Layer Of Dense Connective Tissue Research Articles

Гистологические особенности ряда органов куньих и их патологические изменения при неэкссудативном перитоните

The article presents the histological features of some organs of weasel family. Also described the pathological changes during nonexudative form of peritonitis of weasel family. The studies were carried out at the Department of General Pathology named after V. M. Koropov of Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology – MBA named after K. I. Scriabin. The objects of investigation were predatory animals weasel family both healthy and with sings of peritonitis. There are 21 sables, 11 mink cellular content and 15 domestic ferrets. In the study complex methodological approach was used, including classical anatomical preparation, post mortem and histological examination. It has been established, that abdominal wall weasel has three puffs. There are muscle layer, a layer of dense connective tissue and serous membrane. The muscle layer is showing striated muscle tissue with endomysium layers. In the endomysia of muscle febers of abdominal wall of the weasel there are mast cell. Serous membrane is represented by mesothelium, which has typical structure of single – layered squamous epithelium. Large oil seal showing of fat cells with connective tissue layers, including lymphatic capillaries, vessels and nerve trunks. In a large oil seal single mast cell concentrated around the vessels and in the connective tissue of the omentum observed clusters of mast cells. Essential features of the structural organization of the stomach walls and intestinal canal are not found, but revealed a large number of goblet cells in the mucous membrane of the colon and small intestine and mycocytes in mucous membrane of stomach. The liver has a typical structure, lobilarity is weakly expressed. Liver beams are shortned, hepatocytes fit snugly together, sinusoid capillaries are broad. In morphological organization of organs of immune defense weasel significant features are not found. In the spleen was observed a lot of white pulp. In the cortical layer of lymph node was founded a large number of follicles. Thymus has sings age involution. Kidney and lungs weasel has not significant features. Predatory animals weasel family had predominantly nonexudative form of peritonitis. Under the nonexudative peritonitis form was observed sings of acute inflammation of many organs like as system inflammatory response syndrom.

Glandular structures in the major interlobular and extrapancreatic ducts in the guinea pig.

The morphology of the pancreatic duct system did not receive much attention as compared to the microanatomy of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas. The histological peculiarities of the excretory duct system are of major importance especially in laboratory animals like guinea pigs. The paper describes the histological peculiarities of the major interlobular and extrapancreatic ducts in guinea pigs. The pancreatic tissue samples were collected from five guinea pigs. For histological investigation, several pancreatic fragments underwent fixation in 10% buffered formalin and were later processed by the standard paraffin technique. Subsequentially, tissue sections were stained by Goldner's trichrome staining. The mucous substances were assessed by Alcian blue and Periodic acid-Schiff staining methods. The interlobular and main pancreatic ducts in the guinea pig present a simple columnar epithelium surrounded by a thick layer of dense connective tissue. The aforementioned epithelium of the main pancreatic ducts includes principal cells, goblet cells and basal cells. Additionally, the ductal epithelium presents occasional unicellular multiloculated intraepithelial mucous glands and prominent extraepithelial glands. The latter adopts a simple or compound tubular feature. The mucus elaborated by the three glandular types is mostly neutral in goblet cells, predominantly acidic in extraepithelial ductal glands, and a similar amount of acidic and neutral mucin in intraepithelial glands. In conclusion, the epithelium-associated mucous glands in the interlobular and main pancreatic ducts in the guinea pig are restricted not only to goblet cells. A substantial mucous discharge probably with a protecting role against irritative pancreatic juice derives from the main ductal intraepithelial and extraepithelial glands.

Convergent Evolution of Mucosal Immune Responses at the Buccal Cavity of Teleost Fish.

SummaryThe buccal mucosa (BM) is a critical first line of defense in terrestrial animals. To gain further insights into the evolutionary origins and primordial roles of BM in teleosts here we show that rainbow trout, a teleost fish, contains a diffuse mucosal associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) within its buccal cavity. Upon parasite infection, a fish immunoglobulin specialized in mucosal immunity (sIgT) was induced to a high degree, and parasite-specific sIgT responses were mainly detected in the buccal mucus. Moreover, we show that the trout buccal microbiota is prevalently coated with sIgT. Overall our findings revealed that the MALT is present in the BM of a non-tetrapod species. As fish IgT and mucus-producing cells are evolutionarily unrelated to mammalian IgA and salivary glands, respectively, our findings indicate that mucosal immune responses in the BM of teleost fish and tetrapods evolved through a process of convergent evolution.

