Histology

Modified Laminar Bone in Ampelosaurus atacis and Other Titanosaurs (Sauropoda): Implications for Life History and Physiology

by José Luis Carballido

Klein N., Sander, Stein K., Le Loeuff J., Carballido J.L. y Buffetaut, E. 2012. PLoS ONE. 7(5): e36907. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036907

Background: Long bone histology of the most derived Sauropoda, the Titanosauria suggests that titanosaurian long bone... more Background: Long bone histology of the most derived Sauropoda, the Titanosauria suggests that titanosaurian long bone histology differs from the uniform bone histology of basal Sauropoda. Here we describe the long bone histology of the titanosaur Ampelosaurus atacis and compare it to that of basal neosauropods and other titanosaurs to clarify if a special titanosaur bone histology exists.

Methodology/Principal Findings: Ampelosaurus retains the laminar vascular organization of basal Sauropoda, but throughout most of cortical growth, the scaffolding of the fibrolamellar bone, which usually is laid down as matrix of woven bone, is laid down as parallel-fibered or lamellar bone matrix instead. The remodeling process by secondary osteons is very extensive and overruns the periosteal bone deposition before skeletal maturity is reached. Thus, no EFS is identifiable.Compared to the atypical bone histology of Ampelosaurus, the large titanosaur Alamosaurus shows typical laminar fibrolamellar bone. The titanosaurs Phuwiangosaurus, Lirainosaurus, and Magyarosaurus, although differing in certain features, all show this same low amount or absence of woven bone from the scaffolding of the fibrolamellar bone,indicating a clear reduction in growth rate resulting in a higher bone tissue organization. To describe the peculiar primary cortical bone tissue of Phuwiangosaurus, Ampelosaurus, Lirainosaurus, and Magyarosaurus, we here introduce a new term,‘‘modified laminar bone’’ (MLB).

Conclusions/Significance: Importantly, MLB is as yet not known from extant animals. At least in Lirainosaurus and Magyarosaurus the reduction of growth rate indicated by MLB is coupled with a drastic body size reduction and maybe also a reduction in metabolic rate, interpreted as a result of dwarfing on the European islands during the Late Cretaceous.Phuwiangosaurus and Ampelosaurus both show a similar reduction in growth rate but not in body size, possibly indicating also a reduced metabolic rate. The large titanosaur Alamosaurus, on the other hand, retained the plesiomorphic bone histology of basal neosauropods.

SAUSSEZ S., DECAESTEKER C., LORFÈVRE F., CUCU D., MORTUAIRE G., CHEVALIER D., WACRENIER A., TOUBEAU G., GABIUS H.-J. & KISS R. (2008) - La détermination des galectines-1, -3 et -7 permet de monitorer la progression tumorale des cancers des voies aéro-digestives supérieures

by François Lorfèvre

published in Lefebvre J.-L. & Chevalier (Eds.), La déflation thérapeutique - Les adénopathies métastatiques prédominantes, Actes du XXXIXe Congrès de la Société française de carcinologie cervico-faciale, Lille, 24-25 novembre 2006 : 3-22.

“Morphological and Histochemical characterisation of liver from stripped weakfish, Cynoscion guatucupa (Cuvier, 1830).

by Mariano González Castro

Díaz, A.O.; González Castro, M.; Devincenti, C.V. & A. L. Goldemberg. 1999. Biociencias,  Porto Alegre, v. 7, n. 1, p. 67-78.

Abstract: this study is the first histological and histochemical characterization of the liver from the stripped... more Abstract: this study is the first histological and histochemical characterization of the liver from the stripped weakfish, an important comercial resource.

Turner, S. ed. 1995. Ichthyolith Issues Translation Service. from Ichthyolith Issues.

by Susan Turner

The Palaeozoic Microvertebrate Group began to gather and make translations particularly of Russian and German writings on fossil fish especially taxonomy and histology. This file is a first listing - apply for more information via www.paleodeadfish.com

