This article is a review of published materials on Alexander Stanislavovich Dogiel, a prominent Russian histologist and founder of the journal "Morphology" (Russian Archives of Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology). It provides biographical information about A.S. Dogiel, discusses his contributions to various fields of neurohistology and histologic technique, his distinctive theoretical views, and his later cytological work. Particular attention is paid to the scientific and educational activities of A.S. Dogel and his role in foundation the oldest morphological journal in modern Russia. In addition to highlighting key publications on all of the above topics, the article provides the first complete bibliography of A.S. Dogiel's published works, verified against primary sources.
The article is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Professor Alexei Alekseevich Zavarzin (1925-1993), a famous Soviet / Russian evolutionary histologist. Brief information on the biography of A.A. Azavarzin is given. His contribution to the development of evolutionary cytology and histology is emphasized. The role of A.A. Zavarzin in changing the concept of teaching cytology and histology at biological faculties of Universities and Pedagogical Institutes of the country, and the creation of an educational and scientific base on the White Sea is particularly noted. The list of A.A. Zavarzin's main works is given.
BACKGROUND: Against the background of mechanical trauma, not only a local inflammatory reaction occurs at the site of injury, but also a systemic reaction of the body to the injury, сharacterized by the release of stress hormones and cytokine production by immune cells. As the proliferation of immune cells occurs in secondary immunocompetent organs, assessing proliferative activity in the spleen’s white pulp is of particularrelevance. AIM: Study of proliferative activity using the Ki-67 marker in different zones of the white pulp of the spleen in rats after soft tissue injury of the thigh METHODS: The study was conducted on white, outbred male rats weighing 180–200 g. A special device was used to induce mechanical damage to the thigh, equivalent in kinetic energy to a 5.6 mm bullet [1]. All manipulations were performed under ether anesthesia. Animals were withdrawn from the experiment by decapitation, a 0.5 x 1.5 cm section of the spleen was taken for immunohistochemical examination, 1, 3, 7, 14 days after injury for all groups of animals, and an immunohistochemical method for verifying proliferation (Ki-67) was used using labeled monoclonal antibodies with nuclei stained with Mayer's hematoxylin, statistical processing was performed in the Statistica 7 program. RESULTS: The proliferative activity of the white pulp of the spleen after mechanical injury is most pronounced after 7 days in PALM (proliferative activity of T-lymphocytes); in the remaining zones of the spleen, a decrease in proliferative activity is observed at all stages of the experiment, which indicates immunosuppression. CONCLUSION: A decrease in proliferative activity in the spleen after soft tissue injury to the hip is a natural, stress hormone-driven response aimed at preserving resources and preventing potential harm from hyperactive adaptive immunity during the acute period. Keywords: mechanical trauma, spleen, white pulp, Ki-67, proliferation
BACKGROUND: Anthropometric status is an important criterion for success in swimming. Studying the anatomical and morphological features of the Russian national team swimmers may provide insight into the physical development of the country's top swimmers and identify trends in the development of competitive swimming. AIM: To determine the degree of dependence of athletic performance on anthropometric indicators in the male swimmers of the main and junior Russian national teams. METHODS: The study involved 27 male athletes who are part of the main and/or junior national swimming team. The inclusion criteria for the study were: athletes who had undergone an in-depth medical examination at institutions under the Federal Medical and Biological Agency; the absence of acute illnesses during the month before and at the time of the examination; the presence of chronic illnesses (if any) in remission for at least one month before and at the time of the examination; and athletes on the roster of the main and/or junior Russian national swimming team, holding a qualification of at least Master of Sports and scoring at least 700 points on the World Aquatics points table. The examination included: collection of medical and sports histories; analysis of final competition protocols for 2024 to determine each athlete's best score in World Aquatics points regardless of pool length; and anthropometric measurements: standing body length, body