[Neurotrophic basis of atrophic changes in the vagina and vulva]

The aim of the study is the analysis of morphology and biochemistry of neurovascular peculiarities of biologically active cells of connective tissue and epithelium. Surgically treated women were examined in 3 age groups--active sexual cycle, menopause and senium. Histological-histochemical, neurohistological and neurohistochemical methods and techniques were applied. Morphological pictures of connective tissue proper and epithelium reflect the physiological retroplasia process, associated with age-dependent structural and cellular transformations. This is manifested in typical peculiarities observed in the peripheral innervation and in vascular rete, quantitative and localization changes in mastocytes, chromaffin cells, macrophages, lymphocytes and leucocytes. Quantitative and qualitative rebuilding takes place in fibrous and biochemical structures of basic intracellular substance with its hyalinization. This process of simple tissue atrophy includes pathological activation. In innervation and vascularization, active restructuring coexists with the pictures of quantitative and localization changes in biologically active cells in the series of hormone-immune reactions. This is expressed by dysplasia of innervation structures with angiogenesis, while in cells, apart from apoptosis or necrosis, by the appearance of stratified epithelium (anaplasia) in the reproductive layers.