Chromosomal aberrations in cells of monkeys surviving acute radiation under chemical protection

In the study of the frequency and type of chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes of irradiated monkeys treated 5–10 min before irradiation with the protective compounds 5-methoxytryptamine and 2-aminoethanethiol, etc., showed that 9–10 years after -ray irradiation in doses of 600–650 R the percentage of aberrant chromosomes was significantly higher than the spontaneous level and was at the level of chromosomal changes observed in monkeys irradiated without the use of radioprotectors. In the late period after irradiation, the main type of aberration observed in all monkeys, including those receiving the radioprotectors, was symmetrical chromosomal exchanges.DeceasedPresented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR B. A. Lapin.Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 80, No. 8, pp. 109–112, August, 1975.     

Dynamics of the α-fetoprotein content in mice of different genotypes in the neonatal period

The concentrations of -fetoprotein (-FP) in the neonatal period until the age of three weeks were determined in mice of different genotypes: CBA, C3H, C57BL/Sc/Sn, BALB/c, CC57W, and AKR, and in athymic nude mice (nu/nu). On the first day the -FP concentration was 2^–10–2^–9; on the fifth day, 2^–8; on the eighth day, 2^–7; on the fifteenth day, 2^–4; on the twenty-second day, it was zero. The exceptions were the athymic nude (nu/nu) mice, which had lower -FP titers: 2^–2 on the 15th day. It is concluded that control over -FP synthesis is not connected with the athymia of the nude mice as such, but with other factors.Laboratory of Immunochemistry and Department of Immunology, N. I. Pirogov Second Moscow Medical Institute. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 7, pp. 91–93, July, 1977.     

Role of distant interactions of lymphocytes in the development of antibody formationin vitro

To elucidate the nature of local intercellular interactions inhibiting the proliferation of antibody-forming cells (AFC) in culture, described previously, the possibility of realization of this effect at a distance was studied. A population containing many cells was shown to be capable of inhibiting, by its actionin vitro at a distance, an increase in the number of AFC in a cell population separated from it by Millipore membranes impermeable to cells. This effect is also transmitted through a polymethylmethacrylate film, 5–10 thick, which does not allow the passage of proteins with a molecular weight of 150,000 daltons ([¹²⁵I]IgG antibodies) and certain ions (⁵¹CrO₄), but is permeable to other low-molecular-weight substances.Laboratory of Chemistry and Biosynthesis of Antibodies, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR G. V. Vygodchikov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 5, pp. 554–557, May, 1978.     

Graft versus host reaction in reciprocal combinations of mouse strains differing in their H-2 histocompatibility complex

Spleen cells from C57BL mice injected intraperitoneally into newborn CBA recipient mice in doses of 0.5·10⁷, 2·10⁷, 2·10⁷ induced runt disease in an acute form, from which 43, 86, and 95% of the recipients respectively died in the course of two or three weeks. Preliminary immunization of the C57BL donors with CBA isoantigens led to a marked increase, whereas immunization with foreign antigens (sheep's red cells) led to weakening of the reactions. With the reciprocal combination of strains runt disease followed a course 4–5 times less active and there was no preimmunization effect. In the combination C57BLCBA the reaction was accompanied by proliferation of pyroninophilic monocytes and by destruction of the splenic follicles, whereas in the combination CBAC57BL their formation was delayed and no appreciable accumulation of blast cells took place in the zone of the follicle.Department of General Pathology, Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Novosibirsk. (Presented by Academician, of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. P. Kaznacheev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 8, pp. 974–977, August, 1976.     

Potentiation of the effect of L-dopa by α-methyldopa

After preliminary administration of -methyldopa to mice, the stereotypes induced by L-dopa were potentiated and prolonged. The ability of L-dopa to abolish catalepsy induced by reserpine and haloperidol also was potentiated. In cats, -methyldopa potentiated the responses of the arterial blood pressure and contractions of the nictitating membrane induced by L-dopa and dopamine, if the interval between injection of the substances was 4–6 h.Department of Pharmacology, Faculties of Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. V. Zakusov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 81, No. 3, pp. 314–316, March, 1976.     

