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The effect of tuftsin was studied in vivo using CBA mice infected with M. leprae by Shepard's technique and in vitro using macrophage-like cell line P. 388 (Co-cultivated with M. leprae) and the cultivated leproma tissue. It was found out that tuftsin acted as a stimulator of M. leprae multiplication in foot-pads of mice and as a prolongator of M. leprae survival in the cells of macrophage-like cell line P .388. It is concluded that using tuftsin might be useful in view of studying different aspects of experimental leprosy.

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A method for storage and transportation of human and animal tissue specimens suitable for subsequent histochemical investigations is described. Tissue cut into pieces of 1 X 1 cm is placed into penicillin flask containing 60-80% glycerol in a saline. The flask is hermetically closed. In such a state tissue is preserved suitable for histochemical analyses (including those for oxidative-reduction enzymes) and routine histological investigations, various fixation procedures and paraffin and celloidin embedding for 30 days at room temperature.

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Neutrophils and monocytes of coronary patients and healthy subjects were investigated for activity of alpha-naphthylacetate esterase, naphthol--AS--D+chloroacetate esterase, alpha-naphthylbutyrate esterase. This activity varied from healthy to coronary subjects, among anginal and MI sufferers, etc. The fact made the authors to suggest comprehensive evaluation of monocyte and neutrophil esterase activity as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator.

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The dynamics of mycobacterial multiplication was followed in mice with intraplantar leprosy infection and preinduced macrophage insufficiency. The characteristics of Shepard's model appeared to be similar to those of the method proposed by the authors including the susceptibility to the main antileprosy drugs. Peritoneal macrophages were cytochemically studied in the process of development of mononuclear phagocyte deficiency and experimental leprosy. It was concluded that the method proposed preserving all the merits of Shepard's model should allow one to shorten significantly the duration of testing potential drugs for their antileprosy activity.

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CBA mice with induced insufficiency of mononuclear phagocyte system (MNPS) were inoculated intraplantar with M. leprae in a dose of 1 X 10(4). A significantly accelerated multiplication of M. leprae was noted in the sites of inoculation with the development of a generalized infections process and appearance in 6 months after inoculation of lepromatous structures in spleen, liver and other internal organs as compared with the animals with unchanged MNPS. The data obtained suggest that insufficiency in macrophage component of cell-mediated immunity might underline the sensibility to leprosy infection.

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Morphological and histochemical characteristics of reverse reactions in M. leprae-infected armadillos are reviewed. The reverse reactions develop in generalized lepromatous disease and are characterized by a dramatic decrease in mycobacterial macrophage load and the appearance of lymphocytes, epithelioid and giant multinuclear cells with peripheral nucleus distribution. Histochemical investigation has shown a decrease in the activity of redox enzymes and alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase and an increase in beta-glucuronidase activity. The reverse reactions in the liver are accompanied by hepatic granuloma and hepatocyte destruction.

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Morpho-functional characteristics of mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) have been studied in experimental animals upon the infusions of perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsions. It has been established that the infusion of high doses of PFC emulsions following massive hemorrhage causes the reduction in the histoenzymatic activity in MPS of PFC-accumulating organs. Low doses of PFC emulsions increase histochemical activity in PFC-containing macrophages, suggesting a stimulating effect of PFC emulsions on MPS.

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The activity of succinate, lactate and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases was studied in blood monocytes of 15 healthy donors and 20 patients with lepromatous leprosy. Cytochemical reaction was assessed photometrically. The total extinction in monocytes, relative activity and the dehydrogenase ratio were measured. The data obtained have shown that in healthy donors, the decrease of the culture temperature to 25 degrees C leads to the prevalence of glycolysis and the fall in the activity of the pentose-phosphate shunt. In leprosy patients, the dehydrogenase activity at a culture temperature of 37 degrees C is similar to that in healthy subjects at a temperature of 25 degrees C. Reduction of the monocyte culture temperature in leprosy patients does not cause any significant changes in the dehydrogenase activity of monocytes.

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The internal organs of nine-banded armadillos were examined histologically before and after inoculation of the animals with M. leprae. 3--4 months after the inoculation two animals developed tuberculoid structures in the lungs, liver and skin. A conclusion is made that experimental leprosy infection in nine-banded armadillos may run its course not only in the lepromatous but also in the tuberculoid form of the disease.

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The enzymatic activity of dehydrogenases and nonspecific esterases in skin affections in leprosy and their dynamics under the effect of treatment were investigated photometrically. It has been found that pentosophosphate pathway oxidation was mostly pronounced in microbe-containing macrophages of the infiltrate in untreated patients with the lepromatous type of leprosy and less according to the Krebs cycle and glycolysis. The intensity of oxidative processes is reduced under the influence of treatment, mainly, due to considerable inhibition of glycose-6-phosphatdehydrogenase. The activity of nonspecific esterases before the treatment is high in leprosy macrophages and low in the epidermis (as compared with the norm). Under the effect of antileprosy therapy the esterase content in the epidermis is restored and in the macrophages is decreased significantly.

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DNA of leprosy cells in serial paraffine sections stained after Felgen were studied photometrically in scanning microscope SPM with electron computer Wang 720C. Significant differences in extinction values (up to 30--35%) between individual sections within the same series were revealed. Cumulative results of different series were rather uniform. It was concluded that photometric studies of serial sections should be carried out for reliable determination of DNA.

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Experiments on male C57BL mice demonstrated that the CCl4 inhalation for 15 minutes in a concentration of 0.05 ml to 4 l of air caused deep dystrophic lesions of the liver with the signs of necrobiosis. The signs of regeneration and cellular infiltration appeared almost in 24 hours accompanied by the secretion of alpha-fetoprotein into the blood. The foci of necrobiosis disappeared completely in 4 days, being replaced by the lymphoid cells with large hepatocytes in the circumference. In the animals given hydrocortisone (20 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) for therapeutic or prophylactic purpose the regenerative processes were decreased, and the number of animals producing alpha-fetoproteins fell from 92 to 60--65%.

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