Vol 142, No 6 (2012)

Immunocytochemical method was used to determine the distribution of neurons expressing heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2-positive neurons) in the nuclei of various parts of the brainstem of 16 male Wistar rats. The sizes of neurons and the optical density of the product of histochemical reaction in their cytoplasm were determined in the nuclei studied. НO-2-positive neurons, differing in shape, size and numbers, were identified in the nuclei of the medulla oblongata, pons and midbrain. НO-2-positive cells were found 3–5 times more frequently in the sensory nuclei as compared to the motor ones. At the same time, relatively large number of nuclei was detected, which contained either no or a few НO-2-positive neurons.

The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the contractile activity of traumatized nerve cell processes and to try to inhibit their retraction by colchicine solution. Isolated living neurons of mollusks (Lymnaea stagnalis and Planorbis corneus vulgaris) were studied using phase contrast and time-lapse microvideorecording. In the control group, contractile activity of nerve cell processes in Ringers solution was detected in 92% of cases. Application of colchicine resulted in the inhibition of retraction of nerve fibers in 86% of neurons. In the experiments designed to study neuron electrical activity, leech Retzius neurons were used. It was found that ganglion incubation in colchicine solution of increased the frequency of spontaneous pulse activity from 0.22 to 0.75imp/s. The amplitude of spontaneous potentials decreased from 46.9 to 37 mV, the threshold was reduced by 18%, spontaneous spike duration increased from 4.3 ms to 7.1 ms, while the latent period of the response to irritating stimulus increased from 25.0 to 37.9 ms. During the irritation with a frequency of 7–10 Hz, neuron generated higher frequency of pulse activity, than in norm. Thus, it was possible to show, that cochicine can inhibit the contractive activity of the traumatized nerve cell processes, preserving an electroexcitable membrane in a satisfactory state. These results suggest that it is possible to partially inhibit the nerve fiber retraction in vivo, thus preventing the diastasis increase in the nerves that impedes their contact surgical approximation and promotes the development of a massive scar in severed area.

The morphometric study of the tibial nerve was performed in 10 mongrel puppies aged 2, 4 and 10–11 months and of 7 adult dogs aged 1–3 years. It was demonstrated that during the process of growth of the animals the numerical density of nerve fibers (NF) and endoneural microvessels decreased, while the proportion of soft-tissue component and the values of all the dimensional characteristics of myelin NF significantly increased. Both the processes of myelin NF differentiation and the appearance of mature large-caliber NF at the age of 10 months resulted in the increase of system heterogeneity accompanied by an increment of entropy. The myelin NF population in adult dogs was characterized by high values of organization and redundancy, and, therefore, it is more deterministic and stable, with greater reliability of information transmission along the nerve trunks as communication channels.

Cellular composition of the lymphoid tissue in the ureteral epithelium and lamina propria was studied morphometrically in human postnatal ontogenesis using autopsy material obtained from 32 males of different age (from the neonatal period to the II period of mature age). Lymphoid tissue was found to be weakly developed in the ureteral wall during the studied period of human life. Processes of lymphocytopoiesis were not expressed, while there was high activity of cellular destruction. The reduction of the plasma cell numbers by the II period of mature age is a manifestation of a general decrease of functional activity of the lymphoid tissue in the wall of the ureter.

Using light microscopy, morphometry and immunohistochemistry, the epidermis of 72 male and female rats was examined 1 day and 1 month after the completion of daily cutaneous applications of vitamin D 3–containing composition lasting for two weeks. It was found that vitamin D3 causes a statistically significant reduction in the thickness of interfollicular epidermis and in the number of Ki-67 positive keratinocytes. The identified effects persisted for 1 month after the last application of the preparation. Modifying influence of vitamin D 3 on the morphogenetic processes in the epidermis, which were manifested, in particular, by a decreased proliferative activity of keratinocytes, is discussed in the light of the data on the possibility of the formation of its active metabolite – calcitriol – directly in the skin.

The article demonstrates the ultrastructure of Cajal body (CB) that was detected during the electron microscopic study of nucleoplasm of the neuroendocrine neurons of the paleoamygdala of the adult Wistar rats in the study of the dynamics of their functional states throughout the estrous cycle. CB is located in the nucleoplasm close to the nucleolus and appears as a polygon structure, having the size of 0.4×0.5 μm, consisting of twisted strands of 40 to 60 nm thickness, which are separated from each other by the material of low electron density, obviously, a continuation of the nucleoplasm. Structural association of CB with other nuclear domains — nucleoli, interchro matin granule clusters were not noticed. CB was found in neurons only at the stage of «return to the initial state», which characterizes the completion of the functional activity of neurons. The number of these neurons was increased at the stage of metestrus. They are characterized by a segregation of nucleolar components, indicating the blockade of the protein synthesis. This fact is associated with the restructuring of CB modular organization, caused by the functional state of neurons.

Phosphorylated H3 histone is of interest for the study of proliferative activity of the cells in various tissues. Its detection is used in histopathological tumor diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to develop immunocytochemical protocols for the demonstration of H3phosphohistone in the cells of the developing nervous system for classical light microscopy and confocal laser microscopy. The protocols presented allow to identify the dividing cells in the structures of developing brain with high selectivity and good reproducibility. Zinc-ethanol-formaldehyde is recommended as an optimal fixative for H3phosphohistone.

Analysis of the mathematical models of the human body composition revealed main shortcomings of body mass index (A. Quetelet, 1832). This allowed to offer more accurate body mass index (BMI=M/H 3), body build index [BBI=(BMI) 1/2] and body fatness index (BFI=M/НС 2), where (M), (H) and (С) signified the mass, height and wrist circumference correspondingly.