Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research

About: Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Estrone & Estrogen. The organization has 2195 authors who have published 2646 publications receiving 115809 citations. The organization is also known as: Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology.

A zonal pattern of cell proliferation and differentiation in the rhesus endometrium during the estrogen surge.

Abstract: The cellular and tissue basis of endometrial renewal in the rhesus monkey is being investigated by radioautographic localization of proliferating cell populations. Here we report our findings on epithelial cell proliferation during the midcycle estrogen surge. Endometrial biopsies were obtained by hysterotomy at approximately 1 h after a single intravascular injection of [3H] thymidine ([3H]T). Light and electron microscopic radioautography was performed on 7 specimens obtained from 4 monkeys in relation to the serum estradiol (E2) peak as follows: -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, and +3 days (+/- 1 day). Cell proliferation and differentiation were analyzed according to the 4 horizontal histologic endometrial zones (Bartelmez et al., 1951). Epithelial labeling indices were higher in the functionalis (Zone I, luminal epithelium, 9-12%; Zone II, uppermost gland segments, 7-14%) than in the basalis (Zone III, middle gland segments, 5-7%; and Zone IV, basal gland segments, 1-7%). Despite the large and rapid serum E2 fluctuations during the surge from -2 days to +3 days E2 peak, proliferating epithelial populations within Zones I, II and III remained quite uniform in size. In the basalis, the proliferative patterns of Zones III and IV were dissimilar. The labeling index of Zone III remained quite uniform (5-7%), whereas in Zone IV, it increased progressively from 1% (-2 days) to 7% (+3 days). These data establish the bipartite nature of the basalis. Radioautographic evidence indicates that endometrial cell proliferation is tightly coupled to progressive cell differentiation in the functionalis and basalis. Thus intrinsic positional differences exist in the responsiveness of the primate endometrium to common hormonal stimulation during the E2 surge and the initial postovulatory rise of progesterone.

Effects of prenatal protein deprivation on postnatal development of granule cells in the fascia dentata

Abstract: The effect of prenatal protein deprivation on the postnatal development of granule cells in the fascia dentata in the rat was studied at 15, 30, 90, and 220 days of age. The granule cells showed a significant reduction in cell size, decreased number of synaptic spines throughout their dendritic extent, and reduced complexity of dendritic branching in the outer two-thirds of the molecular layer. All of these deficits were present at 15 days and persisted throughout the study (220 days). The least deficits in synaptic spine density occurred at 90 days and in dendritic branching at 30 days. Partial restitution of earlier, more severe deficits was associated primarily with maturational events occurring in the protein deprived rats, whereas later increases in deficits were related primarily to a failure of the protein deprived rats to keep pace with neuronal development occurring in the controls. The present results are similar to those noted in our previous study in this journal of the effect of a low protein diet (8% casein) on these neurons that extended from pregnancy until the time of sacrifice at 30, 90, and 220 days of age (Cintra et al., '90; 532:271-277). Taken together, these two studies suggest that the postnatal adaptation of the granule cells to prenatal protein deprivation is primarily due to events that occur during pregnancy and that the site of predilection for the deficit is their dendrites in the outer two-thirds of the molecular layer of the fascia dentata.