Role of Lipid Droplets in the Development of Oocytes and Preimplantation Embryos in Mammals

Russian Journal of Developmental Biology - Lipids are one of the most common and important cell components. Particularly, cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs) play a crucial role in cellular energy...     

Participation of endogenous opioid peptides in the pathogenesis of motion sickness

Investigations were performed with 19 healthy male volunteers to specify a possible role of endogenous opioid peptides in the pathogenesis of motion sickness. For this purpose the test subjects were administered naloxone, a specific antagonist of opiates and opioids, before rotation and during rotation in a BU-4 armchair at a rate of 30 rpm. In addition, the content of beta-endorphin in blood plasma was measured. It was discovered that naloxone exerts both prophylactic and therapeutic effects as regards the simulated motion sickness. In this respect it was more efficacious than the reference drug scopolamine. After rotation there was a significant increase in the beta-endorphin content in the blood plasma of the test subjects. It is assumed that endogenous opioid peptides (in particular beta-endorphin) may be directly involved in the genesis of vestibulo-vegetative disorders in motion sickness.     

Development of Osteoplastic Material Impregnated with Plasmid Encoding Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2

Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology - The biological properties of a new gene-activated osteoplastic material based on chitosan sponges impregnated with plasmids with the gene BMP-2 for bone...     

Labyrinthine and extralabyrinthine effects on spontaneous spinal interneuronal activity of cats during rocking

Responses of 170 single, spontaneously active interneurons in the lumbar and sacral segments (L₅-S₁) of the spinal cord of normal and labyrinthectomized cats were investigated extracellularly during rocking. The neurons were selected from the regions of Rexed's laminae VII–IX. The results were analyzed by computer. During rocking, the firing pattern of neurons in intact animals is substantially changed. The firing rate could be raised or lowered and a rhythmbound with the rocking appeared. No change in firing pattern occurred in 10.4% of cells. Labyrinthectomy did not completely abolish these responses but reduced them quantitatively. The results are discussed from the standpoint of convergence of vestibular and extravestibular receptive flows on spinal interneurons.Institute for Medico-Biological Problems, Ministry of Health of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 243–250, May–June, 1975.