Morphology
Peer-review quarterly medical journal.
Editor-in-chief
- Associate professor Roman V. Deev, MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine)
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8389-3841
Publisher
- Eco-Vector Publishing Group
WEB: https://eco-vector.com/
About
“Morphology” journal (“Morfologiia") (previous title — Archives of Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology) is a leading morphological scientific journal which is published continuously since 1916.
The journal was founded by a prominent Russian histologist A.S. Dogiel, and for many years most distinguished Russian scientists worked in its Editorial Board, passing the baton to the modern generation of morphologists.
In the last decades the Journal is published under the auspices of the International Association of Morphologists (the successor of all-Union Scientific Society of Anatomists, Histologists, and Embryologists).
Types of accepted articles
- reviews
- systematic reviews and metaanalyses
- original research
- clinical case reports and series
- letters to the editor
- short communications
- guidelines
Publications
- in English and Russian
- quarterly, 4 issues per year
- continuously in Online First
- with NO Article Processing Charges (APC)
- distribution in hybrid mode - by subscription and/or Open Access
(OA articles with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0))
Indexation
- Russian Science Citation Index (Web of Science)
- Russian Science Electronic Library (eLibrary.ru)
- Google Scholar
- Ulrich's Periodicals directory
- WorldCat
- Crossref
Current Issue



Vol 163, No 1 (2025)
- Year: 2025
- Published: 14.05.2025
- Articles: 7
- URL: https://j-morphology.com/1026-3543/issue/view/9882
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/morph.20251631
Reviews
Senescent Cells and Their Role in Histogenesis
Abstract
Aging, or senescence (from Latin senex—old man), is a biological process characterized by the gradual degradation of organs and systems at various hierarchical levels of structural organization. Currently, the concept of cellular senescence is the prevailing framework for understanding organismal aging. It has been demonstrated that certain cells in developing (prenatal histogenesis) and definitive tissues undergo a series of morphofunctional changes, including increased cell size; disruption of the nuclear envelope; formation of distinct heterochromatin foci; acquisition of a secretory phenotype characterized by the production of proinflammatory cytokines, β-galactosidase, transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), and other factors; and mitotic arrest through the active transcription of p16INK4A and p21CIP1, genes involved in the induction of cellular senescence. It is hypothesized that such cells, referred to as senescent cells, represent an independent functional stage of cytogenesis within tissues rather than merely a transitional form between actively functioning cell lineage elements and those undergoing programmed cell death. The histogenetic significance of senescent cells in both physiological and reparative tissue regeneration, as well as their broader impact on histophysiology, remains to be fully elucidated. The pharmacologic elimination of senescent cells from tissues is an actively developing strategy in anti-aging therapy.



Original Study Articles
Effect of Exogenous Melatonin on Morphological Features of B16 Melanoma in Mice
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Constant illumination over a long period of time suppresses the hormone-synthesizing function of the pineal gland, leading to a decrease in melatonin levels and, consequently, to accelerated aging of the body, increased incidence of age-associated pathologies, including neoplasms, and shortened life expectancy. Melatonin has a pronounced antitumor effect. In particular, its antiproliferative effect is highlighted. Melanoma is one of the most malignant neoplasms in humans, originating from melanin-producing cells. In recent years, the proportion of older patients among patients with melanoma has been increasing, which makes it possible to classify this disease as age-associated. There is evidence that melatonin deficiency and the resulting disruption of the body’s circadian rhythms is one of the factors contributing to the development of melanoma.
AIM: To investigate the effect of exogenous melatonin on the morphological features of B16 melanoma in mice.
METHODS: The study was conducted on male hybrid mice of the BDF1 line (n = 60) at the age of 8 weeks, weighing 21–22 g. All animals received subcutaneous transplantation of B16/F10 melanoma in suspension. The mice were further divided into two groups, control and experimental. Animals of the experimental group were administered melatonin (Sigma, USA) at a dose of 5 mg/kg intragastrically from the first day of the study. On the 15th day after tumor transplantation, the tumor itself, as well as the lungs and liver, were removed. Pathomorphological examination of the tumor was performed, and the presence of lung and liver metastases was determined. Area of necrosis was measured on histological slides of the tumor stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio in tumor cells was calculated by measuring the cross-sectional area of nuclei and the cross-sectional area of cells. Graphing and statistical analysis of the results were performed using GraphPad Prism v8.41 (USA).
RESULTS: It was found that melatonin administration during the studied period reduced the mortality of mice with melanoma, decreased the incidence of tumor metastasis and tumor size. In addition, in melanomas of the experimental group of mice, signs of tumor regression in the form of foci of dystrophic and alterative changes were visualized, as well as a statistically significant increase in the area of tumor necrosis.
CONCLUSION: The present study showed that exogenous melatonin has a pronounced antitumor effect against B16 melanoma in mice. The obtained results allow planning more thorough and multidisciplinary studies for in-depth investigation of the mechanisms of melatonin antitumor effect.



