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The minimum and maximum indicators of the length, width, area or volume of organs and structures in the lower urinary tract can normally vary up to 2-3 times. With age, at healthy women the absolute and relative length of the urethra, the urethrovesical angle, and the inclination of the urethra do not change. Both smooth and striated muscle tissues, which are part of various departments of the female urethra, undergo atrophy during the aging process. Smooth muscle tissue is less variable with age, but striated muscle symplasts are sometimes completely absent in urethral biopsies from elderly patients. With age, the vascularization and density of the innervation decrease in the urethral structures, but the content of connective tissue in the external urethral sphincter increases. Urinary tract mobility at young women is more pronounced than at older women. The apparent insufficiency of modern investigations about age-related changes in the lower urinary tract indicates the relevance and need to continue studying of the organ and tissue transformation in the urinary system during aging, this may be important for determining the etiology and pathogenesis of some pathological conditions, such as stress urinary incontinence, as well as for differential diagnosis between age norm and pathology.

Numerous and often contradictory research results specify that the mechanism of increased susceptibility to diseases in old age has no satisfactory explanation so far. Together with it in literature almost completely there are no comparative data on features of surgery and injury influence on a structure and functions of lymphoid organs at patients of different age groups. However, lymph nodes are a marker of activity of inflammatory process in the region, on their changes it is possible to estimate precisely productivity of different medical actions, to predict development of many complications, and, thus, successfully to take actions for their prophylaxis. All this is especially important and actual because of constant increase in average age, in life expectancy of human population and strengthening of surgical activity at patients of advanced and old age.

The features of submandibular lymph node (LN) reactions after lower jaw tissue damage at old rats were studied by method of light microscopy. In LN of old rats for all terms of observation, including intact control, the volume of connective tissue is considerable increased. Besides, old animals in LN have of more change duration of a cortical plateau volume, less - of paracortex and lymphoid nodules without light centers. Features of cellular element number consisted in considerable decrease in quantity of lymphocytes, mitotic figures, immunoblasts and plasmablasts against increase in keeping of macrophages, cells with destruction, stromal elements and erythrocytes.

The reactions of the regional lymph nodes, caused by implantation of the autologous multipotent stromal cells of bone marrow origin (AMSCBMO) to accelerate the healing of mandibular bone defect were studied by fluorescent microscopy in inbred male Wag rats aged 6 months (n=62). After the introduction of polyhydroxyalkanoate transplant containing adsorbed AMSCBMO with a transfected Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) gene into a damaged bone area, the lymphoid nodules in submandibular lymph nodes demonstrated the appearance of numerous large macrophages containing multiple oval fluorescent inclusions in the cytoplasm. The number of these macrophages increased within 2 weeks after surgery and then began to decline. Apparently, AMSCBMO introduced in this way, were partially absorbed by macrophages. After destruction of the structures formed from AMSCBMO, the debris was also phagocytized by macrophages. In either case, these macrophages appeared in the germinal centers of lymphoid nodules in lymph nodes, where the induction of immune responses against DNA and GFP protein was probable.

The effects of the injection of autologous multipotent stromal stem cells of bone marrow origin (MSSCBM) (mesenchymal stem cells) with green fluorescent protein gene, additionally marked with DAPI nuclear stain, close to a thrombosed hindlimb vein, were studied by fluorescent microscopy in adult male Wag rats (n = 214). The control groups consisted of intact rats (n = 12), animals with venous thrombosis without the injection of MSSCBM (n = 71) and rats that received paravasal injection of MSSCBM, but without preliminary modeling of venous thrombosis (n = 72). It was found that MSSCBM participated in the development of granulation tissue at the site of surgical intervention performed during the modeling of thrombosis. The rapid development of granulation tissue at the site of surgical trauma may contribute to faster wound clearance from detritus, nonviable tissue and antigenic substances, early onset of tissue repair processes and rapid healing. Restoration of blood flow in the tissue region of a thrombosed vein began later than after the intravenous injection of MSSCBM.

