The aim of this study was to describe and illustrate the morphology of the stomach, liver, intestine, and their vasculature to support the planning of surgical therapeutic methods in abdominal cavity. On adult Wistar rats corrosion casts were prepared from the arterial system and Duracryl Dental and PUR SP were used as a casting medium and was performed macroscopic anatomical dissection of the stomach, liver, and intestine was performed. The rat stomach was a large, semilunar shaped sac with composite lining. On the stomach was very marked fundus, which formed a blind sac (saccus cecus). The rat liver was divided into six lobes, but without gall bladder. Intestine of the rat was simple, but cecum had a shape as a stomach. The following variations were observed in the origin of the cranial mesenteric artery. On the corrosion cast specimens we noticed the presence of the anastomosis between middle colic artery (a. colica media) and left colic artery (a. colica sinistra). We investigated the second anastomosis between middle colic artery and left colic artery. The results of this study reveal that the functional anatomical relationship between the rat stomach, liver and intestine is important for the development of surgical research in human and veterinary medicine.

It was recently shown that the conditioned medium (CM) of mesenchymal stem cells can enhance viability of neural and glial cell populations. In the present study, we have investigated a cell-free approach via CM from rat bone marrow stromal cells (MScCM) applied intrathecally (IT) for spinal cord injury (SCI) recovery in adult rats. Functional in vitro test on dorsal root ganglion (DRG) primary cultures confirmed biological properties of collected MScCM for production of neurosphere-like structures and axon outgrowth. Afterwards, rats underwent SCI and were treated with IT delivery of MScCM or vehicle at postsurgical Days 1, 5, 9, and 13, and left to survive 10 weeks. Rats that received MScCM showed significantly higher motor function recovery, increase in spared spinal cord tissue, enhanced GAP-43 expression and attenuated inflammation in comparison with vehicle-treated rats. Spared tissue around the lesion site was infiltrated with GAP-43-labeled axons at four weeks that gradually decreased at 10 weeks. Finally, a cytokine array performed on spinal cord extracts after MScCM treatment revealed decreased levels of IL-2, IL-6 and TNFα when compared to vehicle group. In conclusion, our results suggest that molecular cocktail found in MScCM is favorable for final neuroregeneration after SCI.

Objectives Recently, it has been confirmed, that excess fluid and waste products from the brain are drained into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and afterwards cleared via the olfactory route and/or lymphatic vessels in the brain dura and corresponding extracranial lymphatic structures. Therefore, the aim of present study was to monitor time-dependent uptake of Evans blue (EB) tracer from subarachnoid space into the meningeal lymphatic vessels and extracranial lymph nodes in rats during 3 hours-12 days. Methods EB was injected into the cisterna magna of anesthetized rats and after required survival, plasma, brain dura matter and corresponding lymph nodes (cervical, thoracic and lumbar) were dissected and processed for lymphatic vessels analyses using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, we have used sensitive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method for the determination of EB concentrations in selected samples. Results Using a combination of imaging methods, we have detected two different types of the vascular structures in the brain dura and in deep cervical lymph nodes. The blood vessels, which were RECA-1 + positive and the lymphatic-like vessels, expressing bright intense red fluorescence of EB tracer. Subsequently, using UHPLC with UV detection, we have quantified the EB concentration in positive structures by 3 hours up to 12 days after tracer delivery. A significant increase of EB concentration was detected in deep cervical lymph nodes already at 3 hours with a peak at 1 day that decreased to about one-tenth of its peak value by 12 days. Similar pattern was detected in brain dura. On the contrary, the brain tissue and plasma were almost negative for EB tracer during all tested time periods. Conclusion Our results demonstrate the dynamic changes of EB in meningeal lymphatic vessels and in deep cervical lymph nodes, thus recapitulating the downstream outflow of intracisternally injected tracer during 3 hours-12 days via dura mater lymphatic vessels towards corresponding extracranial draining system, particularly the deep cervical lymph nodes.

BackgroundThe laboratory rat is one of the most popular experimental models for the experimental surgery of the liver. The objective of this study was to investigate the morphometric parameters, physiological data, differences in configuration of liver lobes, biliary system, and vasculature (arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels) of the liver in laboratory rats. In addition, this study supports the anatomic literature and identified similarities and differences with human and other mammals.Material/MethodsForty laboratory rats were dissected to prepare corrosion casts of vascular system specimens (n=20), determine the lymph vessels and lymph nodes (n=10), and for macroscopic anatomical dissection (n=10) of the rat liver. The results are listed in percentages. The anatomical nomenclature of the liver morphology, its arteries, veins, lymph nodes, and lymphatic vessels are in accordance with Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria.ResultsWe found many variations in origin, direction, and division of the arterial, venous, and lymphatic systems in rat livers, and found differences in morphometric parameters compared to results reported by other authors. The portal vein was formed by 4 tributaries in 23%, by 3 branches in 64%, and by 2 tributaries in 13%. The liver lymph was drained to the 2 different lymph nodes. The nomenclature and morphological characteristics of the rat liver vary among authors.ConclusionsOur results may be useful for the planing of experimental surgery and for cooperation with other investigation methods to help fight liver diseases in human populations.

Background: Pelvic organ prolapse affects half of vaginally parous women. Several animal models are used to study its pathophysiology and treatment. Sheep are interesting because they develop spontaneously prolapse with similar risk factors as women and can be used for vaginal surgery. This study describes ovine pelvis anatomy and compares it to women's pelvis to provide anatomical tools for translational researchers. Methods: MRI, pelvic dissections, and histology were used for detailed macro- and microscopic analysis of relevant anatomical structures in 6 nulliparous ewes. Results: Although sheep are quadrupeds, the gross and microscopic anatomies are similar to the female pelvis. Principal differences are the shape and its orientation, the absence of the sacrospinous ligament and the internal obturator. The levator ani (except for the puborectalis) and the coccygeus muscle are present, yet the latter is more developed - coinciding with the tail. The dimensions and morphology of the ovine vagina is comparable. The retropubic and the rectovaginal space are accessible transvaginally. There is a wide expression of estrogen receptors with low or absent immunoreactivity in the urethral epithelium, bladder, anus and internal anal sphincter. Conclusion: The ovine pelvic floor has many anatomical and ultrastructural similarities to the female pelvic floor.