Search

Retrospective analysis of the early spontaneous abortions has been conducted (486 cases). Histomorphologic analysis of the curettage material contents erveledinvolutive-regressive developmental chsnges in 108 (22,28%) cases, in 370 cases (77.78%) pathologic changes, like inflammatory changes of deciduas and chorionic villis in 302 cases (80.2%), pathologic prematurity of chorionic vili in 48 cases (12.6%), hydatidiform mole in 28 cases (7.4%). As most cases of pregnancy loss has been reported at 7-9 weeks /172 cases/, we compared histomorphologic data revealed at 7-8 (71 cases) weeks to 5-6 (135 cases) and 10-12 weeks of gestation. Morphologic research data confimed, that at 7-8 weeks compared to 5-6 weeks leading reason ofpregnancy loss was inflammatory changes (OR-1,584), what can be cause of 110 pregnancy losses at 1000 pregnant women (AR-0.11). Data comparing7-9 weeks to 10-12 weeks pregnancy losses, confirm the priority of pathologic immaturity (OR-1,279) and hydatidiform mole (OR-1,557) and could be the risk of 100 cases of pregnancy termination at 1000 pregnant women (AR-0.10).Existing results are of great importance for the preconceptional preparation of women.

Constipation is a common symptom during pregnancy. The majority of cases are simple constipation that occurs due to a combination of hormonal and mechanical factors affecting normal GI function. However, a number of women suffer from constipation prior to conception and find their symptoms worsen during pregnancy. Patients with simple constipation can usually be treated by diet recomendation, physical activity. Medications are best avoided but if necessary should be taken under supervision using best available evidence, It is important that all patients be evaluated by detailed history, physical examination and basic investigations to outrule GI pathology that may be present in a small number of cases.

The article presents a clinical case of observation of the course of pregnancy and delivery in women with a rare manifestation of Crohn's disease with a primary lesion of the anal canal with extraintestinal manifestations (perianal region and external genitalia). Prospective clinical observation demonstrates the possibility of work with adequate outpatient and inpatient obstetric services in collaboration with relevant specialists, a favorable course and outcome of pregnancy in women with Crohn's disease of moderate severity with extraintestinal manifestations in the phase of incomplete remission and the birth of healthy full-term newborns, It should be noted that the use of drugs for the treatment of Crohns disease and related complications (anemia) had no teratogenic effects on the growth and development of the fetus, and on and on the health of the newborn Joint management of these patients by the obstetrician-gynecologist, gastro-enterology and a proctologist in the form ofjoint inspections and allows councils, in a timely manner to verify diagnosis of the disease and its complications, and provide adequate correction treatment patient to obtain a favorable pregnancy outcome, birth and the postnatal period.

On serial histological sections of the testes, stained with hematoxylin-eosin, using a morphometric device, the total numbers of spermatogenic cells and sustentocytes (Sertoli cells) were measured in the convoluted seminiferous tubules of neonatal rat pups. Experimental groups consisted of rats born from females with experimental liver damage of various origins--autoimmune (n = 33), toxic (n = 32), alcoholic (n = 12), and medicinal (n = 27). The control group included pups born from normal female rats (n = 14). In experimental rats both increase and decrease of the total number of sustentocytes was detected. In the animals of most of the experimental groups, sustentocyte cell index reflecting the ratio of the number of spermatogenic cells and sustentocytes, was decreased.

The aim of the study was an analysis of the peculiarities of morphological changes of the placenta in rats with experimental chronic hepatic lesion. Liver injury was modeled in 3-month-old sexually mature female rats by 2-fold intragastric administration of paracetamol at a dose of 2.5 g/kg body weight (drug group, n=15) and a single intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine at a dose of 250 mg/kg of body weight (toxic group, n=15). Intact rats served as a control. The placenta examined at Day 21 of pregnancy using histological and morphometric methods. Рroliferative activity of placental cells was evaluated with the immunocytochemical method using antibodies against Ki-67 antigen. The membrane permeability in different trophoblast compartments was examined. It was found that experimental chronic liver pathology caused morphological changes in the placenta, which were manifested by a decrease in the area of its labyrinthine portion, maternal sinusoids in the basal area, fetal capillaries and maternal lacunae of the labyrinth. In addition, in the experiments with an intraperitoneal injection of trypan blue it was shown that changes in the liver caused increased permeability of the placental barrier, and reduced the proliferative activity of trophoblast cells.

