rare variation of axillary artery

The axillary artery, a continuation of the subclavian artery, begins at the outer border of first rib, and ends nominally at the inferior border of teres major muscle where it becomes the brachial artery. During the dissection of a 30-35-year-old man cadaver, according to classical anatomy method [Grant's method], we found an unusual branching in the second part of the axillary artery on the right side. The second part of axillary artery had a common branch, from which a lateral thoracic and subscapular artery was originated. This is an infrequent variation that has not been reported in the anatomy references, as yet. The increasing use of invasive diagnostic and interventional procedures in cardiovascular diseases, as well use of branches of upper limb arteries for coronary bypass and flaps in reconstructive surgery. Therefore, accurate knowledge of normal and variant arterial pattern of the upper extremities, for example axillary artery, is very important for medical specialists particularly anatomists and surgeons. Awareness of such variations can help surgeons to reduce the postoperative complications

effects of ethanol on the microscopic structure of testis in mice

Background and purpose: Many studies have been conducted on the effects of ethanol on testis; however, little attention has been paid to microscopic changes due to alcohol administration. This study is, therefore, conducted to evaluate the effects of ethanol on the microscopic structure of testis in mice and whether probable changes are restricted to a specific area or the entire testicular tissue is affected

Methods and Materials: For the purposes of the study, forty male Balb/c mice were selected and randomly divided into two equal experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 1mg ethanol intraperitoneal injection per each gram body weight every day; the control group mice were injected, as a placebo, the same amount of normal saline. After one month, one half of the mice and after two months, the other half - in both control and experimental groups - were anesthetized; their testis were immediately removed, washed in normal saline and placed in fixative formalin. After routine histological processing and embedding in paraffin, sections of 10 microm thickness were cut and stained by Hematoxylin-Eosin. Prepared specimens were examined and photographed by light microscopy

Results: Abnormal testicular changes occurred in mice with one-month ethanol injection. Excessive semeniferous tubules destructions were also observed in mice with two-month ethanol injection. But no abnormal changes or destructions were observed in mice of the control group

Conclusion: The injection of ethanol has a progressive destructive effect on semeniferous tubules and germ cells of testis in a way that the longer the duration of the ethanol injections, the stronger the effects of destructive changes will be

[Specific role of glycoconjugates terminal sugars on developing placenta]

Determining the glycoconjugates terminal sugars that have a key role on placental development and functions was our objective. Each terminal sugar must be defined in the developmental stage and period does its role. Placentas that had been obtained from pregnant Balb/c strain mice, were processed in tissue preparation. Using lectin histochemistry, tracing the terminal sugar was done in placentas. Each lectin was specific for only one terminal sugar. Staining and observing the specimens by light microscopy was done. Some photographs were obtained from interesting fields. From 5th gestational day to 11th, only soybean agglutinin [SBA] had positive reaction with specimens. This reaction tapered at 11th gestational day. Moderate reaction was observed to peanut agolntinin [PNA] in 12th day. High density reation in some cellular centers were observed to PNA at 13th gestational day. Moderate reaction in whole tissue was observed at 14th day. Reaction to PNA disappeared at 14th day. Low density reaction to lotus tetragolobus agglutinin [LTA] was observed at 15th day. High density reaction in some cellular centers were observed to LTA at 16th gestational day. Reaction to lectins tapered gradually at the terminal days of gestation, and disappeared finally. Our results suggest that SBA specific terminal sugar has the key role on placental development and functions at 5th to 11th gestational days. PNA specific terminal sugar has that role at 12th to 14th. LTA specific terminal sugar has that key role on 15 to 18th gestational days. 19th to 21th are free from key terminal sugars