Maternal undernutrition during lactation leads to reduction in skull size and thickness of adult-aged Wistar rats.

INTRODUCTION: It is known that the quality and quantity of milk is directly related to the dietary habits of the mother. Despite that, the rates of maternal malnutrition during lactation are increasing in several countries; thus, observing its effects on the offspring is relevant. The present study aims to verify the effects of maternal malnutrition during breastfeeding on the skulls of adult-aged Wistar rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-six newborn rats were divided in three groups: the control group, in which the mother received a regular commercial diet containing 23% protein in unlimited amounts; the protein-energy restriction group, in which the dam received a commercial diet containing 8% protein in unlimited amounts; the energy restricted group, in which the dam received a commercial diet containing 23% of protein in limited amounts. After weaning, all rats received the same diet as the control group until 180 days of age. Then, the rats were euthanized, and their crania were excised and measured in radiographic images. Afterwards, their skull was decalcified with nitric acid (5%) and histological samples were obtained and the thickness of the diploe was verified. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA followed by the Newman-Keuls test were performed for comparison purposes. RESULTS: It was observed that the skull from the protein-energy restriction and energy-restriction groups was smaller and thinner than that of the control group in several parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal malnutrition during the lactation period caused long-term effects in skull morphology of Wistar rats. These effects could not be reversed after regulation of the diet.

Three-dimensional organization of the pars fibroreticularis framework of the urethral wall in normal human prostates.

INTRODUCTION: Knowledge of the prostatic portion of the urethra is essential to the comprehension of urinary continence phenomena. However, there are only a small number of studies that have addressed this relationship and analyzed the ultrastructure of the prostatic urethra. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A three-dimensional analysis of the fibrous components and the extracellular matrix of the prostatic urethra in 10 normal humans was performed with a scanning electron microscope. The prostates were obtained from 10 men (18 to 30 years old) who had died from accidents. The specimens were fixated in a modified Karnovsky solution for 48 h at 4°C, washed in a sodium phosphate buffered solution (PBS) for 2 h at 4°C and then incubated in 40 ml of 2 M NaOH at room temperature for 8 days (cellular digestion). Afterwards, the three-dimensional organization of the prostatic urethra stroma was observed. RESULTS: It was observed that the prostates had a narrowed fibrous septa which condensed and formed a network in order to support the submucosa. Furthermore, it was also observed that they formed a homogeneous fibrous layer (pars fibroreticularis), which lined the urethral wall. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the urethra composition is essential to understand the physiopathological aspects of urinary incontinence. Moreover, our results showed a great amount of connective tissue underlying the prostatic urethra wall.

Stereological evaluation of fibronectin in the periurethral region of the transitional zone from normal human prostates compared with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The aim of this study was to assess the volumetric density (Vv) of the fibronectin in the periurethral region of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and compare with a control group. Prostatic periurethral tissue samples were obtained from ten patients (age range 65 to 79 years, mean 66) with clinical symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction who had undergone open prostatectomy. The control group samples (periurethral tissue samples from the transitional zone) were collected from prostates obtained during autopsy of accidental death adults of less than 25 years. The volumetric density (Vv) of the fibronectin was determined with stereological methods from 25 random fields per sample using the point-count method with an M-42 grid test system. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Mann-Whitney U tests. The Vv in the control and BPH groups was 21.9% ± 1.5% and 29.1% ± 1.2% in the fibronectin, respectively. BPH tissues presented a significant increase of fibronectin in prostatic periurethral region in the transitional zone that may cause lengthening of the prostatic urethra.

