Winter Meeting
Thursday 16th – Friday 17th December 2010
Guy’s Campus, King’s College London
with
Plenary Lectures
The Anatomical Society Prize
Mike Benjamin
(University of Cardiff, Wales)
Entheses and enthesopathies - an anatomist's perspective on
tendon/ligament-bone junctions and their pathologies
The Journal of Anatomy Prize
Simon Keller
(University of Muenster, Germany)
Broca's area: morphology, variability and asymmetry in humans and
the great apes
The Aging Cell Best Paper Prize
Ander Matheu
(NIMR, London, England)
Ageing in mice with increased Ink4a/Arf and p53 gene dosage”
PROGRAMME AND ABSTRACT BOOK
[Type text]
Page 2 of 13
LOCATION
The scientific meeting will be held at the Guy’s Campus of King’s College London, SE1 1UL.
Nearest Mainline/Underground station LONDON BRIDGE.
See the King’s College website for further directions:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/campuses/guys/Guys.aspx
Further maps can be obtained using googlemaps or transport direct, for example:
http://maps.google.co.uk/
http://www.transportdirect.info/Web2/Home.aspx?repeatingloop=Y
ACCOMMODATION
PLEASE NOTE ACCOMMODATION IS NOT PROVIDED, BUT THE AREA IS WELL SERVED BY HOTELS.
http://www.bing.com/local/default.aspx?what=hotels&where=SE1&s_cid=ansPhBkYp01&mkt=en
-gb&ac=false&qpvt=hotels+near+SE1
MEALS
PLEASE NOTE THAT MEALS ARE NOT PROVIDED, BUT THE AREA IS WELL SERVED BY RESTAURANTS.
http://www.bing.com/local/default.aspx?q=RESTAURANTS+SE1&form=LLSV
TEA & COFFEE
Will be available in the Percy Roberts Room on Thursday 16th December at 15.30 to 16.00 and on
Friday 17th December at 11.00 to 11.30.
PUBS/BARS
http://www.bing.com/local/default.aspx?q=BARS+SE1&form=LLSV
SCIENTIFIC MEETING
The scientific meeting will be held in the Percy Roberts Room, Gordon Museum, Hodgkin Building.
Registration
Registration is from 13.00 on Thursday 16th December in the Percy Roberts Room, Gordon Museum,
Hodgkin Building.
Lectures
All lectures will be in the Percy Roberts Room.
Posters
The Poster Display Area is in the Percy Roberts Room, Gordon Museum. Posters should be 1m wide
by 1m high. Posters should be mounted on the numbered boards at the start of the meeting on
Thursday 16th December. There will be a formal Poster Discussion Session at 11.00-12.00 on Friday
17th December, at which time presenters are requested to stand by their posters to discuss the
contents. Discussion of poster communications at the Poster Discussion Session satisfies the
requirements that the abstracts have undergone a form of peer review prior to publication in
Journal of Anatomy.
Programme & Abstract Book
The full programme including the text of the abstracts will be available on the Anatomical Society
website.
Anatomical Society is a registered Charity No. 290469 and Limited Company Registered in England and Wales No. 01848115.
Registered Office Fairfax House, 15 Fulwood Place, London, WC1V 6AY.
Page 3 of 13
ANATOMICAL SOCIETY COMMITTEE MEETINGS
On Thursday 16th December 2010, there is to be a Council Meeting from 6.00pm to 8.00pm in the
Aescalepius Room, Gordon Museum, Hodgkin Building, King’s College, (Guy ’s Campus), London, SE1
1UL. A Council dinner will follow at 8.15 pm in the Wadloe Room at Skinkers Winebar, 42 Tooley
Street, London SE1 2SZ.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of the Anatomical Society will be held in the Percy Roberts Room at
12.00 noon on Friday 17th December 2010. The Agenda is detailed below and the enclosures and
proxy voting form can be found on the Society’s website:
http://www.anatsoc.org.uk/AboutUs/AGMandGeneralBusinessMeetings.aspx
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ANATOMICAL SOCIETY
The Annual General Meeting of the Anatomical Society will be held in the Percy Roberts Room,
Gordon Museum, Hodkgin Building King’s College (Guy’s Campus), London, SE1 1UL at 12 noon on
Friday 17th December 2010.
