Dynamics of morphological and immunohistochemical changes in myocardium during hypothyroidism modeling in experiment

An experimental model of hypothyroidism was obtained by thyroidectomy. The operation was carried out on 57 sexually mature male rats weighing 250–300 g. The experiment lasted 45 days. Laboratory animals were removed from the experiment on days 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, 35th and 45th. As a control, 15 rats were used that were not operated on. For histological examination, pieces of rat myocardium were taken from the left and right ventricles. The pieces were fixed in 10% buffered formalin for 10 days. Histological sections were prepared in a standard manner. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, picrofuchsin according to van Gieson, toluidine blue, according to Mallory. Results of the study: In the myocardium of rats, hemodynamic disorders, edema, hydropic degeneration of cardiomyocytes, myocytolysis, fragmentation of muscle fibers, colliquation necrosis, compression and atrophy of muscle fibers were found. An immunohistochemical study revealed a decrease in the expression of desmin and sarcomeric actin.

Medullary bone in male budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) with testicular neoplasms

Medullary bone is a calcium-rich, labile bone normally occurring in female birds with each egg-laying cycle. The stimulus for formation of medullary bone is, in part, the cyclic increase in serum estrogens produced by preovulatory ovarian follicles. Increased bone density due to formation of medullary bone, particularly in pneumatic bones, has been termed polyostotic hyperostosis, even if physiologic. This study investigated the formation of medullary bone in nonpneumatic (femur) and pneumatic (humerus) bones in sexually mature male budgerigars submitted for autopsy. Of the 21 sexually mature male budgerigars submitted for autopsy, 7 (33%) had medullary bone in 1 or more bones examined. All 7 male budgerigars with medullary bone had a testicular neoplasm, which was morphologically consistent with a testicular sustentacular cell tumor, seminoma, or interstitial cell tumor. Medullary bone was not present in the 14 cases with other diseases. Medullary bone formation in pneumatic and nonpneumatic bones can occur in male budgerigars with testicular neoplasms. Radiographic increases in medullary bone density, particularly in the humerus, could provide antemortem indication of testicular neoplasia in male budgerigars.

New record of bioluminescence in Odontosyllis cf. australiensis (Annelida: Syllidae: Eusyllinae) in Japan

Bioluminescence is widespread in the marine environment. The bioluminescence of some species of the fireworm Odontosyllis (Annelida: Syllidae: Eusyllinae) has been well studied, although the presence or absence of bioluminescence in most species of this genus is yet to be revealed. The bioluminescent worms were observed after sunset around the new moon day in July and October 2020 and in July to October 2021 in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on two mitochondrial and one nuclear gene sequence showed that the worms were closely related to Odontosyllis australiensis, but the partial 16S rRNA gene sequences differed by 2% between those of the Japanese and Australian material. Because only epitokes, i.e. morphologically modified sexually mature worms, were collected, further studies on morphological characters of atokes would be required in the future. We therefore tentatively refer to them as Odontosyllis cf. australiensis. Molecular phylogenetic analysis also showed that known bioluminescent Odontosyllis species belong to various lineages.

Targeted deletion of liver-expressed Choriogenin L results in the production of soft eggs and infertility in medaka, Oryzias latipes

Egg envelopes (chorions) in medaka, Oryzias latipes, are composed of three major glycoproteins: ZI-1, − 2, and − 3. These gene-encoded chorion glycoproteins are expressed in the liver and/or ovarian oocytes of sexually mature female fish. In medaka, the glycoproteins produced in the female liver are induced by estrogen as Choriogenin (Chg.) H and Chg. H minor (m), which correspond to the zona pellucida (ZP) B (ZPB) protein in mammals, and Chg. L, which corresponds to ZPC in mammals. Chg. H, Chg. Hm, and Chg. L, are then converted to ZI-1, − 2, and − 3, respectively, during oogenesis in medaka ovaries.In the present study, we established a medaka line in which the chg.l gene was inactivated using the transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) technique. Neither intact chg.l transcripts nor Chg. L proteins were detected in livers of sexually mature female homozygotes for the mutation (homozygous chg.l knockout: chg.l−/−). The chg.l−/− females spawned string-like materials containing “smashed eggs.” Closer examination revealed the oocytes in the ovaries of chg.l−/− females had thin chorions, particularly at the inner layer, despite a normal growth rate. In comparing chorions from normal (chg.l+/+) and chg.l−/− oocytes, the latter exhibited abnormal architecture in the chorion pore canals through which the oocyte microvilli pass. These microvilli mediate the nutritional exchange between the oocyte and surrounding spaces and promote sperm-egg interactions during fertilization. Thus, following in vitro fertilization, no embryos developed in the artificially inseminated oocytes isolated from chg.l−/− ovaries. These results demonstrated that medaka ZI-3 (Chg.L) is the major component of the inner layer of the chorion, as it supports and maintains the oocyte’s structural shape, enabling it to withstand the pressures exerted against the chorion during spawning, and is essential for successful fertilization. Therefore, gene products of oocyte-specific ZP genes that may be expressed in medaka oocytes cannot compensate for the loss Chg. L function to produce offspring for this species.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide indirectly elicits pituitary LH secretion independent of GnRH in female zebrafish

