Carole S. Wink

Neural Elements in Human Cervical Intervertebral Discs

This study attempted to characterize neural elements within the human cervical intervertebral disc. Cervical intervertebral discs were obtained from four adult human subjects at autopsy. Discs were stained in bulk with gold chloride, sectioned, and viewed with the light microscope. Nerve fibers appeared to enter the disc in the posterolateral direction and course both parallel and perpendicular to the bundles of the anulus fibrosus. Nerves were seen throughout the anulus but were most numerous in the middle third of the disc. Receptors resembling Pacinian corpuscles and Golgi tendon organs were seen in the posterolateral region of the upper third of the disc. These results provide further evidence that human cervical intervertebral discs are supplied with both nerve fibers and mechanoreceptors.

Effects of caffeine on bone cells and bone development in fast‐growing rats

Background and methods: Caffeine exerts harmful effects on fetal and suckling rats. To elucidate the effects of caffeine on bone in growing rats further, dams were fed normal laboratory chow until delivery. At birth, the litters were combined and eight pups were randomly assigned to each dam. Dams with the combined litters were divided into two groups. Dams of group 1 received a 20% protein diet as a control, and dams of group 2 received the 20% protein diet supplemented with caffeine (4 mg/100 g b.w.). Pups from both groups were killed on days 11, 15, 22, and 50. Parameters studied were ultrastructure of femoral osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts; the number of osteocytes per area of bone in femoral histological cross sections; structural remodeling and shape of the lateral tibial metaphysis as revealed by scanning electron microscopy; and plasma Cu and Zn concentrations.

Effects of Caffeine on the Bones of Aged, Ovariectomized Rats

Caffeine is a substance which many people consume in their daily life. Caffeine’s effects on bone are still controversial. Using ovariectomized rats, the present study was conducted to determine to what extent caffeine intake affects the mechanical properties, bone minerals and histology. Aged rats were divided into 2 groups after ovariectomy. Group 1 was fed a 20% protein diet as a control, and group 2 was fed a 20% protein diet supplemented with caffeine (2 mg/100 g body weight). The respective diets were fed to the rats of each group for 90 days. Rats were then killed by heart puncture, blood was collected, and femurs were removed. In 1 group of femurs paraffin cross-sections were made at the midshaft of each bone. Total width, cortical width, total cross-sectional bone area of the midshaft, and the number of osteocytes in randomly selected areas were measured. Another group of bones was subjected to three-point bending testing until failure. Bones were then pulverized and Ca, P, Mg, Zn, Sr, Si, hydroxyproline and hexosamine contents and crystallite size were measured. Various mechanical properties, except modulus of elasticity, in the caffeine group were consistently 7–23% lower than the noncaffeine controls. Yield strain in the caffeine group was significantly less than in the noncaffeine controls. Zinc, Sr, and crystallite size of bone showed a significant decrease in the caffeine group, whereas Si contents significantly increased. Our current results indicate that routine intake of caffeine in the elderly should be regarded with some caution.

The effects of estradiol on plasma calcium and femoral bone structure in alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)

The effects of exogenous estradiol on plasma calcium and femoral bone structure were studied in young male and female alligators. Males and females responded in the same manner to estrogen treatment. Eight days after the initial injection, plasma calcium was significantly greater in experimentals than in controls. No changes in femoral bone structure were observed.

Alteration of femoral structure in later life by chronically feeding caffeine during rapid growing period in newborn female rats

The effects of caffeine intake in early life on bone structure later in life were studied in rats. At day 9 of gestation, dams were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (control) received a 20% protein diet; group 2 received the 20% protein diet supplemented with caffeine (2 mg/100 g body weight). After birth pups were continuously fed their respective diets until day 93, when the diet of group 2 was replaced with a noncaffeine 20% protein diet. On day 388 animals from both groups were weighed, killed, and femora and mandibles were removed. Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, hydroxyproline, and hexosamine concentrations were measured. Radiographs of some femora were taken and paraffin cross sections were made at the midshaft of others. Femora in the caffeine group were wider, periosteal bone area/total bone area was greater, the cross sectional area of femoral bone was smaller, and there were fewer osteocytes/bone area than in controls. Calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and hydroxyproline concentrations in the caffeine group were less in both bones of the caffeine group. These results indicate that if animals are exposed to caffeine during the rapidly growing period, changes occur in femoral bone which are similar to those that occur with aging.

