Pelvic Glands Research Articles

Effects of Anethum graveolens L. (dill) Seed and Leaf Aqueous Extracts on the Growth of Mammary Gland Alveolar Buds of Rat

The effects of dill seed aqueous extract on the sex hormones have already been reported in our previous studies. In this study, we examined the oral administration of dill leaf and seed extracts on the mammary gland tissue that were exposed to these hormones. Adult female rats were divided into 3 groups of control, dill leaf and seed aqueous extracts (0.5 g/kg) treated groups (n = 7). After 25 days, the rats that were in estrus phase were dissected, and their pelvic mammary glands were spread on slides and stained by carmine. Then, the alveolar buds 1 and 2 (AB1 and AB2) and lobules of the whole mount mammary glands were counted and scored in tip, central and distal parts of mammary gland, then the ratio of mammary gland differentiation 1 and 2 (Dif1 and Dif2) was calculated. Estradiol concentration was measured via radioimmunoassay method and Progesterone, FSH and LH concentrations were measured using immunoradiometric assay. The data were analyzed by One-Way ANOVA test. The results showed that AB1 decreased but AB2 increased in total mammary gland of the experimental groups; however, these changes were not statistically significant. The numbers of lobules and Dif2 in the mammary gland were significantly increased in dill leaf and seed extracts treated groups. Progesterone concentration increased in dill seed extract-treated group. The results indicated that oral administration of dill seed and leaf aqueous extracts increases the mammary glands growth; therefore, dill may be considered as lactiferous herb.

A Description of the Skin Glands and Cloacal Morphology of the Plethodontid SalamanderKarsenia koreana

The skin glands and cloacal morphology of the Korean crevice salamander, Karsenia koreana, were similar to those of other plethodontids. The skin contained mucous, granular, and modified granular glands in varying frequencies and sizes. Males had sexually dimorphic glands in the skin of the chin (mental glands) and the dorsal tail base (caudal courtship glands). On the ventral surface of the tail base, modified granular glands were sexually dimorphic in size, with male glands larger than those in females. The cloacal glands in males, as in other plethodontids, consisted of four eosinophilic gland clusters (dorsal pelvic glands, lateral pelvic glands, caudal pelvic glands, and vent glands) and three basophilic glands (anterior ventral glands, posterior ventral glands, and Kingsbury's glands). In females, the only cloacal gland was the spermatheca, which, as in other plethodontids, was a compound tubulo-alveolar gland in the roof of the cloaca.

Ultrastructure of the Male Cloacal Glands of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus

Abstract: This paper represents the first ultrastructural descriptions of the cloacal glands of a male salamander. All male salamanders in the suborder Salamandroidea possess these glands, which are required for internal fertilization. These glands are responsible for producing spermatophores and, in some species, certain glands produce female-attracting pheromones. Both scanning and transmission electron microscopy provided higher resolution and magnification of the cytology of cloacal glands than possible in previous studies limited to light microscopy. The glands are hypertrophied in October and April samples, and much reduced in size and secretory activity in June and August samples. Each of the cloacal glands, when active, has secretory vacuoles that are unique in appearance and that secrete carbohydrates and/or proteins. Kingsbury's glands are modified mucous glands that have secretory vacuoles filled with a flocculent substance. Active pelvic glands have uniform electron-lucent secretory vacuoles ...

Cloacal Anatomy of the Male Carpathian Newt,Lissotriton montandoni(Amphibia, Salamandridae), in the Breeding Season

This study presents the first light microscopy-based description of the cloacal anatomy of male Carpathian newts (Lissotriton montandoni). This European newt species hybridizes with its sister species, the smooth newt (L. vulgaris), despite a high level of prezygotic isolation. The goal of the study was to ascertain possible anatomical differences in cloacal anatomy, especially pheromone and spermatophore producing glands, which might potentially affect reproductive isolation between L. montandoni and L. vulgaris. The cloaca of L. montandoni males consists of the cloacal tube, cloacal chamber, pseudopenis, and aggregations of cloacal glands. Four main types of cloacal glands were recognized. Pheromone-producing dorsal glands are of two types due to differences in their secretory epithelium: cuboidal and high prismatic. The remaining glands: ventral, pelvic, and Kingsbury's glands, are most likely involved in the synthesis of spermatophore components. Two distinct groups of ventral glands were identified: posterior and anterior ventral glands. In comparison with L. vulgaris, no evident differences were found that could potentially affect courtship pheromone synthesis by dorsal glands or the base and the cap of the spermatophore produced by the remaining cloacal glands.

