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We studied ultrastructure and vesicular structures in endothelial cells of myocardial micro-vessels in burn patients. Electron microscopy revealed a significant decrease in volume density of vesicular structures in the endotheliocytes of myocardial capillaries in patients with burn septicotoxemia. The observed structural signs of endothelial dysfunction revealed in this category of patients can be a promising area for further research and for the development of methods of pathogenetic correction of myocardial disorders in the case of burn injury.

The prostatotropic activity of glycyrrhizic acid disodium salt (Na2GA) was studied in the models of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) induced by chronic injection of sulpiride (40 mg/kg intraperitoneally for 8 weeks) or testosterone propionate (20 mg/kg subcutaneously for 4 weeks) in the Wistar rats. The oral administration of Na2GA in a dose of 100 mg/kg produced a moderate antiproliferative effect in both BPH models resulting in reduced volume density of prostatic epithelium (in the testosterone model) and increased volume density of the glandular lumen (in both models). The observed prostatotropic effects of Na2GA were similar to those of Permixon and finasteride, but they were less pronounced as confirmed by smaller drops in epithelial volume density and epithelial-to-stromal ratio compared to the effects of both reference drugs.

Immunohistochemical assay was employed to determine localization of MMP-2 in cardiomyocytes of WAG rats and changes in MMP-2 expression during modeled cardiomyopathy induced by single intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (125 mg/kg) alone or in combination with preventive intraperitoneal administration of an equal dose of asparcam-L (potassium-magnesium asparaginate) 30 min prior to the cytostatic. In the myocardium of control and experimental rats, MMP-2 was mostly located in cardiomyocyte nuclei. During the development of cyclophosphamide-induced cardiomyopathy (in 3 days after injection), the index of MMP-2-positive cardiomyocyte nuclei increased by 76%. In contrast to control hearts, MMP-2 was also expressed in the cardiomyocyte sarcoplasm. Preventive injection of asparcam-L moderated the cardiotoxic effect of cyclophosphamide, which manifested in less pronounced increase in the volume density of cardiomyocytes with lytic changes (by 42%) and index of MMP-2+ cardiomyocyte nuclei (by 23%) in comparison with the rats exposed to cyclophosphamide alone.

A complex morphological study of the auricle to determine the human age was performed by evaluating the metric sizes between fixed points in each auricle with axial guidelines. The auricular elastic cartilage in different age periods was characterized by thickening of the cartilaginous plate, different mature and immature cartilage zone ratio, variations in the volume density of the intercellular substance and elastic fibers, and change in the numerical density of individual chondrocytes and isogroups. Aggrecan content in the cartilage was shown to increase in different age periods. Age-related structural changes in the auricular cartilage expand the possibilities of forensic medical examination and hold much promise for the identification of personality.

We compared histological structure of the orbital and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Quantitative morphometry showed that the mean diameter of adipocytes and their volume density in the orbital adipose tissue were significantly lower than in the subcutaneous fat, while volume density of vessels and elements of the connective tissue in the orbital adipose tissue was higher. Previously known and revealed here differences in the structure of orbital and subcutaneous adipose tissue do not answer the question, whether subcutaneous adipose tissue can be used for replacement of the orbital tissue deficit.

We studied the effect of non-selective intracoronary transplantation of bone marrow mononuclears on day 30 after acute coronary infarction on angiogenesis in rats. On days 14 and 30 after transplantation of mononuclear cells, stable formation of new vessels was observed. The number of venules considerably increased after transplantation of mononuclear cells, which was seen from increased volume density of blood vessels and their caliber. Stable vascularization after transplantation of mononuclear cells improves blood supply, which is essential for reparation of the myocardium.

