[Reactivity of perineuronal astrocytes in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia: an ultrastructural morphometric study].

OBJECTIVE: Previously the ultrastructural alterations of astrocytes have been reported in schizophrenia. Reduced dendritic arborization of the neurons in layer 5 of the prefrontal cortex has been found in schizophrenia. Authors hypothesized that the abnormalities in perineuronal astrocytes (PA) might contribute to these neuronal changes. It was aimed to study the ultrastructure of PA in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Postmortem electron microscopic morphometric study of PA was performed in layer 5, area 10 of the prefrontal cortex in 39 cases of schizophrenia and 37 controls. RESULTS: No significant group differences were found in areas of cell, nucleus, cytoplasm, volume fraction (Vv) of lipofuscin granules and areal density of PA. However, in the subgroup of women with schizophrenia, the areal density of PA was significantly lower and the area of PA was significantly higher as compared to the subgroup of healthy women (-52%, p<0,01; +32%, p<0.05 respectively) and to the subgroup of men with schizophrenia (-56%, p<0,01; +23%, p<0,05 respectively). The area of PA nucleus was negatively correlated with the duration of disease (r= -0.37, p=0.02) and positively with the age of disease onset (ADO) (r=0,47, p<0,01). Areas of PA and of PA nucleus were significantly lower in early ADO (<21 y.o.) as compared to the adult ADO (>21 y.o.) (-24%, p<0.05). Vv of lypofuscin granules was correlated with the age in control group (r=0.52, p=0.001), but not in schizophrenia group (r=0.13, p=0.4). CONCLUSION: Significant differences in PA reactivity in the prefrontal cortex in the schizophrenia are associated with gender and age at onset of the disease.

[Abnormal patterns of cortical synaptic connectivity in schizophrenia].

Electron microscopic morphometric study of postmortem prefrontal cortex (area 10) and visual cortex (area 17) was performed to estimate the numeric density (Nv) of synapses in layers I and II, neurons in layer II and the number of synapses per neuron in layer II in 20 cases of chronic schizophrenia and 16 healthy controls using stereological physical dissector method. In the prefrontal cortex the Nv of axospinous synapses was significantly lower in layer I (-20%, p < 0.05) in schizophrenia group and in the subgroup with predominantly positive symptoms as compared to controls (p < 0.05). On the contrary, a significantly higher Nv of synapses (+24%, p < 0.05) and the number of synapses per neuron were found in layer II (+42%, p < 0.05) in schizophrenia group and in the subgroups of cases with predominantly negative symptoms and a continuous course of schizophrenia (p < 0.001) as compared to the control group. The subgroup of cases with predominantly negative symptoms displayed a significantly lower number of neurons in layer II of the prefrontal cortex compared to controls (p < 0.05) and the subgroup of cases with predominantly positive symptoms (p < 0.01). In the visual cortex the number of axodendritic synapses per neuron in layer II was significantly higher in schizophrenia, but the other parameters did not differ from those in the control group. These prominent abnormalities of synaptic connectivity might be the structural basis for altered cognitive functions associated with changes in intracortical, cortico-cortical, and cortico-subcortical pathways, and could contribute to the formation of positive and negative symptoms and altered neuronal plasticity in patients with schizophrenia.

[Lowered oligodendroglial cell density in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia]. / Snizhennaia chislennaia plotnost' oligodendrogliotsitov v prefrontal'noi kore pri shizofrenii.

Using optical dissector methodology, a morphometric study of numerical density of oligodendroglial cells in layer VI and in adjacent white matter of Broadmann area 10 has been conducted in 23 postmortem brains of schizophrenics and 20 matched controls. Comparing to controls, a significant reduction of numerical density of oligodendroglial cells was found in layer VI (by 31%) and adjacent white matter (by 12%) of schizophrenic patients. The data obtained, as well as ultrastructural signs of oligodendroglial cells apoptosis and necrosis found earlier by the authors, may indicate a loss of these cells in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia, which may, in its turn, result in neuronal and high cortical dysfunctions.

