Histochemical Detection of Glycoconjugates in the Male Reproductive System of the Horse

Lectins are glycoproteins of plant and animal origin that have the ability to bind specific carbohydrate residues of cell glycoconjugates, particularly in terminal positions. In this study, the binding of lectins, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), soybean agglutinin (SBA), Bandeiraea simplicifolia BS-1 (isolectin B4), Triticum vulgaris (WGA), Arachis hypogaea (PNA), and Ulex europaeus (UEA-I), was studied in the reproductive systems of male thoroughbred horses.DBA was detected in the stereocilia of the caput and corpus epididymis, and in the vas deferens. It was weakly detected in connective tissue of the corpus epididymis. Strong SBA staining was seen in epithelial cells in the testis, stereocilia of the corpus and cauda epididymis, and in the vas deferens. There were intense positive reactions for isolectin B4 in interstitial cells in all tissue and serosa of the vas deferens. PNA staining was seen only in stereocilia in the caput and corpus epididymis, and in the vas deferens. Strong WGA staining was seen throughout the testis, except in Sertoli cells, stereocilia, and connective tissue. UEA-I was detected in secondary spermatids, stereocilia, and epithelial cells of the cauda epididymis.These results show that degenerating cells in the testis, epididymal tubules, and vas deferens have differential affinities for lectins, and suggest that lectins play a role in the reproductive system of the horse. The heterogeneity of the lectin staining pattern in the reproductive tubules of adult horses suggests that the carbohydrate composition of each cell type is region specific.

Smooth Muscle Cells Transplantation is better than Heart Cells Transplantation for Improvement of Heart Function in Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Muscle cell transplantation may delay or prevent cardiac dilation in dilated cardiomyopathy. The present study was designed to compare the effects of the heart function of smooth muscle cell (SMCs) auto-transplantation and heart cell (CMs) allo-transplantation in dilated cardiomyopathic hamsters, and to determine which cells are better for cell transplantation. CMs and SMCs were isolated from BIO 53.58 hamsters, and cultured for transplantation. CMs, SMCs (4 X 10(6) cells each) or culture medium were transplanted into 17 weeks old BIO 53.58 hamsters to achieve CM transplantation (CMTx), SMC transplantation (SMCTx), and controls (Con) (N=10 each). Cyclosporine (5 mg/Kg) was administered subcutaneously to CMTx. Healthy hamsters (sham, N=6) were used to compare heart functions. Four weeks after transplantation, heart function was evaluated in all groups using a Langendorff perfusion apparatus. Histology demonstrated severe focal myocardial necrosis in the dilated cardiomyopathic hearts. CMTx and SMCTx formed huge muscle tissue in the dilated myocardium. Sham, SMCTx, and CMTx had a better heart function than Con (p < 0.01), and SMCTx had a better peak systolic pressure (p < 0.05) and developed pressure (p < 0.05) than CMTx at any balloon volume. However, sham and SMCTx were not statistically different. SMCTx and CMTx formed muscle tissue and produced better heart function in the cardiomyopathic hearts, and SMCTx showed better systolic and developed pressures than CMTx, even though they were similar in other functions. Significantly, SMCTx had heart functions, which were similar to those of healthy hamster's hearts.

Características morfológicas do ducto deferente no hamster dourado, durante o desenvolvimento pós-natal / Morphological characteristics of the vas deferens in golden hamster, during the postnatal development

Algumas características morfológias do desenvolvimento pós-natal do ducto deferente no hamster dourado, em diferentes idades, säo descritas. Observou-se que embora a morfologia do epitélio deferencial no hamster tenha diferenciaçäo precoce, já sendo observada aos 10 dias de idade, este epitélio mostra um decréscimo de altura celular entre 10 e 60 dias. Contudo, a túnica mucosa, como um todo, näo apresenta um padräo similar ao do epitélio na diferenciaçäo pós-natal. Há uma ligeira variabilidade na composiçäo e quantidade do tecido conjuntivo da lâmina própria, o que provavelmente explicaria a observaçäo no nível da túnica mucosa, durante o desenvolvimento pós-natal. A túnica muscular, a camada mais espessa da parede tubular deferencial, apresentou em forma geral um aumento progressivo entre a idade juvenil de 10 dias e a idade pós-puberal de 60 dias.

Características morfológicas do ducto deferente do hamster dourado (Mesocricetus auratus, W.) / Morphological characteristics of the deferent duct of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus, W.)

As características morfológicas do ducto deferente quanto ao trajeto, às relaçöes e regiöes säo descritas no hamster. Na porçäo intermediária (funicular) do ducto a parede tubular é formada por três túnicas definidas: mucosa interna, muscular média e adventícia externa. Algumas características histológicas bem típicas foram também descritas nas porçöes proximal (adepididimária) e distal (adprostática ou ampular) do ducto, de forma comparativa com os relatos feitos em outros mamíferos.