Vol 152, No 6 (2017)

Objective. To study the dynamics of mGluR2/3 metabotropic glutamate receptor expression in ventral and lateral respiratory subnuclei of a nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) in the early postnatal period in normal rats and in prenatal deficiency of a serotonin. Material and methods. The experiments were carried out on Wistar rats (n=19). For inhibition of tryptophan hydroxylase, animals were treated with para-chlorophenilalanine. Ventral and lateral respiratory subnuclei of NTS were examined at 5, 9 and 20 postnatal days. Immunocytochemical reaction was performed to demonstrate mGluR2 and mGluR3 metabotropic glutamate receptors. Results. During the first postnatal week in both subnuclei high level of expression was found. During the second postnatal week there was a sharp reduction of mGluR2/3 expression, and by the end of the third week it raised again. Serotonin deficit in the prenatal period influenced the intensity of mGluR2/3 expression in both NTS subnuclei. During the early postnatal period a significant (more than 2-fold) reduction of mGluR2/3 receptor expression was noted at all time intervals examined, which was more expressed in ventral subnucleus. Conclusions. During the early postnatal period the level of mGluR2/3 metabotropic glutamate receptor expression in the ventrolateral part of NTS changed. Serotonin deficiency induced a sharp reduction in mGluR2/3 receptor expression in the respiratory subnuclei during the early postnatal period.

Objective - to determine, using the postvital angiography and preparation, the most frequently encountered variants of the architectonics of the sole arteries and to estimate their morphometric characteristics and topographic-anatomical relations with the bones and joints of the foot. Materials and methods. Blood vessels of the leg and foot of 60 lower extremities of the dead bodies of adult persons were injected with the incompressible hardening radiopaque masses, followed by radiography. Results. Architectonics of the arterial bed of the foot differed by the degree of development of major arteries and by the presence of macroscopically visible anastomoses between them. On these grounds, 4 main variants of architectonics of the arteries of the foot were distinguished. The most common of them (70%) was the variant with the predominance of the lateral plantar artery and the presence of prominent anastomoses between the terminal branches of the medial plantar artery and the branches of the deep plantar arch vascularized from the dorsal artery of the foot. Much less common were the variants with the equal diameters of lateral and medial arteries of the foot and those with no macroscopically visible anastomoses between these arteries. Conclusions. Morphometric studies indicate a wide range of differences between the minimum and maximum values of the internal diameters of the arteries of the foot.

Objective - to examine the dynamics of structural changes and CD68 and Ki-67 marker expression in the thymus of rats at different time intervals after a single total irradiation in sublethal dose. Material and methods. In 30 rats after 3, 7, 14 and 30 days after experimental irradiation at a dose of 5 Gy, thymus was studied using histological, morphometric and immunohistochemical methods (Ki-67 and CD68 markers). Results. On the 3rd day after irradiation, the «inversion» of the thymus layers was detected with a decrease in the relative cortical area (by 15.1% as compared with data in controls) and a depletion of cell populations. Simultaneously, a significant increase in the expression of Ki-67 and CD68 markers in the subcapsular area was noted (by 71.3% 242.1% in comparison with the control, respectively). In subsequent time points of the experiment, a gradual recovery of thymus histoarchitectonics and cell populations was found that was due to the proliferative activity of thymocytes in the subcapsular zone at a constant level of expression of CD68 marker. Conclusions. The greatest expression of the morphologic changes in the thymus took place at 3 and 7 days after irradiation, with the restoration of histoarchitectonics and cell populations on the 30th day of the experiment.

