[Morpho-functional characteristics of human spleen (an immunohistochemical study)].

Using immunohistochemical and morphometric methods, the quantitative composition and structural localization of immunocompetent cells were studied in human spleen (n=20, autopsy material). The detailed morpho-functional characteristics of splenic white and red pulp are presented. Cell subpopulations of T (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) and B lymphocytes (CD20+), natural killer cells (CD57+), tissue macrophages (CD68+) and dendritic cells (CD35+, S100+) were studied. An analysis of the correlations of immunocompetent cells in different regions of white and red pulp may become the basis for optimization of histopathological diagnosis definition in clinical practice

[New fixative for the biological material].

New non-toxic fixative for biological material is patented, that is based on aqueous solutions solutions of bivalent copper cations. Optimal molarity of fixative solution (0.2 M) was established experimentally. The method proposed is selective in demonstration of tissue structures using Bielschowsky-Gros impregnation of material by silver nitrate.

Protective effect of energy metabolism regulators in alteration of gravitation load under experimental conditions.

Mitochondrial substrate-based preparations corrected disorders, caused by long-term exposure to abnormal gravitation vector in head-down tilt (hanging) test in rats. The preparations produced systemic and polyorgan protective effects consisting in correction of the blood prooxidant/antioxidant balance, energy metabolism in musculus soleus, and minimization of morphological changes in the liver and kidneys.

[A device for demonstrating micropreparations "histoskop"]. / Pribor dlia demonstratsii mikropreparatov "gistoskop".

A device "Histoscop" for demonstration of histologic preparations is described. The device has a powerful lighting system enabling it to reflect images of histological structures from the microscope objective to a screen. The device is multipurpose (can be used in conferences, teaching, etc.).

[The cytoskeleton of the endothelium and mesangium of rat kidney glomeruli]. / Issledovanie tsitoskeleta éndoteliia i mezangiuma pochechnykh glomerul krysy.

Cytoskeleton architectonics of endothelial and mesangial cells has been studied in renal glomeruli of the mongrel rats. The typical tessellated disposition of cytoskeletal elements is determined in which microtubules are dominating. The microtubules form a diffuse large-loop network in the zone of perikaryon and neighbouring cytoplasm. In marginal endothelium processes the microtubules are gathered in bundles, whereas in the perforated cytoplasm area separate microtubules are seen in narrow spaces between fenestrae. Microfilaments are not revealed by electron microscopy with a sufficient degree of correction, but are easily discovered by indirect immunofluorescent reaction against actin. No intermediate filaments were observed in the studied cells. Thus, the microtubules make, presumably, the cytoskeleton base for endothelial and mesangial cells of renal glomeruli of mammals, and microfilaments connect the skeleton elements. Synchronous work of all cytoskeletal elements in endothelial cells determines the quantity and morphological parameters of functioning fenestrae, and thus controls and maintains a necessary level of primary filtration in the renal glomeruli.

Cytoskeleton of podocytes in vertebrate animals and human.

Using TEM and immunofluorescence microscope, a study was made on podocytes in vertebrates where an intermediate-sized filament system is replaced by a microtubule system, accompanied by highly developed microfilaments structures. A comparative immunofluorescence study was carried out on cryotome renal sections of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) and rats, using specific antibodies anti-cytokeratins and anti-vimentin. With polyclonal anti-vimentin serum the capillaries of the renal glomeruli showed a bright colour of plaice and only a week one in the rats. Double staining of renal tissue of mongrel rats of different ages (6-7 weeks and 1.8 years old) with antibodies for actin and anti-vimentin polyclonal serum revealed in young rats an intensive fluorescence for actin and a slight fluorescence for the intermediate filaments. Renal glomeruli of old rats demonstrate a strong vimentin-activity and lower actin one. The ultrastructural study of human podocytes showed two different cytoskeleton age-depending types (2, 4, 6, 37 and 65 years old). It is suggested that during individual development and ageing in kidneys of higher animals and human, physiological changes induce morphological cytoskeleton restructuration accompanied by intensive development of intermediate filaments and simultaneous "involution" of microtubules and microfilaments.

[Electron microscopic study of the cytoskeleton of human podocytes]. / Elektronno-mikroskopicheskoe issledovanie tsitoskeleta podotsitov cheloveka.

The ultrastructural study of man's cytoskeleton of podocytes is carried out. Populations of podocytes with two different types of structure of the cytoskeleton in dependence on age (2, 4, 6, 37 and 65 years) is revealed in kidneys. The first type of cytoskeleton of the podocyte is peculiar for children's age and is characterized by branched, high density microfilament network, expressed by system of microtubules and single myofilaments. The intermediate filaments here are either utterly absent or present so feebly they find themselves "disguised" by other strongly developed components of cytoskeleton and revealing them with the help of technique of electron microscope is impossible. In kidneys of adults, and especially of old aged persons podocytes with other type of organization of the cytoskeleton are mainly identified. The distinctive signs of the last are bundle arrangement of microfilaments, plural bundles of intermediate filaments and individual microtubules. This study permits to make a conclusion that during individual development and growing old in kidneys of high animals and man, probably, physiological changes causing morphological reconstruction of cytoskeleton which is accompanied by intensive development of intermediate filaments' system with simultaneous "involution" of microtubules and microfilaments' systems take place.