weight, and the mass and proportions of fat and lean components by bioimpedance analysis. Additionally, the following anatomical and morphological indices were calculated: absolute and relative body surface area, weight-to-height index, Quetelet index (BMI), Rohrer index, and fat and lean body mass component indices. RESULTS: The study showed that representatives of the main (adult) national team had larger total body dimensions than junior swimmers; significant differences were found in body weight and body surface area (p 0.01 for both). Adult swimmers were taller (p 0.05), had a stronger physique (weight-to-height index, p 0.01; BMI, p 0.05), and had a more developed absolute lean body mass (p 0.05). Masters of Sports and International Masters of Sports also differed in total body dimensions (body weight and body surface area, p 0.01 for both), physique (weight-to-height index, p 0.01; BMI, p 0.05), and lean body mass (p 0.01). The differences found in the body composition indices suggest that as sports mastery increases, the importance of absolute lean body mass grows, while the contribution of total body dimensions becomes negligible. The most significant correlates of anthropometric status and athletic performance were: the ratio of absolute lean body mass to body surface area (r = 0.658), body surface area (r = 0.623), the ratio of absolute lean body mass to body length (r = 0.621), absolute lean body mass (r = 0.612), the ratio of relative fat mass to body surface area (r = –0.589), body length (r = 0.577), and relative body surface area (r = –0.544). CONCLUSION: Overall, the men's national swimming team shows a tendency toward improved athletic performance with an increase in a number of anatomical and morphological characteristics. It is likely that to further improve their athletic performance and achieve continued growth in sports results, male swimmers, particularly juniors, need to increase their absolute lean body mass, primarily by gaining skeletal muscle mass.
BACKGROUND: The human forefoot, despite its fundamental role in bipedalism, is the least studied part of the foot in most biomechanical and clinical models, where it is often considered a rigid structure. Evolutionary adaptations associated with upright walking have led to a complex morphological structure of the forefoot. Existing concepts of morphological modularity and integration are often limited by the complexity of analyzing multiple relationships. This study suggests solving this problem by applying anatomical network analysis (AnNA) to study the structural organization of the forefoot. AnNA enables formalization of the connections between the components of the foot, revealing patterns of its integration and modularity. AIM: To study the structural organization of the metatarsal bones and toe phalanges of the human foot using AnNA. METHODS: As part of this study, the igraph library in the R programming environment was used to analyze the AnNA network. Modeling and visualization of the network structure were carried out using the Fruchterman–Reingold algorithm, which ensures the optimal placement of nodes. Structural characteristics, including modularity and integration of the AnNA network, were analyzed using the Spinglass algorithm. Osteometric parameters — the length of the metatarsal bones and phalanges of toes I–V of the right foot from 100 middle-aged men — were used as input data for the AnNA analysis. RESULTS: The structural organization of the metatarsal bones and toe phalanges of the human foot consists of several modules: a proximal module (includes metatarsals I–V) and a distal module (includes the phalanges of toes I–V) relative to the longitudinal axis of the foot, and a medial module (includes metatarsals I–III and the phalanges of toes I–III) and a lateral module (includes metatarsals IV–V and the phalanges of toes IV–V) relative to the transverse axis of the foot. Network analysis showed that the distal and medial modules are more complex and less anisomeric than the proximal and lateral modules. The distal module is more complex than the proximal one, while the medial and lateral modules show greater similarity in organizational complexity. Overall, the medial and lateral modules are more similar to each other than are the distal and proximal modules. CONCLUSION: Morphological modularity and integration are organizing principles of the bone architecture of the foot. The structural organization of the metatarsal bones and toe phalanges of the human foot is a system of four modules — a proximal (metatarsal bones) and a distal (toe phalanges) module relative to the longitudinal axis of the foot, and a medial (metatarsals I–III and phalanges of toes I–III) and a lateral (metatarsals IV–V and phalanges of toes IV–V) module relative to the transverse axis of the foot.
