ISSN (print): 1026-3543, ISSN (online): 2949-2556 Founder: Russian Academy of Sciences Editor-in-Chief: Banin Viktor Vasilievich, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Frequency / Access: 4 issues per year / Hybrid Included in: White List (4th level), Higher Attestation Commission List, RISC
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READ the details online (tap to see in details) Author’s license agreement (public offer) on the publication of an article in a scholarly journal “Morphology” Eco-Vector, represented by its CEO Evgeniy Schepin and acting on the basis of the Charter (hereinafter referred to as the Publisher), on the one hand, offers an indefinite circle of persons (hereinafter referred to as the Author), and on the other hand, hereinafter jointly referred to as the Parties, to execute this agreement (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement) on the publication of scientific article (hereinafter referred to as the Article) in a scholarly journal “Morphology” (further-the Journal) in accordance with the conditions stated below. I. General Provisions This Agreement, in accordance with clause 2 of Article 437 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, is a public offer (hereinafter referred to as the Offer) requiring full and unconditional acceptance (Acceptance), which, in accordance with Article 438 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, means the sending by the Author of his/her materials by way of uploading the same to the online electronic system designed to accept manuscripts for consideration, and subsequently posted in the corresponding section of the Journal’s website on the Internet information and telecommunications network (hereinafter referred to as the Internet). In accordance with the current legislation of the Russian Federation regarding the observance of copyright on electronic information resources, all materials found in a website, including submitted and published in electronic journals, may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form (electronic or printed) without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Prior permission can be given by publishing an article in the open access with Creative Commons license. The journal requires license users to reference the original source, i.e., the publication, if the Author permits use of the public materials in the context of other documents. II. 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Other rights not directly transferred to the Publisher under this Agreement, including patent rights to any process, method etc., described by the Author in the Article, as well as trademark rights, are reserved for the Author. The territory where the rights to the Article are allowed to be used is the whole world. The validity of this Agreement commences only if the manuscript of the Article is accepted for publication in the Journal and only from the moment of sending a notification of acceptance of the Article for publication to the Author from the official e-mail of the Journal. The rights are granted by the Author to the Publisher free of charge; the publication of the Article in the Journal does not entail any financial deductions to the Author. If the Publisher decides to reject the Submission or refuse to publish the Article in the Journal (i.e., retraction of the published Article), this Agreement becomes invalid. 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Rights and Duties of the Parties The Author guarantees that: s/he holds the copyright the exclusive rights to the materials submitted to the Publisher as part of the manuscript of the Article; the rights granted to the Publisher under this agreement have not been previously transferred and will not be transferred to third parties in the future during the duration of the Agreement; the manuscript contains all references to the cited authors and/or publications (materials) provided for under the current copyright legislation; the Author has obtained all the necessary permissions for all information and other materials s/he holds no copyright to and that are used in the manuscript of the Article; the Article manuscript contains only materials permitted to be published in the open press in accordance with the current legislative acts of the Russian Federation, and its publication and distribution will not lead to the disclosure of secret (confidential) information (including state secrets); the Author has informed co-authors about the terms of this Agreement and has received their consent to execute this Agreement under the terms provided for in the Agreement. 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Professor Iraida Pestova, a distinguished russian morphologist: on the 110th anniversary of her birth
This article commemorates the 110th anniversary of the birth of Professor Iraida M. Pestova, Doctor of Sciences in Biology, a prominent Soviet-era histologist. Pestova graduated from the Sverdlovsk State Medical Institute (now Ural State Medical University) as part of its legendary first cohort. After completing her studies in 1936, she entered the postgraduate program in the Department of Normal Anatomy, where she worked for a year under Professor Alexei P. Lavrentiev, the founder and first head of the department. In 1937, Pestova moved to Perm and continued her postgraduate studies in the Department of Histology of the Perm State Medical Institute under Professor Petr Ya. Lakhovsky. From this point began her remarkable career as a histologist, marked by significant scientific achievements and long-standing leadership of the Department of Histology at the Perm State Medical Institute. At the time, the department’s primary research focus was the evolution of the immune and hematopoietic systems of vertebrates. As a scholar, Pestova followed in the tradition of Alexei A. Zavarzin, an eminent Soviet histologist, academician of both the Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, and founder of evolutionary histology. It was in Perm that Zavarzin established the scientific foundations of evolutionary histology, which were further developed by Evgenii S. Danini, Pestova’s mentor. The article highlights the key stages of Professor Pestova’s life and career, her contribution to science and teaching, as well as her professional and personal qualities.
