Temperature and photoperiodic control of diapase induction in the ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepisiota semenovi</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera,formicidae) from Turkmenistan

The ants L. semenovi has been found to belong to species with endogenous-heterodynamic seasonal life cycles with the obligate diapause induced predominantly by factors internal for a colony, whereas external ecological factors (photoperiods and temperature) produce merely modifying effects by accelerating or delaying the diapause onset. The photoperiodic and temperature regulation of diapause induction in larvae and queens is shown. Under effect of short days and low temperature the periods of larval pupation and queen oviposition in a colony are shortened markedly, i.e., the diapause of larvae and queens occurs earlier. The daily rhythms of temperature 15/25°C and particularly 20/30°C as compared with constant temperatures 20 and 25°C that correspond to the mean circadian temperatures of the thermorhythm, inhibit manifestations of the short day effects by stimulating the non-diapause development and increasing duration of the seasonal development cycle of ant colonies. The L. semenovi photoperiodic reaction is quantitative, as development and pupation of larvae and egg-laying of queens cease sooner or later under both the short and the long days, but in the latter case significantly later. Thus L. semenovi is one more example among very rare ant species that are revealed to have the photoperiodic regulation of the colony development seasonal cycle.     

Lanthanides induce neurotransmitter release from the vesicular pool in rat brain synaptosomes

The influence of lanthanoids on exocytosis was investigated. It was shown that gadolinium increases the spontaneous release of the glutamate nonmetabolizing analogue [3H]D-aspartate. It was established using the fluorescent dye acridine orange that gadolinium and lanthanum induce exocytosis. The effect was dose-dependent and was maximum at 300 microM Gd3+. The exocytosis induced by gadolinium was calcium-independent. It is suggested that lanthanides induce a vesicular release of neurotransmitters by the mechanisms common for all polyvalent cations.     

The study of mosquito fauna (Diptera, Culicidae) in Volgograd city in light of the outbreak of West Nile fever in Volgograd region, 1999

Mosquito sampling was carried out in Volgograd city and its vicinity in August 2001 and 2002. In total 16,000 individuals belonging to 6 genera and 12 species were collected. Nine species were anthropophilic. Culex modestus and Aedes vexans dominated in all outdoor samples collected in Volgograd city. In addition to these species, Coquillettidia richiardii and Ae. caspius were abundant in the vicinity of Volgograd. Autogenous Cx. popiens dominated among six species sampled indoors in Volgograd city. The possible role of different mosquito species in West Nile virus circulation in Volgograd city is discussed.     

Evaluation of 2,5-oligoadenylate synthetase and protein kinase activities in clinical studies of larifan and recombinant interferon alpha in volunteers

The activity of the interferon-dependent enzymes: 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase and protein kinase was determined in blood specimens of volunteers in the clinical trials on reaferon (recombinant alpha 2-interferon) and larifan (replicate RNA of phage f2). It was shown that the preparations increased the activity of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase in the lymphocytes and protein kinase in the plasma of 60 to 70 per cent of the volunteers. The increase in the 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity did not always correlate with the increase in the interferon content in the serum and was sometimes observed in the absence of the interferon. Marked individual variations in the activity of the enzymes were detected in the volunteers before and after administration of the preparations. The plasma kinase activated by reaferon and larifan phosphorylated proteins with molecular weights of 72 and 30 kD and histones. The effect of reaferon and larifan on the lymphocyte protein kinase activity was determined for the first time. There was a decrease in the enzyme activity under the effect of reaferon which increased after its repeated injections. Unlike the effect of larifan, the inhibitory effect of reaferon was transient. Afterwards, it appeared to be accompanied by a significant increase in the activity of protein kinase in 70 per cent of the volunteers. The dynamics of the changes in the activity of the plasma and lymphocyte protein kinases did not coincide.     

The open-field behavior of neuroticized rats]

A detailed study has been carried out of the behaviour in the open field of the lines of rats with different functional state of the nervous system after prolonged neurotization in dependence on the phase of circadian rhythm and terms after the end of the influence. Significant changes have been shown by the amplitude of circadian rhythms of emotionality and motor activity. It is established that the reaction of the rats lines to prolonged neuroticizing action depends on the phase of the circadian rhythm, the time after its termination and on genetically determined level of excitability of the nervous system.     

Changes in secretion of sex steroid hormones during stress in rats with various brain excitability

A stress procedure decreased the plasma progesterone faster in highly excitable rats than in the less excitable those. The decrease in gonadal and adrenal progesterone was still obvious in 24 hours in both groups of rats but more obvious in the former group in respect to the progesterone level. The data obtained may help to understand individual ability to respond to a stress in a different way depending on functional condition of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis.     

Effect of Non-Ionizing Electromagnetic Radiation on Behavior of the Honeybee,Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera,Apidae)

Entomological Review - We studied the effect of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of a Wi-Fi router on sensory olfactory excitability, food motivation, and the ability to form a...     

Histone H3 methylation at lysine 4 is involved in long-term memory formation in the honeybee <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis mellifera</Emphasis> L.

This immunohistochemical study addresses the histone H3 lysine 4 monomethylation status in the honeybee brain at different times after an associative learning trial. It is shown that, following olfactory conditioning, the H3K4me1 methylation level in neurons of the mushroom bodies was significantly higher in the experimental group than in control bees 1, 6, and 24 h after learning.     

Can short-term fasting protect against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity?

Doxorubicin(Dox) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of several types of cancer. However the use is limited by cardiotoxicity. Despite extensive investigation into the mechanisms of toxicity and preventative strategies, Dox-induced cardiotoxicity still remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors. Thus, continued research into preventative strategies is vital. Short-term fasting has proven to be cardioprotective against a variety of insults. Despite the potential, only a few studies have been conducted investigating its ability to prevent Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. However, all show proof-of-principle that short-term fasting is cardioprotective against Dox. Fasting affects a plethora of cellular processes making it difficult to discern the mechanism(s) translating fasting to cardioprotection, but may involve suppression of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling with stimulated autophagy. It is likely that additional mechanisms also contribute. Importantly, the literature suggests that fasting may enhance the antitumor activity of Dox. Thus, fasting is a regimen that warrants further investigation as a potential strategy to prevent Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. Future research should aim to determine the optimal regimen of fasting, confirmation that this regimen does not interfere with the antitumor properties of Dox, as well as the underlying mechanisms exerting the cardioprotective effects.