Vol 140, No 4 (2011)

The ultrastructural changes of cerebellar granule cells were studied under stroke modeling conditions, after the toxic effects of glutamate (Glu) and NO-generating compound. Glu toxic doses were shown to induce two types of nuclear chromatin changes. In some cases, the appearance of practically completely decondensed nuclear chromatin was detected, while in the others the nuclei contained partially decondensed chromatin. Pathological fusion of granule cells was observed in both cases. The toxic effect of NO-generating compound on granule cells also caused the appearance of the cells with both completely and partially decondensed (flocculent) chromatin. Granule cells with different chromatin type were able to fuse with each other. Thus, Glu and NO, causing changes in nuclear chromatin, activate the processes of cell clustering with the following cytoplasmic fusion and the formation of multinuclear conglomerates. The possible physiological role of granule cells fusion induced by high concentrations of Glu and NO-generating compound is discussed. This process is considered as a realization of the compensatoryadaptive reactions under extreme conditions observed in the stroke and oxidative stress.

The changes in the processes of differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis were studied in the culture of human cortical thymocytes after cell exposure to T-32 and T-38 bioregulator peptides. T-32 and T-38 peptides were shown to enhance the differentiation of immature cortical thymocytes (CD4+CD8+) into T-regulatory cells by increasing their proliferate activity and decreasing the level of apoptosis. Moreover, these peptides were found to stimulate the proliferative and antiapoptotic activity of mature T-regulatory (CD4+CD25+) cells.

The aim of our study was to analyze the expression of one of the markers of progenitor cell of different cell types - CD 117 (C-kit) - in human pancreas during prenatal development. The pancreas of human embryos and fetuses at 4-28 weeks of gestation as well as of infants aged up to 2nd postnatal month, was studied. In histological sections, the immunocytochemical reactions were performed with the antibodies against C-kit, insulin and glucagon. In situ hybridization was used for detection of proinsulin mRNA. First cells expressing C-kit were found in human pancreas at 8.5 weeks of gestation among ductal epithelial cells. At 11.5 weeks of gestation these cells were found to segregate from the ductal epithelium and start to form islets. From 8.5 weeks of gestation C-kit positive cells started to express glucagon and proinsulin mRNA, and after 11.5 weeks they also expressed insulin. Islet C-kit positive cells coexpressing both glucagon and insulin, were also found after the birth. It may be concluded that C-kit positive endocrinocyte progenitor cells are common for pancreatic islet A- and B-cells and they are preserved in he islets after the birth.

This investigation was aimed at the study of age changes of penis connective tissue structures. Tissue fragments of penis were obtained from 20 cadavers of men at the age of 20-38 years in group I, and from 20 cadavers of men at the age of 41-59 years in group II. The criteria for the exclusion of material from the research were arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis of internal iliac arteries, Peyronie's disease, and anomalies of genital organ development. It was shown that in the cavernous body of penis, aging was associated with the increased amount and thickening of collagen and argyrophilic fibers, decreased content and thinning of elastic fibers, and the reduced amount of smooth muscle cells (SMC). The average area of fibroblast and SMC nucleolus was not different in both groups studied. The average area of endotheliocyte nucleolus was equal to 1.9±0.9 μm2 in group II, being lower than that one in group I, in which this index was equal to 2.1±0.9 μm2. No differences in the content of type III and IV collagen were found between the study groups. Age-associated decrease in the average area of endothelial cell nucleolus in the cavernous bodies may reflect the reduction of the activity of these cells and may indicate the development of endothelial dysfunction, which is one of the most important steps in the morphogenesis of age-related male erectile dysfunction.

To demonstrate the individual variability of hyoid bone in 50adult men and 50 women with a different variants of neck structure, the following methods were used: anthropometry, anatomical preparation and a stereomorphometry of 100 hyoid bone samples, the correlation and variation-statistical analysis using thoracic-height (T) and cervical (C) indexes. The results have shown that total degree of squares of values of correlation (R) of C with hyoid bone parameters and anthropometry exceeds similar value of T, which confirmed the necessity for subdivision of the individuals into three groups on the basis of C value: in men R=8.585, in women R=11.277; on the basis of Т value - R=3.062 in men, R=4.484 in women. Among the groups, both in men and women, the sum of the squares of correlations of C with anthropometrical parameters and hyoid bone parameters - the maximum value was detected in the groups with an intermediate variant of the neck structure (3.354 and 7.409), the minimal value - in the group with a long and thin neck (1.666 and 3.717). The variation-statistical data are presented on the 7 hyoid bone parameters, which are most significant for morphologists and surgeons. Using the method of σ-deviations of hyoid bone parameters with the consideration of the variants of neck structure, the zones of variability of the average values of hyoid bone were detected. The hypothesis is put forward, stating that the deviation of the average values by more than 3σ is indicative of the unusual phenomenon and could be associated with pathology.

This investigation was aimed at the topographic anatomical comparison of operative approaches to the bodies of lumbar vertebrae according to A.Yu. Sozon-Yaroshevich quantitative criteria and the qualitative characteristic of traumaticity. Modeling of operative approaches according to P.G. Kornev, W.O. Southwick and R.A. Robinson, and V.D. Chaklin was performed on 50 human corpses of both sexes. Five variants of the position of abdominal aorta and inferior cava vein relative to the bodies of vertebrae are described, together with the variants of the interrelation between the lumbar vertebral segment, abdominal aorta and inferior cava vein, 3 variants of aortal bifurcation level and 3 variants of the level of the inferior cava vein formation. No quantitative differences were detected between the right- and left-sided variants of each approach and no significant interrelations between the values of A.Yu. Sozon-Yaroshevich's quantitative criteria and the constitution form (P>0.05). It is shown that from the point of view of topographic anatomical features, P.G. Kornev approach is least favorable. Concerning the approach to LIII, the best topographic anatomical characteristics belong to W.O. Southwick and R.A. Robinson approach, while V.D. Chaklin approach is preferable for the access to LIV.