THE EFFECT OF SELENIUM ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE ADRENAL GLANDS IN MALE RATS

Abstract

The relevance of the research and its scientific novelty. Selenium is an important trace element that regulates the functioning of the reproductive, endocrine and immune systems. It has an antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic effect, protects cells and their membranes from the effects of free radicals. The use of selenium leads to an increase in the adaptive-adaptive reactions of the body. The adrenal glands are the first to react to various effects by increased synthesis of catecholamines in acute stress and corticosteroids in chronic stress. The purpose of this research was to study the structure of intact adrenal glands and the reaction of the adrenal glands to the course administration of selenium. Materials and methods. The study examined the body weight of rats and adrenal glands, the level of cortisol in the blood, the cumulative morphometric index; the study included computer morphometry of sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin and toluidine blue by Unna, immunohistochemical examination of the adrenal glands in intact rats and rats after selenium administration during 1 month. A correlation analysis was carried out. Results. Selenium intake was found not to affect the body weight of rats and adrenal glands and the cortisol level in the blood. There is a decrease in the cumulative morphometric index in 1 and 2 months after discontinuation of selenium intake and a decrease in the area of the medulla mainly in 1 month. The width of the cortical substance exceeds the same indicator of intact rats in 1 month due to the glomerular zone and becomes smaller in 3 months. The number of mast cells does not significantly increase, but the percentage of degranulated cells increases 1 month after discontinuation of selenium intake. In 3 months, this indicator approaches the level of intact rats. Conclusions. It was revealed that against the background of selenium intake, morphofunctional restructuring of the adrenal glands occurs, which is expressed in a change in the thickness of the cortical substance, the area of the medullary substance, the total morphometric index, the proliferative activity of the adrenal tissues and an increase in the number of degranulated mast cells.