[Relation between electrocardiographic changes and morphologic changes induced by anthracyclines].
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
P Poggi
Publications and source records attributed to P Poggi.
[Influence of trifluoperazine and flunarizine on the late myocardial toxicity of doxorubicin].
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Animals↗
Relationship between doxorubicin-induced ECG changes and myocardial alterations in rats.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the dose- and time-dependence of the effect displayed by doxorubicin (DXR) on the electrocardiogram (ECG) and to establish the relationship between structural alterations of the myocardium and ECG changes in rats administered DXR, at a dose of 1.5 or 3.0 mg/kg, every 3 days for a total of three administrations. The most interesting findings consisted of a dose-dependent, but reversible prolongation of the QRS complex, and in a dose-dependent and progressive irreversible increase in QaT and, in particular, in SaT duration. Furthermore, animals treated with the higher DXR dose showed a slight increase in serum K+ concentration and a significant decrease in serum Ca2+ levels. A good correlation was found between the morphologic score indicating the degree of observed tissue damage and SaT prolongation. These results therefore support the usefulness of measuring this ECG parameter for monitoring the development of DXR-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.
Animals↗
Thallium-induced testicular toxicity in the rat.
Reproductive tract functions were studied in adult male Wistar rats given 10 ppm thallium as thallium sulfate in the drinking water. After 60 days of treatment, spermatozoa isolated from the cauda epididymides and vas deferens showed reduced motility and immature germ cells were found in the tubular lumen. Histological examination of testes in thallium-treated animals revealed disarrangement of the tubular epithelium and ultrastructural changes in the Sertoli cells with cytoplasmic vacuolation and distension of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The activity of testicular beta-glucuronidase was significantly reduced whereas acid phosphatase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities were unchanged. Plasma testosterone levels were within normal limits. No abnormalities in testicular morphology and biochemistry were seen in animals sacrificed at the end of the first month of thallium exposure. These findings indicate that the male reproductive system is a susceptible target site to toxic effects of thallium under chronic exposure. They also suggest a major involvement of Sertoli cells in the mechanism underlying thallium-induced testicular damage.
Acid Phosphatase↗
Skeletal muscle changes following myelotomy in paraplegic patients.
Pourpre's dorsal T-shaped myelotomy was performed on three paraplegic patients in which medical and electro-physiological procedures proved to be ineffective concerning muscle spasms. The myelotomy led to the elimination of spasms and of muscle hypertonicity in the lower limbs. Biopsies of the rectus femoris muscles were performed bilaterally one year before and two months following myelotomy. The first biopsy revealed fascicular atrophy, with type I fibre preferential atrophy, which is usually found in paraplegic patients. After myelotomy some histological differences were seen: reduction of type II fibre diameter and the presence of target-targetoid fibres and of atrophic dark fibres. There was a difference of fibre pattern type in hypertonic spastic muscles compared to that seen in spasm relieved by myelotomy. The morphological changes seen after myelotomy are interpreted as denervation changes because of the surgical lesion by the myelotomy on the anterior horn cells.
Adult↗
Regenerated middle ear mucosa after tympanoplasty. Part I. Transmission electron microscopy.
The ultrastructural appearance of the regenerated middle ear mucosa--found at the second operation of staged intact canal wall tympanoplasty (ICWT) with mastoidectomy--has been evaluated with the transmission electron microscope. The regenerated epithelium showed all the morphologic characteristics of the normal middle ear mucosa: ciliated cells, nonciliated cells, and secretory cells. All of these (including goblet cells) have been found in the specimens. It is concluded that a normal middle ear mucosa regenerates to cover all denuded bone surfaces after the first operation of staged ICWT with mastoidectomy, when silicone rubber sheeting has been used to prevent adhesions and maintain an air-containing middle ear space.
Biopsy↗
Lymph vessels of the rabbit heart: distribution and fine structure in atria.
The distribution and fine structure of lymph capillaries in the atria of the rabbit heart were examined. A lymph capillary network extends into both the right and left atria but its distribution is not uniform. It is developed in the subepicardium but not in the myocardium and subendocardium of the atrial wall; overall it is less extensive than the corresponding network in the ventricles. In the atrial conduction system and in particular the sino-atrial node and the crista terminalis, the lymph network is more widely distributed; small lymph capillaries are also detected between the myocardial cells of the conduction system. A large lymph channel consistently runs along the medial side of the crista terminalis. The morphologic characteristics of atrial lymph capillaries include irregular shape, thinness of the endothelial wall, superimpositions and interlockings of the cells in the contact areas with complex junctional processes, thin and discontinuous basal membrane.
Animals↗
Cytoplasmic bodies in lymphatic endothelial cell.
