Scanning electron microscopic studies of the vasa vasorum of thoracic aortas

Using hot alkaline solution, the elastic laminae were extracted from aortas and observed with scanning electron microscopy. Vascular structures were found in the elastin layers of the tunica media in descending thoracic aortas of sheep, dogs, and pigs, and these tube-like structures were filled with elastomer which was injected through the heart of the animal in vivo. Sub-intimal microvessels were also found to be filled with the elastomer and it is concluded that vasa vasorum can exist close to the internal elastic lamina in these animals.     

Exocoelomic internal hernia: elucidation of Papez's concept.

Two internal herinias of the intestines were found in adult males. One was a large translucent avascular membranous sac contining the small intestine from the duodenojejunal flexure to a point 6 in. proximal to the ileocaecal junction. The other was a peritoneal sac enclosing the small intestine, appendix, caecum and 6 in. of the ascending colon. The mesenteric and colic vessels were normal. Both hernias conformed to PAPEZ's concept of the so-called paraduodenal hernia that the hernial sac is derived from the umbilical coelom. The authors suggest that most of the so-called paraduodenal hernias are derived from the embryonic umbilical peritoneal diverticulum rather than from the peritoneal recesses or mesentery of the colon.     

Neuronal pathways from low-threshold muscle and cutaneous afferents innervating tail to trunk muscle motoneurons in the cat

We studied neuronal pathways from low-threshold muscle (group I, II) and cutaneous afferents (group A(alpha)beta) innervating the tail to motoneurons innervating trunk muscles (m. iliocostalis lumborum and m. obliquus externus abdominus) in 18 spinalized cats. Stimulation of group I muscle afferents produced excitatory postsynaptic potentials or excitatory postsynaptic potentials followed by inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in all motoneurons innervating the m. iliocostalis lumborum which showed effects (32%), and predominantly inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in motoneurons innervating the m. obliquus externus abdominus (47%). Stimulation of group I+II afferents produced significant increases of the incidence of motoneurons showing postsynaptic potentials (the notoneurons innervating the m. iliocostalis lumborum, 87%; the motoneurons innervating the m. obliquus externus abdominus, 82%). The effects of low threshold cutaneous afferents were bilateral, predominantly producing inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in motoneurons innervating both muscles. These results suggest that neuronal pathways from muscle afferents to back muscle motoneurons mainly increase the stiffness of the trunk to maintain its stability, while those to abdominal muscles help to extend the dorsal column by decreasing their activities. The results also indicate that neuronal pathways from cutaneous afferents to trunk motoneurons functionallY disconnect the tail from the trunk.