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...     

Methemoglobin and the Activities of Catalase and Superoxide Dismutase in Nucleated Erythrocytes of Scorpaena porcus (Linnaeus, 1758) under Experimental Hypoxia (in vitro)

The effect of hypoxia on nucleated red blood cells of the black scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) was studied in vitro. Deep hypoxia (the oxygen concentration was less than 1 mg O₂ L^–1; the norm was 7–8 mg O₂ L^–1) led to the transition of a part of the hemoglobin molecules to the ferric state (methemoglobin). The maximum increase in the concentration of methemoglobin was 32%. The accumulation of methemoglobin in red blood cells was accompanied by an increase in the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase and a decrease in the content of reactive oxygen species in the cytoplasm of cells. It was shown that the formation of methemoglobin did not cause damage to the cytoplasmic membranes of red blood cells. The percentage of red blood cell lysis in deoxygenated (less than 1.0 mg O₂ L^–1) suspensions quantitatively coincided with the control values.

     

The effect of type I collagen and fibronectin on the morphology of human mesenchymal stromal cells in culture

Limited knowledge of the behavior of stem cells in culture seems to be one of the reasons for problems in their successful introduction to applied medicine. To address this issue, we studied in vitro interaction of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) with various substrates (plastic, type I collagen, fibronectin, and mixtures of these proteins at various ratios) for 16–18 h after cell plating. Several cell-morphology features, such as area, perimeter, spreading coefficient, and polarization coefficient were determined. It is shown that MSCs specifically respond to the substrate and consist of several groups. Collagen and fibronectin have opposite effects on polarization and spreading of the cells. Collagen preferably enhances polarization of the cells, whereas fibronectin stimulates proportional spreading of cells. The combined effect on the cells of the collagen-fibronectin mixture cannot be considered as a simple additive effect. We assume that variations in the ratio of ECM proteins may be one mechanism of a directed action on stem cells.     

Effects of extracellular matrix elements on pseudopodial activity of rat keratinocytes

Effects of extracellular matrix elements on the migration activity of keratinocytes have been studied in the primary culture obtained from newborn rats. Collagen of type I, matrigel, its fractions and the matrix produced by fibroblasts were used as substrata for cultivation. A method of migration activity estimation using latex spheres 0.8 mkm in diameter was first used. We have revealed that keratinocytes from the primary culture do not migrate on matrigel and fibroblast matrix, though displaying some pseudopodial activity. This activity dramatically increases on type I collagen, and a weak migration ability appears correlating with a particular structure of the actin cytoskeleton, i.e. with the appearance of special lamellopodia-connected filopodia.     

Elaboration of biodegradable polymer substrate for cultivation of human dermal fibroblasts

The influence of polylactic acid (PLA) surface films on the pattern of cell behavior was studied. The human dermal fibroblasts were cultivated on PLA covered glasses. The hydrophobic nature of PLA films depends on the availability of polymer solvent in the film preparation. PLA films obtained from a more polar solvent--aceton--appeared to be more hydrophilic than those obtained from methylene chloride. More hydrophilic polymer films also appeared to be more preferable for cell cultivation, and human dermal fibroblasts demonstrated a better adhesion and proliferation on hydrophilic rather than on hydrophobic PLA films.     

First Representatives of Phosphorylated Flavanones

The natural flavanoid dihydroquercetin was for the first time regioselectively phosphorylated using phosphoramidites. The resulting compounds were isolated in a homogeneous state as phosphorothioates, and their structure was confirmed by ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy.     

Two spreading states of human embryo mesenchymal cells in vitro

Spreading of mesenchymal cells of human embryo on plastic and on type I collagens (from rat, sheep, and ox) was studied. Spreading of the cells on collagens was stronger than that in control, but no differences between different collagens were revealed. The cell perimeter, the spreading coefficient, and the cell projection area on the substrate were used as morphometric parameters. The spreading of cells was monitored for 0.5–2 h after plating. During the spreading both on plastic and on collagen, groups of small cells were revealed as separate subpopulations. As a whole, such cells accounted for 9% of the cell population in control and for 2% in experiment. We assume that this cell type is associated with a special independent functional state of the cells that precedes cell spreading.     

Anti-necrosogenic action of natural and synthetic antioxidants in coronary occlusive myocardial infarct

The synthetic liposoluble antioxidant BAT. 120 mg/kg, was found to produce markedly protective effects in a rat model of coronary occlusive myocardial infarction, whereas the water soluble BAT analogue, 4-Oxy-3,5-ditretbutylphenyl phosphonic acid sodiate (SFN-6), 100 mg/kg, displayed no protective effects. The natural antioxidant beta-carotene capable of displaying antioxidative activity at low partial O2 pressures was shown to reduce the size of postinfarct scar by 34% when given in a dose of 20 mg/kg. The synthetic antioxidants, BAT and SFN-6 given in doses of 100 to 120 mg/kg each decreased antioxidant enzyme activities in the intact or infarct-related myocardium. beta-carotene was found to lack inhibitory effects on the myocardial antioxidant enzymes, thus enhancing its cardioprotective properties.     

The functional morphology of erythrocytes of the black scorpion fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scorpaena porcus</Emphasis> (Linnaeus, 1758) (scorpaeniformes: scorpaenidae) during hypoxia

The influence of hypoxia on the morphological characteristics of circulating erythrocytes of the scorpion fish Scorpaena porcus (Linnaeus, 1758) has been investigated in an in vivo experiment. Under a 4-h adaptation of the fish to the conditions of ranked hypoxia their erythrocytes demonstrated a number of consecutive reactions. The volume and the surface area of the red blood cells was reduced by 4–5% (p < 0.001) at an oxygen concentration of 2.6 mg/L (30% saturation of water with oxygen) and increased by 4% (p < 0.001) at a concentration of 1.3 mg/L (15% saturation), relative to the control values (normoxia: 7–8 mg/L). The observed reaction of erythrocytes coincided quantitatively and qualitatively (the order of events) with the results of the experiments we performed previously in vitro. Our study has shown that the physiology of the black scorpion fish is tolerant to hypoxia and allows autonomous functioning of red blood cells under conditions of oxygen deficit.     

Effect of Ranged Short-Term Hypoxia on Functional and Morphological Parameters of Hemocytes in the Pacific Oyster Сrassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793)

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology - The effect of ranged short-term (24 h) hypoxia on morphological and functional parameters of hemocytes in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea...