A total of 50 permanent mandibular 1st molars of 26 children with Down's syndrome (DS) were examined from dental casts and 59 permanent mandibular 1st molars of normal children were examined from 33 individuals. The following measurements were performed on both right and left molars (teeth 46 and 36 respectively): (a) the intercusp distances (mb-db, mb-d, mb-dl, db-ml, db-d, db-dl, db-ml, d-dl, d-ml, dl-ml); (b) the db-mb-ml, mb-db-ml, mb-ml-db, d-mb-dl, mb-d-dl, mb-dl-d angles; (c) the area of the pentagon formed by connecting the cusp tips. All intercusp distances were significantly smaller in the DS group. Stepwise logistic regression, applied to all the intercusp distances, was used to design a multivariate probability model for DS and normals. A model based on 2 distances only, mb-dl and mb-db, proved sufficient to discriminate between the teeth of DS and the normal population. The model for tooth 36 for example was as follows:

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A similar model for tooth 46 was also created, as well as a model which incorporated both teeth. With respect to the angles, significant differences between DS and normals were found in 3 out of the 6 angles which were measured: the d-mb-dl angle was smaller than in normals, the mb-d-dl angle was higher, and the mb-dl-d angle was smaller. The dl cusp was located closer to the centre of the tooth. The change in size occurs at an early stage, while the change in shape occurs in a later stage of tooth formation in the DS population.

Changes in the shape of erythrocytes circulating in large blood vessels of mice were examined by our ‘in vivo cryotechnique’. The abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava (IVC) were cut vertically with a precooled knife and simultaneously an isopentane–propane mixture (−193°C) was poured over them for freezing. They were freeze-substituted in acetone containing 2% osmium tetroxide. Some specimens were embedded in Quetol-812, and thick or ultrathin sections were examined by light or transmission electron microscopy. Serial ultrathin sections were used to reconstruct 3-dimensional images of native erythrocytes. Others were transferred into t-butyl alcohol and freeze-dried for scanning electron microscopy. The tissue surfaces were sufficiently frozen to prevent large ice crystal formation, and erythrocyte shapes were also preserved. The shapes of circulating erythrocytes appeared to be varied in the abdominal aorta but typical biconcave discoid shapes were rarely observed. Conversely, erythrocytes were approximately biconcave discoid in shape in the IVC. Our in vivo cryotechnique was useful for clarifying the in vivo morphology of erythrocytes circulating in large blood vessels.

Tendon cells have complex shapes, with many cell processes and an intimate association with collagen fibre bundles in their extracellular matrix. Where cells and their processes contact one another, they form gap junctions. In the present study, we have examined the distribution of gap junction components in phenotypically different regions of rat Achilles tendon. This tendon contains a prominent enthesial fibrocartilage at its calcaneal attachment and a sesamoid fibrocartilage where it is pressed against the calcaneus just proximal to the attachment. Studies using DiI staining demonstrated typical stellate cell shape in transverse sections of pure tendon, with cells withdrawing their cell processes and rounding up in the fibrocartilaginous zones. Coincident with change in shape, cells stopped expressing the gap junction proteins connexins 32 and 43, with connexin 43 disappearing earlier in the transition than connexin 32. Thus, there are major differences in the ability of cells to communicate with one another in the phenotypically distinct regions of tendon. Individual fibrocartilage cells must sense alterations in the extracellular matrix by cell/matrix interactions, but can only coordinate their behaviour via indirect cytokine and growth factor signalling. The tendon cells have additional possibilities — in addition to the above, they have the potential to communicate direct cytoplasmic signals via gap junctions. The formation of fibrocartilage in tendons occurs because of the presence of compressive as well as tensile forces. It may be that different systems are used to sense and respond to such forces in fibrous and cartilaginous tissues.