BACKGROUND: The morphofunctional state of parenchymal cells of the epiphysis is closely related to the conditions of the light regime. It is known that light deprivation leads to an increase in the metabolic activity of cells and ultrastructural changes. At the same time, with dark deprivation, there is a decrease in the number of mitochondria and lipid inclusions, as well as a decrease in pinealocyte activity. Studying the effect of various lighting modes on the ultrastructure of rat pinealocytes allows for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of adaptation of the pineal gland to environmental changes and regulation of circadian rhythms, and may also be important for developing approaches to correcting biorhythm disorders.The aim of the study was to study the ultrastructure of the pineal gland of Wistar rats in conditions of constant illumination and a light regime modulating a shift mode of operation "day / two". Methods. The study was conducted on 120 Wistar rats (♂, 5 months), divided into 3 equal groups (n=40) with different light modes: 1) Control – fixed lighting mode (LD) (light/dark 10/14); 2) Group I – dark deprivation (LL); 3) group II – lighting mode, simulating a shift mode of operation (1 day – LL, 2 days – LD). Each experiment lasted 21 days, with slaughter of animals on the 22nd day at four time points and epiphysis evisceration. Structural and ultrastructural assessment of pinealocytes, including Micromorphometric analysis was performed on sections of the epiphysis using light and transmission electron microscopy. Results. Dark deprivation leads to vacuolization of pinealocytes, destructive changes in lipid inclusions, the Golgi complex and EPS, the formation of various sizes of autophagosomes and polymorphism of mitochondria, and other changes, including the presence of necrotic cells and perivascular edema. Changes in the ultrastructure of mitochondria were noted in pinealocytes during alternating lighting conditions. Conclusion. Dark deprivation causes disintegration of the ultrastructure of pinealocytes: oxidative stress, suppression of transcriptional and metabolic activity, mitochondrial dysfunction and mass cell death. Alternating lighting conditions lead to disturbances in the nuclear and mitochondrial apparatus of pinealocytes.
Background: At the present stage, ionizing radiation in the medical field is a fundamental method of diagnosis and therapy of various neoplastic pathologies. The manifestation of side effects from the skin caused by radiation is a widespread problem. Aim: To identify and characterize the morphological features of the structure of the epithelial and connective tissues of mouse skin on the 9th day after a single X-ray irradiation in different absorbed doses (6.5, 7 and 7.8 Gray) for a morphofunctional assessment of the anti-radiation efficacy of beta-D-glucan. Methods: For morphological analysis, the skin areas of the interscapular region (back) were fixed and treated according to the standard method for light microscopy, then stained with hematoxylin and eosin. To identify the nuclear antigen of proliferating cells, the sections were stained with an immunohistochemical marker PCNA. Results: The study identified reactive changes in mouse skin tissue on the 9th day after a single X-ray exposure at different absorbed doses. Changes in the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio (NCR) of keratinocytes in the epidermal germ layers and a decrease in the proliferative activity of basal keratinocytes were detected. The protective effect of beta-D-glucan on skin tissue was characterized. Conclusion: An experimental study demonstrated the morphological characteristics of reactive changes in mouse skin structures following a single X-ray irradiation at early stages at sublethal and lethal doses. Irradiation resulted in keratinocyte death and disruption of vertical differentiation (anisomorphism) within the epidermal proliferative unit, as well as the formation of perivascular and pericellular edema of varying intensity in the dermis. The use of beta-D-glucan optimizes keratinization processes and maintains dermal structures, suggesting a protective effect.
