TRAHEAL EPITHELIUM PLANIMETRIC MODIFICATIONS IN BODY COOLING

Abstract

A morphological and morphometric characteristic of ciliated epithelial cells of the tracheal mucosa of albino rats during cooling of the body was studied. Three groups of laboratory animals were cooled during 3 hours a day at -15° C for 7, 14 and 21 days. Then specimens were prepared from paraffin sections. Planimetric values of the epithelial layer in the material from the experimental and intact animals were measured by light microscopy. The obtained values in the experimental groups were compared with the values of intact group. It was found that at 7-day cooling epithelial height reduced by 33%; the size and roundness of ciliated cells increased by 48% and 49%, respectively, in comparison with the intact group. At 14-day cooling the height reduced by 51%, the area of ciliated cells decreased by 59%, and the roundness decreased by 25%. A three-week cooling caused a reduction in the height of the epithelium by 34%.The area of ciliated cells was less than the control by 39%. The roundness exceeded the control by only 4%. These changes of the size and shape of the epithelial cells confirmed the morphological differences in intensification and following metabolism inhibition in response to low temperature conditions.