Anthropogenic activity causes the introduction of zinc compounds into the biological cycle in mining and processing sites and its accumulation in organs and tissues, causing systemic toxicity. A cumulative effect of zinc is predominantly neurotoxic and it also affects the respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive systems. This study evaluates the effects of single-dose intragastric administration of 100 mg/kg zinc succinate on the structure and function of organs and tissues in male Wistar rats 1 month after treatment. The presented morphofunctional approach for the toxicity evaluation included the study of behavioral responses using the automated Laboras® complex, fluorescent spectral analysis of the NADH and FAD activity and histological evaluation of animal organs and tissues. The results of the behavioral activity assessment showed a significant decrease in animals' motor activity, whereas the fluorescence spectra analysis demonstrated a decrease in coenzyme NADH without the reduction of FAD levels. We detected toxic and dystrophic changes in the cerebral cortex, heart, lungs and liver tissues. Our original multiparametric approach enables a comprehensive assessment of the long-term toxic effects of the metal salts such as zinc succinate, especially in the cerebral cortex at the doses much lower than the acute LD 50 reported for the common zinc salts.

Herein, we develop an enhanced and automated methodology for detection of the tumour cells in fixed biopsy samples. Metamaterial formalism (MMF) approach allowing recognition of tumour areas in tissue samples is enhanced by providing an advanced technique to digitize mouse biopsy images. Thus, a colour-based segmentation technique based on the Kmeans clustering method is used allowing for a precise segmentation of the cells composing the biological tissue sample. Errors occurring at the tissue digitization steps are detected by applying MMF. Doing so, we end up with the robust, fully automated approach with no needs of the human intervention, ready for the clinical applications. The proposed methodology consists of three major steps, i. e. digitization of the biopsy image, analysis of the biopsy image, modelling of the disordered metamaterial. It is worthwhile mentioning, that the technique under consideration allows for the cancer stage detection. Moreover, early stage cancer diagnosis is possible by applying MMF.

Обоснование. Антропогенная деятельность человека способствует включению соединений цинка в биологический круговорот на тех территориях, где есть загрязнение данным металлом. Это приводит к накоплению данного вещества в органах и тканях, что может оказывать нейротоксическое воздействие на организм. Цель. Оценить токсический эффект сукцината цинка на структуру и функцию коры больших полушарий головного мозга лабораторных крыс. Материалы и методы. Исследование проводили на 12 крысах-самцах линии Wistar возрастом 2 мес. Животных разделяли на 2 группы-контрольную и экспериментальную, по 6 крыс в каждой. Животным экспериментальной группы в течение 30 дней внутрижелудочно вводили раствор, содержащий сукцинат цинка в дозе 100 мг/кг, крысы из группы 1 служили интактным контролем. Проведен флуоресцентный анализ активности коферментов мозга, для которого использовано возбуждение при длинах волн 365 и 450 нм, что соответствует восстановленной форме никотинамидадениндинуклеотида (NADH) и флавинадениндинуклеотида (FAD); а также морфологический анализ моторной коры больших полушарий головного мозга. Результаты. Анализ спектров флуоресценции продемонстрировал статистически значимое снижение ее интенсивности в экспериментальной группе для кофермента NADH (0,855 [0,092]) по сравнению с контролем (0,709 [0,062]); р<0,05. Отличий по интенсивности спектров флуоресценции для кофермента FAD не установлено. Морфологический анализ выявил наличие токсических и дистрофических процессов в коре головного мозга у животных экспериментальной группы: полнокровие сосудов, местами-расширение периваскулярного пространства, небольшое количество нейронов в виде клеток-теней. Заключение. Действие сукцината цинка на структуры коры головного мозга характеризуется снижением интенсивности флуоресценции кофермента NADH и отсутствием изменений флуоресценции кофермента FAD, что может свидетельствовать об инициации митохондриальной дисфункции и нарушении процессов оксигенации нейронов. Морфологический анализ демонстрирует развитие дистрофических изменений. Ключевые слова: сукцинат цинка, моторная кора, спектральный анализ флуоресценции, никотинамидадениндинуклеотид восстановленный, флавинадениндинуклеотид.

Background: The purpose of our work was determined by the accumulation of a significant amount of experimental material under the conditions of implantation of a foreign body, a mesh implant, into the region of the anterior abdominal wall in order to obtain experimental inflammation, in which foreign body giant cells (FBGCs) were constantly visualized as reactive formations. This research aimed to study the dynamics of morphological changes in FBGCs under conditions of experimental implantation of a foreign body, a mesh implant, and the possible mechanism of their formation Methods and Results: This study was carried out on male Wistar rats, in which a foreign body was implanted—a mesh endoprosthesis made of polypropylene—in the region of the anterior abdominal wall under the aponeurosis of the rectus abdominis muscles. A section of the anterior abdominal wall with the implanted endoprosthesis was excised on Days 10, 21, 30, and 60 after surgery, fixed in 10% buffered formalin solution. The obtained samples were embedded in paraffin according to standard prescriptions; histological sections with a thickness of 5-7µm were made and stained with H&E, according to the methods of Van Gieson and Mallory, and an immunohistochemical study was performed using the marker of cell proliferation (Ki-67). The revealed structural features of multinucleated cells were recorded by microphotography using a photo attachment and a Levenhuk video camera (USA). During the study, it was revealed that the amount, functional activity and morphological diversity of FBGCs gradually increased, reaching a maximum by Day 30 of the experiment. At a later date, some of them died, while the remaining part was differentiated, splitting into small multinucleated cells and mononuclear elements, morphologically identical to macrophages and fibroblasts. The formation of FBGCs continued as long as the mesh implant was in the body. Conclusion: FBGCs are reactive formations that arise in response to various endo- and exogenous irritation.

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