Swimming Training Modifies Stress-induced Changes in the Hippocampal Morphology and Spatial Memory in Rats

This study assessed the effect of swimming training on morphology (Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), dark cells and thickness of CA1 and DG) of the hippocampus and spatial memory performance in young male rats exposed to chronic stress. Adult male wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups: swimming training (ST); exposure to chronic mild stress (CS); exposure to chronic mild stress followed by swimming training (CS + ST); exposure to chronic mild stress followed by a recovery period (CS + recovery); control group with no exercise or stress intervention. Spatial memory was measured by Morris Water Maze (MWM). Results: The lowest GFAP and number of dark cells, the highest thickness of CA1, DG, and spatial memory performance were observed in the ST group. In the CS + ST group, swimming training reduced GFAP and the number of dark cells, increased thickness of CA1 and DG, and memory performance, compared to control and CS + Recovery. In the CS group, GFAP and the number of dark cells were highest and thickness of CA1 and DG were lowest among the study groups. In the CS + Recovery group, GFAP, and the number of dark cells were lower, compared to the CS group. Conclusion: swimming training could attenuate astrogliosis and the number of dark cells in both stressed and non-stressed rats and its effect on non-stressed rats was more prominent than in stressed rats. Among young male rates, swimming training could improve stress-induced spatial memory performance and hippocampal morphology.

THEORETICAL JUSTIFICATION OF THE WORK OF THE WAX PRESS "FOX" WHEN PRESSING WAX FROM WASTE

Пчеловодство является важной отраслью сельского хозяйства. Одним из важнейших продуктов пчеловодства является воск, получаемый из пчелиных сотов. При перетопке тёмных пчелиных сот, в которых выводился пчелиный расплод, неизбежно остаются отходы - мерва. Для извлечения воска из мервы применяются прессы различных конструкций. В силу простоты конструкции наибольшую популярность среди пчеловодов приобрёл воскопресс «Лисица». Целью настоящего исследования является теоретический анализ сил, действующих в воскопрессе «Лисица» при прессовании мервы, а также практическое определение количества получаемого воска из мервы в зависимости от развиваемого давления прессования. В статье дано теоретическое обоснование процесса отжима мервы с использованием воскопресса «Лисица». Представлена кинематическая схема воскопресса, обозначены силы, действующие в нём при отжиме мервы. Приведено уравнение моментов сил и даны формулы для расчёта давления прессования мервы. Установлено, что развиваемое давление прессования напрямую зависит от эффективной длины верхнего рычага воскопресса и приложенного к нему усилия. В тексте работы приведены материалы и методика исследований с описанием экспериментальной установки и контрольно-измерительных приборов. Получены результаты исследования влияния давления прессования мервы на количество получаемого воска. Установлено, что при увеличении давления прессования в 2 раза, с 86 до 172 кПа, выход воска при прессовании мервы увеличивается в 1,5 раза и составляет 459 г для тёмных сот и 361 г для коричневых. В статье даны выводы и рекомендации по улучшению работы воскопресса, а также приведён анализ полученных аналитических зависимостей Beekeeping is an important branch of agriculture. One of the most important products of beekeeping is wax obtained from honeycombs. When re-digging dark honeycombs in which the bee brood is displayed, waste is inevitably left. Presses of various designs are used to extract wax from waste. Due to the simplicity of the design, the most popular among beekeepers was the "Fox" wax press. The purpose of this study is a theoretical analysis of the forces acting in the "Fox" wax press when pressing waste from wax, as well as a practical determination of the amount of wax produced from waste depending on the developed pressing pressure. The article provides a theoretical justification for the process of pressing waste from wax using the "Fox" wax press. The kinematic scheme of the wax press is presented, and the forces acting in it when pressing waste from wax are indicated. The equation of moments of forces is given and formulas for calculating the pressure of pressing waste from wax are given. It is established that the developed pressing pressure directly depends on the effective length of the upper arm of the wax press and the force applied to it. The text of the work contains materials and methods of research with a description of the experimental installation and control and measuring devices. The results of the study of the influence of the pressure of pressing waste from wax on the amount of wax produced are obtained. It was found that with an increase in the pressing pressure of 2 times, from 86 to 172 kPa, the output of wax during the pressing of waste increases by 1.5 times and is 459 g for dark cells and 361 g for brown ones. The article provides conclusions and recommendations for improving the operation of the wax press, as well as an analysis of the obtained analytical dependencies

Microanatomy of the American Malaria Vector Anopheles aquasalis (Diptera: Culicidae: Anophelinae) Midgut: Ultrastructural and Histochemical Observations

