The role of the neural crest in the normal and abnormal heart development

The data about participation of the neural crest in the normal and abnormal cardiogenesis are summarized in the review. The main morphological phenomena which accompany the interaction of the neural crest cells and embryonic heart are the migration of the dense mesenchyme originated from neural crest from pharyngeal arches to the trunk of heart as well as apoptotic processes. After chemical teratogens treatment such as retinoic acid and ethyl alcohol the distant relationship between neural crest and heart and also the migration of neural crest cells to the heart were changed. The decrease of inten-sity of the apoptotic processes in the heart, the delay of reduction of the conotruncal and atrioventricular myocardium and lesion of mesenchyme structures were determined morphologically. The ethanol and retinoic acid treatment cause also the abnormalities in the interventricular foramen closure, in the development of conductive system, and heart valves. We suggest that these abnormalities are mediated by the neural crest cells

Immunohistochemical characteristics of muscular tissue during surgical treatment of patients with ІІІ degree chronic ischemia of lower limb

Background. Of particular note is the analysis of immunohistochemical features of compensatory repair capabilities in terms of muscle ischemic injury developing in several ways: 1) direct induction of angiogenesis; 2) increased survival of muscle fibers; 3) mediated stimulation of muscle-typical differentiation; 4) resistance to apoptotic mechanisms. Objective. The purpose of research was the immunohistochemical analysis of anterior tibial muscle in patients with ІІІ degree chronic ischemia of lower limb after direct, indirect and composite revascularization in near-term and long-term postoperative periods. Methods. Patients have been divided into three groups: 1) 37 patients after femoral-tibial reconstruction; 2) 57 patients after indirect revascularization with autotransplantation of bone marrow; 3) 50 patients after composite revascularization of distal part of lower limb. The observation was carried out in the near-term postoperative period and in 2 years. Immunohistochemical study of tissue samplings of anterior tibial muscle taken between superior and middle one thirds was carried out. Results. It have been determined that direct revascularization causes the significant improvement immunohistochemical characteristics of muscle fibers of anterior tibial muscle in all age groups during 6 months after operation, however does not provide the stabilization of positive changes in long-term postoperative period. Indirect revascularization does not change significally structurally-functional condition of components of muscle in near-term postoperative period, however causes the stable normalization of parameters of tissue components due to initiation of neovasculogenesis at patients till 75 years. Conclusion. Composite revascularization allows to receive near-term normalizing effect concerning the studied immunohistochemical criteria and to provide its stabilization in the long-term postoperative period. Citation: Shkuropat VM, Tverdokhleb IV, Baranov IV, Safronkov NA. [Immunohistochemical characteristics of muscular tissue during surgical treatment of patients with ІІІ degree chronic ischemia of lower limb]. Morphologia. 2015;9(1):71-7. Ukrainian

The peculiarities of the ultrastructure of frontal cortex and hippocampus of rats in conditions of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Background. Multiple sclerosis refers to the demyelinating diseases of the nervous system, in which the main pathological changes develop in the white matter and are characterized by disintegration of myelin sheaths of conductive systems in different parts of the brain and spinal cord. Objective. To assess the degree of ultrastructural changes of frontal cortex and hippocampus of rats in conditions of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Methods. The research was conducted on 14 white rats divided randomly in 2 groups: group 1 – intact animals; group 2 – rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis was induced in 8 animals of the experimental group single subcutaneous inoculation encephalitogenic mixture in full adjuvant of Freynd at the rate of 100 mg homogenate of homologous spinal cord, 0.2 ml puff (the content of killed mycobacteria 5 mg/ml) and 0.2 ml of physiological solution on the animal. Transmission electron microscopy was performed on the 14th day of encephalitogenic mixture administration. Results. In the frontal cortex and hippocampus experimental allergic encephalomyelitis induces apoptosis of the neurocytes with disruption of the structure of mitochondria (increase in size, the fragmentation of the outer membrane, destruction of cristae), disseminated perineuronal edema of the brain substance, violation of the structure of most axo-somatic synapses, the demyelination of nerve conductors with signs of fragmentation of neurofibril. Conclusion. The single subcutaneous inoculation of encephalitogenic mixture in full adjuvant of Freynd leads to the development of multifocal demyelination and axonal degeneration in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of experimental animals. Citation: Nefodov AA, Mamchur VI, Tverdokhleb IV. [The peculiarities of the ultrastructure of frontal cortex and hippocampus of rats in conditions of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis]. Morphologia. 2016;10(1):54-61. Russian

