Morphometric studies of rat anterior pituitary cells after gonadectomy: correlation of changes in gonadotropes with the serum levels of gonadotropins.

Anterior pituitary cells were studied with immunocytochemical methods 1-6 months after gonadectomy in male and female rats. One month after surgery, stained gonadotropes contained small scattered cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, while others showed larger cisternae. The signet ring cells were observed 3 months after gonadectomy, and their numbers increased markedly by 6 months. Counts of freshly dispersed stained cells showed that in intact rats, the only significant sex differences were seen in the percentages of FSH and PRL cells. The females had higher percentages of both cell types. One month after castration, there were 2- and 3-fold increases in the percentages of LH and FSH cells, respectively. In females, ovariectomy resulted in a 2-fold increase in the percentage of LH cells and a slight but not significant increase in that of FSH cells. Three months after surgery, the percentages of LH or FSH gonadotropes increased from 8-12% to about 30% in both sexes. In the 6-month group, the percentages of stained gonadotropes were decreased to about 20% in both males and females. Counts of other pituitary cell types showed that the percentage of PRL cells in females declined to levels similar to those in the male within 1 month after ovariectomy. There was also a significant increase in the percentage of GH cells 1-3 months after ovariectomy. In contrast, the percentages of GH-producing cells decreased in the castrated males 3-6 months after surgery. The other pituitary cell types (ACTH and TSH) did not show significant changes after gonadectomy in either sex. The average area of gonadotropes was increased gradually, reaching a maximum 3 months after gonadectomy, after which it was decreased in the 6-month group. After ovariectomy, serum levels of gonadotropins correlated well with changes in areas of gonadotropes, showing a continuous increase until the third month, followed by a decrease after 6 months. Serum LH levels increased and then decreased after castration following the same pattern as that of the average areas. However, serum FSH levels continued to increase gradually throughout the entire 6 months. These studies are the first to quantify changes in all six pituitary cell types after gonadectomy. The counts confirm qualitative data reported previously that show changes in GH and PRL cells after gonadectomy (including sex differences). We extend previous studies that show that the expansion in gonadotropic cell area is correlated with a rise in both serum LH and FSH.

Comparative effect of tiaprofenic acid and piroxicam alone and as adjuvants to praziquantel in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice.

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (tiaprofenic acid and piroxicam have been used alone and as adjuvants to praziquantel in treating hepatic granuloma in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice. Granuloma diameter, histamine metabolism, cyclic AMP and PGE2 levels have been measured at the end of treatment. Tiaprofenic acid effectively reduced the size of hepatic granuloma, significantly increased histamine forming capacity, CAMP level and significantly decreased plasma PGE2 level. Piroxicam had no significant effect on granuloma size, significantly decreased histamine forming capacity, CAMP and PGE2 levels. The combined therapy of either of the drugs with praziquantel did not result in an additive effect.

Comparative histological and histochemical studies on the adrenal gland of the albino and the Egyptian desert rats.

The adrenal gland of the albino rat and the Egyptian desert rodents Gerbillus pyramidum and Gerbillus gerbillus was subject to histological and histochemical studies. Compared to the albino rat, the adrenal gland of the Egyptian desert rat had a thicker capsule, its zona glomerulosa was thinner and more vacuolated, its cortex was sharply demarcated from the medulla which appeared in the form of packets of cells. Lipid droplets were larger and more numerous in the zona glomerulosa and no subglomerular zone was detected. Cholesterol and its esters were less marked in the outer cortex. Succinic dehydrogenase activity was more marked in the zona reticularis. The cholinesterase-reactive nervous network in the medulla was more complex and dense and the nerve cells were fewer. The significance of these differences is discussed.

Clinical and pathologic features of primary gastric rhabdomyosarcoma.

The authors report a case of a collision tumor composed of a primary gastric rhabdomyosarcoma intermingled with an adjacent infiltrating gastric adenocarcinoma. Only eight cases of gastric rhabdomyosarcoma have been reported previously and little information is recorded about the behavior of this tumor. Gastric rhabdomyosarcoma has several distinctive clinical features. It is a highly aggressive tumor (median survival, 2.5 months) occurring in both children and adults and frequently presents as metastatic disease to lung or cervical lymph node. The initial diagnosis is often difficult to establish, especially on biopsy material. In several instances, the correct diagnosis was established only at autopsy. The authors' patient was correctly diagnosed during life and received considerable benefit from cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine (CAV) therapy and survived for 26 months after diagnosis. Two of the previously reported eight cases of primary gastric rhabdomyosarcoma and this case have adjacent admixed glandular gastric adenocarcinomas. Since three of the nine known cases of primary gastric rhabdomyosarcoma have an adjacent admixed gastric adenocarcinoma, there appears to be a greater than chance association between these two tumors.