In muscle spindles of the cat, independent control of dynamic and static components of the response of the primary sensory ending to stretch is provided by separate motor inputs to the various kinds of intrafusal muscle fibre: dynamic axons (γ or β) to the bag1 fibres and static axons to the bag2 (typically γ only) and chain (γ or β) fibres. Nonlinear summation of separately evoked effects during combined stimulation of dynamic and static motor axons appears to be due to mutual resetting by antidromic invasion of separate encoding sites, leading to partial occlusion of the momentarily lesser response by the greater. The encoding sites are thought to be located within the primary ending's preterminal branches which from first-order level are normally segregated to the bag1 fibre and to the bag2 and chain fibres. Here we describe the analysis of a special case that arose in a histophysiological study which had shown that the degree of occlusion was related to the minimum number of nodes between the putative encoding sites. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the primary ending revealed that the terminals of one chain fibre were derived entirely from the first-order branch that supplied the bag1 fibre, including one terminal that was shared directly with the bag1 (sensory cross-terminal). The other first-order branch supplied the bag2 and remaining chain fibres as normal. The degree of occlusion seen during simultaneous stimulation of a dynamic β axon and a static γ axon indicated that the encoding sites were separated by both first-order branches. Schematic reconstruction of the motor innervation revealed that the static γ axon was most unlikely to have supplied the chain fibre which shared sensory terminals with the bag1, but that these fibres also shared a motor input with histological characteristics of β type. Ramp-frequency stimulation of the dynamic β axon at constant length evoked a driving effect which persisted after fatiguing the extrafusal component and was therefore explicable on the basis of the observed pattern of motor innervation, though the identity of the axon could not be conclusively proved. Individually, instances of shared sensory terminals and motor input of bag1 and chain fibres are rare in the cat; their combination in a single spindle with correlated physiology is described here for the first time. The observation is considered in relation to the importance of dynamic and static segregation in motor control, since it may imply that there is a lower limit to the degree of segregation that the developmental programme can provide.

In a previous study, an antigen consisting of proteins secreted by retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells was injected into a sheep and the specificity of the resulting antiserum was shown by Western blotting and its effects on retinal development were determined in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, the distribution of these secreted proteins was determined by light microscopy immunocytochemistry in cultured neonatal rat RPE cells and retinas of normal and Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) dystrophic rats and cerebrum of normal adult rats. Immunolabelling for these RPE-secreted proteins was detected in cytoplasmic vesicles surrounding nuclei and within processes of cultured normal and transformed rat RPE. In retinas of late postnatal and adult rats, dense immunostaining was found in the cytoplasm of RPE cells and ganglion cell bodies. In addition to RPE and ganglion cells, scattered photoreceptors within the thin outer nuclear layer and small structures within the debris zone were also densely immunoreactive in retinas of 2-mo-old RCS dystrophic rats. The numbers of immunostained ganglion cells appeared to decrease in retinas of older RCS rats, although the immunoreactivity within the RPE appeared to increase in density. No other neuron within the retina, i.e. bipolar, amacrine or horizontal, was immunoreactive for RPE-secreted proteins. In the cerebral cortex of adult rats, immunoreactivity for RPE-secreted proteins was primarily detected within large perikarya of pyramidal neurons and smaller granule neurons. In conclusion, we report an immunocytochemical analysis of an antiserum raised against secreted proteins of rat RPE. This antiserum recognised proteins within secretory-like vesicles of cultured neonatal normal and transformed rat RPE and showed a specificity for RPE and ganglion cells in normal rat retinas, that appeared to be developmentally regulated, and neuron perikarya in adult rat cerebrum.

The effect(s) of finite exposure(s) to 22.0 °C on embryo weight gain, 3rd tarsus length, transfer of lipid from the yolk and uptake of specific lipid components by the liver, were measured in the chick embryo. Embryo growth was completely suspended over the period of temperature reduction, but resumed unimpaired when the optimum temperature of 37.5 °C was restored. Two successive periods of embryonic exposure to 22.0 °C (36 h at d 3 followed by 24 at d 10) were additive in their effect on growth retardation. Embryos subjected to temperature reductions on d 3 of incubation displayed significant changes in lipid concentrations and polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles within the liver when measured at d 18 of incubation. Yolk lipid uptake was significantly reduced but not suspended by embryonic exposure to 22.0 °C. It is suggested that the observed suspension of embryonic development was the result of a temperature dependent reduction in metabolism according to a Q10∼2, which is typical of an ectothermic organism.