Cementum Annulations, Age Estimation, and Demographic Dynamics in Mid-Holocene Forgers of North India

by Gwen Robbins Schug

G. Robbins Schug, E.T. Brandt, J.R. Lukacs

One of the principal problems facing paleodemography is age estimation in adult skeletons and the centrist tendency... more One of the principal problems facing paleodemography is age estimation in adult skeletons and the centrist tendency that affects many age estimation methods by artificially increasing the proportion of individuals in the 30-45 year age category. Several recent publications have indicated that cementum annulations are significantly correlated with known age of extraction or death. This study addresses the question of how demographic dynamics are altered for an archaeological sample when cementum-based age estimates are used as opposed to those obtained via conventional macroscopic methods. Age pyramids were constructed and demographic profiles were compared for the early Holocene skeletal population from Damdama (India). The results demonstrate that the use of cementum annulations for age estimation in only a subset of the skeletal sample has a significant impact on the demographic profile with regard to specific parameters such as mean age at death and life expectancy at birth. This confirms the importance of using cementum annulations to refine age estimates in archaeological samples, which, when combined with a fertility-centered approach to demography, can provide new insights into population dynamics in the past.

SAUSSEZ S., LORFEVRE F., LEQUEUX T., LAURENT G., CHANTRAIN G., VERTONGEN F., TOUBEAU G., DECAESTECKER C. & KISS R. (2008) - The determination of the levels of circulating galectin-1 and -3 in HNSCC patients could be used to monitor tumor progression and/or responses to therapy

by François Lorfèvre

published in Oral Oncololgy, 44 : 86-93.

To evaluate galectin-1, -3 and -7 serum levels as diagnostic and/or prognostic markers for head and neck squamous cell... more To evaluate galectin-1, -3 and -7 serum levels as diagnostic and/or prognostic markers for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). ELISA was employed to test sera from 102 patients with HNSCCs and from 38 healthy control volunteers for galectin-1, -3 and -7 serum levels. Serum galectin levels were assayed by ELISA and the levels of galectin expression in HNSCCs were determined by means of immunohistochemistry. HNSCCs display significant immunohistochemical amounts of galectin-7, but this galectin cannot be detected in the blood of HNSCC patients. Galectin-3 levels differ significantly (p = 0.03) in healthy volunteers and HNSCC patients. Using a threshold value of 4.3 ng/ml, galectin-3 serum level enabled a significant level of discrimination (p = 0.03) to be established between the cancer patients and the healthy volunteers, with 90% level of specificity and 36% level of sensitivity. The discrimination was even better when using a threshold value of 13.5 ng/ml for galectin-1 (p = 0.001), with 100% level of specificity and 22% level of sensitivity. A subgroup of stage IV HNSCC patients displayed significantly reduced levels of circulating galectin-1 (p = 0.003) and galectin-3 (p = 0.001) after treatment as opposed to before. Galectin-3 concentrations in sera from the patients with a metastatic disease were significantly (p = 0.01) higher than in sera from the patients with localized tumors. The determination of circulating levels of galectin-1 and -3 could be used to monitor the progression of their disease or their response to therapy.

SAUSSEZ S., DECAESTECKER C., LORFEVRE F., CHEVALIER D., MORTUAIRE G., KALTNER H., ANDRÉ S., TOUBEAU G., GABIUS H-J. & LEROY X. (2008) - Increased expression and altered intracellular distribution of adhesion/growth-regulatory lectins galectins-1 and -7 during tumour progression in hypopharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas

by François Lorfèvre

published in Histopathology, 52 : 483-493.

Aims: To examine the level of expression of the pleiotropic regulators galectins-1 and -7 in relation to neoplastic... more Aims: To examine the level of expression of the pleiotropic regulators galectins-1 and -7 in relation to neoplastic progression of hypopharyngeal (HSCCs) and laryngeal (LSCCs) squamous cell carcinomas.
Methods and results: The presence of galectins-1 and -7 was investigated using quantitative immunohistochemistry in (i) a series of 78 HSCCs by comparison with 17 normal epithelia (N_E), 26 low-grade dysplasia (low_D) and 27 high-grade dysplasia (high_D) and (ii) a series of 56 LSCCs by comparison with 50 N_E, 23 low_D and 29 high_D. Galectin-1 positivity expressed as a percentage of cells was significantly higher in carcinomas (HSCCs and LSCCs) than in N_E, low_D or high_D (P < 10)6). Galectin-7 expression was elevated in low_D (P = 0.0004) compared with N_E and in carcinomas (HSCC) compared with high_D (P = 0.0002). Tumour progression from high_D to carcinomas was associated with a shift of galectin-1 localization from the nucleus towards the cytoplasm. Increased expression of galectin-7 in dysplasias was accompanied by a shift from the cytoplasmic compartment (N_E) to the nucleus (low_D and high_D).
Conclusions: Our data reveal an association between the level of presence of galectins-1 and -7 and neoplastic progression of HSCCs and LSCCs. Moreover, inverse shifts between nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity intimating functional divergence were detected.

