Case: We present a case of a 35-year-old-man with a giant sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) of the thigh. The patient presented with a history of a painful thigh mass. Plain radiographs revealed a soft-tissue mass with extensive calcifications, whereas on magnetic resonance imaging, a lobulated mass between the adductors and the posterior muscles of the thigh was noted. A wide en block resection was undertaken, and the histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of SEF. Postoperative radiation therapy was followed. The patient had no signs of recurrence at the 4-year follow-up.

Conclusion: The clinicopathological, imaging characteristics, and treatment options of this rare soft-tissue tumor are discussed.

Background: The baseline (BL) segment in the prestimulus period is generally assigned as a reference of evoked activities. However, an experimenter empirically defines its length in each condition. So far, the criterion for the length of a BL segment has not been established.

New method: We evaluated the effect of the length of the BL segment by recording somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs) under fixed stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA). For the evaluation of the length of the BL segment in the prestimulus period, five proportions in relation to SOA were used as the BL segment. In addition, we adopted other two types of BL segment which were the single data point measured from the value of stimulus onset (BL0) and the mean value of the whole raw data throughout the recording (DC mean). We investigated the influence of the BL segments on SEFs by utilizing two indicators: normalized N20 m amplitudes and estimated locations of corresponding equivalent current dipoles (ECDs).

Results: Both indicators did not show any significant differences, based on the factor of BL segments, in any SOA conditions.

Comparison with existing method: The BL0 had by far the largest variation in the ECD locations.Therefore, utilizing stimulus onset as the BL segment should be avoided. In addition, considering that other BL segments provided comparable values by the two indicators, the DC mean can reasonably be adopted.

Conclusions: We suggest that utilizing the DC mean could be employed as the BL segment.

Keywords: Baseline segment; Magnetoencephalography (MEG); somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEF).

Mechanisms of information transmission using tactile sense are one of major concerns in producing simulated experience in virtual or augmented reality as well as in compensating elderly or impaired people with diminished tactile sensory function. However, important mechanism of the difference of peak latency in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) between electrical and mechanical stimulations of finger skin is not fully understood. We propose a computational approach to fuse a computational model to simulate temporal and spatial transmission processes from mechanical stimuli to the SI and experimental method using a magnetoencephalograph (MEG). In our model, a tactile model that combined a three-dimensional mechanical model of fingertip skin and a neurophysiological model of a slowly adapting type 1 (SA1) mechanoreceptor was integrated with a somatosensory evoked field (SEF) response model. Electrical and mechanical stimulations were applied to the same locations of the right or left index fingertips of three subjects using a MEG. By identifying parameters of the SEF response model using the electrical stimulation test data, predicted first peak latency due to a mechanical stimulus was identical to its average value obtained from the mechanical stimulation test data, while the spatial map predicted at the multiple SA1 receptors qualitatively corresponded to the MEG image map in the timings of peak latency. This suggests that mechanical change in the skin and neurophysiological responses generate the difference of peak latency in SI between electrical and mechanical stimulations. The computational approach has the potential for detailed investigation of mechanisms of tactile information transmission.

Keywords: Computational modeling; MEG; Tactile perception; mechanical stimulation; somatosensory cortex; temporal and spatial transmission processes.

First described in 1995 by Meis-Kindbloom et al as a variant of fibrosarcoma simulating carcinoma, sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) is a malignant soft tissue sarcoma characterized by epithelioid cells in dense sclerotic stroma, frequent immunoreactivity for MUC4 and heterogeneous genetic profile with recurrent EWSR1 gene rearrangement. It typically affects middle age adults with a predilection for the lower extremity. It is believed that SEF is closely related to low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS), both tumors show overlapping features in morphology, immunophenotype and molecular profile. In this review, we discuss the clinical, morphologic, and immunohistochemical features of SEF with particular emphasis on its molecular diversity and relation to LGFMS.

Keywords: EWSR1; MUC4; low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma; sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma; soft tissue.

Bare gold nanocubes and nanospheres with different sizes are incorporated into a rationally designed 3D DNA origami box. The encaged particles expose a gold surface accessible for subsequent site-specific functionalization, for example, for applications in molecular plasmonics such as SERS or SEF.