Although micropinocytotic vesicles and other large vesicular structures have been observed in lymphatic endothelial cells on electron microscopy, in this study ultrastructure attention was focused on a variety of other membrane-bounded structures in the cytoplasm of these cells in the rabbit heart. The first type was oval or round in transverse section and elongated in longitudinal section, was 100-200 nm in diameter and contained regularly spaced tubules. These features resembled rod-shaped bodies detected thus far only in blood vascular endothelial cells. A second type of cytoplasmic body was also frequently seen in lymphatic endothelium. It contained irregularly spaced small vesicles, 5-7 in number and 45 nm in diameter. A third type of vesiculated body was only occasionally found. This latter structure was greater than the previously described bodies and ranged from 3-5 micron in diameter, and filled with granular, inhomogeneous material and filamentous-like components. The functional significance of these intraendothelial bodies is as yet unexplained.
Animals↗
Lymph vessels of the heart. A comparative study of various techniques for light and electron microscopy.
This investigation was carried out in order to find out which was the best technique, among those reported in the literature, to recognize the small lymph vessels by light microscopy, while at the same time allowing a good ultrastructural preservation of tissues. The study was performed with rabbit hearts according to the following methods: (1) injection of India ink into the wall of the heart followed by perfusion with aldehyde fixative; (2) injection of India ink into the wall of the heart followed by immersion in aldehyde fixative; (3) treatment of the animals with histamine dihydrochloride by e.v. route and aldehyde (4) fixation by immersion; (5) fixation by immersion in osmium tetroxide fixative; fixation by immersion in aldehyde fixative; (6) fixation by perfusion with the same mixture as in (5). In cases (1), (2), (3), (5), and (6), the tissue specimens were postfixed in osmium tetroxide according to conventional methods. The validity of the different methods was checked by examining semithin sections of varying thickness at the light microscope and ultrathin sections at the transmission electron microscope. A comparative examination of the preparation showed that the method allowing the promptest recognition of the small lymph vessels, together with the best ultrastructural preservation and a good reproducibility of results was perfusion of the coronary circle.
Animals↗
Lymph vessels of the rabbit heart: distribution and fine structure in ventricles.
We examined the distribution and fine morphology of small lymph channels in the rabbit heart, and particularly in the ventricular myocardium. Light microscopy showed many small subendocardial lymphatics in both ventricles and especially in the subendocardium of papillary muscles and right side of the septum. Electron microscopy revealed that the endothelial ultrastructure of these lymphatics was similar at different sites. The cytoplasm exhibited frequent adluminal expansions and contained numerous micropinocytotic vesicles opening both into the lumen and surrounding interstitium. Bundles of microfilaments, commonly arranged in a parallel fashion, were also visible. Between laminations of the endothelial wall were relatively dense, finely granular material. Intercellular contacts were characterized by cell superimpositions and interlockings, specialized junctions and occasionally maculae adherentes. The basal membrane was discontinuous and often of variable thickness. In the surrounding connective tissue, thin filaments appeared adjacent to the abluminal surface of the endothelial wall. Although the fine structure of the walls of small lymphatics in the rabbit ventricular myocardium was similar to that of small lymphatics at other sites, their distribution varied from other mammalian species.
Animals↗
[Scintigraphic studies in the follow-up of splenic ruptures].
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Accidents↗
Hemiplegic atrophy. Morphological findings in the anterior tibial muscle of patients with cerebral vascular accidents.
Anterior tibial muscle biopsies of the hemiplegic side of 16 patients with a cerebrovascular accident in the middle cerebral artery region were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by enzyme histochemistry and electron microscopy. Patients grouped according to the time lapsed as from the occurrence of the accident (1-17 months) demonstrated a progressive decrease in the fiber diameter and changes in fiber type distribution with predominant type II atrophy and type I predominance. Nuclear internalization, myopathic alterations, and perifascicular fatty infiltrations were observed constantly. In the affected fibers the ultrastructural findings were myofibrillar alterations with the formation of rods and cytoplasmic bodies. There was accumulation of lipofuscin, glycogen, and lipid droplets. Microvascular changes were observed frequently. Biopsies from the asymptomatic legs were either normal or showed age-related muscle alterations. Correlation was noted between the clinical and functional status of the patients and the morphological aspects seen in muscle biopsies.
Adult↗
Muscle fiber type morphology and distribution in paraplegic patients with traumatic cord lesion. Histochemical and ultrastructural aspects of rectus femoris muscle.
