Histology and histopathology Vol.12, nº 2 (1997)
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- PublicationOpen AccessDistribution and pathophysiologic role of molybdenum-containing enzymes(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1997) Morikawa, Y.; Yamamoto, T.; Higashino, K.The importance of molybdenum-containing enzymes in the pathophysiology of a number of clinical disorders necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their histological localization and expression. The objectives of this review are to cover such enzymes so far reported and their enzyme- and immunohistochemical localization in various tissues and species, and to discuss their possible pathophysiological effects. The molybdenum cofactor is essential for the activity of the three molybdenum-containing enzymes, sulfite oxidase, xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase. Sulfite oxidase serves as the terminal enzyme in the pathway of the oxidative degradation of sulfur amino acids, and is also involved in preventing the toxic effects of sulfur dioxide. Biochemical study has revealed a high activity of sulfite oxidase mainly in the liver, heart and kidney with lesser activity observed in other tissues. Subcellular observations have shown that this enzyme is present in the mitochondrial intermembraneous spaces. Xanthine oxidase is the final enzyme in the conversion of hypoxanthine to xanthine, and subsequently, to uric acid. Unlike sulfite and aldehyde oxidases, xanthine oxidase can be converted to xanthine dehydrogenase, and vice versa. Xanthine oxidase has been widely investigated for its role in post-ischemic reperfusion tissue injury. Enzyme- and immunohistochernical studies of its localization in various animal species and tissues have shown its ubiquitous distribution in the liver, small and large intestine, lung and kidney, and other tissues. Aldehyde oxidase shares a similar substrate specificity with xanthine oxidase. Although the tissue localization of this enzyme has not been studied as thoroughly as that of xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase is reportedly found in the digestive gland of terrestrial gastropods, the antennae of certain moths as well as the mammalian liver. Recently, the ubiquitous distribution of aldehyde oxidase has been demonstrated in rat tissues. The aldehyde oxidase activity of herbivores exceeds that of carnivores, suggesting a possible role of this enzyme as a Offprint requests to: Dr. Yuji Moriwaki, M.D., Third Department of lnternal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Mukogawa-cho 1-1, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663, Japan protection against the effects of toxic plants. The relationship between the tissue localization of these enzymes and their pathophysiological roles is reviewed.
- PublicationOpen AccessComparative stereological studies on zonation and cellular composition of adrenal glands of normal and anencephalic human fetuses. II. Cellular composition of the gland(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1997) Bocian-Sobkowska, J.; Malendowicz, L.K.; Woíniak, W.In our previous paper (Bocian-Sobkowska et al., 1997) we demonstrated a striking difference in development of zonation in adrenals of normal and anencephalic human fetuses. The purpose of the present study was to characterize, by means of stereology, the cellular composition of developing adrenals in the same case. Studies were performed on 11 pairs of adrenal glands from normal fetuses and 10 from anencephalic fetuses. In the studied period of development (24 to 39 weeks of intra-uterine life) the average volume of cells in normal glands increased as follows: zona glomerulosa (ZG) from 355 to 870 pm3; zona fasciculata (ZF) from 779 to 1200 pm3; fetal zone (FZ) from 2004 to 2380 pm3; and medulla (M) from 600 to 970 ym3. In anencephalic fetuses, the appropriate values were: ZG - 380-680 pn3; ZF - 460-680 pm3; FZ - 1820-1680 pm3; and M - 870-1400 pm3. At the end of the studied period the number of ZG cells in normal fetuses was two fold higher than in anencephalics, ZF cells - 6-fold and in FZ - 5-fold higher, while in the M the number of cells was nearly equal in both groups. During the whole investigated period of intra-uterine development the total number of adrenocortical cells in normal glands increased ca 2.5-fold, while in anencephalic glands only ca 0.5-fold, reaching at the end ca 40% of normal value. In both normal and anencephalic adrenals the number of ZG and M cells was highly correlated with ZG/M cell ratio, being slightly higher in normal glands. No such relation was demonstrated for cells of the remaining adrenocortical zones.
