A comparative analysis of the action of oxidative metabolic inhibitors on the luminescence parameters of normal and tumorous cells]

Comparative investigation of different mitochondrial oxidative metabolism inhibitors action on NAD(P)H and flavoproteins fluorescence intensity of minimal transformed 3T3 NIH mouse fibroblasts and rat HTC hepatoma cells was made. Principle differences were shown between these cells in oxidized flavoproteins fluorescence intensity changes under the action of used inhibitors. It is suggested that the unusual HTC hepatoma cells flavin fluorescence intensity increase is connected with the oxidation of unidentified flavin-containing component functionally attached to mitochondrial respiratory chain.     

Response of the human body to heliogeophysical disturbanes

A correlation between variations in the medical parameters and the heliogeophysical indices describing physical processes during solar storms was established. It was proposed that one of the reasons for the biotropic effects observed is rheological shifts of human blood during enhancement of solar activity. The influence of heliogeophysical disturbances on the rheological properties of blood was investigated.     

The wavelet analysis at heliobiological connections

The Wavelet analysis of the time series of the number of insults per day and the variations of heliogeophysical indices was carried out. The patterns of Wavelet coefficients for both processes show a complex nonstationary behavior and the presence of periodic and acyclic constituents on different scales. During heliogeophysipal disturbances, the energy contribution to the processes increases more than threefold compared with the mean value on scales from three to five days.     

Abundance and Distribution of Pelagic Larvae of Bivalves and Echinoderms in Busse Lagoon (Aniva Bay,Sakhalin Island)

The taxonomic composition and numbers of pelagic larvae of bivalves in Busse Lagoon and the contiguous areas of Aniva Bay (southern Sakhalin) were studied in 2000–2001. In comparison with 1973–1974, the total density of larvae increased 2–3 times, but their taxonomic composition changed and a redistribution of dominant species occurred. Numbers of bivalve larvae increased at the expense of larvae of Musculista senhousia, Crassostrea gigas, and species of the Tellinidae. In 2000–2001, larvae of Ruditapes philippinarum, Mya arenaria, Swiftopecten swifti, and some other species were encountered in plankton very rarely or were not found at all. The drastic decrease in the larval density of some bivalve species was caused by uncontrolled and nearly total harvesting of mollusks. Larval echinoderm numbers in the lagoon were not high in 2000–2001; larvae of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus and the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius predominated.     

Differences in the photodestruction parameters of flavin fluorescence in normal and tumor cells at a decreased pH of the incubation medium

Further investigation of the peculiarities of flavin fluorescence photodestruction in malignant cells was made. In normal cells incubated in low pH (3.0-3.2) physiological solutions, the decrease in the oxidized flavoprotein fluorescence intensity under irradiation is the same as in normal pH condition, whereas in tumor cell in low pH solutions a significant increase in the photodestruction level was noticed. The cells isolated from foci of transformation, following treatment of 3T3 NIH fibroblasts with the carcinogen N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, displayed the photodestruction parameters similar to those in tumor cells. A two-step analysis of cells is proposed for distinguishing between the normal and malignant cells.     

Inhibitory analysis of the functions of the oxidative metabolic systems of tumor cells in tissue culture

As has been previously reported an increased intensity of light-induced green fluorescence is observed for some tumor cells. The present paper deals with the cause of this phenomenon, employing for this hepatoma cells of line HTC acted upon with 2,4-DNP, amytal and malonate. It has been shown that the light-induced increase in green fluorescence in cells is due to the oxidation of NADH-dehydrogenase, a mitochondrial flavine-containing enzyme, occurring at the time of fluorescence induction. The increased intensity of green fluorescence of flavoproteins in tumor cells is associated with an infringement in oxidation of NAD-dependent substrates in these, and with the activation of the reverse electron transport in the oxidative chain. The exciding light activates NADH-dehydrogenase and accelerates the translocation of reduced equivalents from this enzyme, which results in its oxidation, and thus--in the observed effect of increased intensity of green fluorescence.     

The effect of fluorocitrate on oxygen consumption and Ca2+ transport in the mitochondria of liver cells]

The effect of fluorocitrate on oxidative reactions and energy production systems of rat liver mitochondria has been studied. It was shown that oxidation of endogenous substrates and malate with pyruvate as well as the phosphorylation of the added ADP were inhibited by fluorocitrate. Inhibition of oxygen consumption by fluorocitrate induced the efflux of Ca2+ ions from mitochondria and a decrease in the Ca(2+)-accumulating capacity. The effect of fluorocitrate on Ca2+ transport in mitochondria is due to activation of the Ca-efflux pathway in those sensitive to ruthenium red.     

Distribution Pattern of Far Eastern Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus in Busse Lagoon (Southern Sakhalin)

We analyzed the distribution pattern and size structure in aggregations of the far eastern sea cucumber (trepang), Apostichopus japonicus in Busse Lagoon (Southern Sakhalin). Trepang populations, which differ in their size composition and population density, have been grouped by their spatial differentiation. It has been shown that in the absence of solid substrates in the lagoon, the animals gather on substrates such as the alga Ahnfeltia tobuchiensis and on clusters of the oyster Crassostrea gigas. It is found that on the southeastern part of the lagoon, trepang makes up an extensive aggregation confined to the bed of Ahnfeltia; the distribution of the holothurians mostly has a random pattern. In the northwestern part of the lagoon, trepang makes up aggregations on oyster and algal beds; the distribution of these aggregations shows a random pattern.