Yersinia infection in monkeys

Pathomorphological picture and agents of spontaneous Yersinia infection in monkeys are described. The infection was characterized by polymorphic and generalized changes (usually inY. pseudotuberculosis infection) or mainly local changes involving the intestine and asymptomatic carriership (inY. enterocolitica infection). Of 8 monkey species, red monkeys were the most sensitive to Yersinia. Similarity of human and simian yersiniases allows to use monkeys as the experimental model for studies of this pathology. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 129, No. 2, pp. 208–213, February, 2000     

An experimental model of pseudotuberculosis infection in monkeys

An experimental model of pseudotuberculosis infection was developed usingPapio hamadryas monkeys. Clinical manifestations and some microbiological and immunological aspects of pseudotuberculosis caused by oral infection of animals are studied. The values of LD₅₀ of the pseudotuberculosis agent are established for monkeys, white mice, and guinea pigs. Oral infection of monkeys with sublethal doses ofYersinia pseudotuberculosis is found to induce a pronounced specific immunity. The efficacy of immunoblotting for serologic diagnosis of pseudotuberculosis in clinically obscure cases is demonstrated. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 7, pp. 59–62, July, 1994     

Disorders in early embryonal cellular proliferative properties distort the postnatal formation of nervous, immune, and endocrine regulation systems in a newborn

Disorders in the postnatal nervous, immune, and endocrine regulation systems were revealed in the progeny of rats irradiated during the preimplantation period of embryogenesis. These disorders persist till adult age. The direction of disorders confirms the hypothesis about memorization of changed proliferative properties of embryonal cells during the development of the (pro)endocrine system of a new organism. Memorization results in distortion of postnatal nervous immunoendocrine regulation: hypertrophy of the endocrine component and coadaptive underdevelopment of the nervous and immune components. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 8, pp. 164–166, August, 1998     

Elevated serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi programs

Serum dehydroepiandosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels were measured in 270 men and 153 women who were experienced practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi programs, mental techniques practiced twice daily, sitting quietly with the eyes closed. These were compared according to sex and 5-year age grouping to 799 male and 453 female nonmeditators. The mean DHEA-S levels in the TM group were higher in all 11 of the age groups measured in women and in 6 of 7 5-year age groups over 40 in men. There were no systematic differences in younger men. Simple regression using TM-group data revealed that this effect was independent of diet, body mass index, and exercise. The mean TM-group levels measured in all women and in the older men were generally comparable to those of nonmeditator groups 5 to 10 years younger. These findings suggest that some characteristics of TM practitioners are modifying the age-related deterioration in DHEA-S secretion by the adrenal cortex.     

Sex-specific differences in grooming parameters of rats

Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 116, No 8, pp. 217–218, August, 1993     

Gastroprotective effect of zinc sulfate in ethanol-induced ulcerogenesis in rats

In a rat model of ethanol-induced peptic ulcer it is demonstrated that pretreatment with zinc sulfate (intragastral administration) lowers the ethanol-induced damage to the gastral mucosa in a dose-dependent manner. Subcutaneous injection of indomethacin has no appreciable effect on the gastroprotective effect of zinc. It is assumed that the gastroprotective effect of zinc sulfate is not mediated by the release of endogenous prostaglandins. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 1, pp. 49–50, January, 1995 Presented by Yu. A. Romanov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Age-related changes in the content of stromal clonogenic cells in hemopoietic and lymphoid organs

The content of stromal clonogenic cells in hemopoietic and lymphoid organs of mice and guinea pigs decreases with age. This drop is most pronounced in the thymus of mice and guinea pigs and in mouse spleen (more than 12-, 75-, and 8-fold, respectively). The contents of stromal clonogenic cells in the bone marrow of old mice and in the spleen of old guinea pigs are reduced by 50 and 40%, respectively, in comparison with young animals. These data indicate that the content of committed and inducible osteogenic precursors can decrease with age. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 5, pp. 550–553, May, 1999     

Involvement of fibronectin and interacting serum components in the regulation of activity of human natural killer cells

The cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells and the intensity of conjugate formation are studiedin vitro in the natural cytotoxicity reaction against³H-uridine-labeled human erythromyeloleukotic cells K-562 in the presence of fibronectin, γ-globulin, and fibronectin/γ-globulin combination. It is demonstrated that fibronectin does not change natural cytotoxicity, γ-globulin increases the activity of human natural killer cells, and the fibronectin — γ-globulin combination increases both the intensity of conjugate formation and the cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 7, pp. 54–59, July, 1994     

Effect of sodium hydroxybutyrate on the regional circulation and nervous regulation of vascular tone

The effect of sodium hydroxybutyrate (40, 100, and 200 mg/kg) on the cirulation in the aorta and the carotid, mesenteric, and femoral arteries (using electromagnetic recording of the blood flow), the tonic activity in the sympathetic nerves, and the EEG was studied in experiments on anesthetized and unanesthetized cats and also on immobilized, unanesthetized dogs. Decreased activity of the sympathetic nerves and synchronization of the EEG under the influence of sodium hydroxybutyrate were found to be associated with a marked increase in the circulation in the regional vessels (of the brain, intestine, and limb) and by a decrease in their resistance, which was particularly marked in the system of the common carotid arteries. An effect of sodium hydroxybutyrate on the central regulation of vascular tone is postulated.Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. V. Zakusov.Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 80, No. 8, pp. 71–74, August, 1975.     

