Serotonin excess in the brain modifies the effect of beta-endorphin and dalargin on the processes of learning and memory]

In experiments on outbred female rats the influence was studied and compared of two representatives of endogenous opioids beta-endorphine and the analogue of leu-enkephalin dalargin on the processes of learning and memory in normal conditions and at the change of functional state of serotoninergic system of the brain. Parallel, the influence was studied of neuropeptides on the content of serotonin (5-OT) and its metabolite--5-oxyindolacetic acid in various areas of the brain in control and at the 5-OT redundancy. Conditioned reflexes (CRs) were used of two-way avoidance and defensive CRs. It has been established that administration of neuropeptides to intact animals influences in different directions the elaboration of the CR of two-way avoidance and maze defensive CR, but also worsens their preservation. Redundancy of 5-OT in the brain modifies behavioural effects of beta-endorphine and dalargin manifested in appearance of new effect and elimination and change of direction of the effects observed in the intact animals. Redundancy of 5-OT in the brain changes metabolic effects of beta-endorphine and particularly of dalargin. The obtained data testify to a dependence of the effects of beta-endorphine and dalargin on the functional state of 5-OT-ergic system.     

Effect of cadmium chloride on the processes of learning and memory in rats

Intraperitoneal injection of cadmium chloride (4 mg/kg) to rats before elaboration or reproduction of two-way avoidance conditioned reflex (TACR) disturbs both these processes. Deterioration of elaboration does not affect connections fixation and their subsequent reproduction. Injection of the substance before the elaboration of passive avoidance conditioned reflex (PACR) depresses elaboration and consolidation. Injection of cadmium chloride before testing of PACR preservation does not influence the processes of engrams reproduction. The observed disturbances cannot be connected with changes of animals motor activity.     

Effect an ACTH analog on the processes of learning and memory in rats

On the basis of the idea of the important role of neurotransmitter systems in realization of neuropeptide effects, the participation was studied of the monoaminergic systems in the mechanisms of the ACTH analogue influence on the processes of learning and memory in control animals and animals with a changed functional state of the monoaminergic systems. In parallel the influence was studied of the ACTH analogue on the content of the endogenic monoamines in various brain structures of rats. It has been shown that administration of the ACTH analogue in a dose of 10 mcg affects the elaboration and preservation of conditioned reflexes (CRs) of passive avoidance, CRs of two-side avoidance and labyrinth CRs only in conditions of changed functional state of the monoaminergic systems. Amnesia, usually elicited by 5-oxytryptophane and disulfiram is prevented by administration of the ACTH analogue. Administration of the ACTH analogue is accompanied by the intensification of serotonine metabolism in the midbrain and medulla and by an increase of noradrenaline content in the hypothlamus.     

Effect of insulin and its polymeric analogs on learning and memory processes in the rabbit

The effect of insulin and its seven synthetic derivatives on spontaneous bioelectrical activity of the cerebral cortex of rabbits was described in the paper. The influence of these substances on consolidation of long-term memory of white rats was shown at normal state and during experimental neurosis. Insulin was supposed to influence the higher nervous activity not only through glucose metabolism but also by means of increase of permeability of biological membranes for amino acids.     

Effect of sidnocarb on learning and memory

It has been established that in well-trained rats sydnocarb (mesocarb) does not exert a considerable effect on the generation of conditioned reflex of passive avoidance (CRPA). On the contrary, in poorly-trained animals sydnocarb significantly improves CRPA indexes at all three stages of its generation. Sydnocarb proved most effective, when injected before training (on day I). The absence of sydnocarb-induced pain threshold decrease in response to electrical pain stimulation suggests a direct drug effect on memory processes.     

Effects of opioid peptide dalargin on reparative processes in wound healing

At intraperitoneal injection and local application of opioid peptide dalargin induces fibroblast proliferation (3-fold increase in the mitotic index) and growth of capillaries, accelerates the maturation of granulation tissue and of scar, epitheliazation of the defect, and considerably reduces the period of healing of skin wound in rats. The stimulating action of dalargin is associated with its effect on the microcirculation system and activation of the macrophage-fibroblast interaction. Possessing the triggering mechanism, the drug induces a cascade of inflammatory-reparative reactions, which reduce the duration of all healing stages.     

Higher olfactory processes: perceptual learning and memory.

The past year has seen several important findings emerge from studies of higher olfactory processes. The identification of synaptic long-term potentiation in the olfactory cortex, induced via repetitive burst stimulation at the theta rhythm, and physiological activity patterns associated with learning, some of which mimic long-term potentiation induction patterns, have suggested relationships between rhythmic activity, behavioral learning and synaptic plasticity. In addition, the construction of computational models of the olfactory bulb and cortex have generated testable behavioral and physiological predictions which have been supported by experimental evidence.     

Effect of dalargin on blood and lymph microcirculation

Dalargin (a synthetic analog of leu-enkephalin), when applied to the microvessel surface or administered intramuscularly at doses 0.004-40.0 micrograms/kg increased the permeability of the rat mesenteric microvascular wall and activated the lymph flow due to enhanced contraction of lymphatic microvascular wall and valves. Moreover, Dalargin evoked leukocyte migration from venules and activated the intestinal muscular contractions.     

