[Investigations on methods of quantitative polarization optical estimation of neutral carbohydrates in extracellular matrix]. / Untersuchungen zur Methode der quantitativen polarisationsoptischen Erfassung neutraler Kohlenhydrate in der extracellulären Matrix.

By means of the fluorescence PAS-reaction using a Schiff-type reagent substituted with acriflavine, the neutral carbohydrates were demonstrable selectively in the human trophoblast basement membrane. The reaction product is characterized by a typical birefringence that can be measured in the polarized light. The results obtained from ascertainment of the dispersion of the birefringence before and after the histochemical reaction, as well, gave further evidence for specificity and a definite improvement of the measurement of path differences.

[Fluorescence and optical polarization research on the qualitative and quantitative estimation of neutral carbohydrates in the basement membrane of human placental villi]. / Fluorescenz- und polarisationsoptische Untersuchungen zur qualitativen und quantitativen Erfassung neutraler Carbohydrate in Basalmembranen menschlicher Placenta-Zotten.

In the trophoblast basement membrane of human placental villi, neutral carbohydrates were investigated by means of fluorescence and polarization optical methods. By a modified fluorescence-PAS-reaction using a Schiff-type reagent substituted with acriflavine, the basement membrane could be stained selectively. The reaction product of known chemical structure is characterized by a typical birefringence that can be measured in the polarized light. The combination of the fluorescence histochemical method with the polarization optical one permits to obtain qualitative and quantitative data for the carbohydrate component and its incorporation and arrangement into the basement membrane at the molecular level.

[Functional morphology of the human placenta]. / Funktionelle Morphologie der menschlichen Plazenta.

An account is given of latest knowledge on the structure of the human placenta. Reference is made to the early stages of development as well as to maturation under both normal and pathological conditions. The paper is intended to contribute to better understanding of the pathogenesis of chronic placental insufficiency.

[Morphometric studies of histologically classified chorionic villi of human placentas. 1. Placentas of eutrophic and hypotrophic full-term infants]. / Morphometrische Untersuchungen an histologisch klassifizierten Chorionzotten menschlicher Plazenten. 1. Plazenten eutropher und hypotropher Termgeborener.

Occurrence of mature and immature chorionic villi was morphometrically analysed in 30 human placentae of children born on term. The following results were obtained from a method specially developed for surface determination of villus cross-section: The surface of mature villi (end or absorption villi) in children born on term with low birth weight was much smaller than that of immature villi. Total surfaces of mature and immature villi were almost equal in size as of the 25th percentile of child weight. The importance is underlined of a "transitional" class between hypotrophic and eutrophic children born on term, and a pattern of results is suggested.

[Morphometric studies of the histologically classified chorionic villi of human placentas]. / Morphometrische Untersuchungen an histologisch klassifizierten Chorionzotten menschlicher Plazenten. 2. Plazenten von Term- und Frühgeborenen.

The ratio between surfaces of mature and immature villi of 74 human placentae (17 from premature births and 57 from births on term) was morphometrically determined. The number of histologically classified chorionic villi was recorded, as well. The smallest surface and numbers of mature villi were recorded with significance from premature births and from hypotrophic newborns below the tenth weight percentile. The number of mature villi was found to grow continuously within a "transitional class" (tenth to 25th percentile) up to eutrophic newborns. This trend, however, was not recordable from immature villi. The diagnostic pattern recommended for routine examinations is based on numerical determination of so-called "mature normal villi".

[Immunohistochemical demonstration of fibronectin in the human placenta]. / Immunhistochemischer Nachweis von Fibronectin in der menschlichen Placenta.

The distribution pattern of fibronectin in the human placenta has been studied using the indirect immunoperoxidase (PAP) technique on formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue samples. Fibronectin was demonstrated as intensely stained fibrillar or strand-like structures on the endothelial cells of blood vessels and on the amniotic epithelium. The most interesting fibronectin staining result, however, was found in the cytotrophoblast cells and in the bud-like structures of the syncytiotrophoblast. The results were discussed with regard to differentiation and proliferation in course of placental development.

[Changes in the mast cell content of the lamina propria mucosa of the small intestine in enteral-induced growth disorders in childhood]. / Veränderungen des Mastzellgehaltes in der Lamina propria mucosae des Dünndarms bei enteral bedingten Gedeihstörungen im Kindesalter.

