To study whether the renin-angiotensin system is related to hyperuricemia in hypertension, the serum concentration of uric acid was determined in 96 patients with various types of hypertension and various degrees of plasma renin activity (PRA). In malignant hypertension, both PRA and the serum uric acid level were higher than in essential hypertension; but in primary aldosteronism or desoxycorticosterone-excess hypertension, they were lower than in the essential type. In renovascular hypertension, PRA was higher than in essential hypertension, but the serum uric acid levels were similar. There were no differences in PRA and serum uric acid concentration between Cushing's syndrome and essential hypertension. The serum uric acid level in high-renin essential hypertension was higher than in either the normal-renin or the low-renin type. There was a significant correlation between serum uric acid concentration and PRA in the basal state, and between the change in PRA and the change in serum uric acid induced by administration of furosemide. Apparently the close correlation between the renin-angiotensin system and the concentration of serum uric acid is related to changes in extracellular fluid volume, although an intrarenal effect of angiotensin II cannot be excluded.

The activated androgen receptor (AR) in decidualizing human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) regulates genes involved in cytoskeletal organization, cell motility, and cell cycle progression. Androgens also enhance the secretion of prolactin, a widely used marker of decidualized HESCs. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the direct effects of androgens on the ultrastructural changes associated with decidual transformation of HESCs. Primary HESC cultures were established and propagated, and confluent cultures were decidualized for 6 days with 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-br-cAMP) and progesterone (P4) in the presence or absence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Phase-contrast image analysis demonstrated that DHT increases the shape index of decidualizing cells, which was reversed upon cotreatment with the AR antagonist flutamide. Electron microscopy demonstrated that DHT enhances many of the ultrastructural changes induced by 8-br-cAMP and P4 in HESCs. Decidualizing cells are characterized by an abundant cytoplasm, multiple cell surface projections and, unlike undifferentiated HESCs, form 2 or more cell layers. The DHT further stimulated cytoplasmic expansion, lipid droplet formation, the production of an abundant extracellular matrix, and gap junction formation in decidualized HESCs. The present study demonstrates that androgen signaling has an impact on the morphological and ultrastructural changes associated with the decidual process. Our findings show that androgens promote the development and expansion of cytoplasmic organelles and gap junctions in decidualizing HESCs. These results suggest that androgens in early pregnancy play an important role in promoting the cellular transformation associated with decidualization.

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Advances in computer and video technology suggest that image analysis may be practical method of measuring DNA that also allows visual confirmation of cell type. The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare DNA quantitation from 92 solid tumors in which DNA indices had been measured by image analysis of touch preparations (CAS 100) and flow cytometry of cell suspensions (FACScan). For 81 cases, there was excellent correlation between the two methods. For nine cases, however, an aneuploid population, usually near tetraploid, was identified by image but not by flow cytometry. Three cases had aneuploid peaks by flow cytometry that were not identified by image. Although these methods show good correlation, rare populations may be missed by CAS, presumably because of sampling errors in the touch preparation. Aneuploid populations may also be missed by flow cytometry, either because of cell loss during processing or because visual identification by image can increase sensitivity.

The placenta is an important functional unit for gas transfer between mother and fetus. The placental membrane, consisting of trophoblast layer interposed between maternal and fetal blood, plays an active role for intensity of respiration, but no morphological evidence has been documented. Until now, it has been reported that fetal growth retardation and increased fetal mortality rate usually could be seen at high altitude. In an attempt to find the cause of high perinatal mortality rate in Nepal, this study was undertaken to examine pathologically about 1000 Himalayan placentas obtained in Nepal and Tibet since 1977, and the results were compared with those of 5500 Japanese placentas at Saitama Medical School since 1990. In this study, characteristics of ultrastructural features of the Nepalese placental villi investigated in recent years are reported. (1) The gross characteristics of placental pathology in the Himalayan group were represented by marked subchorionic fibrin deposits and increased chorionic cysts in contrast to low incidence of intervillous thrombosis compared with those of the Japanese group. (2) As characteristics of histological findings of the placental villi between Himalayan and Japanese groups, the incidence of chorangiosis and chorangioma in the Himalayan group was significantly higher than that in the Japanese group. (3) Accompanying an increase of vasculosyncytial membrane (VSM) in the villi, thickness and separation of basement membrane of the syncytium in addition to increased apoptosis of syncytial cell nuclei were recognized. (4) As characteristic ultrastructural features of chorionic villi of Nepalese placentas, an increase of mitochondria and cystic formation of rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER), in addition to appearance of lamellar bodies similar to alveolar epithelial type II cell in organellae of the syncytium, were observed. These ultrastructural changes of the placental villous capillaries may be ascribed to hypervascularization caused by the chronic hypoxic state. It is, therefore, presumed that trophoblast cells may play an important role for gas transfer mechanism under such a hypoxic state at high altitude.