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Biomedical subjects

S Cinti

Publications and source records attributed to S Cinti.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Human brown adipose cells in culture.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT), obtained from the axillary and perirenal regions of newborns 24-48 h after death, was digested with collagenase and the free cells were cultured. Only the cultures of cells from tissue obtained later than 24 h post mortem were successful. These cells grew slowly to reach confluence. Their typical mitochondria gradually disappeared, being replaced by untypical mitochondria. After confluence, the cells accumulated large amounts of lipid in non-coalescent multivacuolar depots. This model can be useful for the study of the metabolic and morphological features of human brown fat cells.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗

An ultrastructural study on muciparous microcysts of the human adenohypophysis.

The microcysts found in two adenohypophyses removed from patients with nonsecreting adenomas of this gland have been studied. In one case the cysts were completely surrounded by neoplastic tissue, whereas in the second they were located within the normal parenchyma. The cysts were surrounded by a basement membrane, and appeared to contain a finely granular weakly electron-dense substance. Their walls were lined by mostly cubic cells with microvilli, joined by junctional complexes. Intracytoplasmic microlumina could be seen in some of these cells. Cells showing cilia with a 9 + 2 fibrillar pattern and cells with mucosecretory differentiation were also present. Furthermore endocrine cells were also found in the cyst-lining epithelium. The ultrastructural aspects of the cyst cells lead to reject the hypothesis that these are derived from folliculostellate cells. Besides, intermediate aspects between cyst cells and tumor cells were never visible. Therefore it seems likely that a relationship between adenoma and cyst cells does not exist and that cyst cells originate from remnants of Rathke's pouch with a ciliate or mucosecretory differentiation. The presence of endocrine cells in the cyst-lining epithelium deserves further study, for it seems to indicate that an endocrine differentiation may occur in the adult, too. To our knowledge this is the first ultrastructural study of these structures in adult human pituitary gland.

Adolescent↗

An ultrastructural study of adipocyte precursors from epididymal fat pads of adult rats in culture.

It has been demonstrated that cells with poor or no lipid content, isolated from epididymal fat pads of young rats, develop fully into mature adipocytes in vitro. The ultrastructural feature of these cells during such a development have been studied recently. In the present work the electron microscopic aspects of similarly obtained cells from adult rats have been investigated. It has been found that no morphological differences are present in the cells immediately after isolation between young and adult rats. During culture the cells from both adult and young rats show the same maturative process, but in adult rats this process is generally slower and not homogeneous, suggesting the presence of two populations of adipocyte precursors. The former accumulate lipids quickly and have electron microscopic features very similar to those observed for young rat precursors, however maturation is still faster in the latter cells. The latter have electron microscopic aspects of less differentiated cells (some fibroblast-like features) during the first days of culture; however they show a similar development when longer culture periods are studied. These data suggest that the fibroblast-like cells seen after a period of time in culture probably represent an early stage of adipocyte precursor differentiation. Thus it is suggested that in adult mammals, there may be a population of adipocyte precursors present within the adipose tissue which upon stimulation by as yet unknown factors would develop fully into adipocytes.

Adipose Tissue↗

Ultrastructural appearance of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and lymphoid leukemias.

In this report the authors show the main ultrastructural features of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and lymphoid leukemias, trying to outline the more important findings useful to diagnostic purpose. Since, from an immunologic point of view, lymphoid malignancies reflect the main steps of normal B and T ontogenesis, the various tumours are progressively presented in relation to their stage of phenotypic differentiation. An exact knowledge of the potential information from electron microscopy and its intrinsic limitations, including the high cost and the time expense, permit a correct use of this investigation in diagnostic procedure in lymphoid malignancies.

Antigens, Surface↗

Changes in the structure of somato-sensitive neurons in cat following retrograde uptake of HRP.