Objective - to study of the structure and cellular composition of conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue (CALT) in pigs in the age aspect. Materials and methods. The conjunctiva of the lower and upper eyelids was studied in 18 piglets and pigs of both sexes aged 5 to 7 days, 2, 6 and 12 months. Histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical methods were used to detect structural changes and to demonstrate T lymphocyte marker (CD3), B-lymphocyte marker (CD79a) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Results. In 5-7-day-old piglets goblet cells were poorly developed in the conjunctiva, and CALT was represented by single lymphocytes, while lymphoid nodules were absent. In 2 month-old piglets the conjunctival goblet cells were well developed, and CALT contained diffuse accumulations of lymphocytes and plasma cells. In 6 - and 12-month-old pigs CALT contained lymphocytes, plasma cells and lymphoid nodules. In thinned areas of the conjunctiva covering the lymphoid nodules, goblet cells were single or missing. Immunohistochemical studies showed that CALT in 5-7-day-old piglets contained only T-lymphocytes. In other groups it contained both T-and B-lymphocytes. Lymphoid nodules were represented by B-lymphocytes, while T-lymphocytes were mainly located in CALT internodular zones. In the germinal centers of lymphoid nodules proliferation of lymphoblasts was demonstrated. Conclusions. The morphological data obtained indicate the presence in the pig parocular tissue of an immune system in the form of CALT containing lymphoid cells and structures necessary for the induction of the immune response both on the ocular surface and in parocular tissues.

Objective - to study in vivo biocompatibility of non-biodegradable printed polyurethane auricle prostheses, covered and not covered with an additional layer of a fibrous polyurethane matrix, by placing subcutaneous implants into rats and their subsequent histological and morphometric analysis at different time intervals after the implantation. Materials and methods. Polyurethane prostheses of the external human ear were created on the basis of a digital model using a 3D printer and then were covered by a thin polyurethane micro-fiber layer by means of an electrospinning. In vivo biocompatibility of the constructs obtained was studied 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months after subcutaneous implantation into 18 sexually mature male Wistar rats. The intensity and nature of reaction of tissues adjacent to the prosthesis were assessed on histological sections. Morphometric analysis included measurement with an eyepiece micrometer of the thickness of the connective-tissue capsule formed around the prosthesis. Mechanical properties of all samples were evaluated using the laboratory device, equipped with strain gauge sensor. Results. Subcutaneously implanted ear prosthesуs were found to retain their size, shape and initial material properties and to cause the formation of a thin connective tissue capsule. Capsule thickness increased gradually during the selected observation periods from 17.6±2.3 μm by the end of the 2nd week to 25.6±4.0 μm by the end of the 1st month and up to 45.0±5.0 μm by the end of the 3rd month. In the absence of microfiber polyurethane coating, highly vascularized connective tissue with the signs of inflammation was found to grow through the pores into an implant. In implants with an additional polyurethane layer no similar ingrowths and signs of inflammation were found. However, in the contact zone of loose fibrous subcutaneous connective tissue with the polyurethane coating, the formation of giant multinucleated cells was observed. Conclusions. Non-biodegradable polyurethane prosthesis of the external ear developed demonstrated a satisfactory biocompatibility in vivo and a long-term cosmetic effect.

Objective - to study the synovial membrane (SM) and articular cartilage (AC) remodeling of knee joint in rats with experimental chronic heart failure (CHF) in combination with obesity. Materials and methods. The study was performed on 15 male Wistar rats aged 8 months, divided into 3 groups of 5 animals each: control and 2 experimental groups (CHF modeling and its combination with obesity). Histochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometric methods were used. Results. Decrease of SM vascularization, focal fibrosis, inflammatory infiltration, activation of caspase-3 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, erosion and matrix fiber separation in AC, change of metachromasia intensity, chondrocyte death, decreased content of type II collagen were found in experimental groups. The most prominent remodeling was detected in animals with obesity. Conclusions. Complex degenerative and inflammatory reorganization of joint structures corresponds to early osteoarthritis. New biological noninvasive model of this disease is presented.

The structure of dark hyperchromic and hyperchromic shrunken brain neurons is described at light and electron microscopic level under normal and various pathological conditions and their functional characteristic is given. Hyperchromic dark neuron is a cell with active protein synthesis, which, however, may die by apoptosis after prolonged and intense exposure to adverse factors or as a result of genetic malfunctions.