The Agenda is as follows:
1. Welcome from the President – Emeritus Professor Susan Standing
2. Apologies
3. Consideration of the minutes of the AGM 07.01.10
*** Draft Minutes are attached.
4. Consideration of Matters Arising
5. Consideration of the Minutes of the EGM 20.07.10
*** Draft Minutes are attached.
6. Consideration of Matters Arising
7. Honorary Membership Secretary's Report
To receive a verbal report from the Honorary Membership Secretary.
8. Honorary Secretary's Report
To receive a verbal report from the Honorary Secretary.
9. Honorary Treasurer's Report
To receive a verbal report from the Honorary Treasurer.
*** Summary draft accounts are attached.
10. Journal Business Report
Anatomical Society is a registered Charity No. 290469 and Limited Company Registered in England and Wales No. 01848115.
Registered Office Fairfax House, 15 Fulwood Place, London, WC1V 6AY.
Page 4 of 13
To receive a verbal report from the Honorary Journals’ Secretary.
11. Election of Honorary Officers and Council
The members will consider, and if thought fit, approve the following ordinary resolutions proposed
by Council:
Election of the Honorary Officers
(i) That Professor D. Ceri Davies be elected to the post of President with immediate effect.
(ii) That Professor T. Clive Lee be elected to the post of Honorary Secretary with immediate
effect.
(iii) That Dr Garry Duffy be elected to the post of Deputy Secretary with immediate effect.
(iv) That Dr Simon Parson be elected to the post of Meetings Officer with immediate effect.
(v) That Professor Bernard Moxham be elected for a second term to the post of Education
Officer with immediate effect.
(vi) That Professor Stefan Przyborski be elected to the post of Research Officer with immediate
effect.
(vii) That Dr Sam Cobb be elected to the post of Membership Officer with immediate effect.
(viii) That Dr Grenham Ireland be elected to the post of Website Management Officer with
immediate effect.
12. Committees
That the Council’s appointments (to be read out on the day) to the Standing and Other Committees
of Council 2010/11 be ratified.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
Finance Committee
Education Committee
Website Management Committee
Membership Meetings Committee
Research Advisory Committee
Journals Committee
Prizes and Awards Committee
Meetings Committee
13. Auditors
To re-appoint haysmacintyre as the Society’s auditors.
14. AS Studentship Awards
To receive the names of the recipients 2010/11 from the Honorary Secretary.
Anatomical Society is a registered Charity No. 290469 and Limited Company Registered in England and Wales No. 01848115.
Registered Office Fairfax House, 15 Fulwood Place, London, WC1V 6AY.
Page 5 of 13
15. President's Business
To receive a verbal report from the President.
16. Any Other Business
16.1 Read out the complete list of Council for 2011
17. Date of Next Meeting
Proxies
As a member of the Anatomical Society, you are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of
your rights to attend, speak and vote at the Meeting and a proxy form and further instructions are
included with this notice of meeting. If you wish to appoint a proxy you must complete the enclosed
proxy form and return it by email to Ms Mary-Anne Piggott at maryanne.piggott@kcl.ac.uk, in
accordance with the instructions on the form, no later than 12 noon on Wednesday 15th December
2010. If you are unable to return the form by email please contact Mary-Anne Piggott on 07810 758
390 and arrangements will be made (but the same deadline shall apply).
Your proxy does not need to be a member of the Society, but must attend the Meeting to represent
you. If you attend the Meeting in person, you do not need to complete a proxy form and any proxy
appointment you do make will be automatically terminated.
*** Proxy Form attached.
Professor D. Ceri Davies
Honorary Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ANATOMICAL SOCIETY
We welcome all those with an interest in the Anatomical Sciences to join us. Our international
community of scientists and related professionals allows our members to form lifelong professional
relationships and friendships. You can join at any time of the year and at any stage of your career.
– PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE
http://www.anatsoc.org.uk/Membership.aspx
____________________________________________________________________________
Anatomical Society is a registered Charity No. 290469 and Limited Company Registered in England and Wales No. 01848115.
Registered Office Fairfax House, 15 Fulwood Place, London, WC1V 6AY.
