Morphofunctional Zones Research Articles

Influence of Chemotherapy on the Relationship between MicroRNA Levels in the Lymph with Thymus Structure in Experimental Breast Cancer.

The relationship between the expression levels of microRNAs (miR-21, miR-221, miR-222, and miR-429) and morphometric parameters of the thymus was studied in female Wistar rats with breast cancer receiving and not receiving chemotherapy. In breast cancer, the following positive relationships were revealed: miR-221 in the subcapsular zone of the cortical substance with medium lymphocytes, miR-221 in the central part of the cortical substance with immunoblasts and macrophages, miR-429 in the subcapsular zone of the cortical substance with mitotically dividing cells, miR-429 in the central part of the medullary substance with macrophages, and miR-21 with medium lymphocytes of the thymus. In the subcapsular zone of the cortical substance, proliferative activity and the number of cells with pyknotic nuclei were increased. After chemotherapy, the relationship of microRNAs in the lymph with transformations in the thymus can indicate destructive processes in the breast tumor in comparison with breast cancer without treatment and indicate strengthening of the antitumor immunity, a decrease in the number of dying cells, and lymphoid depletion of the morphofunctional zones of the thymic parenchyma. Positive relationships of miR-21 with medium and small lymphocytes, miR-221 and miR-429 with epithelial cells, miR-222 with macrophages in the central part of the cortex, and miR-222 with macrophages in the central part of the medulla were found.

Morphofunctional Changes in Peripheral Immune Organs in Space Flight and Weightlessness Modeling

Currently, there are many studies devoted to the problems of immunity in space flights. It has been proven that both short-term and long-term stay in space significantly reduces the immune function of the body. There are cases of the development of infectious diseases in astronauts during the flight, there is evidence of an increase in the activity of viruses and microorganisms that can affect the health of crew members. In the light of the upcoming expedition to Mars, it is especially important to study exactly what changes in the immune system can be triggered by prolonged stay in zero gravity and other factors of space flight and what preventive measures can help preserve the health of astronauts both during the flight itself and after its completion. The state of the immune system in space has been studied at various levels, from molecular to organ. There was a change in the morphological parameters of the immune system organs, violations of the ratio of their morpho-functional zones, and cellular composition. Various disorders in signaling pathways of differentiation, activation and death of immune system cells are shown. One of the most studied topics is the decrease in the activity of T-lymphocytes recorded by many researchers, however, even in this matter, the mechanisms of the violations occurring and their connection with the conditions of space flight have not been fully clarified. The relevance of methods for modeling microgravity conditions, such as various types of hanging, rotation on a clinostat, and immobilization is due both to their greater availability for research compared to space flights, and the importance of studying the role of various factors associated with flight in changes occurring in the human and animal bodies. This article presents an overview of publications devoted to a wide range of issues related to the state of the immune system in space flights and ground simulation conditions and attempts to combine the results of various levels of research – molecular, cellular and morphological.

Epithelial tissue response to pathological effects in various age groups. Participation of morphofunctional zones and Src-kinase in this process

The response of human organism tissues to various pathological effects depends to a large extent on the presence of the total amount of key protein in the organism – Src-kinase and the ratio of its active part to inactive. With a sharp preponderance of an inactive portion of this protein over the active, the proliferative activity of cells is suppressed, and with a significant preponderance of the active part, proliferation is inadequately increased. The amount of this protein is embedded in embryogenesis and individually in each person. In the age aspect, a decrease in the Src-kinase content in the human organism is observed. The epithelial tissue of two age groups: 20-40 and 75 years and older responds most acutely to pathological effects, including the entering of viruses, since in 20-40 years the number of Src-kinase is the greatest in relation to other age groups, and in 75 years and older – the least, which causes a decrease in the reactivity of organism tissues or, conversely, hyperactivity.

Participation of Src-kinase in Age Changes of the Brain Central Zone

In germinal loci of a brain, as well as in tissues of peripheral organs there are morphofunctional zones in which a proliferation and differentiation of cambial cells occur. The hypothalamus with hypophysiotropic region represents the central zone. One of the key proteins of morphofunctional zones is the Src-kinase, participating in transfer of a nervous signal, if it is in its active form. The hypothalamus initially has a high expression of an inactive Src-kinase which is connected with the development of a brain from an ectoderm. With aging due to the influence of the estrogens, which activate the Src-kinase, the resources of an inactive Src in a hypothalamus are exhausted, which leads to violation of release of many hormones including AKTH. Local accumulation in hippocampus of the glucocorticoids, which have inhibitory effect on neurons can lead to neurodegenerative diseases at low congenital level of the Src-kinase in the hypothalamus and also the stresses strengthening emission of glucocorticoids.

