Serendipitous Discovery of a Benign Obturator Nerve Schwannoma: Case report with a brief clinical review.

Schwannomas are typically benign tumours of the peripheral nerves. However, they seldom arise from the obturator nerve. We report a case of an uncommon swelling (2.5 × 3.5 cm) in a 65-year-old male cadaver, found during a routine dissection session for first Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery students in the Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India, in 2019. It was seen originating from the left obturator nerve in the pelvis at the level of the sacral promontory. Histopathological investigation revealed a schwannoma. The hypocellular tumour was arranged in a sweeping fascicle pattern with patches of myxoid degeneration. Obturator schwannomas, though rare, can exist in cadavers, as seen in the present case. Hence, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis for clinical cases of pelvic masses and eliminated only after thorough radiological examination. Knowledge about the existence of such schwannomas is therefore essential.

Effect of Diabetes on the Male Reproductive System­A Histomorphological Study

Introduction Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder characterized by lack of insulin production by the ß cells of the pancreas. This lack of insulin causes a variety of systemic effects on the metabolism of the body, one of which is reproductive dysfunction. The present study investigates the effects of diabetes on the male reproductive system of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Material and Methods A total of 18 adult male Wistar rats weighing between 250 and 300 g were included in the present study. The animals were divided into normal and diabetic groups. The diabetic group was further subdivided into 2 subgroups with durations of 24 and 48 days. A single dose of STZ (40 mg/kg body weight) was administrated intraperitoneally to the animals of the diabetic group. After the planned duration, the testes and epididymides were dissected, and their gross weight was measured. The tissues were then processed for histological study. Results The gross weight of the testes and epididymides in diabetic rats at 24 and 48 days showed a decrease in comparison to the control. (p < 0.01 for testes and epididymides). Diabetic animals presented a significant decrease in the diameter of the seminiferous tubules compared with the control group (p < 0.01). The epididymides in the diabetic groups showed a considerable reduction in the tubular surface area compared with the control group (p < 0.01). There was also a reduction in the mean diameter, which was measured using the maximum and minimum diameter of the tubules (p < 0.01). Conclusion The present study is an insight into the adverse effects that diabetes can have on the tissue structure of the testes, of the epididymides, and ultimately on the process of spermatogenesis.