Patients. Ninety-nine patients (54 women and 45 men) aged 18-80 years with clinically diagnosed brain tumour were included in the study. Based on histopathological investigations performed to determine tumour's histological type and malignancy grade, the patients were divided into study groups according to the WHO Abstract: Brain gliomas are characterized by invasive growth and neovascularisation potential. Angiogenesis plays a major role in the progression of gliomas and its determination has a great prognostic value. The aim of the study was to assess the vascularisation of chosen brain gliomas and to estimate how it is correlated with tumour histological type, malignancy grade, location and size, and with age and sex of patients. Tumour vascularisation analysis was based on the determination of microvascular proliferation (MVP) and microvessel density (MVD). Microvascular proliferation was measured with immunohistochemical methods using mouse monoclonal antibodies to detect cell proliferation antigens. The following antibodies were used Ki-67 and PCNA (DAKO). Identification of vessels was performed by CD31 antibody and anti-human von Willebrand factor (DAKO). The highest microvascular proliferation and microvascular density were observed in multiform glioblastomas and the lowest in oligodendrogliomas. Significant correlation was observed between the vascularisation and malignancy grade.

M. 1999. Postnatal development of the European bison spermatogenesis. Acta Theriologica 44: 77-90.The testes and epididymes of the European bison Bison bonasus (Linnaeus, 1758) were collected from culled animals living in free-ranging populations in Białowieża Forest, Borecka Forest and Bieszczady Mountains, and in captivity (103 males, 4 months to 17 years old). We found that all bulls were sexually mature at the age of 4 years, and some even at the age of 3 years. Animals which started mature spermatozoa production were treated as sexually mature. We observed the inhibition of spermatogenesis efficiency and involutionary changes in epididymal epithelium after 12 years of age. Therefore, in the postnatal development of spermatogenesis three phases were distinguished: I -development of spermatogenesis (4th month -4th year of age), II -mature spermatogenesis (4th -12th year), III -inhibition of spermatogenesis efficiency (over 12th year of age).

No abstract

2009. Changes of weight and size of European bison testes during postnatal development. Acta Theriologica 54: 111-126.The material for this study was obtained from culled European bison (Linnaeus, 1758) originating from both captive breeding and free-ranging populations in Bia³owie¿a and Borecka Forests (north-east Poland), and was mostly collected from November until April. Mass difference between the right and left testis of the same individual up to 30% was considered to be physiological asymmetry, which proved typical of the species. Hypoplasia or atrophy of the testes exceeding 30% in size, were found in 37 males (13.6% of the examined animals; n = 272). Cryptorchidism was recorded in 20 bison culled in Bia³owie¿a Forest at the age over 1 year (10.6% of individuals at the same age; n = 188). We registered the weight of testes of 259 males aged 2 months to 20 years. In the examined males, no distinct predominance in size and weight between the right and left testes was observed. The weight of testes was significantly correlated with age (r = 0.85, p < 0.0001) and body weight (r = 0.93, p < 0.0001). The heaviest testicles belonged to older and sexually mature bulls aged 6-12 years (mean 216 g) and to old ones over 13 years (mean 242 g). Two testis measurements (length and width) were taken from 136 culled males, while two additional measurements (total length with the cauda of epididymis and circumference) from 65 males. The length and width of the testes were moderately correlated with age (r = 0.31 and r = 0.20, p < 0.01) and highly significantly correlated with testis (r = 0.79, p < 0.001) and body weight (r = 0.92, p < 0.001).

Abstract:In our study, we decided to compare S100 protein expression in the material obtained from the epididymes of 5-and 12-month-old calves, and adult European bison, and to detect any differences in S100 expression according to the animal age and size of the organ examined. We used the epididymes obtained from 6 adult European bison aged 6-12 years, from 6 at the age of 12 months and 6 calves aged 5 months. Immunocytochemical reactions were performed using the avidin-biotinylatedperoxidase (ABC) technique according to HSU. Specific polyclonal rabbit antiserum against bovine S100 protein (Bio Genex Laboratories) at a dilution at 1:400 was applied. We found the expression of S100 protein in endothelial cells of arteries, veins and lymphatic vessels in all the study animals. At the same time, we found no differences in the expression of S100 protein in vascular endothelial cells. Our observations seem to indicate that S100 expression in endothelial cells of European bison epididymis is not correlated with age or maturity of the organ tested. We found S100 protein in smooth muscle cells of arteries and veins in all European bison specimens examined. Interestingly in the current study, in young 5-month-old sexually immature European bison specimens we observed weaker expression of S100 protein in smooth muscle cells of small vessels as compared to the same cell type both in large vessels in these animals and in small vessels in adult specimens.