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Two cases of the double inferior venae cavae (IVC) were found during the student dissection practice in 1997 in Gifu University School of Medicine. On the first case (70-year-old male), the calibers of the right and left IVC were 15 mm and 13 mm, respectively. An anastomosis (4-mm caliber) ran obliquely from the left internal iliac vein to the right IVC. On the second case (86-year-old male), the calibers of the right and left IVC were 15 mm and 10 mm, respectively. We found no anastomosis between the right and left IVC. Each IVC was observed behind the ureter. Both cases belong to Type BC of the classification of McClure and Butler (1925), that is based on the combinations of the right and left IVC, and on their location to the ureters. Both cases also belong to Type II-b-2 of the classification of Takemoto et al. (1978), that is based on the calibers of the right and left IVC and on the running course of the interiliac vein. These are the first and second cases among 808 cadavers in Gifu University School of Medicine and the 93rd and 94th cases in Japan since 1901.

Summary: The present study was designed to investigate the comparative effects of milk and soymilk on the bone morphology of ovariectomized rat model with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Fourty 12-week-old female SpraqueDawley rats were randomly divided into the following 5 groups: intact control (control), sham-operated (sham), ovariectomized (OVX), ovariectomized and fed milk (milk), ovariectomized and fed soymilk (soymilk) groups. Rats of OVX, milk and soymilk groups were bilaterally ovariectomized. Milk or soymilk of 3 ml was administered by gavage via an intragastric tube per day for 6 weeks. The distal femoral metaphysis was studied morphologically, together with bone mineral density (BMD), serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and estradiol levels. In the OVX group, the trabecular bone volume was significantly reduced. The percentage area of resorbing surface was high. In the soymilk group, the trabecular bone volume was 68% higher and the percentage area of resorbing surface was 18% lower as compared with the OVX group. The serum estradiol level rose 48% and the serum PTH level fell 26% in the soymilk group. In the milk group, the trabecular bone volume had the tendency to be high, but there was no significant change of the bone morphology. The present study provides certain evidence that the soymilk has beneficial effects in preventing bone loss in rats induced by ovarian hormone deficiency.

Summary: Young female rats were fed with normal (1.18%) or low (0.05%) calcium diet for 3, 7, 15 or 30 days. The morphology of the parathyroid glands was studied together with serum calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin and bone mineral density (BMD). As compared to the animals fed with the normal calcium diet, BMD of whole body of the rats fed with the low calcium diet was significantly decreased, whereas the serum PTH level was increased. The parathyroid glands in the rats fed with the low calcium diet were markedly enlarged. In the parathyroid chief cells of the rats fed with the low calcium diet, the Golgi complexes and the cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum were well developed, while the large granules and large vacuolar bodies decreased. Some secretory granules located near the plasma membrane. A proportionally larger increase of the cytoplasm was estimated in the rats fed with the low calcium diet for three and seven days. Enlargement of the cytoplasm and rather frequent mitoses of the chief cells were observed in the rats fed with the low calcium diet for 15 and 30 days. These findings suggest that the rapid bone loss in young rats induced by the low calcium diet is essentially due to stimulated activity of the parathyroid gland. The stimulated gland may be a result of hypertrophy at the early stage and a combination of hypertrophy and hyperplasia at the later stage of calcium deficiency.

Summary: The ultrastructure of the parathyroid gland and the SEM appearances of the tibia were studied in hamsters with and without administration of caffeine. Caffeine was treated orally each day at either 23 mg (low dose) or 10 mg (high dose) per 100 g body weight for a period of 17 or 32 days. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences among all groups examined regarding the serum calcium level. Transmission electron microscopy of the parathyroid gland revealed that the volume densities occupied by the mitochondria, Golgi complexes and rough endoplasmic reticulum of caffeine-treated groups were found significantly higher when compared with controls. The number of secretory granules observed close to the cell membrane per total amount of these granules revealed significant increase in all caffeine-treated animals. The bone mineral content (BMC) values were closely related to body weight. In the high dose caffeine-treated hamsters increment of the mean BMC and body weight values was significantly lower than those of the controls after 32 days. In the scanning electron microscopic studies of the tibia, no alteration in the morphometric parameters was demonstrated.It is considered that the synthesis and release of parathyroid hormone is stimulated following caffeine consumption. Our data suggest that although chronic administration of caffeine in the hamster may slightly increase bone turnover as evidenced by the BMC decrease, bone morphometry was not altered. Thus the osteoporotic changes were not proved in this study.