Publication: Do neural tube defects lead to
structural alterations in the human bladder?
Authors
Pazos, Helena M.F. ; Lobo, Márcio Luiz de P. ; Costa, Waldemar S. ; Sampaio, Francisco J.B. ; Cardoso, Luis Eduardo M. ; Alves Favorito, Luciano
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Publisher
Murcia: F. Hernández
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
Purpose: Anencephaly is the most severe
neural tube defect in human fetuses. The objective of
this paper is to analyze the structure of the bladder in
anencephalic human fetuses. Methods: We studied 40
bladders of normal human fetuses (20 male and 20
female, aged 14 to 23 WPC) and 12 bladders of
anencephalic fetuses (5 male and 7 female, aged 18 to 22
WPC). The bladders were removed and processed by
routine histological techniques. Stereological analysis of
collagen, elastic system fibers and smooth muscle was
performed in sections. Data were expressed as
volumetric density (Vv-%). The images were captured
with Olympus BX51 microscopy and Olympus DP70
camera. The stereological analysis was done using the
software Image Pro and Image J. For biochemical
analysis, samples were fixed in acetone, and collagen
concentrations were expressed as micrograms of
hydroxyproline per mg of dry tissue. Means were
statistically compared using the unpaired t-test (p<0.05).
Results: We observed a significant increase (p<0.0001)
in the Vv of collagen in the bladders of anencephalic
fetuses (69.71%) when compared to normal fetuses
(52.74%), and a significant decrease (p<0.0001) in the
Vv of smooth muscle cells in the bladders of
anencephalic fetuses (23.96%) when compared to
normal fetuses (38.35%). The biochemical analyses
showed a higher concentration of total collagen in the
bladders of anencephalic fetuses (37354 µg/mg) when
compared to normal fetuses (48117 µg/mg, p<0.02).
Conclusions: The structural alterations of the bladder
found in this study may suggest the existence of
functional alterations in the bladder of anencephalic
human fetuses.
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