New Cnidaria species in Saratov oblast waterbodies (Povolzhye)

Cnidaria species that were earlier unknown in the waterbodies of Saratov oblast have been found in this region in the last decade. Colonies of Cordylophora caspia (Pallas, 1771) were found on stems of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. in the basin cooler of the Balakovo nuclear power plant (Saratov water reservoir), while the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii Lankaster, 1880 was found in the Saratovka River (Volgograd water reservoir). It is possible that these species penetrate into waterbodies with foreign plants or are introduced by birds. Another possibility is that their discovery is due to a more thorough examination of the waterbodies’ biota.     

The effect of sodium nitrite, stable radical of 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl and their mixture on methemoglobin formation

Sodium nitrite oxidizes the mice hemoglobin in vitro. The stable radical 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl inhibits the process of oxidation. This effect is achieved when the radical is introduced into the system before sodium nitrite. The same effect is achieved in vivo. The level of methemoglobin is not influenced when mice get only the radical in comparison with the control group. We have not found the changes in the level of carboxyhemoglobin in the groups of mice that got the sodium nitrite, the radical and their mixture in comparison with the control group.