Serotonin-Containing Cells in the Primary Organ of Hemopoiesis after Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation

Serotonin-containing cytostructures of mouse bone marrow after autotransplantation were studied using Falk-Hillarp luminescent histochemical method, and expression of antiapoptotic marker was determined by the immunohistochemical reaction. Autotransplantation of the bone marrow in mice led to an increase in the number of mast cells; in 40 and 120 min after autotransplantation, serotonin content in mast cells increased by 12 and 23%, respectively, and in hemopoietic cells of the bone marrow - by 24 and 78%, respectively, which affected the early stages of proliferation and differentiation of hemopoietic cells. The mitotic index in bone marrow smears at these terms increased by 3.8 and 4.5 times. According to myelogram data, the fraction of early undifferentiated forms (lymphoblasts, erythroblasts) in the primary organ of hemopoiesis (bone marrow) increased.

Effects of Bone Marrow Autotransplantation on the Bone Marrow Neurotransmitter Structures

Morphological structures involved in local regulation of tissue processes and the neurotransmitters they produce are assumed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of oncological diseases. We studied the dynamics of neurotransmitter cell counts and distribution of catecholamines and serotonin in them and analyzed proliferative activity of hemopoietic cells in the bone marrow of mice after bone marrow autotransplantation. The bone marrow of male mice was studied by fluorescent and immunohistochemical methods after injection of the bone marrow from the same mouse into the caudal vein. The count of neurotransmitter cells and the cell proliferation index increased after bone marrow autotransplantation.

Understanding Mind/Body Medicine from Muslim Religious Practices of Salat and Dhikr

There has been an increasing medical interest in Muslim religious practices in promoting well-being. Central to Muslim religious practices are salat (prayer) and dhikr (chanting). These two religious forms may be argued as comprising elements of mind/body medicine due to their positive effect on the psychoneuroimmunological response. The aim of this article was to further understand the mind/body aspects of Muslim salat and dhikr.

Expression of components of the serotonergic system in the developing rat thymus

The developing thymus of rat fetuses contains all components of the serotonergic system: receptors, enzymes of synthesis, and membrane transporters. The expression of receptors suggests the possibility of a direct influence of serotonin on thymic development. The presence of tryptophan hydroxylase (the key rate-limiting enzyme of serotonin synthesis) and aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase indicates the ability of fetal thymic cells to synthesize serotonin. It was shown that the cells of a developing thymus can actively uptake extracellular monoamines. The results of this study suggest different functions of the intrathymic and circulating serotonin pools in the regulation of thymic development.