Morphological and morphometric studies of the liver with transplanted Lewis carcinoma were performed after polychemotherapy and correction with betulonic and [3-oxo-20(29)-lupene- 28-oil]-3-aminopropionic acids and their methyl esters. It was demonstrated than betulonic and [3-oxo-20(29)-lupene-28-oil]-3-aminopropionic acids reduced the degree of degenerative changes and volume density of necrotic changes in hepatocytes after polychemotherapy. Methyl esters of these acids little changed the severity and spreading of destructive and necrotic changes in the liver caused by complex cytostatic therapy. It was also shown that all studied triterpenoids exhibited more pronounced antimetastatic effect (evaluated by the decrease in volume density of liver metastases) compared to polychemotherapy.

The progress of drug resistance of RLS(40) resistant lymphosarcoma and specific features of toxic lesions in the liver in polychemotherapy were studied. After intramuscular injection of tumor cells, the mice received a course of polychemotherapy. The tumor material was then collected and transplanted to intact animals, after which polychemotherapy was carried out. A total of 4 passages of tumor cells and 4 polychemotherapy courses were carried out. The expression of mdr1b, bcl-2, and p53 genes in tumor cells increased by 1.3, 2.3, and 1.6 times after 4 courses of polychemotherapy in comparison with intact tumor. Volume density of apoptoses in tumor tissue after 4 polychemotherapy courses decreased 1.7 times compared to that after single course. The increase in cytostatic load was associated with aggravation of destructive changes in the liver: the volume density of necroses in the liver increased 1.3 times after 4 passages of the tumor.

We evaluated pathomorphological changes in the vascular bed of postinfarction heart in various types of remodeling. Dilatational remodeling was characterized by dilation of coronary arteries, increase in their volume density, and regular arrangement. Signs of coronary blood flow reduction and microcirculatory disturbances in the left ventricle were revealed during hypertrophic remodeling. Aneurysmal remodeling was characterized by the presence of small-vascular collateral-anastomotic plexus and reduction of the microcirculatory bed. Endocardial remodeling was accompanied by hypervascularization of the myocardium, formation of new coronary vessels, and reduced capillarization in the left ventricle of postinfarction heart.

Grade IIIB skin burns were treated with a composition based on oxidized dextran with a molecular weight of 40 kDa (oxidation of 7% glucose residues). On day 32 after burn infliction and from the start of the treatment, the area of skin defect in rats was 30% less than in the group without treatment and by 2.3 times less than in rats treated with panthenol. In rats treated with dextran-based composition or panthenol, the eschar was absent on day 21 after the start of the treatment; by day 32, we found cells of surface epithelium, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands above the scar tissue that were absent in untreated animals; in rats treated with the composition, their number was higher by 2.5 times than in animals treated with panthenol. Treatment with the composition increased volume density (by 2.5 times) and numerical density (by more than 3 times) of blood vessels in the wound and reduced signs of inflammation and fibroplastic activity of fibroblasts in comparison with the corresponding parameters in untreated animals or animals treated with panthenol.

Young and middle-aged CBA mice were injected with "street" heroin in increasing doses for 14 days. Volume density of perisinusoid argirophilic fibers increased in both age groups (the increase being more pronounced in middle-aged mice), while the levels of spontaneous, LPS- and ConA-stimulated splenocyte proliferation decreased in young mice. Six months after heroin discontinuation further progress of liver fibrosis was observed in young mice.

Inbred animals serve as an adequate model to study the role of genetic factors in adaptive, disadaptive, and pathological processes. Morphofunctional study of the immune system was performed on intact BALB/c and C57Bl/6 mice. The structural and functional parameters of the immune system in BALB/c and C57Bl/6 mice differ under physiological conditions. In BALB/c mice, volume density of T zone in the spleen and production of IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-10, and TNF-α were much higher than in C57Bl/6 mice. However, IL-12 production in BALB/c mice was lower than in C57Bl/6 mice. C57Bl/6 mice were characterized by higher cytostatic activity of splenic NK cells. The observed interstrain differences are genetically determined and contribute to the type of adaptive processes and different sensitivity of these mice to pathogenic agents.