Copyright (c) 2025 Eco-Vector https://eco-vector.com/for_authors.php#07
Automated systems for creating tissue microarrays in oncomorphological studies
Tissue microarrays (TMAs) are a promising method for high-throughput analysis of archived tissue samples. Laboratories using conventional manual methods for creating TMAs face the challenge of increasing efficiency and standardization, which is particularly crucial for oncomorphological research and diagnostics. This can be achieved through the automation of the process. This review focuses on the capabilities and advantages of automated systems for TMA creation over manual methods, with an emphasis on their application in the analysis of Ewing sarcoma and other undifferentiated round cell sarcomas. In the analyzed works, automated systems were used to extract and position tissue cores into recipient paraffin blocks, followed by histological and immunohistochemical analyses on the obtained TMA sections. Furthermore, the quality of the tissue microarray sections was evaluated. In these works, automated systems demonstrated high precision in positioning tissue cores, significantly accelerating TMA creation and improving the quality of the resulting sections. Thus, automated systems for TMA creation offer significant advantages over manual methods, ensuring standardization and increasing the productivity of laboratory research. Automated systems allow for the efficient analysis of large sample sets, which is especially important for the validation of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. The published works highlight the need for further development and wider implementation of automated systems in oncomorphological research to enhance their efficiency and reproducibility.
Copyright (c) 2025 Eco-Vector https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Methodological aspects of using artificial intelligence for morphological diagnosis of fibrosis, degeneration, and inflammatory lesions of the liver
Non-tumor liver diseases are widespread and remain difficult to diagnose. According to current data, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among adults in Russia is approximately 25%. Morphological confirmation of fibrosis, fatty and ballooning degeneration, inflammatory infiltration, and necrosis of liver tissue depends on the specialist’s subjective opinion, which complicates standardization. For these reasons, developing objective and automated methods for analyzing morphological changes in the liver can significantly improve diagnostic reproducibility. This review examines current approaches to using artificial intelligence in the morphological diagnosis of non-tumor liver diseases, as well as the key applications for neural network algorithms, including classification and segmentation of histological images. Furthermore, the review assesses the effectiveness of available models for detecting key morphological patterns: fibrosis, ballooning and fatty degeneration, and inflammatory infiltration. The review includes publications found in the Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The search covered the period from 2020 to 2025, with 22 publications included in the final analysis. It was found that artificial intelligence models demonstrate high accuracy; however, this depends on sample size, inter-laboratory variability, morphological patterns, microscope magnification, and staining methods. More open data and standardized procedures are needed for future advancement in this field. Nevertheless, models are being developed even with small datasets, making the methodology available to the scientific community.
Quantitative characteristics of splenic mast cells of laboratory mice following experimental X-ray irradiation
BACKGROUND: The quantitative and morphofunctional characteristics of mast cells can serve as an indicator of tissue reactivity in response to radiation exposure, as well as a criterion for compensatory-adaptive processes after irradiation and the use of radioprotectors. AIM: The work aimed to present the morphofunctional and quantitative characteristics of splenic mast cells of laboratory mice following fractionated total X-ray irradiation and oral administration of beta-D-glucan. METHODS: An experimental, single-center, prospective, controlled study was conducted. Spleen samples from laboratory mice (n = 23) were assessed. The population of mast cells was quantitatively assessed on histological sections of the spleen. The mice were divided into 5 groups: Group 1 included intact animals (n = 3); Group 2 included irradiated animals with a total absorbed dose of 7 Gy (n = 5); Group 3 included irradiated animals with a total absorbed dose of 7 Gy who received oral soluble beta-D-glucan 15 minutes before irradiation (n = 5); Group 4 included irradiated animals with a total absorbed dose of 18 Gy (n = 5); Group 5 included irradiated animals with a total absorbed dose of 18 Gy who received oral soluble beta-D-glucan 15 minutes before irradiation (n = 5). Samples were collected on days 14 and 30 after the start of experimental exposure. Samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, dehydrated in alcohol, and embedded in paraffin. The Romanowsky–Giemsa staining was used. The structure and number of mast cells were assessed on each histological slide. Statistical analysis of the findings was performed. RESULTS: The density of mast cells in the spleen of laboratory mice at an absorbed dose of 7 Gy changed insignificantly compared to the intact group. At a total absorbed dose of 18 Gy, there was a significant increase in the density and functional activity of mast cells. Beta-D-glucan administration before irradiation at a total absorbed dose of 7 Gy and 18 Gy reduced the number of mast cells by 2.5 times and 1.25 times, respectively, compared to irradiated animals without beta-D-glucan administration (Group 4). CONCLUSION: The density of mast cells in the spleen depends on the absorbed dose of X-ray irradiation. Beta-D-glucan administration 15 minutes before exposure reduces the density of mast cells, which can be considered a positive radioprotective effect.