Developmental Biology of Urodele Amphibians in Microgravity Conditions

Among the urodele amphibians, only Cynops pyrrhogaster and Pleurodeles waltl, two species of the Salamandridae family, were used in space experiments. The advantages for using urodeles reside (i) in reproduction: a few months after natural breeding, females can lay eggs in absence of males after a hormonal treatment, because spermatozoa were preserved in the cloacal pelvic glands of matted females, (ii) in the rate of development which is slower in Cynops and Pleurodeles than in the anuran Xenopus, (iii) in their physiological properties: they can live in a closed water container or in a moisturized environment, and they can fast during several days. Moreover, urodeles have an important phylogenetic interest. Many biological phenomena differ from those of anurans, such as fertilization events, the germ cell origin and the migration toward the differentiating gonads, and their regeneration capabilities. The main goals of the space experiments were to answer the following questions. On the one hand, does fertilization occur normally in microgravity? Is subsequent embryonic development normal in microgravity? Is further development and reproduction normal after return to Earth? On the other hand, does microgravity affect the organs in adult animals? Does microgravity affect the regeneration of organs? Fertilization in space is clearly demonstrated. However, subsequent embryonic development appears to be altered in microgravity. In Pleurodeles, abnormalities such as cortical cytoplasmic movements, decrease of cell adhesion, and loss of cells were observed. Although, early development was not strictly normal as a consequence of embryological regulation phenomena, young hatching larvae had normal morphological phenotypes and swimming behavior. After landing, no differences were observed between born-in-space animals to standard ones during the embryonic development to adulthood. The analyses of their offspring demonstrated that the percentages of fertilization and development were in accordance with the control animals. No genetic abnormalities were detected during the analysis of the offspring. The development of their progenies were also without characteristic differences compared to control Pleurodeles. Microgravity seems to have effects on the morphological and histological structures of organs of flight adults. However, as was the case in several experiments the number of analyzed adults was low, and it is too early to conclude on specific effects of microgravity. Moreover, in certain flights the temperature was not regulated, and an increase in temperature occurred. Conditions of these space flights had certainly influenced the samples, and consequently the interpretations of results. Space flights have clear effects on organs in regeneration. But more specifically, they have long term effects that last several weeks after the return of the animals to Earth. A similar result was also obtained for otoconia several months after landing. So far, however, no clear hypothesis could be proposed to interpret these observations.

The ventral skin glands, new additional cloacal glands in Proteus anguinus (Caudata, Proteidae). II. Male

Guillaume, O. 2000. The ventral skin glands, new additional cloacal glands in Proteus anguinus (Caudata, Proteidae). II. Male. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 81: 223–234 Cloacae from male Proteus anguinus were examined for the first time by light and electron microscopy. Male P. anguinus possess anterior and posterior ventral glands, dorsal and lateral pelvic glands, vent glands and Kingsbury’s glands as do Necturus males. However, male P. anguinus also possess the new additional cloacal glands found in females and which the author has called the ventral skin glands. Furthermore, the number, the length and the diameter of these tubular glands are higher in males. Therefore the inference is that these glands are sexually dimorphic glands.