The goal: to investigate a preventive activity for novel medication magnesium 2-aminoethansulfonate in experimental hepatitis in pregnant rats., Material and Methods: The study has been conducted in firs week pregnant rats with paracetamol and ethanol-induced liver injury., Results: There has been found out that new domestic compound magnesium 2-aminoethansulfonate (laboratory name LBK-527) introduced daily at a dose of 28 mg/kg per os during 6 days, limits cytolysis and cholestasis caused by either paracetamol or ethanol intake in experiments in pregnant rats. Study shows that liver of the animals, that have been given LBK-527 simultaneously with either 500 mg/kg paracetamol or 10 ml/kg 40% ethanol, remains being structurally close to normal. The substance prevents acute toxic liver dystrophy and the organ's structure disintegration made by mentioned toxic agents. Having administered at a therapeutic dose LBK-527 isn't associated with faetotoxicity and embriototoxity in experiments in rats.

Objective: To study placental morphological changes in inherited thrombophilia., Subject and Methods: A morphometric method was used to examine placentas from 37 patients divided into 3 groups: 1) 13 pregnant women with verified inherited thrombophilia; 2) 14 pregnant women with inherited thrombophilia and signs of placental inflammatory manifestations (basal deciduitis, intervillositis, placentitis); 3) 10 women with normal pregnancy (a control group)., Results: In inherited thrombophilia, the placentas exhibited morphological manifestations of chronic placental insufficiency as pathological immaturity with a predominance of intermediate differentiated villi and as dissociated maturity of cotyledones, with a substantial reduction in the specialized terminal villi, excessive intervillous fibrinoid formation and villous immuring, evolving pseudoinfarctions, fewer capillaries in the terminal villi, and their increased stromal proportion. At the same time, no significant differences were found in the morphological pattern in inherited thrombophilia concurrent with placental inflammatory changes., Conclusion: In inherited thrombophilia, there is chronic placental insufficiency caused by delayed development of the shaggy chorion.

The aim of the article was to investigate the relationship between pregnancy complications, infertility and assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The study was conducted on 1331 couples with complicated reproductive history. It is found that miscarriage and other complications of pregnancy depend rather on the etiopathogenesis of infertility than on the technique of ART. The highest frequency of complications of pregnancy was diagnosed in women with endocrine disorders. In case of congenital malformations in the fetus the frequency of birth defects was 3.6% after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and 1.8% in case of spontaneous pregnancy. It was found an increased risk of birth defects in singleton boys conceived by IVF.

The aim of the study was to examine the immunomorphological features and expression of immunohistochemical markers that indicate the presence of immune inflammation in the placenta in normal pregnancy and in pregnancy complicated by bronchial asthma (BA) of varying degrees of severity. The of 80 samples of placenta from patients with BA were studied immunohistochemically and histologically to demonstrate the fixation of C3 fraction of complement, fibrinogen, IL-4, IL-6, IgA, IgM, IgG, and the expression of CD31, CD35, CD57 and CD83 molecules. The largest number of immune deposits fixed in the placenta and damaging the structures of the placental barrier (vascular endothelium and syncytiotrophoblast membranes) was found in women with moderate to severe BA. Their precipitation lead to the development of immunopathological process in the placenta and could result in placental insufficiency, adversely affecting the course of pregnancy and childbirth. The presence of pathogenic immune complexes in the placenta and the detection of antigen-presenting cells in areas of immunological inflammation in the placenta of women with BA are associated with the unfavorable course of pregnancy, parturition and could be a predictor of the possible development of allergic diseases in children.

The article demonstrates that on the basis of retrospective analysis of 34 cases of physiological and 218 cases of complicated course of pregnancy the evaluation of leucocytes index of intoxication is more informative than the standard analysis of leukogram. The increase of leucocytes index of intoxication and tendency of increase of percentage of concentration of leucocytes at early stage of pregnancy are detected mainly in women with complicated course of pregnancy.

