NEUROENDOCRINE AND MAST CELLS OF THE SKIN IN THE AREA OF ACUPUNCTURE

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Introduction. Mast cells are present in the skin in the dermis and hypodermis and are in contact with blood and lymphatic vessels and nerve terminals. Mast cells release into the environment as a result of the degranulation process biologically active substances, many of which play a significant role in the regulation of physiological processes in tissues. The main aspect of the regulatory function of mast cells is their role as mediators between the nervous and immune systems. Mast cells are activated by neurotransmitters that allow neural control of the immune system and secrete neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors that directly affect the nerves, causing acute activation or long-term changes in excitability and phenotype. Studies of mast and neuroendocrine cells can provide a better understanding of how the immune and nervous systems coordinate many aspects of homeostatic control. The aim of the study is to identify the distribution of neuroendocrine and mast cells in the skin in the area of the acupuncture points. Material and methods. Researched skin sections obtained as a result of face-lifting surgery. To identify mast cells in the skin and to determine the degree of sulfation of heparin, the Unna method was used (dyeing with polychrome toluidine blue). Neuroendocrine cells were detected in human skin by immunohistochemistry, using monoclonal antibodies to neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin. Results and discussion. In the study of sections of the skin in the area of the acupuncture points registered a significant increase in the number of mast cells compared with areas of the skin outside of acupuncture points. The mast cells located in the subepithelial region were orthochromic stained and had small sizes. According to morphological criteria, two mast cell populations are detected: one of small sizes from 5.4 to 7.1 μm, with the presence of blue nuclei, orthochromically stained, are located subepithelially; others have a diverse spindle-shaped, polygonal shape, with a centrally located nucleus up to 16 μm, large, localized at the border of the dermis and hypodermis, most of them have gamma-metachromatic coloring. Most of the mast cells are represented by solid forms (72%), partially (19%) and totally (9%) degranulated cells were also detected. In the dermis revealed structureless spaces, near which there are mast cells, adipocytes, nerve fibers and blood vessels. The number of neuroendocrine cells determined by immunohistochemistry was significantly different at different points of acupuncture in humans. The largest number of cells immunopositive to neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin was found at points located on the anterior abdominal wall. The greatest number of neuroendocrine cells was found in the region of the secretory regions of the sweat glands and in the epidermis. NSE is actively expressed by some keratinocytes of the basal layer, in the region of the muscles that raise the hair, in the region of the row of hair follicles: outwards from the cells of the epithelial sheath in the region of the hair follicle. The secretory epithelial cells of the terminal sections of the sweat glands, and the cells lying outwards from the basement membrane of these sections between the myoepithelial cells, are in contact with the immunopositive nerve fibers. The expression of NSE and synaptophysin depends on the region of the body. A more pronounced expression of NSE and synaptophysin is observed at the acupuncture points of the abdominal and upper limb skin than at the acupuncture points of the face. The expression of NSE in the structures of the skin in the area of the acupuncture points is more pronounced than the expression of synaptophysin. Conclusion. Thus, the topographic and functional connection of skin TK with the nerve terminals and blood vessels allows us to make an assumption about their important role in the neurotransmitter regulation of skin homeostasis. The presence of neuroendocrine cells in the area of the the sweat glands indicates their role in the mechanisms of regulation of electrical resistance and maintenance of continuum homeostasis in the area of the acupuncture points.

About the authors

E A Guryanova

Department of Internal Diseases, Chuvash State University n.a. I.N. Ulyanov

E S Deomidov

Department of Internal Diseases, Chuvash State University n.a. I.N. Ulyanov

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