Curcumin Prevents Bile Canalicular Alterations in the Liver of Hamsters Infected with Opisthorchis viverrini

Opisthorchis viverrini infection causes inflammation and liver injury leading to periductal fibrosis. Little is known about the pathological alterations in bile canaliculi in opisthorchiasis. This study aimed to investigate bile canalicular alterations in O. viverrini-infected hamsters and to examine the chemopreventive effects of curcumin on such changes. Hamsters were infected with O. viverrini and one group of animals was fed with 1% dietary curcumin supplement. Animals were examined during the acute infection phase, days 21 and 30 post-infection (PI) and chronic infection phase (day 90 PI). Scanning electron microscopy revealed that in the infected group fed with a normal diet, bile canaliculi became slightly tortuous by 30 day PI and more tortuous at day 90 PI. Transmission electron microscopy showed a reduction in microvilli density of canaliculi starting at day 30 PI, with a marked loss of microvilli at day 90 PI. These ultrastructral changes were slightly seen at day 21 PI, which was similar to that found in infected animals fed with 1% curcumin-supplemented diet. Notably, curcumin treatment prevented the reduction of microvilli density, reduced the dilation of bile canaliculi, and decreased the tortuosity of the bile canaliculi relative to non-infected animals on a normal diet at days 30 and 90 PI. These results suggest that curcumin reduces alteration of bile canaliculi and may be a promising agent to prevent the onset of bile duct abnormalities induced by O. viverrini infection.

Ultrastructure of Spermatogenesis in the Testis of Paragonimus heterotremus

Lung fluke, Paragonimus heterotremus, is a flatworm causing pulmonary paragonimiasis in cats, dogs, and humans in Southeast Asia. We examined the ultrastructure of the testis of adult P. heterotremus with special attention to spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The full sequence of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis, from the capsular basal lamina to the luminal surface, was demonstrated. The sequence comprises spermatogonia, spermatocytes with obvious nuclear synaptonemal complexes, spermatids, and eventual spermatozoa. Moreover, full steps of spermatid differentiation were shown which consisted of 1) early stage, 2) differentiation stage representing the flagella, intercentriolar body, basal body, striated rootlets, and electron dense nucleus of thread-like lamellar configuration, and 3) growing spermatid flagella. Detailed ultrastructure of 2 different types of spermatozoa was also shown in this study.

The Prevalence of Kinking of the External iliac Artery

Background and Objective: The aim of this study is to find the prevalence of kinking of the external iliac artery (EIA) in cadavers and related symptoms of lower limbs and illness before death.Methods: The 128 halves of pelvis  from 64 cadavers (  age = 72.5 years) were dissected and identified the kinking of the EIA. A retrospective study of symptom of lower limbs and illness before death were inspected by interviewing their relatives of 6 cases.  The inguinal ligament and femoral ring edge were also observed for possible causes of abnormality of the artery.Results:  Kinking of the external iliac artery was found  in 10 cases (  age = 77.1 years, men = 9, woman = 1). The kinking was classified  into 2 types : type I (3 right and 1 left sides)  and type II (5 bilateral and 2 right sides)   respectively.  A retrospective history revealed that the symptoms of lower limb and illness before death were related to the kinking of the external iliac artery.Conclusion: Aging persons who showed symptoms of fatigue, edema, pain, weakness or claudication in lower limbs could be  caused by  kinking or coiling of blood vessels in the pelvis.  The high degree of kinking or coiling may lead to ischemia of lower limbs or vascular complication during surgery. Therefore meticulous investigation should be performed to rule out external iliac artery kinking along with any treatment of pelvis and hip regions.Keywords: Kinking, Prevalence, External iliac artery

Ultrastructure of tegumentary papillae of the excysted Opisthorchis viverrini metacercaria

Background: Opisthorchiasis, caused by liver fluke  Opisthorchis viverrini  is  endemic  in many countries of the Southeast Asia such as Thailand, Laos PDR, Cambodia and South Vietnam. It is a medically important fluke which causes several hepatobiliary diseases and cholangiocarcinoma.  The tegument of O. viverrini is served as the site for sensory input.  When the metacercaria infects to human, it excysts and migrates into bile ducts by creeping to pass the hepatopancreatic ampulla. The metacercaria might be equipped with some sensory perceptions. The tegumentary papillae may have a role for sensation. No detail of the ultrastructural of the tegumentary papillae of the O. viverrini has been studied.Objective:  To study the ultrastructure of the tegumentary papillae of newly excysted O. viverrini metacercariae by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Study design: Descriptive study based on morphological observation at the ultrastructureral level.Setting: Department of Anatomy and Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen  University, Thailand.Materials and Methods:  O.  viverrini metacercariae obtained from naturally infected cyprinoid fish in endemic area in Khon Kaen were excysted by suspending in 0.1% trypsin solution. The newly excysted metacercariae were processed and observed with a scanning and                  a transmission electron microscopes. Results: SEM studies of tegumentary papillae identified four types of papillae. Type I was a small conical papilla with long cilium (Fig. 1). Type II possessed short cilium and a larger conical papilla than type I (Fig. 2). Type III was characterized by grouping of 2-3 conical papillae on a dome-shaped base with variable length of the cilia (Fig. 3).  Type IV was non-ciliated conical papilla and found solely on inner lip of the oral and ventral suckers (Fig. 4). TEM observation revealed two types of tegumantary papillae, ciliated (type A) and non-ciliated (type B) papillae. Only one cilium was found in all ciliated tegumantary papillae. Based on morphology of tegumentary papillae and ultrastructures of the bulbous ending, the ciliated papillae were further divided into three subtypes (A1, A2 and A3).   In type B, there was an elevation of the tegument and the bulbous ending was lack communication with the external surface.Conclusions:  As seen by SEM, there were four types of tegumentary papillae of the excysted  O.  viverrini  metacercaria. By TEM observation, only two types of tegumentary papillae, uniciliated and non-ciliated were found. Based on internal structures of the bulbous ending, the uniciliated tegumentary  papillae  were further divided into  three subtypes . The evidence of a nerve process leading to the bulbous ending in the TEM study supported that these tegumentary papillae may consider to serve as  a structure for sensory perception. Only the type II papilla in SEM study and uniciliated papilla type A1 in TEM were both located in the outer lip of the oral sucker. Therefore, they might be the same type of papillae.Key words:  Opisthorchis viverrini, metaceraria, papillae, SEM, TEM