[Morphometric study of ultrastructural changes in oligodendroglial cells in the postmortem brain in endogenous psychoses]. / Morfometricheskaia otsenka ul'trastrukturnykh plasticheskikh perestroek v mozge pri éndogennykh psikhozakh (reaktsii oligodendroglii).

A qualitative and quantitative electron microscopic study of oligodendroglial cells was performed in autoptic (4-6.5 hours after death) prefrontal area 10 in 16 cases of schizophrenia, 6 cases of bipolar affective disorder and 16 normal controls, as well as in the caudate nucleus in same schizophrenic and control cases. The signs of reactive, regressive, and progressive changes of oligodendroglia were described in endogenous psychoses. ANOVA demonstrated a significant decrease in the area of the nucleus, in the volume density of euchromatin, in the volume density and count of mitochondria in oligodendroglial cells in the caudate nucleus and prefrontal area. In affective psychosis, there was a significant reduction in the area of the nucleus and in the volume density of euchromatin and slight changes in cellular organelles. No correlation between the changes and the postmortem interval, age, and neuroleptic therapy, as well as the most pronounced changes in oligodendroglial cells in subgroups of continuous schizophrenia and those with predominantly negative symptoms suggest the involvement of abnormal oligodendroglial cells in the pathogenesis of endogenous psychoses.

[Mossy fibers of the hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease]. / Mshistye volokna gippokampa pri bolezni Al'tsgeimera.

An ultrastructural study of changes in synaptic contacts and astrocytic processes of postmortem hippocampus was performed in 5 cases of Alzheimer's disease. Mossy fibres in the stratum lucidum were examined. Pronounced alterations included clustering of synaptic vesicles, membranous damage and multilamellar profiles in synaptic terminals. There were many hypertrophic astrocytic processes around synapses. The findings suggest that the ultrastructural alterations in mossy fibers expansion, and the disturbance of glio-synaptic relationships might contribute to memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease.

[Synaptic plasticity and the glio-synaptic relationships of the rat hippocampus in age-related memory dysfunction]. / Plastichnost' sinapsov i glio-sinapticheskie sootnosheniia gippokampa krys pri sviazannoi s vozrastom disfunktsii pamiati.

Qualitative and quantitative studies of structural changes of synaptic contacts and processes were performed in aged memory-non-impaired an aged memory-impaired rats compared to young rats in the stratum lucidum of the hippocampus. Aged memory-impaired rats (compared with young adults) showed alteration in the ultrastructure of mossy fiber expansions and the loss of axospinous synapses formed by them. These changes were more pronounced than in memory-non-impaired rats. There were no significant differences between aged memory impaired and aged memory non-impaired rats except for a significant decrease in volume density of postsynaptic density in axodendritic synapses formed by mossy fiber expansions in memory impaired animals.

[Neuromorphology and neurochemistry of senile dementias in the light of studies on glial response]. / Neiromorfologiia i neirokhimiia senil'nykh dementsii v svete izucheniia glial'nykh reaktsii.

The present study describes a few morphological and neurochemical disturbances in astroglial cells in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT). The greatly elevated number of fibrous astrocytes in brain samples with SDAT is observed. The content of glial fibrillar acid protein is elevated in these cells. Glial filaments are detected to surround lipid centers. Moreover, there are deviations in energy metabolism: a profound decrease in the levels of the brain creatine kinase CKBB that is one of the principle ATP-regulation enzyme. It is suggested that there is a relationship between all the disturbances observed in glial cells of SDAT patients. These disturbances are likely to be links of the same process which leads to abnormal brain ageing.

[Dysontogenesis of the brain of the progeny born to mothers drinking alcohol during pregnancy]. / Dizontogenez golovnogo mozga potomstva materei, upotrebliavshikh alkogol' v period beremennosti.

