Histological changes of the adrenal gland in the late period after experimental thermal injury and application of lyophilized xenograft skin substrate

Abstract

Thermal injury in terms of prevalence, complications and mortality occupy a leading position among other diseases in the world. However, morphofunctional changes of the adrenal gland in the late period after thermal injury have not been sufficiently studied. Today, an important task is to find effective factors in the treatment of burns. One of the modern methods is the use of lyophilized xenograft skin substrate. The aim of the study – to establish the structural reorganization of the adrenal gland components in the late period after thermal injury and under the conditions of application of the lyophilized xenograft skin substrate. Materials and Methods. The experimental thermal injury was carried out on 20 white adult male laboratory rats. Third degree burns were applied under thiopental-sodium anesthesia with copper plates heated in boiling water to a temperature of 97–1000C. The size of the lesions was 18–20 % of the animals’ body surface. Microscopic examination of the adrenal gland structural components was perfomed by light microscope MICROmed SEO CCAN. Results. According to histological examinations of the adrenal gland after experimental thermal trauma under conditions of application of the lyophilized xenograft skin substrate on the 14th day of the experiment, it was found that the number of necrotic cells in the cortex is less compared to our previous microscopic examinations of the adrenal gland after burns. Destructively altered cells with signs of intra- and pericellular edema are observed singly. There are signs of slight destruction of chromafinocytes in the medulla of the organ; hemocapillaries characterized by dilated lumens and moderate blood supply. Histological examination of the adrenal gland on the 21st day of experiment showed that the structural organization of the cortex is close to normal condition. Swelling of the stromal component and parenchyma is insignificant. Single endocrinocytes with signs of damage were detected. Endocrinocytes of the adrenal gland medulla are slightly altered. Hemorrhage and perivascular edema were not observed. The phenomena of stasis and dystrophic disorders were not detected. Conclusions. In the late period of the experiment under conditions of correction there is relative normalization of the adrenal gland structural organization, which indicates the activation of metabolic processes in the body

Keywords

• adrenal gland
• histological changes
• thermal trauma
• lyophilized xenograft skin