Type B monoamine oxidase and functions of Ca2+, Mg2+-dependent adenosinetriphosphatase in preparations from sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles

Oxidative deamination of -phenylethylamine or benzylamine by type B monoamine oxidases (MAO) in preparations of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles from rabbit skeletal muscles is accompanied by inhibition both of active Ca²⁺ transport into the vesicles and of the activity of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺-dependent ATPase, which is preventable by deprenil, a specific inhibitor of type B MAO. Aldehydes formed during enzymatic deamination of substrates of type B MAO may perhaps participate in the regulation of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺-dependent ATPase, activity.Laboratory of Physicochemical Methods, Scientific-Research Institute for Biological Trials of Chemical Compounds, Ministry of the Medical Industry of the USSR. Laboratory or Biochemistry of Amines and Other Nitrogenous Compounds, Institute of Biological and Medical Chemistry, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. N. Orekhovich.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 3, pp. 283–284, March, 1977.     

Suppressor activity of spleen cells in drug-induced immunologic tolerance

Tolerance to sheep's red blood cells (SRBC) was induced in (CBA×C57BL/6)F₁ mice by a single intraperitoneal injection of 6×10⁹ SRBC followed by injection of 100–200 mg/kg cyclophosphamide 44–46 h later. Spleen cells of tolerant mice, obtained at various times (12–26 days) after induction of tolerance, when injected into intact syngeneic recipients, did not depress their immune response to SRBC. Unlike intact mice, tolerant mice were unable to produce suppressor cells after a single immunization with SRBC. Only if three additional injections of large doses (6×10⁹) of SRBC were given to the tolerant mice did their spleen cells acquire the ability to inhibit the immune response on injection into normal mice. It is postulated that the absence of suppressor cells on induction of immunologic tolerance by means of cyclophosphamide is due to clonal elimination. Suppressor cells may arise in tolerant animals under the influence of intensive antigenic stimulation, leading to deepening of the state of tolerance as a result of additional injections of SRBC.Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Institute of Medical Genetics, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR N. N. Zhukov-Verezhnikov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 86, No. 11, pp. 558–560, November, 1978.     

Effect of glucocorticoids on α-fetoprotein synthesis and liver structure of mice with acute carbon tetrachloride poisoning

Experiments on male C57BL mice showed that inhalation of CCl₄ for 15 min in a concentration of 0.05 ml/4 liters air causes severe degenerative changes in the liver with features of necrobiosis. However, phenomena of regeneration and cell infiltration arise as early as after 24 h and are accompanied by the secretion of -fetoprotein into the blood stream. After 4 days the foci of necrobiosis disappear and are totally replaced by lymphocytes with large hepatocytes at the periphery. Processes of regeneration in animals receiving hydrocortisone (20 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) therapeutically or prophylactically were less marked and the number of animals producing -fetoprotein was reduced from 92 to 60–65%.Department of Pharmacology, Astrakhan Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. V. Smol'yannikov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 2, pp. 151–153, February, 1977.     

Character of the receptors of Auerbach's plexus in the stomach and small intestine

Movements of the stomach and small intestine in eight fed dogs with intact vagus nerves were recorded graphically by a balloon method. Subcutaneous injection of a mixture of benzohexonium (0.125–0.5 ml of a 2.5% solution) with atropine (0.125–0.25 ml of a 0.1% solution) or oxyphenonium (0.125–0.25 ml of a 0.1% solution) first inhibits food motor activity and then converts it to periodic. A similar effect after injection of 0.5–1.0 ml of a 0.1% solution of atropine was found in only two dogs and after injection of 1.0 ml of a 0.1% solution of oxyphenonium in only one dog. Since the preservation of periodic contractions after feeding is characteristic of vagotomized dogs, it is concluded that a pharmacological vagotomy was obtained in the animals studied. It was postulated that the number of muscarinic receptors on cells of Auerbach's plexus exceeds the number of nicotinic receptors.Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Pathology of the Digestive Apparatus, Institute of Physiology, T. G. Shevchenko Kiev University. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, V. N. Chernigovskii.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 9, pp. 316–319, September, 1977.     

