Vol 136, No 6 (2009)

Using an immunocytochemical method for calretinin (CR) detection, we have earlier described (Morfologiya, 2009 v. 135, № 3, p. 7-19) the population of previously unknown mono- and bipolar cells with polymorphous spines (PS) covering their cell bodies and processes, in adult mice forebrain structures adjacent to anterior horn of lateral ventricle. CR-positive spiny (CR+PS) cells were negative to GAD67 and were detected in the white matter and in layers V and VI of frontal area of dorsomedial cortex close to the cingulum, in in rostro-dorsal part of the caudate nucleus-putamen complex, anterior olfactory nucleus and in subependymal layer of the dorso-lateral angle of the lateral ventricle. In this work, the distribution of these cells in 7-day-old mice was studied. Comparative topographical analysis of definitive and early CR+PS cells demonstrated that in 7-day-old mice CR+PS cells were absent from the areas of their localization in adult animals - anterior olfactory nucleus, cortical plate and inner portion of neostriatum. Meanwhile, some CR+PS-like cells were detected in 7-day-old mice inside the rostral migratory route, close to neostriatum anterior boundary, along the dorsal border between neostriatum and corpus callosum, subependymal layer of lateral wall of the lateral ventricle, and in the cingulum area. These findings are indicative of the possible postnatal appearance of CR+PS cells. To test this hypothesis, the experiments were conducted in which bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was administered to the mice on their postnatal days 2-4 with the subsequent study of the brain sections of these animals sacrificed on their postnatal day 20. Double immunolabeling of these sections for CR and BrdU has detected the presence of CR+PS cells that contained postnatally administered BrdU. These results strongly suggest that, at least, some portion of CR+PS cells have their mitosis postnatally. It may be assumed, that CR-PS cells migrate to the sites of their distribution in adult animals from day 7 till day 20 of postnatal develpment.

To study the changes of neuron and gliocyte numbers and some morphometric parameters in mesoaccumbocingulate (MAC) dopaminergic system of rats after pre- and postnatal opiate treatment, 0.1 mg dose of 1% morphine hydrochloride solution was injected into the fetal amnion of Wistar female rats (n=4) at Day 17 post fertilization and intraperitoneally into newborn rats (n=4) at postnatal Day 4. Perinatal influence of morphine on MACsystem in rats resulted in the chromophilic degeneration, swelling and death of some part of neurons, decrease in the volume of the other (slightly injured) neurons. Neuronal injury was more pronounced after prenatal morphine treatment and was accompanied by the increase in both microgliocyte cell number and phagocytic activity. Morphine administration induced no changes in the satellite macrogliocyte number and in the average distance between these cells and the bodies of slightly injured neurons.

The influence of aggregated beta-amyloid peptide fragment 25-35 application on three-dimensional structure and volume of Mauthner cells (MCs), as determined by reconstruction from serial histological sections, and on goldfish motor asymmetry was studied. It was shown that in intact and control goldfish motor asymmetry was stable and strongly correlated with structural asymmetry of neurons. But under the influence of beta-amyloid, motor asymmetry appeared to be strongly changed or inverted, did not correlate with structural asymmetry and frequently even was opposite to it. This resulted from strong dystrophy or, on the contrary, hypertrophy of individual neurons and their separate dendrites with the change in the proportions between them. It is suggested that injurious effect of beta-amyloid peptide on MCs structure, discordant with (irregular) fish behavior, could be the result of mechanical deformation, induced by ribbon-like fibrils of amyloid peptide. These findings collectively suggest that MCs are the adequate object for the study of the structural aspects of amyloidosis.

The experimental modeling of heart contusion which was accompanied by ventricular fibrillation development was performed in Wistar rats, with the electrocardiographic study and subsequent histological and histochemical examination of the myocardium samples. Following heart contusion, acute circulatory disturbances, muscle fiber fragmentation, cardiomyocyte overcontraction or relaxation were detected in the myocardium. Also, the increase of total and intracellular calcium ion content in the myocardium was demonstrated. It is suggested that the mechanism of ventricular fibrillation development after heart contusion is associated with the increase of calcium concentration in both the cardiomyocytes and intercellular spaces leading to uncoordinated cardiac contractions.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of starvation on all the tunics of duodenum and rectum wall. The animals were 20 outbred albino rats; the control group comprised 4 animals. The animals were starved while the drinking regime remained unchanged. Material was obtained at days 3 and 6 of starvation and was studied using electron microscopy. The changes were detected in the structure of mucosa, submucosa, tunica muscularis and serosa. These structural changes were of similar nature in all the tunics and differed only by the degree of their severity. The most pronounced changes were observed in all the epithelial cell types (absorbing, goblet and endocrine) in both parts of the intestine. These included cell flattening, microvilli reduction and deformation, mucus production disturbances, destructive changes in the mitochondria (swelling, cristae reduction, vacuoles and myelin-like structures formation, disruption of both mitochondrial membranes).

The aim of this study was to examine the connective tissue of penis in normal individuals and in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and Peyronie's disease (PD) using computer methods of image analysis. Penis tissues were obtained from 20 males aged 20-40 years who died in accidents, penis biopsies were taken from 23 patients with ED and 9 patients with PD (average age: 51±11,5 years). In both groups of patients, the volumetric fraction of collagen fibers in the tunica albuginea and corpora cavernosa was increased, while that one of elastic fibers was decreased. At the same time, the changes of elastic fibers were noted: the fibers become thinner and formed rods. The reduction of the amplitude and the wavelength in the collagen fibers of the tunica albuginea in patients with ED and the presence of fibrous plaques in corpora cavernosa in in patients with PD were registered. The methods of computer image analysis may improve the morphologic diagnosis of ED and PD.

The photometric computer image analysis method is described. It is based on the creation of the gallery of the images of various erythrocyte forms (discocytes, ecchinocytes, target cells and degenerative forms). Using the Bio Vision program, the structure of membranes of each type of erythrocytes was studied. It was found that the morpho-functional changes of erythrocytes of various degrees were accompanied by the alterations in the relative content of condensed membrane protein-lipid complexes.

The present paper reviews the current approaches used to study cell proliferative activity. In the last years, a number of proteins involved in cell cycle control were discovered, that may serve as selective markers of proliferating cells. This work gives the characteristics of immunocytochemical methods demonstrating 5-bromodeoxyuridine, PCNA, Ki-67, FEN-1, phosphorylated histone H3 and cyclins. The data on the role of these proteins in cell cycle control are presented.