Vol 138, No 5 (2010)

Profile field areas (PFA) were studied in 100 neurons in the anterior dorsal (ADN) and reticular nuclei (RN) of the thalamus in the left and right cerebral hemispheres of five women (10 hemispheres) aged from 19 to 33 years, using 20 μm-thick sections stained with Nissl's cresyl violet. Morphometric method using Image Scope Color «Leica DM 2500» program-device complex (Germany) was applied. «Statistica 6.0» (Wilcoxon matched pairs test) was used for the analysis of the data obtained. Greater variability of neuronal maximal PFA was detected in both nuclei in the right hemisphere. PFA average value was greater in RN than in ADN, and this difference was more significant in the left hemisphere in all women. The variability of average PFA value was greater in RN than in ADN, however in both nuclei it was greater on the right than on the left. Neuronal PFA variability was more expressed than its interhemispheric asymmetry.

Morphological changes in the spinal cord of rats with different intensity of pathological symptoms were studied at the peak of the experimental encephalomyelitis development. Lightmicroscopical and immunohistochemical methods were used. Distribution of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), astrocyte marker - glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP), and microglia and macrophage marker Iba-1, was studied. Heterogeneity in morphological manifestations of the experimental allergic encephalomyelitis was shown. Four typical patterns of morphological manifestations of the disease were demonstrated depending on the preferential involvement of pia mater, vessels, spinal cell nuclei or conductive tracts in the pathological process.

In rats selected for aggressive or domesticated (tame) behavior, spleen morpho-functional changes were examined under the conditions of cell-mediated immune response using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. Tame rats were found to present more severe clinical manifestations, characteristic to EAE, than those with an aggressive behavior. Body mass changes in EAE were significantly different in tame and aggressive rats. The relative adrenal gland mass of control animals in both groups was not different, while in EAE it increased in aggressive rats and remained unchanged in tame rats. The relative spleen mass in control tame rats was greater than in aggressive ones. In EAE, it sharply increased in tame rats and slightly decreased in aggressive animals. Spleen lymphoid nodule diameter in control aggressive rats was smaller than in tame rats. In EAE, it decreased in aggressive rats and remained unchanged in tame rats. In aggressive rats with EAE, marginal zone width decreased more abruptly, while germinal center diameter increased more markedly than in tame animals. It is suggested that different responses to EAE of rats with dissimilar behavioral characteristics, are associated with differently directed effect of their hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal systems on the balance of cell-mediated and humoral components of the immune response in animals with contrasting behavior.

Using the methods of light microscopy, eosinophil topography, quantitative and qualitative changes (degranulation level of and a cationic protein content) were studied in the thymus and bursa of 36 herring gull nestlings Larus argentatus mongolicus (Suskin, 1925) 2 weeks after experimental infestation with gull-tapeworm Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitsch, 1824). Eosinophils in the thymus were located in trabecules, mainly close to the blood vessels, thymic (Hassall's) corpuscles and also directly inside them, while in the bursa they were found within the internodular space. As compared with the control bird counts, relative eosinophil count in the birds with an average invasion intensity was increased 3.8 times in the thymus and 2.5 times in the bursa. In birds with high invasion intensity, these counts were increased 4 times in the thymus and 1.2 times in the bursa.

Morphological, cytological, morphometric changes were studied in single lymphoid nodules and in grouped lymphoid nodules (Peyers patches) of small intestine in albino rats after the dehydration lasting 3, 6, and10 days and correction by administration of sodium chloride isotonic solution. In was found that the dehydration resulted in the decrease of lymphoid nodule dimensions, changes in the cellular proportions, enlargement of reticular fiber loops in the nodule stroma. On days 6 and 10 of dehydration, the percentages of macrophages, lymphocytes, cells showing the mitotic figures, mast cells and plasma cells were significantly decreased by factor of 1,4-4, indicating a depression of immune reactions.

In model experiments performed on Wistar rats, morphofunctional characteristics of fibroblasts (obtained from the skin of rat pups 2-4 days after their birth) were studied and their viability was estimated shortly after their allotransplantation into the recipient dermis. The results of the research have shown that the suspension of cells received for transplantation after a long-term culture in synthetic media was represented, mainly, by a population of mature fibroblasts. 3 days after transplantation fibroblasts remained viable and preserved their morphological characteristics. This external similarity to the fibroblasts in suspension was associated with the capacity of these cells to proliferate, as indicated by positive immunocytochemical reaction demonstrating proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Later (after 5 days) some part of the grafted fibroblasts also retained their viability and demonstrated heteromorphism, which was caused, probably, by their gradual differentiation into the fibrocytes. In the central portion of the transplant, the destruction of a part of the grafted cells was noted, that was caused by the disturbance of their trophism in the zone of cell crowding.

In immunomorphological studies, it is often necessary to visualize several antigens simultaneously within the same histological sections. However in practice, the application of double staining is limited due to methodological complexity. The aim of the current study was to reproduce different methods recommended for multiple immunohistochemical staining of one section and to estimate their advantages and drawbacks. Six different methodological approaches for detection of several antigens in one slide were examined. It was found that the method providing the widest resources for analysis was the fluorescent detection, the most convenient was the application of ready-to-use standardized reagents, and the cheapest method was two-color reaction with DAB-type chromogen.

Using Bio Vision computer program, the successive stages of metaplastic changes development were traced in the pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium of bronchial mucous membrane obtained from 65 patients with bronchial asthma of various degrees of severity. Biopsy material analysis demonstrated the changes of cell nuclear and cytoplasmic density, as well as of basement membrane.

This paper reviews the basic results of findings on the structure and function of the epidermal gland cells in some invertebrates of different levels of organization. These data are compared with the results on the higher animals. Histochemical affinities of the epidermal gland cells in different animals are considered. The presence of the universal (ancient) cell types also found in mammals and in human is suggested. Marine invertebrate groups considered in this paper are characterized by a presence of a simple ciliated surface epithelium which fulfills different functions: locomotor, secretory, receptor, barrier, protective and absorption. In the process of phylogenesis, the epidermis of chordates underwent structural changes and intensification of protective function took place with the appearance of new protective mechanisms. The conclusion is done that the evolutionary development of surface epithelium is determined by its adaptation to environmental conditions and by the level of general organization; it followed the direction of intensification of protective function with the help of different mechanisms - mucus production, increase of cell layers number, intensive formation of cytoplasmic filaments, appearance of special protective structures in the form of cuticle or corneous layer.