The fine structure of the intra-uterine epithelium during late gestation in the blue shark,Prionace glauca

The fine structure of the intra-uterine epithelium of the pregnant blue shark,Prionace glauca, was examined. The intra-uterine epithelium was bilaminar and the underlying epithelial cell was extremely reduced in cytoplasm. Two cytological characteristics were shown in the outer epithelial cell; open inter-cellular spaces closed in the apical portion by a junction complex and, numerous mitochondria distributed in the basal and lateral portions of the cytoplasm. Secretive characteristics were not recognized in the outer epithelial cell, although few regions composed only of mucous cells were seen. The flattened endothelium of the capillary lay closely beneath the epithelium. These structures are thought to facilitate the water-solute transport and gaseous exchange. It suggests that the intra-uterine epithelium is involved in the osmoregulation of the uterine fluid and the exchange of respiratory gases between mother and fetus.     

Prevalence of hepatitis B markers, antibodies to adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus and antibodies to human immune deficiency virus in prostitutes in Fukuoka, Japan

Prevalence of hepatitis B (HB) markers, antibodies to human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1) and antibodies to human immune deficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) in prostitutes working in Fukuoka city were studied. Sera were collected from 237 prostitutes during January-September, 1986. Among them, 9 (3.8%) were HB virus surface-antigen (HBs Ag) positive, of whom, 3 were HBe antigen positive and the remaining 6 were anti-HBe positive. The positive rate of anti-HBs was 34.2%. The incidence of anti-HTLV-1 in the prostitutes was 5.9%. These incidences are considered to be within the usual range in Kyushu district. No seropositive case for anti-HIV was found.