The hypothalamo-hypophysial system of the wild carp,Cyprinus carpio L.

Summary The posterior neurohypophysis (PNH)-pars intermedia complex of the wild and pond carp, Cyprinus carpio L., has been studied by light, fluorescence and electron microscopy. Gomori-positive neurosecretory fibres are abundant in the main trunk of the neurohypophysis as well as its roots penetrating the pars intermedia. Terminals of these fibres are in contact with capillaries of the general circulation and with glandular cells of the pars intermedia. Monoaminergic fibres with a weak green fluorescence, somewhat increasing after injection of nialamide into the pond carp, have largely the same distribution. Three types of neurosecretory fibres and their terminals have been recognized in the PNH-pars intermedia complex. Types-A₁ and -A₂ fibres, containing granules of 140–180 nm and 100–160 nm in diameter respectively, are peptidergic Gomori-positive. Type-A₂ fibres predominate in the PNH. The least frequent monoaminergic type-B fibres have granules of 60–100 nm in diameter. Numerous peptidergic and few monoaminergic neurosecretory terminals make contact with the capillaries located within the roots of the PNH as well as at the border between them and the pars intermedia. Both peptidergic and monoaminergic terminals make direct synaptoid contacts with the gland cells or end close to connective tissue septa, basal lamina or pituicytes. The PAS-positive gland cells and to a lesser degree the leadhaematoxylin-positive gland cells show these relationships with neurosecretory terminals. The question concerning the mode of interaction between peptidergic and monoaminergic structures in the dual control of the gland cells of the pars intermedia of teleosts is discussed.     

Ecologic-histophysiological analysis of the neurohypophysis-metaadenohypophysis complex of the sazan female before and after spawning]

Much neurosecretory material (4.4 +/- 0.1 units) is seen in the neurohypophysis of sazan females before spawning. A1, A2, and B type terminals contain numerous neurosecretory granules, in particular, elementary granules. Synaptic vesicles are not numerous. The amount of neurosecretory material decreases during and shortly after spawning down to 3.6 +/- 0.3 units. Neurosecretory terminals have less elementary granules. The number of granulated, disintegrating, residual granules and synaptic vesicles somewhat increases. It is hypothesized that mainly peptide neurohormones are discharged from A1 and A2 terminals in the common circulation, and that both peptide neurohormones and monoamines reach glandular cells of the metaadenohypophysis in sazan females during and immediately spawning. The role played by neurohormones and monoamines in controlling the function of both the metaadenohypophysis glandular cells and visceral organs involved in the general adaptive reactions of the fish organism is discussed.     

The superoxide-scavenging activity of some amino acids in water solutions

The superoxide-scavenging activity of a number of amino acids was revealed. The activity is comparable in effectiveness with known antioxidants. An original method for the estimation of antioxidant properties of amino acids was proposed. Quantum mechanical calculation of the interaction of lysine with superoxide anion was made. It was assumed that the mechanisms of the biological action of some physical factors, such as weak magnetic fields adjusted to the cyclotron frequency of ions of some amino acids, are associated with the modulation of the antioxidant activity of these molecules.     

Biochemical and structural characterization of a novel class of inhibitors of the type 1 insulin-like growth factor and insulin receptor kinases

The type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) is often overexpressed on tumor cells and is believed to play an important role in anchorage-independent proliferation. Additionally, cell culture studies have indicated that IGF-1R confers increased resistance to apoptosis caused by radiation or chemotherapeutic agents. Thus, inhibitors of the intracellular kinase domain of this receptor may have utility for the clinical treatment of cancer. As part of an effort to develop clinically useful inhibitors of IGF-1R kinase, a novel class of pyrrole-5-carboxaldehyde compounds was investigated. The compounds exhibited selectivity against the closely related insulin receptor kinase intrinsically and in cell-based assays. The inhibitors formed a reversible, covalent adduct at the kinase active site, and treatment of such adducts with sodium borohydride irreversibly inactivated the enzyme. Analysis of a tryptic digest of a covalently modified IGF-1R kinase fragment revealed that the active site Lys1003 had been reductively alkylated with the aldehyde inhibitor. Reductive alkylation of the insulin receptor kinase with one of these inhibitors led to a similarly inactivated enzyme which was examined by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure confirmed the modification of the active site lysine side chain and revealed details of the key interactions between the inhibitor and enzyme.     

