Scanning electron microscopy shows inhibited gubernacular development in relation to undescended testes in oestrogen-treated mice.

The morphological relationship between transabdominal testicular descent and the 'swelling reaction' of the gubernaculum was investigated in oestrogen-treated fetal mice by using scanning electron microscopy (scanning EM). In addition, flutamide was also administered to pregnant mice to determine whether androgens cause gubernacular growth and transabdominal testicular descent in offspring. In oestrogen-treated fetal mice, scanning EM showed that both the gubernacular 'swelling reaction' and transabdominal testicular descent were inhibited, in addition to inhibition of Müllerian duct regression. The gubernaculum showed a flat, thin bulb (widest diameter 0.25 +/- 0.04 mm) and an elongated cord (1.28 +/- 0.41 mm) after oestrogen treatment in utero, which was significantly different in appearance from that in normal control mice (width 0.44 mm +/- 0.06 mm, p < 0.001; length 0.27 +/- 0.19 mm, p < 0.0001). However, flutamide-treated mice showed much more normal gubernacular enlargement and transabdominal testicular descent. The width of the gubernacular bulb after flutamide exposure was 0.44 +/- 0.05 mm, which was comparable to that in control animals; the length of the intra-abdominal gubernaculum (0.44 +/- 0.15 mm) was slightly longer than in controls (p < 0.02). These results suggest that both the swelling reaction of the gubernaculum and transabdominal testicular migration are blocked by prenatal exposure to oestrogen. However, oestrogen exposure of the fetus does not block the swelling reaction of the gubernaculum by acting as an antiandrogen.

Transabdominal testicular descent is really ovarian ascent.

Some investigators have suggested that testicular descent relative to the ovary is actually caused by the relative upward growth of the structures adjacent to the testis and that in the early phase of descent the testis is anchored to the inguinal region as the embryo enlarges. This concept was founded on results from the dissection of human fetuses. In this study the development of the urogenital system in fetal mice is examined using scanning electron microscopy to determine the distance between the bladder neck and the lower pole of the gonad. The results of this study confirm that transabdominal descent of the testis relative to the ovary is in one sense really ascent of the ovary in the fetal mouse, while the testis is anchored to the inguinal region by the developed gubernaculum. The testis shows real movement at the beginning of the inguinoscrotal phase of testicular descent at birth.

The effect of flutamide on testicular descent in rats examined by scanning electron microscopy.

The effect of prenatal flutamide exposure on testicular descent was investigated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in prenatal and postnatal rats. In 20-day-old fetal rats, SEM showed no significant difference in the degree of gubernacular development or testicular descent relative to the kidney between flutamide-treated (74.5 +/- 2.2 U) and control rats (73.3 +/- 1.5 U); however, there was significant inhibition in oestrogen-treated rats (44.3 +/- 2.2 U) (P < .001). (The distance between the kidney and the bladder neck was standardized to 100 U.) In 5-day-old rats, SEM showed inhibited downward growth of the processus vaginalis in flutamide-treated rats. The length of processus vaginalis below the inguinal ligament was 32.8 +/- 2.4 U in flutamide-treated rats and 51.7 +/- 1.8 U in controls (P < .001). In 30- to 35-day-old mature rats, the frequency of cryptorchidism was 41.3% for flutamide-treated rats and 0% for controls (P < .001). Some cryptorchid testes were located in the lower abdominal cavity (10.9%); others were in the suprainguinal position (26.1%) or on the line of descent in the inguinal region (4.3%). In the flutamide-treated group, no testes were located in the posterior abdominal cavity, near the kidney. These results suggest that transabdominal descent of the testis is independent of androgen action, but that androgens control inguinoscrotal descent of the testis by regulating gubernacular migration and the growth of the processus vaginalis.

Periosteal response in translation-induced bone remodelling.

Translation of transplanted bones induces strain in the periosteum and subsequent bone remodelling. This study examines the periosteal response on the leading and trailing sides of translated bones using an in vivo model where internal bone strain is virtually eliminated. Caudal vertebrae from 4 days old rats were threaded onto the arms of pre-stressed helical torsion springs and transplanted subcutaneously. In the experimental rats, the appliances were activated seven days later causing the bones to translate. Tissues were examined both optically and by transmission electron microscopy. A connective tissue sheath or capsule forms around the bones and, as the arms of the appliance move apart, traction on the enveloping soft tissues produces compression of the periosteum on the leading side and tension on the trailing side with remodelling occurring in a direction opposite to translation. The control periosteum has an ordered structure with well-delineated osteogenic, mid- and fibrous zones. During translation the periosteum on the leading side is consistently narrower than on the trailing side and shows a gradual reduction in formative activity followed by resorption in select areas. Cells and fibres are aligned predominantly parallel to the bone surface. Accelerated formation characterises the trailing side during the translation phase with increased activity and widening of all three periosteal layers. The fibrous layer merges with the connective tissue sheath which frequently is oriented approximately perpendicular to the bone surface. The direction of remodelling is reversed when translation ceases with corresponding changes visible in the periosteum, the osteoblastic layer being the last to show changes. A normal periosteal structure and remodelling pattern is regained when equilibrium of the bones within the soft tissues is attained. This study shows that the enveloping soft tissues profoundly influence the nature and rate of bone remodelling. The changes are reflected in the periosteum which functions as an integrated unit modulating the signal transmitted to the osteoblasts which play a key role in events occurring at the bone surface. Changes are not attributable to internal bone strain.

Periosteal changes in mechanically stressed rat caudal vertebrae.

When a caudal vertebra is stressed by looping the tail, remodelling results with increased formation of bone on the inner (concave) side of the loop and decreased formation on the corresponding outer (convex) side. The initial morphological changes in periosteum under stress are examined by histology, autoradiography and transmission electron microscopy. Vessel damage appears minimal and thus seems unlikely to be a trigger for the remodelling process. On stress application the connective tissue relationships in the fibrous component of the periosteum are altered immediately but changes in the osteogenic layer are delayed. On the inner side, the midzone between the cellular periosteum and the fibrous periosteum becomes drawn out and enlarged, with reorientation of the cells perpendicular to the bone. This reflects the tension exerted on the bone surface through the elastic recoil of the fibrous periosteum. On the outer side, the midzone becomes narrowed as the taut fibrous periosteum exerts a compressive force on it. The midzone, which shows a delayed response and the greatest structural change with altered stress, may buffer the osteogenic layer and so play an important role in bone remodelling. The results have considerable bearing on the establishment of bone form during normal growth and development.

The effect of isolated components of Prunus avium L. styles on in vitro growth of pollen tubes.

A number of components isolated from styles of P. avium cv. Napoleon (S 3 S 4) have been tested for their capacity to influence in vitro growth of pollen tubes from fresh and stored pollen (cv. Napoleon (S 3 S 4)). An antigenic glycoprotein (Antigen S) is a potent inhibitor of in-vitro pollen tube growth, causing a 65% reduction in tube length at a concentration of 20 µg/ml. None of the other style components were effective inhibitors of pollen tube growth; neither were proteins of animal origin such as histone, serum albumin, cytochrome C, and the glycoproteins ovalbumin and thyroglobulin, effective inhibitors.