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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of prenatal administration of retinoic acid (RA) on the development of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diaphorase (NADPH-d) positive structures in the rat Meibomian glands. One mg/kg of RA was applied to pregnant Wistar rats intraperitonaelly during the gestational period in each of the 12th–14th embryonic days (totally 3 mg/kg). Sections of the central upper eyelids were investigated in rat pups on the 14th postnatal day. They were processed histochemically for NADPH-d, to study the presence and distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) positive nerve structures. NADPH-d staining of Meibomian glands was compared in two groups of rat pups. In the control group, eyelids of 14 day-old rats were studied with no experimental intervention. The second group consisted of rat pups which were prenatally administered the excess of RA. Histochemical analysis of control eyelids revealed numerous NADPH-d well-stained acini of Meibomian glands arranged tightly into groups. Intensively stained vessels and NADPH-d/NOS-positive nerve fibers bordered acini of Meibomian glands. These structures were present in the submucosal layer as well. The analysis of RA group showed less numerous, shrunken acini of Meibomian glands that were seen not only smaller in size, but also in density of their staining and the amount of nitrergic nerve fibers around acini were considerably lowered. In the submucosa differences were noticed compared to the control group, there were numerous NADPH-d stained vessels accompanied by NADPH-d/NOS-positive nerve fibers. The excess of RA during the prenatal period may influence on the development and morphology of NADPH-d positive structures of rat's Meibomian glands.

The aim of the study was to evaluate renal arterial variations in Slovak context. METHODS: Forty cadavers (80 formalin-fi xed cadaveric kidneys) were included in the study. The accessory renal arteries (ARAs) were evaluated on the basis of point of origin, termination in the kidney (superior pole, hilum, inferior pole), and symmetry. RESULTS: The incidence of ARAs was detected in 20 % (8/40) of the cadavers. Double renal arteries were observed in 9 (11.25 %, n = 80) of kidneys. Among 8 cadavers with ARAs, the unilateral presence of ARA was found in 7 cadavers and bilateral presence in 1 cadaver. Among 9 ARAs, polar artery was the most common anomaly seen in 7 (78 %) kidneys (inferior polar artery 5, superior polar artery 2) followed by the hilar artery in 2 kidneys. CONCLUSIONS: This is the fi rst cadaveric study on the incidence and morphology of ARAs in Slovakia. The study has shown that the variations in renal arterial anatomy are a frequent fi nding (20 % of cadavers) while all of the described variants have signifi cant implications for a variety of surgical procedures in the retroperitoneal space. The variations in renal arteries should be considered an integral part of anatomy teaching as they point to the diverse clinical reality of anatomy (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 35).

Intake of vitamin A is essential for correct embryonic development of the central nervous system (CNS). Its increased intake during gravidity can cause various malformations and dysfunctions of the CNS. In our work, we intended to investigate the effect of vitamin A on emotional behavior and morphology of nitrergic neurons in basolateral nucleus of the rat amygdala. For this purpose, we have administered retinoic acid (RA), a metabolite of vitamin A, to females on 14-16 days of pregnancy at a dose 1 mg RA/kg body weight. Adult progeny of these mothers were tested in elevated plus maze test, the most widely used test for measuring anxiety-like behavior. After the test, brains of the rats were processed for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase histochemistry, which is commonly used to mark cells containing nitric oxide synthase. Our results have shown that RA applied during the sensitive phase of intrauterine development influences emotional behavior of adult rats. Animals exposed to RA had increased levels of fear and anxiety, which has been manifested by reducing the time spent in the open arms of plus maze test. Interestingly, detected behavioral changes do not correlate with the result of our morphological study. The number and morphology of nitrergic neurons in amygdala were very similar in experimental and control rats. Our results demonstrate that prenatal exposure to RA has no effect on morphological structure of amygdala, but influences its function.