The probiotic viability, physicochemical, mechanical, barrier, and microstructure properties of synbiotic edible films (SEFs) based on duck feet gelatin (DFG) were evaluated. Four synbiotic systems were obtained by mixing four types of prebiotics, namely, dextrin, polydextrose, gum Arabic, and sago starch, with DFG to immobilize of probiotic (Lactobacillus casei ATCC). The ability of DFG to create a suitable matrix to increase probiotic viability was compared with those of other commercial gelatins in a preliminary evaluation. The DFG showed proper probiotic viability compared with other gelatins. The addition of prebiotics reduced the transparency of SEFs and increased color differentiation, uniformity, and complete coverage of probiotic cells. The estimated shelf-life of surviving bacteria in the SEFs stored at 4 and 25 °C showed that gum arabic showed the best performance and enhanced the viability of L. casei by 42% and 45%, respectively. Dextrin, polydextrose, and sago starch enhanced the viability of L. casei at 4 and 25 °C by 26% and 35%, 26% and 5%, and 20% and 5%, respectively. The prebiotics improved the physicochemical, mechanical, and barrier properties of all SEFs, except polydextrose film. The viability of L. casei can be increased with the proper selection of gelatin and prebiotics.

Keywords: duck feet gelatin; probiotic viability; synbiotic edible film.

Evaluation of the mechanical properties of arterial wall components is necessary for establishing a precise mechanical model applicable in various physiological and pathological conditions, such as remodeling. In this contribution, a new approach for the evaluation of the mechanical properties of aortic media accounting for the lamellar structure is proposed. We assumed aortic media to be composed of two sets of concentric layers, namely sheets of elastin (Layer I) and interstitial layers composed of mostly collagen bundles, fine elastic fibers and smooth muscle cells (Layer II). Biaxial mechanical tests were carried out on human thoracic aortic samples, and histological staining was performed to distinguish wall lamellae for determining the dimensions of the layers. A neo-Hookean strain energy function (SEF) for Layer I and a four-parameter exponential SEF for Layer II were allocated. Nonlinear regression was used to find the material parameters of the proposed microstructural model based on experimental data. The non-linear behavior of media layers confirmed the higher contribution of elastic tissue in lower strains and the gradual engagement of collagen fibers. The resulting model determines the nonlinear anisotropic behavior of aortic media through the lamellar microstructure and can be assistive in the study of wall remodeling due to alterations in lamellar structure during pathological conditions and aging.

Rats were dosed for 6 days with purified SEF 21 fimbriae of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis 10360. The levels of fimbriae in gut contents associated with tissues and in the faeces were quantified by direct non-competitive ELISA. SEF 21 was distributed throughout the gut. The majority was found in the large intestine where it was primarily in the luminal contents. In contrast, a high proportion of SEF 21 detected in the ileum, the main site of salmonella colonisation and invasion, was tissue-bound. Thus, purified SEF 21 survived intestinal passage and associated with the stomach and gastrointestinal tract in a pattern similar to that found with whole Salmonella cells.

An outbreak of salmonellosis was recorded in captive pygmy hogs (Sus salvanius), a critically endangered species of mammal. Of 42 captive animals maintained for conservation breeding by the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme, Guwahati, Assam, India, 7 (16.67%) died within 3 days. The organism associated with this outbreak was identified as Salmonella enteritidis. The organisms were highly susceptible to chloramphenicol, gentamicin, norfloxacin and cefotaxim but were resistant to ampicillin, oxytetracycline, mezlocillin and sulfamerazin. The strain belonged to phage type 13a/7 and harboured two plasmids (38 and 44 megadaltons). The organisms were enterotoxigenic in CHO cell assay and were found to carry stn, sef and pef genes.