Methods of light microscopy were used to study the morphological changes of the oral cavity mucosa in rats (n = 48) in chronic renal failure (CRF) of various degrees. It was found that after 6 months of modeling of mild and moderate CRF, lamina propria of the oral cavity mucous membranes was diffusely infiltrated with leukocytes. At the same time, relative density of the distribution of the components of blood and lymphatic vascular bed was increased. In severe CRF, the atrophy and hyperkeratosis of the epithelium of the oral cavity mucous membrane developed, while the lamina propria demonstrated sclerosis and significant increase of leukocyte (primarily neutrophil and monocyte) and macrophage numerical density with the formation of small leukocyte infiltrates. In addition, in moderate and severe CRF, the number of eosinophils and plasma cells was increased in the lamina propria which indicates the possible presence of allergic component in the initiation and maintenance of its inflammation.

In the male Wag rats aged 6 months with the body mass of 180-200 g the luminescent microscopy was used to examine the possibility of lymphatic vessel formation after injection into thrombosed vein of the thigh of autologous multipotent stromal cells of bone marrow origin (AMSCBMO) transfected with green fluorescent protein gene. Animals were sacrificed 4 days and 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks after the injection of AMSCBMO. The control group consisted of intact rats, animals with venous thrombosis receiving no injection of AMSCBMO and those injected with AMSCBMO but without the prior modelling of venous thrombosis. In each experimental and control groups at each time point 11-12 animals were used (total number equal to 226). After the main vein ligation with the subsequent injection of thrombin solution, in addition to the thrombosis of the blood vessels, morphological signs of thrombosis of the lymphatic bed and lymphostasis were present: the dilation of lymphatic vessel lumen, thinning of their layers, intense staining of their luminal heterogeneous content. AMSCBMO, injected into thrombosed vein, were found to directly participate in lymphangiogenesis in the connective tissue around vein, its tissue region and in the area of regional lymph nodes. This is indicated by bright specific luminescence of both individual cells in the wall of the lymphatic vessels, and all their tunics together with the valves, when exposed to UV light.

The uterine tissues of female rats (n=30) with a scarred myometrium were examined by methods of light microscopy after the delivery. 1.5-2 months after the delivery no significant differences in the parameters of blood and lymph flow in the deep layers of the endometrium, myometrium and the myometrial scar tissue were found between the intact rats, nulliparous rats with a scarred uterus, rats that gave birth after laparotomy only and those that gave birth under the conditions of myometrial scar. In the course of pregnancy and labor activity, the damage of the tissues was observed not in the uterine scar proper, but at its borders with the myometrium. This is supported by the old hemorrhages and lymphostasis phenomena, greater number of lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages and erythrocytes. In determining the indications and contraindications to vaginal childbirth in women with scarred uterus it is necessary to examine not only the scar proper, but also its border with the myometrium. The myometrial scar by itself, is not an absolute contraindication to vaginal delivery, the natural delivery is feasible in the absence of cavities with liquid and hemorrhages in the tissues of the uterine scar and at its border with myometrium.

The method of light microscopy was used to study the reactions of the surrounding tissues to the implantation of non-degradable surgical materials (prolene 3/0 thread made from polypropelene, the composite grid made from polypropelene or polyester with polylactic acid) in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of rats 1, 2, 6 and 12 months after grafting. No less than 6 rats were examined in every time point. It was shown that the tissue reactions to implantation of different non-degradable surgical materials follows the general pattern, characteristic of wound process and foreign body reaction. By the first month of observation in both groups of animals the stage of traumatic perifocal inflammation was replaced by the proliferative phase with the formation of new blood vessel and connective tissue. The tendency to reduction of the activity of productive inflammation was observed from the 1st to the 12th month together with the increased fibrous scar transformation of the granulation tissue.

Tissue reactions, accompanying the degradation processes of polylactide (PLA) implants after their placement into the subcutaneous tissue, were studied by the methods of light microscopy in 6 month-old Wag rats (n=24) weighing 180-200 g. It was found that PLA implants became encapsulated by connective tissue. If the implant or its fragment had sharp margins that damaged the tissues, a thick capsule was formed with a distinct inflammatory infiltration and the sclerosis of the surrounding tissues. If the implant had no sharp margins, the capsule was thin, and the activity of inflammation was minimal. In all cases, the giant cells of foreign body type were present in the capsule and next to it. Gradually, during 6 months, the activity of inflammatory process subsided. Inflammation sharply increased 12 months after the implantation, when, as a result of effect of enzymes released by phagocytes and deformation by a capsule, PLA implants were either fragmented or is liquified. PLA-based materials are not totally biodegradable, and may persist in the body for a long time.