Effect of β-phenylethylamine on dopaminergic systems of the rat brain

The time course of changes in the dopamine concentration in dopaminergic neurons of the nigro-neostriatal and mesolimbic systems of the rat brain during 1 h after intraperitoneal injection of -phenylethylamine (100 mg/kg) was studied by quantitative fluorescence-histochemical analysis. The results showed that -phenylethylamine causes a marked fall in the dopamine level in neurons of dopaminergic systems of the brain. The dopamine level in the bodies of dopaminergic neurons changes more than in their axon terminals. The fall in the dopamine concentration in the dopaminergic systems of the brain during the first hour is irregular in character: in the terminals between 10 and 30 min and in the bodies between 30 and 45 min there is actually a temporary increase in the dopamine concentration. The rise in the dopamine concentration in the terminals coincides with a sharp fall in the dopamine level in the neuron bodies, and conversely, the fall in the dopamine concentration in the terminals after 30 min is accompanied by some increase in the dopamine concentration in the neuron bodies. The results suggest that the increase in motor activity described in the literature in animals after injection of -phenylethylamine is connected with its action on catecholaminergic, especially dopaminergic, brain systems.Institute of Biophysics, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Pushchino-on-Oka. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 11, No. 6, pp. 578–584, November–December, 1979.     

Possible use of an analgesic (fentanyl) during electrophysiological investigations of the cerebellar cortex

The effect of the central analgesic fentanyl on evoked potentials and responses of single Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex to stimulation of the sensomotor cortex and of somatic nerves was investigated in unanesthetized cats. Injection of fentanyl in an analgesic dose (10–30 µg/kg, intravenously) had no appreciable effect on evoked potentials and led only to very slight changes in spontaneous activity and responses of Purkinje cells. As a rule fentanyl, in a dose of 30 µg/kg, depressed, but in a dose of 10 µg/kg, facilitated responses and spontaneous activity of Purkinje cells. This effect of fentanyl is negligible compared with the action of barbiturate anesthetics on responses of cerebellar cortical neurons. Consequently, fentanyl can be used for analgesia during electrophysiological investigations of the cerebellar cortex in unanesthetized cats.Institute for Problems in Information Transmission, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 11, No. 6, pp. 585–592, November–December, 1979.     

Types of activity of skeletal muscle motor units during cold tremor in cats

Discharges of 184 motor units of the sartorius muscle functioning during cold tremor were investigated in acute experiments on anesthetized cats. Units whose discharges correlated with respiration cycles and units functionally independent of the rhythm of respiration were discovered. Discharges of both types of motor units possessed the same mean frequency (4–12 spikes/sec) and the same low variability of interspike intervals. Additional temperature stimulation of the vascular temperature receptors and changes in the frequency and depth of the respiratory excursions during cold tremor evoked identical responses in the two types of units. It is concluded that both types of motor units have similar thresholds and are of the slow, phasic type.O. V. Kuusinen State University, Petrozavodsk. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 355–361, July–August, 1979.     

Possibility of analytical application of the partition in aqueous biphasic polymeric systems technique

The partition behaviour of a number of ionic and nonionic surface-active substances in the dextran-polyethylene glycol system was examined. The strictly linear dependence of the logarithm of the partition coefficient on the alkyl chain length for a homologous series of nonionic surfactants provides a measure of the difference in the relative hydrophobicity between the two phases of the system, in terms of the free energy of transfer of a CH₂ group from the bottom phase to the top phase of the system. This difference is found to be altered in the presence of NaCl or KCl depending on the salt concentration. It is concluded that the influence of the salt composition of the system on the distributed solutes' behaviour may be due to the effect of the ions on the hydrophobicity difference between the phases.The partition of ionic amphiphiles is found to be dependent on the relative hydrophobicity of the compounds as well as on their charge. It is shown that at salt concentrations up to about 0.1 M NaCl the charged solute partition is determined by its charge as well as its relative hydrophobicity, in the presence of 0.1–0.2 M NaCl the substance distribution is highly dependent on its charge and slightly on its lipophility. At the salt concentrations above 0.2 M the solute partition is determined just by its hydrophobic character and seems to be totally independent of its charge. It is concluded that the partition technique can be used for analytical purposes. The method seems to be unique in providing quantitative information on the amphiphilic surface properties of the solutes being partitioned.     

Evidence for the existence of a ubiquinone protein and its radical in the cytochromes b and c1 region in the mitochondrial electron transport chain.

A highly purified cytochrome $\text{b}\text{?}\text{c}{}_1$ complex which is free of QP_s (see BBRC $\text{78}\text{, 259 and}\text{79}$, 939) yields 20–30% of semiubiquinone (based on the total Q content in the system) in the presence of catalytic amounts of QP_s and succinate dehydrogenase (at or lower than 2 × 10^{?9 M}. The radical shows typical $\text{g}\text{= 2.00}$ signals with line widths of 8 and 9 gauss, respectively, at about 22°C and 77°K. The appearance of the radicals approximately parallels that of $\text{b}$ reduction but not its disappearance. However, addition of theonytrifluoroacetone or antimycin A immediately abolishes both radical formation and $\text{b}$ reduction. These and other observations indicate that the true carrier property of Q is through its binding with proper proteins but not the protei-free form.     