We report the morphogenesis of a new mouse mutant, Doublefoot (Dbf). The major phenotypic features involve the limb and craniofacial regions. There is polydactyly of all 4 limbs, with typically 6–8 digits per limb. All of the digits are triphalangeal; some show bifurcations and some are not attached to the carpus/tarsus. The carpus and tarsus are broader than normal, and their elements are partially fused. There are also tibial defects. Mutant embryos show a diencephalic bulge on d 10.0, with older animals exhibiting broadened and bulbous skulls sometimes with an additional midline skeletal element, shortened snouts and bulging eyes. Homozygotes, which do not survive beyond d 15, show midline facial clefting. In this study of the embryonic and fetal development of Dbf animals, we focus on the morphogenesis of the limbs and head, and discuss the possible molecular developmental mechanisms.

Navicular bones from the 4 limbs of 95 horses, classified in 9 categories, were studied. The anatomical bases were established for the morphometry of the navicular bone and its variations according to the category of horse, after corrections were made for front or rear limb, sex, weight, size and age. In ponies, navicular bone measurements were smallest for light ponies and regularly increased with body size, but in horses, navicular bone dimensions were smallest for the athletic halfbred, intermediate for draft horse, thoroughbreds and sedentary halfbreds and largest for heavy halfbreds. The athletic halfbred thus showed reduced bone dimensions when compared with other horse types. Navicular bones from 61 horses were studied histomorphometrically. Light horses and ponies possessed larger amounts of cancellous bone and less cortical bone. Draft horses and heavy ponies showed marked thickening of cortical bone with minimum intracortical porosity, and a decrease in marrow spaces associated with more trabecular bone. Two distinct zones were observed for the flexor surface cortex: an external zone composed mainly of poorly remodelled lamellar bone, disposed in a distoproximal oblique direction, and an internal zone composed mainly of secondary bone, with a lateromedial direction for haversian canals. Flexor cortex external zone tended to be smaller for heavy ponies than for the light ponies. It was the opposite for horses, with the largest amount of external zone registered for draft horses. In athletic horses, we observed an increase in the amount of cortical bone at the expense of cancellous bone which could be the result of reduced resorption and increased formation at the corticoendosteal junction. Cancellous bone was reduced for the athletic horses but the number of trabeculae and their specific surfaces were larger. Increased bone formation and reduced resorption could also account for these differences.

To investigate the effect of maternal adrenocortical hormones on the development of fetal pancreatic islet cells, pregnant rats were adrenalectomised on d 6 of gestation. On d 12–16 the growth patterns of fetal insulin-producing B cells, glucagon-producing A cells, and somatostatin-producing D cells were observed histometrically. Maternal adrenalectomy resulted in growth retardation of fetal B cells on d 12–15. Maternal corticosterone therapy prevented this retardation. Maternal adrenalectomy, however, did not affect the developmental patterns of A and D cells. By Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, glucocorticoid receptors were demonstrated to be present in the islet cells from d 12 to d 15. These results suggest that maternal adrenocortical hormones, glucocorticoids in particular, maintain the early development of fetal pancreatic B cells through their specific intracellular glucocorticoid receptor.