- PublicationOpen AccessEstimation and comparison of the contents of blood group B antigens in selected human tissues by microphotometric quantification of Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin 1-B, staining with or without prior a-galactosidase digestion(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1997) Ito, N.; Nagaike, C.; Morimura, Y.; Hatake, K.Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin 1-B4 (GSAI-B4) has broader specificity for B antigen variants and can recognize the antigens in a wide variety of human tissues. Thus, the concentration range of GSAIB4 required for staining and the susceptibility of staining to a-galactosidase digestion is presumed to correlate well with the density of B antigens in tissue sections. By microphotometric quantification of staining intensity at different concentrations of GSAI-B4 with or without agalactosidase digestion, concentration of B antigens in selected tissues was evaluated and compared. Based on the present results and the previous ones of direct measurement of galactose of B antigens in sublingual glands and red blood cells (Ito et al., 1993), the order of concentration of B antigens in tissues examined was estimated as follows; mucous cells of sublingual glands from German nonsecretors < red blood cells and vascular endothelial cells (=2.7x10-3nmole/cm2), thyroid papillary carcinomas and Hassall's corpuscles from nonsecretors < mucous cells of sublingual gland from Japanese nonsecretors < pancreatic acinar cells from both secretor and nonsecretors, Hassall's corpuscles and kidney collecting tubules form secretors < mucous cells of sublingual gland from secretors (>8.5-11.7 nmole/cm2) and mucous cells of Brunner 'S gland from nonsecretors < mucous cells of Brunner's gland from secretors. From the above estimation, it is apparent that the expression of B antigen in Brumer's gland is partly dependent on the secretor status of individuals and that Japanese nonsecretors secrete substantial amounts of B antigens from sublingual gland while German nonsecretors do not. The present results also revealed an unexpected staining behavior of GSAI-B4 in some tissues, i.e. in mucous cells of sublingual glands and collecting tubules of kidney from secretors, staining olrprint reguests to: Nobuaki Ito, Ph.D., Department of Legal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara Nara 834, Japan intensity was markedly depressed at higher concentration of the lectin and this depression was recovered by prior a-galactosidase digestion. In addition, the present method was successfully applied for the estimation of the content of B antigens neoexpressed in thyroid papillary carcinomas, showing that the content of B antigen had a similar leve1 to that of red blood cells and vascular endothelial cells.
- PublicationOpen AccessCollagen types Vlll and X, two non-fibrillar, short-chain collagens. Structure homologies, functions and involvement in pathology(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1997) Sutmulle, M.; Bruijn, J.A.; De Heer, E.. Collagens can be divided into two groups, Le., fibrillar and non-fibrillar collagens. Short-chain collagens, a subgroup of non-fibrillar collagens, comprises collagen type VI11 and type X. These two collagen types show severa1 similarities in stnicture and possibly also in function. Type VI11 collagen appears to be secreted by rapidly proliferating cells. It can be found in basement membranes and may serve as a molecular bridge between different types of matrix molecules. In different tissues this collagen type may serve different functions. Stabilization of membranes, angiogenesis, and interactions with other extracellular matrix molecules. Since collagen type X is produced by hypertrophic chondrocytes, this collagen type can only be found in matrix of the hypertrophic zone of the epiphyseal growth plate cartilage. Collagen type X is probably involved in the process of mineralization, endochondral ossification, and is also proposed to play a role in angiogenesis. Collagen types VI1 and X may be involved in matrix and bone disorders. Their structure, function, and involvement in pathology are discussed in this review.
- PublicationOpen AccessComparative stereological study on zonation and cellular composition of adrenal glands of normal and anencephalic human fetuses. l. Zonation of the gland(Murcia : F. Hernández, 1997) Bocian-Sobkowska, J.; Malendowicz, L.K.; Woíniak, W.Comparative stereological studies were performed on zonation of adrenal glands in 10 anencephalic and 11 normal fetuses, aged between 24 and 39 postovulatory weeks. The development of adrenal fetal zone (FZ) is the main factor responsible for normal adrenal gland growth during the intra-uterine life. At the end of fetal '3e riod volume of this zone attains over 8200 mm and constitutes 69-70% of the total gland volume, while respective values for zona glomerulosa (ZG), zona fasciculata (ZF) and medulla IM' are 1665 mm3 (14%) 833 mm3 (7%) and 1071 mm (9%). These data were in striking contrast with those found in adrenals of anencephalic fetuses, in which volume of the gland attained only ca 35% of that in normal fetuses. In the oldest anencephalic fetus studied (39 weeks) the volume of the fetal zone was 962 mm3 (ca 8-folds lower than in normal fetus) comprising only 25% of the total gland volume. For the remaining zones the values were: ZG - 1501 mm3 (ca 90% of the normal value and 39% of the total gland volume); ZF - 770 mm3 (ca 92% and 20% respectively), and M - 539 mm3 (ca 50% and 14%, respective1 y). This stereological study provides the first systemic description of the development of adrenal gland of anencephalic fetuses in comparison with the normally developing gland. Moreover, evidence is given that the growth of adrenal medulla is also retarded in anencephaly while the growth of the zona glomerulosa remains rather unaffected.