We studied the possibility of using the micronucleus test in in vivo experiments on the model of rat follicular thyrocytes prestimulated to cell division (hemithyroidectomy). Single administration of N-nitroso-N-methylurea produced a significant dose-dependent effect on micronucleus formation in thyrocytes and polychromatophilic erythrocytes of the bone marrow. The test system allowed us to reveal a cumulative effect of 2-fold and 4-fold treatment with the mitogen in low or subthreshold doses on the thyroid gland. Our results indicate that the micronucleus test is an informative method for the analysis of the effect of genotoxic agents on the thyroid parenchyma.
Smooth muscle cells from the arterial wall of placental chorion were studied at 39-40-week gestation. The content of mono- and binuclear tetraploid myocytes was higher in sites of arterial branching and turns (27.3% vs. 4.4% straight parts of the arteries; DNA cytophotometry data). Mitoses were found only in these arterial regions (0.18%). Regional changes in the sizes of diploid and polyploid myocytes were detected, associated with the blood flow pattern in the chorion; myocyte hypertrophy was 17-fold more incident in sites of arterial turns and branching than in straight arteries. Possible causes of changes in the proliferative characteristics and subsequent growth of the chorionic arterial wall myocytes are discussed.
Ploidy of thyroid parenchyma was studied in adult rats in the control and on day 9 after hemithyroidectomy; operated animals received 3 injections of N-nitroso-N-methylurea. The population of follicular thyrocytes is mainly diploid; total count of polyploid cells increased from 4.4% in the control to 8.5% in experimental rats. All thyrocytes containing micronuclei were tetraploid. No diploid micronucleated elements were detected. This suggests that genetically damaged thyrocytes divide by the mechanism of acytokinetic (polyploidizing) mitosis.
Structure of the placental arterial bed was studied using histological and morphometric methods. The formation of smooth muscle regulatory complexes in blood vessels of the chorionic plate and chorionic villi was demonstrated. These complexes are genetically determined and represent a variant of compensatory and adaptive reorganization of the placental arteries for adequate fetoplacental blood supply under normal conditions and placental underdevelopment.
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