Page 6 of 13
PROGRAMME
Thursday 16th December
Scientific Meeting in Percy Roberts Room, Gordon Museum, Hodgkin Building
From 13.00
From 13.00
Registration
Posters to be mounted
14.00-15.00
The Journal of Anatomy Prize Lecture
Simon Keller (University of Muenster, Germany)
Broca's area: morphology, variability and asymmetry in humans and the great
apes
15.00-15.15
O1
1,2
Albayati MA, 1,3Alamri A, 1Hunter A
Important anatomical considerations for the surgical approach to carotid
arterial intervention: a cadaveric study
1
Department of Anatomy, King’s College London, 2University of Southampton
School of Medicine, 3St George’s University of London
15.15-15.30
O2
1
Freem LJ, 1Escot S, 2Tannahill D, 3Druckenbrod NR, 1Thapar N, 1Burns
AJ
The RET signalling pathway in the development of intrinsic lung innervation.
1
Neural Development Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK;
2
Cranfield Health, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK;
3
Department of Anatomy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
15.30-16.00
Tea
16.00-17.00
The Anatomical Society Prize Lecture
Mike Benjamin (University of Cardiff, Wales)
Entheses and enthesopathies - an anatomist's perspective on
tendon/ligament-bone junctions and their pathologies
17.00-17.30
Prizes and Presentations
Certificates to trainees for completion of ATP programme
Symmington Memorial Prize in Anatomy - Richard Dyball
18.00-20.00
Council Meeting, Aescalepius Room, Gordon Museum
Anatomical Society is a registered Charity No. 290469 and Limited Company Registered in England and Wales No. 01848115.
Registered Office Fairfax House, 15 Fulwood Place, London, WC1V 6AY.
Page 7 of 13
Friday 17th December
09.30-10.30
The Aging Cell Best Paper Prize Lecture
Ander Matheu (NIMR, London, England)
Ageing in mice with increased Ink4a/Arf and p53 gene dosage
10.30-10.45
O3
A.R.M. Chirculescu1,3, B. Amuzescu2, J.F. Morris1
Voltage-gated potassium channels are expressed by the pituitary
folliculo-stellate cell line TtT/GF
1
Dept. of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, Oxford University, UK, 2Dept. of
Biophysics & Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 3Dept.
of Anatomy & Physiology, “C. Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Bucharest
10.45-11.00
O4
A.R.M.Chirculescu1, J.F.Morris2
The role of the external examiner in assessment of anatomical knowledge in
UK and Ireland: data from the AS questionnaire
1
Dept. of Anatomy, C. Davila University, Bucharest, Romania, ASGBI Senior
Visiting Fellow in Dept. of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of
Oxford; 2Dept. of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford
11.00-11.30
Coffee
11.00-12.00
Poster Discussion Session
12.00-13.00
Anatomical Society AGM
Anatomical Society is a registered Charity No. 290469 and Limited Company Registered in England and Wales No. 01848115.
Registered Office Fairfax House, 15 Fulwood Place, London, WC1V 6AY.
Page 8 of 13
Abstracts
General Oral Presentations
O1 1,2Albayati MA, 1,3Alamri A, 1Hunter A
Important anatomical considerations for the surgical approach to carotid arterial
intervention: a cadaveric study
1Department of Anatomy, King’s College London, 2University of Southampton School of
Medicine, 3St George’s University of London
The common carotid artery (CCA) exhibits a complex correlation with its surrounding
neurovascular structures. Its exposure requires meticulous dissection and, during surgery,
may result in iatrogenic damage to various surrounding structures. This study aimed to
explore the anatomy of the CCA and important surrounding structures and relate these to
the difficulties that may be encountered during the surgical approach to carotid artery
intervention. A deep dissection of the anterior triangle of the neck of an 86-year-old male
cadaver was performed. The carotid triangle was exposed and the carotid sheath was
divided longitudinally to expose its contents. The course, bifurcation level and branches of
the CCA and surrounding neural structures were identified and photographed. The CCA
bifurcated at the superior border of the thyroid cartilage. The vagus nerve was situated
posterolateral to the carotid bifurcation at its normal position. The hypoglossal nerve,
which descended inferomedially and crossed superficial and proximal to the CCA
bifurcation, was in close proximity to the bifurcation (vertical distance 12.2mm). Two
interesting variations were noted. Firstly, the superior root of the ansa cervicalis, a branch
of the hypoglossal nerve, travelled inferiorly within the carotid sheath just lateral to the CCA
bifurcation, rendering it prone to damage during dissection of the sheath. Secondly,
examination of the cervical portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) revealed a curved
course, an interesting variation from the straight course described in most literature. A
clear understanding of the anatomy and variations of the carotid arterial system and
surrounding neuronal structures is vital to avoid unnecessary complications during surgical
intervention. Whilst the CCA bifurcation commonly occurs at the superior border of the
thyroid cartilage, it is important to acknowledge the possibility of a higher bifurcation level
(as reported in previous dissertations), which should caution the surgeon that the
hypoglossal nerve is in closer proximity and therefore guide incision level. Additionally, a
lateral approach to the exposure of the CCA should be avoided to minimise vagus nerve
injury. Knowledge of the anomalies in the course of the ICA is also important to anticipate
the possibility of difficult shunt placement during carotid arterial surgery.