BACKGROUND: Neurons containing the acetylcholine-synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), constitute a significant proportion of cells in the myenteric (MP) and submucosal (SP) plexuses of the small and large intestines. However, current studies lack data on age-related changes in this group of neurons during postnatal ontogenesis. AIM: To determine postnatal changes in ChAT-containing neurons in the intramural ganglia of the rat intestines. METHODS: The study was conducted on rats of the following age groups: newborns; animals aged 10, 20, 30, and 60 days; and animals aged 12 and 24 months. Changes in the percentage and average cross-sectional area of ChAT-immunoreactive (IR) neurons in the MP and SP of the small and large intestines of rats during postnatal ontogenesis were analyzed using double-labeling immunohistochemistry with antibodies to ChAT and PGP9.5. RESULTS: ChAT was detected in the majority of neurons in the MP and SP of the small and large intestines across all age groups. In the MP of the small intestine, the percentage of ChAT-IR neurons increased from the neonatal period to day 20 of life and then gradually decreased until old age. In the MP of the large intestine, the proportion of ChAT-IR neurons increased from the neonatal period to day 10 of life and then also decreased starting from day 20 until old age. In the SP of the small intestine, the percentage of ChAT-IR neurons was higher in newborns compared with 10-day-old rats, and in newborns and day 20 rats compared with aged animals. In the SP of the large intestine, the percentage of ChAT-IR neurons increased during the first 10 days of life, decreased between days 10 and 20, and then remained unchanged at older ages. No differences were found in the average cross-sectional areas of ChAT-IR and ChAT-negative neurons in the small and large intestines. The average cross-sectional area of ChAT-IR neurons increased from birth to day 60 in both the MP and SP of the small and large intestines. CONCLUSION: These data indicate age-related changes in the neurotransmitter composition of the intestinal intramural ganglia. During postnatal ontogenesis, the percentage of ChAT-IR neurons in the nerve plexuses of the small and large intestines changes: it increases in the early postnatal period and decreases in old age.
ACKGROUND: The proportional ratios of the width and depth of the carpal tunnel are characterized by sexual dimorphism – in men, the cross-sectional area of this canal is larger than in women. However, median nerve compression neuropathy (carpal tunnel syndrome) is more common in women, which may be related to the shape of the carpal tunnel. One of the methods that allows an objective assessment of the shape of the object under study, unlike traditional linear measurements, is geometric morphometry. AIM: To study the variability of the shape of the carpal tunnel in humans depending on gender according to magnetic resonance imaging using geometric morphometric methods. METHODS: A simultaneous study of the shape of the carpal tunnel cross-section was performed according to magnetic resonance imaging of the right hands of 50 men and 50 women. Geometric morphometry included an analysis of the shape configurations of the carpal canals of the hands, described by 16 landmarks located on digital images (axial projection) of the carpal canals. RESULTS: The centroid size of the carpal tunnel is larger in men than in women, while its effect on the shape of the latter is insignificant (on average, about 5% of the allometry). The predominance of the general variability of the carpal tunnel shape was associated with its combined multidirectional transformation in space.: in men, compression relative to the transverse axis and stretching relative to the sagittal axis, in women, on the contrary, stretching relative to the transverse axis and compression relative to the sagittal axis. Local changes in the shape of the carpal tunnel are represented by two configurations: kidney-shaped, which is more common in men, and oval, characteristic of women. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that geometric morphometry is an effective tool for assessing the variability and studying the sexual characteristics of the shape of the carpal tunnel in humans. The results obtained confirm the relationship of carpal tunnel syndrome with its morphological features and, in particular, with its shape.
Endothelial cells, which form the lining of blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and heart chambers, are located in the body's internal environment but do not separate it from the external environment. They have an epitheliomorphic organization, and, therefore, are often classified as part of the epithelial tissue system. This work aimed to update current data on the molecular, genetic, and morphofunctional organization, reactivity, and regeneration of the endothelium, which influence understanding of its systematic affiliation. The accumulated evidence shows that, based on the combined data on the molecular signature of differentiation that occur during histogenesis, including the expression of cytoskeletal proteins (vimentin), proteins of intercellular adhesion (CD31, CD34 and others), components of intercellular signaling, and products of specialized synthesis (von Willebrand factor), as well as on the characteristics of reactivity and regeneration, endothelial cells correspond to representatives of tissues of the internal environment. The review presents data on the functioning of transcription factors that differ between epithelial and endothelial cells and on inducers of their activity. Information on postnatal physiological and reparative regeneration, the presence of dispersed cambial cells, including those extending beyond the cell layer (bone marrow, the subendothelial layer of loose connective tissue), further supports this conclusion. Thus, in current interpretations of the physiological and reparative histogenesis of the endothelium, as well as in the educational process, the histological phenomena associated with it should be interpreted taking into account the general patterns characteristic of tissues of the internal environment.
