MAIN GOALS AND TASKS

The head of the laboratory
T.P. Evgenjeva


The degeneration of the muscle fibers in Russian sturgeon


Professor A.N. Studitsky

The Laboratory for Evolutionary Histology is one of the oldest laboratories of the Institute. It is related in its background to the Sector of Experimental Morphology, which has been supervised by Academician I.I. Shmal'gauzen since 1936. In 1944, the Laboratory of Histomorphogenesis was isolated out of this Sector. Its permanent supervisor was Doctor of Biological Sciences, the Government Prize Winner, Professor A.N. Studitsky until 1989. During reorganization of the IEMEA in 1967, the Laboratory got its today's name.

Problems, solved in the Laboratory, have three organically connected with each other directions:

• Reaction of the tissues of vertebrate animals on the increasing anthropogenic pressing (including the influence of chemical and radiation factors on the organism);
• Study of the secondary histogenesis of mammalian muscle tissue in stimulation conditions, including the elaboration of the methods and ways of increasing of regeneration ability of skeletal muscular system;
• Study of the neuron-muscular apparatus of vertebrates under the influence of physical exercises and gravitational factors.

Basic studies in the framework of the first direction were undertaken in the regions with a strong toxicological pollution of the territory (the region of the Lower Volga, Tula area). As the model objects, some fish species (sturgeons, carps, perches), and also birds, mouse-shaped rodents were chosen. It was determined that as the result of strong pollution of the river water (the Volga river) with different toxicants in fishes, including representatives of the family Acipenseridae, deep pathological changes were developing in all organs and tissues, particularly serious myopathy of the skeletal muscular system. It was shown that the increasing of an anthropogenic pollution extent correlated with the level of chromosomal aberrations in the cells of rook's eye cornea that allowed the use of this citogenetic index as a bio-indicator of an anthropogenic influence on the natural ecosystems. In the limits of this direction the studies on the liver ultra-structure are carried out in a comparative number of species.

The studies based on the developed in the laboratory theory of mammalian tissue radioprotection are successfully continued. The stimulation of regenerative capacity of irradiated (local and total x-ray radiation) and non-irradiated injured mammalian skeletal muscles was shown under effect of some physical factors (laser radiation and ultrasound) and also He-Ne laser therapy together with tissue therapy (implantation of regenerating muscle tissue into the trauma area). In course of investigations, the significant changes in immune system functional state of an animal were revealed.

Great attention is given to the study of the influence of different physical factors on the fine structure of cells and tissues. The influence of gravitational factor on ultra-structure of neuromuscular apparatus in mammals is under research. It was determined that the absence of bearing load caused the muscle fiber atrophy, and the influence of artificial gravitation decreased the development of destructive changes in the muscle fiber structure and neuromuscular apparatus.