Histology of the Internal Reproductive Organs of the Female Oryx (Oryx leucoryx)

The Arabian oryx has been listed as a vulnerable species. Its conservation and propagation are aided with the deep knowledge of the anatomy of the reproductive system. Nowadays, there is a description of the gross anatomy of this system, but not on its microanatomy. In order to describe the histological features of the internal reproductive organs of the Oryx leucoryx, the ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, and vagina were collected at necropsy of an adult (6‐year‐old) female oryx and immersed in 4% buffer formalin. Representative samples from each organ were taken and processed for routine histology. Tissue sections of 5 μm were mounted, stained with H&E, and evaluated under light microscope. The ovaries (16 mm in length) are covered by a simple cuboidal epithelium, the germinal epithelium. Beneath this epithelium is a layer of dense connective tissue, the tunica albuginea. The tunica covers the cortex, which in turn encloses the medulla. The cortical stroma merges indistinctly with the medulla and embeds few follicles at several stages of development and a corpus luteum. A large number of corpus albicans are located in the cortex. A rich bed of blood vessels of several sizes are present in the medulla, especially at the hilum zone. The uterine tubes (80 mm in length) are muscular ducts, which are comprised of a serosa, muscularis, lamina propria, and epithelium. The muscularis is mainly constituted of circular smooth muscle covered by a thin layer of longitudinal fibers. The mucosa has longitudinal folds and is made of a pseudostratified epithelium with ciliated and non‐ciliated cells. The bicornuate uterus lacks a body and each horn opens in a cervix. The uterine horns (140 mm in length) have several layers, from outer to inner: a serosa, muscularis, lamina propria, and mucosa. The muscularis contains two layers of smooth muscle, an inner circular layer and an outer longitudinal one. A rich vascular stratum separates these layers. The mucosa is lined by a pseudostratified epithelium. Simple coiled glands are present in the lamina propria. Nonglandular regions with highly cellular elevations are present in the mucosa, the caruncles. The mucosa of each cervix contains four dense rings lined by longitudinal folds made of a stratified squamous epithelium. Numerous glands are located in the lamina propria and contain simple columnar epithelium. The vaginal wall was made of a serosa (cranial region) or adventitia (caudal region), muscularis, lamina propria and mucosa. The inner layer of the muscularis consisted of circular smooth muscle fibers enclosed by longitudinal fibers. The mucosa is made of stratified squamous epithelium. In summary, the histology of the internal reproductive organs of the oryx is similar to that of other mammalian species, especially ruminants.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Functional anatomy of the equine temporomandibular joint: Histological characteristics of the articular surfaces and underlining tissues

It has been assumed that dental conditions cause disorders of the equine temporomandibular joint (TMJ), due to biomechanical overload or aberrant loading. However, the incidence of published TMJ disorders in horses is low and this leads to the question whether the equine TMJ is adapted well to its biomechanical requirements or is able to remodel its articular surfaces in response to modified loading conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the histological characteristics of healthy equine TMJs. The tissue components of the articular surfaces of 10 TMJs obtained from horses without any clinical history of dental or TMJ disorders were analysed. Apart from the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone, the osseous aspects of the TMJ exhibited a uniform zoning pattern. The articular surfaces were composed of three tissue layers: (1) a superficial cell-rich dense connective tissue layer; (2) a middle fibrocartilage layer; and (3) a deep hyaline-like cartilage layer. The articular disc was composed of an inner core of fibrocartilage and hyaline-like cartilage meshwork covered with both cell-rich dense connective tissue and fibrocartilage at its dorsal and ventral aspects. In contrast, the mandibular fossa was only covered by a dense connective tissue, frequently supplemented by a synovial membrane, suggesting low biomechanical stress. Glycosaminoglycans, which are indicative of compressive loads, were predominantly present within the rostral part of the articular tubercle and the retroarticular process, the dorsal part of articular disc and the entire mandibular head, but were absent within the mandibular fossa. The results of this study suggest the presence of different biomechanical demands in the dorsal and ventral compartment of the equine TMJ.