BACKGROUND: Graves ophthalmopathy (GO) is characterized by pathological expansion of the retrobulbar adipose tissue and fibrosis, which are based on the dysregulation of stromal cell differentiation. A key aspect of the pathogenesis is the competition between adipogenic and myofibroblastic differentiation. It was previously suggested that these pathways are associated with distinct stromal cell subpopulations expressing (CD90+) or not expressing (CD90–) the membrane protein CD90 (Thy-1). It was hypothesized that the secretome of CD90+ cells could inhibit adipogenesis in CD90– cells, but the specific mechanisms of this interaction, including the potential role of extracellular vesicles (EVs), remained unclear. AIM: To clarify the mechanisms of paracrine interaction between CD90+ and CD90– stromal cell subpopulations isolated from the retrobulbar adipose tissue of patients with different forms of GO. METHODS: Stromal cells were isolated from the orbital adipose tissue of patients with GO (lipogenic, myogenic, and mixed forms) and a control group (n = 12 cell lines). Cells were separated into CD90+ and CD90– subpopulations using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Directed differentiation into myofibroblasts (using TGF-β) and adipocytes (using a commercial adipogenic cocktail) was performed. Differentiation was assessed using immunocytochemistry (markers: αSMA, vimentin, collagens, and Nile Red for lipids) and western blotting (αSMA and FAPα). To study paracrine effects, conditioned medium (CM) from CD90+ cells was used, along with fractions enriched for extracellular vesicles (EVs) and soluble factors (SFs). RESULTS: Orbital stromal cells were successfully separated into CD90+ and CD90– subpopulations; the number of CD90– cells was significantly higher in patients with the lipogenic form of GO. Both subpopulations were capable of differentiating into both myofibroblasts (under the influence of TGF-β) and adipocytes. However, CD90– cells demonstrated significantly higher adipogenic potential, accumulating twice as many lipid droplets. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, the secretome of CD90+ cells (whole CM, EVs, or SFs) did not inhibit the adipogenic differentiation of CD90– cells. Conversely, the secretome of CD90+ cells, including its vesicular and extravesicular fractions, significantly stimulated adipogenic differentiation within the CD90+ subpopulation itself. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the CD90– subpopulation of orbital stromal cells has a higher adipogenic potential, which may be associated with the lipogenic form of GO. Paracrine interaction between the subpopulations is complex: the secretome of CD90+ cells does not suppress adipogenesis in CD90– cells but instead stimulates differentiation into adipocytes within CD90+ subpopulation. These findings are important for understanding the mechanisms that regulate the balance between fibrosis and adipogenesis in GO and highlight the need for further study of the secretory function of stromal cells to develop new therapeutic strategies.
Background.Postnatal heart development is characterized by profound structural remodeling of the myocardium. However, systematic quantitative data on the morphometry of human cardiomyocytes during the first year of life remain scarce. This limits the understanding of normal age-related dynamics and complicates differential diagnosis in pathological anatomy and forensic medicine. Aim.To perform a quantitative morphometric analysis of the dynamics of human cardiomyocyte transverse diameter (width) throughout the first year of life to assess myocardial structural remodeling during postnatal adaptation. Methods.A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using archival histological preparations of the myocardium from 10 children aged 0.033 to 15 months who died from causes unrelated to cardiac injury or chronic cardiological diseases. Cardiomyocyte width (the main indicator) was measured in cross-sections near the nucleus using light microscopy and ToupView software (calibration: 1 pixel = 0.25 µm). Statistical analysis included Pearson's correlation assessment, linear regression, the Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn's correction (R environment 4.3.3). Results.A statistically significant strong negative correlation was found between age and the mean cardiomyocyte width (r = -0.75; p = 0.013). With an increase in age by 1 month, cardiomyocyte width decreased by an average of 0.183 µm (95% CI: -0.315 to -0.052). The greatest width was observed in newborns (0–1 month: 16.0 ± 1.88 µm), and the smallest — in the 6–15 months group (12.5 ± 1.67 µm). Intergroup differences were significant (p 0.001). Conclusions.The obtained data demonstrate a consistent trend towards a decrease in the transverse size of cardiomyocytes during the first year of life, which aligns with the model of transition from hyperplastic to hypertrophic heart growth. The results provide a basis for age-related morphological references in forensic practice. Limitations include the small sample size and retrospective design.