The proliferation sites and cellular kinetics of villous epithelial cells and M cells in the intestine of the adult chicken have never been clarified. In this study, we determined the proliferation sites in the chicken caecum using colchicine treatment and detection of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The cellular kinetics of these cells were also studied using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) as a tracer. Enterocytes in their mitotic period were observed along the entire length of the intestinal crypt of the caecum, with a denser distribution in the middle portion of the crypt, except for the caecal tonsil. The centres of distributions were at 49% of the distance from the bottom of the crypt in the base and 41% in the apex of the caecum. In the caecal tonsil, the centres of distributions were at 64% in the long type of crypt from the bottom of the crypt and at 44% in the short type of crypt. On the other hand, the PCNA-positive enterocytes were distributed more densely at the bottom of the crypt, except for the caecal tonsil. The centres of distributions were at 36% in the base from the bottom of the crypt, 37% in the body, and 34% in the apex. In the caecal tonsil, they were at 54% in the long type of crypt and 44% in the short type. The BrdU-labelled enterocytes reached to the basement of the intestinal villi in all caecal portions at 1 d after the BrdU administration. The leading edge of the labelled enterocytes disappeared from the villous tips at 4 d in the base and the body and 3 d in the apex. In the caecal tonsil, the BrdU-labelled microvillous epithelial cells and the M cells appeared near the orifice of the crypt at 1 d, and BrdU-labelled M cells were not observed in the crypt. Thereafter, almost all of these cells disappeared at 5 d from the follicle associated epithelium (FAE). These results suggest that M cells are transformed from their precursors within 1 d, and the turnover time for M cells occurs within 4 d after the cell division of the precursors.

Mobilisation of the latissimus dorsi muscle as a functional graft necessarily involves division of perforating arteries that enter the distal portion of the muscle, rendering it vulnerable to ischaemic damage when the muscle is stimulated electrically. Using a fluorescent microsphere technique we showed that the blood flow contributed by the thoracodorsal artery decreases in a proximal-to-distal direction, and that of the perforating arteries in a distal-to-proximal direction, but for neither does the flow decline to zero. This is consistent with earlier reports of anastomotic connections between the 2 arterial territories. We went on to use fluorescence microscopy to demonstrate the existence of these vascular anastomoses, the first such evidence obtained under physiological conditions of pressure and flow. In clinical applications, the existence of anastomotic connections offers the prospect of maintaining flow to the distal part of the grafted muscle without the delays inherent in neovascularisation procedures.

Apoptosis is a form of naturally occurring cell death during development and it is characterised by extensive DNA fragmentation. Apoptosis is easily detected in the gill epithelium of brown trout embryos in ultrathin sections (Rojo et al. 1997). Here we provide the first biochemical evidence for apoptosis in the gill epithelium of brown trout embryos, using in situ end-labelling of DNA breaks (Gavrieli et al. 1992). Embryos at d 57 of development as well as those at hatching, were processed to analyse the distribution of apoptotic cells in the gills. The extent of apoptosis revealed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end-labelling method technique is considerably greater than apoptosis detected by nuclear morphology. This method revealed that apoptosis was frequent at hatching, although it was also present during embryonic development. The presence and distribution of stained nuclei were different depending on the developmental stage. In embryos of 57 d, apoptotic flattened nuclei were dispersed in the gill epithelium, whereas at hatching, they were mainly grouped in the tips of the filaments and in the gill arches. TUNEL also revealed a distinct pattern of nuclear staining: at hatching, the intense staining covered the entire cell, but in embryos it was restricted to the nucleus. These results show the functional relevance of apoptosis at hatching, when apoptosis seems to be the unique process by which cell numbers in the gill epithelium are adjusted, in order to prepare for the new extrinsic conditions affecting the free-living life of alevins.

Expression of surfactant proteins SP-A, SP-B and the transcription factors TTF-1 and HNF-3β was identified by immunohistochemistry in the developing chicken. SP-B, a small hydrophobic peptide critical for lung function and surfactant homeostasis in mammals, was detected in the epithelial cells of parabronchi in embryonic chicken lung from the 15th day of incubation, prior to the onset of the breathing movements and was expressed at high levels in the posthatching chicken lung. SP-A, an abundant surfactant protein involved in innate defence of the mammalian lung, was detected in the chick embryo in subsets of epithelial cells in the mesobronchus, starting from d 15 and was detected in the posthatching chicken lung. The transcription factors hepatocyte nuclear factor 3β (HNF-3β) and thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), both regulators epithelial cell differentiation and gene expression in mammalian species, were detected at the onset of lung bud formation (d 4 of incubation) and throughout lung development. Abundant nuclear expression was detected in nuclei of respiratory epithelial cells of developing bronchial tubules for both transcription factors. In contrast to the surfactant proteins, expression of both TTF-1 and HNF-3β decreased markedly in posthatching chicken lung. The expression of SP-A and SP-B in chick lung demonstrates the conservation of surfactant proteins in vertebrates. The temporospatial pattern of TTF-1 and HNF-3β overlaps with that of SP-A and SP-B, supporting their potential roles in chick lung development and demonstrating the conservation of regulatory mechanisms contributing to gene expression in respiratory epithelial cells in vertebrates.

