Vol 143, No 1 (2013)

The distribution of alpha-tubulin, the major protein of the microtubules, was studied using immunohistochemistry in the rat forebrain structures. The differential distribution of alpha-tubulin immunoreactivity was detected: high immunoreactivity was found in cingulate and pyriform cortex, olfactory tubercles and optic chiasm, while the weakest immunohistochemical staining was observed in caudatoputamen, superficial layers of septum, cingulum and areas around the third cerebral ventricle. Immunoreactivity in the nervous cells was distributed along perikaryon periphery and in the apical dendrite. It is suggested that the intensity of alpha-tubulin immunohistochemical reaction could reflect the functional state of the neurons.

This work describes morpho-functional organization of the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMN) in rats of different age with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (DM). On day 7 of experimental DM, the development of a stress reaction was observed in 3-month-old animals, which was characterized by the ultrastructural signs of increased functional activity of light neurosecretory cells (NSC) of the VMN. Meanwhile, NSC of the VMN of 24-month-old animals remained intact. These changes in the VMN of 3-month-old animals with DM mellitus are probably related to much higher levels of glucose. On day 28 of experimental DM, the decrease in NSC numbers in the VMN was observed in the animals of both age groups because of apoptosis and hydropic degeneration. Such changes were accompanied by the deterioration in NSC trophism due to the development of the initial stages of diabetic microangiopathy and destructive changes in glial cells.

Using immunohistochemical methods, the immune reactivity of human lens epithelium and fibers to NSE, S-100 protein, Vim, α-SMA and EMA was studied in 10 normal persons and in 25 patients with its age-related cortical and secondary cataract. It was demonstrated that in age-related cortical and secondary cataract lens epithelium and fibers became more reactive to antibodies against NSE, S-100 protein and Vim, but showed no immunopositivity to α-SMA and EMA. Thus, the data obtained suggest some common pathogenetic mechanisms of age-related cortical and secondary cataract development with the formation of Adamyuk–Elschnig pearls.

In the series of 91 samples of human heart obtained from fetuses at developmental weeks 17–28 and formed without major defects and minor anomalies, the relief of the sinus part (SP) of the interventricular septum (IVS) was studied on the side of right ventricle (RV). Myocardial trabeculae carneae (MTC) were found in SP in 96.7% of the cases. MTC, associated with the IVS myocardium along their entire length (parietal MTC), were twice as frequent as bridge-like MTC. MTC were predominantly concentrated at the posterior corner of the RV; these were exclusively bridge-like MTC. Most frequently, MTC were absent near the IVS membranous region. An individual anatomical variability of the relief of the RV in the fetal heart was demonstrated. Depending on the number, anatomical type and mutual position of the MTC, three variants of the SP relief were distinguished: hypertrabecular, hypotrabecular and intermediate. From week 17 to week 28 of the intrauterine life, the hearts of the fetuses may differ in the form of MTC, however their number and the anatomical type within a particular variant of the SP remained constant The existence of the parietal longitudinal MTC on the right side of the IVS SP is proposed to be one of the hallmarks of the anatomically «normal» (ordinarily formed) heart in the human fetuses.

The objective of this study was to identify the peculiarities of lymphocyte migration in lymphoid nodules of the mucous membrane of the caecum and the trachea in autopsy material, obtained from 25 healthy individuals of various ages (from the newborns to the persons of 1 st mature age). Also, the tendinous center of diaphragm was studied in 10 healthy rabbits. Using histological methods, the presence of two functionally different types of lymphatic capillaries in the wall of the caecum was demonstrated. The first group includes numerous lymphatic capillaries located around the base of the lymphoid nodules. A large number of lymphocytes in portions enter the lumen of the capillaries, in accordance with the intestinal wall contractions. The second group includes the rest of the lymphatic capillaries, draining the intestinal wall and the capillaries of the trachea, resorbing mainly the interstitial fluid. The migration of lymphocytes from the lymphoid nodules of the trachea was directed, mainly, towards the surrounding tissues. Using the lymphatic capillaries of the diaphragm as a model, it was demonstrated that during the migration of the cells through the endothelium, argyrophilic structures — the stigmata, were formed which disappeared after the passage of the cells.

Using general histological and morphometric methods, the peculiarities of spermatogenic epithelium were studied in the offspring of female rats with chronic alcohol intoxication, which was created before the onset of pregnancy by substitution of the drinking water by 15% solution of ethyl alcohol for the period of 3 months. Total number of animals was equal to 62 rat pups which were studied at postnatal days 15, 30 and 45, including 32 rats of the intact group (10 litters) and 30 pups of the experimental group (8 litters). It was found that in the offspring of female rats with chronic alcohol intoxication, the inhibition of the processes of spermatogenesis took place, as reflected by the reduction in the area of the convoluted seminiferous tubules (CST), decrease in the number of spermatogenic cells of the seminiferous layer, increase in the proportion of CST with desquamated epithelium and giant spermatogenic cells, as well as by the reduction of spermatogenic index, which reflects the average number of layers of spermatogenic cells in each CST.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the processes of regeneration of bone tissue after the introduction of new implant systems. In the experiment, performed on 10 male pigs of Landras breed aged 50–55 days and weighing 17–18.5 kg, the time course of histological changes was studied in the area of mandibular regeneration after the formation of tissue defect and the introduction of the implant of a proposed construction. Morphological analysis of the experimental results 90, 180 and 270 days after the operation demonstrated the process of reparative regeneration of damaged bone along implant-bone block boundaries. Bone repair proceeded through the stage of formation of the woven bone with its progressive substitution by the lamellar bone, with the maintenance of the shape, size and symmetry of the damaged organ.

The objective of this study was to propose, on the basis of the results of authors’ own research and literature data, the hierarchically organized model of the interrelation of morphological mechanisms with the participation of biochemical bases of Са 2+ exchange between bone and blood. It is shown that osteocytes control the activity of main known mechanism of skeleton architecture remodeling (osteoclast-osteoblast remodeling, modeling, osteocyte remodeling etc.), that is the destruction and formation of mineral matrix component, thus influencing calcium turnover between bone and blood. The hierarchical organization of the mechanisms of this exchange is established. The first level of Са 2+ metabolism corresponds to the borderline between bone and takes place without bone matrix disintegration by paracellular energy-free Са 2+ diffusion from blood to bone and transcellular energy-dependent Са 2+ transfer from bone to blood. At the second level, calcium exchanger takes place at the borderline between between bone matrix and extracellular fluid by osteocyte remodeling during resorption or formation of the matrix of lacunar-canalicular system walls. The third level includes the mechanisms of osteoclast-osteoblast remodeling acting at the borderline between bone and blood. The mass of rapidly exchanging calcium pool was calculated to reach 58,5 g, thus being 11 times higher than previously suggected.