The major purpose of this work is to investigate morphogenesis of ICP. We examined the brains of 19 children, suffering from ICP and died at the age of 3 months to 7 years.
Wide complex of neurohistological, histochemical and morphometrical methods was used to estimate the condition of neurons, nerve fibers, glial cells, ependyma, meninges and vessels. Special attention was paid to cortical motor, sensitive centers, conduction tracts, nuclei of cerebral nerves and reticular formation.
All cases are divided into 3 groups according to the rate of brain mass loss: 1 group is characterized by loss of not more than 15% of normal brain weight, 2 group - 16 -49% and 3 group - more than 50%.
Pathomorphological picture of the brain in the 1 group is presented by local microgyria of cerebellum in only few cases; deficiency of white matter, corresponding with the loss of brain weight; diffuse moderate lack of neurons in cortex and subcortical nuclei; proliferation of glial cells. Changes of brain in the 2 group are characterized by microgyria in the cerebellum and cerebral hemispheres, prominent deficiency of white matter, demyelinization, focuses of necrosis and porencephalia in 30% of cases, formation of laminar necroses. Diffuse loss of neurons involves the cortex, subcortical nuclei, nuclei of the midbrain, medullar oblongata, pons. Some focuses of the cortex are free of neurons. Local and diffuse gliosis leads to consolidation of the brain matter. Meninges are sclerotised and adhered to the brain surface.
Pathomorphology of the brain in the 3 group consists of wide spread microgyria, false gyri appearance, microcephalia, deformation and consolidation of brain, multiple focuses of neurons complete loss in the cortex, diffuse gliosis, telencephalon, gliomesodermal "scars", reconstruction of vascular bed.
In all groups one can see the signs of disontogenesis: immature neurons, sinusoid vessels, retardation of myelinization, narrowing or absence of granular layers in the cortex, irregular arrangement of pyramidal neurons.
Severe degenerative changes of the brain in ICP can progress, leading to the loss neurons, nerve fibers, demyelinization, gliosis and sclerosis, and thus to the deformation of the brain.
Работа представлена на научную конференцию с международным участием «Климат и окружающая среда», 20-23 апреля 2006г., г.Амстердам (Голландия). Поступила в редакцию 24.03.2006г.