Study of the genesis of pathological EEG patterns in tumor and traumatic lesions of the human brain

Computer-assisted superimposition of the equivalent dipole sources (EDSs) of the main pathological EEG patterns with the results of computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was performed for patients with organic CNS lesions. The greatest degree of structural determination was revealed for local and lateralized (in a traumatic injury) slow waves, whose EDSs mapped to the perifocal zone of the injury focus. The EDSs of epileptiform patterns could be located in the zone of damaged brain substance or in the intact hemisphere (when the limbic structures were damaged), reflecting the formation of secondary functional foci in the latter case. Bilateral paroxysmal patterns were more frequently determined by the functional state of the medial brain structures. The EDSs of pathological (diencephalic, hippocampal) activity were closely associated with the corresponding anatomical brain structures, although without a strict dependence on the degree of their morphological intactness.Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 1, 2005, pp. 24–32.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Boldyreva, Sharova, Koptelov, Shchepetkov, Nikitin, Kornienko, Fadeeva.     

Morphological and physiological properties of the micromycete <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arthrobotrys longa</Emphasis>, a producer of longolytin,a proteolytic complex with a thrombolytic effect

Production of proteinases with plasmin-like and plasminogen-activating activities by a micromycete Arthrobotrys longa 1 was studied. Polycyclic growth of the producer in submerged cultures was observed, with an endogenous rhythm of periods of intense microconidia formation alternating with the phases of drastic increase in the content of producing mycelium. The highest plasmin-like and plasminogen-activating activities (up to 1000 and 500 cond. U/mL, respectively) were found to correlate with the polycyclic growth of the producer, coinciding with the stage of microconidia germination. Enhanced secretion of proteinases with plasmin-like and plasminogen-activating activity was found to be associated with increased specific growth rate of А. longa 1.     

Synthetic analogues of the montanine-type alkaloids with activity against apoptosis-resistant cancer cells

In a search of small molecules active against apoptosis-resistant cancer cells, a skeletal rearrangement of alkaloid haemanthamine was utilized to generate a series of compounds possessing the alkaloid montanine ring system. The synthesized compounds were found to inhibit proliferation of cancer cells resistant to apoptosis at micromolar concentrations. Selected compounds were also active against patient-derived glioblastoma cells expressing stem-cell markers. This is the first report describing the preparation of synthetic analogues of the montanine-type alkaloids with antiproliferative activity. The compounds prepared in the current investigation appear to be a useful starting point for the development of agents to fight cancers with apoptosis resistance, and thus, associated with poor prognoses.     

The species composition and pattern of distribution of hermit crabs (Decapoda: Paguroidea) in Vostok Bay,Sea of Japan

The species composition, abundance, and vertical distribution of hermit crabs (Decapoda: Paguroidea) were investigated in Vostok Bay, Sea of Japan, from September 2014 to September 2015. A total of seven species from two families were found in the monitoring area of approximately 5000 m² located on the bottom within a depth range of 0–11 m: Pagurus minutus, P. proximus, P. brachiomastus, P. pectinatus, P. ochotensis, P. middendorffii (Paguridae), and Areopaguristes hirsutimanus (Diogenidae). Their population density varied from 22 ± 13 to 26 ± 2 ind./m²; the biomass varied from 55.76 ± 26.10 to 93.38 ± 27.00 g/m². The species composition remained invariable throughout the study period. The proportions of species abundance changed between seasons, as this parameter is largely determined by seasonal migrations of hermit crabs. Pagurus minutus predominated in number in winter and spring (up to 71%); P. proximus, in summer and autumn (up to 47%). In autumn and spring, P. ochotensis and P. pectinatus constituted a major part of biomass (18–25% and 19–20%, respectively). The proportion of a previously abundant species, P. middendorffii, was very small (no larger than 1.3%) during the study period. Another four species of hermit crabs occurred in other parts of Vostok Bay; thus, the fauna of the bay currently includes 11 species of this group.     

A key for the identification of the zoeae of common species of hermit crabs (Decapoda: Paguroidea) of Vostok Bay,the Sea of Japan

A key for the identification of the zoeae of hermit crabs (Decapoda: Anomura: Paguroidea) in the plankton of Vostok Bay (the Sea of Japan) has been developed based on the external morphology and live coloration of the larvae. The time of hatching and the duration of occurrence of diogenid and pagurid larvae in this area have been determined.