A study was done on 20 b odies of adult Macacus cyclopsis in which the position of the various thoracic organs were measured and their relation to each other was reviewed. In these measurements, the middle of the upper edge of the 12th thoracic vertebra and the lower tip of the sternum were used as the base points for the calculation of the height while the distance to each side was based upon the midline. In addition, the findings were compared with that for human fetus 'obtained by myself using similar methods of measurements. In such comparisons, the ratio values were used.

View full abstract

1) The frequency of type Y on the mandibular first molars in Japanese of Hokuriku district is 71 percent, which is very low among all the ethnic groups. 2) The seventh cusp on the first molar was not found in this study, but the sixth cups was found in about 10 percent It is also recognized in 2.4 percent of the mandibular second molars. 3) The frequency of type Y on the second molar s is as low as 4.3 percent, and the appearance of five cusps is 2.8 percent. 4) When the correlation graph between the groov e patterns and the number of cusps is made and compared with that of the other ethnic groups appearing on references, the mandibular first molars belong to the circle of Caucasian and the mandibular second molars belong to the circle of Mongoloid. 5) In general, the g roove patterns on the mandibular first and second molars of Hokuriku Japanese, reveals considerable regression and the number of cusps also shows regressive tendency.

View full abstract

The morphological changes of the mitochondria in the course of aging were examined by electron microscope and by the measurement of absorbance at 520 mμ. 1. Freshly prepared mit ochondria in 0.25 M sucrose (pH 7.4)were swollen. The cristae had a vesicular outline. 2. Mitochondria aged 5 days showed more swollen. The membranes pulled away from the cristae which became concentrated in one mass: At one extreme of structural variation, mitochondria appeared grossly distended with a very few irregular cristae and often with ruptured membranes. 3. Mitochondria aged 10 days showed as small particles. Many of them contained cristae, but some had no such structures, and showed as small and round vacuoles which were randomly arranged. There were also rests of membranes and cristae which might be produced from broken mitochondria. The same tendency and similar results were observed also in the mitochondria aged 15 days. 4. Mitochondria aged 20 days showed also as small particles, some of which seemed to become slightly larger than the mitochondria aged 15 days. 5. The absorbance changes of the aged mitochondria showed the identical results as above described findings about the changes of the size in the course of aging. Absorbance rapidly decreased to 5 days, then increased slightly to 15 days, and finally gradually decreased.

View full abstract

The origin of cancer cell in human uterine carcinoma was investigated, mainly, on the ordinary sectioned materials stained with haematoxylin and eosin. The results obtained are described as follows (i) The new cell theory, presented by O. B. Lepeshinskaya and O. P. Lepeshinskaya is true, so that the orthodox cell theory must be re-examined fundamentally. (ii) As the typical mitotic figure of cancer cell is so rare that the main factor of the vigorous increasing in number of cancer cell may not be depended on the result of mitotic cell division of cancer cell. And the so-called atypical mitotic figures observed in cancer cells also show no firm evidence that the figure is a factors, by which the proliferation of cancer cell necessarily bring about. On the contrary, in the cancer tissue, there can easily be seen every transitional stage from erythrocyte into cancer cell. (iii) The writer classified the transitional phase into five stages, for convenience' sake. And each stage is further divided into two groups, the differentiation of (a) single or isolated erythrocyte, and the (b) aggregated or fused mass of erythrocyte. It is a noteworthy fact that a nucleus or nuclei take its appearance in a erythrocyte or in a fused mass of erythrocytes, and it then show transitions into cancer cell through a stage of the small lymphocytoid element and the primordial cancer cell. (iv) The so-called cancer nest is not a sin g le, isolated, sphere shaped cell-mass, but it is an elongated cord-like one in structure resembling closely with the pattern or plexus of the venous sinuses or arterio-venous anastomosis, moreover, there can be recognized the transitional phases between them, (v) The capillary system in the cancer tissue does not necessarily a closed type, rather it is an open type system. So that many of extravasated erythrocytes can be found in the cancer tissue. Furthermore, they show transitions into cancer cell through intermediate phases described above. (vi) The most widely accepted opinion that the cancer cell is an epithelial origin has not been confirmed in the present observation. And there can hardly be seen any evidence of continuation from epithelial element into canc er cell through mitotic cell division. From all the evidence described above, I can not escape the conclusion that the most of cancer cells are derived from a result of differentiation of erythrocytes. The present auth o r wishes to express his gratitude to Dr. T. Suzuki for kindly furnishing the material.

View full abstract

The deltoid musculature of 9 genera of the Rodentia is described on a comparative basis. The possible phylogenetic- and adaptational features are also pointed out.

View full abstract