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Biomedical subjects

M Descamps

Publications and source records attributed to M Descamps.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Association of porous hydroxyapatite and bone marrow cells for bone regeneration.

The preparation of hybrid material with osteoinductive capacity may be achieved by association of cultured autologous bone cells with a porous ceramic vehicle. We optimized culture conditions for rabbit marrow stromal stem cells (MSCs), notably by selection from batches of fetal calf serum. Rabbit MSCs formed colony-forming unit-ribroblastic (CFU-Fs) in vitro. Their alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was doubled in the presence of dexamethasone. Autologous rabbit serum allowed the formation of ALP-positive CFU-Fs, but results were highly variable depending on the rabbit. We tested the osteogenic potential of autologous cultured (with or without dexamethasone addition in the culture medium) and noncultured rabbit MSCs associated with a porous hydroxyapatite ceramic after a dorsal intramuscular implantation. Nucleated cells (10(7) or 10(8)/mL) were used for the preparation of autologous hybrid material. A significantly higher number of implants containing bone was obtained with a suspension of 10(7) cells/mL cultured in the presence of 10(-8) M dexamethasone. Some positive implants were also obtained with a suspension of 10(8) noncultured cells/mL. We demonstrated the feasibility of preparing rabbit autologous hybrid materials following a process for controlling culture conditions, cell characterization and cell/material association.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Histological aspects in bone regeneration of an association with porous hydroxyapatite and bone marrow cells.

The osteogenic potential of an association of two kinds of hydroxyapatite (HA) porous ceramics with autologous bone marrow cells cultured with or without dexamethasone (10(-8)M) addition in the culture medium and non-cultured rabbit marrow stromal stem cells (MSCs) was tested after 4 weeks of implantation in the dorsal muscles of spine in rabbit. A significantly higher number of rabbits with implants containing bone tissue inside pores were obtained with 10(7) cells ml(-1) cultured treated with Dex. In the HA porous ceramic using naphtalen as porogen agent, the bone recolonization remains only at the periphery of implants and in the second row of pores, while in the HA porous ceramic using polymethacrylate (PMMA) microbeads as porogen agent, the bone recolonization is observed in the depth of implants. In the PMMA HA group, the Krüskal-Wallis variance analysis between the rabbits is significantly different with the percentage of number of occupied pores and occupied pores with bone tissue is different (p<0.05).

Journal Article↗

Role of interconnections in porous bioceramics on bone recolonization in vitro and in vivo.

The interconnections in a porous biomaterial are the pathways between the pores. They conduct cells and vessels between pores. Thus they favour bone ingrowth inside ceramics. The aim of our study was to determine the effect on bone ingrowth of interconnections in two ceramics: hydroxyapatite (HA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) with the same porosity of about 50% and a mean pores size of 100-300 microm and a mean interconnection size of 30-100 microm. In vitro, four discs for osteoblast culture were studied after 14 and 28 days of incubation. The results show that human osteoblasts can penetrate interconnections over 20 microm in size, and colonize and proliferate inside macropores, but the most favourable size is over 40 microm. In vivo, eight cylinders were implanted in the middle shaft of both rabbit femurs for 12 or 24 weeks. The histomorphometric results show that interconnections in porous ceramics favour bone ingrowth inside the macropores. In the HA group the rate of calcification and bone ingrowth do not differ, and chondroid tissue is observed inside pores. But in beta-TCP, the calcification rate and the bone ingrowth increased significantly. At week 12 significant correlation between new bone ingrowth and the size of the interconnections is observed between new bone ingrowth and the density of pores. In conclusion we notice that in vivo a 20 microm interconnection size only allows cell penetration and chondroid tissue formation; however the size of the interconnections must be over 50 microm to favour new bone ingrowth inside the pores. We propose the concept of "interconnection density" which expresses the quantity of links between pores of porous materials. It assures cell proliferation and differentiation with blood circulation and extracellular liquid exchange. In resorbable materials, pore density and interconnection density are more important than their size, contrary to unresorbable materials in which the sizes and the densities are equally important.

