Early postnatal development of the lumbar vertebrae in male Wistar rats: double staining and digital radiological studies.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the physiological developmental changes of male rats' lumbar vertebrae during the first 22 days after birth. Morphology and mineralisation of lumbar vertebrae were evaluated using double-staining and digital radiography system, which allowed vertebral width and optical density to be determined. Pup weight, crown-rump length, body mass index and vertebral width increased during postnatal period and significantly correlated with their age. Bone mineralisation, as measured by optical density, did not show any significant differences. The complete fusion of the primary ossification centres had a cranio- -caudal direction and started on day 19 after parturition but was incomplete by day 22. It could be concluded that, unlike significant age-related increase of vertebral size, mineralisation was only slightly elevated during evaluated postnatal period. The method described is supplementary to alizarin red S staining as it provides both qualitative and quantitative data on mineralisation in a similar manner to micro computed tomography but does not allow 3 dimensional and microarchitecture examination.

[Experimental studies of the location of neural centers in the bovine uterus]. / Badania doswiadczalne nad lokalizacja osrodków nerwowych macicy u krowy.

Three cows of the black-and-white breed were used for the studies. In cow N.1 the ovary, oviduct and the uterus were excised. In cow N.2 the uterus cornua were excised. The control was cow N.3. The animals were slaughtered after 21 days from the operation and the following material was taken: medulla oblongata, the thoraco-lumbosacral segment of the spinal cord together with bilateral spinal ganglia and the sympathetic trunk ganglia, as well as nerve ganglia and plexi of the abdominal and pelvic cavities. The material was fixed in alcohol, embedded in paraffine and cut into 15 micron thick clises which were stained according to Nissel'a modified method. The analysis of the preparations ahowed that the central nervous system sends directly to the uterus a small number of nerve fibres from the following nuclei; of the vagus nerve (medulla oblongata), intermediolateralis, intermedio-medialis and of the cerebello-spinal tract (spinal cord). Most fibres innervating the uterus of the cow come from the ganglia and plexi of the peripheral vegetative system; mesenteric anterior, hypogastric, pelvic, visceral, mesenteric posterior and also form ganglia of the sympathetic trunk and spinal ganglia.

[Experimental studies of the localization of neural centers in the ovaries and fallopian tubes in cows]. / Eksperymentalne badania nad lokalizacja osrodków nerwowych jajnika i jajowodu u krowy.

For the studies 4 sexually mature cows were used, in which ovaria and oviducts were cut out bilaterally or unilaterally. The fourth cow was the control of the experiment. The operated animals were kept alive for 21 days and then slaughtered. For studies were taken: the brain stem, spinal cord from the segments Th9 - Th13 and L1 - S4, bilateral spinal ganglions, bilaterally the sympathetic chain from the segment Th10 - S4, and also ganglions and visceral-plexi, anterior mesenteric, intermesenteric, posterior mesenteric, hypogastric and pelvic. The material was fixed in alcohol, embedded in paraffin and cut into 15 micron sections. The sections were stained by Nissel's method. For examinations subsequent sections were taken. Due to the operations performed degeneration changes occurred in nervous cells in the central and peripheral nervous system. They were the basis for determination of the localization of the nervous centres for ovarium and oviduct. The source of preganglionic sympathetic visceromotor fibres for these organs is nucleus intermediolateralis in the segment L2 - L3. The sympathetic postganglionic fibres originate from cells of the sympathetic chain from L1 to L3 and from the posterior mesenteric ganglion and hypogastric plexus. The source of parasympathetic fibres for ovarium and oviduct are cells of nucleus parasympathicus nervi vagi in the segment located somewhat posteriorly from obex. The source of viscerosensory fibres for the discussed parts of the sexual organs in the cow are cells of the spinal ganglions in the segment Th9 - Th13 and cells of nucleus tractus spinocerebellaris dorsalis localized in neuromers L2 and L3.

[Changes in the central and peripheral nervous system in cows after laparotomy]. / Zmiany w osrodkowym i obwodowym ukladzie nerwowym po laparotomii u krowy.

Two sexually mature cows were used for the studies in which operations were performed, consisting in cutting the abdominal tunics at a length of 30 cm in the left iliac region. The cows were kept alive for 21 days after the operation. Then they were slaughtered, taking the following material for studies: The spinal cord, bilateral spinal ganglions, bilateral subvertebral sympathetic ganglions and autonomous ganglions of abdominal and pelvic cavities. The material was embedded in paraffin and cut into 15 n sections, which were stained with methylene blue according to Nissel. Regressive changes in cells of many nervous centres due to the operations performed were found. They were found in: spinal ganglions of the lumbar and sacral segment, nuclei of spinal grey matter (nucleus motorius, nucleus dorsalis, nucleus intermediomedialis, nucleus intermediolateralis) in the lumbar and sacral segment and in the sympathetic subvertebral ganglions of the lumbar and sacral segment. Degeneration changes of the cells were observed only on the operated side.