Role of monoamines in the recovery of the conditioned reflex activity of rats following extirpation of the frontal cortex

The influence of frontal cortex extirpation on the amount of monoamines in the brain structures was investigated in chronic experiments on rats trained according to the method of motor feeding reflexes with bilateral reinforcement. Monoamine levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. By the ninth day after the ablation serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) levels were significantly reduced in the cortex and the striatum, respectively, while noradrenaline ++ (NA), 5-HT, dihydroxyphenylacetic and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels in raphe nuclei and locus coeruleus were increased. The level of conditioned reflex reproduction was 39% on the light and 33% on the sound stimulus. The involvement of monoamines in the recovery of conditioned reflexes after frontal cortex extirpation is discussed.     

Assessment of the action of taktivin on different stages of T-lymphocyte maturation

Tactivin, the thymic hormone preparation, evokes some phenotype alterations in T-cell precursors (elimination of SC-1 antigen and expression of Thy-1-antigen) and cortical thymocytes (a decrease in the number of thymocytes carrying PNA-receptor) similar to those arising in T-cell differentiation. Tactivin induces PNA+ -thymocyte response to PHA action and increases PHA response to PNA- -thymocytes. It is weakly mitogenic for T-cell precursors and PNA- -thymocytes. The data suggest that Tactivin may be used for the treatment of immune deficiencies with T-cell differentiation and function defects.     

Genetic variability of antigenic structure of the Lpm-protein and alpha2-macroglobulin among non-mustelid mammals

The data on interspecific distribution and antigenic variability of homologues of mink Lpm-protein (Lpm) and alpha 2M-globulin (alpha 2M) among 43 species of 6 orders of mammals are presented. Strong variability of antigenic structure of Lpm and alpha 2M of Rodentia and Artiodactyla orders was established. This fact allows to classify the macroglobulins studied as belonging to the group of evolutionary high-speed plasma globulins. In the plasma of human and green marmoset (Cercopithecus aephiops) the only homologue of alpha 2M was found. The lack of reaction to Lpm in above-mentioned species allows to postulate significant differences between Carnivora and Primates in the organization of this gene cluster. Unique features of antigenic variability of Lpm and alpha 2M were also fixed among other systematical groups tested. Taken together, the data obtained stimulate scientific interest to the study of molecular organization of the Lpm and alpha 2M gene families.     

Comparative study of the cholinergic and adrenergic innervation of the cerebral vessels in humans and various laboratory animals

Choline- and adrenergic innervation of intracerebral branches of the middle and posterior cerebral arteries has been investigated histochemically and electron microscopically in slices, or after their preparation after W. Penfield. The vessels have been studied in the area of the fields 41, 17 of the cerebrum, trunk and spinal cord of the human being, cat and dog. When studying innervation of the intracerebral arteries (ICA), the preparation method has some advantages in comparison with investigation of these vessels in slices of the brain. Around most of the ICA from 200 up to 30 mcm in the diameter choline- and adrenergic nervous conductors are revealed. Using the method for calculating varicosities in nervous plexuses, it is demonstrated that degree of the ICA innervation is two times less than that in the arteries of similar caliber in the cerebral pia mater.     

Taxonomy and Phylogenetic Relationships of Cyprinid Fish of Genus Hemiculter (Cyprinidae,Xenocypridinae): Sharpbellies of the Species Group Hemiculter lucidus

Journal of Ichthyology - On the basis of a comparative morphological analysis, the multi-rakered sharpbellies were divided into four groups, differing in the number of branched rays in the anal...     

Cardiac guanylate cyclase in rats with ischemic damage to the myocardium

The activity of soluble guanylate cyclase (GC) of rat heart and the regulatory activity of dithiothreitol (DTT) and sodium nitroprusside under ischemic myocardium damage caused by ligation of left coronary artery has been investigated. After coronary occlusion the GC activity in the presence of Mn2+ or Mg2+ decreases both in ischemic and in intact zones (40% from normal) in 15 min, in 24 h it more diminishes (up to 30%) in the ischemic zone, in intact zone it partially normalizes (up to 70%). The stimulatory effect of DTT on the GC activity in studied heart zones doesn't differ from control. The activation of GC by nitroprusside in ischemic zone decreases in 15 min, it is practically absent in 24 h. The decrease of GC activation in intact zone is less expressed. It is suggested that the reduction of GC activation by sodium nitroprusside is due to the loss of the heme by the enzyme during ischemia.