Absence of Dorsal Glands in the Cloaca of Male Chioglossa lusitanica and the Possible Correlation with Courtship Mode

The cloacal region of male Chioglossa lusitanica was studied using light and scanning-elec- tron microscopy with the aim of describing its anatomy, in particular the accessory glands. Unlike other male salamandrids, which exhibit dorsal, Kingsburys, pelvic, and ventral glands, the cloaca of male C. lusitanica lacks dorsal glands. This condition is a loss that has occurred more than once within the Sala- mandridae. The absence of dorsal glands cannot be explained on the basis of aquatic versus terrestrial

Comparative anatomy and phylogeny of the cloacae of salamanders (amphibia: Caudata). III. Amphiumidae.

Histological descriptions of female and male cloacae are presented for the three species of Amphiuma. Little interspecific variation occurs in either females or males. Females possess numerous spermathecae around the walls of the posterior cloacal tube and anterior cloacal chamber as well as rudimentary vent glands, of uncertain homology, in the caudal end of the cloacal chamber. Ventral glands such as those known from female salamanders in other families are absent, likely a secondary loss in the amphiumid clade. In a female A. tridactylum with large ovarian follicles (5- to 8-mm diameter), the lips of the cloacal orifice are highly cornified, and stored sperm in the spermathecae appear in organized bundles, either free in the lumen or with the sperm heads seemingly buried in the spermathecal epithelium. Males possess some gland clusters present in other members of the suborder Salamandroidea (dorsal pelvic glands, vent glands, Kingsbury's glands, anterior ventral glands) but lack others (lateral pelvic glands, posterior ventral glands), resulting in the most plesiomorphic cloacal anatomy in the suborder. However, males possess an autapomorphic gland cluster, called the pit glands, in the posterior wall of the cloacal chamber. The pit glands consist of shallow infoldings of the cloacal epithelium unlike other cloacal glands, which are relatively tubular and elongate. The "pits" contain columnar eosinophilic cells that give positive staining reactions for acid mucopolysaccharides and proteins.

Spermatophore Formation in Desmognathus ochrophaeus (Amphibia: Plethodontidae)

The relationship between cloacal gland secretion and spermatophore structure is described for Desmognathus ochrophaeus. The spermatophore cap consists of spermatozoa and of granular and globular secretions. Upon initial formation of the cap, these materials are mixed. After being held in the female cloaca, the cap is organized so that the granular and globular material are separate. The portion of the cap deepest in the female cloaca consists of a mass of granular material that fills the inner circumference of the cloacal orifice. The globular material is in layers superficial to the granular material and covers the cloacal orifice. Spermatozoa are scattered throughout the granular material but are most numerous near the globular layers. The granular material of the cap is largely secreted by Kingsbury's glands and anterior ventral glands, although some material is added by dorsal and caudal pelvic glands. This material stains positively for acid mucopolysaccharides. The globular material is secreted by pelvic glands and is in two layers. The inner layer, which stains positively for lipids and proteins, is secreted by dorsolateral pelvic glands. The outer layer, which stains positively for proteins, is secreted by dorsal and caudal pelvic glands. The base of the spermatophore stains positively for acid mucopolysaccharides and is secreted by posterior ventral glands. Depletion of glandular products after spermatophore deposition is documented histologically. Spermatophore production and sperm transfer are discussed in the context of courtship behavior in natural situations.

The treatment of carcinoma of the cervix and endometrium using the cathetron at the Middlesex hospital