LJ, 1Escot S, 2Tannahill D, 3Druckenbrod NR, 1Thapar N, 1Burns AJ
The RET signalling pathway in the development of intrinsic lung innervation.
1Neural Development Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK; 2Cranfield
Health, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, UK; 3Department of Anatomy,
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
Neural crest cells are multipotent cells that migrate from the dorsal neural tube to colonise
target tissues throughout the developing vertebrate embryo and give rise to a wide variety
of derivatives that include craniofacial skeletal cells, melanocytes, glia and sensory,
sympathetic, and parasympathetic neurons of the peripheral nervous system. Vagal
(hindbrain) neural crest cells give rise to intrinsic neurons of the enteric nervous system. A
O2
1Freem
Anatomical Society is a registered Charity No. 290469 and Limited Company Registered in England and Wales No. 01848115.
Registered Office Fairfax House, 15 Fulwood Place, London, WC1V 6AY.
Page 9 of 13
subset of these vagal neural crest cells migrates first into the foregut and then into the lung
where they differentiate into neurons. These neurons form the intrinsic innervation of the
lung, the airway parasympathetic ganglia. Several signalling cues are known to guide neural
crest cells into and within the gut, such as the RET diffusible ligand GDNF, but the signalling
cues that guide neural crest cells from the gut into the lung are not known. We investigated
the role of several signalling molecules, including components of the RET signalling pathway,
in neural crest cell colonisation of the lung. We analysed mouse embryos mutant in the
gene coding for the GDNF receptor RET to examine the necessity for RET signalling in
intrinsic pulmonary neuron development. We used optical projection tomography (OPT) to
generate three-dimensional images of lung innervation and developed a lung culture system
to observe the effect of GDNF on neural crest cells within the lung. Unexpectedly and
contrary to previous reports, we found that the RET signalling pathway does not appear to
be necessary for neural crest cell colonisation of the lung. Ongoing studies are investigating
the prespecification of enteric and pulmonary neural crest cells using intra-species grafting
in chick embryos, to determine whether gut neural crest cells can also migrate into lung
tissue and vice versa. These experiments may help to identify other candidate signalling
pathways that guide neural crest cells into the lung and are necessary for intrinsic
pulmonary neuron formation. Understanding the development of intrinsic lung innervation
my give insight to the mechanisms underlying congenital respiratory disorders in humans.
A.R.M. Chirculescu1,3, B. Amuzescu2, J.F. Morris1
Voltage-gated potassium channels are expressed by the pituitary folliculo-stellate
cell line TtT/GF
1Dept. of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, Oxford University, UK, 2Dept. of Biophysics
& Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 3Dept. of Anatomy &
Physiology, “C. Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest
The family of K+ channels has many members which fall into 12 classes. Their presence and
role in the pituitary are not known. Fluorescence immunocytochemistry using polyclonal
antibodies (Alomone Labs Ltd) was used to gather preliminary data on the binding by TtT/GF
folliculo-stellate (FS) cells of antibodies against three K+ channels (Kv1.2, 1.4, 4.3). A mouse
monoclonal (Sigma) was used to detect the neurofilament precursor NF200 in the cells.
