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The investigation was carried out on 15 Wistar rats--males weighing about 200 mg each. The animals were divided into three groups: one control group and two experimental groups, with five animals in each. In experimental group I the animals received emulsion of Atorvastatin in distilled water at the therapeutical dose of 80 mg/kg of body mass, by stomach tube for 6 weeks. In experimental group II the animals received atorvastatin at the maximal dose of 800 mg/kg of body mass. Skeletal muscles of experimental animals (rats) after 6 weeks' administration of atorvastatin in therapeutical and maximal dosages did not show any essential differences in comparison with the control group, when examined under light microscope. Degenerative changes were observed after Atorvastatin administration, when examined under electron microscope. These changes were dependent upon dosage and were directly proportional to dosage rate. Six-week administration of Atorvastatin in the therapeutical dose (80 mg/kg b. m.) produced invagination of the nuclear envelope into the cell nucleus, and within the cytoplasm, numerous vacuoles, some of which included the myelin structures, were evident. Atorvastatin administration in maximal dosage (800 mg/kg) under electron microscope examination, showed the following differences: the appearance of numerous vacuoles in the perinuclear spaces, and between myofibrils; dilation of mitochondria; disintegration of sacomers; fibrinosis within the intercellular spaces.

The proximal convoluted tubules of the kidney of white Wistar rats were examined. The animals were given Cladribine (2-CdA) subcutaneously at dosages of 0.07 mg/kg b.m./24 h for 7 days and 0.1 mg/kg b.m./24 h for 6 days in three courses with 5 weeks' break between each. The animals were decapitated 24 hours after the last dose of the drug and 4 weeks after the last dose. The kidney samples were taken for ultrastructural examination. Giving Cladribine at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg b.m./24 h for 7 successive days does not lead to instant changes in the ultrastructure of the proximal convoluted tubules. Changes noticed 4 weeks after Cladribine administration are the following: decrease in amount of mitochondria, the presence of numerous vacuoles, changes in the structure of the brush border, presence of numerous glycogen granules, and the presence of a diluted cytoplasm around the nucleus. Giving 2-CdA at the dose of 0.07 mg/kg b.m./24 h for 6 days in three courses leads to similar changes in proximal convoluted tubules with more extensive damages of the brush border. These were no more intensive after 4 weeks' break in Cladribine administration.

The effectiveness of the natural drug--Naran S was studied in the therapy of the topical inflammation of the oral cavity mucous membrane. The experiment was conducted on male Wistar rats that were subjected to induction of inflammatory condition by injecting Freund adjuvant and rinsing oral cavity with the infusion of the drug for the period of 28 days. The analysis of the ultra structure of the epithelium cells was conducted with the use of transmission electron microscope. It was observed that under the influence of the drug, the epithelium undergoes renewal, the cells are joined with thick desmosomes, the nuclei have the proper areolas and the mitochondrium matrix is not oedematic.

Our investigations concerned the head of the parietal part of quadriceps femoris, and we based our investigation on observations of the ultrastructure of muscle fibers using an electron microscope. We observed tissue samples taken from patients (10 men) 25-35 years old, who had old damage of knee joint ligament (after about 6 week's immobilization). In the first group, segments of tissue of parietal head of quadriceps femoris were taken inter-operationally from patients in whom there was found old damage of knee joint ligament. The second group was of tissue segments of this muscle after surgical repair of knee and rehabilitation, which consisted in power training using resistance machines. The muscle fiber samples of quadriceps femoris which were taken from patients during the first operation, showed big changes in their ultrastructure. These changes included: myofibrils disintegration; disturbance of regularly arranged striation in sarcomers; dissappearance of Z line. In the sarcoplasm, we observed large vacuolisation, and in the interfibrillar spaces--an accumulation of exudate and morphotic elements of blood outside the capillary vessels. Observations of muscle tissue after regeneration, showed a big improvement in the muscle cell's ultrastructure--the myofibrils were regularly arranged, and the sarcomers striations showed no deviations from normal structure. We also observed a considerable increase in the number of properly formed ultrastructure mitochondria when compared with the first group.

The aim of the study was the evaluation of the action of a new natural drug--Naran S, elaborated in the Department of Inorganic Chemistry of the Medical University of Lublin (patent registration P.332066) in the treatment of inflammatory conditions of the oral cavity mucous membrane. The experiment was conducted on male Wistar rats. Topical inflammation of the gum was induced by injecting a complete Freund adjuvant (AF) (Calbiochem) into the inter-dental papilla of the lower incisors. The material was taken, fixed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and by the use of the Masson's method after 24 hours, 1, 2, and 4 weeks following the injection time. Morphology of the mucous membrane was examined and it was noticed that in the group treated with Naran S infusion the complete rebuilding of the epithelial strata, collagen fibres took place. The shape of the cells was regular and there occurred the elimination of the tissue fluid in the proper mucous membrane. The results obtained in the study allow to claim that the topically given plant drug thanks to its contents of biologically active substance such as: iridoids, flavonoids, phenol acids, tannins, displays curative activity in the therapy of the inflammatory conditions of the oral cavity mucous membrane.

The experiment was carried out on Wistar rat males weighing about 200 g. Animals from the control group received water and standard granulated fodder ad libitum. Animals from control group II received 20% ethanol ad libitum instead of water. Animals from experimental group I received cephalexin in the single dose of 42 mg/24h, Animals from experimental group II received cephalexin in the dose of 42 mg/24h and 20% ethanol ad libitum. After 10 days animals were decapitated. Histological examinations (H+E staining and PAS reaction) were made on 7 micro thick paraffin slices. It was stated that ethanol causes hyperemia of the renal parenchyma and cephalexin stimulates diuresis. However, concomitant administration of ethanol and cephalexin causes functional changes (inhibition of diuresis) and degenerative changes in capillary loops of some renal corpuscles apart from hyperemia.

It is generally known that glucocorticoids exert an essential influence on digestive tract physiology (2). Many investigations carried out refer to the changes observed in the pancreas under different experimental conditions (4, 5, 6, 7, 8). The investigations of the influence of glucocorticoids on salivary glands and mainly on a parotid gland are very general. Salivary glands play an important role in the initial stages of taking up and assimilating food. Moreover, the produced growth factors and parotin play an important role in tissue development and maturation in young animals (12).

Examinations of the influence of 6-OH-DA (6-hydroxydopamine) upon the structure of nerve cells and their axons have been conducted by many authors and in various aspects (1, 2, 8, 10). They have concerned histochemistry, fluorescence and ultrastructure of neurons and have shown that the substance evokes various changes in the perikaryons and axons of adrenergic neurons. The wall of the small intestine is innervated by external autonomyous nerves and fibres of the intramural autonomyous plexuses. External autonomyous fibres make numerous anastomoses with the neurons of the two intramural plexuses and ganglia: the myenteric one (Auerbach's) and the submucosal one (Meissner's) (6). Both ganglia run along the length of the intestine and their neurons apart from making anastomoses, send axons to the nonstrained muscles cells and glandular cells in the mucosa. As a consequence, the active phase is easily carried over along the alimentary system stimulating action of nonstrained muscles and glandular cells. 6-OH-DA exerts strong action upon the nerve cells and ends, that is why we have decided to examine the changes taking place in the ileum when the substance starts to operate.