"Despair" and "escape" behavioral tests in the evaluation of antidepressant activity

Antidepressants pyrazidol (pirlindole), incazan, imipramine, nialamide, nomifensine, mianserin were shown to reduce the duration of immobilization in mice in "despair" tests and increase the number of rotations in water "escape" tests.     

The long-term effect of acute hypoxic hypoxia on shuttlebox avoidance learning in rats

Long-term influence was studied of the acute hypoxic hypoxia seance on rats behaviour in situation of elaboration of the conditioned reaction of active avoidance of electric shocks in shuttle chamber. It was found that in 2.5-3 months after the hypoxia seance, the experimental animals significantly differed from the intact controls by dynamics of CR elaboration (rats which had hypoxia were ahead of the control ones) and by distribution of the conditioned reactions latencies (for experimental animals this distribution was shifted to minor values). The character of these behavioural shifts coincided with that observed in the group of rats with local unilateral hippocampus lesion. The obtained results and numerous data presented in literature on the influence of the hippocampus lesion on animals shuttle avoidance learning, allow to conclude that the seance of hypoxic hypoxia leads to the disturbance of the hippocampus function. This conclusion conforms to the data on diffusive death of the hippocampal and neocortical neurones as a result of hypoxia action.     

Effect of Lincocin Treatment on the Greening Process in Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Leaves

The effect of lincocin (a plastid protein synthesis inhibitor) treatment on the greening process of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) leaves have been studied. In comparison with control leaves treated ones had a decreased rate of chloroplast development. They had a marked chlorophyll deficiency and a decreased chlorophyll a/b ratio. Some long and short wavelength forms of chlorophyll a were lacking as evidenced from the absorption spectra at 25°C and the fluorescence spectra at 77°K. The –¹⁴CO₂ fixation was inhibited by 80–90% in treated leaves. The fluorescence induced by the measuring light was greater in the treated leaves than in the control ones, and the kinetics of the decline of the relative fluorescence intensity were also different. Electron microscopic studies showed macrogranum-like structures and incomplete membrane vesicles in the treated plastids. After longer treatment a destruction of membranes was observed. The results indicate some structural and functional membrane deficiencies and instability of the membranes.     

Rat skeletal muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase: adenine nucleotide-induced inactivation.

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (d-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate:nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidoreductase (phosphorylating), EC 1.2.1.12), isolated from rat skeletal muscle undergoes a rapid inactivation upon incubation at 25 °C in the presence of adenine nucleotides. The reaction can be described as a reversible tetramerdimer equilibrium, only the tetrameric form of the enzyme being active in the presence of nucleotides. The standard free energy changes upon dissociation at 25 °C in 0.1 m phosphate buffer pH 7.5 in the presence of saturating concentrations of ATP, ADP, AMP, and ADP-ribose were found to be 6.69, 6.93, 8.31, and 10.5 kcal/mol, respectively. Nucleotide-dependent inactivation does not bring about any alteration of the reactivity of SH groups of the enzyme towards 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). This is not the case, however, when the enzyme undergoes NaCl-induced cold inactivation, which is accompanied by an increased accessibility of SH groups. ADP and ATP protect the enzyme against cold inactivation in the presence of NaCl and decrease the enhanced reactivity of SH groups. Adenine nucleotide-induced inactivation is prevented in the presence of NAD. The protective effect is noncooperative, the extent of inactivation being dependent upon the amount of active centers free of bound coenzyme. Addition of excess NAD to the inactivated enzyme results in a complete regain of activity. A comparative study made on the rate of reforming enzyme NAD complex (followed spectrophotometrically) and the regain of activity has demonstrated that the former process is markedly more rapid than the latter. The reactivation was observed to follow second-order kinetics, which suggests that the reassociation of the inactive NAD-liganded dimers is the rate-limiting step. The data are consistent with the existence of different conformational transitions responsible for the restoration of the intersubunit contact area, catalytic activity, and thermal stability of the enzyme molecule, respectively.     

Distinct effects of IL-18 on the engraftment and function of human effector CD8 T cells and regulatory T cells

IL-18 has pleotropic effects on the activation of T cells during antigen presentation. We investigated the effects of human IL-18 on the engraftment and function of human T cell subsets in xenograft mouse models. IL-18 enhanced the engraftment of human CD8(+) effector T cells and promoted the development of xenogeneic graft versus host disease (GVHD). In marked contrast, IL-18 had reciprocal effects on the engraftment of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the xenografted mice. Adoptive transfer experiments indicated that IL-18 prevented the suppressive effects of Tregs on the development of xenogeneic GVHD. The IL-18 results were robust as they were observed in two different mouse strains. In addition, the effects of IL-18 were systemic as IL-18 promoted engraftment and persistence of human effector T cells and decreased Tregs in peripheral blood, peritoneal cavity, spleen and liver. In vitro experiments indicated that the expression of the IL-18Ralpha was induced on both CD4 and CD8 effector T cells and Tregs, and that the duration of expression was less sustained on Tregs. These preclinical data suggest that human IL-18 may have use as an adjuvant for immune reconstitution after cytotoxic therapies, and to augment adoptive immunotherapy, donor leukocyte infusions, and vaccine strategies.     

Tissue Peculiarities of Energy Metabolism Enzyme Activity and ATP Content In Black Sea Ruff Scorpaena porcus (Scorpaenidae)

Journal of Ichthyology - The activities of cytosolic oxidoreductases (malate and lactate dehydrogenases) and the level of ATP production in the hypoxic resistive tissues of Scorpaena porcus...     

Lecithotrophic development and metamorphosis in the Indo-West Pacific brittle star Ophiomastix venosa (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)

Summary

The larval development of the ophiocomid ophiuroid Ophiomastix venosais described using SEM. The gastrula transforms into a uniformly ciliated early larva which progressively changes into a lecithotrophic late premetamorphic larva with a continuous bilateral ciliated band. This stage is short-lived and equivalent to a highly reduced ophiopluteus. Comparisons between O. venosa and other ophiuroid species whose development has been investigated suggest that, whatever the developmental mode (lecithotrophic or planktotrophic), a pluteus stage always occurs in ophiuroids with planktonic development. Two metamorphic stages were identified, the late metamorphic larva differing from the early one by the closure of the larval mouth. The appearance of the permanent mouth marks the end of the metamorphosis. The postlarva still possesses remnants of larval features. The transformation of the reduced ophiopluteus into a barrel-shaped metamorphic larva with transverse ciliated bands, a vitellaria larva, is followed. The possible occurrence of a unique type of metamorphic larva in non-brooding ophiuroids is discussed. Verification of this, however, needs further SEM investigations on metamorphic larva from species having “regular” planktotrophic development.     

Qualitative composition of carotenoids, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in tissues of the bivalve mollusc Anadara inaequivalvis (Bruguiere, 1789)

Using high performance liquid chromatography, UV-VIS spectra and mass-spectra (FAB MS), 7 carotenoid species were identified in tissues of the bivalve mollusc Anadara inaequivalvis (Bruguiere, 1789): trans- and cis-pectenolon, alloxanthin, pectenol A, β-carotene, zeaxanthin, and diatoxanthin. Their quantitative ratio in hepatopancreas, gills and foot of animals were determined. A negative correlation (R ² is about 0.9) was revealed between tissues content of a series of carotenoids (trans- and cis-pectenolon, zeaxanthin, alloxanthin, and diatoxanthin) and activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase). The existence of competitive interrelations between these molecular systems is proposed and underlying causes are discussed.