Recording the high efficient diffraction gratings by using He-Cd laser

High efficient holographic diffraction gratings with spatial frequencies from 600 to 3600 mm⁻¹ have been recorded using As₄₀S₆₀–хSeх (х = 0, 10, 20) photoresist layers and He-Cd laser operating at the wavelength λ = 440 nm. The investigation of the grating relief made by atomic force microscopy revealed that As₄₀S₆₀–хSeх resists allows one to record grating originals with profiles of various heights depending on the resist chemical composition, its etching and exposure times. We obtained typical spectral and angular dependences of the first order diffraction efficiency for the grating with the high modulation depth and groove profile close to the sinusoidal one. Comparing the recorded gratings with different spatial frequencies, exposure and etching times, we determined optimal recording conditions (exposure and etching times) in order to obtain gratings with the high diffraction efficiency

The current concept of development of specialized intercellular connections between cardiomyocytes

The understanding of development of interrelation between electric and mechanical contacts in ontogenetic aspect can throw light on the mechanisms underlying heart pathologies related with local disturbance of gap junctions distribution. Despite of significant progress in understanding of structural biology of desmosome, fascia adherents and gap junctions which are a part of an intercalated disk, the detailed characteristic of interrelation between electric and mechanical connections it is not presented still now in the literature. So, data about formation, becoming, development and regulation of specific pattern of intercellular connections remain fragmentary and do not allow to make complete representation about ontogenetic features of formation of communicative contacts between cardiomyocytes. Understanding of development of an intercalated disk young heart, are important for optimization of terms of surgical intervention in pediatrics in occasion of congenital heart diseases. On the other hand, changes of the organization of intercellular contacts, first of all gap junctions, can lead to abnormal conductivity and arrhythmogenesis. Knowledge of similar aspects of development arrhythmias can push to development of new therapeutic methods which will provide higher efficiency of treatment at, for example, ischemic illness of heart or intimate insufficiency

Quantitative ontogenetic assessment of connective tissue cell dynamics in the ventricular rat myocardium

In this work the dynamics of connective tissue cell number in nonvascular stroma have been studied in different myocardial sites of left and right ventricles in rat hearts during prenatal and early postnatal periods of ontogenesis. The materials of study were hearts of 115 white rats. It has been studied 10 age groups – from 14 days of prenatal development to 20 days of postnatal life. Nonvascular stromal cell quantitative density was estimated by calculation of there nuclei count referred to the square of the cut. During prenatal development it have been studied separately the compact layer and trabecular layer of myocardium, during postnatal period – subendocardial, intramural and subepicardial layers of myocardium. Following pre-sent study a quantitative evaluation of the connective tissue cell number dynamics has been evaluated in ventricular myocardium. The most intensive stromal cell number dynamics in the myocardium have been documented twice – at 14-16 days of embryologic development and at first two weeks after birth. The dynamics in connective tissue cells number during prenatal period had more prominent rate in the compact layer of myocardium in comparison with the trabecular layer. This pattern may point to cellular migration from the developing epicardium toward endocardium. At every stage of cardiogenesis the dynamics in quantitative changes in myocardial connective tissue component correlated with myocardiocyte differentia-tion and microvasculature formation

Analysis of dynamics of scientometric indicators of journal “Morphologia” in Russian Index of Scientific Citation

Background. Scientometric indicators are very useful for the comparative analysis of different scientists, organizations, journals, etc. Their calculation and dynamics are also very helpful for editorial office in improvement of the quality of scientific periodicals. Objective. To analyze the dynamic of scientometric indicators of journal “Morphologia” in Russian Index of Scientific Citation system. Methods. We have examined further indicators: biennial and five-year impact-factors with and without accounting of self-citations, biennial and five-year index of self-citation during the period 2008-2013 years. Results. Since the beginning of publication of the journal the lowest level of indicators was fixed in 2012 year – 0.065 and 0.049 for biennial and five-year impact-factors without accounting of self-citations, respectively. In turn, 2013 year was characterized by maximal value of these indices – 0.135 and 0.143, respectively. Biennial and five-year indices of self-citation showed the same dynamics with stable decrease to the level of 25% and 10.3%, respectively. Conclusion. Taken together scientometric indicators of journal “Morphologia” during investigated period reflects positive dynamics. Citation: Pototskaya OYu, Tverdokhleb IV. [Analysis of dynamics of scientometric indicators of journal “Morphologia” in Russian Index of Scientific Citation]. Morphologia. 2014;8(4):7-11. Russian