The sensitivity enhancement factor (SEF) in field enhanced sample injection (FESI) in capillary electrophoresis is dictated by the conductivity ratio. The higher the conductivity ratio (using very low conductivity sample diluents such as water), the higher the SEF. Here, we improved the performance of FESI by combination with sweeping and micelle to solvent stacking (MSS) in a well-defined three-step stacking procedure using model cationic drugs. The separation was by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) using 100mM phosphoric acid as background solution (BGS). Under the experimental conditions studied, the SEF (vs. typical injection in CZE) range of FESI using a conductivity ratio of 10, 100, and 1000 (sample diluent with conductivity 10, 100, and 1000× lower than the BGS, respectively) was 5-6, 33-50, and 272-393, respectively. The SEF range of three-step stacking was 308-891, 2188-6463, and 3088-6499, correspondingly. The SEF enhancement factor due to three-step stacking (SEF of three-step stacking divided by SEF of FESI) was from 11 to 161. We evaluated the performance of proposed procedure using a conductivity ratio of 10 (10mM phosphoric acid as diluent) which is the minimum requirement for field-enhancement. The strategy was as follows: long FESI (e.g., 420s at 10kV) to form an overloaded stacked zone; sweeping (e.g., 315s at -10kV) with 10mM sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles; and MSS by injection (6s at 50mbar) of 30% acetonitrile. The strategy was studied in terms of sweeping and MSS conditions, FESI/sweeping time ratio, and FESI time at constant FESI/sweeping ratio. Analytical figures of merit including linearity, LOD (S/N=3), and repeatability (intraday and interday) were determined. Moreover, sample matrix effect was studied using acetone treated plasma sample.

DNA methylation is an essential epigenetic modification involved in regulating gene expression and maintaining epigenetic information across generations. However, how these marks are recognized and interpreted to activate or repress imprinted genes is not fully understood. Preliminary evidence describes the transcriptional repressor TRIM28 as a key regulator of imprinted gene expression during and after early genome-wide reprogramming. Aberrant expression of imprinted genes maybe one possible cause of incomplete epigenetic reprogramming and low efficiency in somatic cell nuclear transfer. Here, we perform a series of experiments to determine whether knockdown of Trim28 alters imprinted gene expression and DMR methylation in sheep embryonic fibroblast (SEF) cells. siRNA-mediated Trim28 silencing in SEF cells resulted in significantly decreased expression of Gtl2 to 30% and increased expression of Dlk1 (~1.7-fold). Moreover, knocking down Trim28 induced DNA methylation at the IG-DMR and the Gtl2 promoter was disrupted. Here, we uncover an important role for Trim28 in the maintenance of DNA methylation at IG-DMR during replication-dependent dilution of methylated cytosine during cellular proliferation. Unlike Dlk1-Gtl2 however, knocking down Trim28 does not affect DMR methylation in the Igf2-H19 gene cluster, yet results in increased expression of Igf2 and H19. Interestingly, Peg3 expression decreased by 60% in Trim28 knockdown cells. PEG3 as a transcriptional repressor to the H19-ICR that interacts with the co-repressor protein TRIM28 through KRAB-A. Trim28 therefore appears to control the Igf2-H19 imprinted cluster indirectly via PEG3, which is distinct from its classical role in preserving DNA methylation during DNA replication. Our results therefore indicate that Trim28 regulates imprinted gene expression through at least two distinct mechanisms during cells proliferation.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants ubiquitously detectable in the environment and in the food chain. Prenatal exposure to PCBs negatively affects fetal development and produces long-term detrimental effects on child health. The present study sought to evaluate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of chronic PCB exposure on fetal cells during pregnancy. To this aim, sheep embryonic fibroblasts (SEF) and amniocytes (SA) were cultured in vitro in the presence of low doses of PCBs for a period of 120days, comparable to the full term of ovine pregnancy. Cellular proliferation rates, global DNA methylation, chromosome integrity, and markers of DNA damage were evaluated at different time points. Moreover, SEF treated with PCBs for 60days were left untreated for one further month and then examined in order to evaluate the reversibility of PCB-induced epigenetic defects. PCB-treated SEF were more sensitive than SA treated with PCBs, in terms of low cell proliferation, and increased DNA damage and global DNA methylation, which were still detectable after interruption of PCB treatment. These data indicate that chronic exposure of fetal cells to PCBs causes permanent genomic and epigenetic instability, which may influence both prenatal and post-natal growth up to adulthood. Our in vitro model offer a simple and controlled means of studying the effects of different contaminants on fetal cells - one that could set the stage for targeted in vivo studies.

