Analysis of the mechanisms of interaction between generators of cyclic motor reactions and inputs from suprasegmental systems

The simulation mathematical model of neuronal generator systems was used for analyzing the interaction between inputs from descending (afferent) systems and generators of scratching (locomotion). The data obtained indicate that in cases when generators of cyclic motor reactions influence the effectiveness of synaptic transmission from the fibers of descending (or afferent) systems, the differences in the main characteristics of signals that are produced by these generators themselves and those that come to them are emphasized. These data allow us to conclude that the system supplying interaction between inputs from suprasegmental (afferent) fiber systems and generators of locomotion of scratching can be interpreted as an adaptive filter which processes spatial and temporal information coming to the spinal cord via different suprasegmental or primary afferent inputs and allows generators of cyclic motor reactions to correct their functioning in accordance with changing external conditions.Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 211–215, May–June, 1993.     

Mechanisms of frequency and pattern control in the neural rhythm generators

The locomotive motion in animals is produced in some central neural units, and basically no sensory signal from peripheral receptors is necessary to induce it. The rhythm generators do not only produce rhythms but also alter their frequencies and patterns. This paper presents some methematical models of the neural rhythm generators and discusses various aspects of the frequency and pattern control in them.     

Comparison of stain reactions in different cyclical stages of haemoproteids and haemogregarines

Cytochemical studies showed that haemoproteids, represented by Haemoproteus columbae and Parahaemoproteus danilewskii, differ in their reactivity for Feulgen, Unna Pappenheim stains and glycogen from haemogregarines, represented by Haemogregarina boueti and Haemogregarina aegyptia. On the other hand, there was no difference in the cytochemical make-up of gametocytes between H. columbae and P. danilewskii. In its stain reactions, Haemoproteus appeared to behave in a manner similar to that of Plasmodium; they both exhibited fluctuations in DNA and RNA in different cyclical stages. All stages of the parasites studied were negative for lipids, but all showed a positive reaction for proteins.     

Mechanisms of idiosyncratic drug reactions: the case of felbamate

Idiosyncratic drug reactions (IDR) are a specific type of drug toxicity characterized by their delayed onset, low incidence and reactive metabolite formation with little, if any, correlation between pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics and the toxicological outcome. As the name implies, IDR are unpredictable and often result in the post marketing failure of otherwise useful therapies. Examples of drugs, which have failed as a result of IDR in recent years, include trovafloxacin, zileuton, troglitazone, tolcapone and felbamate. To date there exists no pre-clinical model to predict these adverse drug reactions and a mechanistic understanding of these toxicities remains limited. In an attempt to better understand this class of drug toxicities and gain mechanistic insight, we have studied the IDR associated with a model compound, felbamate. Our studies with felbamate are consistent with the theory that compounds which cause IDR undergo bioactivation to a highly reactive electrophilic metabolite that is capable of forming covalent protein adducts in vivo. In additon, our data suggest that under normal physiological conditions glutathione plays a protective role in preventing IDR during felbamate therapy, further emphasizing a correlation between reactive metabolite formation and a toxic outcome. Clinical studies with felbamate have been able to demonstrate an association between reactive metabolite formation and a clinically relevant toxicity; however, additional research is required to more fully understand the link between reactive metabolite formation and the events which elicit toxicity. Going forward, it seems reasonable that screening for reactive metabolite formation in early drug discovery may be an important tool in eliminating the post-marketing failure of otherwise useful therapies.     

Defective ensheathment of motoric nerves in the Splotch mutant mouse

Mouse embryos, homozygous for mutations at the Splotch locus, are afflicted with spina bifida and disturbances of neural-crest-derived tissues, e.g. spinal ganglia and pigment cells. The development of Schwann cells is affected in homozygotes to a varying degree along the rostrocaudal axis. In cervical motoric roots, nerves are associated with apparently normal Schwann cells. At the thoracic level, nerve-associated cells become more scarce and resemble the surrounding mesenchymal cells. They are not enveloped by a basal lamina and frequently show wide gaps between neighbouring cells. Lumbar motoric roots are mostly devoid of any associated cells. The Splotch mutant embryo is proposed to be a new animal model for the study of peripheral nerve ensheathment. The implications for Schwann-cell-mediated axon guidance are discussed.     

Mechanisms in the modulation of the reactions of immune splenocytes by macroheterocyclic compounds

The effect of macroheterocyclic compounds possessing immunostimulating properties in vivo on the reactions of the immune splenocytes in vitro has been studied. It has been shown that the cell activity is determined by the medium ionic composition. In the medium with the optimal content of the bivalent cations the azacrown ethers decrease the intensity of the immune splenocytes reactions depending on the dose. In the media of the modified ionic composition the studied compounds in concentration 10 microM activate all the reactions of the spleen cells, in concentration 100 microM they suppress or do not change them.     

Osmotic adjustment in sorghum: I. Mechanisms of diurnal osmotic potential changes

Osmotic adjustment, defined as a lowering of osmotic potential (ψ_π) due to net solute accumulation in response to water stress, has been considered to be a beneficial drought tolerance mechanism in some crop species. The objective of this experiment was to determine the relative contribution of passive versus active mechanisms involved in diurnal ψ_π changes in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) leaf tissue in response to water stress. A single sorghum hybrid (cv AT×623 × RT×430) was grown in the field under variable water supplies. Water potential, ψ_π, and relative water content were measured diurnally on expanding and the uppermost fully expanded leaves before flowering and on fully expanded leaves during the grain-filling period. Diurnal changes in total osmotic potential (Δψ_π) in response to water stress was 1.1 megapascals before flowering and 1.4 megapascals during grain filling in comparison with 0.53 megapascal under well-watered conditions. Under water-stressed conditions, passive concentration of solutes associated with dehydration accounted for 50% (0.55 megapascal) of the diurnal Δψ_π before flowering and 47% (0.66 megapascal) of the change during grain filling. Net solute accumulation accounted for 42% (0.46 megapascal) of the diurnal Δψ_π before flowering and 45% (0.63 megapascal) of the change during grain filling in water-stressed leaves. The relative contribution of changes in nonosmotic volume (decreased turgid weight/dry weight) to diurnal Δψ_π was less than 8% at either growth stages. Water stress did not affect leaf tissue elasticity or partitioning of water between the symplasm and apoplasm.     

Periodic operation of bioreactors for autocatalytic reactions with Michaelis-Menten kinetics

The performance of an isothermal tubular bioreactor carrying out autocatalytic reactions obeying Michaelis-Menten Kinetics is analyzed for improvement in the average yield of product B. Under steady-state condition, the reactor is shown to exhibit input multiplicities in the yield of B with the mean residence time. Simulation results show that a significant improvement in the average yield of B is obtained under feed substrate concentration cycling. The two values of mean residence time giving identical yield under conventional steady-state operation is shown to give distinctly different behaviour under periodic operation. The lower value of the residence time gives improved average yield of B. The performances of the reactor with power law kinetics and that with the Michaelis-Menten kinetics show distinct average yield under periodic operation even though steady-state operation gives identical yield.