The neuronal structure of the mamillary nuclei in guinea pig: Nissl, Klüver-Barrera and Golgi studies

The neurons of the mamillary body of adult guinea pigs were classified into four types: Type 1 — unidendritic cells with rounded perikarya (7–16 µm) and one thick primary dendrite, mostly dividing into tortuous secondary branches; Type 2 — bipolar cells: curly or simple ones with fusiform perikarya (13–22 µm); the curly-bipolar neurons possess 2 primary dendrites which may divide, even into tertiary dendrites, but each of them runs in screw-like or bending patterns; the simple-bipolar neurons have slender dendrites following a more straight route; Type 3 -multipolar cells with cap-like perikarya (10–20 µm) and 2–3 dendritic trunks originating from the base of the perikaryon and running in a wavy pattern; sometimes their dendrites possess spiny-like protrusions; Type 4 — multipolar cells with triangular or quadrangular perikarya (13–28 µm) and 3–4 dendritic trunks, poorly ramified, having a rather rectilinear course. In all types of neurons, dendritic spines are absent or rare. The majority of these neurons have a short impregnated axon originating from the perikaryon or primary dendrite

The morphological types of neurones of the medial and lateral mamillary nuclei in a newborn guinea pig: Nissl, Klüver-Barrea and Golgi studies

The studies were carried out on the hypothalamus of 5 newborn (P0 stage) guinea pigs. The sections were impregnated according to three modifications of the Golgi technique or stained according to the Nissl and Klüver-Barrera methods. On the basis of the shape and size of perikarya, dendroarchitecture, pattern of axon as well as the inner structure of neurones, in the medial (Mm) and lateral (Ml) mamillary nuclei four morphological types of nerve cells were distinguished: cap-like with two subtypes (33% of the cell population), fusiform (35%), triangular (12%) and rounded unidendritic (21%) neurones. The majority of them possessed spines on their dendrites. The spiny cells, both cap-like and fusiform ones, were observed preponderantly, in the medial mamillary nucleus, whereas in the lateral mamillary nucleus there were mainly seen the triangular and fusiform neurones, either spiny or aspiny cells. The spineless rounded unidendritic cells were dispersed throughout the mamillary region, but they were twice as numerous in Mm as in Ml, where they were the least numerous

Vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in the serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We investigated the serum concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its two soluble receptors, sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2, in a group of 60 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 20 healthy controls, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We examined a possible association between serum levels of these proteins and certain clinical and laboratory parameters as well as SLE activity. VEGF, sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2 were detectable in all patients with SLE and in all normal individuals. The VEGF level was higher in active SLE (mean, 300.8 pg/ml) than in inactive SLE (mean, 165.9 pg/ml) (p < 0.05) or in the control group (mean, 124.7 pg/ml) (p < 0.04). The highest sVEGFR-1 concentrations were also detected in active SLE patients (mean, 42.2 pg/ml) and the lowest in inactive disease (mean, 32.0 pg/ml) (p < 0.01). In contrast, the levels of sVEGFR-2 were lower in SLE (mean, 12557.6 pg/ml) than in the control group (mean, 15025.3 pg/ml) (p < 0.05). We found a positive correlation between sVEGFR-1 concentration and the SLE activity score p = 0.375 (p < 0.004) and a negative, but statistically insignificant correlation between sVEGFR-2 and SLE activity (p = -0.190, p > 0.05). Treatment with steroids and cytotoxic agents did not influence VEGF or its soluble receptors levels. In conclusion, in SLE patients the levels of VEGF and sVEGFR-1 are higher in patients with active SLE than in inactive disease or healthy persons. In contrast, the level of sVEGFR-2 is lower in active SLE than in inactive disease. The imbalance between VEGF and its soluble receptors may be important in SLE pathogenesis

Application of Ionic Liquids in Paper Properties and Preservation

For centuries, paper has been an important medium of information. Currently, the basic risk to the paper collection is “acidic paper” and the action of enzymes secreted by microorganisms on them. In order to ‘prolong life’ of these materials, in recent years, various chemical compounds have been used. In this chapter, ionic liquids (IL) are explored as substances for deacidification of paper and its conservation, including antifungal activity. The use of these substances in the manufacturing of paper is possible, but the ingredients play an important role. Imidazolium IL cause an increase in the pH (deacidification) of historical papers and do not cause worsening of their strength properties, but these compound can cause a colour change. Benzalkonium dl‐lactate and didecyldimethylammonium dl‐lactate and derivatives of 1,2,4‐triazole are used as effective inhibitors of growth of moulds on paper. The best antifungal activity in these ionic liquids is observed in the paper pine at a concentration of 5% and weakest in the samples from the pulp after chemical‐thermomechanical treatment. New paper impregnated with ionic liquids is characterised by an increase in tear resistance, reduction of breaking length and a favourable influence on the paper colour

