Serum levels of adiponectin were measured in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer of pT2 and pT3 stage. Adiponectin ELISA assay, immunohistochemistry, and selected metabolic and biochemical parameters measurement was performed in 25 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and 43 with prostate cancer (17 patients with organ-confined and 26 patients with locally advanced disease). Serum adiponectin levels did not differ between prostate benign hyperplasia and cancer clinical stage T2, but was significantly higher in pT3 relative to pT2 group (14.51± 4.92 vs. 21.41±8. 12, P = 0.003). Tissue immunohistochemistry showed enhanced staining in neoplastic prostate glands and intraepithelial neoplasia relative to benign prostatic hyperplasia without distinction between disease grade and stage. Serum adiponectin levels are higher in locally advanced relative to organ-confined prostate cancer and may thus serve as an auxiliary marker providing further improvement for discrimination between pT2 and pT3 stages., D. Housa, Z. Vernerová, J. Heráček, B. Procházka, P. Čechák, J. Kuncová, M. Haluzík., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Fourteen three-month-old rabbits spontaneously-infected with the microsporidium Encephalilozoon cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau et Schoen, 1923 were inoculated intravenously with lymphocytes (Ly) from seropositive bovine leukemia virus infected cattle (Ly/BLV) or with fetal lamb kidney cells infected with bovine fetal leukemia (FLK/BLV). Thirteen rabbits were seropositive to BLV at least for a period of three months. Six rabbits died of pulmonary lesions. Chronic inflammatory lesions of ence-phalitozoonosis were found in six rabbits killed between 454 and 548 days of the observation period. Five animals bore subcutaneous granulomas. Immunohistochemically, E. cuniculi was demonstrated in the inflammatory lesions of rabbits studied. Control animals also spontaneously infected with E. cuniculi did not show clinical signs of encephalitozoonosis. Morphological changes were found incidentally in the form of small glial foci and focal interstitial nephritis in these animals. The combined action of BLV - E. cuniculi on the bodies of rabbits is proposed as a suitable model for the study of encephalitozoonosis in man with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
This study investigated quantitated expression of dopamine 2 receptor (D2R) and somatostatin receptors of the five types (SSTR1-SSTR5) in a large series of clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas (CNFAs). Co-expression of these receptors in individual adenomas was studied as well as correlation between receptor types. Adenoma tissue from 198 patients who underwent surgery for CNFAs was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR. D2R and SSTR1-3 mRNA was expressed in all 198 adenomas. SSTR4 and SSTR5 were detectable in 85 % and 61 % of adenomas, respectively. Expression of D2R was significantly higher than that of the somatostatin receptors. The median relative expressions were as follows from highest D2R >> SSTR3 > SSTR2 > SSTR1 > SSTR5 > SSTR4. High relative expression (ratio to β-glucuronidase mRNA > 1) of D2R was found in 60 % of tumors, high expression of SSTR1 in 7.5 %, SSTR2 in 7 %, SSTR3 in 4 % and SSTR5 in 0.5 %. The quantity of D2R correlated positively with expression of SSTR2 and SSTR3, and negatively with SSTR1 and SSTR5. Among histological adenoma types, SSTR1 was significantly higher in null-cell adenomas and SSTR3 was lower in silent corticotroph adenomas. In conclusions, in CNFAs, high expression of somatostatin receptors is much less common than that of D2R, and co-expression of both these receptors is exceptional. D2R and SSTR3 seem to be the most promising targets for pharmacological treatment., F. Gabalec, M. Drastikova, T. Cesak, D. Netuka, V. Masopust, J. Machac, J. marek, J. Cap, M. Beranek., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The cancerogen 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH), widely used in the experimental animal model of carcinogenesis, affects various organs, but its effect on muscle fibers is unknown. To evaluate the effect of 15-week DMH treatment on the fiber size and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms, which substantially determine fiber types and their contractile characteristics, pure and hybrid fiber types were immunohistochemically determined according to the MyHC isoform expression in soleus, extensor digitorum longus, gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis muscles of DMH-treated and control male Wistar rats. Whereas the size of fibers was mostly unaffected, the MyHC isoform expression was partially affected in both gastrocnemius samples, but not in the soleus and extensor digitorum longus of DMH-treated rats. The lower proportions of hybrid fiber types and especially that of type 1/2x in most gastrocnemius samples of DMH-treated rats resulted in a shift towards a single MyHC isoform expression, but the extent and pattern of the MyHC isoform shift varied across the different gastrocnemius samples. Such variable response to DMH treatment across muscles indicates that each muscle possesses its own adaptive range. These findings are essential for an accurate evaluation of skeletal muscle characteristics in DMH animal model.
