FEATURES OF THE STRUCTURE OF ENDOTHELIOCYTES OF VESSELS INTIMA IN THE UMBILICAL CORD AT CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION

Abstract

The results of electron microscopic studies of 35 umbilical cords obtained at birth from women undergoing cytomegalovirus infection in the third trimester of gestation (titer of IgG antibodies to cytomegalovirus 1:1600) - the main group (n=24) and from healthy pregnant women, the control group (n=11). It was found out that major violations evolved in the endothelial monolayer of umbilical vessels. In vessels there was the pattern of exudative and proliferative stages of diffuse endothelial inflammation. The signs of infectious and toxic damage associated with viremia, which is proved by dystrophic, apoptotic, necrobiotic and necrotic changes in endothelial cells and their desquamation were revealed. At the same time there was the destruction of the extracellular matrix and the basement membrane of blood vessels, the reduction of contacts between endothelial cells, as well as adhesion, transmigration and activation of leukocytes to the vascular wall, thereby remodeling the umbilical vessels and disrupting their function. Revealed changes in the endothelium may lead to disorders in dyscirculatory vessels and initiate the development of umbilical artery spasm and obstruction of the venous blood flow, which may be the cause of fetal hypoxia, resulting in intrauterine growth retardation and premature termination of pregnancy.