We have explored the innervation of the rainbow trout (O. mykiss) liver using immunohistochemical procedures and light microscopy to detect in situ protein gene product 9.5 and neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivities (PGP-IR and NOS-IR). The results showed PGP-IR nerve fibres running with the extralobular biliary duct (EBD), hepatic artery (EHA) and portal vein (EPV) that form the hepatic hilum, as well as following the spatial distribution of the intrahepatic blood vessel and biliary channels. These nerve fibres appear as single varicose processes, thin bundles, or thick bundles depending on their diameter and location in the wall of the blood vessel or biliary duct. No PGP-IR fibres were detected in the liver parenchyma. NOS-IR nerve fibres were located only in the vessels and ducts that form the hepatic hilum (EBD, EHA, EPV); in addition, NOS-IR nerve cell bodies were found isolated or forming ganglionated plexuses in the peribiliary fibromuscular tissue of the EBD. No PGP-IR ganglionated plexuses were detected in the EBD. The location of the general (PGP-IR) and nitrergic (nNOS-IR) intrinsic nerves of the trout liver suggest a conserved evolutionary role of the nervous control of hepatic blood flow and hepatobiliary activity.

Guided by a review of the anatomical literature, 36 sulci on the human cerebral cortical surface were designated as homologous. These sulci were assessed for visibility on 3-dimensional images reconstructed from magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brains of 20 normal volunteers by 2 independent observers. Those sulci that were found to be reproducibly identifiable were used to define 24 landmarks around the cortical surface. The interobserver and intraobserver variabilities of measurement of the 24 landmarks were calculated. These reliably reproducible landmarks can be used for detailed morphometric analysis, and may prove helpful in the analysis of suspected cerebral cortical structured abnormalities in patients with such conditions as epilepsy.

Transgenic technology has potentially solved many of the immunological difficulties of using pig organs to support life in the human recipient. Nevertheless, other problems still remain. Knowledge of cardiac anatomy of the pig (Sus scrofa) is limited despite the general acceptance in the literature that it is similar to that of man. A qualitative analysis of porcine and human cardiac anatomy was achieved by gross examination and dissection of hearts with macrophotography. The porcine organ had a classic ‘Valentine heart’ shape, reflecting its location within the thorax and to the orientation of the pig's body (unguligrade stance). The human heart, in contrast, was trapezoidal in silhouette, reflecting man's orthograde posture. The morphologically right atrium of the pig was characterised by the tubular shape of its appendage (a feature observed on the left in the human heart). The porcine superior and inferior caval veins opened into the atrium at right angles to one another, whereas in man the orifices were directly in line. A prominent left azygous vein (comparable to the much reduced left superior caval or oblique vein in man) entered on the left side of the pig heart and drained via the coronary sinus. The porcine left atrium received only 2 pulmonary veins, whereas 4 orifices were generally observed in man. The sweep between the inlet and outlet components of the porcine right ventricle was less marked than in man, and a prominent muscular moderator band was situated in a much higher position within the porcine right ventricle compared with that of man. The apical components of both porcine ventricles possessed very coarse trabeculations, much broader than those observed in the human ventricles. In general, aortic-mitral fibrous continuity was reduced in the outlet component of the porcine left ventricle, with approximately two-thirds of the aortic valve being supported by left ventricular musculature. Several potentially significant differences exist between porcine and human hearts. It is important that these differences are considered as the arguments continue concerning the use of transgenic pig hearts for xenotransplantation.

