Changes in vaginal epithelium are known to occur during the normal oestrous or menstrual cycle and in ovariectomised animals in response to various hormones. However, vaginal changes due to exogenous gonadotrophins superimposed on the normal hormonal milieu as occurs in in vitro fertilisation programmes have not previously been demonstrated. Female rats were hyperstimulated with follicle stimulating hormone and human chorionic gonadotrophin prior to mating. Control mated animals were not injected. Vaginal tissue was collected at 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 d after mating. Tissue was processed for light microscopy. Hyperstimulation by the exogenous gonadotrophins caused mucification, a decrease in the number of epithelial layers and an increase in the thickness of the epithelium on d 4.5 of pregnancy. The mitotic index of the epithelial cells was depressed in the hyperstimulated rats with respect to control animals. Exposure to high levels of oestradiol and an altered progesterone[ratio ]oestradiol ratio appear to have caused the changes in the vaginal epithelium.

Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Future meetings

5–7 January 1999. Winter meeting hosted by the Centre for Human Biology, University of Leeds. This will be a joint meeting with the British Biophysical Society and include a symposium on the structure and mechanism of molecular motors, to include actomyosin in muscle and elsewhere, kinesin and other proteins with mechanical properties.

13–15 July 1999. Summer meeting hosted by the Laboratory of Human Anatomy, University of Glasgow.

The International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS)

ISSLS International Fellowship Fund. Appropriate individuals from developing countries are eligible for this Fellowship to enable them to attend the 1999 meeting in Hawaii (21–25 June). The applicants should have a demonstrated interest in clinical or nonclinical spinal research and should send a letter outlining their work together with 2 letters of sponsorship from their superiors and the abstract of a paper or poster to Dr Hanley at the above address by 1 January 1999.

Surgical Dynamics Travelling Fellowship Fund. The ISSL has received an educational grant from Surgical Dynamics for a Travelling Fellowship for US $5000. The competition for the Travelling Fellowship is open to investigators who are, in the year of application, aged 35 years or younger. The applicant should have an expressed and documented research interest in lumbar spine problems. The Travelling Fellowship can be used as a stipend for research work at another institution than the person's own. The applicant should include: a description of the research project to be performed; a letter of acceptance from the host institution where the research work will be performed; a letter of recommendation from a member of ISSLS (if the applicant is not a member); a letter of recommendation from the department chairman or head of a laboratory, etc. ; a curriculum vitae of the applicant including a list of publications and presentations. Four copies of each should be submitted. The deadline for applications is 1 March 1999. The committee will announce its selection at the annual meeting of the Society in Hawaii, 21–25 June 1999. The recipient of the 1999 Fellowship Award should be prepared to submit a report to the Society at the 2000 annual meeting.

Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Winter meeting, 5–7 January 1999. This will be held at the University of Leeds and will include a one and a half day symposium on ‘Structure and function of molecular motors’. Further information can be obtained from Dr Roger Soames, Centre for Human Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT.

Summer meeting, 24–26 July 2000. This will be held at the University of Cambridge.

European Research Conference

Neural Mechanisms of Learning and Memory: Dynamics of the Trace. To be held in Acquafredda di Maratea, Italy, 9–14 May 1998.

Development Biology: The Genetic Control of Morphogenesis. To be held in Lengries, Germany, 6–11 June 1998.

Details may be obtained from Dr J. Hendekovic, URESCO Unit, European Science Foundation, 1 quai Lezay-Marnésia, 67080 Strasbourd Cedex, France. Tel. +33 388 76163; fax +33 388 366987; e-mail euresco@esf.org. Online information and application at: http//www.esforg/euresco

During the course of a systematic study on the human vertebrobasilar arterial system (De Caro et al. 1995), our attention was drawn in one case to a strange morphology of the ventrolateral aspect of one side of the medulla. While initially our impression was that we were facing an actual malformation, review of the structure of the brainstem as described in most standard anatomical texts showed that it could correspond to the circumolivary fasciculus (Williams et al. 1995).

The subject was a 63-y-old man who had died from rupture of an atherosclerotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. The medical history was negative for neuropsychiatric pathology. Brain examination showed severe atherosclerosis of the cerebral arteries and hypoplasia of the initial segment of the right posterior cerebral artery. A recent infarct was found in the white matter of the right occipital lobe. After removal of the vertebrobasilar arterial system, the right pyramid showed a superficial groove extending from about 2 mm lateral to the foramen caecum obliquely downwards to the right anterolateral sulcus of the medulla, at the level of the superior margin of the inferior root of the hypoglossal nerve (Fig. 1a). Due to this groove, the lateral part of the pyramid formed a ridge that crossed the anterolateral sulcus of the medulla passing between the 2 main roots of the hypoglossal nerve and then continued, below the inferior pole of the olive, over the lateral region of the medulla ending at the level of the posterolateral sulcus (Fig. 1b). The general appearance was that of a small cord forming a loop around the anterior margin and the inferior pole of the olive, with a descending part (8 mm long), a horizontal part (6 mm long) and with a transverse diameter of 3 mm. After formalin fixation, the brainstem was cut in 8 transverse sections. At the level of the medulla the right pyramid appeared larger than the contralateral and the small lateral cord was separated from the main part of the pyramid by a thin whitish transverse stria (Fig. 1c). Macroscopic examination of the cerebellum showed nothing of relevance.

Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Future meetings

26–27 November 1998. Symposium on the morphogenetic and genetic analysis of vertebrate development, hosted by the Spanish Anatomical Society in Madrid, Spain, with the participation of the ASGBI.

5–7 January 1999. Winter meeting hosted by the Centre for Human Biology, University of Leeds.

13–15 July 1999. Summer meeting hosted by the Laboratory of Human Anatomy, University of Glasgow.

Anatomical Society Research Studentships. Grant funding is available for Research Studentships in the anatomical sciences, commencing October 1999. The closing date for applications is 9 October 1998.

The International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS). The 26th annual meeting of the ISSLS will be held in Hawaii on 21–25 June 1999. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 15 November 1998.

ISSLS International Fellowship Fund. Appropriate individuals from developing countries are eligible for this Fellowship to enable them to attend the 1999 meeting in Hawaii. The applicants should have a demonstrated interest in clinical or nonclinical spinal research and should send a letter outlining their work together with 2 letters of sponsorship from their superiors and the abstract of a paper or poster to Dr Hanley at the above address by 1 January 1999.

Surgical Dynamics Travelling Fellowship Fund. The ISSL has received an educational grant from Surgical Dynamics for a Travelling Fellowship for US $5000. The deadline for applications is 1 March 1999. The committee will announce its selection at the annual meeting of the Society in Hawaii, 21–25 June 1999.