Changes in the hypothalamus and ependyma of the third ventricle of the brain in sheep after irradiation and hormone stimulation.

In the present study the authors focused their attention on the studies of PAS positive mucopolisaccharides in the hypothalamus and ependyma of the third ventricle and on the observation of changes in the volume of cell nuclei of neurons--nucl. supraopticus (NSO), nucl. hypothalamicus ventromedialis (NVM) and nucl. tuberomammillaris (NTM) in sheep after irradiation with 2.46 Gy and hormone stimulation during anestrous. Ageline sponges and serum gonadotropins were used for estrous synchronization and hormone stimulation, respectively. The increased amount of PAS positive substances found in the examined hypothalamic nuclei after irradiation and hormone treatment seem to stimulate the function of the hypothalamic structures. The results of caryometric analysis in spring sheep also confirm this view. Administration of hormones in combination with irradiation results in increased number of ependyma cells and desquamation of the surface layers.