Ultrastructural aspects of the remodeling process of the Corpus albicans in the recent postmenopausal period.

To study the cytophysiology of the corpus albicans in the recent postmenopausal period, the authors analyzed the ovarian ultrastructure of ten patients submitted to oophorectomy due to non-malignant gynecological diseases. Evidence of a remodeling process with connective tissue substitution of the corpora albicantia was observed. The remodeling process appears to depend on the activity of three essential cell types; the fibroblasts, which provide collagen synthesis; the macrophages, which phagocytize the flaky material; and the myofibroblasts, mainly located in the peripheral region of the corpora albicantia, which may have a retracting action on the remodeling site of the corpus albicans.

Chronic effects of azidothymidine and acyclovir on pregnant rats.

1. The antiviral effect of azidothymidine (AZT) can be potentiated by acyclovir (ACV), and this drug association has been used in the management of HIV-infected patients. In the present study we examined the effects of such an association on rat pregnancy. 2. AZT (60 mg/kg b.w.) and ACV (60 mg/kg b.w.) were given to groups of pregnant rats once a day from the 1st to the 20th day of gestation. 3. Maternal body weight gain was severely affected by ACV; this effect was attenuated in rats treated with AZT+ACV and was virtually absent with AZT alone. 4. The abortive action of ACV was markedly diminished in the group treated with the association AZT+ACV. 5. The deleterious effects of ACV on rat pregnancy are presumably due to its extraplacental actions, and these are, at least in part, counteracted by concomitant treatment with AZT.

Action of diclofenac sodium on the reparation process of the surgically-perforated myometrium of pregnant albino rats: morphological and morphometrical evaluation.

1. The action of a non-hormonal anti-inflammatory agent on the reparation process of the surgically-perforated myometrium of pregnant albino rats was histologically evaluated. 2. On the 14th day after perforation, the muscular layers were still interrupted. 3. The morphological study was inconclusive. A morphometrical analysis, however, demonstrated that there was a meaningful diminution in the number of leucocytes and collagen fibers and an increase in the number of fibroblasts, probably with low synthetical power, in the group treated with diclofenac sodium. All these data indicate a delay in the reparation process of the uterine musculature.

[Ultrastructure of mucous cells from the oviduct epithelium of the rabbit (Lepus cuniculus). Preliminary study]. / Ultra-estrutura dos mucocitos presentes no epitélio do oviduto de coelha (Lepus cuniculus). Observações preliminares.

Authors studied the ultrastructural features of the mucous cells present in the three segments of the rabbit oviduct in anoestrous. Results showed that only one kind of mucous cell was present in the isthmus while two different kinds of mucous cells were found in the ampulla and infundibulum. The ultrastructural features observed in the isthmic cells correlated well with the histochemical data already described in that segment. However such correlations could not be made between the ampulla and infundibulum. Authors suggest that the ampulla can be considered a transitional segment between isthmus and infundibulum.

[Morphologic and morphometric aspects of the uterine tube epithelium during the menstrual cycle]. / Aspectos morfológicos e morfométricos do epitélio da tuba uterina durante o ciclo menstrual.

PURPOSE: Under light microscopy, the authors observed the morphologic and morphometric features of the human uterine tube during the menstrual cycle. TYPE OF STUDY: Experimental, prospective study. SITE: Escola Paulista de Medicina. PATIENTS: Specimens obtained from ten eumenorrheic, multigesta patients, ages ranging from 22 to 35 years. INTERVENTION: They were all submitted to salpingectomy because they showed a high reproductive risk. They were operated during the proliferating and secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. The isthmus, ampullae and infundibulum were studied under light microscopy. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The authors observed that the epithelium of the human tube has a single layer of cylindrical and ciliated cells. Three kinds of cells were present: ciliated, secretory, and non-differentiated. Height of the epithelium was uniform in the secretory phase, but not in the isthmus and ampullae. Images of mitosis were rarely seen. In the isthmus, the number of secretory cells predominated in both phases of the cycle; in the ampullae, the number of ciliated cells was increased in the proliferation phase, while secretory cells were proeminent in the lutheal phase. In the infundibulum and fimbrae, ciliated cells were increased. Morphometric features of human uterine epithelium were studied during the menstrual cycle and showed: 1) the height of the epithelium in the ampullae was significantly higher in the proliferating phase; 2) the number of secretory cells was significantly higher in the isthmus, while in the infundibulum ciliated cells were increased in number in both phases of the cycle. The number of ciliated cells in the ampullae was significantly higher in the proliferating phase while secretory cells predominated in the secretory phase; 3) The nuclear volume of ciliated and secretory cells is not statistically significant in all regions during the two phases of the cycle. CONCLUSIONS: The uterine tube epithelium shows cyclic modifications which are probably associated to its function in reproductive physiology.