Neurons of cat cerebral cortex, area S1, labelled by retrograde transport of HRP, have been studied by electron microscopy; the animals were sacrificed 48 h after HRP injection. The cells studied are those in which the enzyme is found both in granular and in diffused form in the cytoplasm (diffuse-granular HRP neurons, DGN), or in diffused form in the cytoplasm (Golgi-like labelled neurons, GLN). The observations have shown that the certain recognition of DGN through electron microscopy, requires a comparison with a semithin section adjacent to the ultrathin section since the labelling granules are light-scattering in dark field. Instead the GLN are not light-scattering in dark field but are directly and unmistakably identifiable even by electron microscopy. The DGN are well preserved on the whole in all their organelles; the GLN show a highly damaged aspect in relation to both the Golgi apparatus and the smooth reticulum, to the cytoplasmic organelles and to the nucleus. Our hypothesis is that the latter neurons take on this appearance because of the combined action of: a) the peripheral mechanical lesions caused by the needle and b) the enormous amount of HRP that the cell is forced to take up (through these pathways) because of its lost integrity and because of the large quantity of marker around the axons. In conclusion intracellular HRP is identifiable by electron microscopy only when it is found in diffused form in the cytoplasm.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural pathology of solid tumours.

Electron microscopy demonstrates solid tumours can be subdivided in two groups; those with or those without junctions. The submicroscopic details useful for the identification of the histogenesis of the tumour cells have been briefly described for each of these groups.

Humans↗

Ultrastructural aspects of nailfold capillaries in a case of eosinophilic fasciitis.

An ultrastructural study was made on the nailfold capillaries in an 18-year-old female with eosinophilic fasciitis. Scleroderma-like capillaroscopic lesions were visible at the sites where biopsy was performed. Light microscopy revealed ectasic capillaries at the apex of dermal papillae. Aspects of thickening and duplication of the epidermal basement membrane as well as an activation of endothelial cells were visualized at the ultrastructural level. These cells contained many virus-like tubulo-reticular inclusions, associated with cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum. Aspects of degeneration of nerve fibres and Schwann cells were also present. Large, homogeneously electron-dense deposits could be seen in the basement membrane at the dermo-epidermal junction. This study not only confirms previous observations on the microangiopathy in eosinophilic fasciitis, but also documents two new aspects: electron-dense deposits at the dermo-epidermal junction and tubulo-reticular inclusions within endothelial cells.

Adolescent↗

Immunoelectron microscopy with immunogold staining method and monoclonal antibodies. A promising tool in ultrastructural study of lymphatic subpopulations.

The immunogold staining method has been recently introduced and proved to be of interest in immunoelectron microscopy as a tracer for detection of cell surface antigens defined by monoclonal antibodies in leukocytes. As variations in sample manipulations and different distribution patterns of gold particles in positive cells are reported, the authors described the experimental conditions which permit them to obtain a good and well interpretable labelling in peripheral blood lymphatic cells. In order to verify the sensitivity and the specificity of this labelling and the interpretation of positivity, a comparison between the percentages of positive cells obtained in electron microscopy and immunofluorescence has been reported. The correlation is acceptable and since the ultrastructural details are also well preserved, this method seems promising for the comparison of molecular phenotypic characteristics and submicroscopic appearance of lymphatic cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

A morphological study of the adipocyte precursor.

In order to attempt to characterize the adipocyte precursor cell in situ in developing adipose tissues from young rats, the light and electron microscopic characteristics were determined of cells in situ in these tissues, as well as in suspensions from the same tissues of cells liberated with collagenase subsequently developing to adipocytes in culture. The functional characteristics of adipose precursor cells at different stages of development in culture is known from previous work, and could therefore be added in parallel to the morphological characteristics. In order to allow comparison with fibroblasts from a site where adipocyte formation does not occur, lung-fibroblasts were also studied in parallel cultures. In culture, a rapidly dividing cell confluenced and reached full expression to adipocytes. This cell had morphological characteristics developing at the same time as early lipid accumulation making it easily distinguishable from a lung fibroblast in culture. A similar cell was found in abundance in the peripheral, non-developed part of the intact epididymal fat pad, here often surrounded by collagen. However, the early preadipocyte (without lipid droplets) and the adipoblast cannot be morphologically distinguished in situ from the fibroblast; therefore it cannot be excluded that fibroblasts and adipoblasts are the same cells in adipose tissue, possibly deriving from the pericyte.

Adipose Tissue↗

Electron microscopy applied to fine-needle aspiration. A report of six cases from various sites.

