Radiation physiology of higher nervous activity: results and perspectives

Reflex forming and stabilization, the typological peculiarities of the experimental animals' higher nervous activity were discussed. The problems of the central nervous system functional reactions to irradiation in small doses, the chronic irradiation in particular, influence to higher nervous activity of heavy particles irradiation and neurochemical mechanisms of the disturbances in the central nervous system require further experimental investigations.     

I P Pavlov principles of the higher nervous activity--a reliable basis for modern cognitive physiology

The paper shows that formulated by I. P. Pavlov principles of higher nervous activity are quite fruitful even today in investigations into the problems associated with contemporary new physiological trends as, for instance, cognitive processes. Special attention is paid to study of the principles of neurophysiological organisation of the mechanisms carrying out analysing and synthesising activities. I. P. Pavlov was the first to indicate the important role of frontal cortex in these processes.     

Brain lipidomic changes after morphine,cocaine and amphetamine administration — DESI — MS imaging study

Drug addiction is a complex disorder, evoking significant changes in the proteome of the central nervous system. To check if there are also changes in the lipidomic profiles we used desorption electrospray-MS technique for imaging of the brain slices of rats exposed to morphine, cocaine and amphetamine. Our investigations showed alternative regulation of selected lipid's levels in the central nervous system structures, under the influence of applied drugs. Results of our investigations can show changes in the brain treated with drugs of abuse in the new light, indicating role of the lipids in the addiction development.     

Neural control of somatic muscle function in the earthworm, Allobophora longa, and in the leech, Hirudo medicinalis

Studies have been made on the electrical activity of the segmentary nerves and connectives of the abdominal nervous chain in the earthworm and leech. It was shown that the electrical activity of the isolated piece of the abdominal chain of the leech is manifested of periodic outbursts of impulsation. Presumably this central periodicity accounts for the discharge-like pattern of muscle rhythmic activity which was revealed in our earlier investigations. The electrical activity in the central nervous system of the earthworm depends on afferent influences which pass to the ganglia from the peripheral sensory nervous cells. Stimulation of the abdominal nervous chain did not result in extra discharges of muscle activity, but only affected some of the parameters of the latter.     

Aging rate after continual low dose irradiation of drosophila strains with apoptosis deregulation

In this article the results of investigations of interrelation between radio-induced apoptosis in larvae nervous system and aging in imago are presented. It was shown that the apoptosis level of larvae nervous ganglion 2.5 folds increased after exposure to ionizing radiation (54 cGy). Irradiation of stocks with higher apoptosis induction sensitivity, bearing mutations of inhibitor apoptosis protein th (allele th1 and th4) and wild type strain Berlin leaded to elevation of activity at all ages and accordingly to decreasing of aging speed. Whereas in stocks with lower apoptosis induction sensitivity (with mutations of genes rpr, grim, hid, dArk and Dcp-1) this effect was not observed. The obtained results suggested that radiation-induced apoptosis could be one of the mechanisms preventing aging.     

Simulation of local cerebral hemorrhage in different brain structures of experimental animals

A standardized experimental model of intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke in small laboratory animals is developed and advanced for chronic neurobiological studies of normal and pathological higher nervous activity as well as disorders developed after acute hemorrhages. A device is advanced which allows a researcher to destroy appropriate brain structures (tissues and local blood vessels) with necessary precision by four-six rotations of curved stereotaxically inserted mandrel-wire knife and, subsequently, to inject autoblood into the area of the lesion. The advanced model is convenient for the reproduction of lesions in different brain regions (for the purpose of experimental knockouts) in neurophysiological, neuropharmacological, and clinical investigations.     

Noninvasive cardiac psychophysiology as a tool for translational science with marmosets

The importance of marmosets for comparative and translational science has grown in recent years because of their relatively rapid development, birth cohorts of twins, family social structure, and genetic tractability. Despite this, they remain understudied in investigations of affective processes. In this methodological note, we establish the validity of using noninvasive commercially available equipment to record cardiac physiology and compute indices of autonomic nervous system activity—a major component of affective processes. Specifically, we recorded electrocardiogram and impedance cardiogram, from which we derived heart rate, respiration rate, measures of high‐frequency heart rate variability (indices of parasympathetic autonomic nervous system activity), and ventricular contractility (an index of sympathetic autonomic nervous system activity). Our methods produced physiologically plausible data, and further, animals with increased heart rates during testing were also more reactive to isolation from their social partner and presentation of novel objects, though no relationship was observed between reactivity and specific indices of parasympathetic or sympathetic nervous system activity.     

