[Morphological and functional changes in the esophageal epithelium after treatment with a cytostatic agent]

Using histological, morphometric, histochemical and immunocytochemical methods, the effect of cytotoxic treatment on structural and functional characteristics of the epithelium of esophageal mucosa was studied in mice together with the reversibility of the changes induced by cytotoxic drug. Fourfold intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (400 mg/kg of body mass) resulted in such morpho-functional changes, as thickening of epithelial layer, increase in proportion of its stratum corneum and its loosening, disturbances in cornification process, hyperkeratosis, vacuolization of cell cytoplasm in stratum basale and stratum spinosum, interstitial edema, nuclear hypertrophy and parakeratosis. Mitotic activity and the activity of NADH-diaphorase were significantly reduced, while the number of PCNA' cells was increased. Cyclophosphamide had no significant affect on the concentration of total proteins. 15 days after the discontinuation of cytostatic treatment, most of the indexes did not return to normal values, indicating profound disturbances in the esophageal epithelium.