Study on Morphometry of Adrenal Glands in live fetuses by Ultrasonography

Introduction: Development of adrenal gland is always peculiar as it involves the complex process. It has an intriguing role in the harmonious development of fetus. Ultrasonographic Studies on fetal supra renal glands help in understanding the embryology of Suprarenal glands and are also useful in obstetrics, perinatology and fetopathology. Risk factors associated in the pregnancy like maternal diabetes and hypertension could impair the growth of adrenal glands. The nomograms of adrenal glands observed by ultrasonography are of clinical importance and help us in planning prevention and management of a fetus in high-risk pregnancies. This requires a feasible and repeatable screening test. Objective: To estimate various suprarenal gland measurements such as length, width, thickness, volume, surface area, circumference, thickness of cortex and medulla Materials and methods: Present study conducted with62 live normal human fetuses of different gestational ages ranging from 20 – 40 weeks, through ultrasonographic study using real time 4D and B mode Ge Voluson 730 pro ultra sound macine. Probes used were AB-2-7 Convex 2d abdominal Probe and RABA 4-8 Convex 4D abdominal probe. After obtaining the prior permission from the institutional ethics committee, consent from pregnant woman. Sex of the fetus was not revealed during ultrasonographic study. Fetal parameters of supra-renal gland were recorded and documented. Results: Suprarenal gland length, width, thickness, cortico-medullary thickness, surface area and circumference of both right and left side revealed significant difference (p<0.01). the detailed data analysis was presented in the subsequent headings. Conclusion: The data obtained from this study, may useful to understand the suprarenal morphometry in live fetuses thus the database useful in obstetrics, perinatology and fetopathology.

Critical Analysis of Mulsthana of Medowaha Srotas

According to Ayurveda dhatus (structural entities) are circulating through a channel known as srotas, these strotas carry dhatu (tissue elements or their constituent) undergoing transformation to their destination. Each srotas has 2 mulasthan (roots), which are different according to various text of Ayurveda. Different Acharyas describe roots of Medowaha srotas differently upto some extent, with this context the exploration of this concept is needed with respect to modern science which is mostly based on Pratyaksha pramana. An Ayurvedic principle, to treat the diseases of respective srotas, root site has to be treated. About medowaha srotas, out of two roots one is “Vrikka” is common in all text, but the second root is different with this context exploration is needed. When we correlate term Vrikka with kidney, we can’t full fill the aspect of Meda (fat) metabolism but if Vrikka is correlates with kidney plus suprarenal gland then we can. In Structure suprarenal gland are attached to kidneys on superior side kidneys and suprarenal glands are made up of same tissue. The diseases of Meda dhatu given by compendia are correlated with diseases of hormone cortisol secreated by suprarenal gland, and cortisol is responsible for fat metabolism. Even suprarenal glands are not described in any text of Ayuurveda. The second roots given by Acharyas are Vapawahan, kati, Mansa and Jatharmeda respectively all these structures are deposited with adipose tissue having adipocyte. During starvation this tissue is metabolized and used for energy. So, these all structures are roots of Medowaha srotas.

Evaluation of Acute and Sub-Acute Toxicity of Aqueous Extracts of Artemisia afra Leaves on Brain, Heart and Suprarenal Glands in Swiss Albino Mice

BACKGROUND፡ The majority of population rely on traditional medicine as a source of healthcare. Artemisia afra is a plant traditionally used for its medicinal values, including treatment of malaria in many parts of the world. Currently, it is also attracting attention because of a claim that a related species, Artemisia annua, is a remedy for the COVD-19 pandemic. The aim of the present study was to investigate toxic effects of A. afra on brain, heart and suprarenal glands in mice aged 8-12 weeks and weighing 25-30g.METHODS: Leaves of A.afra were collected from Bale National Park, dried under shade, crushed into powder and soaked in distilled water to yield aqueous extract for oral administration. For acute toxicity study, seven treated and one control groups, with 3 female mice each, were used. They were given a single dose of 200mg/kg, 700mg/kg, 1200mg/kg, 2200mg/kg, 3200mg/kg, 4200mg/kg or 5000mg/kg b/wt of the extract. For the sub-acute toxicity study, two treated and one control groups, with 5 female and 5 male mice each, were used. They were daily treated with 600mg/kg or 1800mg/kg b/wt of extract.RESULTS: LD50 was found to be greater than 5000mg/kg indicating that the plant is relatively safe. In the sub-acute study, no signs of toxicity were observed in all treatment groups. On microscopic examination of the brain, heart and suprarenal glands no sign of cellular injury was observed.CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that the leaves extract of A. afra is relatively safe in mice.

Study on the gestational age-related histogenesis of human fetal suprarenal glands

Background: Fetal suprarenal gland consists of three zones. They are the outer definitive zone or neocortex (DZ) that forms adult Zona Glomerulosa (ZG), the centrally located fetal zone and a third transitional zone (TZ) the future adult Zona Fasciculata (ZF) which lies just between the neocortex and fetal zone (FZ). The inner ZF that consists of large eosinophilic cells, and the outer definitive zone (DZ) consists of small, densely packed basophilic cells. As early as in 6th week of gestational Age, pheochromoblasts derived from the neural crest migrate through the fetal cortex to form the medulla at a later stage of development. The medulla unrecognizable as a distinct structure in the suprarenal gland throughout most of the gestation, except for small clusters or nests of chromaffin cells scattered throughout the body of the cortex. Aims and Objective: The study was designed and aimed to understand the early developmental histology of suprarenal gland. Materials and Methods: Study conducted at the Department of Anatomy, SV Medical College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. The study was carried out by processing representative samples of fetal suprarenal tissues of 13 weeks, 17 weeks, 24 weeks, 25 weeks and 38 weeks gestational age. While processing, we observed the standard dissection procedure and histopathological tissue processing for the human samples. Results: Peripheral narrower and darker definitive zone or true cortex and an inner wider and lighter fetal zone was observed at 13, 17, 24 weeks with 10x objective. The demarcation between cortex and medulla could be seen clearly at 24 weeks. At 25 weeks capsule is very thick and vascular. A well-differentiated gland tissue with clear demarcation of cortex and medulla and a large central vein was observed. At 38 weeks degeneration of fetal zone with a thick-walled central vein was observed at lower magnification (10x objective) Conclusion: Observations on prenatal microscopic structure and gestational age-related changes in suprarenal glands form the basis for understanding structural changes and a foetal database for the local population.

Peculiarities of microstructure of the suprarenal glands of rabbits with different types of autonomic tone

The article investigates the structure of the suprarenal (adrenal) glands of male rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), in which, on the basis of electrocardiographic and variational-pulsometric studies, different types of autonomic tone were observed. This allowed the animals to be divided into three groups: 1) sympathicotonic rabbits; 2) normotonic rabbits; 3) parasympathicotonic rabbits. The animals of the first two groups were characterized by almost the same body weight, while weight of the rabbits of the third group was slightly higher. After euthanasia, the suprarenal glands were extracted for histological and histochemical analyses. Morphometric study of histopreparations revealed that in the normotonic rabbits the thickness of the zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata of the suprarenal glands were of average sizes, and the area of the medulla was the smallest. The parasympathicotonic rabbits had the thickest zona glomerulosa and greatest area of the medulla, but the thinnest zona fasciculata. The sympathicotonic rabbits were observed to have the greatest thickness of the zona fasciculata of the suprarenal glands, the area of the medulla was of average values, and the thickness of the zona glumerulosa was of minimum value. The type of autonomic tone also manifests in the saturation of each of the zones with cells. The normotonic rabbits were observed to have the highest number of cells per area of 1,000 µm² in the zona fasciculata and the medulla, sympathicotonic rabbits – in the zona glomerulosa and zona reticularis, and in parasympathicotonic rabbits this parameter had average or lowest values in all the zones. The sizes of cells and their structural parts were characterized on the basis of nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. In the zona fasciculata and medulla this parameter was highest among parasympathicotonic rabbits, and lowest in sympathicotonic rabbits. In the zona glomerulosa, almost equal values were observed in the normotonic and parasympathicotonic rabbits, while being reliably lower in sympathicotonic rabbits. By the value of nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio in the zona reticularis, the normotonic rabbits dominated, followed by the sympathicotonic animals, and the parasympathicotonic rabbits had the lowest parameters.

Histogenesis of suprarenal glands at different gestational age groups

Background: The human foetal suprarenal gland is structurally variant from its adult counterpart. The most distinctive features of human foetal suprarenal gland and histologically unique foetal zone, was described first by Elliott and Armour in 1911. After the first trimester, the centrally located foetal zone accounts for most of the foetal adrenal mass. The outer zone of the foetal suprarenal gland is called the “definitive zone or neo cortex”; this zone likely gives rise to the adult adrenal glomerulosa. A third zone called “transitional zone”, lies just between the neocortex and foetal zone and is believed to develop into the zona fasciculata. Aims and Objectives: The current study was designed to study the histogenesis of suprarenal glands at different gestational age groups. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight formalin preserved dead embryos and foetuses of both sexes, were obtained from the Govt. Maternity Hospital & S.V.Medical College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Specimens were grouped according to their gestational age groups (A,B,C,D) A= 0-12 weeks, B= 13-24 weeks, C= 25-36 weeks and D= more than 36 weeks of gestation. Specimens from group A were subjected to serial section as this group consists of embryos, and other groups were sectioned coronal and subjected to routine histological processing for H&E staining. Sections were observed for cellular details under light microscopy with 10X and 40X magnifications, and the same were photographed by microphotography. Results: Based upon the gestational age groups, histogenesis of the suprarenal gland was observed and correlated with the available literature, and the detailed results, discussion will be dealt at the time of discussion. Conclusions: Histological observation of the all the specimens observed in the present study are in agreement with those reported in the literature except that they appeared earlier in the present study than that reported in the literature. Capsule of suprarenal gland appeared at 12 weeks, sympatho-chromaffin bundles appeared before 6 weeks and zonation of cortex was observed at 8 weeks in the present study when compared to the time of appearance reported in the literature as 14 weeks, after 6 weeks and after 12 weeks respectively in the literature.

Importance for experiments in human medicine of imaging modalities for macroanatomical and histological study of rabbit suprarenal glands

The morphological characteristics of the rabbit adrenal glands are currently investigated using routine imaging modalities. The aim of the study was to collect and interpret major findings and information in the literature on the rabbit as an animal model for investigations in humans. The suprarenal glands of thirty-four mature, clinically healthy New Zealand rabbits were studied using anatomical, routine histology, radiology, computed tomography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging methods. The results demonstrated that the rabbit suprarenal glands are paired ellipsoid organs. The right gland was close to the right kidney, whereas the left gland was located at a distance from the left kidney. The capsule was composed of dense connective tissue. The parenchyma consisted of three zones: zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculate, and zona reticularis. The medulla was in the center of the glandular parenchyma. The glands’ radiological and CT features defined their position relative to the right and left kidneys. The right suprarenal gland was with normal attenuation. The left suprarenal gland was located at a distance from the left kidney. The US features of the glands demonstrated variability in darkness and contrast, revealing specific histological features. The MRI peculiarities of the glands defined them as well visible findings

MORPHOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF ADRENAL CORTEX IN FULL-TERM NEWBORNS WITH CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION

The aim was to study the structure of the adrenal cortex in 36 dead full-term newborns. The main group consisted of 16 newborns with congenital cytomegalovirus infection, clinically manifested by moderate and severe cerebral ischemia, predominance of hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome, pseudocysts of the vascular plexus, sub-perpendicular and subarachnoid hemorrhages, monocytosis, vesiculosis, pneumonia, hepatitis and meningoencephalitis. The comparison group consisted of 20 dead newborns from mothers who did not have infectious diseases during pregnancy, as well as moderate and severe somatic and obstetric pathology. Birth trauma, intranatal and postnatal hypoxia were the main cause of their death. The evaluation of the pathomorphological picture of the adrenal cortex included a description of the general plan of the structure, the severity of alterative changes in glandulocytes, the number of adenomatous-like structures and their morphological forms, the reaction of loose fibrous connective tissue. It was found out that in suprarenal glands in children of the main group unlike the comparison group there was often detected a breach of the strands of granulocytes, there were found pronounced alterative changes in the cells; there were revealed large adenomatous-like structures in the lumen of which eosinophilic mass was often found and there was observed strongly-pronounced plethora of vessels. Only in the main group there were determined areas of thinning of the cortical substance of the glands, several adenomatous-like formations and anatomical forms containing in their lumen red blood cells and erythroblasts, as well as large hemorrhages. These structural changes indicated inhibition of adrenal cortex formation and prolonged antenatal stimulation of steroidogenesis under the influence of congenital cytomegalovirus infection leading to a decrease in glucocorticoid function of the suprarenal glands in children after birth.