Morphology of shells from viable and nonviable eggs of the chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis)

The morphology of eggshells from hatched eggs of captive Chinese alligators (Alligator sinensis) was compared with that of shells from eggs with early embryonic death and with the morphology of eggshells from the American alligator (Alligator mississipiensisis). Pieces of shells were examined in the scanning electron microscope. Parameters examined included: numbers of open pores on the outer surfaces, total shell thickness, and thickness of the outer densely calcified and inner mammillary layers. Results indicate that shells from Chinese and American alligator eggs with early embryonic death have a thicker outer densely calcified layer than do shells from hatched eggs or full‐term embryos. Also, eggshells from Chinese alligator eggs with dead embryos have fewer open pores on the outer surface than do shells from hatched eggs, as has been reported earlier for the American alligator (Wink et al., 90).

Effects of Caffeine on Heart Mitochondria in Newborn Rats

Caffeine consumption has been implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, in the present study, litters of rats were combined upon birth, and 8 pups were randomly assigned to each dam. Dams with pups were divided into 2 groups: group 1 received a 20% protein diet as a control, and group 2 received the 20% protein diet supplemented with caffeine (4 mg/100 g body weight). Pups from both groups were killed on days 11 and 15. Transmission electron microscopy revealed swollen, disrupted, degenerating mitochondria and intracellular edema in the hearts of rats in the caffeine groups when compared with those of the controls. Plasma Cu concentration was significantly decreased. These results indicate that early exposure to caffeine through maternal milk adversely affects cardiac mitochondria of rat pups and may be associated with decreased plasma Cu levels. It is unclear whether these results apply to the human infant. Interspecies extrapolation from rat to human must be made with caution.

FENS Program for Nutrition Education in Medical Schools

Kurt Widhalma, Austria Beatriz Miranda-da-Cruza, Austria Jan Pokorny, Czech Republic Inge Tetens, Denmark Suvi M. Virtanen, Finland Daniel Lemonnier, France Helmut Oberritter, Germany Antonia Trichopoulou, Greece Brian McKenna, Ireland Nino Battistini, Italy Sigrid Bergea, Norway A. Gronowska-Senger, Poland M.D. Vaz de Almeida, Portugal Flora Correa, Portugal Bergona Olmedilla, Spain Lars H. Ellegard, Sweden U. Keller, Switzerland P.J.F. Vries, The Netherlands Christine A. Edwards, United Kingdom

Effects of promethazine HCl on osteoporotic femora of adult castrated male rats.

Promethazine HCl (Phenergan) was added to the drinking water (2.4-9.6 mg/kg/day) of castrated adult male Holtzman rats. One group of castrates and a group of normal rats received no drug and served as controls. Treatment was started at castration and continued for 4 months. After controlling for body weight, analyses of covariance and Student-Newman-Keuls tests revealed that promethazine did not prevent the development of femoral osteoporosis in the castrate rats. However, control rats (normal and untreated castrates) had significantly wider femora and thicker cortices at midshaft than did promethazine-treated animals. The results indicated that promethazine HCl had no effect on the development of femoral osteoporosis and retarded normal femoral expansion in the adult castrate male rats.

Neurale elementen in de menselijke cervicale discus intervertebralis

Het betrof een onderzoek naar de kenmerken van de neurale elementen binnen de menselijke cervicale discus intervertebralis. Via autopsie werden van vier volwassenen cervicale disci verkregen. Deze werden met goudchloride gekleurd, in coupes verdeeld en onder de lichtmicroscoop bekeken. Zenuwvezels leken de discus in posterolaterale richting binnen te dringen, waarna zij hetzij loodrecht op de fibrocartilagineuze bundels naar de diepe, hetzij evenwijdig aan die bundels naar de meer oppervlakkige lagen van de anulus fibrosus liepen. Van craniaal naar caudaal werden over de totale dikte van de anulus zenuwen waargenomen, die het talrijkst waren in het middelste derde deel van de discus.