Significant decrease of extracellular matrix in prostatic urethra of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) nodules increase urethral resistance, resulting in "pressure" of tissue expansion to the urethra and leads to an increase in outflow resistance, accompanied by characteristic lengthening of the prostatic urethra. The goal of this investigation was to analyze and quantify changes of the histological components in the prostatic urethra of patients with BPH and compare with a control group. METHODS: Prostatic urethra tissue samples were obtained from ten patients (age range 63 to 79 years, mean 66) with clinical symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction who had undergone open prostatectomy. The ten control group samples (urethral tissue samples from the transitional zone) were collected from prostates obtained during autopsy of accidental death adults of less than 25 years. The Volumetric density (Vv) of the histological components was determined with stereological methods from 25 random fields per sample using the point-count method with a M-42 grid test system. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: The Vv (mean±SD) in the control and BPH groups respectively were: 20.3±0.3 and 17.12±1.1 in the elastic fiber system (p<0.007); and 29.7±1.9 and 25.1±2.4 in the collagen compartment (p<0.03). Smooth muscle cell volume was increased in BPH cases, 49.9±0.4 and 52.3±2.3 (not statistically significant). CONCLUSIONS: BPH nodules caused a significant decrease of elastic system fibers and collagen in prostatic urethra.

Bilateral absence of superior gemellus muscle in elderly cadaver / Ausencia bilateral del músculo gemelo superior en un cadáver anciano

The superior gemellus muscle (SGM) normally arises from the outer surface of the spine of the ischium, blends with the upper part of the tendon of the obturator internus, and is inserted with it into the medial surface of the greater trochanter. In this paper, we describe an anatomical variation in which the SGM is absent bilaterally. Therefore, as there are not many cases in literature, our attention has been drawn to the importance about absence of SGM, in order to improve anatomical and clinical knowledge about this finding.

El músculo gemelo superior (SGM) que se origina de la superficie externa de la parte posterior del isquion, se une a la parte superior del tendón del músculo obturador interno, y se introduce con él en la superficie medial del trocánter mayor. En este trabajo se describe una variación anatómica en la que el SGM está ausente bilateralmente. Debido a la escaza descripción de esta variación, es relevante conocer la ausencia de la SGM, con el fin de mejorar el conocimiento anatómico y clínico de este hallazgo.

High concentration of reticular fibers in periurethral region of the prostatic urethra from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia as revealed by stereology / Alta concentración de fibras reticulares en la región periuretral de la uretra prostática de pacientes con hiperplasia prostática benigna revelada por estereología

The goal of this investigation was to analyze and quantify changes of the reticular fibers in the prostatic urethra of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and compare with a control group. Prostatic urethra tissue samples were obtained from ten patients (age range 65 to 79 years, mean 66) with clinical symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction who had undergone open prostatectomy. The ten control group samples (urethral tissue samples from the transitional zone) were collected from prostates obtained during autopsy of accidental death adults of less than 25 years. The Vv of the reticular fibers was determined with stereologic methods from 25 random fields per sample using the point-count method with a M-42 grid test system. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Mann-Whitney U tests. The Vv (mean+/-SD) in the control and BPH groups respectively were: 23.4+/- 1.8 and 30.3 +/- 1.2 (0.001). BPH cause significant increase of reticular fibers in prostatic urethra...

El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar y cuantificar los cambios de las fibras reticulares en la uretra prostática de pacientes con hiperplasia prostática benigna (HPB) y compararlo con un grupo control. Muestras de tejido de uretra prostática se obtuvieron de diez pacientes (rango de edad 65 a 79 años, media 66) con síntomas clínicos de obstrucción del tracto urinario inferior que se habían sometido a prostatectomía abierta. Las diez muestras del grupo de control (muestras uretrales de tejido de la zona de transición) se obtuvieron de próstatas durante la autopsia de sujetos adultos con muerte accidental menores de 25 años. El Vv de las fibras reticulares se determinó con métodos estereológicos de 25 campos al azar por muestra utilizando el método de valor de conteo con el sistema M-42. Los datos cuantitativos se analizaron mediante la prueba de Kolmogorov-Smirnov y Mann-Whitney U. El Vv (media +/- DE) en el grupo control y BPH, respectivamente, fueron: 23,4 +/- 1,8 y 30,3 +/- 1,2 (0,001). La BPH causó aumento significativo de fibras reticulares en uretra prostática...