Morphofunctional changes in the glands of the tracheobronchial system following gamma globulin administration

Morpho-functional changes and synthesis of carbohydrate compounds in the mucous membrane of the rat and cat trachea and bronchi have been studied 2, 4, 7, 14 and 24 days after a single and twice administration of gamma-globulin into the respiratory tract and after repeated intrapleural and intramuscular administration following sensibilization with a complete Freund's adjuvant. Dynamic of the changes observed depends, to a great extent, on the mode and multiplicity of administration of the adjuvant. When gamma-globulin is administered into the respiratory tract or intrapleurally, a more active incorporation of 3H-glucose and 35S-sodium sulfate into chondroitinsulphate A, C, sialic acids and glycogen, which are synthesized by cells of the tracheobronchial system glands, occurs. In 14-24 days after gamma-globulin has been administered by any mode, sulfated glycosamineoglycans (of chondroitinsulfate B and heparin type), as well as proteoglycans and sialic acids resistive to treatment with sialidase are accumulating in discharge from the glands. The accumulation of the sulfated glycosamin sulfates is accompanied with an increased level of serum antibodies specific for the administered antigen.     

Characteristics of the functional maturity of the insular apparatus of the human pancreas during intrauterine development]

The reactivity of human foetal pancreas was determined by the increase of insulin secretion in vitro in response to the effect of glucose, arginine, theophylline, cyclic AMP and somatotrophic hormone (STH). The results of the experiments have shown that the beta-cells of the islet system in the pancreas of 7-9 weeks old embryos are as yet not able to respond to the main physiological stimulus, glucose, but respond already to cAMP, STH, arginine with glucose. The glands of 10-14 weeks old foetuses are already able to react to glucose and respond to all other stimuli, except arginine. Taken for comparison, the glands of 19-22 weeks old foetuses respond to glucose by the increase of insulin secretion.     

Morphofunctional changes in the lymphoid tissue of the respiratory organs in gamma-globulin administration

By means of macro-microscopic, histologic, radioautographic and immunomorphologic methods, three forms of the lymphoid tissue structural organization have been revealed in the rat respiratory organs: a lymphoid cluster, a lymphoid follicle and a lymphoepithelial nodule. After gamma-globulin is administered intranasally, the ratio of the lymphoid cells in the organs mentioned changes: the number of small lymphocytes decreases, while that of middle, large lymphocytes and blast cells increase. The lymphoid follicles consist of a central and a marginal zones, in the lymphoepithelial nodules the subepithelial and paranodular zones also exist. The gamma-globulin administration stimulates DNA synthesis by the cells of the lymphoid type and their proliferation; that results in increasing number of the antibody-synthesizing cells and is accompanied with an increasing titre of antibodies in washing from the bronchial tree. At a repeated stimulation, the processes are more intensive and develop more quickly.     

Morphofunctional characteristics of the pancreas in the progeny from females with experimental hypothyroidism]

Histophysiological pancreatic indices were studied in 1-, 21- and 30-day-old offsprings of white non-lineal female rats that were given antithyreoid drug mercasolil in the dose 3 mg/kg of body weight during pregnancy and lactation. Chemical inhibition of maternal thyreoid function results in decreasing weight index of the offspring's pancreas, in decreasing section area of the terminal secretory parts, in narrowing the homogenous zone of exocrine pancreocytes, in decreasing the portion occupied by the endocrine part on the section area, as well as in decreasing the index of B/A cells ratio of pancreatic islands and of nuclear volume of basophilic insulocytes. It is possible to conclude from the data obtained that maternal hypothyreosis produced by mercasolil unfavourably affects the process of structural and functional setting and the status of the pancreas in the offspring.     

Stimulation of cellular immunity and immunologic memory be somatotropic hormone]

The role of somatotropic hormone (STH) in the development of delayed hypersensitivity and immunological memory was studied in guinea pigs. The STH injected at periods of sensitization and realization of delayed hypersensitivity stimulated the skin reactions. Suppression of the endogenic STH by the antiserum to the guinea pig. STH prevented development of hypersensitivity at both periods. Hypersensitivity was restored after the cessation of antiserum effects. The period of sensitization proved to be most sensitive, whereas the period of immunological memory persistence remained resistant.     

Morphofunctional state of the cholinergic innervation of the rat pancreas during vagotomy]

Cholinergic innervation of the albino rat pancreas was investigated under normal conditions and after bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (one, three, seven, twenty one days and two months after the operation). In control animals cholinergic nerve fibers were found in all the organ structures -- both in the vascular and in the gland-duct systems. Vagotomy resulted in a short-term increase in the nerve fibers revealed at the end of the first day, followed by their decrease on the seventh day; but in two months the number of detectable nerve fibers approached the initial level.     

Sexually dependent changes in rat somatotropic cells following bilateral adrenalectomy.

In order to elucidate the existence of gender-related variations in both growth hormone (GH) release and the activity of somatotropic cells following bilateral adrenalectomy, a morphometric analysis was performed on GH-immunoreactive cells from adult male and female rats after bilateral adrenalectomy, correlating the findings with the serum levels of the hormone. The results obtained were compared to those found in untreated animals. Bilateral adrenalectomy was seen to induce a decrease in serum GH levels (p less than 0.01) in male rats; this was accompanied by a significant decrease in cellular area (p less than 0.01), cytoplasmic area (p less than 0.05) and nuclear area (p less than 0.01) and by a decrease in the cytoplasmic immunoreaction intensity of GH cells. By contrast, the above-mentioned changes did not appear in the female rats. These results suggest that the action of glucocorticoids on the synthesis and release of GH depends on the sex of the animal.     

Morphofunctional characteristics of the endocrine cells of the stomach following administration of hydrocortisone and L-thyroxine

Electron microscopy with application of specific fluorescent histochemical reaction of Falck, as well as some methods of impregnation made it possible to indentify enterochromaffin cells in the stomach of hyperthyroid rats and the rats after cortisone injection under the conditions ox hyperfunction of the thyroid gland. After 20 days of L-thyroxin injection, and after 10 days of hydrocortisone injection, preceded by L-thyroxin, the amount of enterochromaffin cells in the epithelial layer of the gastric mucosa were noted to increase that was accompanied by simultaneous increase of the number of secretory argyrophil granules in their cytoplasm. Simultaneous injection of L-thyroxin and hydrocortisone, while not decreasing statistically significant amount of the cells, produced degradation of their cytoplasm.     

Effect of hypophysectomy and growth hormone administration on somatostatin and gastrin content in the stomach of rats

The effect of hypophysectomy and bovine growth hormone (GH) administration on somatostatin (SRIF) content as well as gastrin content in the rat stomach was investigated. SRIF content was determined by a specific radioimmunoassay. The total SRIF content in the stomach had decreased 4 weeks after hypophysectomy but was restored significantly in those rats which were subjected to bovine GH administration for 7 days after hypophysectomy. Furthermore, in control rats, an increase in SRIF content in the stomach was observed after 7 days of GH administration. Similar changes in total content of gastrin were observed after hypophysectomy and bovine GH administration, although these changes were not significant. These results indicate that GH may influence gastric function through changes in SRIF and gastrin content in the stomach.