 3 chromosomes of wheat and rye

Summary Genetic maps of chromosomes 3A, 3B and 3D of wheat and 3R of rye were developed using 22 DNA probes and two isozyme marker systems. Analysis of the 49 loci mapped showed extreme clustering around the centromere in all four maps, with large gaps in the distal chromosome regions, which is interpreted as being due to strong localisation of recombination towards the ends of the wheat and rye chromosomes. In the centromeric regions gene orders are highly conserved between the three wheat genomes and the rye genome. However, the unpredictable behaviour of the DNA clones that map in distal chromosome locations may indicate that the genomes are diverging most rapidly in the regions of higher recombination. A comparison of cDNA and genomic probes showed the latter to be much more efficient for revealing RFLP. Some classes of gDNA clones, i.e. chromosome-specific sequences and those hybridizing in a non-homoeologous manner, were seen to be most polymorphic. Correlations between map locations and RFLP levels showed no clear relationship. In addition to anonymous DNA clones, the locations of known function clones, sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (XSbp), carboxypeptidase I (XCxp1) and a bZIP protein (XEmbp), were ascertained along with those for two isozyme loci, Mal-1 and Est-5.