Tohru Suenaga

Experimental Mumps Virus-induced Labyrinthitis: Immunohistochemical and Ultrastructural Studies

Guinea pigs were inoculated with mumps virus (Torii strain) by the intralabyrinthine or intravascular route and their cochleas were examined by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. In these animals, viral antigen was detected in the cochleas, most often in the stria vascularis. However, viral infection was produced only in those with intralabyrinthine inoculation. The cochlear lesion commonly observed in this study was severe degeneration of the organ of Corti, which was usually found in the basal turn. Morphological evidence of viral infection, as depicted by intracellular strands of nucleocapsids and budding of the virus at the endolymphatic surface, was prominent in both the stria vascularis and Reissners membrane. The cochlear location of mumps infection correlated closely with that of the viral antigen formerly reported in newborn hamsters.

Electron microscopic study on the esophageal mucosa in human fetuses.

Morphogenetic studies of the esophageal mucosa in human fetuses have been few and there is only one report at the ultrastructural level. We thus studied the esophageal mucosa in human fetuses (at the gestational ages from the 7th to 21st week) by scanning (SEM) as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our results and the review of the literature lead to the following conclusions: 1) Primary cilia were seen in the 7th and 8th week of gestation. 2) Ciliated cells appeared around the 8th week of gestation. They increased in number according to the fetal ages, but gradually decreased after the 14th week of gestation. Their degenerative process at the ultrastructural level was similar to that reported previously. 3) The stratified squamous epithelia appeared at the 14th week of gestation, but the squamous cells remained immature even at the 21st week. 4) Glycogen granules in non-ciliated cells decreased as the differentiation of the cells proceeded, suggesting that they provide an energy source necessary for the cell differentiation.

Benign Schwannoma of the Pterygopalatine Fossa with Intracranial Extension: A Case Report

The authors present a rare case of benign schwannoma arising in the pterygopalatine fossa. The patient, an 18-year-old female, initially noticed blurring of her left eye but later, sudden loss of her left vision occurred. Radiological and computed tomographic studies outlined a mass occupying the left pterygopalatine fossa, which extended into the middle cranial fossa, the maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses and the orbit. The histology of a transantral biopsy was reported as a benign schwannoma. The tumor was successfully removed by a transmaxillary approach. The eye symptoms disappeared four weeks following surgery. The nerve of origin of the tumor was not identified. The authors posturate that erosion of the skull base with mild to moderate extension into the middle cranial fossa, does not appear to be a contraindication for excising a schwannoma by the transmaxillary approach in this area.