[Immunomorphologic study of vertebrate renal glomerula using antibodies to intermediate filament proteins]. / Immunomorfologicheskoe issledovanie pochechnykh glomerul pozvonochnykhs ispol'zovaniem antitel k belkam promezhutochnykh filamentov.

A comparative immunomorphologic study was carried out on cryostate sections of renal tissue of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) and rat, using specific antibodies against the proteins of intermediate filaments--cytokeratins and vimentin. No cytokeratins were revealed in cells of renal glomerula in both the animals under investigation. Indirect immunofluorescence of the polyclonal serum against vimentin showed brightly coloured capillaries of the renal glomerula of plaice and weakly coloured ones of rat. At the same time cells of parietal epithelium of the Bowman capsule showed trace or negative reaction. The electron microscopic control revealed a powerful development of intermediate filament system in the podocyte cytoplasm of plaice, and a dense microfilament network and plural bundles of microtubules in the podocyte cytoplasm of rats. Problems of conservatism of the vimentin intermediate filaments in the evolution are discussed in addition to the present theories of the origin and development of renal glomerula of the vertebrates.

[Ultrastructural manifestations of the functional plasticity of the renal glomerular endothelium in vertebrates]. / Ul'trastrukturnye proiavleniia funktsional'noi plastichnosti éndoteliia pochechnykh glomerul u pozvonochnykh.

Studied has been the fine structure of the kidney's glomerulus endotheliocyte of man (age 2-6 years) and fish (year-old Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L.), as organisms occupying extreme place in development of kidney in phylogenetic line of the vertebrates. Revealed has been the uniformity of geometric reconstruction of vascular endothelium of kidney's glomerulus of investigated objects under heterogeneous factors' influence (compensatory hyperfunction of man and environment influence of fish). Formation of star-shaped structures with large open fenestrae in its central part (diameter 100-150 nm) both in the local parts of endothelium and in space between them (diameter 250-350 nm) has been observed. Such construction peculiarity sharply increases permeability of capillaries of kidney's glomerulus and thus appears as a characteristic sign of strenuous functional activity of the filtration apparatus of metanephros of man and mesonephros of fish. Revealed reaction of endothelium is considered as universal and nonspecific.

[Characteristics of the cytoskeleton structure of podocytes in vertebrates]. / Osobennosti stroeniia tsitoskeleta podotsitov pozvonochnykh.

Using transmission electron microscopy a study was made of the cytoskeleton of the renal glomerulus visceral epithelium cells (-podocytes) in representatives of all classes of vertebrates. An obvious tendency of microtubules in the cytoskeletons of the investigated cells is disclosed. This process is accompanied by the intense intracellular development of microfilaments. The role the podocyte cytoskeleton in renal ultrafiltration, and possible mechanisms of its functioning are discussed.

[Ultrastructure of the contractile apparatus of renal podocytes in vertebrate phylogenesis]. / Ul'trastruktura sokratitel'nogo apparata podotsitov pochek v filogeneze pozvonochnykh.

The evolution-determined ultrastructural characteristics were disclosed in the intracellular organization of the microfilaments of the contractile apparatus of renal podocytes in the lower (marine teleosts) and higher (dogs) vertebrates. In podocytes of the renal glomerules of the flounder and flying fish, the microfilaments 8-10 nm thick form dense bundles that make up an integral widely branched system, whereas in dogs, the microfilaments 4-7 nm thick are diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm, forming in essence its matrix.

[Ultrastructural organization of renal malpighian bodies in the Atlantic cod]. / Ul'trastruktura organizatsiia mal'pigieva tel'tsa pochek atlanticheskoi treski.

Ultrastructural peculiarities of podocytes of the renal filtrating apparatus have been revealed: the presence of tubulo--reticular structures in the perikaryon and in the cytoplasm of trabecules, and also of spherical formation on cell luminal surface were revealed. Tubuloreticular structures in the podocytes of kidneys of marine fishes have been described for the first time.

[Succinate dehydrogenase localization in the mitochondria of the renal tubules of cold- and warm-blooded vertebrates]. / Lokalizatsiia suktsinatdegidrogenazy v mitokhondriiakh pochechnykh kanal'tsev kholodnokrovnykh i teplokrovnykh pozvonochnykh.

Using electron microscopic histochemical technique, studies have been made on the activity of succinic dehydrogenase in the kidneys of the cod Gadus morrhua and dog. It was shown that chelate granules indicating localization of the enzyme in the mitochondria of nephronal cells, concentrate mainly in two zones -- between the membranes and inside the cristae. This distribution of the enzyme implies the presence of two pools of succinic dehydrogenase in the mitochondria which are utilized at different stages of oxidative phosphorylation. Succinic dehydrogenase content of the cristae is lower in cod than in dog.