Ultrastructural changes in the glomerular filtration barrier of the kidneys in rats following acute paraoxon poisoning
BACKGROUND: Paraoxon is an organophosphate compound, chronic poisoning by which has various manifestations. Individuals exposed to organophosphates often develop glomerular and/or tubular sclerosis. Ultrastructural changes in the glomerular filtration barrier (GFB) of the kidneys in experimentally induced acute paraoxon poisoning have not been described in available scientific publications, underscoring the relevance of this study. AIM: This study aimed to identify ultrastructural changes in the glomerular filtration barrier of the kidneys in rats following acute paraoxon poisoning in sublethal doses. METHODS: Kidney fragments were obtained from male outbred albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) 1, 3, and 7 days after paraoxon poisoning. Three modes of paraoxon exposure were used. Immunohistochemical, electron microscopy, and morphometric analyses were performed on the kidney tissue, followed by statistical analysis of the results. RESULTS: Ultrastructural changes in the GFB were observed in all modes of paraoxon exposure. Endothelial cells of glomerular capillaries showed an increased diameter of fenestrations, accompanied by a decrease in their density. Podocytes exhibited changes in the size of the foot processes and a reduction in the number of third-order extensions that normally adhere to the glomerular basement membrane. All three experimental groups showed an increase in the thickness of the glomerular basement membrane on day 7 after poisoning. The most pronounced morphological changes in GBF structures following paraoxon exposure were observed in the endothelial cells of the glomerular capillaries. CONCLUSION: Acute paraoxon poisoning leads to ultrastructural changes in the GFB in rat kidneys. The data obtained contribute to understanding the mechanisms of glomerulosclerosis development following chronic exposure to this toxin.
Morphometric characteristics of intramural autonomic nerve ganglia of the myenteric and submucosal plexuses of the small and large intestines in rats during postnatal ontogenesis
BACKGROUND: The morphology of intramural autonomic nerve ganglia of the myenteric (MP) and submucosal (SP) plexuses of the intestine in adult animals has been studied in sufficient detail, whereas data on age-related features of these structures remain limited. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the morphometric characteristics of intramural autonomic nerve ganglia of the myenteric and submucosal plexuses of the small and large intestines in rats during postnatal ontogenesis. METHODS: The study used male Wistar rats of different age groups: newborns; 10, 20, 30, and 60 days after birth; and 12 and 24 months of age. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using fluorescently labeled antibodies to protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5). RESULTS: During postnatal ontogenesis, the number of ganglia per 1 mm2 decreases, whereas the ganglion area increases in both the small and large intestines. The mean area of nerve ganglia in the MP of the small and large intestines increases from birth up to day 60, whereas in the SP, this increase occurs during the first 30 days of life. The mean density of ganglia per 1 mm2 in the MP decreases during the first 60 days in the small intestine and during 12 months in the large intestine. In the SP, this parameter decreased in both the small and large intestines during the first 60 days of life. The mean number of PGP9.5-immunoreactive neurons per ganglion in the MP remains unchanged during postnatal ontogenesis, whereas in the SP, it increases during the first 10 days after birth. CONCLUSION: In postnatal ontogenesis, during the first 30 days of life, the size of ganglia in the MP and SP increases, whereas their density per unit surface of the small and large intestines decreases. The shape of ganglia and the number of neurons in the MP ganglia do not change during postnatal ontogenesis. In contrast to the MP of the small and large intestines in rats, the SP ganglia remain immature at birth, with the formation of the SP ganglion network during the first 10 days after birth.