The authors report the results obtained from the application of electron microscopy techniques to the cytology of fine-needle-aspirated samples of neoplastic lesions from various body sites. These results show that the tissue structure, which is usually lost during the squashing necessary for light microscopy cytology, is preserved when the samples are processed for ultrastructural analysis. Electron microscopy also allows a highly detailed study of the cell's inner structures. Thus, when this technique is applied, fine needle-aspirated samples can be regarded as actual microbiopsies. However, because of the high cost of ultrastructural techniques, we suggest that actual analysis be performed only in selected cases, whereas fixation and inclusion for electron microscopy could be done routinely.

Adult↗

[Ultrastructural study of the stellate cells of the adenohypophysis in an ovariectomized woman].

We have studied at the E.M. the adenohypophysis removed from a woman who had undergone bilateral ovariectomy 4 months earlier because of a disseminated breast cancer. Our study has focused on the submicroscopic aspects of follicular-stellate cells, whose function has not yet been fully ascertained, though it is known from studies carried out on laboratory animals, that these cells are activated under conditions of stimulus to hyperactivity of one or more of the cell types of the adenohypothysis. In our material we have observed numerous follicular structures with variable amounts of colloid-like substance. Follicular-stellate cells limiting colloid-filled cavities showed many cytoplasmic organules with hypertrophic Golgi complex, intracytoplasmic lumina, interdigitations of the cytoplasmic membranes. These aspects are consistent with a condition of hyperactivity of follicular-stellate cells due to bilateral ovariectomy.

Adult↗

[A new model for the in vivo study of adipocyte precursors in the rat].

Periepidydimal fat pad of young rat shows, in the peripheral zone, areas with lobular aspect and areas with flattened aspect, surrounded by a mesothelial sheath. In adult rats the flattened areas are no longer observed. The ultrastructural study of the cells present in the flattened zones of the periepidydimal fat pad and the comparison with the same tissue of adult rats seems to indicate that the flattened areas in the peripheral zone of the periepidydimal fat pad of the young rat are a site where the adipocyte precursors can best be studied. Furthermore in the pericytes of the blood vessels wall, rare little lipid vacuoles can be seen: this is in accordance with the hypothesis proposed by other autøhors that the precursors of the adipocytes derive from pericytes.

Adipose Tissue↗

[Submicroscopic study of brown adipose tissue in young rats by the freeze-fracturing method].

The authors report the results of their ultrastructural study on the rat brown adipose tissue using the freeze-fracturing techniques. It is well known from transmission electron microscopy that lipid vacuoles of the brown adipose tissue cells are bound by a dense line corresponding to a structure as yet totally unknown. The results of the study using freeze-fracturing technics show that the morphology of lipid vacuoles surface is different from that of the typical unit membrane. The possibility is discussed that the particular aspect of the surface is due to the lypolysis induced by tissue fixation.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗

The normal human parathyroid gland. A histochemical and ultrastructural study with particular reference to follicular structures.

Bioptic specimens of 10 normal human parathyroid glands taken during thyroidectomies were studied both by light microscopy, using a histochemical technique, and electron microscopy. All the glands exhibited regions of different sizes in which follicles made up the tissue architecture. The follicles contained a homogeneous colloid-like substance. Our results seem to exclude the amyloid nature of the follicular content suggested by some Authors, though no further clarification as to its real make-up is provided. The cells lining the follicles belong to a type not as yet described in the normal human parathyroid. These cells appear to be large and clear and are also found in the non-follicular parenchyma. On the basis of their morphologic features we have classified the large clear cells as a particular, deviated stage of the actively secreting chief-cell. The origin and significance of the follicles are also discussed.

Adult↗

[An ultrastructural immunocytochemical study of secretory granules of an adenohypophyseal tumor].

The unlabeled antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex technique was used to stain for electron microscopy the secretory granules of a pituitary tumor that had been surgically removed from a woman with high serum prolactin levels. Granules were stained using anti-human prolactin serum. The diameter of the secretory granules was smaller than that measured for the granules of prolactin producing cells in normal human pituitary glands. A shortened storage phase would explain the diameter reduction.

Cytoplasmic Granules↗