Since January 1974, the Cathetron, a remote loading device using high activity cobalt-60 sources, has replaced intracavitary radium in the curative and palliative treatment of 199 cases of carcinoma of the uterine body and cervix. Sixty-six patients with carcinoma of the cervix have been followed up for a minimum period of three months following treatment by external irradiation to the whole pelvis (5500 rad tumour dose using 8 MV), plus two to three Cathetron insertions each giving 750 rad to point ‘A’, at weekly intervals. Forty-six (70%) are alive and disease free 3–38 months after termination of treatment. Of the 12 who developed recurrent disease, only six recurred in the pelvis. The Cathetron was used pre-operatively at weekly intervals giving 1000 rad to point ‘A’ (see text) on each of four occasions in cases of carcinoma of the endometrium prior to extended or Wertheim hysterectomy four weeks later. Forty per cent showed no residual disease at the time of surgery. Forty-three patients have been followed for a minimum period of six months, of these 33 are alive with no residual disease, eight died of their disease but in five of these spread to pelvic glands of beyond was found at operation. A further 13 patients were treated post-operatively and a further 20 by radiotherapy alone. We have been completely satisfied by these Cathetron treatments which have taken place on one half-day weekly. We have not sustained any mechanical problems. The advantages of the Cathetron include increased accuracy from complete fixation of the sources during treatment, individualisation of treatment with the availability of eight sources and complete staff protection. There were no rectal reactions and only two severe complications to the bladder and rectum. Complications to the sigmoid colon were associated with external radiotherapy. The results reported are early but in regard to local cure the high dose rate given by cobalt-60 sources gave results as good as the best achieved with radium but careful follow-up will be necessary for several years to monitor late effects. There will be further reports every two years. Since January 1974, the Cathetron, a remote loading device using high activity cobalt-60 sources, has replaced intracavitary radium in the curative and palliative treatment of 199 cases of carcinoma of the uterine body and cervix. Sixty-six patients with carcinoma of the cervix have been followed up for a minimum period of three months following treatment by external irradiation to the whole pelvis (5500 rad tumour dose using 8 MV), plus two to three Cathetron insertions each giving 750 rad to point ‘A’, at weekly intervals. Forty-six (70%) are alive and disease free 3–38 months after termination of treatment. Of the 12 who developed recurrent disease, only six recurred in the pelvis. The Cathetron was used pre-operatively at weekly intervals giving 1000 rad to point ‘A’ (see text) on each of four occasions in cases of carcinoma of the endometrium prior to extended or Wertheim hysterectomy four weeks later. Forty per cent showed no residual disease at the time of surgery. Forty-three patients have been followed for a minimum period of six months, of these 33 are alive with no residual disease, eight died of their disease but in five of these spread to pelvic glands of beyond was found at operation. A further 13 patients were treated post-operatively and a further 20 by radiotherapy alone. We have been completely satisfied by these Cathetron treatments which have taken place on one half-day weekly. We have not sustained any mechanical problems. The advantages of the Cathetron include increased accuracy from complete fixation of the sources during treatment, individualisation of treatment with the availability of eight sources and complete staff protection. There were no rectal reactions and only two severe complications to the bladder and rectum. Complications to the sigmoid colon were associated with external radiotherapy. The results reported are early but in regard to local cure the high dose rate given by cobalt-60 sources gave results as good as the best achieved with radium but careful follow-up will be necessary for several years to monitor late effects. There will be further reports every two years.

Uptake of radioactive sulfate as a function of time by mast cells in Triturus cristatus carnifex (Laur.).

Thirty two Triturus cristatus carnifex (Laur.) male individuals were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of 150 μc of carrier-free S35 labelled sodium sulfate. The tissues were removed at different time intervals within a period of 3 hours and 30 days after the injection. Autoradiographs were prepared from mesentery whole mounts and histologie sections of the pelvic region. In mesentery whole mounts entire spider-shaped mast cells were studied. The earliest activity was always seen to arise in the perikaryon at 3 hours, where it persisted throughout the experiment while moving along the cellular processes progressively with time. The specific activity was assayed in the pelvic glands (bilateral organs of the reproductive system in males) and plotted against time. Since in these glands S35O 4 −− uptake in shown exclusively by mast cells the turnover time of 10–11 days therein recorded was taken to indicate the total metabolism of the sulfated compound stored in the mast cells. No direct evidence is as yet available to indicate that the metachromatic sulfated compound stored in Triturus mast cells is heparin.

INFLUENCE OF THE NURSING STIMULUS UPON THYROID HORMONE SECRETION IN THE LACTATING RAT.

