Single article

DOI: 10.47026/2413-4864-2026-3-31-36

Pavlov A.V., Timofeev V.E., Suchkov D.I., Zherebyateva S.R., Pemurov K.K.

Morphometric study of neurons, glia and lipofuscin in the mastoid bodies in men and women aged 22–35 years

Keywords: mastoid bodies, corpora mamillaria, sexual dimorphism, lipofuscin, glial index, morphometry

Mastoid bodies are an important part of the limbic system. Data on their cytoarchitectonics in individuals of different sexes at a young age remains incomplete. The aim of the study was to compare the quantitative parameters of neurons, glial cells and microvessels in the medial nuclei of the mastoid bodies in men and women aged 22–35 years. Materials and methods. The autopsy material of 150 people (73 men, 77 women) aged 22–35 years was studied. Sections of the mastoid bodies were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and thionine by Nissl method. Morphometric analysis included quantification of neurons, glial cells, microvessels, assessment of cell area and accumulation of lipofuscin. Statistical processing was applying Mann–Whitney U-test. Results. Men have fewer neurons (86.91±5.00 versus 99±8.00 in women, p < 0.001) and more glial cells (427.57±13.00 versus 319±19.00, p < 0.001). The glial index in men was 4.92±0.32, in women it was 3.22±0.32 (p < 0.001). Lipofuscin granules in neuronal cytoplasm were found mainly in men (4.60±1.00 cells per 5 visual fields, 5.7% of the number of neurons). The number of microvessels, the degree of vascularization, the area of neurons and their nuclei had no statistically significant differences by gender. Conclusions. During the period of 22–35 years in men, compared with women, the number of neurons in the medial nuclei of the mastoid bodies is decreased (by 12.2%), the number of glial cells is increased (by 34.0%), the glial index is increased (by 52.8%) and lipofuscin accumulates. This indicates an earlier onset of metabolic changes in men.

References

  1. Yureneva S.V., Dubrovina A.V. Preimushchestva rannego/svoevremennogo starta meno­pauzal’noi gormonal’noi terapii s pozitsii teorii euestrogenemii [Benefits of early/timely start of menopausal hormone therapy in the context of a theory of eu-estrogenemia]. Rossiiskii vestnik akushera-ginekologa, 2018, vol. 18(5), pp. 49–55. DOI: 10.17116/rosakush20181805149.
  2. Annink K.V., de Vries L.S., Groenendaal F. et al. Mammillary body atrophy and other MRI correlates of school-age outcome following neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Sci Rep., 2021, vol. 11(1), 5017. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83982-8.
  3. Kiernan J.A. Histological and Histochemical Methods: Theory and Practice. 5th Scion Publishing, 2015, 571 p.
  4. McEwen B.S., Milner T.A. Understanding the broad influence of sex hormones and sex differences in the brain. J Neurosci Res., 2017, vol. 95(1-2), pp. 24–39. DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23809.
  5. Meys K.M.E., de Vries L.S., Groenendaal F. et al. The Mammillary Bodies: A Review of Causes of Injury in Infants and Children. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol., 2022, vol. 43(6), pp. 802–812. DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A7463.
  6. Moreno-García A., Kun A., Calero O. et al. An Overview of the Role of Lipofuscin in Age-Related Neurodegeneration. Front Neurosci., 2018, vol. 12, 464. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00464.
  7. Sofroniew M.V., Vinters H.V. Astrocytes: biology and pathology. Acta Neuropathol., 2010, vol. 119(1), pp. 7–35. DOI: 10.1007/s00401-009-0619-8.
  8. Vann S.D., Nelson A.J. The mammillary bodies and memory: more than a hippocampal relay. Prog Brain Res., 2015, vol. 219, pp. 163–185. DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2015.03.006.
  9. Ventura-Clapier R., Piquereau J., Veksler V., Garnier A. Estrogens, Estrogen Receptors Effects on Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Mitochondria. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 2019, vol. 10, 557. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00557.
  10. WHO Regional Office for Europe. Young people and health policy: a framework for action. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2021. Available at: https://www.euro.who.int/­en/pub­lications/abstracts/young-people-and-health-policy-framework-for-action (Access Date: 2026, may 18).
  11. Żakowski W., Zawistowski P. Neurochemistry of the mammillary body. Brain Struct Funct., 2023, vol. 228(6), pp. 1379–1398. DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02673-4.

About authors

Pavlov Artem V.
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Anatomy Department, Ryazan State Medical University, Russia, Ryazan (av.pavlov-rzgmu@yandex.ru; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8224-824X)
Timofeev Vasily E.
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Ryazan State Medical University, Russia, Ryazan (laminacribroza62@yandex.ru; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6329-6414)
Suchkov Dmitry I.
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Cardiovascular, X-ray Endovascular Surgery and Radiation, Ryazan State Medical University, Russia, Ryazan (argoncs@mail.ru; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5513-9104)
Zherebyateva Svetlana R.
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Ryazan State Medical University, Russia, Ryazan (pferdin@mail.ru; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8232-2748)
Pemurov Kirill K.
4th year Student, Faculty of General Medicine, Ryazan State Medical University, Russia, Ryazan (kirillpemurov303@gmail.com; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4508-7584)

Article link

Pavlov A.V., Timofeev V.E., Suchkov D.I., Zherebyateva S.R., Pemurov K.K. Morphometric study of neurons, glia and lipofuscin in the mastoid bodies in men and women aged 22–35 years [Electronic resource] // Acta medica Eurasica. – 2026. – №3. P. 31-36. – URL: https://acta-medica-eurasica.ru/en/single/2026/3/4/. DOI: 10.47026/2413-4864-2026-3-31-36.

Copyright holder: authors. License: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) CC BY 4.0