Effect of Infrared and Green Photobiomodulation on the Number of MyoD-Positive Cells in the Connective Tissue of the Regenerating Skeletal Muscle Injury Site
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Laser irradiation promotes accelerated regeneration of striated muscle tissue by enhancing cell proliferation and differentiation. The effectiveness of photobiomodulation depends on multiple factors, including target tissue, exposure duration, wavelength, and irradiation power. MyoD (myogenic differentiation) is a transcription factor that regulates myogenesis. We found no literature data on the effect of infrared and green photobiomodulation of varying durations on the enhancement of functional activity of MyoD-positive (MyoD⁺) cells and the increase in their number at the injury site. Meanwhile, the search for effective methods to restore skeletal muscle fibers after injury remains relevant.
AIM: To analyze the effect of infrared and green-spectrum laser irradiation on the number of MyoD⁺ cells in the connective tissue at the injury site of regenerating skeletal muscle.
METHODS: The study was conducted on 208 male Wistar rats divided into 6 experimental groups: control (group 0, n = 8); incised muscle wound (group 1, n = 40); incised muscle wound followed by short-term (60 s) infrared laser exposure to the wound area (group 2, n = 40); incised wound with prolonged (180 s) infrared laser exposure (group 3, n = 40); incised wound with short-term (60 s) green laser exposure (group 4, n = 40); and incised wound with prolonged (180 s) green laser exposure (group 5, n = 40). Laser irradiation was applied once in continuous mode immediately after muscle injury. Histological sections stained with hematoxylin and by immunohistochemical techniques using MyoD antibodies were examined to count the number of MyoD⁺ cells per 1 mm2 of tissue in the focal area of injured striated skeletal muscle on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 30 of the observation period.
RESULTS: It was established that photobiomodulation increased the number of nuclei in the connective tissue within the focal area of muscle injury at various time points during the experiment. Moreover, a significant increase in the number of MyoD⁺ cells per 1 mm2 was observed 1 day after short-term photobiomodulation with both green and infrared wavelengths. The most pronounced stimulatory effect on MyoD⁺ cells was noted following short-term green laser irradiation.
CONCLUSION: Green and infrared photobiomodulation promoted an early increase in the number of MyoD⁺ cells in the connective tissue at the site of skeletal muscle injury. The greatest increase in cells undergoing myogenic differentiation was observed in rats following short-term green laser photobiomodulation.



Effect of Blood Coagulation on Immunological Reactivity of Blood Cells Ex Vivo
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The interaction between hemostasis and the immune system provides the body’s defense against external pathogens. However, the impact of blood coagulation on immune cell reactivity is poorly understood.
AIM: To investigate the effect of blood coagulation on its immunoreactive properties ex vivo.
METHODS: Donor blood samples were incubated with heparin (for plasma studies) or without heparin (for serum studies). Plasma and serum antioxidant activity was evaluated by chemiluminescence intensity after addition of hydrogen peroxide or ozonated physiological solution. Cytokine content was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after incubation of blood with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 3 or 18 h.
RESULTS: Serum had a significantly greater antioxidant activity compared to plasma. The blood coagulation process markedly reduced both spontaneous and LPS-induced secretion of tumor necrosis factor TNF-α by blood cells, without significantly affecting the secretion of interleukins IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 and CRP. However, this process led to an increase in both spontaneous and LPS-induced secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by blood cells. Serum samples with LPS also showed a marked increase in procalcitonin.
CONCLUSION: Blood coagulation enhances the antioxidant properties of blood, reduces the inflammatory activity of immunoreactive cells, thereby promoting regenerative processes.