Sixty-four male Wistar rats were subjected to repeated complete starvation with free access to water. Each starvation period lasted 6 days and was followed by a 7-day recovery period. The concentration of cardiomyocytes (CMC) and their total number in the left ventricle (LV) were measured after alkaline dissociation of the myocardium. The volume density of muscle fibers and their absolute total mass in the LV were determined by stereological analysis. It is shown that after 6 successive starvation periods the proliferative potential of the CMC population is reduced.

It is shown that as soon as the 1st day after transfer to high latitudes, the regenerative processes are suppressed in some cardiomyocytes, this manifesting itself in lytic changes of the sarcoplasm and organelles in the perinuclear zone. After flight in the middle latitudes morphological signs of disturbances in the processes of intracellular regeneration are observed only toward the end of the experiment. Intracellular spatial reorganization of cardiomyocytes for transfer to high latitudes and for flight in the middle latitudes has a stereotypic pattern and primarily manifests itself in an increase of the volume density of myofibrils and a decrease of this parameter for mitochondria.

Male BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with BCG vaccine. After 1 month therapy was started: isoniazid or composition of isoniazid with dialdehyde dextran (CID) obtained by chemical and radiochemical methods. The therapeutic efficiency evaluated by the number granulomas in the liver and lungs and granuloma size was higher in mice treated with CID obtained by the radiochemical method in comparison with mice treated with isoniazid and with CID obtained by the chemical method. Hepatotoxicity evaluated by volume density of degenerative hepatocytes and necrotic zones was higher in mice treated with CID obtained by the radiochemical method than in animals treated with isoniazid, because CID contained free isoniazid and isoniazid bound to dialdehyde dextran.

Morphological changes in the liver of pregnant C57Bl/6 mice infected with BCG vaccine before pregnancy and on day 13 of gestation were studied by means of light microscopy and morphometry. The formation of BCG granulomas in mice of both groups was followed by a decrease in the numerical density and diameter of granulomas, increase in the volume density of hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis, and rise in the numerical density of binucleate hepatocytes (compared to nonpregnant mice infected with BCG vaccine).

Swollen clarified mitochondria were found during postischemic reperfusion in cardiomyocytes with and without signs of myofibril relaxation. The values of morphometric parameters of mitochondria were similar in both groups of cells studied. Mean indexes characterizing the condition of cardiomyocyte mitochondria may serve as quantitative criteria of the severity of myocardial damage: surface to volume, ratio, visual index of mitochondrial condition and relative volume density, i.e. volume density with respect to control cell volume.

A comparative stereometric investigation was made of the intramural arterial bed of the wall of the left ventricle in 20 injected and 30 noninjected hearts from clinically healthy persons aged 24–87 years dying as a result of trauma. The volume density of the intramural arterial bed of the myocardium (Vv) of the wall of the left ventricle was found to be on average 9 times greater in the injected than in the noninjected hearts. The value of Vv was highest with an average type of coronary blood supply. A nonlinear relationship was found between Vv and age. With an increase in the weight of the heart, Vv fell. In hearts of equal weight from women and men, Vv was significantly higher in women. The noninjection stereometric method of investigation of the intramural arterial bed of the heart simplifies the evaluation of the state of the myocardial blood supply, makes it more objective, and can be used in morbid anatomical practice.

By methods of light and electron microscopies, morphometric and stereologic analysis the effect of ethanol, thiamine deficiency diet and ethanol combined with B1 hypovitaminosis in 24 Wistar male-rats during 6 weeks was studied. Ultrastructural features of decreasing protein synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism were revealed both in ethanol administration and in B1 hypovitaminosis. There is shown in alcoholic intoxication the statistically significant decrease of capillary volume density and increase of volume density of connective tissue cells in myocardium. It was shown, that B1 hypovitaminosis resulted in decrease of myocardial mass mainly at the expense of volume density and absolute total mass of muscle fibers. The most expressed changes of tissue organization were revealed in combined influence of ethanol and B1 hypovitaminosis.