State of the surface activity of rat lung surfactant at various times after left-sided pneumonectomy

The surface activity of seven successive washings from the right lung, determined with the aid of a modified Wilhelmy balance, was the same as in the control until the 5th day after removal of the left lung and also in the late stage after the operation (_min = 23–24 dynes/cm). Intracellular edema of the components on the air-blood barrier and the escape of edema fluid into the lumen of the alveoli of the vesicles were not reflected in the surface-active properties of the lung surfactant. A sharp increase in size of the alveoli on the 5th–7th day after the operation was accompanied by an increase in the surface-active properties of the lung washing (_min = 11–15 dynes/cm) and by increased secretion of material of the osmiophilic lamellar bodies from the type II alveolar cells into the lumen of the alveoli. The cytological mechanisms of the increased production of surfactants in the hypertrophied alveoli are activation of lipid synthesis in the type II alveolar cells, hypertrophy of those cells, and the appearance of binuclear cells.Laboratory of Growth and Development, Research Institute of Human Morphology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. Laboratory of Physiology, A. V. Vishnevskii Institute of Surgery, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. P. Avtsyn.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 2, pp. 169–172, February, 1977.     

Analysis of the effect of morphine and trimeperidine on the uptake and liberation of noradrenalin by myocardial tissue

The effect of morphine and trimeperidine on the concentration, uptake, and liberation of noradrenalin (NA) in the rat myocardium was investigated. Trimeperidine lowers the NA level in the myocardium. Morphine does not affect the liberation of NA-¹⁴C from the isolated perfused heart, whereas trimeperidine significantly increases it, affecting both the slow and the rapid release of the mediator. Trimeperidine does not affect the uptake of NA-¹⁴C by the perfused heart but morphine significantly lowers it. Competition between morphine and NA is characterized by an incomplete inhibition effect: Morphine and NA mutually affect the affinity of each other for the receptor and their interaction depends on their relative concentrations.Laboratory of Pharmacology of the Cardiovascular System, Institute of Pharmacology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. V. Zakusov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 11, pp. 1345–1347, November, 1976.     

Origin of the Kupffer macrophages in the regenerating liver

[³H]Thymidine was injected intraperitoneally into male Wistar rats in a dose of 5 Ci/g, and two thirds of the liver was resected 1 h later. Control animals underwent a mock operation. Indices of labeled nuclei (ILN) of the hepatocytes were moderately increased 3 h after partial hepatectomy, the increase still continued for 48 h, but was replaced by a decrease 48 h after the operation. ILN of the Kupffer cells was 10 times higher 3 h after the operation than in the control, it reached a maximum 9 h after the operation, and then fell, although still remaining higher than in the control. It is concluded that Kupffer cells enter the liver from the bone marrow.Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. P. Kaznacheev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 5, pp. 598–600, May, 1978.     

Antibody-forming capacity of mouse spleen cells after hypoxic hypoxia and injection of erythropoietin

The absolute and relative (per 10⁶ spleen cells) number of antibody-forming cells (AFC) in the spleen of CBA mice was found to be reduced by half of the 1st, 4th, and 7th days after acute hypoxia (12 h, 6700 m) and on the 1st and 4th days after the end of exposure to chronic hypoxia (16 h daily for 16 days, 6700 m). By the 7th day after the end of exposure to chronic hypoxia the number of AFC in the spleen of the mice was back to normal. One of two injections of erythropoietin reduced the absolute and relative number of AFC in the spleen of the posthypoxic mice by 33–50% compared with control animals.Laboratory of Regulation of Immunopoiesis, Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Novosibirsk. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. P. Kaznacheev.) Translated from Byulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 5, pp. 565–567, May, 1978.     

A low-molecular-weight homogeneous fraction of the thymus stimulating immunogenesis

The effect of a purified acetic acid extract of thymus (thymarin) and of three of its fractions obtained by ion-exchange chromatography, and consisting of individual substances of polypeptide nature, on the immune response was studied in mice immunized with sheep's erythrocytes. Thymarin and one of its fractions with a molecular weight of about 5000 were shown to have a marked stimulating action on the thymus-dependent immune response (the formation of cells producing IgM and IgG antibodies and the circulating antibody level).Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. I. Ioffe.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 7, pp. 56–58, July, 1977.     

Intensity of synthesis of phospholipids and cholesterol in the brain and spinal cord of rabbits with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in rabbits by inoculation of homologous spinal cord myelin. In the terminal state of the disease acetate-2-C¹⁴ was injected in a dose of 50 Ci/100 g body weight and the animals were killed 2 h later. The intensity of synthesis of phospholipids and cholesterol was greatly reduced in EAE not only in the lumbar region of the spinal cord, where the injury to myelin was greatest, but also in the brain stem, where demyelinization was absent.Department of Biochemistry, I. P. Pavlov First Leningrad Medical Institute. Laboratory of Pathology of the Nervous System, Research Institute of Éxperimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. S. Il'in.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 81, No. 3, pp. 291–293, March, 1976.     

