Changes in the cellular composition of the deciduous membrane in physiologic pregnancy and late toxicosis

Cytochemical characteristics of the decidual membrane at a physiologically normal pregnancy and in cases of late toxicosis are presented. Three main cell types of the decidual membrane are defined: large decidual cells (LDC), small decidual cells (SDC) and granular cells of endometrium, or K-cells. Part of each cell type in the decidual membrane is determined. At physiologically normal pregnancy the part of the LDC makes 50-60% in the membranes and 80-85% in the basal plate of the placenta; SDC--10-18% in the fetal membranes and 1-2% in the basal plate of the placenta; K-cells--0.5-1%. At late toxicosis of pregnancy there is a change in relative and absolute amount of the decidual cells: the part of the LDC decreases up to 26-40% in the fetal membranes and up to 55% in the basal plate of the placenta; part of the K-cells at a slight form of preeclampsia rises up to 3-4%, at a severe form--up to 11-12%. The change in cell composition results in certain disturbances of physiological equilibrium of biologically active substances produced by the decidual cells. This correlates with the severity and clinical manifestations of the late toxicosis of pregnancy. Correlation of the decidual cells disfunction, directed to regulation of their reproduction and functioning, can become one of the elements of pathogenic treatment of the late toxicosis of pregnancy.     

Directed synthesis of 2',5'-oligoadenylates with increased stability towards phosphodiesterases

Phosphodiesterase stability of synthetic analogs of 2',5'-oligoadenylates, the mediators of antiviral and antiproliferative action of interferons was analysed. The analogs with a 3'-terminal acyclic nucleoside residue were prepared. These analogs were treated with NIH3T3 cell lysate, mice liver homogenate and snake venom phosphodiesterase. All analogs have demonstrated a high stability as compared with the natural 2',5'-oligoadenylate and its 3'-deoxyderivative. The possible biological activity of these stable analogs of 2',5'-oligoadenylates is discussed.     

Das Überdauern von Pollenkörnern an reifen Getreidesamen: Beitrag zur Präzisierung einer Interpretation der pollenanalytischen Ergebnisse

In order to improve the interpretation of the results of pollen analyses concerning mediaeval anthropogenous sediments a set of recent seeds of the principal cereals was pollenanalytically elaborated. The aim was to find out whether pollen grains can be preserved on mature seeds. The pollen spectra obtained from the material of mediaeval anthropogenous sediments include, in most cases, a large amount of pollen of certain plants including cereals. It is suggested that part of the pollen spectra from anthropogenous sediments need not come from air transport, i.e. from the surrounding vegetation; it could get into waste pits in another way. Above all, some foodstuffs were considered to be the sources of pollen grains. The origin of some grains coming from honey and from plant infusions has, at least partly, been demonstrated (Jankovská 1987). As the next step, attention was paid to other products, mainly those of cereals. An experimental pollen analysis of recent seeds of selected cereals showed that pollen grains are preserved on their surface, often in high concentrations. This is due, above all, to the cleistogamy of most cereals. The highest values of pollen grains have so far been found inAvena sativa andPanicum milliaceum. Triticum aestivum andHordeum vulgare showed lower values of pollen grains. The lowest amounts were found in heterogamousSecale cereale. Simultaneously, the pollen of plants growing in a neighbourhood, above all the pollen of field weeds, was found sticking to the seeds.     

Use of commercial highly sensitive tests for detecting HbsAg in healthy persons]

The study has revealed the possibility of the contamination of serum with HBsAg under laboratory conditions during its treatment and preparation for analysis, which may be the cause of false positive results of HBsAg detection by the enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Excluding the factors of contamination, the authors demonstrate the efficacy of commercial systems, such as the passive hemagglutination test system "Gorky" and the EIA systems "Gorky" and "DIAplus", for the detection of HBsAg in the blood of donors in Moscow and Tashkent.     

RNA and DNA synthesis catalyzed by a DNA-polymerase alpha complex with primase from silkworm cells on single-stranded DNA]

Depending on the ionic environment the replicative complex of silkworm Bombyx mori, containing DNA polymerase alpha and primase, catalyzes on single-stranded DNA of phage M13 a NTP-dependent synthesis or elongation of preformed primers. In the presence of NTPs and dNTPs at conditions optimal for the NTP-dependent synthesis the replicative complex synthesizes on M13 DNA oligoribonucleotides of 9-11 residues, which serve as primers for polymerization of DNA. The length of RNA-primers synthesized by primase of the complex depends on concentration of dNTP but does not depend on activity of DNA polymerase alpha. During elongation of exogenic primers annealed to M13 DNA the complex is processive synthesizing DNA fragments of dozens residues without dissociation from the template. Double-stranded structures in DNA such as "hairpins" appear to be barriers for driving of the complex along the template and cause pauses in elongation. DNA-binding proteins the SSB of Escherichia coli or the p32 of phage T4 destabilize double-stranded regions in DNA and eliminate elongation pauses corresponding to these regions. The replicative complex is able to fill in single-stranded gaps in DNA completely and to perform slowly the synthesis with displacement of one of parent strands in duplexes via repeated cycles of binding to the primer-template, limited elongation and dissociation.     

