Morphometric evaluation of the kidney and its main renal artery.

Background: With the increasing incidence of renal transplantations and advent of modern imaging techniques in the current era, the knowledge of renal artery variations in their position of origin from abdominal aorta, level of origin from the superior mesenteric artery, pattern of their division towards the renal hilum, and the additional branches from the renal arteries should be well known for preparing renovascular surgical and radiological interventions. Methods: Fifty specimens from 25 adult human embalmed cadavers were taken from the department of anatomy and were studied by dissection method. Morphometric data of the specimens dissected were recorded using vernier calipers. Results: Though morphometric analysis of both the kidneys was studied, it shows no significance from earlier studies. Accessory renal arteries were noted in 24% of cases with equal incidence on both sides. Within accessory, hilar type was most common (14%), followed by inferior polar in 12% and superior polar in 2% of specimens. Accessories in 28.5% specimens gave rise to gonadal arteries and 7.3% specimens to inferior phrenic artery. Conclusion: The results suggest that there are a large number of anatomical variations in the vascularisation of the kidney. The most common incidence is the occurrence of accessory renal arteries. It was rarely found that superior and inferior polar arteries originated from the renal artery. The renal artery diameter is a factor which should be considered as predicting the presence of additional renal arteries.

The histochemical assessment of sulpho-, sialo-, and neutralmucosubstances in fetal gastric mucosa.

Background: Mucins are complex composition of carbohydrates and may be present as a mixture of different types. Normal distribution of mucin and its alteration in various inflammatory, benign and malignant lesions of gastrointestinal tract has aroused interest in the field of histochemistry. The main purpose of present work is to study the staining pattern and distribution of cells in different parts of fetal gastric mucosa and to correlate the nature of gastric mucins and its functional significance. Methods: A total of 25 fetus stomach specimens (total 75 samples) one sample each from different parts of the stomach like fundus, body and pylorus, from fresh specimens. The samples were washed in normal saline, fixed in 2% calcium acetate in 10% formalin. These tissues were routinely processed and paraffin blocks were prepared. 6  sections of these blocks were taken for histological and different histochemical staining. Results: Fetal fundic part of stomach shows increased neutral mucin in surface epithelium and foveolar cells. With combined AB pH 2.5 - PAS technique increased neutral mucin and small amount of acid mucins are observed. With AB pH 1, surface epithelium and deep glands show negative staining. Moderate alcinophilia is observed in deep foveolar cells and glandular cells. AB pH 2.5 shows alcinophilia in surface epithelium, foveolar cells and mucous neck cells indicating presence of sialomucin. Fetal pyloric part of stomach shows increased acid and neutral mucins. With pH 2.5 - PAS staining, purple staining is observed in surface epithelium, deep foveolar and pyloric glands. Conclusion: All types of mucosubstances - neutral, sialo and sulpho-mucins, are secreted in relatively increased amounts by the surface epithelium and the glands of the stomach of the human fetus and neonate. Sulphomucin is seen mainly in the cells of the surface epithelium.