Biomorphology and rhythm of seasonal development of the relic species Lobelia dortmanna in oligotrophic lakes of Tver region

This article covers the morphology of the vegetative and generative sphere of a rare relic species, Lobelia dortmanna L. (Lobelioideae). This is the first time that using the modular approach a study has analysed the shoot system of this species and described the structures of all three categories: elementary (EM), universal (UM) and basic (OM). This paper describes the life form and analyses the rhythm of seasonal development of the species in the lakes of Tver oblast, and provides data on the seed productivity. As a life form, L. dortmanna is a herbaceous polycarpic, un clearly polycentric shallow-rooted plant with a fibrous root system and non-specialized morphological disintegration. The sympodially growing shoot-system of the plant is formed by two types of different-aged anisotropic replacement shoots: dicyclic vegetative-generative semirosette and annual vegetative rosette shoots. The indicator of actual seed productivity equals on average up to 1621 ± 451 seeds per single vegetative-generative shoot. The module structure of L. dortmanna is presented by 10 variants of elementary modules. The main modules are formed on the basis of a monocarpic dicyclic anisotropic monopodial shoot with the following morpho-functional zones distinguished: 1) the lower zone of inhibition; 2) the recovery zone; 3) the upper zone of inhibition 4) the latent generative zone; 5) the main inflorescence. The functional role of the first three morpho-functional zones of a monocarpic shoot is performed by a minimum number of variants of elementary modules. In the rhythm of seasonal development, the authors distinguished 7 consecutive stages: 1) the period of relative rest; 2) vegetative phase; 3) the phase of budding; 4) flowering; 5) frui ting; 6) secondary activities. By the character of rhythm of seasonal development, L. dortmanna belongs to the group of evergreen plants with a long growing season and flowering in middle-late summer.

Functional morphology of hydrozoan stolons: stolonal growth, contractility and hydroplasmic movement in Gonothyraea loveni (Allman, 1859)

ABSTRACTIn many hydroids the movement of hydroplasm inside the colony is generated by the pulsation of coenosarc walls. We hypothesized that the stolon coenosarc is not only morphologically but also functionally non-homogeneous, and tested this hypothesis using time-lapse video microscopy to study rhythmic patterns – transverse pulsations, longitudinal pulsations and hydroplasmic flows – in the five distal internodes of the stolon in Gonothyraea loveni, which is commonly used in laboratories to study growth and morphogenesis. Growth (apical) and transverse (lateral) pulsations of the coenosarc are rhythmic to varying degrees. Growth pulsations and longitudinal oscillations of the distal part of the growing tip (GT) have the most regular rhythm. In the proximal part of the GT and in the coenosarc of the terminal internode behind the GT, transverse pulsations have a different period, about double that of growth pulsations. The highest amplitude of transverse pulsations is observed in the terminal segment of the stolon and the following segment between the 1st and 2nd upright stems. Longitudinal oscillations of the coenosarc tube are clearly discernible throughout all five internodes, even though they subside with distance from the GT. Thus, the zone of intercalary growth spreads over several internodes of the stolon and is not limited to its distal segment. Hydroplasmic flows are rhythmical. Their velocity generally increases with distance from the GT, but can differ significantly between adjacent internodes, which points to the important role of local subcurrents. There are six morphofunctional zones in the hydroid stolon.

Иммуномодулятор «Имунофан» влияет на клеточный состав морфофункциональных зон тимуса крыс и замедляет его возрастную инволюцию

Иммуномодулятор «Имунофан» влияет на клеточный состав морфофункциональных зон тимуса крыс и замедляет его возрастную инволюцию

Morphogenesis of human fetal thymus during weeks 22–27 of development

Distinctive features of human fetal thymus morphogenesis in early ontogeny in the case of uncomplicated pregnancy have been characterized. A steady increase of thymus dimensions and weight occurred concomitantly to differentiation of morphofunctional zones within the organ. Cell differentiation in the subcapsular and inner cortical zones of the thymus lobes was manifested as changes in parameters of expression of T-lymphocyte antigens CD1, CD2, and CD3 and ultrastructural features of reticuloepithelial cells (REC) type I and II forming a microenvironment for lymphocytes. RECs of the medullar zone formed a glomerular syncytium with desmosomal interepithelial contacts by week 22 of fetal development. Small lymphocytes predominated among thymocytes (66%). Hassall's corpuscles, the structural correlates of morphological and functional maturity, predominated in the fetal thymuses during developmental weeks 25-27.