Role of oxytocin in the regulation of feeding behavior of young mammals during the lactotrophic period

The effect of exogenous oxytocin on the regulation of sucking motions is studied in rat pups of different age (from day 1 to day 16) during the lactotrophic period. It is shown that specificities of behavior (suckling) in the pups over each period are governed by oxytocin and its concentration. Oxytocin regulates the time during which the pups are attached to the nipple during the first 10 days of the postnatal period, and it also suppresses the feeding behavior of the pups. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 4, pp. 425–429, April, 1994 Presented by A. D. Ado, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Seasonal differences in the development of heightened resistance of the isolated heart during adaptation to physical exercise

Substantial seasonal differences are found in the development of the cardioprotective effect of adaptation to physical exercise: in winter such adaptation results in an increase of the resistance of the isolated heart to the contracture and arrhythmogenic effects of ischemia and reperfusion, while in summer the anticontracture effect is absent and the antiarrythmic effect is significantly lowered. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 9, pp. 299–301, September, 1995 Presented by G. N. Kryzhanovskii, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Adrenergic regulation of phagocytic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils, monocytes, and eosinophils in stressed rats

Time course of phagocytic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils, monocytes, and eosinophils was studied in rats exposed to acute stress under conditions of propranolol blockade of β-adrenoceptors. The important role of β-adrenergic mechanisms in the regulation of phagocytic functions in stress was demonstrated. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 129, No. 5, pp. 563–566, May, 2000     

Role of cholinergic regulation of the heart in the protective antiarrhythmic effect of adaptation to continuous moderate stress

Rats were adapted to the continuous action of moderate immobilization stress for 1, 5, and 15 days. Thereafter the threshold of ventricular fibrillation and the heart rate were compared with biochemical indexes of adrenergic and cholinergic regulation of the heart, namely, catecholamine, cAMP, and cGMP content, acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase activity, the number and affinity of cardiac muscarinic receptors, and the catecholamine content in the adrenals. The threshold of ventricular fibrillation fell on the 1st day due to a predominance of the adrenergic regulatory effect over the cholinergic. Adaptation for 5 days is attended by a rise of the threshold of ventricular fibrillation to the norm and by marked bradycardia, both these shifts being abolished by atropine. Elevation of the heart's resistance to arrhythmias stems from the prevalence of cholinergic regulation. Equilibrium between the cholinergic and adrenergic effects on the heart was found as a results of 15-day adaptation. The normal threshold of ventricular fibrillation and the increased cardiac resistance to arrhythmia were preserved and dictated largely by adaptive changes at the cardiomycyte level. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120. N ^o 7, pp. 36–39, July, 1995 Presented by G. N. Kryzhanovskii, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Androstenedione conversion in human peripheral blood lymphocytes

The ability of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to convert the androgenic steroid metabolite androstenedione diminishes in women over 45 years old or during menopause. In patients with breast cancer in menopause the ability of lymphocytes to convert androstenedione is enhanced compared with the control. The intensity of conversion in circulating lymphocytes correlates with the blood concentration of sex steroids. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 5, pp. 517–519, May, 1994 Presented by A. N. Klimov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Hormonal function of nonendocrine cells: Role of new biological phenomenon in the regulation of homeostasis

Recent studies revealed a new biological phenomenon: hormone synthesis in nonendocrine cells. Here we review hormone production by 4 types of nonendocrine cells of different origins, localizations, and functions and the role of this biological phenomenon in the maintenance of homeostasis. Our results and published data suggest that hormonal function is a general biological property not specific for only neuroendocrine cells, but rather typical of all living cells independently of their origin and role in the body. Translated fromByulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 11, pp. 483–487, November, 2000     

Tone of sympathetic nerves and regulation of heart activity

Tone of sympathetic nerves to the heart was studied in rats and guinea pigs. Experiments with pharmacological blockade of the sympathetic nervous system and vagotomy confirmed the general notion on the absence of tonic effects of sympathetic nerves on the heart. Reduction of the heart rate reported previously probably attests to various experimental designs (type and depth of anesthesia, possible hypothermia, duration of observations, and pharmacological preparations). As differentiated from the vascular tone, the heart rate under rest conditions depends on the vagal tone and circulating humoral substances. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 10, pp. 370–373, October, 2000     

Sex-related differences in the degree of lipid peroxidation activation and resistance to cardiovascular damage induced by stress in rats

It is shown that during stress a rapid twofold increase of erythrocyte acid resistance in rats of both sexes was followed by a 1.5-fold decrease toward the 60th min in males and the 120th min in females. In males, in contrast to females, the level of malonic dialdehyde was raised not only during stress, but also 1 and 24 hours after its completion. Stress-induced dystrophic changes of cardiomyocytes were more marked in males. The area of myocardial damage in females was almost twice as small as in males. It is assumed that the better resistance of females to stress-induced cardiovascular damage may be due to increased efficacy of antioxidant mechanisms inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, No 4, pp. 354–357, April, 1995 Presented by K. V. Sudakov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences