O. V. Palladin--patriarch of neurochemical science (on the 120th birthday of academician Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Palladin)

The paper is dedicated to Academician Oleksandr Volodymyrovych Palladin (1895-1972), a founder of neurochemical school in Ukraine. The problem of biochemistry of the nervous system has been developed in Ukraine since the 20's of the 20th century. Theoretical principles and prospects of development of the basic trends in neurochemistry were stated for the first time in the paper by O. V. Palladin--the first work in biochemistry of the nervous system in Ukraine--"Biochemistry of the Brain and Psychochemistry", published in the journal "Nauka v Ukraine" ("Science in Ukraine") in 1922. Researches in neurochemistry have been carried out systematically since 1925 at the Ukrainian Biochemical Institute founded and headed by O. V. Palladin (O. V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, now). During the following period of half a century O.V.Palladin and his disciples made original works in the field of chemical topography of the nervous system, functional neurochemistry, in particular, in the field of protein and nitrous, lipid, nucleic metabolism, transmembrane transport of ions and metabolites, etc. Results of long-term investigations were reported at numerous international physiological and biochemical congresses, All-Union and Ukrainian biochemical conferences, seminars and have acquired the world fame. O. V. Palladin's great deserts in development of biochemistry of the nervous system were recognized and he was proclaimed a "patriarch" of the world neurochemistry at the first congress of the International Neurochemical Society in Strassburg (1967) and awarded a Gold Medal--one of the four delivered at the Second Congress of this Society in Milan (1969).     

Effect of porphyrins and their derivatives on biosynthesis of vitamin B 12 and the development of Propionibacterium shermanii]

The effect of uroporphyrin, coproporphyrin and their cobalt-containing derivatives on the biosynthesis of vitamin B12 and development of propionibacterium shermanii was studied. The compounds under study stimulated the vitamin synthesis by growing cultures and resting suspensions of these bacteria. Cobalt porphyrins as the sole source of cobalt were used in the vitamin B12 biosynthesis. An addition of cobalt porphyrins to the growing culture of propionic bacteria increased in accumulation of their biomass. Possible mechanisms of porphyrin involvement in the biosynthesis of vitamin B12 and the specific role of cobalt porphyrins in the bacterial activity are discussed.     

Molecular basis of olfactory reception. I. Artificial lipid membrane sensitive to odorous substances]

The properties of artificial lipid membranes modified by frog offactory preparation obtained by ultrasonic treatment of frog olfactory tissues were investigated. Out of the 24 odorous substances which were tested five active stimulants were identified each inducing a resistance drop of the modified membrane when added to the cell. The studies of this effect in solutions with different salt content demonstrated that the decrease in resistance resulted most probably from an increased membrane permeability to Na+ ions. The dyes did not affect the resistance of modified membranes. Mercury bichloride at the concentration of 5 . 10(-4) M was shown to block the responce of the membrane when added to the cell prior to stimulants. At the same time mercury biochloride did not practically affect the membrane resistance after its response to the odorants. The possible ways of increasing the sensitivity of modified membranes to odorants are discussed.     

The functional brain state of hibernators and nonhibernators at different animals temperatures

Literature and our own data on structural and functional state of neocortex and hippocampus during both entrance in hibernation of ground squirrel (Spermophilus undulates) and Wistar rats in hypothermia were generalized. During hibernation when body temperature is about 2-4 degrees C the suppression of both bioelectrical and protein-synthesizing activity, the decrease of neuronal cell bodies and the branching of dendrites, retraction of dendritic spines, and a decrease of postsynaptic active zones of synapses were observed. Similar changes in those parameters were triggered for rats during hypoxia-hypercapnia at body temperature 17-19 degrees C. Hypoxia-hypercapnia facilitates the entrance in torpid state for hole animals. Nonhibernating animals during cooling and hypoxia-hypercapnia trigger functioning some mechanisms similar hibernators during entrance in hibernation. Similar morphological and functional changes for both hibernators and nonhibernators at low temperature state show similarity of mechanisms which induce a low level of brain activity of different animals.     

Characteristics of some stages of energy metabolism and antioxidant system in bone marrow myeloid cells and leukocytes from piglets

The age changes of enzymes of activity catalyzing several links of energy metabolism (hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase, cytochrome c-oxidase) and antioxidant system (superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase) in bone marrow myeloid cells and blood leukocytes of pig in the 10-day period after birth were investigated. The bone marrow cells and leukocytes of the new born piglets were characterized by low intensity of oxidative steps of energy metabolism as well as by low activity of antioxidant enzymes. In the period of neonatal adaptation reorganization of energy metabolism, particularly, intensification of oxidative processes in the investigated cells occurred. It included the pentose phosphate way and cytochrome c-oxidase activation. During the neonatal period of development the functional activity of antioxidant enzymes in the investigated cells of piglets increased.     

The cell composition in the lymphocyte population and the radiation adaptive response

Using lymphocytes of 5 healthy individuals the ability to adaptive response (AR), cell composition of population after PHA stimulation, changes in cell composition population after irradiation in the dose of 1.0 Gy and after irradiation in adaptive (0.05 Gy) and challenge (1.0 Gy) doses have been studied. AR observed in 2 of the 5 individuals only. After PHA stimulation the persons with AR have the total amount of cells after mitosis or during mitosis (the number of binucleated cells + the number of multinucleated cells + the whole cells with micronuclei + the number of mitotic cells) on average is higher than in persons without AR. In individuals with AR the linear correlation between the number of binucleated cells with micronuclei (on the 1000 scored binucleated cells) and the part of binucleated cells in the population is observed with coefficients of correlation -0.89 and -0.91. In the humans without AR this correlation is absent. The correlation observed permits to suppose that AR may occur at the expense of not only the decrease in number of damaged lymphocytes, but also the increase in the share of not damaged binucleated cell with the stable number of damaged cells.