We examined the effects of the unilateral heterochronous isotransplantation on the fiber type composition and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform content of unoperated slow soleus and fast extensor digitorum longus muscles of female inbred Lewis strain rats. Comparison was made between “control” unoperated muscles of experimental rats (after intramuscular transplantation surgery) with the corresponding muscles of completely naive (unoperated) rats of three age groups (5-, 8- and 14-month-old). This was done in order to ascertain whether these muscles can be used as reliable controls to the transplanted and host muscles for our ongoing grafting experiments. The fiber type composition was determined by assessing the histochemical reaction for myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase, the MyHC isoform content was determined immunocytochemically using monoclonal antibodies specific to different MyHC isoforms and by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Our experiments show that the heterochronous intramuscular isotransplantation procedure had no significant effect on the fiber type composition and MyHC isoform content of the “control” unoperated muscles of the experimental rats when compared to the corresponding muscles of the naive animals. Furthermore, the duration and type of isotransplantation did not also lead to differences among corresponding “control” muscles of experimental animals. We conclude that the unoperated muscles of the experimental rats can be used as controls in our current transplantation project dealing with long-term grafting experiments., T. Soukup, V. Smerdu, G. Zachařová., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Polyclonal antibodies against PBAN were used to map the distribution of PBAN-like antigenic sites in the brain-suboesophageal ganglion (Br-SOG) complex, associated neurohaemal structures, ventral nerve cord ganglia and in the alimentary canal. A pair of lateral neurosecretory cells immunopositive to the antiserum were found in each half of the deutocerebrum. PBAN-like immunoreactivity (PLI) was also noticed in the tritocerebral region of the brain and in the aorta. Two groups of immunopositive cells of four and two cells respectively, were found in the SOG. Small and weakly immunoreactive neurons were identified in the prothoracic ganglion, whereas in the pterothoracic ganglion a pair of cells reacted positively to the antibody. Immunoreactive cells were also identified in the corpora cardiaca. Some of the epithelial endocrine cells of the midgut also showed immunoreactivity to PBAN antiserum.
Uterine tubes (UTs) are essential during physiological reproduction. The most intriguing part of its wall is the mucosa. Apart from the epithelial cells vital for its normal function, the connective tissue lamina propria contains wide spaces whose function, morphology and structure are yet to be elucidated. The present study used bioptic samples from 25 premenopausal (mean age 48.3 years, σ=3.56) and 25 postmenopausal women (mean age 57.8 years, σ=7.79). In both study groups, samples were obtained from two anatomically distinct parts of the UT – ampulla and infundibulum with fimbriae. The specimens were processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and immunohistochemical detection of podoplanin (clone D2-40) and VEGFR-3 – two markers of lymphatic endothelial cells. The results showed that specimens from premenopausal and postmenopausal women contain wide lymphatic spaces, also known as lymphatic lacunae. The most probable function of the lacunae in the fimbriae is oocyte pick-up upon ovulation thanks to their ability to get engorged with lymph, thus serving as an erectile-like tissue. The ampullary lacunae are probably responsible for tubal fluid maintenance and recirculation. These results indicate that they are vital for normal reproduction because tubal fluid dynamics are as important as fluid composition. Further research on this topic is highly warranted because more detailed insights into UT function have a great potential to refine the methods of reproductive medicine, e.g. in vitro fertilization (IVF), which are still far from optimal regarding fertility outcomes.