The mosquito gut is divided into foregut, midgut, and hindgut. The midgut functions in storage and digestion of the bloodmeal. This study used light, scanning (SEM), and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy to analyze in detail the microanatomy and morphology of the midgut of nonblood-fed Anopheles aquasalis females. The midgut epithelium is a monolayer of columnar epithelial cells that is composed of two populations: microvillar epithelial cells and basal cells. The microvillar epithelial cells can be further subdivided into light and dark cells, based on their affinities to toluidine blue and their electron density. FITC-labeling of the anterior midgut and posterior midgut with lectins resulted in different fluorescence intensities, indicating differences in carbohydrate residues. SEM revealed a complex muscle network composed of circular and longitudinal fibers that surround the entire midgut. In summary, the use of a diverse set of morphological methods revealed the general microanatomy of the midgut and associated tissues of An. aquasalis, which is a major vector of Plasmodium spp. (Haemosporida: Plasmodiidae) in America.

Metastasis of adrenal cortical cancer into the lungs (rare observation)

Adrenocortical cancer (ACC) – a neoplasm of the adrenal cortex, which is rare, in 0.02–0.06% of cases. It is characterized by various clinical manifestations in the form of hypercorticism of varying severity and unfavorable prognosis. Typically, a tumor in the form of a node, often with signs of infiltration growth. Some tumors are formed by light and dark cells, there is often significant cellular polymorphism. Malignant tumors of the adrenal cortex have a pronounced tendency to hematogenous metastasis, usually in the lungs, bones and other organs. The article presents a rare clinical case of metastatic lung injury, identified 22 years after the removal of the adrenal malignant tumor (AKP).

Karyometric and electron microscopic studies of dark and light cells of the adrenal cortex in mammals

The purpose of this study is a comparative study of dark and light cells of cortical parenchyma of the adrenal glands in mammals using light and electron microscopy. Material and methods. Cariometric and electron microscopic studies of the adrenal glands of 9 mammalian species have been carried out: Vulpes vulpes (fox), Vulpes lagopus (arctic fox), Canis familiaris (dog), Мartes zibellina (sable), Mustela vison (mink), Enhydra lutris (sea ape); Castor fiber (river beaver); Callorhinus ursinus (fur seal); Ovis aries (sheep). Serial paraffin sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, iron hematoxylin, Heidenheim azan, the PAS-reaction was used, the color of the trichrome-PAS and the tetrachromium-PAS. RNA was detected by the reaction of Brashe and gallocyanin by Einarsson. For the detection of lipids, frozen sections were stained with Sudan III + IV, Black Sudan. The number of dark and light cells in the cortex of the adrenal mink in different seasons was determined. On electron micrographs, the amount of lipid droplets and mitochondria in the fascicle of the adrenal cortex was counted. Results. In the cortex of the adrenal glands of mammals, dark and light cells are present. Dark cells, as far as accumulation of sudanophilic substances are converted into light cells, which with further accumulation of lipids undergo destructive changes. Also found are the dark dying cells of the adrenal cortex, characterized by densification of the cytoplasm, pycnosis of nuclei, accumulation of yellow-brown pigment. Dark cells have larger nuclei, give more intense reaction to RNA and ketosteroids and are more active secretory cells compared to light adrenocorticocytes. Electron microscopy in dark cells reveals a large number of mitochondria and a significant amount of lipid droplets are present. Light cells contain many lipid inclusions and few mitochondria.

Stria vascularis and vestibular dark cells: characterisation of main structures responsible for inner-ear homeostasis, and their pathophysiological relations

The regulation of inner-ear fluid homeostasis, with its parameters volume, concentration, osmolarity and pressure, is the basis for adequate response to stimulation. Many structures are involved in the complex process of inner-ear homeostasis. The stria vascularis and vestibular dark cells are the two main structures responsible for endolymph secretion, and possess many similarities. The characteristics of these structures are the basis for regulation of inner-ear homeostasis, while impaired function is related to various diseases. Their distinct morphology and function are described, and related to current knowledge of associated inner-ear diseases. Further research on the distinct function and regulation of these structures is necessary in order to develop future clinical interventions.

Ultrastructural changes in the follicular epithelium of Ceratophrys cranwelli previtellogenic oocytes

SummaryIn this work we carried out ultrastructural, autoradiographic and biochemical analyses of the follicular epithelium during C. cranwelli previtellogenesis. This study revealed that the follicular epithelium in early previtellogenesis is constituted of a single layer of squamous homogeneous cells. During mid-previtellogenesis two types of cells develop: dark cells and clear cells. The follicular dark cells are actively involved in the synthesis of RNA, which is transferred to the oocyte through the interface. In late previtellogenesis the dark cells show apoptotic characteristics such as chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation and cytoplasm shrinkage. This process forms apoptotic bodies that seem to be engulfed by the oocyte. Our results show evidence that, during mid- and late C. cranwelli previtellogenesis, the follicular epithelium undergoes remodelling processes interacting with the oocyte.