<p><div><b>OBJECTIVE</b></div>Under General Anesthesia (GA), age and Burst Suppression (BS) are associated with cognitive postoperative complications, yet how these parameters are related to per-operative EEG and hypnotic doses is unclear. In this prospective study, we address this question comparing age and BS occurrences with a new score (BP_TIVA) based on Propofol doses, EEG and alpha-band power spectral densities, evaluated for <em>SEF</em>₉₅ = 8-13 Hz.</p><AbstractText>59 patients (55 [34-67] yr, 67% female) undergoing neuroradiology or orthopedic surgery were included. Total IntraVenous Anesthesia was used for Propofol and analgesics infusion. Cerebral activity was monitored from a frontal electrodes montage EEG.</AbstractText><p><div><b>RESULTS</b></div>BP_TIVA was inversely correlated with age (Pearson r = -0.78, p < 0.001), and was significantly lower (p < 0.001) when BS occurred during the GA first minutes (induction). Additionally, the age-free BP_TIVA score was better associated with BS at induction than age (AUC = 0.94 versus 0.82, p < 0.05).</p><p><div><b>CONCLUSION</b></div>We designed BP_TIVA score based on hypnotics and EEG. It was correlated with age yet was better associated to BS occurring during GA induction, the latter being a cerebral fragility sign.</p><AbstractText>This advocate for an approach based on evaluating the cerebral physiological age («brain age») to predict postoperative cognitive evolution.</AbstractText>

The well-known Golgi method, which impregnates, among other elements, unmyelinated fibres, has been proved suitable to visualize a dense plexus of very winding and smooth axonal processes lying all over the ventricular surface of the mouse brain. Comparisons with other cytochemical studies correlate quite well the pattern of distribution of these supraependymal fibres (SEF), and allow the characterization of most of these axons as serotoninergic. Combining thick sections, selective impregnation and well-defined plane of section, a restricted exit zone of the SEF in the fourth ventricle has been found over the raphe dorsalis region, which is known from previous studies to represent the main site of origin of serotoninergic fibres in the brain. However, this fact does not exclude the possibility of other pathways, yet to be discovered.

1. The explanted blastoderm of the Japanese quail was used to explore the role of ions and carbon dioxide in determining the rate of sub-embryonic fluid (SEF) production between 54 and 72 h of incubation. 2. Amiloride, an inhibitor of Na+/H+ exchange, at concentrations of 10(-3) to 10(-6) M substantially decreased the rate of SEF production when added to the albumen culture medium. N-ethylmaleimide, an inhibitor of V type H+ ATPase, also decreased this rate but only to a small extent at the highest dose applied, 10(-3) M. Both inhibitors had no effect on SEF production when added to the SEF. 3. The inhibitors of cellular bicarbonate and chloride exchange, 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyano-2,2'-disulphonic acid (SITS) and 4,4' diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS), had no effect upon SEF production. 4. Ouabain, an inhibitor of Na+/K+ ATPase, decreased SEF production substantially at all concentrations added to the SEF (10(-3) to 10(-6) M). Three sulphonamide inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase, acetazolamide, ethoxzolamide and benzolamide, decreased SEF production when added to the SEF at concentrations of 10(-3) to 10(-6) M. Benzolamide was by far the most potent. Neither ouabain nor the sulphonamides altered SEF production when added to the albumen culture medium. 5. Using a cobalt precipitation method, carbonic anhydrase activity was localised to the endodermal cells of the area vasculosa. The carbonic anhydrase activity was primarily associated with the lateral plasma membranes, which together with the potent inhibitory effect of benzolamide, suggests the carbonic anhydrase of these cells is the membrane-associated form, CA IV. 6. The changes in SEF composition produced by inhibitors were consistent with the production of SEF by local osmotic gradients. 7. It is concluded that a Na+/K+ ATPase is located on the basolateral membranes of the endodermal cells of the area vasculosa, and that a sodium ion/hydrogen ion exchanger is located on their apical surfaces. Protons for this exchanger would be provided by the hydration of CO2 catalysed by the membrane-associated carbonic anhydrase. Furthermore, it is proposed that the prime function of the endodermal cells of the area vasculosa is the production of SEF.

Surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) is used for single-molecule detection from spatially resolved 1-microm2 sections of a Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayer deposited onto a Ag film. The target molecule, bis (benzimidazo) thioperylene (BZP), is dispersed in an arachidic acid monomolecular layer containing one BZP molecule per microm2, which is also the probing area of the Raman microscope. For concentrated samples (attomole quantities in the field of view), average SERRS, surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF), and Raman imaging, including line mapping and global images at different temperatures, were recorded. Single-molecule SERRS spectra, obtained using an LB monolayer, present changes in bandwidth and relative intensities, highlighting the properties of single-molecule SERRS that are lost in average SERRS measurements of mixed LB monolayers obtained at the same temperatures. Also, the dilute system phenomenon of blinking is discussed with regard to results obtained from LB monolayers. The dilution process used in the single-molecule LB SERRS work is independently supported by fluorescence results obtained from very dilute solutions with monomer concentrations down to 10(-12) M.

The synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and surface-enhanced spectroscopy of a new electro active organic material bis (benzimidazo) thioperylene (Monothio BZP) are reported. Langmuir monolayers of Monothio BZP were successfully formed on water subphase and characterized by the pi-A surface-pressure area isotherm. Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monomolecular layers of Monothio BZP were fabricated onto glass substrates and onto silver island films for surface-enhanced spectroscopic studies. The results of surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS), SERRS imaging and surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF) studies for Monothio BZP LB monolayers are reported. Raman imaging (global imaging and point-by-point mapping) of the SERRS signal for a single monomolecular layer on silver islands were obtained using the 514.5 nm laser line. The SERRS imaging permits a visualization of the variation of the SERRS intensity across of the rough metal surface. The SEF was recorded for the excimer emission of aggregates in the LB film. The distance dependence and the enhancement factor of SEF were determined using fatty acid spacing layers. A temperature dependence study of the LB monolayer SERRS and SEF spectra was carried out between -190 degrees and + 200 degrees C confirming the thermal stability of the LB monolayer on silver. The specificity and the sensitivity of SERRS signal on metal island films was probed using mixed LB films with 0.01% molecular ratio of Monothio BZP in Arachidic Acid (AA). The micro-Raman SERRS spectra from ca. 10(-3) attomole of the dye were recorded.

In spite of the relatively high incidence rate, the etiology and pathogenesis of restless legs syndrome (RLS) are still unclear. Long-term drug treatments fail to achieve satisfying curative effects, which is reflected by rebound and augmentation of related symptoms. An electrophysiological endophenotype experiment was done to investigate the mechanism of somatosensory disorder among RLS patients. Together with 15 normal subjects as the control group, with comparable ages and genders to the RLS patients, 15 primitive RLS patients were scanned by Magnetoencephalography (MEG) under natural conditions; furthermore, the somatosensory evoked magnetic field (SEF) with single and paired stimuli, was also measured. Compared to the control group, the SEF intensities of RLS patients' lower limbs were higher, and the paired-pulse depression (PPD) for SEF in RLS patients was attenuated. It was also revealed by time-frequency analysis of somatosensory induced oscillation (SIO) in RLS patients, that 93.3% of somatosensory induced Alpha (8-12 Hz) oscillations were successfully elicited, while 0% somatosensory induced Gamma (30-55 Hz) oscillations were elicited; which was significantly different from the control group. Additionally, in RLS patients exhibit increased excitability of the sensorimotor cortex, a remarkable abnormality existing in early somatosensory gating control (GC) and an attenuated inhibitory interneuron network, which consequently results in a compensatory mechanism through which RLS patients increase their attention-driven lower limb sensory gating control via somatosensory-induced Alpha (8-12 Hz) oscillation. This hyperexcitability, partially due to an electrocortical disinhibition, may have an important therapeutical implication, and become an important target of neuromodulatory interventions.

There is a natural reluctance among clinicians to recommend surgery in asymptomatic patients with cardiac disease and in patients with stenotic disease of the mitral and aortic valves; this instinct will mislead us very rarely. However, among patients with chronic volume overload of the LV, this rule-of-thumb does not always apply. For truly asymptomatic patients with severe MR who clearly have normal LV function, continued medical therapy with serial monitoring of LV dynamics is a prudent alternative to the small risk of corrective surgery. However, the major challenge in addressing this problem is the definition and detection of LV dysfunction in chronic MR. Thus, for MR patients with questionable impairment of myocardial function (generally those with an SEF between 0.55 and 0.70), an examination of chamber dimensions and particularly stress-shortening relations may be necessary to detect early LV dysfunction. Should LV dysfunction be identified or should serial studies indicate an adverse trend in LV performance, a strong case can be made for proceeding with surgery. Patients with an SEF of less than 0.55 must be assumed to have LV dysfunction and analogous data from patients with chronic AR suggest that a satisfactory surgical result may be achieved if the duration of LV dysfunction is brief. Those patients with chronic MR whose disease is likely to be amenable to mitral valve repair rather than valve replacement deserve a lower threshold for corrective surgery.

