Effects of low-dose ethanol on rat progeny upon inhalation exposure during gestation

Effects of ethanol in low concentrations on the course of pregnancy in rats and the development and metabolic characteristics of their progeny are studied: the morphology and function of pathological shifts are assessed and the level of endogenous ethanol in the blood and acetylcholinesterase activity in erythrocyte membranes measured. Inhalation exposure to ethanol is found to retard the development of the progeny. The consumption of ethanol by the progeny in the experimental group was 1.5 times higher than in the control. The results indicate that even trace amounts of ethanol in the atmosphere are toxic for the organism. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, N ^o 3, pp. 265–267, March, 1996 Presented by I. P. Ashmarin, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Effect of single total irradiation on the reproductive system and vitamin content in rat progeny

Reduction in the epididymis weight and in the spermatozoid concentration together with marked morphological changes in the seminiferous tubules were observed in the progeny of irradiated rats. Vitamin E content in the testes increased 2.8-fold, while that of vitamin B₂ decreased 1.6-fold. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 12, pp. 652–654, December, 1998.     

Effect of alimentary hypercholesterolemia in female rabbits on blood lipid levels in their progeny

Female rabbits fed cholesterol-rich diet during pregnancy and/or lactation developed hypercholesterolemia and their progeny had higher lipid levels than the progeny of normolipidemic females. The weight of rabbits born from or fed by females with alimentary hypercholesterolemia was lower than normal during the entire observation period (40 weeks). After weaning (at the age of 6 weeks), serum concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides in the progeny were higher than in audlt animals. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 4, pp. 395–398, April, 1998     

Status of the progeny of rats treated with platinum-containing cytostatics

Wistar rat pups from rats treated with first- and second-generation platinum-containing cytostatics (platidiam, carboplatin) 1, 3, and 6 months before mating with intact partners had similar disorders. The severity of these disorders depended in many cases on the chemical structure of the drug and sex of the parent treated with the cytostatic. The severity of toxic effects in the progeny of intact females mated with cytostatic-treated males decreased with prolongation of the period elapsing between the treatment and mating. Carboplatin produced a more potent toxic effect on the reproductive function of rats compared to platidiam. Translated fromByulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 9, pp. 302–305, September, 2004     

Status of the progeny of rats treated with platinum-containing cytostatics

Wistar rat pups from rats treated with first- and second-generation platinum-containing cytostatics (platidiam, carboplatin) 1, 3, and 6 months before mating with intact partners had similar disorders. The severity of these disorders depended in many cases on the chemical structure of the drug and sex of the parent treated with the cytostatic. The severity of toxic effects in the progeny of intact females mated with cytostatic-treated males decreased with prolongation of the period elapsing between the treatment and mating. Carboplatin produced a more potent toxic effect on the reproductive function of rats compared to platidiam.Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 9, pp. 302–305, September, 2004     

Effect hypokinesia on the ultrastructure of rat neocortex

The effect of 40, 90, and 120-day hypokinesia and nonstressful hypokinesia on the ultrastructure of cingular convolution, motor and frontal-parietal areas of rat cortex were investigated. Differences were found only in the ultrastructure of cingular convolution after hypokinesic stress. In each area both procedures led to a decrease in the number and variety of spike and axospike synapses. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 125, No. 3, pp. 279–281, March, 1998     

Effect on different mutant p53 on cell sensitivity to cytostatics

Expression of human p53 carrying missense mutations at codons 175 (His175), 194 (His194), 248 (Trp248), and 273 (His273) has different effects on sensitivity of K562, 10(1), 10(3), and Rat1 cells to the antitumor drugs methotrexate, etoposide, vinblastine. These effects of mutant p53 depend on both particular amino acid substitution and cell context (histogenetic type, status of the second allele,etc.) Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 3, pp. 324–327, March, 1999     

Role of the hormonal status of the father in involution of the thymus in the progeny

This study was aimed at assessing the consequences of the influence of exogenous androgens on the epididymal sperm of fathers for their progeny. A single injection of testosterone or dihydrotestosterone to adult rats caused a transient increase of the level of the corresponding androgen, later leading to augmentation of the androgen-dependent organs and loss of thymus weight. Hyperandrogeny and earlier age-associated involution of the thymus were observed in the male progeny of androgenized males of reproductive age. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, No. 5, pp. 562–564, May, 1996     

Morphofunctional status of the ovaries in platidiam-treated rats

Intravenous injection of the maximum tolerated dose of platidiam prolongs diestrus in rats. Degenerative changes develop in the ovaries containing fewer generative elements. These changes are reversible. Translated fromByulleten's Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 11, pp. 571–573, November, 1996     

Histophysiology of ovaries and adrenal glands in rats and brain development in their progeny: Correlation and cluster analysis

Brain weight of 21-day-old rat fetuses positively correlates with the area of the glomerulosa zone, the ratio of this area to the area of the fasciculata-reticularis zone, activity of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the glomerulosa zone, and the ratio of its activity in the glomerulosa and reticularis zones. In the one-day-old newborns these relationships were absent. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 3, pp. 336–339, March, 1999     