BACKGROUND: IBA-1 (Ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1) is a selective marker for determining the cellular differentiation of glial macrophages. The body's macrophage system includes various organ-specific macrophages, including dermal macrophages. Currently, there are no studies that provide information on the identification of connective tissue macrophages using an immunohistochemical reaction for the detection of IBA-1 protein during skin regeneration after injury. AIM: to identify and characterize IBA-1-immunopositive connective tissue cells in normal skin and in the perinecrotic area of a wound following mechanical injury. METHODS: the objects of the study were skin fragments from male Wistar rats, taken from the middle third of the thigh at different stages of healing after a deep incised wound. Animals were divided into 9 groups: Group 1—intact animals (control group, n=5); the remaining groups corresponded to the time of withdrawal from the experiment (5 animals per group): 12 hours, 24 hours, 2 days, 3 days, 6 days, 10 days, 15 days, and 25 days after mechanical injury. Skin biopsies were used for immunohistochemical reactions with antibodies to the IBA-1 protein, followed by morphometric and statistical analysis of the obtained data. RESULTS: IBA-1-immunopositive cells, identified as macrophages, were detected at the wound healing and control stages. They differed from each other in structure and morphometric characteristics. These cells were divided into 3 groups based on body size: small, medium, and large. The highest number of IBA-1-immunopositive cells, compared with the control, was detected 2, 6, and 15 days after injury. At different stages of regeneration, the population dynamics of small, medium, and large macrophages were revealed. CONCLUSION: immunohistochemical reaction with antibodies to the IBA-1 protein is a reliable method for detecting dermal macrophages. Its use allows for the localization, heteromorphism, and heterochrony of cells in the perinecrotic wound area to be clarified, and the morphological characteristics of the macrophage differentiation to be characterized.
Relevance. The use of macrophages (MF) for cell therapy is a relevant topic. The use of animal models is a necessary step in studying the functioning of MF and testing them as a therapeutic agent. Red bone marrow (RBM) is a source of progenitor cells, allowing one to immediately obtain a large number of MF. The disadvantage of using RBM is the removal of the animal from the experiment. An alternative source of MF can be peripheral blood. Similar gene expression profiles and functional activity are shown for human macrophages isolated by CD14+ selection both from RBM and their PC. However, this area remains poorly illuminated for rats. The aim of the work was a direct comparison of the functional activity of MF cultured from PC and RBM. Materials and methods. The following methods were used in the work: culturing of MF from monocytes of RBM and PC, immunocytochemical (ICC) staining, PCR with real-time detection, and a wound model. Results. ICC staining revealed CD68 and CD43 markers in PC MF and RMC MF. Relative expression levels of IL10 and IL6 genes were significantly higher in RMC MF (unpaired t-test, p (IL6) 0.0001, p (IL10) 0.0001), and Arg1 and Nos2 (unpaired t-test, p (Arg1) 0.0001, p (Nos2) = 0.0001) were higher in macrophages cultured from PC (Fig. 3). No significant differences were found for IL1beta and Nf-kb genes. No severe complications were observed with local administration of PC MF to the wound edges. Administration of RMC MF resulted in increased wound bleeding. Discussion and conclusions. Summarizing the obtained results, it can be concluded that MF PC can be used as an alternative source of MF to CCM while preserving the life of the animal.
