Remarkable features of ovarian morphology and reproductive hormones in insulin-resistant Zucker fatty (fa/fa) rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Zucker fatty (fa/fa) rats are a well-understood model of obesity and hyperinsulinemia. It is now thought that obesity/hyperinsulinemia is an important cause of endocrinological abnormality, but to date there have been no reports on the changes in ovarian morphology or the ovarian androgen profile in rat models of obesity and insulin resistance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study we investigated the effects of obesity and hyperinsulinemia on ovarian morphology and the hormone profile in insulin-resistant Zucker fatty rats (5, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age, n = 6-7).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ovaries from 5-week-old fatty rats had significantly greater total and atretic follicle numbers, and higher atretic-to-total follicle ratios than those from lean rats. Ovaries from 12- and 16-week-old fatty rats showed interstitial cell hyperplasia and numerous cysts with features of advanced follicular atresia. In addition, serum testosterone and androstenedione levels significantly declined in fatty rats from age 8 to 16 weeks, so that fatty rats showed significantly lower levels of serum testosterone (12 and 16 weeks) and androstenedione (all weeks) than lean rats. This may reflect a reduction of androgen synthesis during follicular atresia. Serum adiponectin levels were high in immature fatty rats, and although the levels declined significantly as they matured, it remained significantly higher in fatty rats than in lean rats. On the other hand, levels of ovarian adiponectin and its receptors were significantly lower in mature fatty rats than in lean mature rats or immature fatty rats.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings indicate that ovarian morphology and hormone profiles are significantly altered by the continuous insulin resistance in Zucker fatty rats. Simultaneously, abrupt reductions in serum and ovarian adiponectin also likely contribute to the infertility seen in fatty rats.</p

Feeder Cells Support the Culture of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Even after Chemical Fixation

Chemically fixed mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), instead of live feeder cells, were applied to the maintenance of mouse induced pluripotent stem (miPS) cells. Formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde were used for chemical fixation. The chemically fixed MEF feeders maintained the pluripotency of miPS cells, as well as their undifferentiated state. Furthermore, the chemically fixed MEF feeders were reused several times without affecting their functions. These results indicate that chemical fixation can be applied to modify biological feeders chemically, without losing their original functions. Chemically fixed MEF feeders will be applicable to other stem cell cultures as a reusable extracellular matrix candidate that can be preserved on a long-term basis

Smudge cells due to infectious mononucleosis

The smudge cells are well studied as a prognostic factor for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, but it is also found in viral infections. We experienced a case of abnormal hyperleukocytosis (WBC 41,600/mm3) associated with infectious mononucleosis (IM). The smudge cells were observed in peripheral blood smears, and were counted by mistake for the normal lymphocytes by the automatic blood count meter

Accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of myometrial invasion in endometrial carcinoma

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynecologic malignancy and accounts for 6% of all cancers in women. In patients with endometrial cancer, preoperative knowledge of myometrial tumor extension has important prognostic and therapeutic implications. The aim of this retrospective study is to assess whether magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is useful to assess the depth of myometrial invasion by endometrial carcinoma. Sixty patients between 2003 and 2005 were included in the study. All patients were proven histopathologically endometrial carcinoma and underwent preoperative MR imaging and all data was compared in all cases. The histological results showed no myometrial invasion in 8 cases, myometrial invasion of less than 50% in 35 cases, and myometrial invasion of more than 50% in 17 cases. In the cases of no myometrial invasion, MR T2 weighted imaging had a sensitivity of 87.5%, a specificity of 86.5%, a positive predictive Value (PPV) of 50.0% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 97.8%. In the cases of myometrial invasion of less than 50%, MR T2 weighted imaging had a sensitivity of 82.9%, a specificity of 72.0%, PPV of 80.6% and NPV of 75.0%. By contrast, in the cases of myometrial invasion of more than 50%, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of MR T2 weighted imaging were 58.8%, 100%, 100% and 86.0% respectively. Errors in MR findings when determining myometrial tumor spread were more frequently underestimations rather than overestimations.Our results indicate that MR imaging is useful for the preoperative assessment of the depth of myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial carcinoma