Browsing by Subject "Biliary tract"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Effects of sex steroids on the Syrian hamster liver
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 1995) Karkare, S.; Adamiec-Beyga, E.; Gilloteaux, J.
    The primary objective of this research project was to study the role of sex steroids in the pathogenesis of cholelithiasis using the Syrian hamster as a model. In addition to the morphological examination of the gallbladder epithelium, we thought it imperative to observe the changes induced in the biliary tract in response to the sex steroid treatment. This report focuses on the morphological changes induced in the liver. The hamsters were randomly divided into 4 groups, control (C), estrogen-treated (E), estrogen and medroxyprogesterone-treated (E+MP), and medroxyprogesterone- treated (MP) groups. The E group hepatocytes demonstrated proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, lipofuscin-like granules, aggregates of glycogen rosettes, and dense bodies. Lipid droplets in the hepatocyte cytoplasm as well as the nuclei were detected in this group. E+MP combined treatment induced an exacerbation of al1 the changes observed in the E group, furthermore, there appeared to be a disruption of the hepatic parenchymal architecture. The MP-treated group also exhibited the architectural changes observed in the E+MP group, but also showed sinusoidal dilation. In response to MP alone, the fatty changes in the liver appeared to be accentuated. A striking feature induced in response to MP treatment, was a focal area suggestive of adenomatous changes.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Human galectin-2: expression profiling by RT-PCR/immunohistochemistry and its introduction as a histochemical tool for ligand localization
    (Murcia : F. Hernández, 2005) Saal, I.; Nagy, N.; Lensch, M.; Lohr, M.; Manning, J.C.; Decaestecker, C.; André, S.; Kiss, R.; Salmon, I.; Gabius, H.J.
    Sugar-encoded information of glycoconjugates is translated into cellular responses by endogenous lectins. Galectins stand out against other lectin families due to their wide range of functions including cell adhesion, tissue invasion or growth regulation exerted at extracellular, membrane, cytoplasmic and nuclear sites. This remarkable versatility warrants close scrutiny of their emerging network, in this study with focus on homodimeric human galectin-2. We first detected presence of specific mRNA in various tissue types by processing post mortem and surgical specimens by RT-PCR protocols. Overlap of gene expression was noted with proto-type galectins-1 and -7 and also family members from the other two subgroups. To monitor expression on the level of protein a polyclonal anti-galectin-2 antibody was raised. Immunopositivity was semi-quantitatively assessed in sections of 209 human samples establishing an array both of normal tissues and samples with inflammation or benign/malignant growth. In general, positivity was predominantly epithelial without restriction of staining to certain tissue types, as fittingly indicated by our RT-PCR analysis. Staining was not limited to the cytoplasm but also included nuclear sites. To examine the suitability of the labeled lectin as a histochemical probe we biotinylated galectin-2 under activity-preserving conditions and introduced it to tissue profiling. Specific cytoplasmic staining proved the validity of the concept. Our results encourage systematic histopathologic studies by immuno- and lectin histochemistry, especially by adding galectin-2 as study object to galectin fingerprinting which has already yielded prognostic information on galectins-1, -3, -4 and -8 and hereby contributed to define functional overlap/divergence in this lectin family.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Proposal of a new disease concept “biliary diseases with pancreatic counterparts”. Anatomical and pathological bases
    (F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2014) Nakanuma, Yasuni; Harada, Kenichi; Sasaki, Motoko; Sato, Yasunori
    y. The biliary tract and pancreas are located closely anatomically, and both develop from the endoderm foregut almost at the same time. Interestingly, the lining epithelia of the bile duct and main pancreatic duct show similar morphologies and phenotypes, and both are accompanied by periductal glands. Furthermore, the exocrine pancreatic acini are remnantly found in the peribiliary glands. Based on these findings, it seems plausible that the biliary tract has features of pancreatic elements in addition to the duct system, which is specialized for the drainage of bile secreted by hepatic parenchyma, particularly, hepatocytes. Interestingly, some pancreatic and biliary diseases show similar pathological features and even biological behaviors. For example, extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas share many clinicopathological features. Both of them are hypothesized to arise from similar preneoplastic and early neoplastic intraepithelial lesions. Intraductal papillary tumors, with frequent mucin hyperproduction, develop in the pancreas (intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm) and also in the biliary tract (intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct). IgG4-related disease affects the biliary tract (IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis) and the pancreas (autoimmune pancreatitis) in the same patients, with both showing similar morphologies. Herein, we propose that these nonneoplastic and neoplastic biliary diseases showing similarities to corresponding pancreatic diseases could be included in a new disease concept “biliary diseases with pancreatic counterparts”. Based on this new concept, information obtained in biliary tract diseases could be applied to the analysis of pancreatic disease and vice versa, and also novel therapeutical strategies and molecular and genetic studies on pancreatic and biliary diseases may be developed with a unified approach