Comparative study of heparin- and toluidine blue positive mast cells in porcine lumbar spinal ganglia

In the present study, toluidine blue for metachromasia and berberine sulfate for heparin fluorescence were used to determine the localisation and distribution of mast cells as well as the percent of hepa-rin-positive cells (MCH) in normal lumbar spinal ganglia (dorsal root ganglia) of domestic swine. Mast cells density was established after estimating the number of these cells per ganglion. Mast cells with metachromasia (MCTB) were observed predominantly in the ganglion capsule near the blood vessels. The number of mast cells inside the ganglia (2.10±1.45 in males and 2.20±1.03 in females) was significantly lower than in the capsule (13.30±1.95 in males and 13.60±2.42 in females) in both genders (P<0.001). Sexual dimorphism of the studied parameters was not established except for the slightly higher number of mast cells localised inside the left spinal ganglia of females than in males (P<0.05). The localisation of heparin-positive mast cells and the ratio between them and mast cells stained with toluidine blue (almost 2:1) was also determined. The percentage of heparin-positive mast cells in the ganglion capsule was 4 %, whereas inside the ganglion – 40%

Arterial vascularisation of pig’s auditory tube with respect to a. palatina ascendens – a corrosion cast and morphometric study

The aim of this study was to determine species-specific features of arterial vascularisation of the audi-tory tube of domestic pigs as a segment connecting the nasopharynx and the middle ear with regard to the increasing role of pigs as most appropriate model of human biomedical research. The arterial branches involved in the vascularisation of the auditory tube were described on corrosion casts. It was found out that in the direction of the middle ear, the tube received blood from branches of a. palatina ascendens, a. meningea media, a. temporalis profunda caudalis and rete mirabile epidurale rostrale, out of which the first of enumerated arteries was the most involved. In the majority of cases (87.5%) it gave off two branches that ramified in the lateral and medial walls of the tube. For the first time, it was demonstrated that a. palatina ascendens was separated from the facial artery and not from a. lingualis. The measurements on casts showed that the diameter of left a. palatina ascendens was sta-tistically significantly larger than right one in both sexes, and that average diameters of either right or left arteries were larger in males. The results allowed concluding that a. palatina ascendens was pre-dominantly involved in the arterial blood supply of porcine auditory tube

Anatomical peculiarities and morphometric characteristics of the intramural part of the porcine ureter

The intramural part (located within the wall of urinary bladder) of the porcine ureter from 100 (50 male and 50 female) six months old Bulgarian White x Landrace pigs, with weight between 95 and 105 kg, slaughtered for meat consumption in accordance with Bulgarian legislation, were studied after silicone filling, radiography and cor­rosion casts. It was established that the intramural part showed a well expressed curved course (almost 90áµ’) with laterally oriented arch and distension just before transforming into ureteral columns. The statistical data (pre­sented as mean ± SD) of the studied morphometric parameters on silicone replicas - diameter and length of both sides of this part of the ureter and the distance between the two ureteral orifices (ostia ureterica), as well, showed slightly higher values in females compared to males, with no statistical significance (P>0.05, one-way ANOVA). Similarly, the diameter and length of the right ureters were with slightly higher values that these of the left in­tramural parts. Also, an asymmetry between ureteral ostia was observed - 15.4% in males and 38.5% in females, with different position toward each other. Ureteral ectopy was not observed in all animals studied. The original data obtained present a species-specific feature and could be useful also in medico-biological studies related to humans and probably in xenotransplantation, as well

The nitrogen isotope composition of sediments from the proto-North Atlantic during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2

Sediment records of the stable isotopic composition of N (δ15N) show light δ15N values at several sites in the proto-North Atlantic during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2) at the Cenomanian-Turonian transition (∼94 Ma). The low δ15N during the event is generally attributed to an increase in N2 fixation and incomplete uptake of 4+ for phytoplankton growth. A compilation of all reliable data for the proto-North Atlantic during OAE 2 demonstrates that the most pronounced negative shift in δ15N from pre-OAE 2 to OAE 2 occurs in the open ocean but with δ15N never lower than −3‰. Using a box model of N cycling for the proto-North Atlantic during OAE 2, we show that N2 fixation is a major contributor to the δ15N signal, especially in the open ocean. Incomplete uptake of 4+ for phytoplankton growth is important in regions dominated by downwelling, with lateral transport of 4+ acting as a major source. In the southern proto-North Atlantic, where bottom waters were euxinic, the light δ15N signature is largely explained by upwelling of 4+. Our study provides an overview of regional differences in δ15N in the proto-North Atlantic and highlights the role of lateral exchange of water and nutrients, in addition to local biogeochemical processes, in determining δ15N values of OAE 2 sediments