Spatial structure of the basic chain of the neurotoxin I molecule from the venom of cobra Naja naja oxiana and its crystal packing

The structure of the alpha-carbon chain was solved by molecular replacement method at 2.7 A resolution. Neurotoxin I (NTX-I) is one of the main protein components purified from the venom of the central asian cobra Naja naja oxiana. NTX-I is known to bind specifically to acetylcholine receptors thus preventing the transmission of the neuroconductivity signal from synapses to muscles. NTX-I crystals were grown either by vapour diffusion or dialysis methods using specially prepared microdialysis cell. The intensities of reflections from native NTX-I crystals were measured in the range of 38.0-2.1 A-1 by omega-scan method with a Syntex P21 diffractometer operated in automatic regime. To determine the position and mode of packing of NTX-I molecule in unit cell program packages MERLOT and BLANC were applied running on a NORD-500 computer.     

Cloning and inactivation of a chromosomal copy of the imidazole glycerophosphate dehydratase (HIS) gene from Hansenula polymorpha]

A gene for imidazole glycerophosphate dehydratase (HIS) has been selected from the library of Hansenula polymorpha genes by complementation of Escherichia coli hisB mutations or his3 mutation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Inactivation of the gene in Hansenula polymorpha strain 48V, as well as Leu(-)-Leu+ conversion of phenotype and arising of antibiotic G418 resistance resulted from transformation of the strain by the linear DNA molecules of the cloned HIS-gene with the in vitro inserted LEU2 gene from Saccharomices cerevisiae and KmR gene. The Southern hybridization analysis of the Leuf+His- G418R clones representing 1-2% of transformants population together with the DNA analysis of the monospore clones from the hybrid Leu+His-G418R transformant tetrad and tester strain have revealed the locus specific nature of the clones.     

Recovery of activity of the gene coding for tetracycline resistance in the plasmin pBRS188

The spontaneous recovery of activity of tet gene deleted of the promoter region was studied. Plasmid pBRS188 was used as a model for studying this problem. The plasmid has the fragment of tet gene of pBR322, from which it originates, between the sites of restriction endonucleases EcoRI and HindIII cleavage resulting in inactivation of tet promoter. E. coli cells harbouring the plasmid were shown to revert the TcR phenotype with the frequency 10(-9). The gene activation coincided with intraplasmid recombination revealed by restriction analysis. In some cases the recovery of tet gene activity coincided with the formation of multimeric plasmids.     

Specific antigen of granular cells of the human endometrium

Rabbits were immunized by homogenates of endometrium obtained from women during 10-12 weeks of gestation. A specific antiserum was obtained by absorption of the crude antiserum by blood cells and plasma proteins of men with different kinds of ABO and Rh antigens, till disappearance of positive reaction with men's serum protein in the Ouchterlony test. Such an adsorbed specific antiserum continued to react with the sera of pregnant women. Two antigens, numbers 1 and 2, respectively, were determined by the Ouchterlony test. Another group of rabbits was immunized by antigens detected in the precipitation test. A monospecific antidecidual antiserum (ADS 1092) was obtained against number 2 antigens. This antiserum revealed only one antigen in sera of women with gestation and did not react with sera of non-pregnant women. In the slides of endometrium of pregnant women of 10-12 weeks of gestation ADS 1092 had a strong positive reactive with the cytoplasm of one type of endometrium cells. The immunomorphological analysis by the non-direct Coons test and the PAP-test permits to identify cells with the positive reaction as granular cells. It is concluded that the granular cells may be a source of one of the serum antigens detected in women with gestation.     

Neuronal activity in self-stimulation zones of the hypothalamus in motivational and emotional states induced by electrical and natural stimuli

Study of neuronal activity in hypothalamus areas of self-stimulation in rats showed two types of neurones. Some of them had an increased frequency at food and water deprivation and they had maximum activation at current stimulation, eliciting motivational behaviour. Others had maximum activation at current level, eliciting self-stimulation effects, some of these neurones had positive activating relation to satisfaction of food requirements. The obtained data are considered as morphofunctional substrate of motivational and emotional states.