Unraveling the function of claustrum

Claustrum is a thin sheet of gray matter located between external and extreme capsules of lentiform nucleus [basal ganglia]. Functions of claustrum are still not clear. Positron emission tomography [PET] studies have been helpful in measuring the cerebral blood flow responses, as reflection of regional neuronal activity to various sensory stimuli. With PET it was seen that claustrum of healthy males displayed one of the highest activity with visual sexual stimuli.Bilateral activation of claustrum was seen to be involved in motivational processed, which direct behavior to a sexual goal

interosseous and lumbrical muscles of the human foot with special reference to their distal attachments

Pedal muscles play a vital role in posture maintenance and locomotion is human beings. There is a great controversy on the insertion of interossei and lumbrical muscles of the human foot in the literature. 112 lower limbs were dissected to observe the abnormal distal attachments of interossei and lumbricales. Anomalous insertions of planter interossei were observed in 11 [9.8%] limbs, of dorsal interossei in 12[10.7%] limbs, of lumbrical muscles in 24 [21.4%] limbs. Each of these muscles were found absent in 2 [1.8%] limbs. Anomalous distal attachments of interossei and lumbricales may be the part of evolutionary process of human beings which may or may not hinder the normal human locomotion

Effect of medroxy progesterone acetate on rabbit testis

Sixty sexually mature, male rabbits were divided into groups: Al, A2, A3, A4, A5 and AG were given MPA for one to three months. The animals of groups Al, A3 and A5 were sacrificed at monthly intervals for three months to determine the effects on spermatogenesis while animals of groups A2, A4 and A6 were kept for a futher one to three months to check the recovery of spermatogenesis and then sacrificed. Testes were removed and studied for various parameters. In groups Al, A3 and A5, there was sequential regression of spermatogenesis but it was most f marked and swift in group A5. There was a sequentail recovery of sepermatogensis in groups A2, A4 and AG, but it was most marked and complete in group AG. MPA can be used as an effective and reversible male contraceptive but it possesses a few adverse side effects

Position of the mental foramen: a comparison between Pakistani and other ethnic racial groups

One hundred and six adult mandibles [86 males and 21 females] were examined for foraminal position. In Pakistani males, the foramen lay between 1st and 2nd premolar on right side and in line with the root of 2nd premolar on left side. In females, it lay between 1st and 2nd premolars on both sides. As a whole modal position lies in line with the 2nd Premolar in Pakistani population. 6th position, a rare racial character was noted, lying in line with the root of Ist molar. The results of present study disagree with the notion that mental foramen always lies between 1st and 2nd premolars as described in anatomy text books

Ultrastructural study of lymphatic capillaries in rabbit and human lungs

Eighteen rabbits of both sexes and twelve human lungs were utilized to study juxta-vascular, juxta-alveolar and inter-alveolar septal lymphatic capillaries under light and electron microscope. The juxta-vascular lymphatics were observed around large arteries and veins as plexuses but singly around small vessels. The occurance of juxta alveolar lymphatics, which could be differentiated from blood capillaries was confirmed. Moreover, inter-alveolar septal clefts were seen, which serve as spaces allowing the transport of tissue fluid

Response of zinc and copper content of guinea pig hair to zinc citrate supplementation

Zinc citrate was given orally to 32 guinae pigs Zinc supplementation on for two months in various doses to study the response of Zinc and Copper content of hair. The mineral content was determined with the help of atomic absorption spectrophotometers of two different makes at two different centers. Zinc Supplementation caused gain in weight of animals which was statistically significant. There was no statistically significant change in the zinc content of hair even with various doses of supplement. However the copper content of hair was reduced with various doses and the decrease was statistically highly significant Moreover, Zn:Cu ratio was increased sequentially and was statistically highly significant [P<0.001]. It suggests that Zn and Cu have competitive interaction as far as their metabolism in the body [especially the hair] is concerned

Ginseng and spermatogenesis

Ginseng is frequently used throughout the world to prevent and treat a multitude of diseases affecting almost all stems of body. It is taken as geriatric, aphrodiasic, somatensic and adaptogen. It has also been found in the hilly regions of Pakistan. This study was designed to evaluate the comparative changes in the general body weight and histological features of testes induced by the soxhlet H2O extracts of Pakistani and Korean ginseng. For this purpose, the two types of ginseng were given orally to 8 animals in each group for two months. It resulted into gain in weight of animals in both groups, although statistically the results proved to be more in favour of Pakistani ginseng. Although, no change was observed on examination of testes but the histological evaluation, after applying the statistical tests, revealed that the spermatogenesis was increased significantly with Pakistani ginseng

Effects of testosterone and vitamin E on spermatogenesis

Forty eight adult male rabbits were utilized for this experiment and randomly divided into four groups. Animals in groups A, B and C were given testosterone, vitamin E and both respectively s/c daily. Animals in group D were treated as controls. Four animals in each group were sacrificed at one monthly intervals, for three months. Testes were removed and studied for various parameters of gross and histological appearances. Testes of testosterone treated animals were obsen,ed to be atrophic. The tubular diameter was decreased. Spermatogenesis was sequentially halted and the basement membrane was thickened and hyalinised. Testes of vitamin E treated animals were hypertrophied and uniformity of tubular diameter was observed. Spermatogenesis was potentiated but the basement membrane was unchanged. Testes of rabbits treated with both testosterone and vitamin E were again atrophic. Histological section revealed decrease in tubular diameter, arrest in spermatogenesis and thickening and hyalinisation of basement membrane. Thus the use of testosterone alone or in combination with vitamin E is hazardous to spermatogenesis. Although there is a potentiation of spemmatogenesis with vitamin E in rabbits, but the implications in human beings need furherer study

Zinc citrate and spermatogenesis

Zinc citrate was given orally to 40 animals for two months in various doses to study the changes in the testes. It resulted in a gain in weight of the animals, which was statistically significant. Although no change was obsemed on gross examination of the testes but the histological evaluation revealed that spemtatogenesis was increased significantly, especially with megadosess of zinc citrate

Gross and histological changes in the mammalian skin after garlic treatment

Crude extract of garlic was applied daily with a soft brush on the shaved outer surface of ears and gluteal skin of forty eight adult albino rabbits. They were divided into two groups comprising of 36 experimental and 12 control animals. Half of the animals, both experimental and control, were sacrificed after 15 days of treatment whereas rest of the animals were kept for another month without treatment and then sacrificed to see the delayed effects. The tissues were processed, sectioned and stained by four different stains. The epidermis was thickened and showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, epidermal microabscess formation while dermis showed oedema, disturbed collagen fibres, increased vascularity; decrease in hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous gland and presence of inflammatory cells. The changes in the skin persisted to some extent even after discontinuation of treatment for one month