It was performed the investigation of the fetal regulatory systems condition with the heart rate variability method application in 94 women with preeclampsia. It was established that preeclamptic patients had thrombophilia that was accompanied by increased reversible aggregation of platelets in response to low doses of ADP and collagen stimulation. The fetal deterioration in this group was characterized by decreased fetal heart rate variability fractal components with a relative predominance of the central sympathetic control circuit. The augmented sympathetic tone played the significant role in fetal rigid rhythm and decelerations appearance and has formed the fetal myocardium hypoxic injury and the suppressed sinus node response. The usage of semisynthetic diosmin 1 tablet (600 mg) 2 times daily in preeclamptic ladies has a pronounced disaggregant effect and improved fetal autonomic nervous regulation in its projections on hemodynamics. The restoration of the fetal cardiorespiratory synchronization periods has made it possible to consider that diosmine has neuroprotective effect that was directed on the fetal regulatory systems condition optimization.

Interrelation between pregnancy and epilepsy is one of the pressing problems of current neurology. Those mechanisms, which suppress or amplify the seizure reactions in pregnancy, have not been yet determined experimentally. The goal of present work was investigation of impact of gestation and the postpartum period on initiation and development of convulsive reactions in the experimental animal model. Epileptic reactions were significantly suppressed during gestation (2 and 3 weeks). The data showed changes in behavioral reactions and EEG seizure activity. In the period of gestation the development of audiogenic kindling in response to repetitive acoustic stimulation is markedly reduced. This indicates the strengthening of inhibitory processes in the brain. It is supposed that in the period of gestation in rats with genetically determined audiogenic seizures excess of sexual hormones and enhancement of GABA-ergic transmission causes marked reduction of development of audiogenic kindling.

Uteroplacental relationships were studied in women with and without hypothyroidism, by applying electron, atomic force, and scanning electron microscopies, which enables one to gain more insight into morphometric characteristics. Moreover, not only fixed, but also native materials were used, which brings the studies to a live object and opens up new avenues for rapid diagnosis. The use of gross and trace analysis allows the biochemical parameters of the structure of uterine and placental tissues to be studied for an additional diagnosis and development of treatment options.

Non-progressive pregnancy in the first trimester is one of the common and little studied causes of early habitual miscarriage. Pathohistological and immunohistochemical investigations of uterine scrapings were first carried out during laboratorily verified observations of HLA compatibility of two (12 patients) or more (12 patients) similar alleles. Stepwise degradation of decidual cells in the uteroplacental area and parietal endometrium was revealed as their pathomorphological equivalents due to the activation of local large granular lymphocytes and macrophages. These cells are characterized by a strong release of proteolytic enzymes and by cytolysis of surrounding decidual cells. Moreover, there was superficial cytotrophoblastic invasion, atrophy, and numerous villous epithelial defects with villous cytotrophoblast reduction. These pathological markers in the uterine scrapings are proposed to use for a further goal-oriented study of a married couple-HLA system.

The author has studied structural and functional particularities of the mammary gland against chronic toxic hepatitis. It was established that delay in the development of glandular epithelium and perialveolar connective tissue at the end to pregnancy and initial period of lactations, was expressed in: (a) morphologically in reduction in average amount of alveoli in segment and average quantity of the cells in alveolus; (b) cytometrically--in reduction of endoteliocytes and tissue immune and competent cells in perialveolar connective tissue and terminal secretor sections at the end of pregnancy and early periods of lactations. It can be reflected on qualitative and quantitative composition of milk and bring about insufficiency of the digestive and immune systems of next generation.

The authors show the necessity of elaboration and practical application of normative documents (standards) and forensic-medical criterions of assessment of defects in obstetric-gynecological medical aid. The examples of the above assessment are given in the article.

Immune inflammation is a typical pathophysiological process caused by exogenous and endogenous factors. Fibrinoid necrosis and cell infiltrations are the morphological features of tissue lesion caused by immune inflammation. Tissue lesion in immune inflammation may be connected with immune complex (IC) formation or T-cell aggression. Lesion caused by antigen-antibody complexes develops as a result of direct IC formation in the tissue or their inflow from microcirculation. Potential sources of IC in the placenta are maternal blood flow, the formation of IC between maternal antibodies (AB) and embryonic antigens, and IC formation in fetal blood vessels. After sedimentation in the placenta, circulating IC can cross syncytiotrophoblast tissue with the participation of specific receptors to immunoglobulin Fc-fragment. The process of antifetal AB formation may start in the maternal organism, as a result of which it forms AB to embryonic and placental antigens, including paternal Rh, ABO, and HLA, and some trophoblast antigens. IC are able to initiate inflammatory process through interaction with the compliment system, through the activation of macrophages excreting cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1), and through influencing basophiles and thrombocytes (the liberation of vasoactive amines). Gestosis is associated with system inflammatory response with endothelial dysfunction as the main element. As the clinical features of gestosis do not develop before 20 weeks of pregnancy, its clinical manifestation is preceded by increased fetal blood-brain barrier permeability, elevation of the level of neurospecific proteins of fetal origin in maternal circulation, and the formation of specific IC causing acute endotheliosis.