Inner Speech And The Processes of Grammatical Generation of Utterances

The present article contains no ultimate truths. As indicated in the title, the author's aim is to present, on the basis of presently available data, a few hypotheses concerning socalled "inner speech" in order to provide a foundation for experimental investigations. These hypotheses have as their premise the general conception of processes of speech generation that is current in contemporary Soviet psychology, in particular, in L. S. Vygotsky's school, as well as in another school of Soviet physiology of higher nervous activity associated with the name of N. A. Bernshteyn. However, these hypotheses are not, in principle, incompatible with certain other theories of verbal activity (verbal behavior); indeed, as will be evident later, they are partially based on material accumulated with the aid of these theories.     

MicroRNA与神经系统重大疾病

目前有研究证实microRNA参与了神经系统生长发育和生理功能的调控,它也与可塑性障碍性疾病、神经系统退行性疾病、神经系统肿瘤、脑血管疾病等重大疾病的发生发展相关．随着microRNA研究领域的发展,一些重大神经系统疾病的相关发病机制将有可能被阐释．     

The Influence of Ablation of the Dorsal Section of the Hippocampus on Alimentary Conditioned Reflexes in Cats

At present a great deal of attention is given to questions of the physiological role of the hippocampal formation in the higher nervous activity of animals and man. A sizable number of both experimental and clinical-neurological investigations indicate that the hippocampus plays a definite part in conditioned reflex activity. Both ablation and stimulation produce noticeable alterations (Grastyan [13, 14], Brady [1], Bures et al. [11], Zager et al. [3], Urmancheyeva [9, 10] etc). (1)     

Pavlov as a psychologist. A reappraisal

American psychologists are informed on Pavlov's work on conditional reflexes but not on the full development of his theory of higher nervous activity. This article shows that Pavlov's theory of higher nervous activity dealt with concepts that concerned contemporary psychologists. Pavlov used the conditioning of the salivary reflex for methodological purposes. Pavlov's theory of higher nervous activity encompassed overt behavior, neural processes, and the conscious experience. The strong Darwinian element of Pavlov's theory, with its stress on the higher organisms' adaptation, is described. With regard to learning, Pavlov, at the end of his scholarly career, proposed that although all learning involves the formation of associations, the organism's adaptation to the environment is established through conditioning, but the accumulation of knowledge is established by trial and error.     

Comparative pathology of higher nervous activity

In experiments with defensive behaviour, using multiparametric recording of indices, studies have been made on the origin and development of pathological disturbances in the higher nervous activity of insectivores, carnivores and primates during presentation of difficult conditioned reflex problems or extreme stimulation. It was found that elaboration of absolute differentiation retarded conditioned reactions with a delay of 25 s in insectivores is a difficult task which results in pathological changes in the higher nervous activity. In hedgehogs, neurotic changes are immediate, all the investigated indices being affected. In carnivores, especially in primates, the onset of evident pathological changes is preceded by a long preneurotic period, i.e. a stage of self-regulation. In pathological process, more corticalized forms of the nervous activity are initially involved. Common features and differences in the development of pathological changes in the higher nervous activity among mammals are discussed.     

I. P. Pavlov's theory on higher nervous activity: the landmarks and trends in its development

The theory of higher nervous activity created in Pavlovian time is compared with the present-day state of the theory developing due to appearance of new methods, techniques, facts, and concepts. Three principles of Pavlovian theory: determinism; analysis and synthesis; structural approach, as well s types of conditioned reflexes and techniques, types of higher nervous activity, and inhibition problems are discussed. The theory of higher nervous activity is schematically depicted as a tree, some branches of which are presented by facts and concepts obtained and introduced by I.P. Pavlov and his followers during his life, the others are formed by new facts and concepts advancing the theory. What is obsolete in the theory, what are the most prominent tendencies of its development and its new branches are discussed.     

1,2,3-triazolyl amino acids as AMPA receptor ligands

The central nervous system glutamate receptors are an important target for drug discovery. Herein we report initial investigations into the synthesis and glutamate receptor activity of 1,2,3-triazolyl amino acids. Two compounds were found to be selective AMPA receptor ligands, which warrant further investigation.     

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer into the brain stem to examine cardiovascular function: role of nitric oxide and Rho-kinase

The central nervous system plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure via the sympathetic nervous system. Abnormal regulation of the sympathetic nerve activity is involved in the pathophysiology of hypertension. In particular, the brain stem, including the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), is a key site that controls and maintains blood pressure via the sympathetic nervous system. Nitric oxide (NO) is a unique molecule that influences sympathetic nerve activity. Rho-kinase is a downstream effector of the small GTPase, Rho, and is implicated in various cellular functions. We developed a technique to transfer adenovirus vectors encoding endothelial nitric oxide synthase and dominant-negative Rho-kinase into the NTS or the RVLM of rats in vivo. We applied this technique to hypertensive rats to explore the physiological significance of NO and Rho-kinase.     