Authors examined 10 patients with untreated myxoedema. The disease lasted at least one year in seven cases. The etiology of disease was autoaggressive thyroiditis in 9 cases and was diagnosed by a high titre of antibodies against thyroglobulin. The levels of T4 and T3 were low in all cases, level of TSH was elevated. The mean level of T4 was 0.91 microgram/dl, of T3 43.5 ng/dl. The level of TSH was over 96 microU/ml in 7 cases, in rest over 54 microU/ml. In all cases ECHO examination was done: pericardial effusion was proved in 80%. 5 patients were followed during substitutional therapy. Clinical signs and laboratory test normalised in all 5 cases. ECHO finding improved: left ventricular SEF from 54.4 +/- 7.4% to 67.9 +/- 10.3%, Vcf 0.82 +/- 16 circ/sec to 1.32 +/- 0.37 circ/sec max PWVs from 43.8 +/- 6.8 mm/sec to 63.2 +/- 9.9 mm/sec. The etiology of myxoedema may play a role in the incidence of pericardial effusion either by influence of autoaggressive disease or, which seems more probable, by a complete failure of thyroid gland secretion with low not only T4 but T3, too. T3 receptors are supposed to play an important role in the myxoedema heart disease.

Sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) is a rare variant of low-grade fibrosarcoma, with specific histological and immunohistochemical features and a poor prognosis. We report a case of SEF of the paravertebral column in a 49-year old male who presented a paraspinal mass with extension into the L4-L5 neural foramen and invasion of the L5 nerve root. Histology of the tumourectomy specimen and its immunohistochemical study led to the diagnosis of SEF. This case was particularly unusual due to its paravertebral column location and, despite its low grade, illustrates the malignant potential of SEF.

We previously reported that local subcutaneous echo-free space (SEFS) in the leg was stirringly correlated with extracellular fluid (ECF) status in the same part of the leg when assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). In this study, we examined whether local SEFS represents the ECF status in the entire limb.

In 51 legs and 40 arms with lymphedema (LE), subcutaneous tissue ultrasonography was performed to determine SEFS severity (range, 0-2). BIA was also performed to calculate the L-Dex® score (LDS), which is a BIA-derived parameter to represent ECF status, for the arm and modified LDS (mLDS) for the leg (the right arm was used as a reference instead of the contralateral leg). SEFS severity in any part of the leg showed good correlation with mLDS, but that in the lateral lower calf showed the strongest correlation (ρ = 0.86). In contrast, only SEFS severity in the medial forearm showed good correlation with LDS (ρ = 0.74).

Local SEFS may represent ECF status in the entire limb in both the leg and arm LE.

The aim of the study was to find the quantitative relationship of postnatal changes in the glomeruli anatomic structure with the blood flow in kidneys. Kidney development was studied in 4-, 12-, 30-, and 65-day-old Wistar rats. Diameters of glomerulus (Dgl, microm), afferent and efferent arterioles (Daf and Def), and the glomeruli density (Ngl, mm(-3)) were measured posthumously. Volumes of one ((see text of symbol))V gl, microm3) and all glomeruli (see text for symbol)(sigma(see text for symbol)Vgl, mm3/cm3) and the glomeruli arterioles lumen (Saf and Sef, microm2) were calculated. The renal specific blood flow (SBF per unit of kidney weight, KW) was measured by the laser-Doppler flowmeter (in perfusion units, p.u.) under sodium barbamyl narcosis. We have found that, during postnatal growth, glomeruli morphological parameters vary according to the equations: Dgl = 7.1 (see text for symbol) KW0.41, (see text for symbol)V gl = 187 (see text for symbol) KW1.23, Ngl = 5309 (see text for symbol) KW-0.63 (KW, mg and for one kidney), Saf = 1.1 (see text for symbol)V gl 0.35, and Sef = 6.3 (see text for symbol) V gl 0.14. The renal SBF in 4-, 12-, and 65-day-old rats increases according to SBF = 6.7 (see text for symbol) (sigma( see text for symbol)V gl)0.98. The renal SBF calculated per unit of glomeruli volume varies a little with age.