Development of Melanoma and Cancer without Decreasing of Cambial Cells Number in Morphofunctional Zones

In age groups from 20 to 60 years old, proliferation and differentiation of cells happen in a morphofunctional zone, in the electric field excited by 12 pairs of mother and daughter cells, turned out at cambial cells division. Thus in daughter cells the Src SH2 domain necessary both for cytoskeleton formation and tyrosinase activization is activated. If the conditions for strengthening of tyrosinase activity are created in organism, the portion of Src participating in the cytoskeleton building can decrease to critical level that will lead to development of a malignant tumor. If action of a stimulating factor is quite strong, proliferation of malignant cells begins at a stage of melanocyte, and a melanoma occurs. If action of factors is long and not strong, more remote descendants of daughter cells proliferate, and a cancer appears. In order that there will be a normal differentiation of malignantly changed daughter cells, it is necessary to block the tyrosinase. Thus all SH2 domains will go on cell cytoskeleton formation.

Participation of Morphofunctional Zones in Aging Processes

There are morphofunctional zones in organism tissues, where proliferation and differentiation processes occur. Daughter cells are differentiated in the electric field excited by 12 mother and daughter cell pairs, which turned out at cambial cell division. With aging, the cambial cell number is reduced to 7, which is close to threshold level (6 cells), at which the differentiation of daughter cells is absent. The depression of cambial cell number with aging is connected with the work of another morphofunctional zone—the hypothalamus, which is the major center of vegetative regulation and initially has very high RhoA activity, which has been established in embryogenesis. Estrogens, influencing over the hypothalamus and activating Src kinase in its nuclei, reduce level of RhoA activity, including SCN, responsible for many biorhythms of an organism. As a result, the hyperestrogenemia and therefore a connective tissue at first occur. Then there happens a hypoestrogenemia that leads to sharp falling of proliferative activity of cells, causing the depression of cambial cell number and possibility of a malignant tumor development. Along with this, there are the deep lesions of hormone regulation, leading to some lethal diseases. Thus, the RhoA increasing in hypothalamus and especially in SCN circadian rhythm can counteract the Src kinase intensifying and prevent the processes connected with this.

Reproductive aspects of the velvet belly lantern shark Etmopterus spinax (Condrichthyes: Etmopteridae), from the central western Mediterranean sea. Notes on gametogenesis and oviducal gland microstructure.

In this paper, the reproductive biology of the velvet belly lanternshark Etmopterus spinax was analyzed in Sardinian waters (central western Mediterranean). This species was sexually dimorphic with females growing to a larger size than males. Marked sexual dimorphism in size was also observed along the vertical gradient. Histological analysis of gonads was very useful in assigning macroscopical maturity stages. The investigation on the microstructure of oviducal gland (OG) highlighted four morphofunctional zones with mucous and/or proteic secretions according to the zone and to their specific functions and development. Sperm in the OG was found for the first time in E. spinax. The localization of sperm storage tubules deeper in OG suggested long-term sperm storage, which is in agreement with the long reproductive cycle described. This species matured late, specifically at 80.7% and 79% at the maximum observed size for females and males respectively. Mature specimens were found throughout the year with pregnant females observed in winter and autumn. A low fecundity was observed with a mean ovarian fecundity of 16.5 mature follicles.

Participation of morphofunctional zones in aging processes

There are morphofunctional zones in organism tissues where proliferation and differentiation processes occur. Daughter cells are differentiated in the electric field excited by 12 mother and daughter cell pairs, produced during cambial cell division. With aging, the number of cambial cells is reduced to seven, which is close to threshold level (six cells) at which the differentiation of daughter cells is absent. The depression of number of cambial cells with aging is connected with the work of another morphofunctional zone, i.e., the hypothalamus, which is the major center of vegetative regulation and initially has very high RhoA activity, which is established during embryogenesis. Estrogens, which influence the hypothalamus and activate Src kinase in its nuclei and reduce the level of RhoA activity, including in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, are responsible for many of an organism’s biorhythms. As a result, hyperestrogenemia and, therefore, connective tissue develop first. Then, hypoestrogenemia takes place, which leads to a sharp drop in the proliferative activity of cells, causing a decrease in the number of cambial cells and the possibility of a malignant tumor development. Along with this, there are deep lesions of hormone regulation that lead to some lethal diseases. Thus, an increase in RhoA in the hypothalamus and especially in suprachiasmatic nucleus circadian rhythm can counteract the Src kinase intensifying and prevent the processes connected with this.