Histological Study of the Digestive Tract of Liza abu (Heckel) 3- Intestine

The study includes histological structure of pyloric caeca , intestine and rectum of Liza abu , the results show that the pyloric caeca are non-branched fingerlings structures numbering (4) and length rate was (0.5) cm , while the intestine of Liza abu was long narrow tube composed of a number of laps , the anterior part of intestine was wider in diameter than the posterior part , the length of intestine was (32) cm , the rectum was straight tube extends from the end of posterior part of intestine to the anus. The wall of pyloric caeca , intestine and rectum consists of main layers : mucosa , submucosa , muscularis and serosa , lining epithelium of pyloric caeca , intestine and rectum were simple columnar consisting of enterocytes having goblet cells in between , goblet cells react positively with PAS and AB in intestine and rectum , and with PAS only in pyloric caeca , tunica submucosa was a thin layer of dense connective tissue , tunica muscularis consists of smooth muscle fibersarranged in two layers : internal circular and external longitudinal , tunica serosa was thin layer of loose connective tissue surrounded by mesothelium .

The Effectiveness of a Customized Titanium Mesh for Ridge Preservation with Immediate Implantation in Dogs.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a newly designed titanium mesh (TM) for preserving the buccal bone around an immediately placed implant following tooth extraction in dogs. Immediate implant placements were performed bilaterally in the mesial socket of the fourth premolar in five dogs. In one site, the TM was affixed to the fixture using its own stabilization components (TM group), and the contralateral site was left untreated (control group). All surgical sites were intended to be submerged with primary flap closure. Histologic and histomorphometric analyses were performed 16 weeks postoperatively. All implants were histologically osseointegrated, and buccal bone resorption was evident in both groups with the high rate of TM exposure (4/5). The most coronal level of bone-implant contact and the bone crest were not statistically different between the TM and the control group. A dense connective tissue layer consistently predominated under the TM, where mineralized tissue was not observed, and the vascularity and cellularity were minimal. It can be conjectured that preservation of buccal plate by using the TM in immediate implantation was not predictable due to vulnerability to wound dehiscence and substantial pseudoperiosteum formation beneath the TM.

Surgical Anatomy of the Posterior Liver Surface: The Retrohepatic Lamina as the Basis for Mobilisation of the Right Liver

BackgroundDuring right hepatectomies, dissection of the bare area is performed to obtain mobilisation of the liver. Fifty computed tomography scans of the upper abdomen of patients were examined. Specimens of supramesocolic compartment were sampled from 10 un-embalmed cadavers. Macrosections were cut for histotopographic study. In four cadavers, in situ dissection of the posterior liver surface was performed. ResultsThe hepatophrenic tissue showed a stratigraphic organisation resulting from the juxtaposition of thin layer of dense connective tissue corresponding to the inferior diaphragmatic fascia (mean thickness is 30 ± 4 μm); variable amount of fibroadipose tissue corresponding to retroperitoneal fibroadipose tissue (mean thickness is 34 ± 8 μm); two connective layers with nets of flat cells forming a fusion fascia, the retrohepatic lamina (mean thickness 24 ± 6 μm); and layer of connective tissue corresponding to the hepatic capsule. The juxta-caval portion of the retrohepatic lamina, connecting the right and left sides of the caval groove, forms the inferior vena cava ligament. During dissection, fluid injection developed a preferential plane between the two layers of the retrohepatic lamina, close to the hepatic surface, and no major or minor vessels were ever found along this plane. ConclusionDuring right hepatectomy, to reduce the risk of dissemination of tumour cells, the dissection plane should be performed between the two layers of the retrohepatic lamina.

Morphological aspects of atrioventricular valves in the ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Heart anatomy in the ostrich has been reported, but there are few information on the histological features of the atrioventricular valves. Hearts of young ostriches were fixed in 10% formaldehyde for 24 h and dissected to characterize their macroscopic anatomy. Samples of valves were harvested and stained with Mallory’s trichrome, Gomori’s trichrome, and Picro-Sirius red, for later analysis. The right atrioventricular valve consists of a muscle flap with two fixations. The left atrioventricular valve consists of two layers of endocardium with a layer of connective tissue between them. The free border of the tricuspid valve supports a varying number of chordae tendineae. One of the cusps is attached to the septum, while the other two cusps are attached to the opposite wall. The aortic valve, as well as the pulmonary trunk valve, consists of three cusps. The right atrioventricular valve showed up only as a muscle flap of myocardium coated with a thin layer of dense connective tissue, with two fixations. In the connective tissue, we find a predominance of type I collagen fibers and a lesser amount of type III, with a small presence of elastic fibers. The presence of Purkinje fibers were also usual in the valvular subendocardium, suggesting that they directly participate in the transmission of nervous stimulation to the muscle fibers within the valves. The left atrioventricular valve consisted of 3 cusps, a dorsal, a left, and a right.

