Various morphologic features of the rat prostate complex were characterized by anatomic dissection and by light microscope histology. The prostate complex is viewed as a whole and it is related to the individual portions of the male reproductive system. The three lobes of the prostate are designated as ventral, lateral, and dorsal according to their relation to the urethra. These lobes are connected to the urethra by fascia and a series of ducts. Relations of the prostate to the seminal vesicles, coagulating glands, vas deferens and ampullary glands, urinary bladder, and ureters are described. Vascular supply is also reviewed. While the acinar pattern of each prostatic lobe is unique, the dorsal and lateral lobes more closely resemble each other than the ventral lobes.

Minoxidil, a potent vasodilator, stimulates the growth of terminal hair from vellus or miniaturized follicles in balding scalp. To study minoxidil's action on isolated follicles we developed and validated an organ culture system using mouse whisker follicles. Control follicles cultured without minoxidil showed macroscopic changes including kinking of the hair shafts and bending of the follicles. Necrosis was evident in the differentiating epithelial elements forming the cuticle, cortex, and inner root sheath. These abnormalities were eliminated or greatly reduced in minoxidil-treated follicles. The morphology of these follicles was consistent with the production of new hair during culture. Direct measurement demonstrated that minoxidil-treated follicles grew significantly longer than control follicles during the 3-d culture. Minoxidil increased the incorporation of radiolabeled cysteine and glycine in follicles compared with control treatment. Doses of minoxidil up to 1 mM caused increased cysteine incorporation, while higher doses were inhibitory. Experiments with labeled thymidine indicated that minoxidil induced proliferation of hair epithelial cells near the base of the follicle. Autoradiography also showed that cysteine accumulated in the keratogenous zone above the dermal papilla. These studies demonstrate that organ cultured follicles are suitable for determining minoxidil's mechanism of action and may be useful for studying other aspects of hair biology. The results also show that minoxidil's effect on hair follicles is direct. This suggests that minoxidil's action in vivo includes more than just increasing blood flow to hair follicles.

This article examines the situations under which candidates in multicandidate races go on the attack (both intraparty and interparty), paying special attention to the timing of the attacks, whether the attacker or the attacked is a front‐runner or trailing, and candidate ideology. Using ad tracking data from the 2004 and 2008 U.S. presidential nomination campaigns and detailed polling data from each state, the authors find that timing is an important consideration in launching an attack and that candidate ideology determines who gets attacked. While candidate standing and candidate resources have little influence on intraparty attack behavior, both are important predictors of attacks across party lines.

The natural history of renal cell carcinoma is kaleidoscopic. Growth may be indolent, intermittent, or rapid. The tumor may remain encapsulated for years. Ultimately it may invade intrarenal veins and lymphatics, thence to vena cava, aortic nodes, thoracic duct, and beyond. Spread to contiguous organs gives entry to portal and vertebral venous systems. Unusual metastases are common. Gross hematuria, loin pain, and mass occur together in only 10‐15% and portend advanced neoplasm. Microscopic hematuria is found in about two‐thirds. Non‐specific signs and symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, gastrointestinal symptoms, fever, and anemia are misleading. Fascinating clues such as hypercalcemia, erythrocytosis, hepatopathy, polyneuritis, acute left varicocele, etc., may alert the wary clinician. Rare but titillating spontaneous regression of hypernephroma metastases, usually pulmonary and in older males, have occurred whether or not nephrectomy is done. About 60 cases have been reported. Understanding this apparent tumor‐specific immunologic response may bring earlier diagnosis and control of metastases. Selection of best treatment requires surveying metastatic sites. Accurate staging at operation and at the time of recurrence is imperative to help determine cause and correction of treatment failures.