Comparative Study of Neurochemical Compensation of Disturbed Brain Functions in Mammals

In a comparative row of mammals (hedgehogs, rabbits, monkeys), the role of the opioid neuropeptide Met-encephalin (ME) and the hypothalamic neurohormone vasopressin (VP) was studied in possibility of compensation of disturbed higher nervous functions in organic and functional pathologies of the higher nervous activity. Administration of ME and VP under conditions of destruction of neocortex in hedgehogs was found to restore predominantly congenital forms of the nervous activity. In rabbits, on administration of VP, a tendency is revealed for restoration of acquired forms of the nervous activity; however, it is of a limited character. On administration of ME and VP under conditions of functional pathology a similar regularity in restoration of disturbed higher nervous functions is observed. Injection of ME and VP to hedgehogs produced a more pronounced and longer effect on unconditioned reflexes. The effect of low doses of VP on HNA is of short-term, generally facilitating character. In rabbits, on the background of VP, the memory processes (trace conditioned responses) are briefly restored and are enhanced. In monkeys, the effect of ME and VP on acquired forms of the nervous activity and on various functional systems is of differential character. The VP compensatory effects are more pronounced after administration of low VP doses. The effects of ME and VP on congenital forms of the nervous activity are negligible. The established regularities are discussed and interpreted from the viewpoint of the concepts postulated by A.I. Karamyan about evolution of the compensatory brain activity, evolution of neocortex, and an increase of its neuroplasticity.     

The effect of different anamnesis during ontogeny on higher nervous activity in rats.

The consequences of malnutrition, experimental experience and sensory deprivation during early postnatal life were investigated in adult rats. The higher nervous activity of experimental animals was evaluated by means of a battery of tests (exploratory activity, avoidance reaction, preference of a small chamber and a water maze). Rats were divided into 5 groups, i. e. control, trained (with previous experimental experience), light deprived, malnourished naive (12-14 animals in the litter) and malnourished trained. From experimental data obtained it may be concluded that the level of nutrition as well as sensory deprivation or additional stimulation during development are important factors the influence of which persists and modifies the somatic development and the higher nervous activity in adult animals. Light deprived and malnourished rats showed retarded somatic development and worse parameters of higher nervous activity. The difference between groups could be altered by augmented stimulation. Previous experimental experience and intensive handling seems to be an important factor which influences the higher nervous activity of experimental animals.     

Influence of latitude factor on organism of adolescences residing on North

Complex investigations of adolescences (14-15 years) residing on the European North at 62 and 65 degrees latitudes have been carried out. It was shown that the latitude factor on the North affected on mature organism of adolescences already at a difference of residence place on 3 degrees. The decrease of tolerance to hypoxemia, quality of hemodynamic regulation at short-term physical activity, physical health level, nervous processes rate (switching of attention) and the increase of plasma lactate level (attribute of hypoxia) were shown in adolescences residing at higher latitudes. The sexual distinctions and features of northerner organism on a lot of parameters in adolescences were revealed.     

Nitric oxide: an unconventional messenger in the nervous system of an orthopteroid insect

Nitric oxide (NO) is a membrane-permeant messenger molecule generated from the amino acid L-arginine. NO can activate soluble guanylyl cyclase leading to the formation of cyclic GMP (cGMP) in target cells. In the nervous system, NO/cGMP signalling is thought to play essential roles in synaptic plasticity during development and also in the mature animal. This paper examines biochemical, cell biological, and physiological investigations of NO/cGMP signalling in the nervous system of the locust, a commonly used neurobiological preparation. Biochemical investigations suggest that an identical enzyme is responsible for both NO synthase (NOS) and NADPH-diaphorase activity after tissue fixation. Immunocytochemical staining of an olfactory center in the locust brain shows that NOS-immunoreactivity colocalizes with NADPH-diaphorase at the cellular level. The cytochemical staining of NO donor and target cells in adult animals suggests functions in olfaction, vision, and sensorimotor integration. During development, NO is implicated in axonal outgrowth and synaptogenesis. The cellular distribution of NO-responsive cells in neural circuits reflects potential functions of NO as a retrograde synaptic messenger, as an intracellular messenger, and as a lateral diffusible messenger independent of conventional synaptic connectivity.     

Electron microscopic-cytochemical study of succinate dehydrogenase activity of nerve tissue cells of human embryos in vitro

The ultrastructural localization of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity was revealed in astrocyte-like cells of 26 days old nervous tissue organotypic cultures. The Kerpel-Fronius and Hajos (1968) technique was employed using potassium ferricyanide as an artificial acceptor of electrons. The localization of the reaction product was seen more often in cells with long, thread-like mitochondria. The appearance of such organelles with a large membrane length and high enzymatic activity is suggested to reflect one of the mechanisms of adaptation of nervous tissue cells providing the adequate level of the energy supply under in vitro conditions.