Myocardium structure and the pattern of cardiomyocyte cellular and intracellular changes were studied in rats following the exposure of the mother-fetus system to cadmium. Rats were intraperitoneally injected with cadmium sulfate during days 1-16 of pregnancy. Myocardium of the left ventricle was studied in pregnant females and fetuses on day 20 of gestation. Myocardium changes in cadmium-exposed animals included the reduction of cardiomyocyte and blood vessels relative volume in mother and fetus. The damage of the nuclear and nucleolar apparatus was detected, together with the signs of diffuse edema of cardiomyocyte myofibrils and dilatation of intercellular spaces within the myocardium. This changes in cadmium-exposed animals are indicative of the development of regenerative-plastic myocardium insufficiency in the mother-fetus system.

Using the luminescent-histochemical methods, placenta was studied in 50 normal women with physiological pregnancy and in 35 patients in which the pregnancy progression was complicated by an antiphospholipid syndrome. The following bioamine-positive structures were identified in placenta: decidua, connective tissue and the blood vessels of chorionic plate, terminal villi containing capillaries, and syncytiotrophoblast. In antiphospholipid syndrome, the increase in histamine, catecholamine and serotonin luminescence intensity was detected in these structures. This increase was especially pronounced in histamine luminescence intensity.

The analysis was made of forensic medical examinations for assault (427 cases) and commission examinations made in the department of complex expert examinations for decision on the relation between pregnancy interruption and injury (46 cases). A documented posttraumatic stress reaction to assault damage to health is determined with consideration of duration of psychic rehabilitation. The author presents cases from her practice of direct and indirect damage to sexual organs observed in different situations and their effect on pregnancy interruption.

20 medical abortions and uterine scrapes from 24 females with verified antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) were studied by light and electron microscopy. Principle parts of pathogenesis are distinguished in the mother organism, target-organs, placenta and uterine-placental region. Morphological criteria of APS diagnosis, in part histo-ultrastructural, pathology of microvilli of brush-border, pathology of syncitiotrophoblast and villous cytotrophoblast. Rheological disturbances dominated in the parietal endometrium in the form of increasing hypercoagulative stratifying hemorrhages, thrombosis of uterine-placental arteries and microvessels, frequent formation of retroplacental hematoma. These structural straits are recommended for practical use in the work of pathologists.

The aim of the study was to determine splenic lymphocyte readiness to proliferation, as one of the indexes of cell homeostasis, in the offspring of rats with experimentally induced chronic liver disease (toxic lesions, induced by subcutaneous CCl4, and autoimmune lesions, induced by a long-term sensitization by homologous liver antigen). Lymphocyte readiness to proliferation was estimated according to J. Crocker and P. Nar method (1987) based on demonstration of active Nucleolar Organizing Regions (AgNORs) and counting of relative content of NOR-positive cells. It was found that at most time intervals studied, splenic lymphocyte readiness to proliferation in experimental rat pups exceeded that one in control (in intact animals), as indicated by an increase of relative number of NOR-positive cells.

Leningrad Regional Children's Bureau of Pathology was established in May 1992. The program of this bureau consisted of: revealing causes of early and late abortions; assessment of ultrasound diagnosis of congenital deficiencies of fetus development and clinical assessment of chronic placental insufficiency; pathogenetic explanation of intrauterine fetuses death; prognosis of neonatal pathology; systemic analysis of dynamics of perinatal, natal and infant mortality; organisation of independant expertise of medical causes of reproductive losses. The following principles in the work of the bureau were established: 1) mass investigation of placentas of newborns; 2) use of urgent pathomorphological diagnosis which allows to present information about placentas not later than 24 hrs after the delivery; 3) complex investigation of placentas with the use of various methods; 4) systemic informational analysis of placental pathology; 5) constant updating of physicians knowledge in the field of practical placentology. Results of mass placentas investigation show a principal pathogenetic role of ascending infection in perinatal mortality in opportunistic pathogenic microflora with the development of inflammatory responses in the system mother-placenta-fetus.

