Vol 145, No 2 (2014)

The aim of the study was to detect the neocortical columns in the S1 field on frontal sections of brain of albino rats using the method of immunohistochemistry and the antibodies against neuronal (synaptophysin, neurofilament) and gliocyte (glial fibrillary acidic protein - GFAP, myelin basic protein) proteins. The examination of the expression of the major neurospecific antigens revealed that on thin sections (4 μm) a column could be identified due to accumulations of the astrocytes and neuronal processes - axons and dendrites. GFAP expression study also showed that cortical layer I usually contained multiple large astrocytes with branching processes, as well as numerous smaller processes with high intensity of expression. Synaptophysin content was high in all the layers of the cortex, but the most intense reaction was detected in the molecular layer, similarly with the intensity of GFAP reaction. The expression of myelin basic protein was detected in accordance with the radially extending myelinated processes of the neurons in the cortex.

Using the method of quantitative immunohistochemistry, the expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and neurotrophin BDNF was studied in CA1 hippocampal field of rats that survived severe hypoxia (SH), the damaging effects of which were compensated by subsequent three postconditioning (PC) sessions of mild hypobaric hypoxia (360 mm Hg, 2 hours, three times with 24 hour intervals). It was shown that the expression of the proteins studied was decreased in rat hippocampus after SH. Hypoxic postconditioning which improved the structural and functional rehabilitation after SH, was shown to up-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 and BDNF in hippocampal CA1 neurons in rats that survived SH. These results suggest the involvement of Bcl-2 and BDNF in processes of adaptation to SH and compensation of its damaging effects.

The objective of this investigation was to determine the complex response of the pineal gland (PG) and of the organs of the immune system in Wistar rats in response to a violation of the illumination regime in the experiment. Animals were kept under natural light regime and continuous illumination for 14 days. After that rats were sacrificed and the mass of the body, PG, gonads, thymus and spleen was measured. Thymus and spleen cell subpopulations were determined by flow cytometry. The lipofuscin content in PG was determined by measuring an auto-fluorescence intensity in frozen tissue sections in the wavelength range of 505-545 nm using a confocal laser scanning microscope LSM 510 META (Carl Zeiss). The correlation analysis showed an increase in the amount and the change of sign and direction of relations between the indices of the state of PG and the immune system. This indicates the up-regulation of the intensity of intersystem relationships and the change of migration and differentiation vector of immunocompetent cells.

Morphometric parameters of a descending sigmoid sphincter (DSS) were defined in 32 patients of both sexes aged 20-71 years (average age: 48.0±2.2 years) with various forms of colon lumen at the site of sphincter. Densitometric indices of DSS and surrounding soft tissues were estimated. Vital morphological peculiarities of descending-sigmoid junction of the colon were demonstrated, and the diameter of the colon at the level of a sphincter was defined. The data obtained confirm the anatomical character of the colon sphincters and may be used as a basis for the interpretation of optical and virtual endoscopic images and DSS description for the application in differential diagnostics and precision surgery of various colon diseases.

The aim of the study was to examine the immunomorphological features and expression of immunohistochemical markers that indicate the presence of immune inflammation in the placenta in normal pregnancy and in pregnancy complicated by bronchial asthma (BA) of varying degrees of severity. The of 80 samples of placenta from patients with BA were studied immunohistochemically and histologically to demonstrate the fixation of С3 fraction of complement, fibrinogen, IL-4, IL-6, IgA, IgM, IgG, and the expression of CD31, CD35, CD57 and CD83 molecules. The largest number of immune deposits fixed in the placenta and damaging the structures of the placental barrier (vascular endothelium and syncytiotrophoblast membranes) was found in women with moderate to severe BA. Their precipitation lead to the development of immunopathological process in the placenta and could result in placental insufficiency, adversely affecting the course of pregnancy and childbirth. The presence of pathogenic immune complexes in the placenta and the detection of antigen-presenting cells in areas of immunological inflammation in the placenta of women with BA are associated with the unfavorable course of pregnancy, parturition and could be a predictor of the possible development of allergic diseases in children.

A complex study of morphometric characteristics of the articular surfaces of the temporomandibular joint and the examination of the peculiarities of the petrotympanic fissure topography were performed on 138 samples of skulls of adult individuals with intact occlusion, complete anodontia and different forms of cranial skull (dolicho-, meso- and brachicranial). No distinct differences in studied parameters were found between the studied groups. However, in the hypsicranial groupo the petrotympanic fissure was found to pass more often through the medial third of the mandibular fossa, which may be a predisposing anatomical factor for Costen syndrome. Due to the fact that in anodontia the parameters characterizing the articular surfaces of the temporomandibular joint, are significantly changed, the immediate cause of the Costen syndrome are the changes of the articular surfaces of the temporomandibular joint, primarily the reduction in the size of mandibular condyle, which is accompanied by its pathological displacement and compression of the chorda tympani.

The goal of the study was to identify the subependymal microglial cells of the III ventricle of the rat brain and to determine their structural characteristics. The sections of the brain of intact Wistar (n=3) and Sprague-Dawley (n=3) male rats were studied using the methods of immunocytochemistry and confocal laser microscopy. Subependymal microglia of the III ventricle was found to be a constantly present cell population. Two types of subependymal microgliocytes were identified - spindle-like and basket cells. Their processes penetrate the ependymal layer and reach its surface, thus contacting the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which suggests a possible participation of these cells in the structure of CSF-brain barrier.

The concept of tissues is one of the main categories in histology. This paper describes the evolution of the tissue concept during the last century. The review of different definitions of tissues found in Russian and foreign educational and scientific literature published in XX-XXI centuries, is presented. Special attention is given to the changes of the concept of tissues that due to the appearance of the new approaches and concepts in tissue biology (doctrine of stem cells, differon principle of tissue organization, histione conception). A brief characteristic of different definitions of tissues based on various approaches that were suggested by Russian and foreign histologists, is given. The data are discussed that support the idea that the «tissue» concept belongs to a number of undefinable basic concepts of tissue biology.