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (Vip) regulates luteinizing hormone (LH) release through the direct regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons at the level of the brain in female rodents. However, little is known regarding the roles of Vip in teleost reproduction. Although GnRH is critical for fertility through the regulation of LH secretion in vertebrates, the exact role of the hypophysiotropic GnRH (GnRH3) in zebrafish is unclear since GnRH3 null fish are reproductively fertile. This phenomenon raises the possibility of a redundant regulatory pathway(s) for LH secretion in zebrafish. Here, we demonstrate that VipA (homologues of mammalian Vip) both inhibits and induces LH secretion in zebrafish. Despite the observation that VipA axons may reach the pituitary proximal pars distalis including LH cells, pituitary incubation with VipA in vitro, and intraperitoneal injection of VipA, did not induce LH secretion and lhβ mRNA expression in sexually mature females, respectively. On the other hand, intracerebroventricular administration of VipA augmented plasma LH levels in both wild type and gnrh3-/- females at 1 hour post-treatment, with no observed changes in pituitary GnRH2 and GnRH3 contents and gnrh3 mRNA levels in the brains. While VipA’s manner of inhibition of LH secretion has yet to be explored, the stimulation seems to occur via a different pathway than GnRH3, dopamine, and E2 in regulating LH secretion. The results indicate that VipA induces LH release possibly by acting with or through a non-GnRH factor(s), providing proof for the existence of functional redundancy of LH release in sexually mature female zebrafish.

Reproductive performance of sows inseminated with diluted semen treated with homeopathic medicine

Aims: this study sought to assess the reproductive performance of sows inseminated with sperm treated with homeopathic medicines. Materials and methods: the semen of 2 sexually mature boars age 18 months Pietrain and Duroc cross-bred with similar genetic and reproductive performance were chosen, as well as 125 sows. Sixteen samples of semen were collected and standardized through semen evaluation. Three homeopathic preparations and a placebo (control) were tested on the sperm (n=31/32 per group): Avena sativa 6cH, Pulsatilla nigricans 6cH and Avena sativa 6cH + Pulsatilla nigricans 6cH. Sows were inseminated 3 times with the same estrous diagnostic procedures. Results: there was significant difference (p

Morphofunctional State of the Mature Rats Pituitary Gland under Readaptation Conditions to the Long Influence of Heavy Metal Salts Complex and Correction with L-Tocopherol