Deproteinized bovine bone mineral particles and osseointegration of implants without primary bone contact: an experimental study in dogs

To evaluate the influence on osseointegration of Deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) particles used to fill defects of at least 1mm around implants having no primary contact with bone. Premolars and first molars were extracted bilaterally from the mandible of six Labrador dogs. After 3months of healing, mucoperiosteal full-thickness flaps were elevated, and one recipient site was prepared in the molar region of each hemi-mandible to place implants. These were installed with a deliberate circumferential and periapical space to the bone walls of 1.2mm. All implants were stabilized with passive fixation plates to maintain the implants in situ and without any contact with the implant bed. The control sites were left to be filled with coagulum, while at the test sites, the residual gap was filled with DBBM. After 3months of submerged healing, the animals were sacrificed. Ground sections were prepared and analyzed histomorphometrically. Mineralized bone-to-implant contact was 4.0% and 3.9% for control and test sites, respectively. The width of the residual defects was 0.48mm and 0.88mm at the control and test sites, respectively. The percentage of implant surface covered by a layer of dense connective tissue of 0.12mm of width on average was 84.9% and 88.5% at the control and test sites, respectively. A minor and not predictable degree of contact or distance osteogenesis was obtained on the implant surface when primary contact of the implant surface with the implant bed had deliberately been avoided. DBBM grafting of the artificial gap did not favor osseointegration. Neither did it enhance the ability to bridge the gap with newly formed bone in an artificial defect wider than 1mm.

Microvascular anatomy and histomorphology of extrapulmonary bronchi in adult Xenopus laevis Daudin (Lissamphibia; Anura) point to a role in aerial gas exchange - histomorphology of tissue sections and scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion cas

Studies on the amphibian respiratory tract microvascular anatomy are few. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of vascular corrosion casts (VCCs) and light microscopy of perfusion-fixed tissue sections, we studied the bronchial microvascular anatomy in the adult South African Clawed Toad, Xenopus laevis Daudin. Histomorphology showed that the bronchial wall consists (from luminal to abluminal) of squamous epithelium, subepithelial capillary bed, cartilage rings or cartilage plates, a layer of dense connective tissue, a layer of smooth muscle cells, and squamous epithelium (serosa). SEM of VCCs reveals that bilaterally a ventral, a dorsal (O 77.21 ± 7.61 μm), and a caudal bronchial artery supply the bronchial subepithelial capillary bed. The ventral bronchial artery has 3–4 branching orders (interbranching distances: 506.3 ± 392.12 μm; branching angles of first- and second-order bifurcations: 24.60 ± 10.24° and 29.59 ± 14.3°). Casts of bronchial arteries display imprints of flow dividers and sphincters. Cranial and caudal bronchial veins (O 154.78 ± 49.68 μm) drain into pulmonary veins. They lack microvenous valves. The location of the dense subepithelial capillary meshwork just beneath the thin squamous bronchial epithelium and its drainage into the pulmonary veins make it likely that in Xenopus, bronchi assist in aerial gas exchange.

