Thermodynamic models, describing formation of "bridges" between nucleic acid molecules and liquid crystals

Three variants of the model for the formation of "bridges" between the nucleic acid molecules fixed in the structure of particles of liquid-crystalline dispersions were considered. What the three variants have in common is that the bridges represent polymeric chelate cross-links consisting of alternating molecules of daunomycin and copper ions. The differences between the three variants are that in the first variant, the bridges begin and end with daunomycin molecules that form a complex by the mechanism of external binding with nucleic acids; in the second variant, the bridges begin and end with copper ions coupled with the pairs of bases of nucleic acids; and in the third variant, the bridges begin with the daunomycin molecule and end with the copper ion. For each variant, a mathematical model was constructed, which describes the formation of bridges, and equations of binding were derived. The results of calculations were compared with the experimental data. Within the framework of each variant, the values of the energy of interaction between the daunomycin molecule and the copper ion in the bridge, the energy of interaction of the daunomycin molecule with the nucleic acid, and the length of the bridge were varied. For all variants, those values of the parameters were chosen that fit best the experimental data. The theoretical curves obtained using the three variants of the model agree rather well with the family of experimental curves. The best agreement between the theoretical and experimental data was obtained when the polymeric chelate bridge includes more than two daunomycin molecules.     

Migration of fibroblasts into heart valve leaflet tissue in vitro

Heart valve allografts are widely used for surgical treatment of the heart. In recent years a new field of research has emerged dealing with allograft modification by cells of recipient by means of tissue engineering. This method involves culturing fibroblasts and endothelial cells, using recipient tissue, followed by introduction of the fibroblasts into tissues of allograft and coating its surface by the endothelial cells. This modification is expected to ensure the structural maintenance of implanted tissues and to reduce its thrombogenecity. This procedure may promote the allograft adhering to the recipient tissues, thus prolonging the terms of the valve normal functioning after implantations. For this purpose, methods of luminescent microscopy are suggested using double staining of tissue with fluorescent dyes Hoechst 33,342 and ethidium bromide, or with fluorescein diacetate and ethidium bromide. Experimental results are presented indicative of fibroblast migration from the surface to the human heart valve leaflets.     

Biological effects in natural populations of small rodents in radiation contaminated areas. The frequency of bone marrow polyploid cells of bank voles in different years following Chernobyl accident

On the basis of the metaphase analysis results, the peculiarities of dynamics of the genome mutation frequency (polyploid cells) were studied in bone marrow of bank voles inhabiting the areas with different radiocontamination level due to the Chernobyl accident (8-1526 kBq/m2 for 137Cs) in 1986-1991. Unexpectedly high frequencies of polypoid cells exceeding the pre-accidental level by a factor of 10(1)-10(3) were recorded in all populations studied. Relationship between the frequency of the parameter studied and the concentration of radionuclides incorporated in animal carcasses was proved. A statistically significant rise in the frequency of genome mutations with the time was revealed up to 1991, i.e. approximately to 12th post-accidental animal generation.     

Mechanisms of the antitumor action of spirobromine in mice with leukemia P-388

The influence of new antitumor drug, spirobromine, a derivative of dispirotripiperazine, on DNA synthesis in tumor cells and organs at different times after its injection into mice with P388 leukemia has been studied. The duration of DNA synthesis inhibition in tumor cells was found to correlate with spirobromine antitumor activity. A certain selectivity of action of the studied compound on DNA synthesis in P 388 leukemia cells as compared to the action on DNA synthesis in bone marrow, small intestine, spleen and liver of tumor animals was observed.