Asymmetry in structure of in termediate and large neurons of frog retinal ganglion layer

We have carried out a morphometric investigation of the symmetry of intermediate (type II) and large (types III and V) ganglion cells on silver-impregnated retinal wholemounts of frog retina. We selected the nucleolus of theneuron and the axis passing through the nucleolus in the direction of the optic disk (central and bilateral symmetry) as elements of symmetry. We have shown that the dendritic ramification angles of all cell types are smaller than 360° and those of type II cells smaller than 180°; the cell somata do not lie in the center of the dendritic field and consequently the ganglion cells do not possess radial symmetry. In the vast majority of ganglion cells the directions of the start of the axon and dendrites are opposite to each other, the dendrites being oriented in the direction from the retinal center towards the periphery in all quadrants of the retinal map. For the estimation of the bilateral symmetry we measured the distance from the most remote dendritic terminals to the axis on the left and right of the axis, and counted the number of ramification knots and basal dendrites. We established that the majority of ganglion cells are asymmetrical as regards two or three of the characteristics mentioned. Consequently the asymmetrical structure of ganglion cells of the frog is a normal characteristic rather than an exception. The correlation between the asymmetry of the structure of ganglion cells and the functional asymmetry of their receptive fields is discussed.N. I. Lobachevskii Research Institute of Applied Mathematics and Cybernetics, University of Gorki. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 456–462, July–August, 1985.     

Sex and type peculiarities of the topography of the anterior abdominal wall in adult persons of various ages]

In men and in "masculine" shape of the abdomen as compared with women and "feminine" shape of the abdomen the following features of the topography of the anterior-lateral abdominal wall were revealed: a narrower white line, wider straight muscles of the abdomen in their medial and upper parts, less square surface of the lateral muscle-free portions. The inguinal region of men and the "musculine" type of the abdomen are characterized by great dimensions of the superficial and profound rings, weaker aponeurosis of the external oblique abdominal muscle in formation of the anterior wall of the inguinal canal. In elderly and senile age there occur dilatation of the white line, the increase of the amount of chinks and apertures in it as well as of the length of aponeuroses. The superficial inguinal ring expands.     

Effects of transcranial laser irradiation in near infrared range on antinociceptive reactions in mice after administration of diazepam, clopheline and morphine]

The experiments were carried out on white mice whose brain was irradiated transcranially with laser light in infrared range. Exposure to irradiation was 20 min. In one group of animals only laser light was used, in others laser was combined with morphine (3mg/kg), clonidine (0.5 mg/kg), and diazepam (1 mg/kg) injected intraperitoneally. The nociceptive reactions were studied with the help of "tail-flick" and "hot-plate" tests. It was found that laser light did not modify significantly the results of both tests. Moreover, it didn't influence the antinociceptive properties of morphine, clonidine and diazepam in the "hot-plate" test. In the "tail-flick" test laser light did not affect the action of clonidine, but provided naloxone-independent antinociceptive reaction with diazepam and increased the antinociceptive effect of morphine. Laser irradiation of the brain did not cause any significant morphological changes. These results suggest the possibility of modulating antinociceptive actions of morphine and diazepam by laser irradiation of the brain.     

Acylase distribution in animal and human tissues

Distribution of acylase in different tissues of nine species of animals was studied. The following types of nitrogen elimination were distinguished: ammoniatelic (fish), uricotelic (birds) and uriotelic (amphibians, mammalians). The enzymic activity was estimated in the tissues of the brain, lung, muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, small intestine and blood serum. The acylase activity was found in the kidney, liver and pancreas. Its level in the kidney increases with the animal weight growth, the enzyme activity being observed only in the cortical layer.     

Antibiotic production by variants of Penicillium chrysogenum isolated after protoplast formation and exposure to mutagens at the protoplast stage

A procedure for protoplast formation in the penicillin-producing organism Penicillium chrysogenum was developed. The yield of the protoplasts was high, the protoplasts were stable and capable of regeneration. Two types of the protoplast regeneration were revealed. The spores and protoplasts were treated with UV light and N-nitroso-N'-methyl biuret and their effect on production of the antibiotic by the isolated variants was studied. It was shown that the protoplasts of P. chrysogenum were more liable to the mutagenic effect of UV light and nitroso methyl biuret than the fungus conidia. It is possible to use this specific feature in intensification of selection aimed at isolation of highly productive strains of P. chrysogenum.     

Is it possible to train Achatina fulica using visual stimulation?]

The conditioned behavior to visual stimuli was obtained in Achatina fulica mollusk on the basis of its negative phototaxis. Directional moving of snails toward black cards was accompanied by the negative unconditioned stimulation (electric current). Learning was expressed in a statistically significant decrease in locomotor activity of animals and decrease in the rate of preference of sections with black cards. Learning developed within two daily training sessions with 30 trials in each of them. Learning traces were observed as defensive behavior at least during a month after reinforcement elimination.     

Methods for Molecular Evolution of Polymerases

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - In 2018, three scientists shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Frances H. Arnold, “for the directed evolution of enzymes”; George P. Smith and...     

Quantitative content of total polar lipids in soybean seeds Glycine max (L.) Merr]

The exhaustive extraction of lipids from soybean seeds in the native state, separation of polar lipids and determination of their functional groups (ester and phosphate) revealed that dry seeds may contain 36,7 mumole (+/- 4,6%) of polar lipids and 25,9 mumole (+/- 1.1%) phospholipids per gramme.