Cytochromes P-450 are a family of hemeproteins catalyzing the metabolism of both endogenous and exogenous (xenobiotic) compounds. This review describes the general features of these enzymes and some aspects of comparative studies, mainly in fish, birds, insects and plants.

Animals↗

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An uncommon apudoma: a functional chemodectoma of the larynx. Report of a case and review of the literature.

The authors report a case of laryngeal chemodectoma in a 53-year-old man who died from general dissemination and lymphatic and subcutaneous metastases. This functional neoplasm secreted calcitonin revealed by fluorescence and biochemical tests and perhaps adrenaline-like substances. Its cells looked like the light chief cells of the human carotid body; they contained secretory granules and lysosomal formations. Thirty similar cases had been previously reported. The superior laryngeal glomi and more occasionally the inferior ones were the seat of these tumours which occurred with an equal frequency in both sexes. A hoarseness was often the unique symptom noticed during the several months or years preceding the first examination of this slow growing neoplasm. Nevertheless among the chemodectomas of the head and the neck region those arising in the larynx had the highest incidence of malignant evolution. Five of the patients presented a general dissemination, two had lymphatic metastases and one a local recurrence. The ultra-structural features and sometimes the rarely detected functional activity of these chemodectomas are those of apudomas whose cells might originate from the cephalic portion of the neural crests.

Age Factors↗

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Ciliated bodies in gynecologic cytopathology: parasite or cellular debris?

Ciliated bodies, similar to the ones described originally by Gaudefroy and Coliche, were discovered in fluid from an ovarian cyst and fluid in the Douglas pouch. These were reproduced experimentally by mucosal scraping of Fallopian tubes. In fact, they were of cellular origin from desquamation of the ciliated apical portion of columnar cells.

Adult↗

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[Neonatal hepatitis with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficit. Apropos of a personal case].

The authors report a case of neonatal hepatitis with alpha-1-antitrypsin occuring in a child of ZZ phenotype. The anatomopathological study carried out on two liver biopsies showed changes of common cholestatic hepatitis developing into cirrhosis, as well as intrahepatocytary globulins. Moreover, these globulins, P.A.S. positive after treatment by alphaamylase, fix an antialpha-1-antitrypsine antiserum. Ultrastructural analysis shows them to be masses of amorphous material, feebly osmiophilic, outlined by a unitary membrane the moniliform aspect of which recalls the ergastoplasmic membrane. These findings are identical to those already made in cases of cirrhogenous neonatal hepatitis by alpha-1-antitrypsine deficit reported in the literature. They point out the irreversibility of the affection which, after a stage of cholestatic hepatitis with or without inflammatory portal fibrosis, develops into cirrhosis. At this stage cholestasis has regressed or disappeared whereas portal sclerosis, often infiltrated with free elements, surrounds hepatic lobules and biliary neocanaliculi. But the globulins are still present and appear to be the specific feature of this deficit. By their ultrastructural and immuno-histochemical features, these globulins would represent a form of accumulation of alpha-1-antitrypsin in the hepatocytes which normally carry out the synthesis of this antienzyme. Accumulation in the hepatocytes proves excretory disturbance of hypothetical mechanism: structural anomaly, changes in the permeability of the membrane. Its role in the occurrence of hepatitis or cirrhosis lesions is still to be demonstrated but one may think that it consists in absence of inhibition of the enzymatic factors discharged during agressions.

Cholestasis↗

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