Macro-microscopic features of the structure of lymphoid nodules in the wall of the female urethra

The aim of the investigation was to study the macro-microscopic features of the structure and quantitative indicators of the lymphoid nodules of the female urethra in postnatal ontogenesis.

Material and methods. The topography, number and size of lymphoid nodules in the urethral wall from corpses of 63 women of different age groups were studied by macro-microscopy using binocular stereomicroscope MBS-9 after elective staining with Harris hematoxylin. The material was fixed in a 10% formalin solution. The preparations were photographed and the area of lymphoid nodules was measured in the ImageJ program. For statistical data processing, parametric statistics methods based on the Statistica 6.0 program were used. Statistical data processing included the calculation of arithmetic averages, their errors, and the analysis of the amplitude of the variation series of each indicator.

Results. The maximum number of lymphoid nodules in the urethra in early childhood corresponds to the idea of the largest total number of lymphoid cells, the severity of lymphoid tissue in the first years of life. The density of lymphoid nodules is maximum in the 1st period of childhood (9,5–10,5 nodules), and then decreases sequentially. In senile age, compared with the 1st period of childhood, the density of localization of lymphoid nodules decreases in the walls of the upper third of the urethra by 1.7 times (p< 0.05), the middle and lower thirds of the organ - by 1.2 times (p<0.05) and the urethra as a whole – by 1.3 times (p<0.05). The amplitude of the variation series (differences between individual maximum and minimum) of the density of the location of lymphoid nodules, according to our data, does not change significantly during postnatal ontogenesis. The size of the lymphoid nodule during postnatal ontogenesis is maximal in the 1st period of childhood. Further, the value of this indicator decreases and reaches a minimum in old age and in centenarians.

Conclusion. The study showed that lymphoid tissue in the urethral wall is at different stages of morphogenetic maturity, lymphoid nodules are found, which, as is known, are considered to be a more functionally mature stage of lymphoid tissue development. The values of the density of the location of lymphoid nodules throughout the female urethra in postnatal ontogenesis change slightly, the minimum number of them is observed in old age and the period of longevity, the maximum does not actually change.

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