Journal Article↗

Comparative study of tissue reactions to calcium phosphate ceramics among cancellous, cortical, and medullar bone sites in rabbits.

In order to understand the influence of the implantation site on bone biomaterial evaluation, we implanted cylinders of HA and beta-TCP ceramics in the femoral diaphysis and condyle of rabbits. After 3, 8, 12, and 24 weeks of implantation, histological investigation and histomorphometry were performed on undecalcified samples. Our results show that spontaneous bone healing in the empty cavities is significantly different (p < 0.05) between cortical (SBH > 80%) and cancellous bone sites (SBH < 31%) and that no new bone is formed in marrow tissue. For both porous ceramics, the highest osteogenesis was obtained in the cortical site. Osteogenesis was intermediate in the cancellous site and weak in the medullar site. The material biodegradation was the strongest in the medullar site and higher in the cancellous site than in the cortical site. Both activities were better in the beta-TCP than in the HA (p > 0.05). The marrow tissue presents a foreign-body reaction more reliable, sensitive, and durable than other bone tissues. Therefore, the cancellous bone site is a good site for evaluation of the biofunctionality of biomaterials because of the equilibrium of the osteogenesis and the biodegradation activities, but marrow tissue seems to be better for testing material biocompatibility in vivo.

Animals↗

Implication of the midgut of the centipede Lithobius forficatus in the heavy metal detoxification process.

Ultrastructural and autometallographic investigations of the midgut of experimentally intoxicated centipedes, Lithobius forficatus, have been performed to investigate the functional role of the epithelial cells in the detoxification of heavy metals. Ultrastructural study demonstrated that nonessential metals such as cadmium and lead may cause intracellular changes, i.e., appearance of electron-dense granules with a spongelike aspect and increase in the number and the size of concentrically structured granules. The autometallographic procedure demonstrated that both types of granules are the main organelles of the midgut to accumulate heavy metals. The permanent storage of metals in granules is a mechanism used by centipedes to reduce the toxic effects of heavy metals assimilated in excess. Consequently, midgut epithelium works as an efficient barrier to prevent excesses of certain metals in the internal environment.

Animals↗

Effects of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides on acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase activities of the polychaete Nereis diversicolor.

A toxicity test for organophosphates (OP) and carbamates (C) was improved with the adult ragworm Nereis diversicolor. Animals were maintained in U-shaped glass tubes of 4-mm inner diameter fixed vertically on a plastic plate and placed in glass aquaria. Each tank was covered with glass in order to reduce evaporation and heat dissipation. Temperature varied between 15 and 16 degrees C and salinity was constant (34 per thousand) during the entire length of the experiment. Experiments were performed with a fixed day length of 12 h and seawater was gently aerated. The maintenance system allowed the administration of OP and C compounds via the seawater. An acclimatization period of 48 h was not sufficient to accomodate worms to their artificial burrows; accordingly, we chose to acclimate worms for a week before beginning the exposure. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity was very low and was not significantly modified by two OP compounds: malathion and parathion-ethyl. ChAT is not a target for these pesticides and should not be used for future studies about OP and C toxicity. On the other hand, inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were determined at concentrations of 10(-6) M for three OP compounds-malathion, parathion-ethyl, and phosalone-and a carbamate pesticide-carbaryl. We measured only short-term effects and no cumulative effect was determined, the maximum percentage of AChE activity inhibition being between 2 (carbaryl) and 7 (OP compounds) days after exposure and then remaining stable. Mortality occured only after a period of intoxication of 14 days. N diversicolor, which can be easily maintained at the laboratory, seems to be a good candidate for future laboratory studies to test the toxicity of other pollutants.

Animals↗

The double spermatogenesis in Scutigera coleoptrata (Myriapoda, Chilopoda): macro- and microspermatocyte growth.

