Vol 146, No 4 (2014)

The distribution of GABA-ergic neurons in different areas of the neocortex (frontal, sensorimotor, visual cortex) was studied in Wistar rats at different time periods of postnatal development after their exposure to perinatal hypoxia. To identify these neurons, the antibodies against GAD-67, the marker of GABA-ergic neurons, were used. It was found that the exposure to perinatal hypoxia caused a significant reduction in the number of GAD67-expressing neurons in both upper and deep layers of the cortex in juvenile age (day 20 of postnatal period), that persisted until the prepubertal period (day 40). In experimental animals at postnatal day 40, the numbers of neurons that synthesized GAD-67, were two times lower in each of the layers of the neocortex than those in control animals. It is suggested that a drastic reduction in the number of GABA-ergic neurons in the neocortex could be a result of the damaging effects of acute perinatal hypoxia on the processes of progenitor cell migration from the subventricular zone, or on the synthesis of the factors controlling these migration processes as well as on GABA-ergic neuron maturation, leading to a delay of GAD-67 expression.

The purpose of this work was to examine the dependence of human cerebellar mass and its age dynamics on the body length and body-build type. The study was carried out on 295 objects - the corpses of the individuals of both sexes (173 males and 122 females) who died at the age of 20-99 years. The length of the body, the transverse diameter of the chest and the cerebellar mass were measured. Somatotype was determined by the Rees-Eysenck index. It was found that human cerebellar mass ranged from 103 to 197 g (with the average of 144±1.0 g) and was significantly greater in men than in women (150.5±1.3 g vs. 133.9±1.2 g, P<0.001). Age affected cerebellar mass in men (R=-0.46) more, than in women (R=-0.43). In men, a period of relative stability of the cerebellar mass lasted up to about 50 years and then was followed by a period of its decrease. In women, the stable period was observed until approximately 70 years. The cerebellar mass was related to the body length (R=0.35 for men and R=0.36 for women). The dependence of the cerebellar mass on the body length was greater in men (1.0 g/cm) greater than in women (0.5 g/cm): with the increase of the body length the difference in the values of the cerebellar mass between men and women was found to grow. The cerebellar mass in the individuals with various body-build types was not significantly different

The study of the epidural space was performed on 362 samples of the vertebral column obtained from the fetuses aged from 16 weeks, newborns, children and adult persons aged up to 90 years, using anatomical and histological methods. Within the lateral parts of the epidural space, the lateral vaults were distinguished. A new anatomical interpretation of these structures is proposed, considering them as a complex of anatomical structures including the periosteum of the intervertebral foramen, the sleeve of dura mater, intervertebral veins, spinal arteries, adipose tissue, the system of the connective-tissue trabeculae, recurrent nerves controlling the blood flow in the vascular system of the vertebral channel and promoting the communication of the epidural space with the paravertebral areas.

Esophageal submucosal glands (esophageal glands proper) were studied in 19 individuals of elderly and senile age (without subdivision according to gender), as well as in persons of I period of mature age (6 to 7 cases in each group). It was shown that the glandular acini contained thin, elongated cells and cuboidal cells between the mucocytes surrounded by the myoepithelial cells. Around the acini, the myofibroblasts were found. The number of fibroblasts and lymphocytes in glandular stroma increased with age. The number of plasma cells was increased with age in the stroma of the glands of the upper part of the esophagus. Small excretory ducts were arranged in groups, often surrounded by the clusters of lymphoid cells. The number of lymphoid cells and fibroblasts around the large excretory ducts was found to increase with age.

From a position of in vivo regenerative medicine, the efficacy of plasty of osteochondral defects of the articular surface was evaluated in rabbits. The combined cell-tissue grafts were used with the demineralized spongy bone as a biomatrix and autologous or allogeneic cells from the rib cartilage tissue. Morpho-functional characteristics of the cell cultures obtained were studied using morphological, histochemical, immunohistochemical and flow cytometric methods. Cells had features typical to cartilage cell line. While the macroscopic appearance of the plasty area was similar, some differences of histogenesis were observed at the early stages after the placement of transplants containing autologous as well as allogeneic cells, into the osteochondral defect area. In both cases, the complete recovery of subchondral bone and hyaline cartilage took place.

To evaluate the degree of skeletal muscle regeneration in 15 adult Wistar rats, the closed partial crush injury of anterior tibial muscle was modeled. The study was performed using the methods of light microscopy and computer-assisted morphometry of semithin sections. The continuity of the crushed muscle fibres (MF) was restored by day 21 after the injury. After 90 days endomysial fibrosis was substantially reduced and its vasculairity increased; the variability of MF diameters was restored, however the branched structure and myopathic changes of the regenerated tissue persisted and were presumably associated with an incomplete reinnervation of the damaged intramuscular nerves.

The study of the vascular bed of the upper extremities was performed by the method of anatomical preparation of 24 for-malin-fixed cadaver specimens from 5 men and 7 women and by the injection of black latex into the arterial bed of 4 male and 4 female cadavers (16 specimens). The arteries, directly feeding the bones, and the arteries that provide blood supply to the muscles, attached to the bones, were studied. M. pectoralis major, m. pronator teres, m. pronator quadratus, mm. lumbricalis and interosseus were examined. These studies were followed by the experimental surgeries during which bone grafts on vascular pedicle were formed and moved. It was found that the feeding arteries of the bone grafts on musculo-vascular pedicle were: on the clavicula - the branches of a. thoracoacromialis, on the brachium - muscular branches of a. brachialis, on the proximal parts of forearm bones - muscular branches of a. radialis and ulnaris, on the distal parts of forearm bones - the branches of a. interosseous anterior, on the metacarpal bones - the branches of aa. metacarpalis palmaris and dorsalis. The size of the bone transplants is determined by the size of the defect of recipient field and varies from 3 to 8 cm. The displacement of vascularised bone graft can be made over the distance from 4 to 8 cm.

Recent literature on the morphological results of the application of polymers produced from lactic acid (polylactides - PLA), contains a plethora of experimental and clinical data on the efficiency and safety of their use for the medico-biological purposes. However, the question on the actual rate of biological disintegration of PLA materials remains unanswered. There are conflicting views on the inflammatory reaction ranging from a complete negation of an inflammatory response to PLA implantation up to the reports describing the expressed aseptic inflammatory reactions caused by presence of this material in tissues. Some researchers report the total absence of the foreign-body reactions to this class of implants, while some others indicate the obligatory formation of the foreign-body giant cells. Further research is necessary to precisely predict degradation processes of and to detect all the potential risks associated with the use of PLA-based materials.