Amylase in human lungs and the female genital tract

Abstract

We investigated the localization of amylase in normal human lungs and the female genital tract using immunohistochemical and histochemical methods. Immunohistochemical procedures were applied to formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens as well as to cryostat sections of periodate/lysine/paraformaldehyde (PLP)-fixed tissues. The starch-substrate-film method was used for the histochemical investigation of unfixed frozen sections. Amylase immunoreactivity was observed in ciliated epithelial cells of the bronchus and in serous cells of the bronchial glands but not in the alveolar epithelium. Immunoreactive amylase was also found in the cytoplasm of the ciliated epithelium of the fallopian tubes, especially in the apical part of the cytoplasm and in ciliary vesicles. Immunoreactive amylase was also found to be present in the surface epithelial cells and glands of the uterine cervix, as well as in the superficial part of the endometrial glands. The distribution of amylase activity revealed using histochemistry was similar to that observed in cryostat sections of PLP-fixed tissues after immunohistochemical staining. Amylase antigenicity was better preserved in cryostat sections of PLP-fixed materials than in formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens. The results are discussed in relation to pulmonary and female-genital-tract diseases.

Corrosion performance of diamond-like carbon (DLC)-coated Ti alloy in the simulated body fluid environment

“…The highly corrosive environment of the human body restricts the materials to be used for implants [2]. High corrosion resistance is required for the material to use in this corrosive environment [3]. Moreover, wear debris produced from movement of joints can lead to wearcorrosion causing biodegradation [4].…”

Oviduct: roles in fertilization and early embryo development

“…Additionally, enzyme amylase (AMY2B) plays a major role in converting glycogen into sugar. Several studies indicated that there is an upregulation of AMY2B in the human Fallopian tube (Mc et al 1958, Hochberg 1974, Hayashi et al 1986, Groot et al 1990, Marquez et al 2005. Therefore, it is likely that the compact polysaccharide can be converted into a simple sugar by AMY2B in the oviduct, and these simple sugar molecules can be used in cellular metabolism by both the oviduct and the cleaving embryo.…”

Endogenous retroviral sequences are required for tissue-specific expression of a human salivary amylase gene.

“…A low level of transcripts, -1 % of the level in the parotid gland, was present in lung and in samples containing ovary and oviduct. Salivary amylase has been detected in h u m a n lung and ovarian tumors (Hayashi et al 1986). …”