Neurofilament precursor N200 was detected diffusely in FS cell bodies and more
prominently as small parallel bundles of fibrils in some cellular extensions. Of the three K+
channel antisera tested, Kv4.3 gave the most intense fluorescence. This was distributed as
small spots in the perikaryon of FS cells and at the origin of cell processes, in the perinuclear
area of some cells, and underlying the plasma membrane particularly at the base of
processes and along their branches. The immunoreactivity varied considerably among cells,
with adjacent cells often very positive and showing no staining. By contrast, Kv1.2 showed
very faint immunofluorescence and Kv1.4 was either even weaker or completely absent.
There was no apparent co-localization of potassium channels and neurofilaments, and it was
not possible to investigate colocalization of potassium channels because all the antisera
were produced in rabbits. Shorter fixation (10 min), overnight incubation and use of
biotinylated secondary antibodies coupled with Avidin FITC consistently improved the
fluorescence signal intensity. These data suggest that at least 2 of the 3 members of the K+
channel family tested are expressed by TtT/GF FS cells but that Kv4.3 appears to
predominate. The different cellular distributions of the immunoreactivity could relate to
O3
Anatomical Society is a registered Charity No. 290469 and Limited Company Registered in England and Wales No. 01848115.
Registered Office Fairfax House, 15 Fulwood Place, London, WC1V 6AY.
Page 10 of 13
different ages/stages of the cultured cells. The presence of voltage-gated Kv4.3 K+ channels
(Ca++-independent) suggests that FS cells have electric activity, which could accompany or
trigger their local/paracrine effects on neighbor pituitary cells or facilitate cell-to-cell
interaction, to regulate the release of the numerous signaling molecules that they produce.
ARMC is an Anatomical Society Senior Visiting Fellow
A.R.M.Chirculescu1, J.F.Morris2
The role of the external examiner in assessment of anatomical knowledge in UK and
Ireland: data from the AS questionnaire
1Dept. of Anatomy, C. Davila University, Bucharest, Romania, ASGBI Senior Visiting
Fellow in Dept. of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford; 2Dept. of
Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford
We present data concerning the opinions on the role of external examiners (EE) in the
assessment of anatomical knowledge in medical schools in UK and Ireland during 2005-7 as
reported by 74 % of the 35 schools of medicine which deliver identifiable anatomy courses.
The results show that EEs are regarded as: skilled to moderate anatomical components of
summative examinations (81%); useful contributors to the assessment of students (84%);
actively involved in setting (50%) and marking (38%) the examinations, and in evaluating the
model answers (62%). Involvement in the setting of examinations consists of: commenting
on questions and model answers set by internal staff; moderating exam questions by
checking all questions and suggesting improvements/changes; reviewing the balance of
content in the paper; moderating the difficulty of the papers with respect to national norms.
Involvement in marking comprises: having access to all marked papers and the ability to
adjust/moderate marks; marking a representative sample of good, average and borderline
scripts; seeing all fail scripts and borderline pass/fail vivas; reviewing the borderlines set. In
35% of schools EEs have other roles including: attending exam boards; participating in oral
examinations; discussion of the curriculum and assessment; advice on curriculum design.
Most of the external examiners during this period were from UK & Ireland (23), two were
from other European countries. Within UK and Ireland, different schools contributed EEs to
a varying extent (1-8 appointments); but staff from seven (27%) of the responding
universities did not appear to have acted as EEs. EEs have to deal with a variety of
assessment procedures because, as reported previously, both the curricula (July 2008) and
the methods of assessment (January 2010) vary considerably between and within schools.
These data support the use of the external examiner system to maintain equivalence in the
standards of anatomical education between different medical schools. However, the way in
which EEs are used varies from one school to another.
O4
Poster Presentations
P1
Jason Dunn
Biomechanical Implications of the Baboon Craniofacial Form
Hull York Medical School, Hertford Building, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX
The baboon is well dispersed across the African continent and is considered a generalist and
adaptable in its behaviour and socioecology. Variation in group size and composition and
mating strategies are thought to reflect differing environmental parameters such as food
availability and predation. However, there are real morphological differences between
Anatomical Society is a registered Charity No. 290469 and Limited Company Registered in England and Wales No. 01848115.
