Abstract
An: 2012, Nr.4, Articol Nr. 2
Title: 

THE PARAPHARYNGEAL FAT IN MIDTERM FETUSES: AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Authors: 

      F. Andrei - ”Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy
      C. Loreto - University of Catania, Catania, Italy, Anatomy Section, Department of Biomedical Sciences
      F. Pop - ”Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Faculty of Medicine, Division of Pathologic Anatomy
      M.C. Rusu - ”Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Discipline of Anatomy; MEDCENTER - Center of Excellence in Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
      A.C. Didilescu - ”Dunarea de Jos” University, GalaTi, Romania, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Discipline of Anatomy
      THE PARAPHARYNGEAL FAT IN MIDTERM FETUSES: AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY (Abstract): The immune phenotype of rhynopharynx in human fetuses is largely undocumented. It was hypothesized that this phenotype is suited to interfere with processes such as angiogenesis and/or lipidic regulation. Thus it was aimed to evaluate the fetal rhynopharynx as related to CD34, S100 protein and nNOS (neuronal nitric oxyde synthase) immune labeling. The wall of the upper pharynx in midterm fetuses was mostly mesenchymal, and it was embedding a large amount of glands in various developmental stages. Each glandular structure was distinctively coated by a CD34 positive layer consisting of mesenchyme embedding endothelial tubes. A microvascular network appeared distinctively in lamina propria. Vascular endothelia positively labeled with nNOS antibodies, and so did the glands (ducts and acini). Pharyngeal fat pads (PFPs), richly vascularized, were reached by glandular ducts, and adipocytes were positively labeled by the S100 protein and nNOS antibodies. A precise limit between the PFPs and the parapharyngeal fat pads (PPFPs) was largely missing. The vascular endothelial positive nNOS phenotype could be related to processes of angiogenesis and microvascular maintenance during development. On the other hand, the S100 protein positive phenotype of PFP and PPFP may be connected to a role in fetal lipolysis. The study suggests that both angiogenesis and lipidic regulation take place in upper pharynx of midterm fetuses.
Key words: NEURONAL NITRIC OXYDE SYNTHASE, PHARYNGEAL GLANDS, S100 PROTEIN, ADIPOCYTES
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