The Microvascular Architecture of the Vestibule and the Endolymphatic Duct and Sac of the Rat in Vascular Corrosion Casts

The blood vessels of the vestibule and the endolymphatic duct and sac (ES) of the rat were reproduced with methacrylate casting medium and observed under a scanning electron microscope. Dense capillary networks of the macula utriculi and the macula sacculi were observed. The collecting venules from the vestibule emptied into the vein of the vestibular aqueduct (VVAQ). The plexus of the vessels in the ES was triangular in shape and had anastomoses with vessels of the bone and dura and drained into the VVAQ. The posterior meningeal artery (PMA) gave off two branches to the ES. These findings supported the similarity of the vascularization of the vestibule and the ES between the human and the rat

Involvement of the Vacuoles of the Endodermis in the Early Process of Shoot Gravitropism in Arabidopsis

The endodermal cells of the shoot are thought to be the gravity-sensing cells in Arabidopsis. The amyloplasts in the endodermis that sediment in the direction of gravity may act as statoliths. Endodermis-specific expression of SGR2 and ZIG using the SCR promoter could complement the abnormal shoot gravitropism of the sgr2 and zig mutants, respectively. The abnormalities in amyloplast sedimentation observed in both mutants recovered simultaneously. These results indicate that both genes in the endodermal cell layer are crucial for shoot gravitropism. ZIG encodes AtVTI11, which is a SNARE involved in vesicle transport to the vacuole. The fusion protein of SGR2 and green fluorescent protein localized to the vacuole and small organelles. These observations indicate that ZIG and SGR2 are involved in the formation and function of the vacuole, a notion supported by the results of subcellular analysis of the sgr2 and zig mutants with electron microscopy. These results strongly suggest that the vacuole participates in the early events of gravitropism and that SGR2 and ZIG functions are involved

Eosinophilic plasmacytic conjunctivitis concurrent with gingival fistula caused by Schizophyllum commune in a captive cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

We describe for the first time the diagnosis of Schizophyllum commune infection in a captive cheetah. Eosinophilic plasmacytic conjunctivitis was detected histopathologically in a biopsy specimen. Both a second surgical specimen and drainage fluid from a gingival mass and fistula contained fungal hyphae in giant cells with granulomatous inflammation. Allergic S. commune mycosis was suspected at this point. A monokaryotic isolate was characterized morphologically, and then identified genetically. Treatment with itraconazole and pimaricin was effective. Keywords: Allergic mycosis, Basidiomycosis, Granulomatous inflammation, Felidae, Schizophyllum commun