Registered Office Fairfax House, 15 Fulwood Place, London, WC1V 6AY.
Page 11 of 13
subspecies of the baboon in particular in the shape of the skull. This study addresses the
question of whether there is anything functional in the craniofacial morphology of the
subspecies in terms of the mechanics of mastication. To address this question differences in
diet are assessed statistically and significant differences are used to make predictions about
the morphology. These predictions are based on optimising functional parameters such as
mechanical advantage within the context of food physical properties. Lever arm mechanics
is a useful and frequently used approach for assessing the efficiency of muscle geometry.
Calculating mechanical advantages of vectors representing the temporalis and masseter as
well as calculating gape values can reveal biomechanical adaptation. Significant differences
in these parameters between baboon subspecies are found and presented along with their
relationship to size. The Kinda baboon (P. h. kindae) has a mechanical advantage greater
than expected for its diminutive size on the basis of allometric trends of other subspecies.
Differences between subspecies are related to diet. The Guinea baboon has a lower gape
value than other subspecies, suggestive of chewing smaller fragments of food. This fits the
observation of its highly frugivorous diet relative to the roots and tuber-eating savannah
subspecies. Masticatory differences between the sexes are discussed.
A. Porzionato1, M.Rucinski2, G. Sarasin1, V. Macchi1, C. Stecco1, M. Sfriso1, L.
Malendowicz2, R. De Caro1
Spexin expression in the carotid body
1Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
2Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6
Swiecicki St., Poznan PL-60781, Poland.
Spexin is a recently identified highly conserved peptide which has been found to be
processed and secreted. Its expression has been verified in many different endocrine and
nervous tissues but there are not yet data regarding the carotid body. Moreover, the carotid
body is known to undergo various structural and functional modifications in response to
hyperoxic stimuli during the first postnatal period. Thus, the aim of the present study was to
investigate, through immunohistochemistry and Real Time PCR, the expression and
distribution of spexin in the rat and human carotid body. Moreover, we evaluated if 60%
hyperoxia during the first two postnatal weeks may produce changes in the volume,
apoptosis (TUNEL) and spexin expression still present after a recovery period. Materials
consisted of carotid bodies obtained at autopsy from 10 adult subjects and sampled from 10
six-weeks old Sprague-Dawley rats. Five rats were maintained in normoxia for the first six
postnatal weeks; five rats were exposed to 60% hyperoxia for two weeks and then
maintained in normoxia for other 4 weeks. The study was performed in accordance with the
Italian Public Health Office regulations. No spexin immunoreactivity was visible in the type II
cells of both series. Conversely, diffuse anti-spexin immunoreactivity was found in type I
cells of both humans and rats. Hyperoxia exposure during the first two weeks of postnatal
life caused a reduction of volume in the carotid body still apparent after four weeks of
normoxia. However, analysis of apoptosis through TUNEL method did not reveal statistically
significant differences in the apoptotic indexes of type I and II cells between normoxia and
hyperoxia groups. At Real Time PCR, spexin expression was approximatively 6-7 times higher
in hyperoxia-exposed rats than in rats maintained in normoxia. The ascertained role of
spexin in the regulation of cell proliferation in other tissues (e.g., adrenal gland cortex)
suggests a possible role of spexin also in the regulation of proliferation of carotid body cells.
This hypothesis is particularly intriguing in the light of the many trophic factors which are
P2
Anatomical Society is a registered Charity No. 290469 and Limited Company Registered in England and Wales No. 01848115.
Registered Office Fairfax House, 15 Fulwood Place, London, WC1V 6AY.
Page 12 of 13
known to be expressed in the carotid body and to play a role in the modifications of this
structure in response to hypoxia and/or hyperoxia.
A. Porzionato1, M. Sfriso1, V. Macchi1, G. Sarasin1, C. Stecco1, L. Lancerotto2, V.
Vindigni2, R. De Caro1
Decellularization of rat and human omentum to develop novel scaffolds for
regenerative medicine
1Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University of Padua, 2Clinic of
Plastic Surgery, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
Background: Homologous tissues may be an interesting source of decellularized scaffold
maintaining a complex physiological 3D structure, completed with vessels, to be
recellularized by autologous cells. In particular, tissue-engineered adipose substitutes such
as the omentum would have numerous applications in the field of reconstructive surgery.