BACKGROUND: Newborns experience activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, known as minipuberty. In preterm boys, sex hormone imbalance has been observed during the neonatal period. However, whether preterm birth affects testicular development has not been adequately studied. AIM: To morphologically analyze the spermatogenic and steroidogenic compartments of the testes in immature rats born 24 hours preterm. METHODS: We studied the testes of full-term and preterm Wistar rats (n = 10 per group) on postnatal days 14 and 28, with 5 animals at each time point. Full-term offspring (gestation length 22 days) were obtained via natural delivery. Preterm offspring (gestation length 21 days) were obtained by inducing preterm labor with mifepristone. Histological, immunohistochemical (detection of activated caspase-3), and morphometric analyses of the testes of full-term and preterm rats were performed. RESULTS: The testicular microstructure of preterm and full-term rats on postnatal days 14 and 28 was similar. However, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules in preterm rats on day 14 was smaller than in full-term rats (p = 0.000); these differences resolved by day 28. At day 28, the number of testicular interstitial endocrinocytes showing morphological signs of functional activity was higher in preterm rats than in full-term animals (p = 0.000). Preterm birth led to an increase in the number of caspase-3-positive spermatogenic cells on day 28 (p = 0.000), as well as in caspase-3-positive interstitial endocrinocytes on days 14 (p = 0.000) and 28 (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Preterm birth affects testicular structure in immature rats. The rate of spermatogenesis in preterm animals was unchanged; however, their testes showed a higher number of spermatogenic and steroidogenic cells undergoing apoptosis compared with full-term animals.
The notochord is the defining characteristic of the phylum Chordata, distinguishing this taxonomic group and determining the vertebrate body plan. This review presents current data on the evolutionary origin, molecular mechanisms of morphogenesis, and structural and functional organization of the notochord. Hypotheses regarding dorsoventral inversion and aboral dorsalization are discussed. The role of the gene regulatory network (TBXT, Wnt/PCP, Hedgehog) in the processes of convergent extension and cell vacuolization is described in detail. Particular attention is given to the postnatal fate of the notochord in humans, specifically its transformation into the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. The role of resident Tie2+ and GD2+ progenitor cells in disc homeostasis and their potential for regenerative medicine, as well as the significance of notochordal markers in chordoma diagnosis, are discussed.
One of the urgent tasks of modern neuromorphology is a comprehensive study of the morphofunctional features of various parts of the human cerebral cortex. The most interesting are the associative parts of the neocortex, the need to study which is dictated by their important role in the implementation of the most complex manifestations of brain activity associated with the control of higher mental functions and human behavior. At present, a considerable amount of data has been accumulated on the cyto- and fibroarchitectonics of the cortical associative sections, and numerous data have been obtained on their neural organization and the system of connections with various formations of the brain. However, the study of the confinement of functions to certain associative cortical zones of the human brain encounters difficulties due to the existing differences in the cytoarchitectonic maps used by domestic and foreign researchers. The article contains the characteristics of the structural features of area 37 of the temporo-parietal-occipital subarea (TPO) in the posterior association cortex in accordance with the existing atlases of cyto- and fibroarchitectonics of the neocortex, as well as atlases of human brain connectomics. It is shown that the widely used Brodmann cytoarchitectonic map does not reflect the boundaries and composition of structurally and functionally specialized zones in the cytoarchitectonic field 37, identified on the basis of the results of neocortex studies using modern neuromorphological techniques and intravital brain imaging techniques. It is established that the domestic Atlas of Cytoarchitectonics of the Human Cerebral Cortex (1955) most accurately and completely reflects the features of the structural and functional organization of area 37, which allows for a deeper understanding of its role in the implementation of the most complex cognitive functions and in the systemic processes of multisensory analytical and synthetic activity of the human brain.