FMRFamide-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-, somatostatin-, substance P(SP)-, cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8)- and pancreatic polypeptide (PP)-like materials were immunohistochemically detected in the endocrine cells and the gut innervation of diapausing pharate and newly-hatched first-instar larvae of Antheraea yamamai. SP- CCK-8-, PP- and FMRFamide-like immunoreactive cells were distributed unequally in different midgut regions; no cells reacting with antisera against VIP and somatostatin were found. Innervation of the anterior region of midgut, close to the foregut-midgut boundary, included 90-100 FMRFamide-like bipolar neurons that project along the midgut longitudinal muscles. No immunoreactive cell bodies were found in the foregut and hindgut, but nerve fibers with FMRFamide-like material were detected in hindgut muscles and extended over the posterior midgut. No changes in the distribution and intensity of immunostaining of both the endocrine cells and the gut innervation were found in four developmental stages between pre-diapause and hatching. SP-, CCK-8-, PP- and FMRFamide-like immunoreactive cells were also found in the CNS, indicating that the corresponding antigens belong to brain-gut regulatory peptides.
Endometrial carcinoma (ECa) is one of the most common neoplasia of the female genital tract. The phosphatase and tensin (PTEN) homolog is the most frequently mutated tumor suppressor gene in endometrial carcinoma. PTEN encodes a phosphatase, a key regulatory enzyme involved in a signal transduction pathway that regulates cell growth, migration and apoptosis. The study evaluates an association between the morphological appearance of endometrial hyperplasia and ECa, and the presence of PTEN variations, PTEN protein level and intracellular localization. A total of 67 archived formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded human biopsy tissue specimens with normal proliferative and secretory endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia without atypia and endometrial atypical hyperplasia, endometrioid the grade G1 and G3 and serous subtype of ECa were evaluated by sequencing for the presence of mutations in coding regions of PTEN gene of endometrial epithelial cells. The PTEN gene expression and intercellular localization of PTEN protein were evaluated immunohistochemically by immunoreactive score (IRS). PTEN mutation spectrum in endometrial carcinoma was identified for Slovak population. Twenty-eight non-silent mutations were identified in PTEN, twelve of them being novel, not annotated in Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer. Higher frequency of PTEN mutations was observed in serous carcinoma compared to global average. No correlation was observed between samples IRS, PTEN cellular localization and identified mutations. PTEN sequencing can be beneficial for patients considering prognosis of disease and sensitivity to treatment.
Flavonoids, polyphenol derivatives of plant origin, possess a broad range of pharmacological properties. A number of studies have found both pro/anti-apoptotic effects for many of these compounds. For these reasons we investigated whether ProvinolsTM, flavonoids obtained from red wine, have anti-apoptotic properties. The investigations have been carried out in rats treated with Cyclosporine A (CsA). In particular, four groups of rats have been treated for 21 days with either olive oil (control group), with CsA, with ProvinolsTM, or with CsA and ProvinolsTM simultaneously. Oxidative stress, systolic blood pressure, body weight, biochemical parameters and different markers of pro/anti-apoptotic pathway were measured. CsA produced an increase of systolic blood pressure, a decrease in body weight, serum creatinine levels, urinary total protein concentration and creatinine clearance. Moreover, CsA induced renal alterations and the translocation of Bax and cytochrome c from cytoplasm to mitochondria and vice versa. These changes activated the caspase cascade pathway, that leads to morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis. ProvinolsTM restored morphological and biochemical alterations and prevented nephrotoxicity. In conclusion, this study may augment our current understanding of the controversial pro-/anti-apoptotic properties of flavonoids and their molecular mechanisms., R. Rezzani ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury