?-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the most extensively studied neurotransmitter of all amino acid transmitters in the central nervous system (CNS). It is probably the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS and has a widespread distribution in the adult brain. Moreover, GABA is also present in peripheral tissues where it may act as a transmitter. In [...]

Implantation of the embryo in the uterus is a highly regulated process in which the uterus must undergo specific changes to become ‘receptive’ to the implanting embryo. The final positioning of the embryo, that is implantation into the antimesometrial side of the uterine lumen with the inner cell mass facing the mesometrial side is a [...]

Various substances are known to cause liver damage. One of these chemicals is carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) which is a xenobiotic that induces hepatotoxicity in humans as well as in animals. The hepatotoxic effect of CCl4 is considered to be a result from reductive dehalogenation by the P450 enzyme system to the highly reactive trichloromethyl radical, [...]

Both type I and type II diabetic patients are at risk to develop nephropathy. Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by changes in both glomerular and tubular structure and function. Most studies have focused on alterations in the glomerulus, including abnormalities in glomerular permeability and capillary pressure, glomerular hyperplasia or hypertrophy and increase in mesangial volume.
Thickening of [...]

Androgens and gonadotrophins play crucial roles in the development and function of the male reproductive tract, and spermatogenesis. In addition, the requirement of estrogens for male fertility has been established recently in experiments, in which aromatase- and estrogen receptor-knockout mice (ArKO and ERKO) were used. The testicular phenotype of these mice was characterized by seminiferous [...]

Mitochondria-rich (MR) cells, also known as flask cells, are characteristic of amphibian skin epithelium. The principal cells that form a functional syncytium are engaged in active transport of Na+, whereas the individually intercalated MR cells are the site of activated Cl? conductance (GCl) and differ in their structure and composition from principal cells. Most tight [...]

Molecular process involved in keratinization of mammalian epidermis are relatively well understood. In contrast, only little information information is available on genes and proteins involved in the process of keratinization in the epidermis of non-mammalian amniotes. In birds, most information is available on feather and scale beta-keratinization. In comparison with alpha-keratinization in avian soft apteric [...]

During development, radial glial cells displaying a bipolar shape span their processes along the full width of the cerebral wall. Radial glial somata are mainly situated in the ventricular or subventricular zones. Their short processes are anchored in the ventricular zone and their elongated processes reach the pial surface. The long radial processes are known [...]

Hereditary motor sensory neuropathies (HMSN) are characterized by degeneration of myelin and axons in motor and sensory nerves that cause clinically symmetrical weakness of distal muscles. HMSN are a group of genetically inherited disorders, predominantly by autosomal dominant or X-linked dominant genes. The hypertrophic or demyelinating form of HMSN is referred to as HMSN type [...]

Blastocyst implantation that begins with attachment of the trophoblast to the uterus and terminates with formation of the placenta is a complex series of events in early pregnancy. To complete this series of events and to accomplish successful implantation and placentation, the embryo and the uterine endometrium must be synchronized during the limited period of [...]