BACKGROUND: The development of the effective approaches for the treatment of diabetes directly depends on the integrity of knowledge on mechanisms of endocrine cells differentiation and islets morphogenesis. As shown in experimental studies, the nervous system plays an important role in the regulation of these processes, In the human fetal pancreas, the nervous system structures closely interact with the hormone-containing cells forming neuro-insular complexes and with the epithelial cells, suggesting the involvement of the nervous system in the endocrine pancreas development. To confirm this, data on the interactions between the nervous system structures and cells with a progenitor immunophenotype, which are not available in the literature, are needed. AIM: The aim was to study the distribution of cells containing transcriptional factor PDX1 and bi-hormonal cells in the neuro-insular complexes of the developing human pancreas. METHODS: The study was performed on autopsies of the pancreas of 15 fetuses (gestational age 9–25 weeks) using multiple immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. To estimate the cellular composition of neuro-insular complexes, antibodies to islet cell hormones (insulin, glucagon, somatostatin), transcriptional factor PDX1, and neural marker – neuron specific β3-tubulin (β3-tubulin) were applied in different combinations. RESULTS: Using triple fluorescent labeling with antibodies to insulin, PDX1, and βIII-tubulin, cells with a progenitor immunophenotype characteristic of epithelial ductal cells – insulin¯/PDX1+/β3-tubulin¯; insulin¯/PDX1+/β3-tubulin+ were revealed in the neuro-insular complexes. From the 9th gestational week, such cells were present in separately located ganglia, and, from the 14th gestational week, in ganglia integrated with the pancreatic islets into neuro-insular complexes. The staining with the combinations of antibodies insulin/glucagon/β3-tubulin and insulin/somatostatin/β3-tubulin allowed to detect bi-hormonal insulin+/glucagon+ and insulin+/somatostatin cells in the neuro-insular complexes. CONCLUSION: As a result of the study, the integration of the nervous system structures with cells showing a progenitor immunophenotype and bi-hormonal cells, which are considered by many authors as differentiating and maturing islet cells, in the developing human pancreas was demonstrated. It can be assumed, that such integration is necessary for the regulation of β-cell mass, their maturation, and islet morphogenesis, as it was shown in experimental studies on animals and cell cultures.
BACKGROUND: Tissue macrophages play a key role in the liver homeostasis regulation. Moreover, the population of liver macrophages is morphologically and functionally heterogeneous.AIM: To define the liver macrophages immunophenotype using the phagocytic activity marker CD68 and the microglial marker Iba-1.METHODS: Liver and brain samples from Wistar rats (n=8) were used. Double immunolabeling with macrophage marker CD68 and microglial marker Iba1 antibodies was performed. Confocal laser scanning microscopy for tissue analysis was conducted.RESULTS: Iba1-positive cells identified in the analysis of the preparations correspond to interstitial macrophages and Kupffer cells. CD68-positive macrophages were found along the liver sinusoids and between hepatocytes. Coexpression of CD68 and Iba-1 proteins was demonstrated by liver Kupffer cells and perivascular macrophages of the brain, but not by perivascular macrophages in the liver triads and in the connective tissue.CONCLUSION: The simultaneous localization of Iba-1 and CD68 in perivascular macrophages of the brain and its absence in interstitial macrophages of the liver indicate that perivascular phagocytes have organ-specific phenotype features.
Abstract The study of the influence of immunocompetent organs on the processes of homeostasis regulation after injuries, burns and intoxications is relevant, since any injury causes an imbalance in cellular and humoral immunity. Of interest to us is the spleen, as the largest peripheral organ of immunogenesis and its role in the regulation of cell death of immune cells using the apoptosis regulator marker bcl-2 Aim Determination of the dynamics of expression of the bcl-2 marker in the lymphoid nodules of the spleen in rats after mechanical trauma to the thigh Methods The study was carried out on white mongrel male rats, which were subjected to mechanical damage to the thigh using a special device, comparable in kinetic energy to a 5.6 mm caliber bullet. All manipulations were performed under ether anesthesia, after decapitation, section of the spleen was taken 1,3,7,14 days after injury for all groups of animals and used the immunohistochemical method of verification of antiapoptosis, statistical processing was performed in the Statistica 7 program Result After mechanical trauma to the hip in rats, there is a temporary decrease in their number was noted after 1 and 3 days of the post-traumatic period, which is associated with the activation of lymphocyte migration to peripheral tissues, followed by a gradual recovery and even an increase in density after 14 days. Particularly pronounced activation is observed in the germinal center and periarterial zone, which correlates with the formation of immunological memory and activation of secondary lymphoid structures. Conclusion The obtained data demonstrate a pronounced dynamics of the density of bcl-2 positive lymphocytes in various anatomical zones of the spleen in response to mechanical trauma to the thigh in rats. These changes reflect complex reorganization of the immune system in the context of systemic inflammation and traumatic stress