658 protocols of autopsies for the past five years (1998-2002) were analyzed to study causes, risk factors, etiology and pathologic anatomy of different diseases which had resulted in perinatal or neonatal mortality. It was established that newborn mortality was quite often observed in an early neonatal period amounting to 51% of all cases. Newborn infants of male sex and neonates born from I-III pregnancies (68.8%) with birth weight varying from 1500 to 3000 g (58.5%) prevailed in those autopsies. Main causes of mortality in antenatal period was intrauterine asphyxia (66.8%), in an early neonatal period--pneumopathy (45%), intrauterine infection (24.01%), intracranial birth trauma (10.5%), hereditary deformities (7.5%). Infective pathology such as sepsis (46.4%), intrauterine infection (14.5%), bronchopneumonia (7.85%), intracranial birth trauma (7.2%) was dominant in morality rate in a late neonatal period. It was found in the study that lower birth weight and maternal somatic pathology during pregnancy period belong to risk factors.

65 pregnant women with the exacerbation of chronic pyelonephritis in the III trimester of gestation and 34 healthy pregnant women were examined. The quantitative content of immunoglobulins, the activity of interferon in cervico = vaginal washings and the composition of the vaginal microflora were determined. All patients with the relapse of chronic pyelonephritis exhibited disturbances in the normal microbiocenosis of the genitals and the dysfunction of the local immunity of the genital system, accompanied with a decrease in serum and secretory IgA, an increase in the amount of IgG and IgM, increased interferon activity. Pregnant women with the relapse of chronic pyelonephritis received, in addition to traditional therapy, local treatment with Kipferon suppositories, an immunomodulating preparation. The study revealed that the use of this preparation normalized the characteristics of local immunity, the composition of the microflora' of the genitals and led to the disappearance of the clinical symptoms of the disease.

Clinical and laboratory studies were carried out in 125 pregnant patients with gestosis of different severity. Respiratory distress syndrome was diagnosed, its severity depending on the severity of patient's status. Platelet changes indicated involvement of the lung parenchyma and can serve as an additional laboratory criterion in the diagnosis of the respiratory distress syndrome in pregnant patients with gestosis.

Hyperthyroidosis in pregnancy (16 cases) severely alters positive and negative correlations between maternal and neonatal thyroid hormones, as well as the morphofunctional state of the placenta. Chronic placenta failure (degrees I-II) and activation of the structures responsible for additional synthesis of placental lactogen results in transplacental passage of thyroxin to the fetus and newborn.

The uterus removed at 20-week pregnancy in a female with grave lupus erythematosus complicated with an antenatal fetus death was studied. Signs of arthrosis typical for late pregnancy were found in the spiral arteries of basal decidua in the zone of contact between mother tissue and trophoblast. Fetal death was due to massive thrombosis.

In 60 baby-rats born to pregnant animals with toxic hepatitis, the development and process of forming of the small intestine was studied together with a number of morphometric and functional parameters. In a comparative investigation, the intrauterine development of the animals, of their small intestine, other parameters studied were found out to have lagged behind. Going further into the organ structures development and formation we succeeded in identifying significant differences in parameters for villi and crypts, the absorbing surface, enzymatic system of the small intestine in those animals born to mothers having had toxic hepatitis during pregnancy.

The T-cell immune deficiency was found to be more obvious in offspring of rats with a right-side brain injury. The EMG pattern changed in accordance with the brain injury lateralisation in the muscles responsible for posture asymmetry. The offspring EMG disorders were more obvious in cases of a right-side brain injury in mothers. The right-side brain injury in mothers led to a higher negative emotionality and a diminished tentative-research behaviour in "open-field" tests in 30-day old offspring.

Principal nosological forms of the maternal mortality are presented using terminology of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), and a number of morphological markers are described facilitating establishment of primary causes of the maternal mortality. A new approach is suggested to the analysis of autopsies of women in childbirth in the context of the functional system "mother-her target organs-uteroplacental area-placenta-fetus, newborn". The primary cause of death is formulated by summation of macro- and microscopic changes in the above organs and areas.