Morphological analysis and description of the ovaries of female silky sharks, Carcharhinus falciformis (Müller & Henle, 1839)

This work aims to study the female reproductive tract of silky sharks, Carcharhinus falciformis, captured in the South and Equatorial Atlantic Ocean. Samples were collected between January 2008 and March 2010 through oceanic commercial vessels that targeted tuna and swordfish, with a total of 17 females collected. The methodologies followed for analyzing the ovaries of those females included both macroscopic and histological analysis. Macroscopically, it was possible to determine that the ovaries on these sharks is suspended by mesenteries in the anterior section of the body cavity, heavily irrigated by blood vessels, and contains a wide range of oocytes. Ovaries were found in three distinct maturational stages: Stage I (Immature), Stage II (Maturing) and Stage III (Mature). Immature ovaries were small, with widths ranging from 1.0 to 3.1 cm, and had a gelatinous or granulose internal structure; maturing ovaries were slightly larger, ranging in width between 5.2 and 6.0 cm; mature ovaries ranged in width between 6.5 and 7.8 cm, and had a more rounded shape and the presence of large and well developed oocytes. Under microscopic examination, it was observed that the ovaries were covered with simple epithelial tissue during the early development stages and a simple cubic epithelium in the final stages of maturation. During the initial maturation stages the epigonal organ was not differentiated from the ovary. In mature specimens, the ovary showed a simple cubic epithelium and just below this epithelium there was a layer of dense connective tissue and muscle with the presence of vitellogenic oocytes and fat cells. A thin yolk membrane enclosing the oocytes was also evident. Finally, it was possible to distinguish a zona pellucida, separating the oocytes from the follicle wall and a basal lamina between the granular layers and the teak layer.

Osteogenesis at implants without primary bone contact – An experimental study in dogs

To evaluate the healing at implants with a moderately rough surface placed and stabilized in recipient sites of dimensions deeper and larger than that of the implants to avoid any contact between parent bone and the implant. In six Labrador dogs, premolars and first molars were extracted bilaterally in the mandible. After 3 months of healing, mucoperiosteal full-thickness flaps were elevated and the premolar area of the alveolar bony crest was selected. Three recipient sites were prepared to place three implants. One implant was used as control. The other two were placed in recipient sites which left a circumferentially and periapical prepared defect of 0.7 mm (small) and 1.2 mm (large), respectively. All implants were stabilized with passive fixation plates to maintain the implants stable and without any contact with the implant bed. After 3 months of submerged healing, the animals were sacrificed. Ground sections were prepared and analyzed histomorphometrically. The BIC% was 5.3% and 0.3% for implants placed in small and large defect sites, respectively, whereas it was 46.1% for control implants. The differences were statistically significant. The width of the residual defects was 0.4 and 0.5 mm at the small and large defects, respectively. An approximately 0.09 mm layer of dense connective tissue (DCT) rich in fibers and fibroblast-like cells was observed adherent to the implant surfaces. The percentage of implant surface covered by DCT was 92.8% and 95.6% at the small and large defects, respectively. Osseointegration was observed at the test sites, and the dimensions of the defects influenced the outcomes. However, the degree of osseointegration at both small and large defects was very low compared with the control sites.

SEM and Neurohistological Observations of Nerve Endings in the Middle Region of the Tongue of the Collared Peccary (Tayassu tajacu): A Silver Impregnation Method

The presence of lingual papillae and the nerve endings in the middle region of the tongue mucosa of collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) were studied using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy, based upon the silver impregnation method. The middle region of tongue mucosa revealed numerous filiform and fungiform papillae. The thick epithelial layer showed epithelial cells and a dense connective tissue layer containing nerve fibre bundles and capillaries. The sensory nerve endings, intensely stained by silver impregnation, were usually non-encapsulated and extended into the connective tissue of the filiform and fungiform papillae very close to the epithelial cells. In some regions, the sensory nerves fibres formed a dense and complex network of fine fibrils. The presence of these nerve fibrils may characterize the mechanisms of transmission of sensitive impulses to the tongue mucosa.

Histological studies on the effects of Clinostomum marginatum (Digenea, Clinostomidae) in its second intermediate host Loricariichthys platymetopon (Osteichthyes, Loricariidae) of the upper Paraná River, Brazi

The histopathology of the infection of Loricariichthys platymetopon (Osteichthyes, Loricariidae) by Clinostomum marginatum (Digenea, Clinostomidae) is described in this study. The parasites were found encysted in the base of the fins, muscle, inner wall of the operculum, lips, gill arches, palate, bone plaques and eyes, forming small white-yellowish nodules. In all the locations the parasites were surrounded by a fibrous capsule consisting of a layer of dense connective tissue followed, in most of the cases, by a layer of loose connective tissue. The thickness of these layers varied with the location of the parasites. In some cases, infiltration by lymphocytes and macrophages within the connective layers was observed. When the parasites encysted under the integument a decrease of the epidermis height and disappearance of the dermis were also observed. The fat tissue near the cysts was invariably destroyed in a greater or lesser extent, and replaced by cell fragments in conjunction with granular material. In some cases this feature could be observed in places a little further away from the cysts and not only in their vicinity. Furthermore, in some cases digitations of destroyed fat tissue extending within the normal tissue were present. When the parasites encysted within the muscle tissue a slight degeneration of the muscle fibers was sometimes observed. In the eyes the parasites were encysted in the sclera, being enveloped by connective tissue, and causing deformity of the eyeball.