The purpose of the study was to study the morphofunctional rearrangements of the structural components of the adenohypophysis of sexually mature male rats under the condition of a 30-day period of readaptation to the long-term influence of salts of heavy metals (zinc, copper, iron, manganese, lead and chromium) and taking a corrector drug. Materials and methods. The experiment was carried out on 24 white sexually mature male rats, which were divided into 1 control and 1 experimental group. The experimental group consisted of rats that consumed ordinary drinking water for 30 days after 90 days of receiving water saturated with a combination of heavy metal salts: zinc (ZnSO4 7H2O) – 5 mg / l, copper (CuSO4 5H2O) mg / l, iron (FeSO4) – 10 mg / l, manganese (MnSO4 5H2O) – 0.1 mg / l, lead (Pb (NO3) 2) – 0.1 mg / l and chromium (K2Cr2O7) – 0.1 mg / l and L-tocopherol corrector. Results and discussion. With a 30-day period of readaptation to the action of a complex of salts of heavy metals, combined with the intake of a corrector drug L-tocopherol, morphological rearrangements of a nonspecific polymorphic nature developed in the structural components of the pituitary gland: compensatory hypertrophy and increased vascularization of the pituitary gland were observed, the state of rheological properties of the blood improved, the number of chromophiles increased and the number of chromophobes decreased, the processes of cyst formation disappeared, the stress from the adaptive processes in the glandulocytes of the adenohypophysis decreased, namely their secretory activity, the expression of Hsp90α receptors in the cytoplasm of adenocytes significantly increased. Negative rearrangements include an increased value of the fibrous component of the connective tissue of the intertrabecular spaces, increased collagenization of the wall of veins and capillaries, preservation of stromal edema, plethora of hemocapillaries, the presence of a small number of adenocytes with signs of vacuolization of the cytoplasm, balloon dystrophy. Conclusion. A comprehensive study of the structural components of the adenohypophysis of the test animals under the condition of a 30-day period of readaptation to long periods of consumption of heavy metal salts and correction with L-tocopherol certainly indicate a number of adaptive and regenerative morphofunctional changes aimed at reducing the stress of adaptive processes on the part of the adenohypophysis in response to cancel the action of the stress factor

Effect of the clathrate complex of selenopyran and β-cyclodextrin on the rate of healing of a conditionally aseptic full-thickness planar wound in rats

Introduction. Selenopyran is an organic selenium compound with sharply hydrophobic properties. An increase in solubility in water (and as a consequence – and bioavailability) is possible due to the formation of inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins.Aim. The aim of this work was to study the effect of a gel containing a clathrate complex of selenopyran with β-cyclodextrin on the rate of wound healing on a model of a conditionally aseptic full-thickness planar wound in rats.Materials and methods. The object of the study was a gel containing a clathrate complex of selenopyran with β-cyclodextrin (the content of selenopyran in the gel was 0.1 %). A model of a full-thickness planar wound in sexually mature male rats was used. 20 individuals were divided into 2 groups – intact (without treatment) and experimental (received gel treatment). Efficacy was assessed by the change in wound area at 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 14 days after application of wound.Results and discussion. The results of the study showed that the relative area of the wounds in the treated animals by the 3rd day of the experiment was less than in the intact ones. On the fifth day of the experiment, the differences were statistically significant (57.49 ± 12.51 % in treated animals versus 85.27 ± 26.61 % in intact animals). By the 14th day of the experiment, there were practically no differences in the groups of animals.Conclusion. The results obtained indicate that when using a gel containing selenopyran in combination with β-cyclodextrin, it accelerates the transition from the inflammation phase to the proliferation phase. This is most likely due to the antioxidant properties of selenopyran. Considering the lower concentration of selenopyran in comparison with the therapeutic concentrations of other antioxidants (taurine, allantoin), it can be considered as a promising wound healing agent for further study.

Morphometric characteristics of the mucous membrane and the cartilaginous component of the larynx are normal at different times during the experimental opioid effect and during withdrawal

Background. The problem of uncontrolled use of opioid drugs is extremely relevant based on the data of domestic and world statistics which are covered in the scientific literature. That is why the study of indicators of morphometric characteristics of the laryngeal mucosa under opioid exposure under experimental opioid exposure will be of interest to both morphologists and practical otorhinolaryngologists. Objective: To study the morphometric parameters of the laryngeal mucosa in normal at different times of the experimental opioid effect and its cancellation. Methods. The material of the study were sexually mature, outbred rats - males in the amount of 61 animals, weighing 80 - 135 g, aged 4.5 - 7.5 months. Histological specimens were prepared according to conventional methods. All morphometric studies were performed using primary (unedited) photographs taken on a Meiji MT4300 LE microscope, Canon EOS 550D x100 lens. All statistical calculations were performed using RStudio v. 1.2.5042. Results. Throughout the experiment, the change of morphometric parameters of the laryngeal mucosa with signs of wavy growth and decline was clearly observed at all times. More positive was the dynamics of morphometric parameters after the abolition of the opioid analgesic, which hypothetically suggests the process of recovery of the mucosa, even after prolonged administration of the opioid.