DYNAMIC CHANGES IN HISTOLOGICAL AND MORPHOMETRIC INDICATORS OF THE LUNGS IN SEXUALLY IMMATURE RATS DURING SIMULATION OF PARTIAL TRACHEAL STENOSIS

Abstract

Introduction. The morphological features of the respiratory system in laryngomalacia remain insufficiently understood, particularly regarding structural, cytological, and functional alterations. The aim of this study is to investigate the morphological characteristics of the respiratory compartment in the lungs of sexually immature rats, conduct a morphometric assessment of lung tissue density, analyze the dynamics of erythrocyte mass and collagen accumulation, and identify correlations between these parameters. Materials and Methods: The study involved sexually immature male Wistar rats aged 25-28 days and weighing 40-55 g. Partial tracheal stenosis was induced in experimental animals using a developed method, restricting the tracheal lumen by 20-25%. The stenosis was maintained for 7 and 21 days in different groups. In one group, tracheal stenosis was relieved after 7 days by removing the compressive ligature. Histological, histochemical, and morphometric methods were employed to study changes in lung tissue. Results. Pathological changes in lung tissue during hypoxia were characterized by an increase in the number of different types of cells and erythrocyte mass, especially on the 21st day of the experiment and the removal of ligatures from the trachea in experimental animals. Disturbances in the microcirculation of the lung acini were manifested by a sharp increase in blood filling of the microvessels and expansion of their lumen. In this case, the process of erythrocyte penetration into the lumen of the alveoli was sometimes noted. The results of histochemical detection of collagen indicate that in the lung tissue of experimental animals there is no activation of fibrogenetic processes, which would be accompanied by a simultaneous increase in the specific density of collagen. Indicators characterizing the lung tissue (number of cells, their specific density) made it possible to evaluate the corresponding correlations. At the same time, they were not associated with the level of collagen or erythrocyte density in the studied loci of the respiratory system of experimental sexually immature rats. A significant increase in the specific density of erythrocyte mass in lung tissue did not depend on the duration of the experiment. Removal of the ligature and restoration of the tracheal lumen did not significantly affect the restoration of alveolar acini and the spectrum of identified cells. In addition, an increase in the specific density of lung tissue was observed. Conclusion. The findings of this study contribute to deeper understanding of lung damage in children with laryngomalacia and associated respiratory system ventilation impairment. The observed reactive changes in lung connective tissue and collagen synthesis during hypoxia do not necessarily indicate the development of respiratory system fibrosis. However, longer exposure to hypoxic conditions may increase the risk of fibrosis in children.