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The Ponto-Caspian predatory cladoceran Cercopagis pengoi was first recorded in the Baltic Sea in 1992 (Gulf of Riga). In 1995 it reached high densities in the eastern Gulf of Finland. Seasonal abundance anddistribution of Cercopagis in the Neva Estuary were studied in June-October 1996. Until 21 July densities fluctuated between 0.0 and 4.2 ind m-3. Maximum densities (up to 305 ind. m-3 were observed in August-September, the period of maximum water temperature. On 15 October (surface water temperature 8 deg. C), Cercopagiswas still present in plankton at low densities. C. pengoi was present at almost all stations both in the central gulf and in inshore areas along southern and northern coasts. Although Cercopagis was presentthroughout the water column, its abundance in the upper 10-m was usually higher than deeperdown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the use of radioactive marker of DNA synthesis--3H-thymidine we have studied the dynamics, peculiarities of proliferation and differentiation of osteogenic cells under hind limb unloading of white rats ("tail suspension" method at an angle 35 degrees) during 28 days. The 3H-thymidine was administered at a single dose at the end of the experiment, the biosamples were taken from femoral bones in 1, 48, 96 hr. Light and electron-microscopic radioautography with 3H-thymidine (in 1 hour) have shown, that basic fraction of DNA synthesizing cells in the zones of adaptive remodelling of bone tissue is represented by little-differentiated perivascular cells (that include osteogenic cell precursors). A tendency for a decrease of a labelling index in the 3H-thymidine osteogenic cells on metaphyseal bone trabeculae under hind limb unloading has been established. The dynamics of labelled cells during various time intervals after 3H-thymidine injection testifies to a delay in the differentiation precursors in osteoblasts and their transformation to osteocytes in experiment animals. The obtained data have shown that a long-term supportive unloading leads to lowering the intensity of osteogenetic processes in long bones and reducing bone mass.

With the use of the methods of electron microscopy and autoradiography employing 3H-glycine the study was made of some morpho-functional cells-cells interactions (osteoblasts, osteocytes, macrophages, fibroblasts) in zones of adaptive remodeling of bone structures of the metaepiphyseal femoral bones of white rats which were during 28 days under experimental hypokinesia conditions, as well as of rats, flown on SLS-2 during 2 weeks. It is established that in zones of an increase of mineral matrix resorption some osteoblasts and osteocytes undergo destruction; a part of osteoblasts remains intact. The osteoclasts don't take part in destruction of osteoblasts and osteocytes. The utilization of the osteogenic cells detritus is accomplished by macrophages, coming to these zones. The resorption loci are filled not with the differentiating osteoblastic cells, as it is the case in the norm, but with fibroblasts and the bundles of collagen fibrils (fibrotic tissue) which do not undergo mineralization. Such changes are considered as one of the mechanisms of bone tissue response to a reduction of the supporting load.

We examined the peculiarities of the structure of the blood-vascular bed and perivascular cells in zones of osteogenesis in the epiphyses and metaphises of femoral bones of rats, flown aboard the US laboratory SLS-2 for two weeks by electron microscopy and histochemistry. In zones of bone remodeling, there was a tendency for a reduction of sinusoid capillary specific volume. Endotheliocytes preserve the typical structure. In the population of perivascular cells, we discovered differentiating osteogenic cells that contained alkaline phosphomonoesterase as well as cells that don't contain this enzyme and differentiate into fibroblasts. The fibroblasts genesis in zones of adaptive remodeling of spongy bones leads to a further development of fibrous tissue that is not subject to mineralization., (c2003 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The most typical changes for the bone under the space flight conditions and a long-term hypokinesia are the following: the decreasing in bone mass, the demineralization and a reducing of a mechanical strength. It can lead to osteopenia and osteoporosis development. Also it increases the risk of fractures of supporting bones. Osteopenies, caused by the microgravity, are partially connected with the increasing of a reduction of trabecular bones. [Cytological mechanisms of gravity-dependent reactions in a bone tissue remain in many respects not clear. The study purpose was the analysis of some ultrastructural changes in bone tissue cells of the monkeys (Macaca mulatta), staying during 2 weeks onboard the biosatellite "Bion-11".

We examined the histology and morphometry of biosamples (biopsies) of the iliac crest of monkeys, flown 14 days aboard the "Bion-11", using electron microscopy. We found, that some young osteocytes take part in the activation of collagen protein biosynthesis in the adaptive remodeling process of the bone tissue to microgravity conditions. Osteocyte lacunae filled with collagen fibrils; this correlates with fibrotic osteoblast reorganization in such zones. The osteolytic activity in mature osteocytes is intensified. As a result of osteocyte destruction, the quantity of empty osteocytic lacunae in the bone tissue increases., (c2002 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Microgravity in space flight--situation of a maximum deficit of supporting loading on the skeleton and good model for finding-out of osteopenia and osteoporosis development laws, which are wide-spreading now and are "civilization diseases". Most typical for bones in conditions of a microgravitation by changes are: a decrease of intensity growth and osteoplastic processes, osteopenia and osteoporosis, decreasing of a mechanical strength and the risk of breaches arising (Oganov V.S., Schneider V. (1996)). Cytological mechanisms of gravity-dependent reactions in a bone tissue remain in many respects not-clear. By the purpose of our work was the analysis of some ultrastructural changes in bone tissue cells of the monkeys (Macaca mulatta), staying during two weeks onboard the biosatellite BION -11.