Biopsies of the rectus femoris muscle of 22 paraplegic patients with complete acute spinal cord transection due to trauma were taken for enzyme-histochemical and electron-microscopic studies in successive stages starting from occurrence of the accident (1-17 months). Ingravescent muscular atrophy was demonstrated with a progressive decrease in the fiber diameter and changes in the fiber type distribution with predominant type II atrophy in the first stage and type I atrophy in the later stage of the cord transection. Muscular "neurogenic" changes, such as angular dark atropic fibers, targetoid fibers, and type predominance are frequently observed. Myopathic alterations are observed in a low percentage in the later stages of the lesion. The ultrastructural findings are characterized by myofibrillar alterations and by dilatation and proliferative phenomena of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and T-system. There are ingravescent accumulation of lipid, interstitial fibrosis and microcirculatory alterations. The possible mechanism of "central" muscle atrophy is reviewed and discussed with reference to the morphological findings.
Adolescent↗
Effects of lithium administration on central and peripheral nervous system in rats. Biochemical and morphological findings.
The effect of 4 weeks' treatment with lithium chloride on the central and peripheral nervous system of Wistar albino rats was studied. Normal activity values of some brain enzymes related to energy transduction (LDH, MDH, COX, NADH-ccRT) and neuro-transmission (ACHe), evaluated both in the homogenate in toto and in the crude mitochondrial fraction, were obtained. Fine changes in mitochondrial organelles and nerve processes of neurocytes were ultrastructurally observed. The peripheral nerve studies revealed in some treated rats a slight motor nerve conduction velocity impairment by electro-physiological methods, but no significant alterations in the sciatic nerve specimens examined by electron microscopy.
Animals↗
Industrial neuropathy due to n-hexane. Clinical and morphological findings in three cases.
Three cases of motor polyneuropathy due to industrial exposure to an adhesive agent containing 80.4% of n-hexane as the volatile substance are described. Histological and ultrastructural studies on sural nerve reveal alterations of both myelin sheaths and axons of large diameter fibers, with segmental swelling and increase of neurofilaments. In the muscle specimens there is a pattern of denervation atrophy with focal degenerative-inflammatory changes. Some differences between the present cases and those previously described in the literature are discussed.
Adhesives↗
Chronic treatment with phenytoin in rats: effects of peripheral nervous system.
60 albino Sprague-Dawley female rats, 250 g of body weight, were treated for 6 months with phenytoin 30 mg/100 g/die per os (mean plasma levels: 10-20 gamma/ml). Between 75 and 90 days of treatment motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities were examined along the tail (Miyoshi and Goto, 1973; Fiaschi et al., 1977) in 15 treated animals and in 10 untreated control animals. A slowing of sensory conduction velocity was shown in 6 treated animals (40%); in 2 of them (13%) the motor conduction velocity was also showed. 25 treated rats were controlled with the same neurophysiologic methods after 165-180 days of PHT treatment in comparison with 10 controls; a slowing of sensory conduction velocity was observed in 14 treated rats (56%) and a slowing of motor conduction in 5 of them (20%). The hystological and ultrastructural study carried out on the sciatic nerves of all animals revealed changes of myelinated fibres only in the animals with slowed motor conduction velocity. The non-myelinated fibres were apparently normal.
Animals↗
Histochemical and ultrastructural aspects of m. vastus lateralis in sedentary old people (age 65--89 years).
Biopsies for histochemical and ultrastructural studies were taken from the M. vastus lateralis of 45 healthy sedentary men and women aged 65--89 years. With increasing age the histochemical reactions reveal changes inthe fibre type distribution characterized by a decrease in the percentage and predominant atrophy of type II fibres. The most frequent changes in the oldest subjects are: targetoid fibres, type I fibre predominance, and type grouping phenomena; expressions of denervation. Myopathic alterations are observed unusually. Electron microscopic findings are characterized by myofibrillar disorder, streaming of Z line and rod formation, and dilatation and increase of sarcoplasmic reticulum. As the age increases, the fibres become richer in intracellular lipid droplets and lysosomes. Intramuscular microcirculatory alterations, consisting of arteriolosclerotic changes and increase in width of the capillary basement membrane, are also observed and discussed.
Aged↗
Toxic polyneuropathy due to n-hexane.
Three women developed a predominantly motor polyneuropathy following industrial exposure to an adhesive agent containing 80.4% of n-hexane as a volatile substance. Histological and electron-microscopic studies were carried out on sural nerve and on soleus muscle. In the nerve, there were polymorphous changes in both myelin sheaths and axons of large diameter fibres. Irregular and swollen myelin sheaths and segmental swelling of axons with dissolution of neurotubules and evident increase of neurofilaments were frequently observed. Polymorphous inclusion bodies were often present in Schwann cell cytoplasm. The small myelinated and unmyelinated fibres did not show significant changes. The muscles showed denervation atrophy and focal degenerative myopathic changes, with presence of lymphocytic infiltrates and phagocytosis. This study confirms the noxious effect of n-hexane on the peripheral nerve, with development, in our cases, of a toxic polyneuropathy and denervation muscular atrophy with consistent myopathic changes.
Adolescent↗