Proliferation to apoptosis ratio in cutaneous connective tissue cells during mechanical injury healing in an experiment
BACKGROUND: The proliferation to apoptosis ratio at a wound site is crucial for healing. Regenerative histogenesis of the skin in the perinecrotic zone is of key interest, specifically the connective tissue layers (the dermis and hypodermis). This zone is characterized by cambial elements of epithelial and connective tissues that drive regeneration, as well as distinctive cell death processes. Immunohistochemical methods are typically used to investigate patterns of histogenetic processes, including proliferation and cell death, in tissues with varying regenerative potential. However, selecting markers that reflect the proliferation to apoptosis ratio at different stages of regeneration remains challenging. AIM: This study aimed to perform an immunohistochemical evaluation of the proliferation to apoptosis ratio in cutaneous connective tissue cells at different stages of mechanical injury healing. METHODS: An experimental single-center, continuous, controlled, randomized, non-blind study was conducted. Skin samples of the thigh from Wistar rats were obtained at various stages of healing after mechanical injury (deep incised wound). Animals were divided into nine groups: a control group of intact rats (n = 3) and eight experimental groups corresponding to post-injury time points of 12 hours, 24 hours, 2 days, 3 days, 6 days, 10 days, 15 days, and 25 days (n = 3 per group). Tissue fragments were processed for histological and immunohistochemical examination. Antibodies to phosphorylated histone H3 were used to assess proliferation, whereas apoptosis was detected using antibodies to p53 and caspase-3. RESULTS: Immunopositive cells expressing phosphorylated histone H3, caspase-3, and p53 were identified in cutaneous connective tissue samples in all experimental groups. The proliferation index was determined, and changes in pro-apoptotic protein expression were analyzed in intact skin and the perinecrotic zone at different stages of regeneration. Based on these data, the proliferation to apoptosis ratio and an index characterizing both processes were calculated. The proliferation to apoptosis ratio was highest when proliferation prevailed over cell death (in intact skin and at the final stages of regeneration) and lowest when apoptosis predominated (inflammation and necrosis phases). CONCLUSION: For the first time, immunohistochemistry with antibodies to phosphorylated histone H3 was used to investigate regeneration in skin wounds. This marker, which is expressed in proliferating cells, in combination with apoptosis markers, allows assessing the proliferation to apoptosis ratio at different stages of regeneration.
Characteristics of epimorphic regeneration of the distal phalanx in spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus)
BACKGROUND: Regeneration of the distal phalanx in adult mammals is a rare example of complete tissue restoration without fibrosis. Spiny mice of the genus Acomys are capable of regenerating multiple tissues, including epidermis and muscle, without scar formation. However, the ability of Acomys cahirinus to fully regenerate the distal phalanx remains unknown. AIM: The work aimed to assess distal phalanx regeneration after amputation in spiny mice. METHODS: Distal phalanx regeneration in Mus musculus and A. cahirinus was evaluated over 28 days after amputation. The distal phalanx was amputated distal to the nail bed to model epimorphic regeneration via blastema formation. Amputation proximal to the nail bed was performed to model injury leading to fibrotic scar formation. Recovery was assessed visually, by micro-computed tomography, and histologically. RESULTS: Unlike M. musculus, which showed complete restoration of all tissue components after distal phalanx amputation, A. cahirinus failed to achieve full regeneration. Following amputations distal to the nail bed, A. cahirinus exhibited digital shortening and clubbing. Histological analysis demonstrated an increase in bone tissue volume within the damaged phalanx in spiny mice. Micro-computed tomography revealed that the bone damaged by amputation underwent lysis up to complete degradation, with bone hypertrophy in the next phalanx of the injured digit, located proximal to the amputation plane. CONCLUSION: A. cahirinus does not exhibit complete digit regeneration after distal phalanx amputation. This outcome could be attributed to excessive lysis of the damaged bone and insufficient blastema formation at the site of injury.
