The long-term effect of the complex of heavy metal salts on the morphofunctional changes in the structural components of the intermediate lobe of the mature rats’ pituitary gland – the female

Abstract

The development of the pathology of individual organs and systems undoubtedly depends on adverse envi­ronmental factors. The heavy metal imbalance affects the health of the population and may lead to unpredict­able consequences. Тhe hormones of the intermediate part of the pituitary gland are one of the key places in regulating and maintaining the basic functions of the organism. Тhe question of the influence on the intermediate part of the pituitary gland of the combination of heavy metal salts remains relevant and insufficiently studied. In order to study the morph functional rearrangements of the structural components of the intermediate pitu­itary gland of sexually mature female rats, an experiment was conducted on 12 animals weighing 250–300 g, aged 7–8 months. The animals of the experimental group consumed normal drinking water saturated with a combination of salts of heavy metals for 60 days. Morphometric, statistical, immunohistochemically, biochemi­cal, and histological methods were used. Significant thickening and edema of the inter trabecular connective tissue septum, depletion of capillaries and morphological rearranging part of the troposites, mainly their nuclear apparatus (condensation of chromatin and its marginal location, initial stages of necrobiotic changes), is manifested. Prolonged intake of sexually mature female rats of heavy metal salts leads to morph functional rearrangements of all structural components of the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland. The above morph functional changes are of a non-specific polymorphic nature and are characteristic of the stage of increased re­sistance of the general adaptation syndrome.