Vol 141, No 1 (2012)

Hypobaric hypoxia may have either detrimental or adaptive effect on structural and functional characteristics of brain neurons. In this study, the effect of different regimes of hypobaric hypoxia on the structural and functional characteristics of hippocampal and neocortical neurons was examined in rats (n=30). It was shown that severe hypoxia (induced by pressure in the pressure chamber equal to 180 Torr) caused structural neuronal damage both in the fronto-parietal neocortex and dorsal and ventral hippocampus 3 days after the exposure. The preconditioning using mild hypobaric hypoxia (pressure equal to 360 Torr) had varied effect on the morphological characteristics of brain neurons of rats, subjected to severe hypoxia. Multiple (three-trial or six-trial) preconditioning prevents structural damage of neurons induced by subsequent severe hypoxia. On the contrary, single preconditioning trial of mild hypoxia was ineffective in terms of neuroprotection.

It is known that the insufficiency of mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system (MDS) lies in the basis of inherited alcohol addiction (IAA). The understanding of the pathogenesis of IAA is hampered by the absence of data on the number and volume of neuronal cell bodies in MDS and on the rate of their programmed cell death in the offspring of alcohol-dependent humans and animals. Morphological changes of neurons and macroglial cells of major MDS parts were studied in the offspring of intact Wistar rats (n=20) and in the offspring of female rats that consumed 15% alcohol during five months, including the periods of pairing and pregnancy (n=20). The material was obtained at 0, 5, 10, and 61 days. In brain histological sections stained with Nissl stain and using glial fibrillar acidic protein immunohistochemistry, the proportions of unaffected, hypochromic, pyknomorphic, and shadow-like neurons were determined together with the volume of unaffected neurons, oligodendrocyte, astrocyte numbers and neurono-glial index. At day 61 significant reduction in the number of unaffected and slightly changed MDS neurons was found that resulted from increased programmed cell death of neurons and their shrinkage accompanied by a partial compensatory increase in the intensity of neuron-glial interactions due to the increased number of oligodendrocytes. The alcohol addiction behavior of experimental animals was also demonstrated.

The aims of this study were to investigate the presence of H2S-positive (H2S+) neurons and to study their distribution of in the nuclei of the medulla oblongata and the pons which are included in the cardiovascular center. Using immunocytochemical method to detect cystathionine β-synthase, the presence of H2S+ neurons was demonstrated in the nuclei studied of Wistar rats (n=16). More intense the reaction was detected in the large cells of motor nuclei, whereas the small cells of sensory nuclei usually had low-to-moderate enzyme activity. The data obtained provide a considerable amount of new information regarding the organization of brain nerve centers, including those controlling the cardiovascular system.

Using the methods of light microscopy, the quantitative changes in the cells of the cloacal bursa of herring gull (Larus argentatus mongolicus) chicks were studied during experimental infection with gull-tapeworm Diphyllobothrium dendriticum. The area of the follicles within the bursa and the number of eosinophils in the infected chicks were found to increase. In the follicles the number of blast cells and large lymphocytes was elevated. The reduction of small lymphocytes and plasma cells numbers in the infected gulls may be due to a slower cell cycle or cell migration into the inflammatory focus. Overall, the changes in the bursa indicate the suppression of the B-link of the host immune system in tapeworm invasion.

The methods of anatomical preparation and X-ray examination were applied after the preliminary injection of blood vessels with the setting and radio-opaque masses, to study the variant anatomy of penile vascular bed. Organ complexes of minor pelvis and perineum, obtained from 54 cadavers of adult men, were used. It was found that the architecture and the places of the confluence of the main veins of penis are very variable. The trunks of the superficial and deep dorsal vein (DDV) may be single or double. Venous trunks tare connected by a network of anastomoses, more developed in the root of the penis. Valve apparatus in the anastomotic veins is presented only in 80% of the observations. Under normal conditions, the valves of the anastomotic veins provide the outflow of blood in DDV of the penis. The data obtained are of practical importance for understanding the anatomical causes of erectile dysfunction of venous origin.

Multinucleated cell (MNC) cytotomy was studied in the epithelia with different functions (lining and glandular). Methods of light and electron microscopy were used to study MNCs in parietal peritoneum mesothelium of albino mice and in acinarinsular («mixed») pancreatic cells of albino rats. Mesothelium was studied in film preparations, in which cell boundaries were demonstrated by silver nitrate. «Mixed» cells were studied by electron microscopy. Mice were injected with 0.4% hydrochloric acid, while rats were administered 40% glucose solution. MNCs in the epithelia studied were shown to be divided into cell territories, each consisting of a nucleus surrounded by the cytoplasm. These territories differed from each other by their structure and, therefore, by their functions. The appearance of plasma membranes between these cytoplasmic areas separating them into mononuclear cells or smaller MNCs, is described.

Morphological changes in decellularized allogenic trachea populated with recipient bone marrow stromal (mesenchymal) stem cells and transplanted heterotopically, were examined in 30 C57Bl/6 and Balb/c mice of 22-25 g body mass. The research results have shown the insufficient efficacy of a transplant preparation mode by freezing and thawing method as in this case inflammatory reaction developed in the transplant area and its rejection took place. It was established that the mode of obtaining decellularized tracheal transplant by means of sodium perchlorate (NaClO4) treatment, proposed by the authors, unlike a freezing-thawing mode, allowed to efficiently remove immunocompetent cells that expressed MHC I and II markers. NaClO4 effect did not result in either chondrocyte damage or significant disturbance of tracheal cartilaginous and connective tissue structure in heterotopic transplants. Since transplant population with bone marrow stromal stem cells promoted connective tissue restoration, reduced the formation of granulations in anastomosis area and favored faster transplant epithelization, most promising method of trachea preparation for transplantation apparently seems to be the combination of immune cell removal from this organ by NaClO4 treatment with subsequent bone marrow stromal stem cell population of transplant obtained.

Afferent neurons containing substance P (SP) were studied immunohistochemically in the sensory ganglion of the spinal nerve in 30 rats aged 10-90 days. The results obtained indicated that SP-immunoreactive neurons are present in thesel ganglia from the moment of birth. During the development, the percentage of SP-containing neurons decreased till day10. SP-immunoreactive neurons were represented by the cells of very small or small size.

Forebrain subventricular zone (SVZ) - the putative major source of neural stem cells in the brain of adult mammals - can hardly be visualized using routine histological staining. The present study was focused on the possibility of application of immunocytochemical approach for accurate delineation of the border between SVZ and striatum. It was shown that immunocytochemical reactions demonstrating tyrosine hydroxylase or synaptophysin were optimal for the determination of the border between SVZ and striatum in different mammals