Vol 160, No 4 (2022)

The kidneys play a central role for the emerging pregnancy, reacting and contributing to changes in homeostasis in the woman and fetus. Impaired kidney function during pregnancy is a fairly common and serious complication. Understanding the normal physiology of pregnancy provides the basis for further study of the changes that lead to impaired kidney function, and may provide the key to its better management.

This literature review systematizes information about the physiology and morphology of the kidneys before pregnancy, changes in them during its normal course and in cases of the presence or development of any pathological conditions for various reasons.

Knowledge of the anatomo-functional condition of the kidneys in normal pregnancy, as well as the changes that occur in renal diseases, will provide an opportunity to identify patients at high risk for the development of renal pathology, to define the management of pregnancy and, thereafter, to reduce the risk of maternal morbidity, mortality and perinatal losses.

BACKGROUND: The high sensitivity of the liver to chemicals is due to its leading role in their metabolism. During the biotransformation of ecotoxicants, highly reactive intermediate products may be formed and free radical oxidation may be initiated, which may result in liver damage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiment was carried out on outbred white rats weighing 180–250 g. A total of 50 animals were involved in the experiment. All animals were divided into 5 groups: control and 4 experimental ones. All rats in the experimental groups were subjected to inhalation exposure to gasoline and formaldehyde vapors. In the 1st (control) group only poisoning with ecotoxicants was used, in the 2^nd group peptinsorbent (apple pectin) was used against the background of poisoning with ecotoxicants, in the 3^rd group — a membrane protector lemongrass, in the 4^th group — a beets, in the 5^th experimental group — peptinsorbent, membrane protector and beets. We examined pieces of liver and rats that were subjected to histological processing. Using a LEICA RM 2145 rotary microtome (Leica Microsystems, Germany), histological sections with a thickness of 5–8 μm were prepared. Stained sections were examined and photographed using an Axio Imager Z1 light microscope (Carl Zeiss, Germany).

RESULTS: The liver structure of rat pups born from female rats exposed to subchronic gasoline and formaldehyde poisoning throughout pregnancy has pronounced pathomorphological signs characteristic of hepatosis, turning into toxic hepatitis. The use of lemongrass, peptinsorbent and beets separately, along with intoxication of pregnant rats, somewhat reduced the degree of pathomorphological changes in the liver of born rat pups, but not dramatically. When using a combined mixture (apple pectin + membrane protector lemongrass + beets), the liver structure of the rat pups subsequently born was preserved relatively better than in the control group, with the exception of certain areas of the liver in which hemostasis and moderately pronounced dystrophic changes in hepatocytes were detected.

CONCLUSIONS: The combined mixture (apple pectin + membrane protector lemongrass + beets) has a more pronounced hepatoprotective effect compared to the separate use of each of its constituent substances and is effective as a hepatoprotective agent for liver damage from ecotoxicants.

The article is dedicated to the prominent Russian morphologist, Head of the Department of Histology of the Ural State Medical University, Honoured Worker of Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Sergey Vladimirovich Sazonov. On 17 May 2023 he turned 60 years old. Sergey Vladimirovich devoted his whole life to science, teaching, and his alma mater — Ural State Medical University. He opened a number of research and diagnostic laboratories in the Ural Federal District, continuously created and mastered new methods and new research technologies, introduced them into clinical medicine and education.

Sergey Vladimirovich was one of the organisers of the first scientific medical journal in our region — the Bulletin of the Ural State Medical Academy (now the Bulletin of Ural State Medical University). Sergey Vladimirovich successfully carried out material and technical re-equipment of the Department of Histology at Ural State Medical University, created a completely new in content multimedia course of lectures, and now he actively carries out digital transformation of his discipline, skilfully manages the creation of electronic educational resources in histology.

The article reflects the stages of life and creativity of Professor S. V. Sazonov, his main scientific achievements, professional and personal qualities.