Maze-escape learning and memory during rat ontogeny

With the method of a simple automatic rectangular maze the development of escape reaction was studied in albino rats aged 3 weeks to 3 months as well as memory retrieval within 24 h and then after one month. Learning of escape improves sharply between the 3rd and 4th postnatal week, and then, with the exception of week 8, remains approximately on the same level. Memory retrieval up to 24 h is not significantly influenced by age or sex, but is best immediately after learning interval of 10 min and the poorest after 24 h, except the age of 5 weeks, where it is best in 3 and 6 h after learning. One-month retention of maze escape improves during development except in animals trained at the age of 6 weeks in which the level is lower than in all other investigated groups. One-month memory retrieval in animals taught at the age of 4 weeks is influenced by the time of the first retention test with the best values in animals tested for the first time after 3 h and poorest in animals tested after 24 h after learning. Animals trained at 5 weeks had a marginally better result after the one-month retention test in females, perhaps due to the influence of sexual maturation on memory traces. This was not observed in the other age groups. Attention is drawn to the different development of learning and memory of various types of conditioned reactions stemming from the difference in their complexity.     

The effect of ultrahigh-frequency electromagnetic radiation on learning and memory processes]

Low-intensity electromagnetic field (12.6 cm, 2375 MHz, power density 1 mW/cm2) produced retrograde amnesia in the rat passive avoidance test. No effect was registered of microwave irradiation on the open field behavior and the pain sensitivity. Functional activity of the m-cholinergic receptors decreased, but their number increased in the brain cortex. It is suggested that cholinergic system plays an important role in the effects of electromagnetic field on memory processes.     

Effects of dalargin on the processes of cell division in the gastric epithelium during stress

Influence of dalargine on cell division in stomach epithelium of male rats, stressed by 4-hour immobilization was studied using autoradiographic 3H-thymidine test. Norepinephrine and diene conjugates content in stomach tissue were also determined in these animals spectrofluorometrically. Dalargine (10 micrograms/kg) gas injected to experimental group 40 min before stressing. Dalargine prevented stress-induced DNA-synthesis disturbances and stabilized proliferating cells pool just after the stress. It also decreased proliferation processes depression in 12 and 24 hours after stress and accelerated compensatory DNA-synthesis.     

染料木素对卵巢切除大鼠学习记忆能力的影响

目的：探讨染料木素对卵巢切除大鼠学习记忆能力的影响及作用机制。方法：将40只SD雌性大鼠随机分为用假手术组、去卵巢对照组、染料木素高剂量、低剂量组、17β-雌二醇组,切除卵巢建立学习和记忆能力受损的模型。灌胃给药6周后Morris水迷宫测定各组大鼠学习记忆能力,免疫组化法观察大鼠海马微管相关蛋白（tau蛋白）阳性表达情况,测定大鼠脑组织中乙酰胆碱酯酶（AchE）、乙酰胆碱转移酶（ChaT）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的活性及丙二醛（MDA）的含量,观察海马组织超微结构变化。结果：大鼠切除卵巢后Morris水迷宫测定的学习记忆能力显著下降,微管相关蛋白（tau蛋白）异常磷酸化阳性表达率增高,前脑皮质中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、乙酰胆碱转移酶（ChaT）活性降低,丙二醛（MDA）含量、乙酰胆碱酯酶（AchE）活性增高。低剂量的染料木素可以发挥类雌激素样作用,改善去卵巢大鼠的以上症状。结论：染料木素对卵巢切除导致的学习和记忆能力下降有改善作用,低剂量效果显著,其可能的机制是：抑制了脑内AchE的活性,使乙酰胆碱的降解减少;增强脑组织抗氧化能力;稳定微管相关蛋白（tau蛋白）,降低tau蛋白异常磷酸化水平。     

Effect of benzodiazepine receptor blockade on memory processes in the mouse

The results of study testify to a stimulating effect of benzodiazepine receptors blocators RO15-1788 and RO15-3505 on reproduction of conditioned reaction of passive avoidance in mice disturbed as a result of various procedures-"psychogenic" and cycloheximide amnesia, extinction and forgetting. A considerable antiamnesic effect of the drugs on cycloheximide amnesia models is noted, in comparison with the "psychogenic" one. RO15-3505 is more effective in the processes of extraction of memory traces under amnesia. The obtained results testify to an important contribution of benzodiazepine-GABA-ergic brain systems in inhibitory regulation of the processes of stored memory traces reproduction.     

Effect of dalargin on the activity of cytochrome oxidase and glutamate dehydrogenase in rat spinal cord dissociated cultured neurons

Dissociated cultured neurons from the rat embryo spinal cord were grown for six days in the presence of dalargin, the synthetic analog of leu-enkephalin. Then the activities of two enzymes of energy metabolism, cytochrome oxidase (CO) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), were studied in these neurons using quantitative cytochemical technique. Dalargin, which possesses the properties of nerve growth factor, enhanced the nerve cell growth and increased the activity of the above enzymes, with GDH activity being increased more significantly. According to the classical standpoint, increased GDH activity under conditions of acute energy deflciency favors the invoivement of some amino acids in a citric acid cycle for subsequent reproduction. One can suggest, in this relation, that the increased energy production caused by the enhanced nerve cell growth in the presence of dalargin was partially compensated by the amino acid splitting. The results allow us to suggest that the effect of dalargin (growth factor) on the nerve cells is similar to the effects of the extremal factors, and requires additional energy to be supplied.Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 28, No. 2/3, pp. 95–99, March–June, 1996.