Cranioscopic and craniometric characteristics of the adult neurocranium in normal and deformed states
BACKGROUND: Modern craniological studies should be based on an integrated approach and include algorithms to distinguish between normal and pathological conditions. It is essential to determine the extent to which craniometric parameters of deformed skulls deviate from normal values. AIM: This study aimed to examine the cranioscopic and craniometric characteristics of the neurocranium in normal and deformed states based on the Dolgo-Saburov collection preserved in the Fundamental Museum of the Department of Normal Anatomy, S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy; to determine the prevalence of cranial deformations; and to develop criteria for the design of contemporary craniological studies. METHODS: A series of 842 skulls was examined. The condition of cranial sutures was assessed, with identification of craniosynostosis and associated abnormal cranial forms, as well as asymmetry of the neurocranium and its relationship to craniosynostosis. For craniometric determination of neurocranial shape, longitudinal (Martin 1), transverse (Martin 8), and vertical (Martin 17) diameters were measured. The estimated cranial cavity volume was calculated, along with the transverse–longitudinal (cranial), height–length, and height–breadth indices. RESULTS: Of the examined series, 678 skulls were classified as normal, with no deformations, asymmetry, or developmental anomalies. The majority of skulls were brachycranial or mesocranial based on the cranial index (55.8% and 39.2%, respectively); hypsicranial and orthocranial based on the height–length index (46.5% and 44.1%, respectively); and tapeinocranial and metriocranial based on the height–breadth index (44.4% and 47.9%, respectively). Deformations were observed in 164 skulls, which were divided into three groups: skulls with premature closure of one or more cranial vault sutures (2.6%); asymmetric skulls without signs of premature synostosis (16.1%); and skulls combining abnormal craniosynostosis with asymmetry (1.2%). The first group included two subgroups: skulls with sagittal craniosynostosis (scaphocephaly) and skulls with combined premature coronal and sagittal synostosis (oxycephaly). Scaphocephalic skulls (1.1%) were pathologically elongated and narrow, often with a saddle-shaped cranial vault deformity. In contrast, oxycephalic skulls were short with high height–length indices. For such skulls, we propose the term “pathological hypsibrachycrany.” In plagiocephaly (cranial asymmetry), the occipital, parietal, and frontal regions were shifted in opposite directions, with left-sided asymmetry more common (58.5%). CONCLUSION: The distribution of normal skulls by cranial index confirms the evolutionary trend toward brachycephalization. Dolichocranial, chamaecranial, and acrocranial skulls are the least common forms (< 10%). Premature suture closure does not always lead to marked cranial deformities. This work provides detailed characteristics of deformed skulls and highlights situations in which standard indices may be inappropriate. Craniometric measurements should be performed only after cranioscopic evaluation for craniosynostosis and asymmetry.
Diagnostic and prognostic value of immunohistochemical markers HMB-45, Melan-A/MART-1, and S100 in different histological subtypes of melanoma
BACKGROUND: Melanoma is a malignant neoplasm that arises from melanocytes, which are melanin-producing cells primarily found in the skin. Although rare, melanoma is highly aggressive. In 2023, 13,270 cases of skin melanoma were identified in Russia. The primary risk factor is excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Immunohistochemical studies using markers such as HMB-45 (Human Melanoma Black-45), Melan-A/MART-1 (Melanoma Antigen Recognized by T Cells 1), and S100 are crucial for diagnosing skin melanoma, improving the accuracy of tumor detection, and optimizing treatment. AIM: This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of melanocytic markers HMB-45, Melan-A/MART-1, and S100 in skin melanoma, taking into account tumor histological subtypes and stages according to the pTNM classification. METHODS: Skin melanoma samples from patients (n = 117) were assessed using immunohistochemistry with antibodies to HMB-45, Melan-A/MART-1, and S100. The results were interpreted based on the histological subtype of the tumor and the Breslow thickness, which was used to determine the disease stage. RESULTS: The count of atypical melanoma cells, considering the histological subtype of the tumor, showed that the S100 marker had the highest sensitivity (91.2%) compared to Melan-A/MART-1 and HMB-45, especially in desmoplastic melanoma. Moreover, S100 and Melan-A/MART-1 demonstrated stable staining regardless of the degree of invasion, whereas the number of HMB-45-positive atypical melanocytes increased as the tumor progressed according to the pTNM classification. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical analysis of various histological subtypes of skin melanoma revealed stable expression of S100, Melan-A/MART-1, and HMB-45 proteins in superficial spreading and nodular tumors. In desmoplastic melanoma, the expression of Melan-A/MART-1 and HMB-45 was absent, whereas S100 expression remained. The proportion of S100- and Melan-A/MART-1-positive atypical cells was independent of the degree of tumor invasion (according to pTNM stages). The percentage of HMB-45-positive atypical melanocytes increased proportionally with the thickness of invasion, supporting its prognostic significance.