The influence of the nursing stimulus upon thyroid gland secretion was tested in the lactating rat during mid-lactation. Milk removal from the 6 pectoral mammary glands was prevented in all rats by galactophore ligation on postpartum day 2. Injection of 1.5 μg/100 g/day L-thyroxin was less effective in blocking thyroidal 131I release in lactating rats than in nonlactating rats. The effectiveness of the injected thyroxin in the lactating rat increased within 24 hr after the young were removed. In another experiment, a significant increase in plasma PB131I resulted from 6 hr of normal nursing of the pelvic mammary glands. No increase in plasma PB131I occurred following 6 hr of nursing of pelvic mammary glands from which milk removal was prevented by ligation of the galactophores. When the pelvic mammary glands were deprived of somatic sensory innervation by spinal cord transection and the contained milk was removed by nursing young with the aid of oxytocin injections to the mothers, the PB13lI level after 6...

LACTATION IN RAT MAMMARY GLANDS AFTER SPINAL CORD SECTION.

The essentiality of the nervous component of suckling in the maintenance of lactation was tested in the rat. The milk ducts of the 6 pectoral mammary glands were ligated on postpartum day 2. After 1 to 2 days the 6 young nursed only the 6 pelvic mammary glands. On postpartum day 9 or 10 the pelvic glands were deprived of somatic sensory innervation by pithing the spinal cord caudal to T-13 and removing it by suction. Suckling young were able to retard the loss of body weight, or maintain or increase body weight during the following 5 days though suckling only the pelvic glands. Injections of oxytocin into the mothers 3 times daily did not result in significant improvement in litter growth. Litter growth was reduced in both groups in comparison with control groups. The pelvic mammary glands at autopsy were large and well vascularized, in contrast with the small and relatively avascular involuted pectoral glands. These data indicate that some milk synthesis can occur in the absence of somatic sensory innerv...

IV. The Treatment of Carcinoma of the Cervix by a Combination of Intra-cavitary Radium and Arc Therapy

This paper describes work done at the Marie Curie Hospital, where arc therapy has been used for the treatment of a variety of pelvic conditions. On the whole it has been found to have little or no advantage over conventional or multi-field techniques when treating large volumes, since here it is necessary to use large fields and arcs which involve irradiating through the wider diameters of the patient and often through considerable thicknesses of bone. This results in undesirably large integral doses and relatively low tumour doses. On the other hand, the technique is of definite value in treating cylinders of tissues of small diameter, since here small arcs may be used, placed in a favourable position with regard to the depth of the tumour and the presence of bone. In fact, the arc is usually placed over much the same area of the skin which would be selected for the skin fields when planning a conventional multi-field technique. This technique has been developed especially for the treatment of the parametria when supplementing the intra-cavitary radium treatment of carcinoma of the cervix, since the poor depth dose obtained in the larger patients made it impossible to give adequate irradiation to the pelvic glands through conventional anterior and posterior fields. With the introduction of arc therapy it is possible to give an additional 3000 to 4000 rads to the parametria and glands without approaching the tolerance level of the skin.