The quantitative morphometric analysis of the somatotrophs of adenohypophysis of the mice developing in prenatal and early postnatal ontogenesis at the protein energetic insufficiency (PEI) was conducted at the light and electron-microscopic levels. The PEI was produced by feeding the female mice starting from the 1st day of their pregnancy with the diet containing half as many, as compared to control, nutrients (5% of protein included) at the cost of incorporating the cellulose. Adenohypophyses of 20-day old badly nourished experimental mice had a changed relationship among the types of cells: the proportion of chromatophobic cells was 39% which was significantly higher than control values (25%). The decrease in the portion of differentiated cells has occurred in the main at the expense of somatotrophs: their portion was 49% (in control--61%). The volume of cytoplasm of somatotrophs in the hypophyses of test animals is less than control value by 30%. Quantitative electron-microscopic analysis demonstrated that volumetric fractions of somatotrophs cytoplasm occupied by the endoplasmatic reticulum, Golgi complex, mitochondria, lysosomes in the malnutrition test do not significantly differ from the appropriate control values. Under protein insufficiency, a decrease of the medium diameter of the secretory granules (by 1.9 times as compared to control) and their content (by 1.7 times) in the somatotrophs has been noted. Thus in the adenohypophysis of mice developed under conditions of prenatal and early postnatal protein insufficiency there prevails the type of somatotrophs with the small volume of cytoplasm and small-sized secretory granules. This type of somatotrophs is classified with the actively functioning cells.

The experiments on naturally pregnant rats have demonstrated that pregnancy contributes to much more frequent occurrence of vesicoureteropelvic reflux (VUPR) which, in its turn, is essential for pathogenesis of acute gestational pyelonephritis (AGP). Dynamic obstruction of the urine flow as a result of reduced function of leiomyocytes of urinary tract muscles, decreased urothelial glycocalyx and consequent adhesion of pathogenic agents comprise parts of this pathogenesis. The conclusion is made that VUPR pregnant females are at risk to develop AGP and should be placed by the urologist on ultrasonic monitoring lasting all pregnancy and postpartum periods.

Chromatin structure of nuclei of histogenetically distinct cells of humans and animals under normal and pathological courses of gestation was studied by the method of optic-structural computer analysis. A constant ratio of compact and diffuse chromatin is detected in nuclei of cells originating from all the germ layers. This ratio can change to a variable degree in cases of pathological gestation.

Pregnancy complications have been analyzed in 124 females suffering from essential hypertension (EH) and chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). Such complications, as late gestosis (8.9%), ablation placentae (1.6%), premature delivery (14.5%), intrauterine growth retardation (14.5%) occurred more frequently than in population. Pre- and perinatal deaths were encountered with the same frequency as in the population. Morphologically, the placentas had in many cases histological evidence of moderate placental insufficiency (PI). In more than 60% of the patients there were uteroplacental and fetoplacental hemodynamic defects. Placental circulatory disorders and PI ran subclinically in most of the cases as they were compensated. In EH and CGN pregnant women, compared to healthy controls, red cells acquired abnormal forms more frequently, serum thromboxane B2 levels got elevated, lactate hydrogenase activity became enhanced. Erythrocytic damage and platelet activation in EH and CGN pregnant women may indirectly confirm the existence of systemic angiopathy. It is suggested that ischemic placenta may produce endothelial toxin, that systemic endothelial damage in EH, CGN, PI may be synergetic which potentiates its clinical appearance in the form of the above pregnancy complications.

The paper reports a case of cystinosis with the involvement of kidneys, myocardium and liver in a female of 43. Late development of kidney failure might be due to a partial deficiency of the enzyme responsible for a cystine transport in the cell.

Structure of the thymus has been studied in offspring of rats subjected to a prolonged forced alcoholization. A decrease in the part of mitotic figures, blasts, small lymphocytes, increasing amount of destroying cells and active phagocyte macrophages have been revealed at counting the cells at light optic level. Certain changes of morphofunctional state of the reticuloepithelial cells, containing vacuoles and large intracellular cavities, lined with microvilli have been detected. Presence of granule-containing endocrine-like cells and plasmocytes, increasing permeability of capillaries have been noticed. Absolute and relative mass of the thymus in the experimental offspring is lower in comparison with that of the normal ones. The changes revealed in morphogenetic processes of the thymus of the newborn rats are evidently related with alterations in the neuro-endocrine status in the functional system mother-fetus.

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.

Electron microscopy was used to study embryonal brains (n-10) of 7-12-week gestation from mothers abusing alcohol at the time of medical abortion. Control group consisted of 20 embryos from healthy women. The study group demonstrated delayed formation of synaptic structures, a great number of extrasynaptic contacts, sings of clear-type degeneration of some mature synapses.