Vol 147, No 2 (2015)

The distribution of callosal cells in the visual cortical layers of intact cats (n=7) and cats with experimentally induced strabismus (n=10) and monocular deprivation (n=5) was studied after microiontophoretic injection of horseradish peroxidase into the ocular-dominance columns in areas 17, 18 and the transition zone 17/18. It was found that in cats with impaired binocular vision, the callosal cells were located deeper in layers of II/III, and higher - in layer IV, as compared to those in intact cats. Also in cats with impaired binocular vision, the proportion of callosal cells in layer IV was increased, while in layers II/III it was reduced as compared to intact cats. The most pronounced changes were noted in monocular deprived animals. These findings suggest an important role of sensory input in the formation of the callosal neurons layer distribution.

Motor neuron and synapse ultrastructure in the somatic area of oculomotor nerve nuclei (cranial nerve III nuclei) was studied in C57 Black/6 mice. It was shown that that axodendritic and axosomatic synapses were characterized by rounded subjunctional bodies, located at the postsynaptic side of the synaptic contact at some distance from postsynaptic density. At the site of the subjunctional densities, the synaptic gap was expanded to 30 μm. In the same synapse, the synaptic gap could be reduced twice or more. Axosomatic and axodendritic synapses occured on spines. On the soma and dendrites of motoneurons, en passant type of synapses were found. No gap junctions were observed.

The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of cholinergic and nitroxidergic neurons in the spinal cord (SC) of adult and newborn rats. Using immunohistochemical demonstration of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), cervical portions of SC were studied in newborn (n=5) and adult (n=5) Wistar rats. It was found that ChAT-positive neurons were localized in the anterior horns of the SC, while individual cells were located in of SC posterior horns, in the central gray matter and at the boundary of VI-VII Rexed laminae. Nitroxidergic neurons were located in the superficial layers of SC posterior horns of grey matter, in the central gray matter and in the area of VI-VII Rexed laminae. It is found that SC of newborn and adult rats contained cholinergic neurons expressing NOS. Detection of cells containing both enzymes already at postnatal Day 1, suggests that they were formed in rat SC during prenatal ontogenesis

The study of the immune system of mice of CBA (n=7) and C57BL/6 (n=7) strains was performed during a 12-hour photoperiod (12:12) and round-the-clock illumination (RI) in December and March. The numbers of CD3 +, CD4 +8 -, CD4 -8 +, CD4 +8 +, CD19 +, CD3+ hi lymphocyte subpopulations in the thymus and spleen, as well as the proliferative activity of thymocytes and splenocytes were measured by flow cytometry. It was found that the most pronounced interstrain differences in the cellular composition of the thymus were observed in March, while those in the cellular composition of the spleen were detected in December. Overall, in C57BL/6 mice as compared with CBA mice, the number and proliferative activity of the cells of lymphoid organs was increased. In December, the influence of RI on the cellular composition of the thymus was more pronounced in C57BL/6 mice, while the effect on cellular composition of the spleen was greater in CBA mice. In March, after exposure to RI, a number of CD3 +, CD19 + and CD4 +8 - splenocytes was increased in CBA mice, while it was decreased in C57BL/6 mice. In C57BL/6 mice, after exposure to RI, the proliferative activity of thymocytes decreased in winter and increased in spring. Interstrain and seasonal differences in the cellular composition of lymphoid organs in CBA and C57BL/6 mice, with a photoperiod of 12:12 and RI should be taken into account in experimental work with animals of different genotypes in different seasons of the year.

The changes in the numerical density of macrophages of maternal (basal decidua) and fetal (Kashchenko-Hofbauer cells) origin were studied in the placenta of women with opportunistic (Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis) and pathogenic (Chlamydia trachomatis) urogenital microflora. Histological study of placenta was performed and CD68immunoreactive cells were detected immunohistochemically in the basal decidua and in the chorionic villi obtained during artificial abortions for non-medical reasons in the 6-8th week of pregnancy (n=136). The results showed no changes in the numerical density of macrophages of maternal origin and a significant decrease in the numerical density of macrophages in the stroma of the chorionic villi, which was associated in Chlamydial infection with a delayed, and in Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma infection - with an accelerated development of the villous tree.

To assess the effect of orthopedic lengthening on proliferative activity of chondrocytes in the articular cartilage, dosed tibial lengthening by 28 mm was performed in 15 dogs at the rate of 1 mm/day divided into 4 sessions. Experiment time-points - 28 days of distraction, 30 days of fixation in the apparatus and 30 days after the apparatus removal. Methods of light microscopy of paraffin sections, immunohistochemistry, histomorphometry of semithin epoxide sections were used. At the end of distraction, the preferential concentration of Ki-67 marker was detected in the upper layers of the intermediate zone, while focal distribution was noted in the superficial and deep zones of articular cartilage of femoral condyles. Upon completion of lengthening, a stable increase in the number of chondrocytes was noted in the superficial and intermediate zones but not in the deep cartilage zone as compared with the intact group (n=5).

The aim of this study was to determine somatotypological characteristics of 4619 rural schoolchildren (RSC) aged 7-17 years, resulting from the rate of biological development and conditions of residence. It was found that most RSC had age-appropriate rate of development. Among the extreme variants most frequently recorded were: retarded rate of maturation in boys and anticipatory rate of maturation rate in girls. RSC of asthenoid somatotype were characterized by the lag of biological age from the calendar age, while RSC of muscular and digestive body types, on the contrary, had an accelerated development. RSC had somatotypological characteristics that distinguished them from the urban schoolchildren, which is due to the specific conditions of life, in particular, agricultural activity that promotes physical activity and prevalence of schoolchildren with muscular somatotype among both boys and girls. However, equal proportions of children with digestive constitution among urban and RSC highlight the negative impact of factor of nutrition.