Background: The complications of diabetes are the major problems that occur in diabetic patients. It has been reported that, insulin insufficiency and the impairment of regulatory action of this hormone on Leydig and Sertoli cells have an important role in testicular alterations. Testicular disorders and change in normal spermatogenesis is one of the consequences of diabetes. This study was des...

Electrospun chitosan membranes have been investigated for guided bone regeneration but are susceptible to swelling, dissolution, and loss of biomimetic nanofiber structure due to residual acid salts. A novel process was investigated for acidic salt removal from chitosan electrospun in 70% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) by treating with triethylamine (TEA)/acetone and di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (tBOC...

Scanning electron microscopic observation of Bruch's membrane was performed after removal of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) with the osmium tetroxide treatment. Eight human eyes from subjects at various ages (from newborn to 77 years old) were examined in order to investigate aging changes in Bruch's membrane. The collagen fibres of the inner collagenous zone in young eyes formed a tightly in...

Augmented microfracture techniques use growth factors, cells, and/or scaffolds to enhance the healing of microfracture-treated cartilage defects. This study investigates the effect of delivering recombinant human fibroblastic growth factor 18 (rhFHF18, Sprifermin) via a collagen membrane on the healing of a chondral defect treated with microfracture in an ovine model. Eight millimeter diameter ...

Immunohistochemistry was used to identify basement membrane components and examine their production by associated cells. Four substances were identified in a series of basement membranes in rats aged 20 days to 34 months, namely, type IV collagen, laminin, heparan sulfate proteoglycan, and fibronectin. They were then all localized to the basal lamina part of basement membranes and, presumably, ...

Collagen VIII is localized in subendothelial and subepithelial extracellular matrices. It is a major component of Descemet's membrane, a thick basement membrane under the corneal endothelium, where it forms a hexagonal lattice structure; a similar structure, albeit less extensive, may be formed in other basement membranes. We have examined the function of collagen VIII in mice by targeted inact...

The production and spatial organization of connective tissue components in ciliary muscle cell cultures was studied with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural methods. Antibodies against collagen types IV and VI, fibronectin and laminin were used. Laminin stains as pericellular network surrounding individual muscle cells. Type IV collagen shows positive cytoplasmic staining and only small foc...