SAUSSEZ S., DECAESTECKER C., LORFEVRE F., CUCU D-R., MORTUAIRE G., CHEVALIER D., WACRENIEZ A., KALTNER H., ANDRÉ S., TOUBEAU G., CAMBY I., GABIUS H-J. & KISS R. (2007) - High level of galectin-1 expression is a negative prognostic predictor of recurrence in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas

by François Lorfèvre

published in International Journal of Oncology, 30 : 1109-1117.

Monitoring of gene-expression profiles is assumed to refine tumor characterization of laryngeal squamous cell... more Monitoring of gene-expression profiles is assumed to refine tumor characterization of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCCs) with a therapeutic perspective. This is especially expected for adhesion/growth-regulatory effectors such as galectins, a class of endogenous lectins. Using computer-assisted microscopy, we investigated the prognostic value contributed by the quantitative determination of the immunohistochemical levels of expression of galectin-1, -3 and -7 in a series of 62 LSCCs including 42 low- and 20 highstage LSCCs. As galectin-1 may have a key role leading to a tumor escape from immune surveillance, we also investigated whether or not the level of galectin-1 expression correlated with lymphocyte infiltration in LSCCs. The immunohistochemical determination of expression of galectin-1 is of prognostic value in human squamous laryngeal cancers. LSCCs that display high levels of galectin-1 have worse prognoses than laryngeal cancers with low levels of galectin-1 expression. Elevation of galectin-1 levels in laryngeal cancers can contribute to the process of tumor immune escape by killing the activated T-cells and other protumoral activities such as promoting motility or activity of oncogenic H-Ras proteins. The quantitative determination of galectin-1 in LSCCs is an independent prognostic marker when opposed to TNM staging. It has the potential to identify patients unlikely to benefit from T-cell mediated immunotherapy, although the definitive effector function from its pro- and antitumoral activity profile has not been delineated.

SAUSSEZ S., LORFEVRE F., NONCLERCQ D., LAURENT G., ANDRÉ S., JOURNÉ F., R. KISS, G. TOUBEAU & H-J. GABIUS (2006) - Towards functional glycomics by localization of binding sites for tissue lectins: lectin histochemical reactivity for galectins during diethylstilbestrol-induced kidney tumorigenesis in male Syrian hamster

by François Lorfèvre

published in Histochemestry and Cell Biology, 126 : 57-69.

Endogenous lectins act as effectors of cellular activities such as growth regulation, migration, and adhesion.... more Endogenous lectins act as effectors of cellular activities such as growth regulation, migration, and adhesion. Following their immunohistochemical localization in our previous study (Saussez et al. in Histochem Cell Biol 123:29–41, 2005) we purified several galectins and used them as tools for monitoring accessible binding sites. Herein, we report the use of galectin histochemistry for the analysis of diethylstilbestrol (DES)-induced renal tumors in male Syrian hamster kidney (SHKT). Sections of normal kidney and DES-treated kidney were analyzed with biotinylated galectins-1, -3 (full-length and truncated), and -7. Accessible binding sites were detected, localization was predominantly extracellular and confined to medium-sized and large tumors. Monitoring the SHKT-derived HKT-1097 line, processed in vitro or as xenograft material, cytoplasmic and nuclear staining for galectins-1, -3, and -3tr could be observed. Adaptation of SHKT cells to long-term growth in cultureis thus associated with emergence of this signal. Our data set illustrates the feasibility to complement immunohistochemical data by application of the tissue lectins as probes, and to detect regulation of galectin reactivity with differential characteristics within tumor progression in vivo and unique features of the tumor cell line in vitro and in vivo.

