Immunohistochemical and Scanning Electron Microscopic Confirmation of the Lymphatic Lacunae in the Uterine Tube Mucosal Folds. What Are the Clinical Implications?

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 48,33 years, ?=3,56) and 25 postmenopausal women (mean age 57,8 years, ?=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.

Scanning electron microscopic study of the human uterine tube epithelial lining: surgical biopsy samples and epithelial cell culture.

This article summarizes the importance of the exact morphology of human uterine/fallopian tube epithelium at the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) level for the clinical outcome even nowadays. Visual referential micrographs from SEM reflect two ways to view human epithelial cell lining surfaces: the surface epithelial uterine tube from surgical tissue biopsy and human fallopian tube epithelial cells (HFTEC) culture monolayer surface. One colorized image visualizes ciliated cells, distinguishes them from non-ciliated cells, and provides an educational benefit. A detailed description of the ultrastructure in referential and pathologic human uterine tube epithelium is important in defining the morphological basis of high-grade carcinomas, in the mechanism of pathophysiology, and in discussing options for its prevention. Cell cultures of human fallopian tube epithelial cells offer new approaches in simulating the mechanisms of cancer genesis or may help to elucidate the genetic basis of several diagnoses. New technical approaches in SEM provide higher resolution and detailed surface images. The SEM modality is still one of the current options in diagnostics and may be useful for advancing human reproductive organ cancer research.

Ependymal cells surface of human third brain ventricle by scanning electron microscopy.

OBJECTIVES: The ependymal lining of the human brain ventricular system displays distinct structural differences and functional heterogeneity among individual ependymal cells (ECs). To date, multi-ciliated ECs (E1 cells), bi-ciliated ECs (E2 cells), uni-ciliated ECs (E3 cells), ECs without cilia, and ECs with cytoplasmic protrusions have been described in human brain ventricles. METHOD: Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we evaluated ependymal samples from 6 defined regions of the third ventricle from 9 human brains. These regions were strictly defined according to the periventricular structures they neighbour with. RESULTS: We observed different structures on the apical surface of the ECs. Various ECs differed from each other by the presence of microvilli, secretory bodies, and a variable number of cilia, which led us to divide the ECs into several exactly specified types according to their apical morphology. CONCLUSION: We found all types of ECs in every examined region with a predominance of particular types of apical surface of ECs in the individual areas (Tab. 4, Fig. 7, Ref. 22).

The PI3k/Akt pathway is associated with angiogenesis, oxidative stress and survival of mesenchymal stem cells in pathophysiologic condition in ischemia.

Ischemic diseases are characterized by reduced blood supply to a tissue or an organ due to obstruction of blood vessels. The most serious and most common ischemic diseases include ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and critical limb ischemia. Revascularization is the first choice of therapy, but the cell therapy is being introduced as a possible way of treatment for no-option patients. One of the possibilities of cell therapy is the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are easily isolated from bone marrow and can be defined as non-hematopoietic multipotent adult stem cells population with a defined capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into cell types of all three germ layers depending on their origin. Since 1974, when Friedenstein and coworkers (Friedenstein et al. 1974) first time isolated and characterized MSCs, MSC-based therapy has been shown to be safe and effective. Nevertheless, many scientists and clinical researchers want to improve the success of MSCs in regenerative therapy. The secret of successful cell therapy may lie, along with the homing, in secretion of biologically active molecules including cytokines, growth factors, and chemokines known as MSCs secretome. One of the intracellular signalling mechanism includes the activity of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) (PI3K) - protein kinase B (serine-threonine protein kinase Akt) (Akt) pathway. This PI3K/Akt pathway plays key roles in many cell types in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and migration. Pre-conditioning of MSCs could improve efficacy of signalling mechanism.

Clinical utility of miRNA-1, miRNA-29g and miRNA-133s plasma levels in prostate cancer patients with high-intensity training after androgen-deprivation therapy.

The randomized trials showed that the addition of training resistance program to androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) had many beneficial effects for prostate cancer (PC) patients (significant protective effect on the volume of muscle mass) and the studies have revealed a panel of miRNAs, which are deregulate in PC and may serve as promising biomarkers of PC risk. The primary aim of our present study was to investigate the effect of exercise training to changes in body composition (muscle strength) and the secondary endpoint was to investigate the impact of an exercise training program on plasma levels of selected myogenic microRNAs (miRNAs) (miRNA-1, miRNA-29b, and miRNA-133) in PC patients undergoing the ADT. Effect of ADT and exercise intervention showed significant increase (experimental group vs. control group) the changes in body composition, free testosterone levels, IL-6 and plasma levels of myogenic miRNAs and significant reduced insulin serum levels. In conclusion, resistance training with ADT in the treatment of PC significantly changed the physical and metabolic function and the plasma levels of specific myogenic miRNAs. Our data support with the other publicized results.