[Portal vein: variations of its branches (about 32 dissections)]. / Veine porte: mode de division et ses variantes A propos de 32 dissections.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to precise the variations of portal vein branches and also to elucidate anatomic basis of partial hepatectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two post-mortem specimens, with ages ranged from one day to sixty-five years in both two sexes, were dissected. Latex and Rhodopas were used for visualizing and drawing the portal vein course and its branches. RESULTS: Nine types of different variations of portal vein branches were observed. Most of cases were similar to those previously reported in literature. But four types must be especially noted, because they were not available in literature. DISCUSSION: this study updates the anatomy of portal vein and its tributaries, and also finds out four types of distribution which must be known by surgeons with regards to partial hepatectomy.

[The uteropelvic junction in children: from the clinical problems to the morphogenetic approach]. / La jonction pyélourétérale chez l'enfant: de la problématique clinique à l'approche morphogénique.

The responsibility of the uteropelvic junction (UPJ) syndrome or abnormalities for renal affections and also for high obstructive uropathy is well-known. But, controversies still remain about the anatomic approach of this clinical feature. Our purpose is to elucidate the developmental anatomy of UPJ and eventually to set the steps of the anatomic approach of the UPJ abnormalities. This study also leads to a better understanding of the mechanism of the intrinsic ureteropelvic junction obstructions. A total number of 122 post-mortem specimens with ages ranging from 1 day to 30 months in both sexes underwent formalin treatment for histological investigation. We performed both transverse and longitudinal sections. Hematein-eosin-safran and Masson's trichrome staining were used. Histological examination revealed that myoarchitecture of UPJ set increasingly up. Circular muscle fibers were first to put in. They had an initial arrangement as a ring in neonates and infants. We conclude that circular layer appears first and sooner than others. On the other hand, coincidence in time between ages of our specimens and ages of patients sufferning from UPJ syndrome leads to further investigations to determine the implication of ring-shaped circular layer in intrinsic ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

[Importance of the testicular artery: histo-functional approach and comparison between juvenile and adult rats]. / Valeur de l'artère testiculaire: approche histofonctionnelle et comparative chez le raton et le rat.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the role of spermatic or testicular artery with regard to fertility. 100 male rats Sprague-Dawley, consisted of 50 young rats (aged from 10 to 12 days old) and 50 adult rats were concerned. Unilateral ligation of the testicular artery with delayed controlateral orchiectomy were performed in 20 young rats. Only unilateral orchiectomy was planned in 20 other young rats and the 10 remaining were the absolute control group. Mating was observed for 2 weeks after 14 weeks of life. In adult rats, 20 underwent a bilateral ligation and division of the spermatic artery while 20 others were submitted to unilateral ligation-division associated with controlateral orchiectomy in 20 others. The 10 remaining represented the control group. The mating period was 3 weeks. After sacrificing animals, results were noted with regard to histological features and fertility. Among young rats, 45% were fertile and had normal gonadal tissue. From adult rats, only 10 to 15% were fertile. Atrophic testes were observed in 55% of infertile young rats while acute inflammatory lesions were predominant in most of adults. We conclude that ligation or division of spermatic artery is responsible for histological changes thus occurring in infertility in young and adults rats.