Anatomy of Tympanoparotid Fascia Relating to Neck Lift

The aim of this study is to elucidate anatomical detail of the tympanoparotid fascia (TPF), deployed anteroinferiorly to the tragus, in relation to neck lift and platysmaplasty. Forty-one hemifaces of 25 Korean adult cadavers (age range: 43-101 years, 19 males and 6 females) were used for the study. Thirty-seven were dissected. Twenty-one were used for tension measurement and 4 for the histologic study. Tympanoparotid fascia was found in almost 36 hemifaces (100%). It was white-colored dense connective layer anteroinferior to tragus. The whitish fascia was a dense connective tissue layer deployed anteroinferiorly to the tragus. Two thirds of TRF originated from the tympanomastoid fissure and one third from the auricular cartilage and interfused with the parotid fascia, covering the parotid gland in front of the tragus. Tympanoparotid fascia was tetragonal in shape. The anterior side (15.1+/-5.4 mm) was longer than the posterior side (10.4+/-4.4 mm). It was 11.3+/-3.9 cm in upper width and 9.5+/-3.8 cm in lower, respectively. It was located 43.0+/-7.7 mm inferior to the otobasion superioris (obs) and 6.0+/-5.5 mm superior to the otobasion inferioris (obi). The anterior side was at 9.5 to 11.3 mm anterior to the auricle (obs-obi) and the posterior side at obs-obi line of the auricle. The tensile strength of the 5 mm width of TPF was 38.4+/-18.2 N. It is significantly stronger (P=0.00) than the central portion of the parotid fascia (22.7+/-12.2 N). Tympanoparotid fascia strength (38.4 N) is enough to pull and hold the platysma as much as sternocleidomastoid muscle fascia (44.5 N) does. Such an anatomical component of TPF is useful in performing platysmaplasty or platysma suspension.

Surgical Anatomy of the Lower Face: The Premasseter Space, the Jowl, and the Labiomandibular Fold

The anatomic basis for the jowl has not been fully described. A formal analysis was performed of the sub-superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) areolar tissue layer, which overlies the lower part of the masseter. For this research, facial dissections were performed on 16 fresh cadavers ages 12 to 89 years, and detailed anatomic observations were made during the course of several hundred rhytidectomy procedures. Tissue samples from varying age groups were examined histologically. The areolar cleavage plane overlying the lower masseter has specific boundaries and is a true space named the "premasseter space." This space is rhomboidal in shape, lined by membrane, and reinforced by retaining ligaments. The masseter fascia lines the floor, and branches of the facial nerve pass under its deep surface. Histologically, the floor is formed by a thin layer of dense connective tissue, which undergoes minor deterioration in architectural arrangement with age. The roof, lined by a thin transparent and adherent membrane on the underside of the platysma, has a less dense collagen network and contains more elastin. With age, there is a significant reduction in the collagen density of the roof. Expansion of the space with aging, secondary to weakness of the anterior and inferior boundaries, results in formation of the jowl. Medial to the premasseter space is the buccal fat in the masticator space, which descends with aging and contributes to the labiomandibular fold and jowl. Application of the premasseter space in surgery provides significant benefits. The SMAS incision should be forward of the traditional preauricular location to be over the space, not behind. Because the space is a naturally occurring cleavage plane, dissection is bloodless and safe, as all facial nerve branches are outside. The premasseter space should be considered as the preferred dissection plane for lower (cervicofacial) facelifts.

