Creatine as a metabolic controller of skeletal muscles structure and function in strength exercises in humans

The aim of study was to investigate the effect of oral creatine supplementation upon muscle performance and aerobic capacity of the organism. Knee extensor muscles of two groups with 9 subjects in each were subjected to strength training with and without creatine supplementation (Cre and Pla) for 10 weeks, three times a week with an effort of up to 85% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The Cre group received 5 g of creatine monohydrate a day. After 10 weeks strength training, an increase of MVC by 29 and 40% in training (isotonic) regimen was recorded for the Pla and Cre groups respectively. The muscle isokinetic torque increments of 10-11% were obtained in the Pla group at angular velocities corresponding to training velocities, and in the Cre group increments of 11-17% were recorded at all angular velocities tested. No changes were found in the fatigue test by the Pla group, whereas Cre group showed a tendency for an increase. The aerobic and anaerobic capacities of the organism did not decrease in both groups. Thus the creatine supplementation during strength training potentates an increase of force-velocity characteristics of trained muscle group without impeding aerobic capacity of the organism.     

Variability of quantitative morphological traits of mosquito larvae in some species of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Culex pipiens</Emphasis> complex (Diptera,Culicidae)

The variability of 13 larval morphological characteristics in the urban mosquito, Culex pipiens f. molestus and Culex torrentium, was investigated. These species, belonging to the Culex pipiens complex, are characterized by rapid ecological and evolutionary processes following the human-induced environmental changes. A comparison of 4 geographical larval populations of C. pipiens f. molestus and Culex torrentium revealed different rates of divergence of different morphological traits. In the older form in terms of evolutionary development, C. torrentium, the two local populations differed in the structures of the trophic morphological complex characterized by a higher functional trophic load, while the structures with a lower functional load did not differ between the populations. On the contrary, the populations of the younger form, C. pipiens f. molestus, which had recently colonized new urban sites, differed in the structures with a low functional trophic load (some structures of siphon and abdominal segment IX), whereas structures of the trophic morphological complex were similar in different populations. The possible mechanisms of these morphological transformations and their role in the evolution of mosquito larvae are discussed.     

Methods of short-term storage of cultures of the blowfly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calliphora Vicina</Emphasis> R.-D. (Diptera,Calliphoridae)

Three methods of short-term storage of the blowfly Calliphora vicina strains are considered based on the experimental study of 21 strains originating from different parts of the species range. The colony can be preserved as diapausing adults at 6° and darkness for 2–3 months or more, depending on the geographical origin of the population. During the first five days of adult life the flies should be kept at 12° and short day on a sugar diet, after which they should be transferred into a refrigerator. During artificial hibernation the flies also require periodic sugar feeding every 20 days (3–4 h at 20°C) to maintain their vital functions. The combination of temperatures of 20–23°C and a protein diet terminates reproductive diapause, and oviposition starts in 10–17 days. The fly strain may be preserved as reproductive females at 6°C and darkness with sugar feeding. Flies also require periodic sugar feeding at 20°C (3–4 hours). In this case the flies start laying eggs 2–3 days after being transferred to 20–23°C. The preservation of diapausing larvae is a more reliable method of prolonged strain storage. In this case the flies of maternal generation are maintained at 20–23°C on sugar and protein diet. The egg rafts laid during 5–6 hours are then transferred into 12°C and short day until hatchment. The hatched larvae should be immediately placed into a refrigerator (2–3 or 5–6°C), where they feed during 1–1.5 months and enter diapause. For strain restoration, the diapausing larvae should be transferred into 20–25°C, where they pupariate in 3–5 days and the flies emerge in nearly 10 days.     

ABA content in shoots and roots of pea mutants af and tl as related to their growth and morphogenesis

The comparative study of shoot and root growth was carried out, and the level of ABA therein determined in the mutant af and tl and wild-type isogenic lines of pea. The recessive af mutation transformed the leaflets into tendrils, and the tl mutation transformed the tendrils into leaflets. These mutations did not affect the length and number of internodes. In all plants, the level of ABA in the leaves was 3–10 times greater than in the roots, and in the course of vegetative growth it rose in both organs. An increase in the shoot area of tl mutant did not change the dry weight of underground and above-ground parts; therefore, the ratio shoot/root in the mutant was identical to that in the wild-type plants. The maintenance of shoot dry weight in the tl mutant at the level of wild-type plant while its area considerably increased was accounted for by a decrease in the thickness of the leaflet and stipule blades. The level of ABA in the stipules of mutant plants was greater than in the wild-type plants. A decrease in the shoot area in the af mutant brought about a decline in its dry weight; however, the ratio root/shoot was maintained at the wild-type level due to a reduced accumulation of dry weight by the root. The level of ABA in the roots of the af mutant was twice greater than in the leafy forms. ABA was assumed to participate in the control over the root growth exerted by the shoot. The absence of leaflets in the af plants was partially compensated for by expanding stipules. The level of ABA therein was three times higher than in the plants of wild type and comparable with the level in the leaflets of the tl mutant and in the wild-type plants. The role of ABA in the growth and final size of leaf blades is discussed.     

Nucleotide sequences of long terminal repeats of the human endogenous retrovirus (LTR HERV-K) on the short arm of chromosome 7: identification,analysis and evaluation of transcriptional activity

Six clones containing long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences of human endogenous retrovirus of the HERV-K family were found in the YAC library (1200 kb) of the short arm of human chromosome 7. The sequence sizes of the three clones corresponded to the full-length LTR (969 bp). The LTR localization was determined using FISH and verified by comparison with the GenBank database. All three DNA fragments containing solitary LTRs were transcribed in normal germline cells (testicular parenchyma tissue). The differences in the expression of these clones in the germline tumor cells (seminoma) were observed.