Characteristic features of proliferation and differentiation of cambial and daughter cells in morphofunctional zones in normal epithelium and cancer in age aspect

Work of cambial cells of normal epithelium occurs in morphofunctional zone consisting of two subunits with 12 cells in each. 12 pairs of maternal and daughter cells which have turned out at their division, create the electric field making a differentiation of daughter cells. But it is necessary to relax the cortex of epidermal daughter cells by expression of the SH3 domain of Src-kinase in them with the help of dermal cells that leads to depression of RhoA activity in epidermal cells and the further activation of the SH2 domain of Src in them responsible for a differentiation. With the years, the number of epidermal cambial cells falls from 12 in 20 years to 7 in 75+ in consequence of depression of influence of dermal cells on cambial epidermal cells, which results in dropping of expression of SH2 domain and change of a differentiation of epidermal daughter cells. The reduction of the number of cambial cells to threshold size (6) leads to sharp falling of expression of SH2 domain of Src in daughter cells. This involves augmentation RhoA in relation to Src, falling of formation of stresses-fibrils, microtubules. The stretching of nucleus is sharply decreased, which conducts to formation of incomplete loops of chromosomes, simultaneously nearby a centromere and telomere, thus the cell gets features of an epitheliocyte and a fibroblast, the transcription of proteins is broken, and the daughter epithelial cell becomes malignant.

Peculiarities of Proliferation and Differentiation of Cambial and Daughter Cells of Epidermal-Dermal Morphofunctional Zone in Normal Epithelium and in Cancer

The cambial and daughter cells of normal epithelium function in the morphofunctional zone consisting of two subunits with 12 cambial cells in each. Daughter cells are differentiated in an electrical field created by 12 pairs of maternal and daughter cells, products of division of cambial cells located in the same subunit. The differentiation requires relaxation of the cortex of daughter cells via expression of SH3 domain of Src kinase by dermal daughter cells, which leads to a decrease in activity of RhoA in epidermal cells, their stretching, and activation of SH2 domain of Src responsible for differentiation. Reduction of the number of cambial cells to 6 and, consequently, weakening of electrical field produced by them to a threshold value corresponding to very weak stretching of daughter epithelial cells results in a decrease in SH2 domain expression in these cells and its kinase contribution in Src. This leads to an increase in RhoA relative to Src, enhances cell contraction, impairs formation of stress fibrils and focal contacts, reduces cell flattening, and increases cell mobility. The decrease in the number of microtubules, intermediate filaments, and stress-fibrils changes the major cell axis direction, which, in turn, sharply reduces nucleus stretching and leads to impaired chromosome looping out near the centromeres and telomeres; the cells acquires signs of an epitheliocyte and a fibroblast, protein transcription is impaired, and daughter cells are transformed into malignant cell.

Morphological study of the oviductal gland in the smallnose fanskate Sympterygia bonapartii (Müller and Henle, 1841) (Chondrichthyes, Rajidae)

The oviductal gland is an exclusive structure of cartilaginous fishes that produces the egg jelly, forms the tertiary egg envelopes and stores sperm. The biological importance of this structure is related to the special features of the reproductive strategy of the group and to its phylogeny, considering that egg-laying is the ancestral condition in this fish (Dulvy and Reynolds, 1997). This gland of the smallnose fanskate shows four morphofunctional zones. The lining epithelium along the gland is columnar with secretory and ciliated cells. Secretions are mucous and/or proteic according to the zone, and to their specific functions. This is the first report about the microanatomy of the female reproductive tract of S. bonapartii with evidence of sperm storage in the genus.