Radiation of Cancer of the Cervix

RADIUM element became a part of the therapeutic resources of the roentgen department of the Boston City Hospital in 1923. From that time until 1935, inclusive, a 13-year period, 289 patients with cancer of the cervix were seen in consultation with the gynecological service. Twenty-seven were judged unsuitable for any form of radiation therapy. Two hundred and sixty-two cases remain with history as to prodromal symptoms, physical findings, biopsy, radiation data, and follow-up believed adequate enough from which to deduce certain statistics and conclusions of value, at least intramurally. The average age was 50 years and nine months. The youngest patient was 21 and the oldest 82 years of age. Hemorrhage was the usual presenting symptom that brought the patient to the hospital, pain rarely. The average duration of the bleeding for the group was eight months. This would appear extraordinary if one did not reflect that women, especially of middle life, are apt to minimize the significance of this danger signal. The duration of the bleeding was not indicative of the stage of the disease. As often as not, recent hemorrhage, especially if massive, was found associated with advanced disease. In classifying the cases as to clinical stage of disease, the League of Nations (1) system was adopted and is as follows: Stage I. The growth is strictly limited to the cervix uteri. Uterus mobile. Stage II. Lesion spreading into one or more fornices with or without infiltration of the parametrium adjacent to the uterus, the uterus retaining some degree of mobility. Stage III. a. Nodular infiltration of the parametria on one or both sides extending to the wall of the pelvis, with limited mobility of the uterus or massive infiltration on one parametrium with fixation of the uterus. b. More or less superficial infiltration of a large part of the vagina, with a mobile uterus. c. Isolated metastases in the pelvic glands, with a relatively small primary growth. d. Isolated metastases in the lower part of the vagina. Generally speaking, all cases not falling into Stages II or IV will be placed under Stage III. Stage IV. a. Cases with massive infiltration of both parametria extending to the walls of the pelvis. b. Carcinoma involving the bladder or rectum. c. The whole vagina infiltrated (rigid vaginal passage), or one vaginal wall infiltrated along its whole length with fixation of the primary growth. d. Remote metastases. At a casual glance, this division of the stages of cancer of the cervix appears involved. Actually, in practice, it is simple and resolves itself into the clinical grouping of early, borderline, advanced, and palliative cases. Table I indicates the grouping of this series. Such a preponderance of hopeless material presenting itself may be ascribed partly, at least, to the social status of the entrants to a large municipal hospital. One hundred and eight received a single radium application prior to transfer to home or a cancer retreat.

Irradiation Treatment in Carcinoma of the Uterus

BETWEEN the years of 1921 and 1934, together with Dr. Soiland (1921–1925) and Dr. Soiland and Dr. Meland (1926–1934), we have treated 1,143 eases of carcinoma of the uterus by irradiation methods. Of this group, 718 were primary carcinomas of the cervix, 183 were carcinomas of the cervix treated post-operatively, 105 were primary carcinomas of the fundus, 68 were carcinomas of the fundus treated postoperatively, and 69 were carcinomas occurring in the cervical stump, following a previous subtotal hysterectomy. Cases of carcinoma of the uterus are not seen in the early stage of the disease. In our practice, early carcinomas of the cervix, which would fall into Group I of the Schmitz classification, were rare. In the treatment of carcinoma of the uterus, the big problem has always been the metastatic pelvic glands. The Schmitz classification, as follows, was used: 1. Group I. The clearly localized carcinoma; beginning nodule. 2. Group II. The doubtfully localized carcinoma; beginning ulceration. 3. Group III. The invading carcinoma, para-metrial involvement. 4. Group IV. The terminal carcinoma: (a) fixation; (b) involvement of adjacent organs; (c) distant metastasis. The clinical grouping of the 718 cases of carcinoma of the cervix showed 5 per cent which would fall into Group I of the Schmitz classification, 24 per cent were in the Group II or doubtful early cases, and 71 per cent in Groups III and IV, with definite pelvic gland involvement. Of the post-operative group of carcinomas of the cervix (183 cases), 81 per cent had evidence of definite recurrence when they first reported for irradiation treatment. It is interesting to note here that of the 183 post-operative cervical cases, 153 were seen between the years 1921 and 1930. In this era, and in this locality, much more surgery was being done for carcinoma of the cervix than during the past five years or at the present time. Carcinoma of the Cervical Stump The 69 cases of carcinoma of the cervical stump were approximately 6 per cent of the total of 1,143 cases of cancer of the uterus that were seen. Following previous supravaginal hysterectomy, the shortest time of appearance of carcinoma was two months and the longest time, twenty-three years. Fourteen cases developed carcinoma under one year after operation and 29 in less than two years after operation; these cases were probably pre-existing at the time of operation. The average time of recognition after operation was four and a half years. Fifty-two per cent of the cases had pelvic gland metastasis when first examined. In this group it is difficult to understand why there should be a larger number of cases in which the disease was localized or doubtfully localized to the cervix, than in the group of primary carcinomas of the cervix.

Primary Disease of the Pelvic Lymphatic Glands; An Unrecognized Gynecological Condition

Primary Disease of the Pelvic Lymphatic Glands; An Unrecognized Gynecological Condition