Features of the Peribiliary Glands of the Extrahepatic Biliary Tract in the Elderly and Long-Living Individuals

The aim of the study was to analyse histologically and morphometrically the peribiliary glands of the extrahepatic biliary tract in the elderly and long-living people.
Material and methods. The study included wholemounts of the gallbladder, the cystic, hepatic and common bile ducts obtained from the corpses of both sexes aged 22 to 35 years (n=16) and older than 76 years (n=39). Macro-microscopy was used to evaluate the number, localization, sizes and shape of the glands, the area of the lumen of the excretory duct orifices, the area of the initial section of the glands, the number of initial (terminal) parts and the proportion of epithelial parenchyma in their composition.
Results. With age, there is a decreased proportion of "complexly branched" glands with a significant number of initial sections and excretory ducts of the 1st order. The proportion of "simple" glands, with one initial section increases to 70.2–78.3% in the senile age, while it is 41.0–52.1% in people of mature age. In long-living people, there is an increased number (up to 70–85%) of glands with ampullar extensions of the common excretory duct. The total number, density of gland localization, the length and width of the initial section of the peribiliary glands tend to decrease from the period of mature age to longevity. In senile age, the size and quantitative parameters of the glands stabilize, and do not modify in long-living people.
Conclusion. The results of the morphological analysis demonstrate that there is no progression of involutive changes in the peribiliary glands of the extrahepatic biliary tract from senile age to the period of longevity. In some cases, long-living individuals manifest compensatory-adaptive reactions, such as an increased severity of the epithelial parenchymal component in the composition of the glands and an increased proportion of glands with an ampullar expansion of the common excretory duct.

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