Rare neurohypophyseal tumor presenting as giant pituitary macroadenoma with cavernous sinus invasion – A case report and review of literature

Background: Granular cell tumors (GCTs) of the pituitary are rare tumors of posterior pituitary that can present as giant pituitary macroadenoma due to the slow indolent growth of the tumor. We are reporting this case due to the rarity of GCT and usually these tumors are confined to the suprasellar region since they are arising from the pituitary stalk. GCTs that attain such giant size with cavernous sinus invasion are still rarer. Case Description: A 38-year-old female who presented with progressive deterioration of vision and on evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging showed a giant pituitary macroadenoma with bilateral cavernous sinus invasion. The patient underwent pterional craniotomy and near-total excision of the lesion was done due to high vascularity and firmness of the tumor. Histopathology examination of the lesion showed spindle to globular cells with granular cytoplasm and was reported as GCT of the pituitary. Conclusion: GCTs are WHO grade1 non-neuroendocrine tumors arising from neurohypophysis and infundibulum. Complete excision is usually difficult due to the high vascularity, firm consistency, and local invasion of the tumor to the cavernous sinus and optic apparatus.

In vitro Development of Cauliflower Synthetic Seeds and Development of Plantlets In vivo

Synthetic seeds of cauliflower cv. Chillout were developed by encapsulating mature somatic embryos in neutral gel media. Somatic embryos were obtained by optimizing callus and cell suspension cultures of cauliflower. Friable, yellowish embryogenic calli were obtained on MS supplemented with 2 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/l BAP using hypocotyl as explants, while calli were regenerated in media consisting of 5 mg/l BAP, 2 mg/l Kn and 6 mg/l GA3. Somatic embryo-genesis was induced in cell suspension culture where auxins were removed in successive steps triggering conversion of globular cells into the heart, torpedo stage (71%) and finally into cotyledonary/somatic embryos (28%). The mature somatic embryos were encapsulated by mixing mature cell suspension with sodium alginate and calcium chloride mixture (1 : 4). Developed synthetic seeds germinated into complete plantlets when placed in neutral gel media. Germination efficiency of synthetic seeds decreased to about 50 per cent after 12 weeks of storage at 4ºC followed by a rapid decrease to zero per cent after 16 weeks. It was also observed that cauliflower plantlets from synthetic seeds survived successfully when transferred to soil demonstrating that cauliflower synthetic seeds is a promising step towards their in vivo direct use. Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 24(1): 27-36, 2014 (June) D. O. I. http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ptcb.v24i1.19193

Elliptochloris bilobata var. corticola var. nov. (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta), a novel subaerial coccal green alga

We investigated a previously unidentified subaerial corticolous strain of the genus Elliptochloris Tschermak-Woess. The alga shares the generic morphological characters with Elliptochloris bilobata, the type species of the genus, but it has a thicker cell wall of adult globular cells, different chloroplast structure and it also differs in shape of elliptical autospores. The differences of the autospore shape between both species were evaluated using landmark-based geometric morphometrics. The 18S rDNA gene sequence of the new alga forms a monophyletic clade with the authentic strain of E. bilobata within the green algal class Trebouxiophyceae close to representatives of the genus Coccomyxa. We describe the new alga as Elliptochloris bilobata var. corticola var. nov.

Morphology and phylogenetic position of Spongiochrysis hawaiiensis gen. et sp. nov., the first known terrestrial member of the order Cladophorales (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta)

Spongiochrysis hawaiiensis gen. et sp. nov. is described from material collected at two sites on O'ahu, Hawaiian Islands. This alga produced golden-yellow crusts on the bark of Casuarina trees and consisted of globular cells with an axial stellate chloroplast. The only form of reproduction was a specialized type of autosporulation in which a budding-like division of the mother cell produced daughter cells of different sizes. Phylogenetic analyses of the 18S rRNA gene showed that Spongiochrysis hawaiiensis is a member of the freshwater clade of the Cladophorales/Siphonocladales lineage in the green algal class Ulvophyceae. On the basis of its unicellular habit and terrestrial habitat, this species is well differentiated from all other members of the same lineage and can be considered as the first known successful step of a member of the order Cladophorales into terrestrial habitats. The implications of the description of this species with regard to both green algal evolution and conservation of little-known tropical habitats are discussed. The holotype specimen of Spongiochrysis hawaiiensis is GALW015489 and isotype specimens have also been deposited in the BISH and BM herbaria.

Occurrence of Wilt Disease Caused by Verticillium dahliae on Ailanthus glandulosa in Greece

Ailanthus glandulosa is an introduced tree species in Greece used as ornamental and is considered resistant to both fungal and insect attacks. However, since 1992, a great number of A. glandulosa plants of different ages and in different parts of northern Greece have been dying. The phenomenon appeared either in single trees or in groups, and the number of affected plants increased from year to year. The symptoms were characteristic of a wilt disease. Dieback started on one or more branches and gradually spread, or whole trees were affected from the beginning. Death may occur during spring when trees do not resume their activity or later in the summer. Leaves wilt, turn yellow and fall in a short time. Trees may die in 1 to 3 years depending on their age. In cross sections of branches a continuous discoloured ring or arc was present in the outermost sapwood. Isolations made from dying trees from 25 different locations have yielded V. dahliae, a pathogen known to cause vascular wilt on many plant hosts, including Ailanthus (1). Isolations made from healthy trees did not yield the fungus. Abundant mycelium developed in the host vessels of infected trees; the hyphae were cylindrical, hyaline, and septate. On malt agar fungal cultures developed quickly and were initially a whitish to cream color that later turned black due to the formation of microsclerotia. In culture, microsclerotia started to form centrally and were dark brown to black, consisting of swollen globular cells that formed irregular masses variable in shape. The fungus also produced abundant verticillate conidiophores with phialides and conidia. This is a first report of Verticillium wilt on A. glandulosa in Greece. Reference: (1) G. Arnaud et al. Rev. Pathol. Veg. Entomol. Agric. Fr. 17:227, 1930.

Comparison of microtubules and microfilaments in Tipula iridescent virus-infected and uninfected cells

Microfilaments and microtubules were detected in Estigmene acrea virus-infected cells using fluorescent immunochemistry and in sections by electron microscopy. Twelve hours following infection of cells with Tipula iridescent virus, large virus assembly sites developed in the cytoplasm. The majority of infected cells exhibit no detectable changes in the cytoskeleton during the initial stage of infection, when virus assembly sites are forming. Actin was localized either in cytoplasmic spikes or in patches at the cell surface. Microtubules were parallel to the long axis of elongate cells or randomly distributed in globular cells. Intermediate filaments were not detected using either immunofluorscent or electron microscopic techniques. In later stages of infection some cells exhibit a specific association between actin and the virus assembly site. The significance of this observation remains unclear since only a portion of the population exhibits this change. From this study, it does not appear that cytoskeletal elements are of importance in the formation or maintenance of the membrane-free cytoplasmic virus assembly sites.