Quantitative Ultrasound Imaging of Healthy and Reconstructed Cleft Lip: A Feasibility Study

To investigate the feasibility of echographic imaging of healthy and reconstructed cleft lip and to estimate tissue dimensions and normalized echo level. Echographic images of the upper lip were made on three healthy subjects and two patients using a linear array transducer (7 to 11 MHz bandwidth) and a noncontact gel coupling. Tissue dimensions were measured using calipers. Echo levels were calibrated and were corrected for beam characteristics, gel path, and tissue attenuation using a tissue-mimicking phantom. At the central position of the philtrum, mean thickness (SD) of lip loose connective tissue layer, orbicularis oris muscle, and dense connective layer was 4.0 (0.1) mm, 2.3 (0.7) mm, and 2.2 (0.7) mm, respectively, in healthy lip at rest; and 4.1 (0.9) mm, 3.8 (1.7) mm, and 2.6 (0.6) mm, respectively, in contracted lip. Mean (SD) echo level of muscle and dense connective tissue layer with respect to echo level of lip loose connective tissue layer was -19.3 (0.6) dB and -10.7 (4.0) dB, respectively, in relaxed condition and -20.7 (1.5) dB and -7.7 (2.3) dB, respectively, in contracted state. Color mode echo images were calculated, showing lip tissues in separate colors and highlighting details like discontinuity of the orbicularis oris muscle and presence of scar tissue. Quantitative assessment of thickness and echo level of various lip tissues is feasible after proper echographic equipment calibration. Diagnostic potentials of this method for noninvasive evaluation of cleft lip reconstruction outcome are promising.

Immunocytochemistry of perivascular neurons in whole‐mounted hamster cheek pouch

Neurons may participate in vascular communication in the hamster cheek pouch. To find potential neurons the pouch was labeled with antibodies to neuron-specific beta-III Tubulin (βIII), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), adenosine A2a receptors, muscarinic receptor (M2), synapsin I and DAPI. Single, double, and triple immunolabeling was used. The tissue was viewed with fluorescent and 2-photon microscopes and images were analyzed with Image J-software. βIII-positive cells and nerve fibers were heterogeneously distributed in loose connective tissue (LCT). No neurons were found in the dense connective tissue layer. The soma (10–25μm dia.) of βIII-positive cells were numerous and were bipolar, triangular, or multipolar (many bi-nuclear). Numerous βIII-positive somas co-labeled for CGRP, M2 and A2A receptors. Fibers and bundles co-labeled only for CGRP. Numerous soma (10μm dia.) were located close to blood vessel walls. Long processes of these cells traced the arterioles and capillaries and ended with tree-like branching to synapse with CGRP-positive cells. 3D-reconstruction revealed a dense network-like texture that inter-connects between the layers. Conclusion Peripheral neurons are arranged into local neural circuits in the cheek pouch. CGRP-, M2- and A2A-immunoreactivity is consistent with the neurons functioning in local vascular control in the pouch. This research is supported by NIH HL072922 and AHA GIA 0455730U.

The Placenta

The human placenta is a discoid organ that has a hemochorial relationship with the mother. That is to say, the trophoblast that covers the villi is in direct contact with the maternal blood. Transfer of substances has to traverse the syncytiotrophoblast, cytotrophoblast, villous basement membrane, fetal capillary bed, and its endothelium. Although the placenta is the most available tissue, it is the least thoroughly investigated organ, and many aspects of its control still are unknown. Especially deficient is our knowledge of the genetic control of its many functions. The placenta also has a different imprinting pattern (paternal imprinting) from that of the embryo. The prevailing sentiment is that once delivery has occurred, it is a superfluous tissue that only needs to be discarded. There are many reasons, however, that knowledge of placental pathology can aid materially in a better understanding of newborns who have anomalies or neonatal problems. Further, a detailed examination of the placenta at birth can provide a better insight into prenatal life and its possible disturbances than is possible from notes in the history of the patient. The shape of the placenta is extremely variable (Fig. 1), probably due to placental location, its interaction with the endometrium, and uterine shape. The placenta implants anywhere in the uterus, but most commonly, it is in an anterior or posterior location. Much less often it is on the fundus. The shape often can be understood best by considering the history of its implantation. The reason for a specific shape can be derived further from the frequently aberrant shapes of twin placentas where competition for space in the uterus, a phenomenon that has been termed “trophotropism,” can be inferred to have existed. This term was used initially in attempts to explain the placental features in the uncommon event of a placenta …