Protective Effect of Environmental Enrichment on the Morphology of Neurons in the Motor Cortex of Diabetic and Stressed Rats

Background:The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of EE on the morphology of pyramidal neuron at the motor cortex of diabetic and stressed rats.Methods and materials:Male Wistar rats were grouped into Normal Control (NC), Vehicle Control (VC), Diabetes (D), Diabetes + Stress (D+S), Diabetes + Environmental Enrichment (D+EE) and Diabetes + Stress +Environmental Enrichment (D+S+EE) (n=8). Hyperglycemia was induced in Westar rats using streptozotocin (40mg/kg; ip). Blood sugar levels and body weight was measured at regular intervals to monitor the development of hyperglycemia. All experimental groups were housed in standard cages throughout the experiment. Rats in groups D+S and D+S+EE were transferred into space restrained cages for 6 hours daily. D+S+EE group were transferred into EE cages immediately after the space restrained session for subsequent 6 hours daily. On day 30, all rats were sacrificed and brains were harvested and prepared for rapid Golgi staining protocol. Dendritic branchings and dendriticintersections of the motor cortex neurons were quantitated using a camera lucida attached to Biolux research microscope. Data was analyzed using ANOVA with Bonferroni’s test.

Role of glycyrrhiza glabra root extract in dendritic arborization and dendritic intersections of hippocampal CA1 neurons in 3-months old rats.

The hippocampus is located bilaterally in the medial temporal lobe; within the hippocampus the flow of information is unidirectional. Repeated psychological stress, aging and dementia may leads to the dendritic atrophy in CA1 pyramidal neurons of hippocampus. Accordingly, the present study was designed to investigate the role of aqueous root extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra (Gg) treatment on the dendritic arborization and dendritic intersections of hippocampal CA1 neurons in 3 months old male Wistar albino rats. The aqueous root extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra was administered orally in four different doses (75, 150, 225 and 300 mg/kg) for 2, 4 and 6 weeks duration, respectively. At the end of the spatial memory tests, the rats were sacrificed by deeply anesthetized Pentobarbitone, their brains were removed rapidly and Hippocampal CA1 region studied through Rapid Golgi staining. Hippocampal CA1 neurons were traced using camera lucida, and Quantification of dendritic branching points and dendritic intersections were quantified by using concentric circle method of Sholl. All the doses of aqueous root extract of Gg for 6 weeks showed significantly enhanced dendritic arborization and dendritic intersections however in the dose of 150 and 225 mg/kg/p.o showed a significant (p<0.01) enhancement of dendritic arborization and dendritic intersections along the length of both apical and basal dendrites in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons is comparable to control. However, the rats treated for 2 and 4 weeks did not show any significant change in hippocampal CA1 neuronal dendritic arborization. Thus the constituents present in aqueous root extract of Gg may stimulate the release of neuromodulators or neuronal dendritic growth stimulating factors that alter the activity of neurotransmitters that are involved in learning and memory, which thereby may be useful in management of impaired learning, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Unusual third head of the sternocleidomastoid muscle from the investing layer of cervical fascia / Inusual tercera cabeza del músculo esternocleidomastoideo desde la lámina superficial de la fascia cervical

The abnormal origin, presence of additional head and layered arrangement of fibers are the reported variations of sternocleidomastoid muscle in the past. In the present case we report a rare unusual origin of third head of the sternocleidomastoid muscle in a 60 year-old male cadaver. This additional head originated from the investing layer of cervical fascia in the roof of the subclavian triangle close to the clavicle and traversed obliquely upward, forward and fused with clavicular head. The insertion and nerve supply of the muscle was found to be normal...

El origen anormal, presencia de una cabeza adicional y disposición en capas de fibras son las variaciones reportadas del músculo esternocleidomastoideo. En el presente estudio, se presenta un origen poco habitual de la tercera cabeza del músculo esternocleidomastoideo en un cadáver de sexo masculino de 60 años. La cabeza supernumeraria se originaba en la lámina superficial de la fascia cervical en el techo del triángulo subclavio próximo de la clavícula y cruzaba oblicuamente hacia arriba y adelante para fusionarse con la cabeza clavicular. La inserción e inervación del músculo eran normales...

Common celiacomesenteric trunk: a rare anatomic variation / Tronco único celíaco-mesentérico: uma variante anatômica rara

Common celiacomesenteric trunk, with the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries having a common origin from the aorta, is the least frequently reported anatomic variation of all abdominal vascular anomalies. Knowledge of variations concerning the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery are of great importance for both surgical approaches and angiographic examinations. Clinicians should keep in mind these variations to avoid complications.