Dimension of degree of involutive facial skin changes on the basis of morphological criteria and by the «Light Check-up»

The analysis of accordance between morphological and instrumental criteria of involutive skin changes of cheekarea is carry out in patients of different age groups with improvement of algorithm of quantitative determination of integralindividual skin status. The criteria of involutive skin changes are certain by a quantitative histological and ultrastructuralestimation taking into account their diagnostic meaningfulness. The parallel morphological and instrumental diagnostics(«Light Check-up») in 100 patients is carry out. The degree of involutive changes for 228 patients on the age groups is determined:I – to 32 years; II – 33-40 years; III – 41-50 years; IV – 51-57 years; V – 58 years and elder. Integral parameter ofmorphological criteria substantially correlates with the index of biological age of skin (r = +0,69) and with the level of a skinstress tension (r = +0,83) which are determined by «Light Check-up». The most dominant correlation (r = +0,92) is determinedbetween two integral parameters – morphological and instrumental, that allows to conduct reliable reciprocated extrapolationof histological and instrumental data. The most considerable individual variations of degree of involutive skinchanges in the cheek area are determined in age from 41 to 57 years which are 70,2% contingent of patients of aesthetic facesurgery. In particular, in an age group 41-50 years the I degree of involutive changes are observed at 34,2%, II – at 56,6%, III– at 9,2% women. In an age group 51-57 years the I degree of involutive changes are marked at 10,8%, II – at 54,7%, III – at34,5% patients. It stipulates the necessity of instrument diagnostics of the skin state for the argument of the individualizedsurgical approach

The normal and abnormal heart development: participation of extracardiac cell population.

The purpose of the current study was the elucidation of the neural crest (NC) participation in the abnormal heart development after retinoic acid (RA) and ethanol treatment. The chick embryos were treated by 0,2-0,25 ml 50% ethanol at 72 hours of incubation and also by 1 mkg of all-trans RA at 15 stage. The macroscopic study of the hearts of the normal and treated embryos, hearts after whole staining for sulfated glycosaminoglycans, the histological and lectinhistochemical study of serial sections were carried. The phenomenon suggesting for the participation of NC in the abnormal heart development was the level of migration of dense mesenchyme originated from NC, its movement was delayed. As a result the dense mesenchyme was located more distal than in normal in both models. The decrease of apoptotic processes in the conus and trunk of the heart, the abnormal development its endocardial cushions as well as atrioventricular cushions were the indirect confirmations. RA and ethanol caused the diminish of endocardial cushions growth, suppressed the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans, mesenchyme cells and cardiomyocytes proliferation. One of the important mechanisms of abnormal development is the changes of the ex-tracelullar matrix properties

Origin and the embryonic transformations of vertebrate heart conducting system.

As the embryonic structure, the cardiac conduction system must continue to develop in a coordinated manner at all embryonic stages. This requires not only the formation of distinct components of the conduction system, but the integration of these components into a functioning whole. The development of the chambered heart and a conduction system requires the proper arrangement of a number of embryonic building blocks, comprising inflow tract, atria, atrioventricular canal, compact and trabecular ventricular myocardium, and outflow tract. In the mammalian heart, the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes will aggregate in the slow-conducting inflow tract and atrioventricular canal. The ventricular conduction system may develop in its entirety from the trabecular ventricular myocardium, the remodeling of which results in a gradual transition toward the compact myocardium. So the development of the conduction system does not require the invention of new building components but a remodeling of existing components. Many details in the fashioning of the embryonic blocks of the heart into the conduction system of the formed heart still need to be worked out. The factors that specify the cardiac building blocks and regulate their coordinated morphogenesis have remained largely unknown. Their identification will benefit from combined molecular, genetic, and morphological approaches