Alpha-Synuclein and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. The development of pathology is associated with the loss of dopaminergic neurons, mainly in substantia nigra pars compacta. Dopamine deficiency causes a whole range of severe motor symptoms, including bradykinesia, postural instability, muscle rigidity, and tremor. Studies have shown the primary role of the alpha-synuclein protein in this neurodegenerative disease. A large amount of data indicates different mechanisms of the toxic effect of alpha-synuclein. The process of neurodegeneration in PD is the result of significant disturbances in mitochondrial functions and/or genetic mutations. The number of mutated genes in hereditary and sporadic forms of Parkinson’s disease includes genes encoding PINK1 and Parkin, which are the main participants in the mitochondrial “quality control” system. The earliest biochemical hallmarks of the disease are disturbances of the mitochondrial interaction with endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial dynamics, Ca²⁺ homeostasis, and an increase in the level of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. All these factors exert damaging effects on dopaminergic neurons.     

Appearance and disappearance of motile ciliated epithelial cells in sputum during acute respiratory infection

Motile ciliated cells were observed in sputum of a patient during two attacks of acute respiratory disease (ARD-1 and ARD-2). These cells appeared in the sputum on the fifth day of the disease in ARD-1 and on the third day in ARD-2. The period of massive desquamation of ciliated cells from the respiratory tract surface was 3 h in ARD-1 and no more than 1 h in ARD-2. Desquamation of ciliated cells was assumed to be due to the simultaneous influence of two factors: viruses and some unknown proinflammatory agents. Either factor alone, be it respiratory virus infection or inflammatory mediators (chemokines, neutrophils, or reactive oxygen species), is insufficient to cause desquamation. Desquamation of ciliated cells ceases simultaneously with the disappearance of viruses. Desquamated cells are supposed to contain virus particles and desquamation is considered to be one of the host defense mechanisms against viruses.Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 1, 2005, pp. 137–140.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Fedotova, Fedotov.     

The Effects of Acute and Chronic Infusions of Dexamethasone on Audiogenic Seizures and Catalepsy in Rats of Krushinsky–Molodkina and “0” Strains

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology - Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticosteroid with anti–inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. In order to identify new targets...     

Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism rs415430 in the WNT3 gene in the Russian population with the Parkinson disease

The Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder that arises due to degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. The causes of this disease are still unknown, but a number of genes involved in pathogenesis of familial and sporadic forms of PD has been identified. According to recent data of genome wide association studies (GWAS), single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes (including MAPT locus) may play an important role in the development of PD. Therefore, we analyzed distribution of genotype frequencies of SNP rs415430 in the WNT3 gene in the Russian patients with sporadic PD and in the Russian population controls (OR = 0.84, Confidence Interval (95% CI) 0.58-1.23, p = 0.39). It was concluded that SNP rs415430 in the WNT3 gene was not associated with the risk of development of PD.     

Prenatal stressed female rats develop stable anxious and depressive state in experimental model of post-traumatic stress disorder

The effects of immobilization stress from 15th to 19th days of gestation on pathological state development in the model of post-traumatic stress disorder in adult female offspring were studied. The results showed that prenatally stressed female rats as well as control rats demonstrated long-term high anxiety and hypersensitive glucocorticoid feedback in the stress-restress model. Enhanced depressive-like behaviour was found only in prenatally stressed females. The findings were discussed in the light of HPA axis alteration and risk factors for development of post-traumatic stress disorder.     

Gall midges of the supertribe stomatosematidi (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) in the Palaearctic region, with description of new taxa from the Late Eocene Rovno amber: 3. Groveromyia gen. n. analysis of biometric parameters of the recent and late eocene genera and species

The new genus Groveromyia gen. n. was described from the Late Eocene Rovno amber. The genus includes 4 species: G. occlusa sp. n., G. digna sp. n., G. astrosa sp. n., and G. concinna (Fedotova, 2005) comb. n. (Bryocrypta). Some changes in the biometric parameters of the genera and species were revealed relative to those in the recent and the Late Eocene Stomatosematidi. Keys to the recent and fossil genera of the tribe Stomatosematidi and the species of the genus Groveromyia are given.