Morphometric Study of Skin Vessels After Mechanical Injury Based on von Willebrand Factor Antibody Labeling
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is one of the most important factors of histogenesis in tissue regeneration. In the evaluation of wounds of various etiologies, identifying blood vessels in hematoxylin- and eosin-stained specimens is often challenging. This difficulty arises from the histological structure of the vascular wall and the complex histotopographic arrangement of vessels. Immunohistochemical staining with antibodies to von Willebrand factor, a specific endothelial cell protein, is one of the most informative methods for vascular detection. Applying this technique to the study of wound healing enhances the assessment of the histotopography and morphology of the microvascular network involved in skin repair.
AIM: To assess the changes in the number and size of skin vessels at various stages of regenerative histogenesis following mechanical injury, using immunohistochemical staining with antibodies against von Willebrand factor.
METHODS: A single-center, controlled, randomized, nonblinded experimental study was conducted. The study material consisted of skin samples from the mid-thigh region of Wistar rats collected at different time points during wound healing after a deep incised injury. The animals were divided into 9 groups: the control group (n = 3) included intact animals, whereas the remaining groups (3 animals per group) corresponded to different time points of removement from the experiment — 12 hours, 24 hours, and 2, 3, 6, 10, 15, and 25 days after injury. At each time point, skin biopsies were processed for histological examination with immunohistochemical staining using antibodies to von Willebrand factor, followed by morphometric analysis of the resulting digital images.
RESULTS: Blood vessels were visualized in the dermis and hypodermis of rat skin and classified into 4 groups according to their caliber (visible cross-sectional area). The most pronounced changes were observed in small-caliber vessels (cross-sectional area ≤ 100 μm2). These vessels were absent in intact skin specimens but appeared in the experimental groups from day 2 through day 10 after injury. In skin samples obtained on days 15 and 25 after injury, a gradual decrease in the number of vessels with a cross-sectional area ≤ 100 μm2 was noted. Similar trends were observed for vessels of medium (100–500 μm2) and large (500–1000 μm2) caliber. Vessels with a cross-sectional area ≥ 1000 μm2 were rare, and their number did not correlate with the wound healing phase.
CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical staining with anti–von Willebrand factor antibodies in rat skin sections demonstrated good reproducibility and yielded high-quality specimens. In the experimental wound healing model, the method exhibited high selectivity in identifying blood vessels. Morphometric analysis of histological samples confirmed a correlation between vessel count and the sequential phases of the wound healing process.



Optimized Method for the Use of Polyethylene Glycol as Embedding Medium for Histological Studies
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a water-soluble polymer that can be used as tissue embedding medium for obtaining histological sections. It has been previously reported, that PEG provides good preservation of tissue morphological characteristics comparable to that of epoxy resins, and the resulting slices can be used for immunohistochemical studies. Several methods of using PEG in histological studies have been described in literature, but they are disorganized and generally difficult to reproduce.
AIM: To evaluate tissue morphological characteristics and immunoreactivity in histological sections embedded in PEG.
METHODS: We investigated the possibility and results of transferring collectible (archived) samples of murine (Mus musculus) and weatherfish (Misgurnus fossilis) embryos through PEG 1000 and PEG 1500, as well as the peculiarities of sectioning, sample spreading, mounting on slides, and staining.
RESULTS: We compared the morphological characteristics of histological sections transferred through and embedded in PEG and paraffin wax. The advantages and disadvantages of using PEG for histological embedding were characterized. Immunohistochemical staining of sections using specific antibodies combined with chromogenic and fluorescent detection systems was performed.
CONCLUSION: It has been demonstrated that PEG provides preservation of structural features of cells and intercellular substance, also having a sparing effect on protein epitopes in tissues.



Исторические статьи
120th Anniversary of the Birth of Gavriil Sergeyevich Strelin, Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences
Abstract
April 8, 2025, will mark the 120th anniversary of the birth of Gavriil Sergeyevich Strelin, a major scientist and educator. The authors have summarized the facts of the scientist’s biography and the main stages of his scientific and pedagogical activity. The main scientific work of G.S. Strelin was centered around the issues of radiobiology and the study of cell division regulation. G.S. Strelin worked for many years at the Central Research X-ray Radiological Institute in Leningrad. Gavriil Sergeevich was an honorary member of the All-Union Scientific Society of Rentgenologists and Radiologists and Deputy Chairman of the Problem Commission on Radiobiology of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences. 15 theses were defended and about 200 scientific papers were published under his supervision. During the period from 1952 to 1960, G.S. Strelin headed the Department of Histology and Embryology of the First Leningrad Medical Institute, took an active part in the development of new methods of teaching histology as an academic discipline, attracted a number of new staff members to work at the department. The life and creative path of Gavriil Sergeyevich Strelin has served as an example for the younger generations of doctors, scientists and teachers for many years.