A human polydactylous left foot with 9 toes, amputated from an 11-mo-old child, was examined by x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging and by gross dissection to identify the digits. The normal sequence of toes from medial to lateral is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Examination of the morphology of tendons and muscles suggested the toe sequence was 1, 2, 3/4, ?,5, 2, 3/4, 3/4, 5. The 2 toes in the sequence that are underlined were displaced dorsally and were found to have 2 extensor tendons, no flexor tendons and nails that were conical and situated at their tips. These toes resembled those described as ‘double-dorsal’ and which develop in paws of mice in which a gene normally expressed ventrally is functionally inactivated (Loomis et al. 1996). Specification of toe formation occurs in leg buds early in embryonic development and later there is rotation of the limb so that the anterior (rostral) part comes to lie medially, i.e. the hallux which was anterior (rostral) now is on the inner (medial) side of the foot. A disruption in the patterning of this foot in both anteroposterior (rostral-caudal) and dorsoventral axes during development could be responsible.

The lungs of 3 small passerine species, having similar body mass but different diurnal activity patterns, were analysed morphometrically to assess the relationship between diurnal activity and pulmonary volumetry at the light and electron microscope levels. The percentage volumes of the major lung and exchange tissue components of the 3 species — an aerial insectivore, a foliage gleaner/nectarivore and a ground forager — were strikingly similar, and consistent with literature values for other passerine species. The only significant difference found was exchange tissue plasma volume and pulmonary haematocrit, with the ground-foraging, low activity Malurus splendens having significantly lower values than the other 2 species. This may indicate that cardiovascular parameters are more important determinants of metabolic activity in small passerines than aspects of pulmonary anatomy.

The angioarchitecture of the coeliac sympathetic ganglion complex (CGC) of the common tree shrew (Tupaia glis) was studied by the vascular corrosion cast technique in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy. The CGC of the tree shrew was found to be a highly vascularised organ. It normally received arterial blood supply from branches of the inferior phrenic, superior suprarenal and inferior suprarenal arteries and of the abdominal aorta. In some animals, its blood supply was also derived from branches of the middle suprarenal arteries, coeliac artery, superior mesenteric artery and lumbar arteries. These arteries penetrated the ganglion at variable points and in slightly different patterns. They gave off peripheral branches to form a subcapsular capillary plexus while their main trunks traversed deeply into the inner part before branching into the densely packed intraganglionic capillary networks. The capillaries merged to form venules before draining into collecting veins at the peripheral region of the ganglion complex. Finally, the veins coursed to the dorsal aspect of the ganglion to drain into the renal and inferior phrenic veins and the inferior vena cava. The capillaries on the coeliac ganglion complex do not possess fenestrations.

This paper presents a study of 3-dimensional growth in the facial skeleton of the mangabey, Cercocebus torquatus. The pattern of facial cortical remodelling in this species is already well mapped from an earlier study. In this paper we consider the extent to which these remodelling maps relate to ontogenetic changes in size and shape of the face. This study is based on 31 facial landmarks taken from 49 adult and subadult faces. Our analysis draws on some of the tools of geometric morphometrics and we take this opportunity to describe our implementation of these tools for 3D data. The geometric analysis permits the known remodelling maps to be interpreted in the context of the general pattern of facial growth in this species. We are also able to examine sexual dimorphism in the face of this species and consider the extent to which males and females share similar ontogenetic allometries. Our findings indicate that the general pattern of size-related shape variation during facial growth is more or less identical for males and females up to eruption of the third permanent maxillary molar (M3). After this, ontogenetic allometries appear to diverge. The finding of a common growth allometry that is well approximated for younger specimens by a simple linear model is consistent with the earlier findings of a consistent pattern of facial remodelling up to M3 eruption. We consider the implications of these findings in terms of the potential for these approaches in the study of comparative growth in related species.