Methods: Adult rat and human omenta were treated with an adapted decellularization
protocol involving freeze-thawing cycles that break down adipose and endothelial cells,
enzymatic digestion involving trypsin, deoxyribonuclease, lipase and ribonuclease, and lipids
polar solvent extraction to yeald a collagenous natural matrix, i.e., decellularized adipose
tissue (DAT). The scaffolds obtained were studied with histological (haematoxylin-eosin,
azan-Mallory, Van Gieson, Oil Red and Sudan) and immunohistochemical (anti-CD31, laminin, -collagen IV) stainings to highlight the persistence of cells, the presence of lipids,
the architecture and composition of the material, the persistance of frames of the vascular
network. The study was performed in accordance with the Italian Public Health Office
regulations.
Results: Histological stainings confirmed the effectiveness of the decellularization protocol,
resulting in a cell-free scaffold with no residual cells present in the matrix. Oil red and Sudan
stainings denoted that no lipids were found in the decellularized adipose tissue. Anti-CD31
showed the absence of endothelial cells. Conversely, azan Mallory and Van Gieson stainings
identified a large amount of collagen and elastic fibers, organized in a quite complex threedimensional network. The volume of the original omentum sample was quite preserved
during the decellularizing passages. Immunostaining for laminin and collagen type IV
showed that both basement membrane components were still present in the network-type
regions of the DAT scaffolds, as well as along the lumens of the decellularized vascular
structures, that persisted after the decellularization method.
Conclusion: The fat-rich and well vascularized omental adipose tissue may be decellularized
to realize complex tridimensional scaffolds suitable for recellularization. Further analysis will
have to verify the possibility of recolonization of the scaffold by autologous cells after in vivo
reimplantation, as already known for homologus skin implants in regenerative processes.
P3
P4
B.L. Plater and J.R Skidmore
What is a spotter? The challenges of assessing anatomy in an integrated curriculum.
Centre for Learning Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of
Southampton.
Anatomists are often asked to explain what is meant by a ‘spotter’. It can be difficult to
convince external examiners, students, and colleagues outside anatomy of the value of this
assessment, leading to its abandonment at some institutions. A common criticism is that the
types of questions that may be posed in one minute require only simple recall of
Anatomical Society is a registered Charity No. 290469 and Limited Company Registered in England and Wales No. 01848115.
Registered Office Fairfax House, 15 Fulwood Place, London, WC1V 6AY.
Page 13 of 13
information/identification of a pinned structure and thus the spotter has little worth in an
integrated curriculum. At Southampton the spotter has been retained as part of the
assessments in Years 1 and 2 of the Bachelor of Medicine programme. Consideration of the
types of questions commonly used in previous spotters suggested that they could be
categorised into three types: identification (I); function (F); and application (A). It was
agreed that for 2009/10 the types of questions set should be monitored and the proportion
of questions in the function and application categories should be increased. In order to
prepare the students the formative self-assessment spotters were converted to private
study IFA stations. The authors conducted a formal evaluation of the questions from
2008/09 and 2009/10 to classify them I, F, or A. In addition, during the normal standard
setting process for 2009/10 teachers were asked to classify each question as I,F or A
alongside the Ebel’s rating of Easy, Moderate or Difficult. The authors then compared the
ratings allocated in standard setting to the classification of I, F or A. A number of interesting
observations were made related to the classification of certain types of question such as:
congenital anomalies and abnormalities; radiographs and CT scans; blood and nerve supply;
questions requiring interpretation; questions integrated with other subjects. Contrary to
expectations identification questions were often rated as moderate in standard setting
whilst application questions were rated moderate or easy. Dispelling the assumption that
application of knowledge is more challenging that simple identification. In the presentation
these findings will be discussed and the next steps in the investigation will be introduced
including classification of questions based on Bloom’s taxonomy.
File: Programme and Abstract Book Winter Meeting 16-17th December2010 - FINAL
Anatomical Society is a registered Charity No. 290469 and Limited Company Registered in England and Wales No. 01848115.
Registered Office Fairfax House, 15 Fulwood Place, London, WC1V 6AY.