Vol 141, No 2 (2012)

Electron microscopic investigation of gap junctions (GJ) on serial sections of rat barrel cortex has shown that GJ were in contact with one or both processes that formed chemical synapses, however, these connections could not traced in single sections. In the serial sections, it was possible to observe two GJ in the immediate proximity to one another, in a single field of vision, thus, each GJ was traced in two or three successive sections in a series. Considering the described variants of GJ arrangement in the cortex, it is suggested that GJ could be a structural basis for local synchronization of the bioelectrical activity not only at postsynaptic, but also at presynaptic level, and the formation of GJ occurs both before, and after the development of chemical synapses.

Method of retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase was used to study the organization of the projections of the individual substructures of the deep mesencephalic nucleus complex to the functionally diverse regions of striatal structures of the dog brain (n=20). It was shown that the projection fibers of the neurons of the nucleus profundus mesencephali were directed to the ventro-lateral segment of the nucleus caudatus and the ventral segment of the putamen. The dorsal segment of the putamen obtains the fibers from the neurons of the nucleus cuneiformis, while the lateral segment of the nucleus accumbens received them from the neurons of the nucleus subcuneiformis. The possible pathways for conduction of the functionally diverse information and its integration in the investigated projection systems are discussed.

The diameters of the hepatic lobule vessels (interlobular veins, central veins, interlobular arteries, intralobular sinusoidal capillaries, interlobular bile ducts) were been studied 3, 7 and 28 days after shin bones fracture in CBA mice (n=30). Most pronounced changes of morphometric parameters indicative of hemodynamic disturbances, were found 3 days after the trauma. The increase of the diameter of central, interlobulat veins and sinusoidal capillaries took place, together with the decrease of the diameter of interlobular arteries, which, probably, promoted the reduction of arterial blood supply. The tendency for normalization of the diameter of interlobular veins, arteries and bile ducts was detected 28 days after the start of an experiment. However, the diameter of the central veins and sinusoidal capillaries remained significantly higher than in control group. Thus, it was found that the leg bone fracture was accompanied by the changes of morphometric parameters of the hepatic lobule, mediated by the organ response to injury.

The aim of this research was to characterize the population of thymic mast cells (MC) which were demonstrated by histochemical methods, at different stages of mouse ontogenesis. First MCs appeared on day 19 of intrauterine life. MCs were localized to the thymic medulla during the whole embryonic period. Individual MCs could also be identified within the cortex. Single MCs were interspersed among other thymic medullary cells. In the newborn, young and mature animals, MCs were observed in the connective tissue of the capsule and in the interlobular septa, but some MCs were also found inside the thymic lobules. In the lastmentioned case, MCs were located in the subcapsular zone. The possible functional significance of MCs localization is discussed.

The aim of this investigation was to study the morphological changes of liver, lung, kidneys and spleen as well as of the cells of mononuclear pahagocyte system in 60 rats 1-40 days after a single intravenous injection of a suspension of magnetite nanoparticles. Moderate hemodynamic disturbances and focal necrotic changes were detected in the hepatic and renal parenchyma. In the lungs and spleen, only hemodynamic disturbances were found. The degree of morphological changes in rat liver, lungs, kidneys and spleen was decreased by day 10. Using Perls histochemical method, the accumulation of nanoparticles was detected in the cells of mononuclear phagocyte system of the organs studied.

The aim of this research was to characterize the peculiar features of architectonics and microtopography of prostatic muscular tissue elements in men of the first period of mature age (22-35 years) which is the time of the highest functional activity of the organ. Histological and morphometric methods were used to study 22 specimens of human prostate . The sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, van Gieson's stain, Heidenhain's azocarmine; elastic fibers were demonstrated using Hart's fuchseline method. In the inferior-posterior, inferiorlateral and superior-medial and anterior-medial prostatic lobules, the thickness of smooth muscle cell (SMC) bundles and their layers were measured together with the intervals between the layers, the orientation and elastic fiber thickness were assessed. The peculiar feature of the muscular tissue in the anterior-medial prostatic lobules was its relatively distant location in respect to the glands. SMC bundles in the inferior-posterior and inferiorlateral lobules were closely adjacent to the secretory portions of prostatic glands. In the prostate of men in the I period of the mature age, the amount and an the orientation of a muscular fabric provide complete and uniform evacuation of a secretion from prostatic glands. The changes observed during this period, are directed only to the maintenance of the high level of functional activity of the organ.