LORFEVRE F. (2004) - Caractérisation de la régénération dans un modèle expérimental de néphrotoxicité chronique chez le rat

by François Lorfèvre

Master's Degree Thesis of University of Mons-Hainaut

Dans le cadre de ce mémoire, nous nous sommes intéressés aux altérations morphologiques et au processus de réparation... more Dans le cadre de ce mémoire, nous nous sommes intéressés aux altérations morphologiques et au processus de réparation tissulaire observés dans le rein de rat suite à un traitement combinant le chlorure de mercure au bichromate de potassium. La matrice interstitielle, profondément perturbée par le traitement, a notamment a été étudiée, et ce par le biais de l'un de ses constituants majeurs, l'hyaluronane.
Le traitement induit de profondes altérations histologiques affectant tous les segments du néphron et plus particulièrement le segment proximal. Le maintien à long terme de lésions chroniques au sein des différents types de tubules, couplé dans certains cas à une atteinte glomérulaire, est à l'origine de l'installation progressive d'une insuffisance rénale chronique. Ce traitement induit rapidement une intense prolifération tubulaire. Cette dernière est clairement liée à un processus de réparation tissulaire malheureusement incomplet. Parallèlement, la concentration en hyaluronane au sein de la matrice extracellulaire et le taux d'expression de son récepteur CD44 augmentent significativement. L'interaction hyaluronane-CD44 semble associée au processus de régénération tubulaire, étant donné la surexpression du récepteur CD44 par les tubes en régénération et l'accumulation de son ligand, l'hyaluronane, autour des structures tubulaires en cours de réépithélialisation. Les premières semaines consécutives à l'administration des agents toxiques sont aussi marquées par une prolifération interstitielle massive. A long terme cette prolifération interstitielle se maintient à des taux élevés et implique des cellules de type fibroblastique, qui se localisent préférentiellement autour des zones d'altérations tubulaires. Ce phénomène contribue au développement d'un phénomène de fibrose cicatricielle. Celle-ci s'observe majoritairement en périphérie des néphrons atrophiés.

Osteoderm morphology in recent and fossil euphractine xenarthrans

by Martin Ciancio

C. M. Krmpotic, M. R. Ciancio, C. Barbeito, R. C. Mario and A. A. Carlini

Acta Zoologica

Volume 90, Issue 4, pages 339–351, October 2009

The presence of osteoderms within the integument, forming a carapace, is one of the most distinctive features of... more The presence of osteoderms within the integument, forming a carapace, is one of the most distinctive features of armadillos with the external morphology of these elements forming the basis of most systematic schemes. This is especially true for fossil taxa, where these elements are most frequent in the palaeontological record. A detailed study of osteoderms from the cephalic shield and different regions of the dorsal armour of Chaetophractus villosus (Euphractinae, Xenarthra) was made and compared to those of the extant genus Dasypus (Dasypodinae, Xenarthra), and the extinct genus †Eutatus. Three distinct histological zones were recognized: outer and inner zones are thin, formed by regular compact bone, the middle zone is thicker, with large cavities that contain mainly adipose tissue, hair follicles, and sweat and sebaceous glands. The internal structure of †Eutatus (also a member of Euphractinae) osteoderms is close to that of C. villosus, consistent with the notion that these taxa are phylogenetically closely related. In contrast, Dasypus shows marked differences. Dasypus shows hair follicles associated with both gland types (sweat and sebaceous) and connected to foramina on the external surface. Although not observed in adult C. villosus, it has been documented during embryonic development, only to atrophy later in ontogeny. Furthermore, the presence of red bone marrow is rare in C. villosus, but widespread in Dasypus novemcinctus osteoderms. These results suggest an early split of both subfamilies and support the hypothesis that the Euphractinae are more derived than the Dasypodinae.

Paleogenomic data suggest mammal‐like genome size in the ancestral amniote and derived large genome size in amphibians

by Michel Laurin

A microanatomical and histological study of the postcranial dermal skeleton in the Devonian sarcopterygian Eusthenopteron foordi

by Michel Laurin

Anatomical, Cytological, Immunohistochemical and Functional Studies on the Australian Lungfish Neoceratodus Forsteri Thymus

by Mohammad Mohammad

effect of crude extract of blaghia unijugata on histology of liver and kidney of wistar rats

