MORPHOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF RADIATION-INDUCED ADRENAL ADAPTATIONS AND THE LEVEL OF RADIONUCLIDE CONTENT IN THE WHITE-CHESTED HEDGEHOG IN A ZONE OF HIGH RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION

Abstract

For the first time, anatomical, histological and morphometric criteria for radiation-induced damage to the thyroid gland of the river otter have been determined. The lobes of the thyroid gland do not undergo morphological changes,and they have a permanent elongated ribbon-like shape. The height of the follicular epithelium and the Brown index are among the signs that reflect the functional state of the thyroid gland. In old animals, the Brown index has the highest value - 19.49 ± 0.39 conventional units. Structural and adaptive changes indicate that the thyroid glands of the river otter in the radiation zone of habitat belong to the glands of the small follicular type of structure. With age, a few large follicles are found, and in the early gerontological period, also zones of disorganization of parenchymal structures with complete disappearance of the follicular structure of the gland or desquamation of the thyroid epithelium. In sexually mature animals, the specific activity of 137Cs in the thyroid gland is 0.78±0.17 kBq/kg.