Structural and ultrastructural changes in striated skeletal muscle tissue following high-energy injuries in the early post-traumatic period
BACKGROUND: With the sharp increase in mine-explosive injuries, one of the key tasks of modern histology is to assess the morphogenesis of high-energy limb tissue damage. AIM: This study aimed to characterize striated skeletal muscle tissue in the zone of mine-explosive limb segment avulsion during the early post-traumatic period (days 1–4). METHODS: Histological methods (hematoxylin and eosin staining and Martius Scarlet Blue [MSB] staining for fibrin age determination), immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence techniques (antibodies to CD3, CD20, CD31 [Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1], CD68, and NETs [Neutrophil Extracellular Traps]), transmission electron microscopy, and morphometric analyses were applied. RESULTS: Post-traumatic pathological changes affected both muscle tissue (necrosis, fiber fragmentation, traumatic edema) and endomysial and perimysial connective tissue (traumatic edema, fibrin infiltration). Disruption of the cytoskeletal structure (sarcomeres), loss of myosatellite cells, and endothelial cell death in capillaries were observed. Local hemodynamic disturbances manifested as mosaic thrombosis, embolism, and hemorrhage. Within the first 24 hours, arterial and arteriolar spasms led to reduced tissue perfusion. Partial resolution of the spasms by day 4 likely corresponded to the second stage of traumatic shock (the torpid phase). Among leukocytes, CD68+ macrophages were the first to respond, with extravasation beginning on day 2 after injury. A similar trend was observed for CD3+ T cells. CD20+ B cells showed no morphological signs of reactivity during this period. NET formation was observed both intravascularly and in the extravascular compartment. CONCLUSION: Structural and ultrastructural changes in skeletal muscle tissue within the first 4 days after mine-explosive injury have been characterized.
Life in histology: On the 80th anniversary of Professor Aleksandr A. Stadnikov
On August 26, 2025, Professor Aleksandr A. Stadnikov, a prominent Soviet and Russian histologist, celebrated his 80th birthday. His entire career has been connected with the Orenburg Medical University (formerly Institute—Academy—University), where he rose through all stages of the academic hierarchy, from assistant (since 1971), to associate professor (since 1983), and later Head of the Department of Histology (1988–2025). In parallel, between 1993 and 2009, Professor Stadnikov served as vice-rector, and in 2009 as acting rector of the Orenburg Medical Academy. Since 2025, he has continued his work as a professor at the Department of Histology. His research interests include comparative and evolutionary histology, embryonic and postnatal morphogenesis, neuroendocrine regulation of morphogenesis and regeneration, and the history of histology. His research into the interactions between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells has made a significant contribution to cell biology. Professor Stadnikov established a new direction within the Orenburg school of histology, focusing on neuroendocrine regulation of cells, tissues, and organs. His pioneering studies clarified the role of neuroendocrine regulation in the interactions between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. For more than 50 years, Professor Stadnikov has taught at Orenburg Medical University while conducting extensive research. He has earned the respect and admiration of generations of students, teachers, and physicians. Professor Stadnikov is an example of a gifted scientist and educator who motivates and empowers others. For his students and colleagues, he remains a figure of high scientific and moral authority.