Adrenosensitive neurons of the myenteric (Auerbach's) plexus

Experiments on the myenteric plexus of isolated strips of the small and large intestines showed the presence of adrenosensitive cells capable of responding to application of different concentrations of adrenalin (A) and noradrenalin (NA) by a distinct increase in firing rate. The greatest effect was obtained with NA; the range of action of which was wider (from 10^–9 to 10^–5 g/ml) than that of A. Addition of phentolamine to the surrounding solution in most cases prevented the appearance of these effects. Besides spontaneously discharging cells, silent neurons with no spontaneous activity also responded to the addition of A and NA. It is suggested that catecholamines may play a direct part in the modulation of processes carried out by neurons in the ganglia of the myenteric plexus.Laboratory of Physiology of the Autonomic Nervous System, I. P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. (Presented by Academician V. N. Chernigovskii.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 3, pp. 259–261, March, 1977.     

Action of antioxidants and chelating agents on thyroxine-induced swelling of mitochondria

The rate of swelling of rat liver mitochondria in the presence of thyroxine depended only a little on the cationic composition of the medium (KCl, NaCl, or choline chloride), which suggests an unselective increase in mitochondrial membrane permeability for cations in the presence of thyroxine. The antioxidant -tocopherol and -ionol, in concentrations completely suppressing peroxidation of lipids, did not affect thyroxine-induced swelling of the mitochondria, which is thus not connected with lipid peroxidation. The kinetics of swelling and its inhibition by the Ca-chelating agent EGTA are evidence that Ca²⁺ is essential for induction of this process. Thyroxine swelling of mitochondria is evidently based on activation of membrane phospholipase in these organelles.N. I. Pirogov Second Moscow Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. N. Orekhovich.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 10, pp. 426–428, October, 1977     

Ultrastructure of conjugates of cytolytic T lymphocytes and target cells

Conjugates of target cells and cytolytic T lymphocytes, isolated on the 11th day after alloimmunization, were investigated. Conjugates were formed by small and medium-sized lymphocytes, in the cytoplasm of which mature secretory granules, crystalloid structures, and lipids were found. The lymphocyte was spherical in shape and its area of contact with the target cell did not exceed 5–15%. Cytolysis of the target cells was observed after incubation for 30–60 min. The lymphocyte became flatter, its nucleus became oval in shape, and the area of its contact with the target cell increased. Meanwhile, hypertrophy and a change in the orientation of the Golgi complex were found in the zone of contact with the target cell, fusion of the secretory granules with the lipids and crystalloid structures took place, and immature secretory granules and vacuolar degeneration of the mitochondria appeared. Peeling of the lymphocyte membrane was observed, and structures connected with it and called membranosomes are described. It is suggested that secretory processes are activated in the cytoplasm of cytolytic T lymphocytes during their interaction with target cells.Laboratory of Systemic Blood Diseases, Oncologic Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. Department of Electron Microscopy, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. M. Zhdanov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 5, pp. 560–565, May, 1978.     

Diminished anaphylactogenic properties of deaggregated γ-globulin

The comparative immunologic activity of native, aggregated, and deaggregated (tolerogenic) human -globulin was studied in experiments on mice and guinea pigs. Diminished activity of the deaggregated preparation was found in reactions of local and general hypersensitivity in sensitized animals, together with diminished ability to stimulate the secondary humoral immune response.Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Research Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. I. Ioffe.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 5, pp. 575–577, May, 1978.     

Distribution of γ-hydroxybutyric acid in different parts of the brain and blood serum during development of anesthesia in rats

The dynamics of accumulation of -hydroxybutyric acid (GHBA) in various parts of the brain (thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebellum, corpus striatum, cerebral hemispheres, medulla, corpora quadrigemina) and in the blood serum of rats was studied by an improved gas-chromatographic method after intraperitoneal injection of sodium -hydroxybutyrate (1.5 g/kg). The GHBA concentration in all parts of the brain studied during induction and development of anesthesia and recovery of the animals from it was practically identical, although at all stages of anesthesia a higher level of the compound was found in the cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, and corpus striatum. The GHBA concentration in the blood serum was constantly higher (especially in the initial period) than in the brain tissues.Belorussian Health and Hygiene Research Institute, Minsk. Minsk Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. V. Zakusov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 10, pp. 434–436, October, 1977