Tumors derived from lung cancer cells respond differently to treatment with sodium valproate (a HDAC inhibitor) in a chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane model.

Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death. Some human lung malignant tumors have a combined small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) histology, with tumor cell phenotype changing during tumor progression. Valproic acid is used as an anti-seizure medication to treat migraine, and bipolar mood disorders. Recently, its efficacy as an adjuvant therapy was shown in cancer due to its histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory property. HDACs are upregulated in lung tumors, and HDAC inhibitors, including valproic acid, inhibit endothelial cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo and have antiproliferative and antimigratory properties. We tested valproic acid for possible antiangiogenic and antimigratory effects on experimental lung tumors grafted onto the chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Tumors were formed from two NSCLC cell lines and a single SCLC cell line. To investigate tumor and CAM interactions, in vivo biomicroscopy, visualization of blood vessels with injected fluorescent dextran, histological, immunohistochemical and histomorphometric methods were applied. Our results showed that a sodium valproate (NaVP) treatment-induced a dose-dependent decrease of experimental tumor invasion into the CAM mesenchyme and a reduction in angiogenesis. Both the invasion and the angiogenic response were dependent on the type of cell line used: invasion and angiogenesis of tumors derived from A549 and NCI-H146 cell lines responded to increasing doses of NaVP from 4 to 8 mM, whereas Sk_Lu_1 cells response were antimigratory and antiangiogenic when NaVP was used up to 6 mM. When 8mM NaVP was used, stimulated invasion and angiogenesis in tumors from Sk_Lu_1 cells were observed.

Age-related morphometrical peculiarities of Lithuanian women's primordial ovarian follicles.

BACKGROUND: For the first time, thorough morphometrical measurements of primordial ovarian follicles were performed and their age-related changes were investigated in Lithuanian women of the reproductive age. METHODS: Ovaries of dead women (n = 30) were divided into six age groups: 15-20 years old, 21-25 years old, 26-30 years old, 31-35 years old, 36-40 years old and 41-46 years old. Histological slides of left and right ovaries were stained using haematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining methods. The morphometrical measurements of 10 primordial ovarian follicles of the left and right ovary of each woman were made from microphotographs. RESULTS: The diameter of primordial ovarian follicles increased in groups of women from 15 years old to 35 years old and decreased in the groups from 36 years old to 46 years old. The area of primordial ovarian follicles increased in the groups of women until 35 years old. It decreased in the groups of women older than 36 years. The follicular basement membrane thickened from 1.29 ± 0.11 µm to 1.43 ± 0.18 µm with increasing age of women. The diameter of primary oocytes enlarged until 35 years and then began to decrease. The area of primary oocytes increased in women until 35 years. It decreased in groups of women aged 36-40 and 41-46 years old. The diameter and the area of primary oocytes nuclei increased in women aged 15-30 years old; later, it began to decrease. The length of follicular cells varied from 8.56 ± 0.43 µm to 8.72 ± 0.27 µm (p > 0.05). The height of follicular cells varied from 2.59 ± 0.27 µm to 2.7 ± 0.21 µm (p > 0.05). The diameter, the area and the basement membrane thickness of primordial ovarian follicles and the diameter and the area of primary oocytes and their nuclei differed insignificantly in left and right ovaries in all age groups of women (p > 0.5). The length and height of follicular cells were similar in left and right ovaries of the same age group (p > 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: The age decreasing of morphometrical parameters begins in primordial ovarian follicles and their primary oocytes in Lithuanian women older than 35 years. The thickness of the follicular basement membrane increased with increasing age of women. No significant differences were found in the morphometrical parameters in primordial follicles of left and right ovaries in the same age group of women.

Morphological criteria of oocyte quality.

In vitro fertilization technology consists of the selection and fertilization of oocytes, the production and transplantation of embryos to recipients. The quality of oocytes has a direct impact on the fertilization and developmental competence of oocytes. Criteria that show the quality of oocytes are subdivided into morphological, cellular, and molecular. The aim of this article was to review the morphological criteria that are used for estimation of the quality of oocytes before their fertilization in vitro. These criteria include the evaluation of the structure of oocyte: cumulus complex, oocyte cytoplasm, polar body, perivitelline space, zona pellucida, and meiotic spindle.

[Human Y chromosome: structure and biological role]. / Zmogaus Y chromosoma: struktura ir biologinis vaidmuo.

Y chromosome differs from other human chromosomes. It is found in cells of the male persons only. Different human phenotypes are associated with non-recombinant region of Y chromosome. This chromosome is of great significance in the human sex determination and the development of male gametes (spermatogenesis). Testes develop in embryos which have the Y chromosome, and ovaries develop in embryos which have no Y chromosome. SRY (sex-determining region of the Y chromosome) gene determines the male phenotype. Translocation of this gene determines sex reversal. The aim of this article was to review the structure and biological functions of the human Y chromosome.

[Evaluation of the human and animal embryos' quality (Review of methods)]. / Zmogaus ir gyvunu embrionu kokybes ivertinimas (metodu apzvalga).

The aim of this article was to review different methods that are used for the evaluation of human and animal embryos' quality. Techniques for the production in vitro of various mammalian species embryos have been developed worldwide. Using modern methods for maturation of oocytes, fertilization and embryos' culture in vitro about 30-40% of bovine and 10-20% of human oocytes develop to blastocyst stage and can be used for transfer. Evaluation of embryos' quality is problematic not only for every researcher involved in embryology but also for every clinician who wants to select the best embryos for transfer. Lithuanian researchers and clinicians could also apply these worldwide popular methods for the evaluation of embryos' quality.