A morphometric study of the amygdala in the common shrew

The characteristic features of the common shrew amygdala (CA), as shown by volumetric comparisons of the individual nuclei, are the poor development of the lateral (LA) and basomedial (BM) nuclei as well as the particularly strong formation of the basolateral (BL) and lateral olfactory tract (NLOT) nuclei. The central (CE), cortical (CO) and medial (ME) nuclei are also well organised in this species. All these features are even more distinctly visible when the total number of neurons in the nuclei referred to are compared. A comparison of the densities of neurons in the individual nuclei with the mean numerical density of cells in the CA indicates that there are the 3 different regions within the common shrew&#8217;s CA. The densities of neurons in the LA, BL, and BM are significantly lower than the mean density of cells in the CA (p < 0.05). In the CE this value does not differ from the mean (p > 0.05). In the CO, ME and NLOT the density values are significantly higher than the mean (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a similar division of the shrew&#8217;s CA can, to some extent, be performed using the size parameters of the amygdaloid neurons as a marker. Interestingly, the large neurons populate less densely organised CA areas like the LA, BL and BM, whereas the small cells populate the ME and NLOT, where the neurons are densely arranged. The CE and CO occupy intermediate positions, with the neurons similar in size to the mean for the shrew&#8217;s CA

The types of neurones in the neostriatum of the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus): Golgi and Klüver-Barrera studies

The Golgi technique stain was used to reveal the cellular structure of the neostriatum (nucleus caudatus and putamen) in the guinea pig. The computerised reconstructions were made from Golgi impregnated neurones. On the basis of various criteria, 4 types of neurones were distinguished in the guinea pig neostriatum: 1. The rounded neurones (most numerous) with 5&#8211;8 thin dendritic trunks; 2. The triangular nerve cells with 3 thick dendritic trunks; 3. Two types of multipolar neurones differing in dendritic arborisation pattern with 4&#8211;6 and 7&#8211;9 primary dendrites, respectively. 4. The pear-shaped cells, which divide into two distinctly different subpopulations

Work-Life Balance Factors in the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

The analysis of the problem of work- life balance (WLB) expanded through the last few years, being transformed from the typically female problem, connected with family life, into more general issue, concerning all the employees. The problem occurs especially with reference to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which dominate in the enterprise structure in the world. At the same time these organizations represent relatively low standards in terms of realization of the basic rules of HR management, including WLB. It is caused not only by the system and organizational limitations, but it is also a result of a lack of the employers’ awareness in relation with a given area. It also seems to be interesting that the peculiarity of the functioning of a SMEs may be recognized as a factor fostering efficient management of WLB (greater flexibility in decision- making process, greater flexibility in terms of structural and economic matters), but at the same time size of the company can be recognized as a factor creating an obstacles in implementation of the WLB idea (ad hoc management, lack of knowledge in the area of shaping activities concerning WLB, focus on profit in a short time, lack of strategic management, lack of formal representations of the employees’ interests). The aim of the article is to present the results of authors’ own research focusing on the conditions of WLB of SME’s employees

A comparative study of the mammalian amygdala: a Golgi study of the basolateral amygdala

The lateral (LA), basolateral (BL) and basomedial (BM) amygdaloid nuclei were compared in the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) fox (Vulpes vulpes) and pig (Sus scrofa) by using the Golgi techniques. The interspecific comparisons of the individual basolateral nuclei have shown that the neuronal structure in each of them is extremely stable and remains almost unchanged in the series of animals studied. The only difference is the size of the basolateral neurons, which increases with the increasing size of the brain. Moreover, the intraspecific comparisons revealed that in all the animals studied LA, BL and BM form a fairly homogenous mass of cells in which similar cell types are present. The most numerous neurons in all basolateral nuclei are the spiny cells that often show a pyramidal or semi-pyramidal appearance (the Type I cells). Many of these have conical cell bodies and easily recognisable "apical" and "basal" dendrites. The Type II neurons are the most common variety of non-pyramidal cell and have round cell bodies and smooth or sparsely spined dendrites. The axons of these cells often form a dense terminal field that remains in the vicinity of the parent soma. The Type III cells, which are only occasionally seen, are small spine-sparse neurogliaform neurons with a few extremely delicate beaded dendrites and a poorly branching local axon. These neurons were only located in LA and BL