Immunolocalization of PTHrP in the sublingual glands of three mammals.

The present study deals with immunohistochemical localization of PTHrP in sublingual glands of white mouse, bank vole, and common vole. PTHrP immunoreactivity was observed in epithelial cells of striated, interlobular and main excretory ducts of the salivary glands in all the three animal species tested. However, we found no positive reaction for PTHrP in epithelial cells of the intercalated ducts. In striated duct cells, the reaction intensity was species-dependent. In bank vole and common vole, the reaction was very strong, while in white mouse very weak. In the remaining segments of excretory ducts (interlobular and main excretory duct) we found no species-related differences in the reaction intensity or character. Myoepithelial cells surrounding ducts and mucous tubules with serous demilunes in sublingual glands were also PTHrP-negative in all the three animal species tested.

Comparison of PTHrP expression in the epididymis of juvenile and adult European bisons.

The aim of the present study was to compare the expression of PTHrP in the epididymes of adult European bisons, and 12- and 5-month-old calves. The highest PTHrP expression was observed in adult animals in muscle cells and endothelium of large vessels, and in muscle cells of the epididymal duct. In one-year-old calves, the reaction was weaker than in adult bulls, being the weakest in 5-month-old calves. However, in small vessels of adult animals, in vascular cells and smooth muscle cells the reaction for PTHrP was considerably weak, being weaker in one-year-old calves, and negative in 5-month-old calves. A similar trace reaction was observed in muscle cells of the epididymal duct in 5- and 12-month-old calves. The present study has revealed that PTHrP expression in vascular and extravascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells in European bison is correlated with the animal age and size of the organ.

Immunolocalization of PTHrP in prepubertal and pubertal testis of European bison.

The present study deals with immunohistochemical localization of PTHrP in prepubertal and pubertal testis of European bison. PTHrP immunoreactivity was observed in germinal cells in the testis of both prepubertal and pubertal animals. In calves, PTHrP was found in germinal cells, in seminiferous tubules lacking the lumen. The reaction was strong and regularly distributed within the cytoplasm. In adult animals, the reaction showed differentiation in spermatogenic cells. Some cells were strongly and diffusely stained, others exhibited weaker reaction of granular pattern. Sertoli cells and Leydig cells were PTHrP-negative in calves and adult animals.

A preliminary study of the submandibular gland of the rat after long-term cadmium intoxication.

The aim of the study was to establish to what degree the 24-week exposure of a rat to 5 and 50 mg Cd/dm3 affects the proliferating activity of cells with PCNA and Ki-67 nuclear immunoreactivity in the submandibular gland cells. The control animals received only redistilled water to drink. The group I rats were given 5 mg Cd/dm3, while the group II animals were given 50 mg Cd/dm3. The highest concentration of cadmium was observed in group II, with a concomitant increase in the number of PCNA-positive cells. In group I, cadmium concentration was significantly less compared to group II, and there were fewer PCNA-positive cells. The reaction for Ki-67 in both experimental groups was negative.

Effect of acute exposure to cadmium on the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), calcitonin (CT), somatostatin (SST) and synaptophysin (SYN) in the C cells of the rat thyroid--a preliminary study.

The aim of the present study was to determine to what degree acute exposure to cadmium affects the expression of CGRP, CT, SST and SYN in the C cells of the rat thyroid. Animals from 7 experimental groups received CdCl2 iv. in doses of 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1 and 0.5 mg/kg b.w. respectively, while the control animals were given 0.9% NaCl iv. 24 hours after the iv. administration of CdCl2, a correlation was found between a single dose of cadmium and the intensity of the immunocytochemical reactions for CGRP, CT, SST and SYN in C cells of the rat thyroid when compared to the control. The weakest immunocytochemical reactions were noted in C cells of the thyroid of rats from Groups I and II, their intensity gradually increasing in Groups III, IV and V in comparison to the control. The reaction intensity in animals of Groups VI and VII resembled those of the control.

Preliminary comparative immunocytochemical study of respiratory tract endocrine cells in certain rodents.

Studies were performed on 3 species belonging to two families: Microtidae (7 common voles and 7 pine voles), and Muridae - 10 Wistar rats. In rodents the airways endocrine cells (ECs) are localised in the epithelium lining the larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and lung. CGRP-, synaptophysin (SY)-, calcitonin (CT)-, neuron-specific enolase (NSE)- and chromogranin A (CA)- immunoreactivity were nearly totally co-localised in ECs. In the region of the tracheo-larynx junction, CGRP- and NSE-positive cells were observed in the epithelium of the glands. It is surmised that some of the CGRP-positive ECs do not generate CT and CA, for the most part in ECs. In Microtidae ECs were more abundant than in the rat and were found even in the epithelium lining of the inside larynx in the transition region before the trachea.