[Histochemical features of the mucus of the surface epithelium of the rabbit oviduct]. / Aspectos histoquímicos do muco do epitélio de revestimento do oviduto de coelha.

Some cytochemical observations were made on the secretion of the mucocytes in the surface epithelium of the different regions of the rabbit oviduct in anoestrous. It was concluded that the mucocytes of the oviduct contained mucin which was neutral or acid in nature. The three regions of the rabbit oviduct contained carboxylated acid mucopolysaccharide, but sialomucin was found in the infundibulum and sulphomucin was demonstrated in the isthmus and ampulla.

[Quantitative variations of lysosomes in the alveolar epithelium of the human mammary gland during the proliferative and secretory phases of the menstrual cycle]. / Variaciones cuantitativas de los lisosomas en el epitelio alveolar de la glandula mamaria humana, en las fases proliferativa y secretora del ciclo menstrual.

The authors measured the number of lysosomes on alveolar epithelium from human mammary glands during the menstrual cycle. The number of lysosomes was significantly greater in proliferative phase when compared to the secretory. Findings were correlated with hormone levels.

[Quantitative variation in lysosomes in the epithelium of the human uterine tube in the menstrual cycle and after the menopause]. / Variación cuantitativa de los lisosomas en el epitelio de la trompa uterina humana en los periodos menstruales y en la postmenopausia.

Quantitative variation of the lysosomes in the epithelium of the human uterine tube in the menstrual cycle and in post-menopausal period. The authors counted the lysosomes in the human uterine tube in the menstrual cycle and in post-menopausal period. The post-menopausal women were separated in two groups: one received oral estrogens during twenty one day and the other did not. Fragments of uterine ampullae were removed, fixed and submitted to Gomori acid phosphatase method. Results show that the number of lysosomes during the proliferative phase was significantly greater than in secretory phase and post-menopausal period. The number of lysosomes in post-menopausal period was significantly greater in women treated with estrogens. Our result show that estrogens are responsible for the increase of the number of lysosomes.

[Ultrastructural aspects of the atrial cardiac myocytes in albino rats subjected to the effects of cold]. / Aspectos ultra-estruturais dos cardiomiócitos atriais de ratos albinos submetidos à ação do frio.

The authors intended to study the fibers of atrial muscle of rats submitted to cold. The results specially showed the destruction of the mitochondria structure. The cristae are destroyed in part by the stress provoked. The possible factors that influence the stress provoked by the cold are discussed.

[Ultrastructural aspects of the skeletal striated muscle, macrophages and fibroblasts during the regression of tadpole tails]. / Aspectos ultra-estruturais do músculo estriado esquelético, macrófagos e fibroblastos durante a regressão da cauda de girinos.

Striated muscle fibres and fibroblasts observed at electron microscope were entirely developed when the tail of tadpoles reached its maximum size. However, during resorption of the tail, striated muscle fibres showed signs of degeneration: rupture and disorganization of myofibrils, altered mitochondria and lipid droplets in the cytoplasm. A great amount of macrophages phagocyting myofibrils and fibroblasts containing collagen fibrils in several breakdown stages were also observed among degenerated muscle fibres.