O tronco único celíaco-mesentérico, com as artérias celíaca e mesentérica superior tendo uma origem comum a partir da aorta, é a variante anatômica menos reportada dentre todas as anomalias vasculares abdominais. Conhecer as variantes do tronco celíaco e da artéria mesentérica superior é de grande importância tanto para abordagens cirúrgicas quanto para exames angiográficos. É importante que os médicos tenham em mente essas variantes a fim de evitar complicações.

Anatomical variation of obturator vessels and its practical risk: a case report from an anatomic study / Variação anatômica de vasos obturatórios e seu risco prático: relato de caso de um estudo anatômico

Obturator artery is frequently a branch of anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It has drawn attention of pelvic surgeons, anatomists and radiologists because of the high frequency of variations in its course and origin. The obturator vein is usually described as a tributary of the internal iliac vein. During routine dissection classes to undergraduate medical students we have observed obturator artery arising from external iliac artery, obturator vein draining into external iliac vein, communicating vein between obturator vein and external iliac vein and inferior epigastric artery arising from the obturator artery. The anomalous obturator vessels and inferior epigastric artery in the present case may be in a dangerous situation in pelvic surgeries that require dissection or suturing along the pelvic rim. Developmental reasons and clinical significances of the variations are discussed.

A artéria obturatória é muitas vezes um ramo da divisão anterior da artéria ilíaca interna. Ela tem chamado atenção de cirurgiões pélvicos, anatomistas e radiologistas devido à alta freqüência de variações em seu trajeto e origem. A veia obturatória é geralmente descrita como uma tributária de veia ilíaca interna. Durante aulas de dissecação para estudantes de medicina, observamos a artéria obturatória surgindo a partir da artéria ilíaca externa, veia obturatória drenando para a veia ilíaca externa, veia comunicante entre a veia obturatória e a veia ilíaca externa e artéria epigástrica inferior surgindo a partir da artéria obturatória. Os vasos obturatórios anômalos e a artéria epigástrica inferior no presente caso podem se encontrar em situação perigosa em cirurgias pélvicas que exigem dissecação ou suturas ao longo da borda pélvica. Discutem-se as causas de desenvolvimento e a significância clínica das variações.

Additional muscle slip of flexor carpi ulnaris associated with anomalous ulnar nerve and ulnar artery in the distal forearm / Fascículo adicional del músculo flexor ulnar del carpo asociado con una variación del nervio ulnar y arteria ulnar en la parte distal del antebrazo

During routine dissection classes to under graduate medical students, we observed an anomalous flexor carpi ulnaris muscle associated with abnormal ulnar nerve and ulnar artery in the distal part of forearm. There was an additional belly arising from the lower part of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle and crossed ulnar nerve and vessels, median nerve and ended in a broad aponeurosis which crossed the tendons of flexor digitorum superficialis and merged with the deep fascia and flexor retinaculum. The ulnar nerve and ulnar artery divided into their terminal branches in the lower part of the forearm. However, the distribution of the terminal branches of both ulnar nerve and artery were normal. An understanding of these unusual findings may be clinically relevant in describing the anterior compartment of the forearm.

Durante una disección de rutina en clases para estudiantes de Medicina, se observó una anomalía del músculo flexor ulnar del carpo asociado con una variación del nervio y arteria ulnar, en la parte distal del antebrazo. Un vientre adicional derivado de la parte inferior del músculo flexor ulnar del carpo cruzaba el nervio ulnar y vasos ulnares, nervio mediano y terminaba en una amplia aponeurosis la cual cruzaba los tendones del músculo flexor superficial de los dedos y se fusionaba con la fascia profunda y el retináculo flexor. El nervio ulnar y la arteria ulnar se dividían en sus ramas terminales, en la parte inferior del antebrazo. Sin embargo, la distribución de las ramas terminales tanto del nervio ulnar como de la arteria ulnar eran normales. La comprensión de estos inusuales hallazgos pueden ser clínicamente relevantes para describir el compartimiento anterior del antebrazo.

Internal thoracic vein draining into the extrapericardial part of the superior vena cava: a case report

The internal thoracic veins are venae comitantes of each internal thoracic artery draining the territory supplied by it and usually unite opposite the third costal cartilage. This single vein enters the corresponding brachiocephalic vein. We present a variation of right internal mammary vein draining into superior vena cava in a 45-year-old male cadaver. Likely development and clinical significance of the vein are discussed.

As veias torácicas internas são veias comitantes de cada artéria torácica interna drenando o território suprido por ela e geralmente se unem em frente à terceira cartilagem costal. Esta única veia entra na veia braquicefálica correspondente. Apresentamos uma variação da veia mamária interna direita drenando para a veia cava superior em um cadáver masculino de 45 anos. O provável desenvolvimento e a significância clínica da veia são discutidos.