Effect of the reparative therapy on indices of lipid and phospholipid spectra of the blood plasma during neonathal enteropathology in calves

The paper deals with dynamics peculiarities of quantitave changes of the same classes of lipid and phospholipid spectra of blood plasma of calves which have recovered from dyspepsia. The obtained reliable changes of blood plasma lipidogrammas testify to development of dyslipidhaemia, hypercholesterolhaemia and hyperthreacylglycerolhaemia as well as the deficiency of choline fractions of phosphatide--main structural components of cell membranes. It was established that changes of lipid and phospholipid spectrum of the blood plasma caused by enteropathology could be corrected by the inclusion of reparative therapy remedies to dyspepsia treatment plan, in particular, experimental phospholipids-containing remedy, which is prepared on the basis of milk phospholipids--their natural source for newborn calves.     

Erythropoiesis and osteogenesis (I. The interaction of the reparative processes of bone and hematopoietic tissues)

The dynamics of erythropoiesis during the bone restoration and under the conditions of perturbing influence: fracture and hemolytic anemia have been studied in the experiment. It is found that under the conditions of callus formation the process of proliferation and differentiation of red cells in the bone marrow is inhibited. The observed effect of erythropoiesis inhibition may be caused by the intercellular interaction of regenerating tissues in their "struggle" for microphages, which, while being the centre of the erythroid insula secure the maturation of erythroid precursors, and at the same time they can take part in the bone formation process.     

Destructive and reparative processes in the liver in acute experimental peritonitis

Dynamics and character of interrelations of destructive and reparative processes in the liver in different conditions of acute experimental peritonitis (AEP), using preparations, inhibiting or stimulating these reactions in the experiment with 135 white rats have been studied. It was established the dependence of the level of destruction and intensity of hepatic reparative regeneration on the gravity of peritoneum affection, the level of toxicity and the state of the body immunologic reactivity. The organ reparation in normal AEP in the first two days is carried out mainly by intercellular hyperplasia of hepatocyte ultrastructures. Karyokinetic cellular activity is increasing from the 3rd day and reacting its peak on the 4-5 day of the experiment. The course of peritonitis while introducing azathioprine is accompanied by prevailing destructive-purulent changes in the liver. On the contrary, levamisole administration in experimental animals causes an increase in lymphoid-cellular infiltration of stromal and parenchymatous cells with earlier reparation of necrotic foci.     

Activation of phospholipid methyltransferase by glucagon in rat hepatocytes

Glucagon produces a time- and dose-dependent activation of phospholipid methyltransferase activity in isolated rat hepatocytes. Half-maximal effect is caused by a dose of glucagon of 1 x 10(-10) M. This activation is due to an increase of the Vmax value of the enzyme, without affecting the Km value for S-adenosylmethionine. Exogenous cyclic AMP added to isolated rat hepatocytes mimics the effect of glucagon, and the activation of phospholipid methyltransferase by a nonsaturating concentration of glucagon is spontaneously reversible within 40 min of incubation.     

Patterns and processes in insular floras affected by hurricanes

Aim To investigate species compositions, rates of species turnover, species–area and species–distance relationships and patterns of nestedness in the floras of small Bahamian islands, by comparing two groups of islands that had been differentially affected by two hurricanes. Location Small islands occurring on either side of Great Exuma near Georgetown, Bahamas. Methods We surveyed the plant species of 44 small islands over a 5‐year period from 1998 to 2002. Hurricanes Lili and Michelle occurred in 1996 and 2001, respectively; both storms affected small islands on the more exposed south‐west side of Great Exuma to a greater degree than small islands on the more protected north‐east side. A set of 27 islands was surveyed in 1998 and 2002 to evaluate species turnover. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses and an information‐theoretic approach (the Akaike information criterion) were used to elucidate the importance of area and distance as predictors of plant species number. We compared a piecewise linear regression model with a simple linear regression of species number against area to determine whether a small island effect existed. Nestedness patterns were evaluated by Wilcoxon two‐sample tests to analyse occurrence sequences. Results Species turnover was low in an absolute sense (overall = 0.74% year^?1), yet was over three times higher than that documented in a nearby archipelago in the absence of hurricanes. Both vegetated area and distance were important predictor variables for exposed islands but not for protected islands. Some support was found for a small island effect for the exposed islands based on a piecewise linear regression model. Both island groups revealed significant nestedness at the level of the assemblage (both P < 0.001). On exposed islands, 65–79% (depending upon the method of calculation) of all species were significantly nested, but only 47% of all species were significantly nested on protected islands. Main conclusions Overall, these insular floras seem highly resistant to hurricane‐force disturbances. Species turnover was low (< 1% year^?1) in an absolute sense, particularly in comparison with rates for other taxa. Higher degrees of nestedness and significant species–area and species–distance relationships for exposed islands indicated stronger patterns of community assembly. It is likely that disturbance is a major structuring force for the exposed islands, although the type of disturbances that mediate these patterns may not be primarily hurricane‐force storms.     

Age-related involution of organs and tissues

Contemporary civilization confronts the humankind with the challenge of rapid ageing, which becomes especially relevant for developed countries. This necessitates the elaboration of optimal approaches to the management of ageing, which would enable a radical prolongation of active, full-value, working period of human life and, thus, would reduce the percentage of age-related disability. An essential role in the successful accomplishment of these objectives consists in the search for the mechanisms of age-related involution of organs and tissues. This overview presents and analysis of the modern concepts of these mechanisms.     

Activation of protein kinase in the bovine corpus luteum by phospholipid and Ca2+.

A new species of protein kinase has been identified in cytosol preparations from bovine corpora lutea. Enzyme activity required the simultaneous presence of Ca2+ and phospholipid, and was also enhanced by glyceryl dioleate. Phosphatidylserine was the most effective phospholipid for stimulating histone phosphorylation. Other phospholipids capable of supporting enzymic activity were, in order of decreasing activity, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid, cardiolipin and phosphatidylglycerol. Several other phospholipids tested were ineffective. A cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was also present in the luteal cytosol. This enzyme activity was eliminated by protein kinase inhibitor without affecting the Ca2+- and phospholipid-stimulated activity. Lysine-rich histone (IIIS) was a much better substrate than type-IIA histone for Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent phosphorylation. Ca2+ and phospholipid also enhanced phosphorylation of endogenous luteal cytosol protein. Calmodulin, alone or in the presence of Ca2+, was unable to increase phosphorylation. Trifluoperazine inhibited protein kinase activity stimulated by Ca2+ and phospholipid. These data suggest that a phospholipid-sensitive, Ca2+-dependent protein kinase may provide an important link between hormonally-induced changes in phospholipid metabolism and corpus-luteum function.     

Tankyrase activity in organs and tissues of mice

Tankyrase, one of the NAD⁺ ADP-ribosyltransferases, is a target for drugs developed for their anticancer and other pharmacological activities. We designed an assay for estimation of the inhibition or activation of the enzyme in pre-clinical studies. In mice, the highest specific activity of tankyrase was observed in thymus, spleen, pancreas, and bone marrow. In murine liver, tankyrase is active in ontogenesis and during reparative regeneration; however, the basal activity is hardly detectable in normal liver and most of other organs of adult animals. We suggest that tankyrase is a part of the tissue growth and repair machinery, while its age-dependent inhibition, when an organism stops growing, turns on phenoptosis.     

Effect of orotic acid on reparative processes in the lungs following pneumonectomy]

The effect of orotic acid on pulmonary regeneration has been studied in mature rats after left-sided pneumonectomy. A complex morphometric analysis of the pulmonary parenchyma during the process of compensatory-hypertrophic rearrangement has been carried out; mitotic activity of cells in the interalveolar septae, peculiarities of DNA synthesis and those of enzymatic status in lymphocytes of the peripheral blood have been determined. As the investigations have demonstrated, the administration of orotic acid during the postoperative period contributes to a more complete regeneration of the lung volume, alveolar surface, results in formation of new alveoli, prevents the development of morphologic long-term decompensation following pneumonectomy. Activation of the alveolar cells proliferation and increased DNA synthesis are the main stimulating effects of orotic acid. Certain correlative connections are revealed between the course of pulmonary regenerative processes and the enzymic status of circulating lymphocytes.     

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.     

Microtubule self-organisation by reaction-diffusion processes in miniature cell-sized containers and phospholipid vesicles

Under appropriate conditions, in vitro microtubule preparations self-organise over macroscopic distances by a process of reaction and diffusion. To investigate whether such self-organisation can also occur in objects as small as a cell or an embryo we carried out experiments in miniature containers of cellular dimension. When assembled under self-organising conditions in wells of 120–500 μm, microtubules developed organised structures. Self-organisation is strongly affected by shape, being highly favoured by elongated forms. In wells of more complex shape, geometrical factors may either oppose or strengthen one another and so inhibit or reinforce self-organisation. Microtubules were also assembled within phospholipid vesicles of 2–5 μm diameter. Under self-organising conditions, we observed large shape changes from spheroids to long tubes (50–100 μm) and intertwined coils. We conclude that self-organisation of microtubules by reaction–diffusion processes can occur in containers of cellular dimensions and is capable of strongly deforming the cellular membrane.