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A system of GAG-hydrolase was studied in liver tissue and blood plasma during development of CCl4-produced cirrhosis of liver tissue in series of experiments involving 400 adult rat males. Dissimilar pathways of the matrix formation, related to dynamics of the GAG-hydrolases activity, were detected within various steps of the chronic CCL4-produced liver tissue impairments in these rats. Alterations in the enzymatic activity were stable and regular in each series of the experiment and correlated with dynamics of the adaptation-compensatory responses.

Metalloproteinases play a key role in the destruction of connective tissue matrix both upon normal physiological processes associated with remodelling of connective tissue and in various pathological situations. Variability of the matrix metalloproteinases, their specificity, structural features, activity regulation in vitro and in vivo, as well as their role in processes of oncogenic transformation are reviewed.

Changes of the connective tissue structures, appearing during all postnatal ontogenesis stages were studied in 147 human lung specimens of different age groups (from newborns up to 82-year-olds). Qualitative and quantitative composition of connective tissue structures changes with the age which leads to the lateral aggregation of the fibers and growth of the general mass of the connective tissue. Heterochronia of the age variability manifestations in different regions of the lung framework was demonstrated. The original age transformations of connective tissue structures are characteristic for the basal lung regions. With the exception of perivasal connective tissue, similar changes in the region of the lung apexes appear 3-5 years later. This gives an opportunity to distinguish three anatomic zones in the lungs in an apico-basal direction, characterising the local nature of the age changes manifestations.

The cell fusion has been studied in human reticular cell cultures J-96 and J-41 treated with the Sendai virus or with polyethylene glycol 1000 and 6000. The J-96 cells have a high alkaline phosphatase activity, in J-41 cells the enzyme is not detectable. No heterogenous alkaline phosphatase activity was seen in the protoplasm of symplasts 18 hours after virus cell fusion. It has been shown with polyethylene glycol treatment that during the fusion of cells J-96 and J-41 the enzyme activity was spreading over the symplast protoplasm.

Morphological studies of the rat connective tissue around the implanted plates, made from a plastic Ethacryl (AKP-15) being employed in orthopedic stomatology, have demonstrated a gradual reduction of the proliferative activity of the connective tissue capsule fibroblasts, followed 6 months later by the appearance of diffuse and then focal proliferates in the internal layer with subsequent development of tumors. A histological assay of the collagen-formation revealed no dystrophic changes in the connective tissue characteristic of other types of blastomogenesis. The pattern of diformazane depositing, when histochemically assaying oxido-reduction enzymes, may evidence the cell damage of the connective tissue capsules around the implant in the first months of the experiment.

Lipoxygenase activation was studied in the liver and subcutaneous connective tissue of starving mice by ESR technique. The data obtained were discussed from the view-point of possible participation of lipoxygenase activation in organism adaptation reactions.

The activity of proteolytic enzymes, neutral proteinases and cathepsins E+D, was determined in homogenates from the tissues of capsules formed around diffusion chambers with shigella (Shigella sonnei, Sh. flexneri, Sh. shigae) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 days after their implantation to the abdominal cavity of rabbits. The specific proteolytic activity in the capsule tissues in the experimental variants is higher in all the studied periods than in the control and its singularities depend on the microbe species. The rise in the proteolytic activity is the highest under the effect of the Sh. shigae metabolism products, the influence of Sh. flexneri and Sh. sonnei in this respect is somewhat less pronounced.

A study of circadian rhythms in the connective tissue showed cell elements (particularly histiocytes) to be characterized by circadian rhythms of the metabolic processes. This is expressed in a distinct diurnal activity of the succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH). In the processes of adaptation to the high altitude hypoxia the activity of SDH and LDH was higher than in control, but dynamics of the changes of their activity repeated the changes in control group. It is concluded that circadian rhythms of the metabolic processes in the connective tissue were sufficiently stable: no visible changes were observed during adaptation to high altitudes.

Lysozyme content was determined in the subcutaneous cellular tissue of guinea pigs and albino rats differing by species resistance to brucella infection. Experiments were conducted on intact animals and those inoculated subcutaneously with live Br. abortus 19-BA vaccine. Connective tissue was taken from the site of the vaccine administration and from the contralateral side (control). Observations showed connective tissue of the animals highly sensitive to brucella infection to be exceedingly poor in this enzyme; as to connective tissue of albino rats with low sensitivity--it contained high amount of this enzyme. Lysozyme content increased considerably in the animals belonging to both species in the inflammatory focus developing at the site of the vaccine inoculation.

The lysosomal glycosidase activity of the eye tissues (the sclera and cornea), the bone tissues and cartilage were studied. The intraperitoneal injection of tyrocalcitonine (TCT), deoxycorticosterone (DOCS), hydrocortisone (HC), and somatotropic hormone (STH) influenced both the activity of beta-galactosidase, beta-glucosidase, and hyaluronidase, the the functional state of thy lysosomal membranes of the connective tissues under investigation. GC and STH caused stabilization, whereas DOCS and large doses of TCT--a labilizing effect on the lysosomal membranes and tissues understudy. The absolute activity of the enzymes in the homogenates decreased after the HC and STH injection. DOCS produced an opposite effect.

Ultrastructure of the epithelial components of mammary carcinoma is well studied; detection of the organ and tissue specific features enables the differential diagnostics with tumours of different histogenesis both in the metastatic nodes and in the mammary tumour tissue. Moreover, establishing a certain complex of the electron microscopic features for separate histological variants of mammary carcinoma favours the differential diagnostics between them. Including the ultracytochemical methods into the investigation complex will give an opportunity to clarify the role of some enzymes in he tumour growth. A detailed study of the mammary carcinoma stromal component will help in determining the function of tumour tissue.

It has been shown by low temperature ESR-spectroscopy that BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) decreases the content of Fe2+ . . . O2 complexes being active centres of oxygenase type enzymes in loose connective tissue, regenerating liver and also in tumor and liver of tumor bearing mice. This effect is closely related to BHT presence in animal tissues.