Maternal Hyperthyroidism in Rats Alters the Composition and Gene Expression of the Matrix Produced In Vitro by Chondrocytes from Offspring with Intrauterine Growth Restriction.

Herein, we aimed to evaluate cultures of femoral chondrocytes from offspring of rats with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) induced by maternal hyperthyroidism. Fourteen adult female Wistar rats were divided into two groups, a control group and a group treated with daily L-thyroxine administration using an orogastric tube (50 µg/animal/day) during pregnancy. Three days after birth, the offspring were euthanized for chondrocyte extraction. At 7, 14, and 21 days, viability and alkaline-phosphatase (ALP) activity were assessed using the MTT assay and BCIP/NBT method, respectively, in a 2D culture. Pellets (3D cultures) were stained with periodic acid Schiff (PAS) to assess the morphology and percentage of PAS+ areas. The gene transcripts for Col2, Col10, Acan, Sox9, and Runx2 were evaluated by qRT-PCR. The MTT and ALP-assay results showed no significant differences between the groups. Maternal hyperthyroidism did not alter the chondrocyte morphology, but significantly reduced the percentage of PAS+ areas, decreased the expression of the gene transcripts of Col2 and Acan, and increased Sox9 expression. Maternal hyperthyroidism in rats alters the composition and gene expression of the matrix produced by chondrocytes from offspring with IUGR. This may be one of the mechanisms through which excess maternal thyroid hormones reduce offspring bone growth.

Williams syndrome: ophthalmological examination and review of systemic manifestations.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency and severity of ophthalmic manifestations and associated diseases, as well as the epidemiological data in patients with Williams syndrome. METHODS: The authors prospectively studied 30 patients clinically diagnosed as having Williams syndrome as confirmed by the fluorescence in situ hybridization test. Patient history included gender, age, race, education level, previous illnesses, and surgeries. The ophthalmologic examination included best-corrected visual acuity, dynamic and static refraction, extraocular motility test, stereopsis test (Titmus and Lang), and direct and indirect funduscopy. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included in this study. The mean age was 14.5 ± 1.38 years (range: 7 to 26 years). Fifty percent of the patients were male and 50% were female. Among the children examined, 77% had a refractive error. Hyperopia and astigmatism were noted in 67% and 20% of the patients, respectively, and myopia in 7%. Only one case of amblyopia was noted. On external examination, 23% of children had epicanthus; via biomicroscopy, 3 children with stellate patterns of the irides were observed. Eleven patients (36.6%) had measurable strabismus, 9 (82%) had esotropia, and 2 (18%) had exotropia. Binocular vision was abnormal in 43% of patients. Diffuse arteriovenous tortuosity on funduscopy was observed in 27% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Williams syndrome is rare and is associated with multiple phenotypes and diseases that are susceptible to treatment. Multidisciplinary clinical management is critical and, in some cases, surgical intervention is required.

Versican expression in myoepithelial cells from carcinomas in canine mixed mammary tumors.

The matrix of canine mixed mammary tumors (CMMTs) consists of proliferating spindle cells of possible myoepithelial origin, as well as myxomatous tissue, cartilage matrix and/or bone. Among the multiple components of this tumor extracellular matrix, versican probably plays a prominent role due to its importance in tumor progression, cell proliferation and differentiation. However, there are few data related to a possible association between versican expression and the state of myoepithelial cell differentiation in CMMTs. Using immunohistochemistry and histochemistry, the objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of versican, sulfated proteoglycans and mucopolysaccharides in myoepithelial cells at different stages of differentiation and to explore a potential relationship with p63 and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression. A significant difference in versican expression was observed among the different stages of myoepithelial cell differentiation with an inverse correlation between versican and p63/SMA expression. These results suggest that at an early stage of proliferation, myoepithelial cells acquire a phenotype consistent with a role in chondrogenesis. Moreover, myoepithelial cells showed an affinity for safranin and periodic acid-Schiff staining at different stages of proliferation supporting the myoepithelial origin of spindle cells from CMMTs.