Organization of the Epidermal Syncytial Mosaic in Diceratocephala-Boschmai (Temnocephalida, Platyhelminthes)

The epidermis of Diceratocephala boschmai Baer, 1952 (Temnocephalida : Platyhelminthes) was studied using silver-nitrate staining and electron microscopy. The epidermis consists of six syncytia separated by lateral membranes: the frontal, trunk, stalk, adhesive disc syncytia, and a pair of post-tentacular syncytia. Neighbouring syncytia differ in many characters including (1) the presence or absence of locomotory cilia, (2) the degree of the differentiation of the apical cytoplasm layer, (3) the presence or absence of bundles of cytoskeletal filaments, imaginations of basal membrane and other specialised cytoplasmatic structures, (4) the abundance of hemidesmosomes at the basal membrane, and (5) the abundance and nature of gland ducts penetrating the syncytium. These structural differences reflect functional differences between the syncytia. Thus, multisyncytial organisation of the epidermis may be explained by functional differences between the syncytia. Only between the frontal and trunk syncytia has no apparent ultrastructural difference been found.

Clq nepropathy: A case report of a newly described glomerularopathy

A distinctly new pathologic entity that causes steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome has been described by Jennette and Hipp. Clq nephropathy gets its name from the strong positivity of Clq localized by immunofluorescence. Reactions for C3, IgG and IgM are present, with a mild reaction for IgA occuring in some cases.The ultrastructural features of Clq glomerular nephropathy (Clq GN) and systemic lupus erythmatosis glomerular nephropathy (SLE GN) are strikingly similar in that they both demonstrate mesangial cell proliferative activity, mesangial dense deposits, and subendothelial or subepithelial dense deposits. One ultrastructural difference between Clq GN and SLE GN is the lack of endothelial tubuloreticular inclusions in Clq GN.The most interesting aspect of Clq GN is that although the glomerular changes resemble SLE GN by light microscopy and electron microscopy, these patients lack clinical or serological evidence for SLE. Specifically, serological tests for ANA, anti-DNA, and LE are all negative in Clq GN patients.