Different families of double-stranded conformations of DNA as revealed by computer calculations

An algorithm has been developed that permits one to find all possible conformations of the sugar-phosphate backbone for any given disposition of DNA base pairs. For each of the conformations thus obtained, the energy of the helix was calculated by the method of atom-atom potentials. Several isolated regions in the space of the bases′ parameters (Arnott's parameters) have been found for energetically favorable helical structures. Two parameters, the distance of a base pair from the helix axis, D, and the windling angle, τ, allow one to subdivide possible conformations into the families of closely related forms. Two regions (ravines) on the (D, τ) map correspond to the know A and B families. In the B family a continuous transition has been obtained in which the double helix undergoes increasing winding, while the base pairs are moving toward the major (nonglycosidic) groove. Interrelationships between the variables, characterizing the spatial structure of the double helix, D, τ, TL and χ, when going along the bottom of the B ravine, were also obtained. Besides the Known A and B families, several new ones were found to be energetically possible. Among these the strongly underwound helices with the negative D values, as well as the forms with the C4-C5 angle in a trans position, should be mentioned. Biological roles of the different double-stranded conformations, in particular, in protein-nuclei acid interaction are discussed.     

On structure and functioning of ecosystem in a Salmon lake

The seasonal dynamics of the main components of the ecosystem as well as the vertical distribution of their biomass and production were studied in the salmon lake Dalnee at Kamchatka Peninsula. The data received were used for the construction of schemes of energy balance during two successive years: 1970 and 1971, which were different by their thermic regime. Analysis of schemes showed that during a colder season the food chain was shorter and more effective in relation of the use of primary production by zooplankton. Through the detritus pool the ecosystem used from 16% (1971) up to 70% (1970) of energy of primary production. Seasonal succession includes two main phases -autotrophic and heterotrophic. The energy balance of the planktonic community at these two phases is given.     

Human lymphocyte subpopulations: the effect of pregnancy.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from pregnant and nonpregnant females were studied for the presence of the following surface receptors: (i) Receptor for heat-aggregated human IgG (AggIgG); (ii) Receptor(s) for complement components; (iii) Receptor for sheep red blood cells (SRBC). Absolute numbers of lymphocytes with receptors for complement and those with receptors for SRBC were present in equal numbers in both groups. However, in the pregnant females there was a significantly lower number of lymphocytes with receptors for AggIgG. It is hypothesized that some of the immunological changes which occur during pregnancy may be mediated partly through changes in the total numbers of certain lymphocyte subpopulations.     

Coordination of movements of the tube feet and arms of ophiurans during locomotion

The role of the tube feet in locomotion of the ophiuranAmphipholis kochii Lütken is examined. During stepping movements the anterior tube feet attach themselves to the supporting surface and at the end of the step they detach themselves from it. The signal for detachment is deviation of the foot into the posterior (relative to the direction of motion) position. Because of this arrangement of the "stepping" mechanism of the tube feet the task of coordinating their activity with arm movements is greatly simplified. The feet "automatically" attach themselves to the support when the arm which carries them plays the role of motor; conversely, they detach themselves from the support when this arm moves forward. The CNS thus evidently does not participate in foot and arm movement coordination. It simply assigns the general direction of motion to all the feet and coordination takes place "automatically" as a result of the special properties of the "stepping" mechanism of individual feet.Institute of Oceanology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Institute of Problems of Information Transmission, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Moscow State University. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 8, No. 6, pp. 633–639, November–December, 1976.     

Coordination of arm movement during locomotion in ophiurans

During movement of the ophiuranAmphipholis kochii Lutken, any one of its arms can point forward and, consequently, any arm can perform different functions. The arm, when separated from the ophiuran together with the adjacent part of the nerve ring, is capable of complex motor acts, including locomotion. Division of the nerve ring in the ophiuran disturbs coordination of the arms. The results of experiments in which one or more arms were amputated showed that the choice of leading arm and of method of locomotion depends mainly on afferent impulses received from the arms. The results indicate that the neural centers of individual arms possess relative autonomy. Coordinated working of the centers is achieved through their interaction. This interaction ensures the distribution of functions between the arms in accordance with the motor task to be undertaken and coordinates the activity of the arms in time. The dominant role in the distribution of functions between the arms is played by the center of the leading arm, which controls the activity of at least the adjacent centers.Institute of Oceanology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Institute of Problems in Information Transmission, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Moscow State University. Translated from Neriofiziologiya, Vol. 8, No. 5, pp. 529–537, September–October, 1976.