Activity of glutathione-dependent enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase in the liver and myocardium of rats with vitamin A deficiency

The alimentary deficiency of vitamin A causes marked shifts in the metabolism of GSH: the levels of GSH, GSSG and cysteine in the liver increase, while the activities of glutathione-S-transferase (using glycerol as substrate) and gamma-glutamyltransferase in the liver show a rise. At the same time, vitamin A deficiency causes a decrease of the glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity in the liver. The data obtained are discussed in terms of the role of GSH and enzymes of GSH metabolism in the protection of cells against the damaging influence of lipid peroxidation.     

A quantitative evaluation of the reactive and dystrophic changes in the cerebellar cortex of mice during malnutrition and subsequent food rehabilitation]

Neurones with chromatolysis, hyperchromatism and numerous nucleus have been counted of the paraffin cerebellar cortex sections coloured with kresil-violet and metil-green pironin. The alimentary deficiency has been shown to result in increase of cell number with chromatolysis and hyperchromatism and decrease of the number of numerous nucleus. The food rehabilitation doesn't take off completely damages caused by malnutrition. The use of carnitine leads to the complete rehabilitation that is due to the normalization of protein metabolism in cerebellum.     

Carbohydrate Mimicry of the Parasite in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Himasthla elongata</Emphasis> (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae)—<Emphasis Type="Italic">Littorina littorea</Emphasis> (Mollusca: Prosobranchia) System

Using labeled lectins, a comparative study of the surface of tegument of Himasthla elongata at different stages of development cycle (daughter rediae, cercariae, and metacercariae) and glycocalyx of plasma membranes of hemocytes of molluscs Littorina littorea and Mytilus edulis that are the first and second intermediate hosts of this trematode species, respectively, has been carried out. It is found that in the course of the development cycle of the parasite there occurs a change of the set of terminal sacharides of the glycocalyx of the H. elongata tegument surface as well as differences are revealed in the pattern of binding of three out of five tested lectins with hemocytes of blue mussel and periwinkle. At the same time, the presence of similar carbohydrate determinants on the surface of hemocytes of L. littorea and daughter rediae of H. elongata is shown. The established similarity in composition of glycocalyx of hemocytes of the mollusc and the trematode parthenitae is, most likely, a result of coevolution of the parasite and the host and is of the adaptive nature. Use of the mechanism of the carbohydrate mimicry by parthenitae of this species allows them to avoid attacking by effector cells of the internal defense system of the mollusc-host.__________Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 41, No. 2, 2005, pp. 114–118.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Iakovleva, Gorbushin.     

Himasthla elongata: Effect of infection on expression of the LUSTR-like receptor mRNA in common periwinkle haemocytes

The first mollusc mRNA coding G-protein-coupled transmembrane receptor (GPСR), homologous to human receptors LUSTR 1 (GPR107) and LUSTR 2 (GPR108), was isolated from haemocytes of common periwinkle Littorina littorea. The analyses showed that the full-length cDNA is 1935 bp long and is predicted to encode a 614 amino acid protein (named Lit-LUSTR) with a calculated molecular mass of 69.6 kDa and theoretical isoelectric point 7.59. Pair-wise comparisons between Lit-LUSTR and LUSTR proteins from human or mouse have approximately 38% identity and 56% similarity. Lit-LUSTR clusters with LUSTR-A sub-family proteins and is a first characterization of proteins containing Lung7TM-R domain in Mollusca. Significant differences were found between the Lit-LUSTR mRNA levels in haemocytes of healthy periwinkles and those naturally infected with the echinostome trematode Himasthla elongata. Down regulated expression of the LUSTR-like receptor caused by infection illustrates modification of the haemocyte receptor system and may be attributed to the previously demonstrated greater numbers of “immature” haemocytes in the circulation of infected snails.