Efficacy of liposomal forms of cytostatics

Study of the toxicity and pharmacokinetics of free and liposomal forms of cytostatics revealed an appreciable decrease of the toxicity of high drug doses and prolongation of drug action in liposomes. The distribution of drugs in organs and tissues is shown. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, N ^o 1, pp. 85–88, January, 1996     

Immediate and remote effects of antitumor drug on the morphology of rat liver

Experiments performed on rats have shown that a single intravenous injection of the antitumor preparations platidiam and pharmorubicine in the maximum tolerated dose cause morphological changes in the liver which are preserved for 3 months after platidiam and for 6 moths after pharmorubicine. Instability of reparative processes in the liver was revealed when the rats were poisoned with CCl₄, 1, 3, and 6 months after administration of the cytostatics. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 11, pp. 561–564, November, 1998     

Asymmetrical effects of vagus nerves on functional parameters of rat heart in postnatal ontogeny

Significant age-related peculiarities in the dynamics of stroke volume and parameters of variational pulsogram are revealed in bilaterally vagotomized in rats. Asymmetry in vagal influences on cardiac function appear during puberty. Right-sided vagotomy predominantly affects variability of the cardiac rhythm, while left-sided vagotomy mostly affects the force of heart contractions. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 7, pp. 10–13, July, 2000     

Effects of immunosuppressors and cytostatics on the extracellular matrix production in experimental nephropathy

Methylprednisolone increased the content of laminine, cyclosporin increased the content of fibronectin, and cyclophosphamide suppressed the extracellular matrix production in experimental nephrotoxic nephritis and puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis. Therapy should be chosen with due consideration of the extracellular matrix structure in different morphological variants of chronic glomerulonephritis. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 11, pp. 584–587, November, 1998     

Asymmetrical effects of vagus nerves on functional parameters of rat heart in postnatal ontogeny

Significant age-related peculiarities in the dynamics of stroke volume and parameters of variational pulsogram are revealed in bilaterally vagotomized in rats. Asymmetry in vagal influences on cardiac function appear during puberty. Right-sided vagotomy predominantly affects variability of the cardiac rhythm, while left-sided vagotomy mostly affects the force of heart contractions. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 7, pp. 10–13, July, 2000     

Effect of vagotomy on heart rate in intact and sympathectomized rats of different ages

A comparative analysis of temporal variations of the heart rate variability after cutting and stimulation of the vagus in sympathectomized and intact rats showed that changes in heart rate after bilateral vagotomy in sympathectomized rats are opposite to those in the controls. It is postulated that postganglionic fibers modulate sympathetic influence on intracardiac parasympathetic neurons. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 7, pp. 21–24, July, 1997     

Dependence of the proliferation of hemopoietic adrenergic precursors under the influence of cytostatics

After administration of 5-fluorouracil in a high dose (114 mg/kg), the proliferation of committed precursors of erythro- and granulomonocytopoiesis is controlled by sympatheticoadrenal system. On the one hand, catecholamines facilitate, predominantly via β-structures, the migration of Thy-1⁺-cells that stimulate hemopoietic precursors for the S-phase of cell cycle. On the other hand, sympatheticoadrenal transmitters potentiate via β- and α-adrenoreceptors the suppressor activity of the cytostatic on the growth and maturation of erythropoietic and, to a lesser extent, granulocytopoietic precursors. These factors may contribute to the process of long restoration of the granulocyte and, to a higher extent, erythrocyte stem cells in the bone marrow after a high dose of 5-fluorouracil. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 123, No. 6, pp. 638–641, June, 1997     

Changes in thermonociceptive thresholds and the role of enkephalinase A in homeostasis in morphine-tolerant rat offspring

The dynamics of thermonociceptive thresholds as a marker of the state of the endogenous opioid system was studied in the offspring of morphine-tolerant rats. Significant, age-dependent increase in thermonociceptive thresholds and higher levels of enkephalinase A in structures of the endogenous antinociceptive system were observed in the offspring compared with the control. These findings attest to disturbances of the opioid system in the progeny of morphine-tolerant rats and confirm the key role of enkephalinase A in the maintenance of homeostasis disturbed by chronic prenatal morphine treatment. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii I Meditsiny, Vol. 129, No. 5, pp. 560–562, May, 2000     

Effect of vagal stimulation on cardiac rhythm in rats under blockade of β-adrenoreceptors by obsidan

Obsidan induced age-dependent bradycardia in intact rats and in rats with chemical sympathetic denervation. Subsequent vagal stimulation produced further decrease in heart rate. Administration of atropine to obsidan-treated rats increased heart rate. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 12, pp. 612–614, December, 1998     

Effect of selective vagotomy on inotropic and chronotropic heart function in rats

Right-sided vagotomy induced more rapid and pronounced changes in chronotropic indices, while left-sided vagotomy predominantly affected stroke volume. Right-sided, left-sided, and bilateral vagotomy induced similar changes in the variational pulsorgram. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 128, No. 11, pp. 497–499, November, 1999