A study was made of the development of the brain from 44 embryos (5-12 weeks) and 1 fetus (14 weeks) obtained from mothers who used alcohol during pregnancy. 16 cases made up the control group. In 34 cases out of 45 (75.5%), deviations in the development of the brain were established and distributed into the three degrees of gravity: mild, moderate and severe. 11 variants of brain pathology are described. Deviations in the formation of brain walls and disorders of the development of the cortical lamina occurred most frequently (70.6 and 57.9%, respectively). In alcoholic mothers, brain pathology in their progeny was revealed in 100% of cases. Provided they used alcohol systematically and frequently, brain pathology was identified in 83.3% of cases, in systematic rare use of alcohol in 77.3%, and in episodic use of alcohol in 28.5% of cases.

[Neurons in the hyperchromic state]. / Neiron v giperkhromnom sostoianii.

The paper summarizes findings concerning the ultrastructure and cytochemistry of the cortical hyperchromic neurons which appear under different experimental conditions (in intact animals, in mechanical traumatization of neuronal tissue, during formation of a local focus of destruction, upon the administration of aminazine, and in the process of autolysis). Characteristics of the development of the hyperchromic status in each of the above experimental situations are specified. The authors consider the questions concerning the life-time development of neuronal hyperchromia, a relationship of hyperchromia with a certain function of the cell and the reversibility of the ultrastructural and cytochemical shifts characteristic of hyperchromia. A conclusion is made about the development of hyperchromia during life (with the exception of autolysis), its correlation with a decreased functional activity of the cell and the possibility of hyperchromia involution. Hyperchromic cells proved to be highly resistant to autolysis.

[Involutional changes in the epithelium of the human cerebral vascular plexuses and ependyma based on scanning electron microscopy data]. / Involiutsionnye izmeneniia épiteliia sosudistykh spletenii i épendimy mozga cheloveka po dannym skaniruiushchei élektronnoi mikroskopii.

Vascular plexi and cerebral ependyma were studied using scanning electron microscope for young, adult and elderly patients. In the elderly the formations mentioned had a number of structural peculiarities, thus, the majority of the epithelial cells in vascular plexus were lacking microvilli, the intercellular spaces were widened having deep grooves in them. Ependymal changes with age were characterized by the disappearance of villi in some groups of cells resulting in the appearance of large zones lacking superficial structures. Special characteristics of Biondi rings in the epithelium of vascular plexus of the elderly is given, as well as their relationship with other structural components. The age-related changes may lead to dysfunction of the hemato-encephalic barrier, that may be significant for the development of aging process.

[Developmental status and prospects of the pathological anatomy of mental diseases]. / Sostoianie i perspektivy patologicheskoi anatomii psikhicheskikh boleznei.

A brief history of the development of the history of pathological anatomy of mental diseases in the country is given. The current stage is characterized, its features being due to development and introduction into practice of new methods of brain research (electron microscopy, histo-cytochemistry, luminescent microscopy, histoautoradiography, studies in tissue culture, ect). The main approaches and achievements of the national and foreign science in pathological anatomy of psychoses are outlined. The status of the pathological service in psychiatric hospitals of the country is analysed. The prospects of development are enumerated combing the clinico-anatomical analysis of the necropsy material and wide use of experimental research in modeling pathological processes in the brain.

[Relationship between ultrastructural pathology of the embryonal brain and features of the course and treatment of schizophrenic mothers]. / Zavisimost' mezhdu ul'trastrukturnoi patologiei mozga émbrionov i osobennostiami techeniia zabolevaniia i lecheniia materei, stradaiushchikh shizofreniei.

Evaluation of the ultrastructural changes in embryonic brain cells was made according to the intensity of two complexes--destructive and compensatory-proliferative. They were correlated with a number of clinical parameters (features of mother's disease, the condition at the moment of abortion, peculiarities of treatment, etc.). It was established that for schizophrenia, unlike other diseases, the compensatory-proliferative complex of changes is more typical. The most pronounced changes in brain ultrastructures were noted in embryos of the patients with acute psychotic states or in the decompensation stage in psychopathlike schizophrenia course. No correlation between the form of the disease course and intensity of mother's treatment was established.