Age-Specific Morphofunctional Changes in Cambial Cells and Their Derivatives in Human Skin

The count of cambial cells decreases with age in the total morphofunctional zone of the skin. However, their number determines the stretching of the daughter cells, which, in turn, activates the Src domain of protein SH2. Twelve cambial cells is the optimal quantity, at which the SH2 domain (responsible later for full-value stretching and looping of chromosomes near telomeres in the region of epithelial cells formation) is sufficiently active, which is characteristic of the age of 20-40 and 41-59 years. If the number of cambial cells is less than 12, stretching of the nuclei and expression of SH2 domain reduce, this leading to looping of lesser sites of chromosomes, modulating the transcription; the expression of Src and RhoA proteins is imbalanced, which leads to reduction of cell proliferation, modification of the direction of the cell's basic axis, and to hyperdesquamation. This is characteristic of the age of over 60 years. After 75 years of age the number of cambial cells in both subunits of the epidermal basal layer decreased to 7 and is close to the threshold level (6 cells), when interactions between fields of the two subunits are weak or zero. Therefore, despite the involvement of both subunits (14 cells), cell stretching and expression of the Src protein SH2 domain in them drop sharply, while activity of RhoA protein increased, which leads to looping of chromosomes closer to the centromeres, that is, to active development of fibroblasts, which is characteristic of subjects over 75 years of age.

Reaction of Bcl-2-Positive Splenic Cells to Glucocorticoids

Study of the glucocorticoid effects on the counts of Bcl-2-positive cells in various zones of the spleen showed that dexamethasone and prednisolone stimulated migration of apoptosis-resistant cells to the spleen, but their effects on cell distribution in various morphofunctional zones of the spleen were different. The population of Bcl-2-positive cells is divided into morphotypes, differing by location and reaction to glucocorticoids.

Characteristic Features of Function of Morphofunctional Zones in Normal Epithelium, Breast Fibroadenoma, and Breast Cancer

There are data that normal epithelium and benign and malignant tumors are arranged by the type of epidermal proliferative units [1‐3, 12]. Therefore, the same principles of regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation are true in all these tissues. Many authors believe that the appearance of neoplasm is associated with changers in a single morphofunctional unit. In addition, differentiation of stem cells located in the center of such a structural unit was predominantly considered in terms of the effect of the environment (“niche”), hormones, or growth factors on these cells [9‐11]. The goal of our study was to investigate the cooperative interaction of tissue units and possible differentiation of cambial cells in the system of these units in normal and neoplastic tissue. Materials and methods. This study was performed with the tumor tissue of two groups of patients with breast cancer or fibroadenoma; each group consisted of 15 patients 40 to 60 years old. Cancer and fibroadenoma tissue prints were treated with silver nitrate according to Ranvier. Morphometry was performed using a Video-Test 3.2 image analyzer (Russia). The study parameters were the cell area ( S) and the ellipticity degree ( ED ). These parameters were used to determine the size of different subpopulations of cells: filial ( S = 52.4 µ m 2 , SE = 0.61), early filial ( S = 61 µ m 2 , SE = 0.93), reserve ( S = 43.7 µ m 2 , SE = 0.58), elongated ( S = 43.0‐47.4 µ m 2 , SE = 0.26‐0.42), and oval ( S = 51.7‐ 89 µ m 2 , SE = 0.62‐0.78). In each case, we analyzed two thousand cells. The proportion of each type of cells in the population was determined for 250 cells, which corresponds to the content of cells in one functional zone. Results. Earlier, we found that epithelial cells are groups into rosettes containing six or seven cells in the periphery and three or four cells in the center [5, 7, 8]. Rosettes, in turn, are joined into morphofunctinal zones. Each zone consists of approximately 24 rosettes

Comparative Analysis of the Work of Morphofunctional Zones in Normal Epithelium, Fibroadenoma, and Cancer of the Breast

Twenty-four rosettes (proliferative epidermal units) in epithelial tissue are united into morphofunctional zones, where cambial cells proliferate with the formation of maternal and daughter cells and these latter ones differentiate under the influence of electrical field generated by 12 maternal cells. The number of cambial cells in morphofunctional zone of a malignant tumor is reduced at least 2-fold. Hence, the number of maternal cells is reduced to 6, which is insufficient for electric field generation and stimulation of daughter cells differentiation. The percentage of cambial cells in a benign tumor decreases 1.5 times. Daughter cells are differentiated in an electric field whose strength is below optimal, but above the threshold value at which cells do not differentiate; hence, differentiation is incomplete.

Estimation of the number of mast cells in digestive organs of rats and frogs

The method of determining the concentration of mast cells in all tissues of an organ as described gives statistically correct values. The use of this method has shown that the concentration of mast cells within the confines of one morpho-functional zone in organs of the digestive tract of rats and frogs is constant. In the tongue it is the same both along the length of the organ and in symmetrically opposite parts. The concentration of mast cells falls from the tongue toward the stomach.