Vol 149, No 1 (2016)

The peculiarities of localization and distribution of corticothalamic efferents of different somatotopical representations of primary motor (MI) and sensory (SI) cortex were studied in cat brain. MI efferent fibers (4y, 6ab areas) preferentially projected to ventral posterolateral and medial (VPL, VPM), ventrolateral (VL), and reticular (R) nuclei, localized in rostral part of the thalamus (T), as opposed to SI (areas 1, 2, 3a, 3b), which projected preferentially to caudal part of T, VPL, VPM and R nuclei. Latero-medial organization of cortico-thalamic connections was demonstrated, with predominant localization of cortical representation of hindlimbs in the lateral part of VPL, of forelimbs - in the medial part of VPL, of face and head - also in VM and VPM. Quantitative analysis of the distribution of corticothalamic efferents of different somatotopical representations of MI has demonstrated the most extensive, massive connections with T nuclei (VPL, VL, R) of the motor representation of forelimb, followed by the representation of hindlimb, trunk and, finally, the minimal projection of the representation of face and head. As opposed to motor representation of the forelimb and also of the face and head, with uniform distribution of fibers in VPL, VL and R, the number of efferents of motor representation of hindlimb, passing in VL, was almost 2.5 time lower than in VPL and R, whereas the representation of trunk had the predominant projection to VL. Dominant cortico-thalamic connection suggests greater involvement of T nuclei studied in the realization of functional specialization of certain somatotopical representations of MI.

Using immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry, the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) was studied in the brain of the mitten crab Eriocheir japonica in norm and at 2, 4, 6 and 12 hours of anoxia on the model of water deprivation. In intact crabs, the number of immunopositive neurons was small, but it increased with anoxia duration. Particularly pronounced increase in the proportion of neurons with the HIF-1α expression was found in cell group 6. In group 9/11, the highest expression index was observed between 2-6 hours of anoxia. In group 17, significant changes in the proportion of immunopositive cells was observed only after 2 hours of anoxia. After 6 hours of anoxia, proportion of neurons with HIF-1α expression within all cell groups was reduced, but the reactions appeared in the blood cells. It is assumed that the increase in the proportion of immunopositive neurons and the appearance of the expression of HIF-1α in blood cells in the anoxic brain play an important role in providing compensatory and protective processes, enhancing adaptive capacity of mitten crab under the conditions of hypoxic stress.

This work was performed on the offspring of 5 outbred female albino rats to give a comparative immunohistochemical evaluation of doublecortin (DCX) and NeuN expression in the neurons of the cerebellar cortex and nucleus interpositus in the early postnatal ontogenesis (postnatal days 2-15). DCX expression was detected in postmitotic neurons of the external granular layer and migrating neurons of the cerebellar cortex. At postnatal days 2 and 7 DCX expression in neocerebellum was higher than in paleocerebellum. NeuN expression was found to appear in migrating granule neurons, and reach the maximum in mature neurons of internal granular layer. DCX expression was not detected in Purkinje cells and in the nucleus interpositus of the cerebellum. In neurons of the nucleus interpositus the expression of NeuN progressively increased from postnatal days 2 to 15. Thus, a comparative immunohistochemical study of the dynamics of the expression of the pair of molecular markers studied proved to be an effective way of the assessment of the development of granular neurons of the cerebellum in early postnatal ontogenesis.

The goal of this study was to examine the contents of Dll 4 and Jag-1 angiogenesis regulators in human dermis at different age periods. Dll4 and Jag-1 were demonstrated by indirect immunohistochemistry in skin sections of fetuses of 20-40 gestational weeks and in persons aged from birth to 85 years. Dll4 was studied in 150 skin samples of 72 females and 78 males, while Jag-1 was examined in 120 samples of 58 females and 62 males. It is found that the immunoreactivity was mainly expressed by the endothelial cells. Vessels, which gave a positive reaction to Dll4 and Jag-1, were found throughout the entire thickness of the dermis, both in fetuses, and people of all age groups. Expression of Dll4 in the vessels of dermal microvasculature was shown to increase from 20 weeks of gestation to 20 years. With the further age increase, the intensity of the reaction of blood vessels for Dll4 was decreased. Expression of Jag-1 in dermal microvessels was enhanced from 20 weeks of gestation to 85 years. The results are discussed in connection with the role of Dll4 and Jag-1 in angiogenesis in human dermis during ontogeny.

Biopsy specimens of the thymus were studied in children aged under 11 months (n=77) with congenital heart defects and circulatory hypoxia of varying severity. Histological sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Shubich’s method (to demonstrate mast cells). The expression of Ki-67, CD3 and CD34 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The ultrastructure of thymic tissues was also examined. It was found that the severity of hypoxia determined the morphological changes in the organ associated with a development of large complex of tissue reactions. A disruption of internal structure and a loss of integrity of epithelio-reticular cells and thymocytes were demonstrated in ultrathin sections. Thymocyte proliferation index (Ki-67) and thymocytopoiesis intensity (CD3+) were reduced in all the zones of the thymus. The degree of hypoxia affected the redistribution of CD3+ lymphocytes leading to their accumulation in the medulla. The processes of endogenous regeneration took place which involved the cells of fibroblastic line and progenitor cells (CD34+) together with active formation of new blood vessels. These findings suggest that the morphological changes identified in the tissues of the thymus are a manifestation of tissue adaptation to hypoxia of varying severity under conditions of endogenous regeneration, simultaneously reflecting the processes of substitution cytogenesis.

On serial histological sections of the testes, stained with hematoxylin-eosin, using a morphometric device, the total numbers of spermatogenic cells and sustentocytes (Sertoli cells) were measured in the convoluted seminiferous tubules of neonatal rat pups. Experimental groups consisted of rats born from females with experimental liver damage of various origins - autoimmune (n=33), toxic (n=32), alcoholic (n=12), and medicinal (n=27). The control group included pups born from normal female rats (n=14). In experimental rats both increase and decrease of the total number of sustentocytes was detected. In the animals of most of the experimental groups, sustentocyte cell index reflecting the ratio of the number of spermatogenic cells and sustentocytes, was decreased.

Experiments were carried out on 22 albino male Wistar rats to study the morphological peculiarities of osseointegration of titanium grafts with bioactive surface stimulated additionally with bone plastic material «Gamalant™-paste-FORTE Plus», containing recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 ( rhBMP - 2 ) . In 9 rats the implants were placed into femoral bones after local treatment of bone canal with rhBMP -2 - containing material. Another 9 animals were implanted but received no treatment, 4 rats formed the group of intact control. Zone of osseointegration was studied 4, 8 and 12 weeks after graft placement using histological and morphometric methods as well as immune histochemistry to demonstrate osteonectin, CD68, MMP-9, and TIMP-1. The study showed that preliminary treatment of bone canal with rhBMP-2-containing material preceding implant placement was accompanied by an additional osteoinductive effect. More intense and outrunning bone formation in the area of osseointegration was observed, together with remodeling and compaction of the contiguous cancellous bone, thus providing the necessary balance between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 with a high level of each factor expression.