by rosemary bassey

Reports have been made that the ingestion of unripe Blighia sapida (ackee) fruits may be responsible for poisoning... more Reports have been made that the ingestion of unripe Blighia sapida (ackee) fruits may be responsible for poisoning resulting in a substantial number of unexplained deaths. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Blighia unijugata, a sister specie of Blighia sapida on the histology of the liver and kidney. Twenty male rats were divided randomly into four groups of
five rats each. Group 1, the control received daily oral dose of distilled water. Group 2, 3 and 4 were administered 424 mg/kg, 849 mg/kg and 1273 mg/kg of Blighia Unijugata respectively for 4
weeks. Phytochemical screening of Blighia Unijugata was done. Weekly body weight of the rats was taken throughout the duration of this experiment. The organs were processed for histology.
The preliminary phytochemical screening of Blighia unijugata extract showed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and anthraquinones. There was a statistically
significant increase in the body weight of animals in control group and in the animals dosed with 849 mg/kg BU. No histopathological changes were observed in the liver and kidney when compared to control. Therefore, Blighia unijugata is not toxic to the liver and kidney of Wistar rats.

Plac8 and Plac9, novel placental-enriched genes identified through microarray analysis

by Gustaaf de Ridder

Histological Evaluation of the Rats Testis Following Administration of a Herbal Tea Mixture

by Mahmoud Bukar Maina

M.B. Maina, S.H. Garba and T.W. Jacks

This research was carried out as a preliminary study to determine the histological effect of a herbal tea mixture on... more This research was carried out as a preliminary study to determine the histological effect of a herbal tea mixture on the rat testis. A total of 25 adult male albino rats of the Wister strain were used, they were randomly divided into five groups of five rats each. Group I served as control, while rats in groups II-IV were administered 2, 4 and 8 g kg-1 body weight of the herbal tea, respectively for 28 days. Rats in group V were administered 8 g kg-1 of the herbal tea for 28 days and allowed to stay for 14 days post treatment to observe for reversibility, persistence or delayed occurrence of toxic effects. At the end of the experimental periods, the animals were sacrificed and the weights of the testes recorded, fixed and processed for routine histological technique. Administration of the herbal tea to rats showed a significant increase in body weights, but testicular weights were unaffected. Histological examination of the rat`s testis revealed interstitial edema and congestion of blood vessels in the testes of the treated rats. Withdrawal of the herbal tea for 14 days showed a slight degree of recovery in the rats. These findings suggests that the histological organization of the testis can significantly be altered with continuous and increase use of the herbal tea mixture. Further studies to determine the effect of the tea on the morphometry, biometry and hormonal profile of the rat`s testes following long term exposure will be useful.

Visual Pattern Mining in Histology Image Collections Using Bag of Features

by Angel Cruz

Small body size and extreme cortical bone remodeling indicate phyletic dwarfism in Magyarosaurus dacus (Sauropoda: Titanosauria)

by José Luis Carballido

Stein, Csiki, Curry Rogers, Weishampel, Redelstorff, Carballido,
and Sander. Published in pnas

Sauropods were the largest terrestrial tetrapods (>105 kg) in Earth’s history and grew at rates that rival those of... more Sauropods were the largest terrestrial tetrapods (>105 kg) in Earth’s history and grew at rates that rival those of extant mammals. Magyarosaurus dacus, a titanosaurian sauropod from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of Romania, is known exclusively from small individuals (<103 kg) and conflicts with the idea that all sauropods were massive. The diminutive M. dacus was a classical example of island dwarfism (phyletic nanism) in dinosaurs, but a recent study suggested that the small Romanian titanosaurs actually represent juveniles of a larger-bodied taxon. Here we present strong histological evidence that M. dacus was indeed a dwarf (phyletic nanoid).
Bone histological analysis of an ontogenetic series of Magyarosaurus limb bones indicates that even the smallest Magyarosaurus specimens exhibit a bone microstructure identical to fully mature or old individuals of other sauropod taxa. Comparison of histologies with large-bodied sauropods suggests that Magyarosaurus had an extremely reduced growth rate, but had retained high basal metabolic rates typical for sauropods. The uniquely decreased growth rate and diminutive body size in Magyarosaurus were adaptations to life on a Cretaceous island and show that sauropod dinosaurs were not exempt from general ecological principles limiting body size.

Warren A.A. and Turner S, 2006. Tooth histology patterns in early tetrapods and the significance of dark dentine. Trans R Soc Edinb., Geol. (for 2005), 96, 113-130.

by Susan Turner