Iliac crest biopsies of Bion 11 monkeys were examined by electron microscopy. The flight samples contained a large number of inactive osteoblasts. Together with ultrastructural changes of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex, the predominance of inactive osteoblasts pointed to a lower rate of specific syntheses. Some osteoblasts were transformed to fibroblast-like cells. It was found that osteogenesis declined, osteoid mineralization changed, and fibrotic zones developed.

In order to estimate the influence of microgravity on osteogenic cells a comparative ultrastructural study of preosteoblastic cells of line MN7, cultivated in space and in ground conditions has been carried out. Morphometric analysis has revealed that in cells exposed during 9 days on board the biosatellite Cosmos 2229 endoplasmic reticulum was not so expensive and the number of myeline-like structures increased as compared to the ground control. Percentage of cells with nucleoli is lower in the flight samples as well. The increase in specific volume of lipid droplets and changed structure of mitochondria testifies to deviation in energy metabolism. The reaction of osteogenic cells to microgravity resulting in suppression of specific functions may contribute to alterations in the bone metabolism under the space flight conditions.

The intensity of osteoclastic resorption and calcium contact were investigated in intact limb bones of the newts flown onboard of biosatellite Cosmos-2229 after amputation of their forelimbs and tail. X-ray microanalysis has shown an increase of calcium content in the bones on the 20th day after operation. Histological study revealed activated osteoclastic resorption on the inner surface of long bones. The newts exposed to weightlessness after the operation had the same level of bone mineralization as the operated ground control ones, but the number of polynuclear osteoclasts increased to a lesser extent.

Three different kinds of cells are distinguished within the epithelium of the pancreas ducts in patients with chronic pancreatitis: main ductal cells among which there are "light" and "dark" forms differing from each other in the level of their biosynthetic apparatus development and being in the state of different functional activity; endocrine cells with morphological features of chromaffin-like and D-cells of the gastrointestinal tact; migrating cells (histocytes, granulocytes, lymphocytes). Characteristic features of destruction in the pathologically altered epithelium are described.

By electron microscopy and autoradiography, a study was made of osteoclasts in the metaphyseal zones of the femora of 1-7-day old rabbits and rats. It was established that depending on the intensity of resorptive processes osteoclasts noticeably differed in their morphology (shape, size, number of nuclei, degree of development of intracellular organelles, "brush border"), as well as in the level of biosynthetic activity registered by incorporation intensity of 3H-uridine and 3H-methionine in these. According to these indices, osteoclasts were classified as young, mature functionally active, and non-active osteoclasts, as well as perishing ones. The defined morpho-functional states represent successive stages of the life cycle of osteoclasts.

In the system of a vascular-cellular complex of cartilage epiphyses the perivascular cells exhibited the highest proliferative activity, as revealed by autoradiography with labelled DNA precursor (3H-thymidine). The constant loss of cells after division in this population is probably associated with their differentiation and transition into another state. This phenomenon is strongly pronounced at the centre of enhondral ossification, and perivascular cells could be considered as one of possible sources of histogenesis developed in cartilage epiphyses.

At the electron microscopical investigation of osteoblasts in different zones of osteogenesis (enchondral foci, metaphyses, endosteum) in the rat and rabbit femoral bone it has been revealed that their population is heteromorphic. As demonstrate cytochemical data and radioautography, using 3H-uridine, 3H-glycine, 35S-sulfate, 45Ca, results of measurements in osteoblast population, 4 morpho-functional states (or types) are defined. In areas of an intensive osteoplastic process there are young osteoblasts (I type), mature functionally active osteoblasts (II type), osteoblasts with a hypertrophic endoplasmic network (cell-depots of the secrete--III type). In preosteoblasts and osteoblasts of the I type a higher than in osteoblasts of other types intensity of 35S-sulfate incorporation and alkaline phosphatase activity is revealed. In osteoblasts of the II type processes of biosynthesis of collagenous proteins predominate. Osteoblasts of the III type are subjected to destruction during secretion process. In the areas where osteopoesis is dying away, osteoblasts of the I and II types transform into a poorly active state, concerning specific biosynthesis (osteoblasts of the IV type). Presence of osteoblasts having various functional states in the areas of intensive osteopoiesis, depends on certain asynchronity of specific processes of biosyntheses, that occur in them. The morpho-functional states described are regarded as a specific peculiarity in function of collagene-producing cells.

Distributional peculiarities and the ultrastructure of multinuclear elastic cells have been studied in the developed thighbone of rat and rabbit fetuses and new-borns. Multinuclear chondro- and osteoclasts exhibit no noticeable structural specificity with respect to the resorption substrate and are considered to be one and the same type of clastic cells whose main function is to resorb the mineralized tissue.

Using electron microscopy and 3H-thymidine autoradiography it has been shown that osteoclasts of rats and rabbits are formed by fusion of cell precursors which become members of the osteoclasts 14 hours following S-phase. Monoblasts and promonocytes are considered as DNA-synthesizing forms. A single injection of parathormone in a dose of 10 units/100 g of body weight leads to an increase in the fractions of DNA-synthesizing cells. Monocytes and macrophages appear to be direct osteoclast precursors in resorption zones. As a result of their fusion there appear "unfixed" polynuclear macrophages (young osteoclasts). The number of osteoclast nuclei increases also at the expense of little-differentiated phagocytes, the inclusion of the latter takes place at different stages of the life span of osteoclasts depending on the intensity of bone resorption processes. The structural characteristics of fusion of cell precursors are considered.