Immunolocalization of PTHrP in the parotid glands of three rodents species: Clethrionomys glareoulus, Microtus arvalis and white Swiss mice.

The current study was inspired by the fact that since 2004 no report had appeared on the occurrence of this peptide in healthy parotid glands of humans and animals. The objective of the current study was to investigate the immunolocalization of PTHrP in the parotid gland of three male rodents: 6 common voles (Microtus arvalis, Pallas, 1779), 6 bank voles (Clethrionomys glareoulus, Schreber, 1780) and 6 white Swiss mice, as well as to find out any species differences in the distribution of this peptide in various types of cells of the parotid gland. Immunocytochemical reactions were performed using the ABC technique with specific rabbit antibodies against human PTHrP (34-53) (CALBIOCHEM), diluted 1:70 and 1:50. We observed positive PTHrP expression in the epithelial cells of the striated duct in all the three animal species. The expression was strong in white mouse and very strong in common vole and bank vole. In all the rodent species studied, the reaction for PTHrP was granular in nature and irregularly distributed in the cytoplasm, being definitely stronger at the base and weaker at the apex of the cells. The PTHrP expression was negative in the epithelium of the intercalated duct, interlobular duct, main excretory duct, as well as in the myoepithelial cells surrounding the excretory ducts or serous acini.

Assessment of S100 protein expression in the epididymis of juvenile and adult European bison.

In our study, we decided to compare S100 protein expression in the material obtained from the epididymes of 5- and 12-month-old calves, and adult European bison, and to detect any differences in S100 expression according to the animal age and size of the organ examined. We used the epididymes obtained from 6 adult European bison aged 6-12 years, from 6 at the age of 12 months and 6 calves aged 5 months. Immunocytochemical reactions were performed using the avidin-biotinylated-peroxidase (ABC) technique according to HSU. Specific polyclonal rabbit antiserum against bovine S100 protein (Bio Genex Laboratories) at a dilution at 1:400 was applied. We found the expression of S100 protein in endothelial cells of arteries, veins and lymphatic vessels in all the study animals. At the same time, we found no differences in the expression of S100 protein in vascular endothelial cells. Our observations seem to indicate that S100 expression in endothelial cells of European bison epididymis is not correlated with age or maturity of the organ tested. We found S100 protein in smooth muscle cells of arteries and veins in all European bison specimens examined. Interestingly in the current study, in young 5-month-old sexually immature European bison specimens we observed weaker expression of S100 protein in smooth muscle cells of small vessels as compared to the same cell type both in large vessels in these animals and in small vessels in adult specimens.

Angiogenesis in gliomas.

Brain gliomas are characterized by invasive growth and neovascularisation potential. Angiogenesis plays a major role in the progression of gliomas and its determination has a great prognostic value. The aim of the study was to assess the vascularisation of chosen brain gliomas and to estimate how it is correlated with tumour histological type, malignancy grade, location and size, and with age and sex of patients. Tumour vascularisation analysis was based on the determination of microvascular proliferation (MVP) and microvessel density (MVD). Microvascular proliferation was measured with immunohistochemical methods using mouse monoclonal antibodies to detect cell proliferation antigens. The following antibodies were used Ki-67 and PCNA (DAKO). Identification of vessels was performed by CD31 antibody and anti-human von Willebrand factor (DAKO). The highest microvascular proliferation and microvascular density were observed in multiform glioblastomas and the lowest in oligodendrogliomas. Significant correlation was observed between the vascularisation and malignancy grade.

Ultrustructural and enzymatic studies of rat liver after acute cadmium exposure.

The aim of the study was to examine morphological and enzymatic changes in the rat liver following single i.v. administration of CdCl2 (5 and 10 mumol/kg b.w.). In the rats given 5 and 10 mumol CdCl2/kg b.w., a correlation was found between the dose and the intensity of changes in the liver both in pathomorphological, ultrastructural and enzymatic analyses. Pathomorphological and ultrastructural investigations showed that a single dose of 10 mumol CdCl2/kg b.w. caused vacuolar degeneration, and fatty degeneration in single hepatocytes. Structural changes were accompanied by an increase in the activity of indicatory enzymes of the liver-AST and ALT. At the same time, stimulation and activation of B-K cells were observed. However, a single 5 mumol CdCl2/kg b.w. dose induced only blurring of cell structure in single hepatocytes within the peripheral zone of the lobules, which looked as if they had been filled with pinkish "mush".