Duodenal jejeunal biopsy material from children with growth retardation due to enteric disease was investigated. The disease dependent mucosa types were classified into three groups according to Shmerling (1970). Mucosa types and established histological alterations can be correlated. Toluidine blue staining sections were analyzed morphometrically by light microscopy to study changes in the mucosal mast cells. The mast cell content in specimens with subtotal villal atrophy (type III) was reduced significantly compared to normal mucosa (type I).

[Optical and histochemical polarization studies of the composition of the sialomucin coat at the trophoblast surface of the rabbit placenta depending on the stage of pregnancy]. / Polarisationsoptisch-histochemische Untersuchungen zur tragzeitabhängigen Zusammensetzung des Sialomuzinsaumes an der Trophoblastoberfläche der Kaninchenplazenta.

Polarization microscopical and histochemical investigations were performed in 43 placentas of rabbits from the 10th to the 35th d of pregnancy at the maternal surface of the metabolic barrier of the placenta. The carboxyl groups of sialic acid and of proteins, sulphur containing amino acids of proteins and neutral carbohydrates were detected quantitatively and qualitatively by polarization optical and histochemical investigations. It is possible, that the increase of proteins in case of placenta insufficiency has diagnostic importancy.

[Polarization microscopic studies of the fine structure of the maternal-fetal barrier in normal human placentas depending on gestational age]. / Polarisationsoptische Untersuchengen über den Feinbau der maternofetalen Stoffwechselschranke normaler menschlicher Placenten in Abhängigkeit vom Gestationsalter.

The submicroscopic structure of the throphoblast basement membrane and the collagen in the chorionic villi of human placentas was investigated by polarization microscopic technique. The study establishes a quantitatively measurable difference in the submicroscopic range of the placental membrane in relation to histologically classified disturbances of maturity.

[Polarization optical investigations for the demonstration of a "sialomucin coat" at the surface of the chorionic epithelium of the rabbit placenta in relation to the stage of pregnancy]. / Polarisationsoptische Untersuchungen zum Nachweis eines "Sialomuzinsaumes" an der Oberfläche des Chorionepithels der Kaninchenplazenta in Abhängigkeit von der Tragzeit.

Histological, histochemical, fluorescence optical and polarization microscopical investigations were performed in 53 placentas of rabbits from the 10th to the 35th day of pregnancy. A "sialomucin coat" could be demonstrated in all cases at the maternal surface of the metabolic barrier of the placenta. Polarization optical measurements after association with N,N'-diethylpseudoisocyanine chloride showed a lower content of sialic acid at the surface of the trophoblast in postmature placentas of rabbits in comparison to normal mature placentas. The immunological function of the placental barrier is discussed with respect to maturity.

[Submicroscopic detection of oriented protein filaments in the plasmoditrophoblast of the human placenta (author's transl)]. / Submikroskopischer Nachweis orientierter Proteinfilamente im Plasmoditrophoblasten der menschlichen Plazenta.

In this paper is described by histochemical, polarization optical and electron microscopical techniques resp. an up to now unknown protein structure in the basal plasmoditrophoblast of the human placenta. This structure consists of noncollagenic filaments containing cystin or cystein. They are arranged in the plain in the form of a network and parallel to the surface of the chorionic villi. They occur in connection with Langhans cells, they regularly existed in young placentas, where they completely surround the chorionic villi, and they occur in the villi of termborn placentas only incomplete in parts of the plasmoditrophoblast. Differences of the molecular structure of the network of protein filaments, which are depended on the age, are not demonstrable.

[On the birefringence of formazans (author's transl)]. / Zur Doppelbrechung von Formazanen.

The enzyme succinate dehydrogenase was demonstrated histochemically in organs of rats, especially in experimentally infarcted hearts. 88 tetrazolium salts were used as indicators, the resulting formazans were examined for birefringence. Formazans with cristalline shapes show birefringence, but formazans of amorphous character do not. In the atypic species of nitrogroup-substituted monoformazans it is possible to form an oriented association to cell structures in spite of an amorphous precipitation. Therefore, anomalous colours of polarization, and dichroism is observed. Relations are discussed between shape of formazan deposits, polarity of formazans, and the occurrence of optical anisotropism.