In Scutigera coleoptrata, double spermatogenesis (macro and micro germinal cells) was reinvestigated by means of both image analysis and electron microscopy. Image analysis of the two cell-lines showed no differences in DNA content between the two types of spermatogenesis. The only difference found, with the exception of the size and the related number of organelles, was that in the macro-cell line the chromatin was well dispersed and not condensed, which is the opposite of what was observed in the micro-cell line. It is assumed that the level of activity related to this condensation process is at the origin of the two pathways of development.

Animals↗

Neuropeptides and related nucleic acid sequences detected in peneid shrimps by immunohistochemistry and molecular hybridizations.

The neurosecretory cells in the eyestalks of Penaeus indicus and P. vannamei were studied by immunocytochemistry using polyclonal antisera raised against purified Homarus americanus neuropeptides. Cross-reactions between two H. americanus anti-crustacean hyperglycemic hormone antisera and Penaeus neurosecretory material were observed. The specific anti-vitellogenesis inhibiting hormone antiserum only showed an immunological reaction in the nervous tract and the sinus gland of Penaeus, suggesting a progressive exposure of a characteristic epitope which was amenable to immunological detection. Molecular hybridizations were performed in P. indicus and P. vannamei with a digoxigenin tailed 23mer oligonucleotide probe deduced from two partial sequences of uncharacterized, purified P. duorarum neuropeptides. Two distinct clusters of positive cells were observed by in situ hybridization experiments in the medulla terminalis ganglionic X-organ. Classical control tests gave negative results. Northern and Southern blot analyses were performed with the same tailed probed and allowed the determination of molecular weights for the mRNA and for a DNA restriction fragment (Pst 1), 1.7 kb and 200 bp, respectively. These observations show the existence of a strong homology between the P. duorarum sequence (selected for synthesizing the probe), and some P. indicus and P. vannamei neuropeptide sequence(s). Heterologous antisera were tested in other Arthropods to complete our analyses. In the centipede Lithobius forficatus and the scorpion Euscorpius carpathicus, the anti-crustacean hyperglycemic hormone antiserum induced a strong cross-reaction. A monoclonal anti-bombyxin-1 antiserum showed an immunoreaction in the neurosecretory system of the insects Tenebrio molitor and Labidura riparia. In contrast, the anti-bombyxin-1 antiserum did not react either in Penaeus or in Lithobius, and the Homarus hyperglycemic hormone antiserum did not react in the insects that were tested. A comprehensive view of these observations is discussed in relation to a divergence in Arthropod evolution.

Animals↗

Influence of putative neurotransmitters on brain electrical activity in Lithobius forficatus L. (Myriapoda Chilopoda).

Various putative neurotransmitters and related drugs were tested on the electrical activity of the brain of L. forficatus, at various times during the year. Indirect evidence exists for a depressant action from GABA. Ach, 5HT, NA and DA have stimulatory effects. However, DA effects were found to vary with the season, suggesting a role in the control of an annual cycle.

Acetylcholine↗

Effect of brain electrostimulation on antennal regeneration in Lithobius forficatus L. (Myriapoda:Chilopoda). Preliminary note.

After the antennae of Lithobius forficatus were amputated, electrical stimulation of the deutocerebral apex (= antennal lobes) either in the spring or the autumn led to (1) a decrease in the number of regenerated articles, and (2) an increase in the time-lag between the experiment and moulting. Moreover, in the spring experiments, the antennae regenerated asymmetrically. The electrostimulatory effect could act through an endocrine centre, probably the cerebral glands.

Animals↗

Electrophysiological evidence for direct ecdysteroid action on the brain in Lithobius forficatus L. (Myriapoda: Chilopoda).

Electrical activity of the brain of Lithobius forficatus has been recorded. The addition of ecdysteroids (moulting hormone) in the haemolymph increased the frequency and amplitude of electrical response. Such a stimulation might be specific to these products since cholesterol and juvenile hormone had no action. The destruction or removal of various parts of the cephalic endocrine system demonstrated that the pars intercerebralis (p.i.) (postero-median area of the protocerebron) was responsible for increasing electrical activity after ecdysone supply.

Animals↗