Dynamics of stomach growth in the human fetal period: a postmortem study / Dinámica de crecimiento del estómago en el período fetal humano – un estudio post-mortem

The aim of this work was to analyze the stomach growth rate, variability of proportion and shape during prenatal period, as well as evaluation of final features differentiation process distinctive for perinatal period. It seems interesting to compare stomach growth analyzed in situ on post-mortem fetuses with results obtained by other authors evaluating this process in sonographic examinations. Research was conducted on 225 post-mortem fetuses 12th to 40 th week of fetal age. There were measurements of stomach total length, lengths of greater and lesser curvature and cardia and pylorus widths performed. We evaluated the thickness of stomach front wall and bottom and its total mass. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical program package Statistica 8. Rate of post mortem examined stomach dimensions growth - estimated on the base of mean conditional values is characterized by diverse rhythm. Proportions variability during prenatal period results from disharmonic growth of its dimensions. There were no dysmorphic differences in process of fetal stomach growth and in dynamics of its proportions and shapes changes found. In fetal period marks clearly tendency to organ shape changes consistent with fetal age. Based on analysis performed - four stages of stomach growth in fetal period were distinguished: 1. Intensive growth phase last till 22th fetal week. 2. Formation of final stomach shape between 20th and 26th gestational age. 3. Phase of stomach topography changes between 26th and 30th gestational age. 4. Phase of harmonic growth lasts from 30th week until childbirth.

El objetivo fue analizar la tasa de crecimiento del estómago, variabilidad de la proporción y forma durante el período prenatal, así como evaluar las características distintivas del proceso final de diferenciación para el período perinatal. Es interesante comparar el crecimiento del estómago de los fetos analizado in situ en el post-mortem con resultados obtenidos por otros autores tras la evaluación de este proceso en exámenes ecográficos. La investigación fue realizada en 225 fetos post-mortem desde la 12 a la 40 semana de edad fetal. Se determinaron la longitud total del estómago, la longitud de las curvaturas mayor y menor, y los anchos del cardias y píloro. Se evaluó el grosor de la paredes frontal e inferior del estómago y su masa total. El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante el programa Statistica 8. La tasa de crecimiento en las dimensiones de los estómagos post-mortem examinados se estimaron sobre la base de valores medios condicionales caracterizados por el ritmo diverso. Las proporciones de variabilidad en el periodo prenatal resultaron en un crecimiento inarmónico de sus dimensiones. No hubo diferencias dismórficas en proceso de crecimiento fetal del estómago, mientras que en la dinámica de sus proporciones y formas se encuentraron cambios. El período fetal, marca claramente la tendencia a cambios en la forma de órganos acorde con la edad del feto. Basado en el análisis realizado, se distinguen cuatro etapas de crecimiento de estómago en el período fetal: 1. Fase de crecimiento intensivo hasta finales de la semana 22 del feto. 2. Formación de la forma del estómago definitiva entre la 20 y 26 semana de gestación. 3. Fase de cambios en la topografía del estómago entre la 26 y 30 semana de gestació. 4. Fase de crecimiento armónico desde la semana 30 hasta el parto.

Immunohistochemical identification and quantitative analysis of cytoplasmic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase in mouse organogenesis

Cytoplasmic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is an antioxidant enzyme that converts superoxide to hydrogen peroxide in cells. Its spatial distribution matches that of superoxide production, allowing it to protect cells from oxidative stress. SOD1 deficiencies result in embryonic lethality and a wide range of pathologies in mice, but little is known about normal SOD1 protein expression in developing embryos. In this study, the expression pattern of SOD1 was investigated in post-implantation mouse embryos and extraembryonic tissues, including placenta, using Western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses. SOD1 was detected in embryos and extraembryonic tissues from embryonic day (ED) 8.5 to 18.5. The signal in embryos was observed at the lowest level on ED 9.5-11.5, and the highest level on ED 17.5-18.5, while levels remained constant in the surrounding extraembryonic tissues during all developmental stages examined. Immunohistochemical analysis of SOD1 expression on ED 13.5-18.5 revealed its ubiquitous distribution throughout developing organs. In particular, high levels of SOD1 expression were observed in the ependymal epithelium of the choroid plexus, ganglia, sensory cells of the olfactory and vestibulocochlear epithelia, blood cells and vessels, hepatocytes and hematopoietic cells of the liver, lymph nodes, osteogenic tissues, and skin. Thus, SOD1 is highly expressed at late stages of embryonic development in a cell- and tissue-specific manner, and can function as an important antioxidant enzyme during organogenesis in mouse embryos.

The fetal stomach circumference/abdominal circumference ratio: a possible parameter in assessing fetal stomach size

Nonvisualized, dilated or even a small fetal stomach can be associated with a variety of anomalies and poor fetal outcome. Therefore, we attempted to evaluate the stomach circumference (SC)/abdominal circumference (AC) ratio to assess normal limits of fetal stomach size. A total of 363 fetuses ranging from 15 to 39 weeks' gestation were prospectively evaluated with ultrasonography. The SC was measured from a plane that is perpendicular to the fetal longitudinal axis at the level where the largest axial circumference of the stomach was obtained using a digitizer. The AC was also measured at the same section and the ratio was calculated by dividing the SC by the AC and multiplying by 100. The SC increased linearly from 15 to 24 weeks and showed fluctuations in size thereafter to 39 weeks. A strong correlation was noted between gestational age and both SC (r: 0.842, P 0.05). Although the fetal stomach is a dynamically changing organ, the SC/AC ratio can be considered as a potentially useful parameter in assessing fetal stomach size.