Effect of ethanol on uterotropic action of estrogens

Female rats aging 3 months at the beginning of experiments received 5 or 15% ethanol and then were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy 2 weeks before end of the experiment. During the last 11 days they were daily injected intramuscularly with 2 μg estradiol. Drinking of 5% ethanol combined with injections of estrogens induced DNA damage in the uterus detected by comet assay and abolished induction of progesterone receptors, changes in peroxidase activity, proliferation index, endometrium thickness, and other indices reflecting the hormonal effect of estradiol on the uterus. Drinking of 15% ethanol was accompanied by an increase in DNA-damaging effects of estrogens and a decrease in their hormonal uterotropic effects. It is concluded that unlike tobacco smoking, drinking of moderate ethanol concentrations modifies primarily genotoxic, but not the hormonal effect of estrogens. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 10, pp. 426–428, October, 2000     

Determination of plasma concentration of the cardioprotective preparation histochrome

A method for measuring the plasma concentration of histochrome is described. Echinochrome, a naturally occurring polyhydroxynaphthoquinone with antioxidant and cardioprotective activities, is the active ingredient of histochrome. Plasma histochrome concentration is measured in patients with acute myocardial infarction. This method can be used for pharmacokinetic analysis. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 12, pp. 662–664, December, 1996     

Activity of lysosomal apparatus in rat myocardium during experimental coronary and noncoronary myocardial damage

Cardiac and plasma activities of marker lysosomal enzymes were studied in Wistar rats with metabolic (epinephrine) and occlusion (ligation of coronary arteries) myocardial infarction. Activity of all examined lysosomal enzymes significantly increased in the myocardium and blood plasma starting from the first day after ligation of the coronary arteries and was accompanied by leukocytic infiltration of the myocardium. Enzyme activity gradually decreased to postoperation day 14. In metabolic infarction leukocytic infiltration and specific activity of lysosomal enzymes rose gradually and attained maximum to postoperation day 14, while the signs of labilization of lysosomal membranes appeared from the first postoperation day. Plasma activity of lysosomal enzymes in metabolic infarction increased smoothly and peaked on day 14. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 129, No. 6, pp. 626–628, June, 2000     

Effects of age and ischemia on levels of lipoperoxides and lipid-soluble antioxidants in the human heart

Levels of lipoperoxides and hydrophobic scavengers of free radicals were estimated in n-hexane extracts of myocardial biopsy specimens taken from cardiac patients (children and adults) during surgical operations. Ultraviolet spectra of these extracts were found to contain four absorption bands with peaks at 214, 233, 258, and 298 nm that characterize the levels of diene and triene conjugates. A comparison of the data obtained for children and adults suggested that the total antiradical activity of the cardiac muscle decreases while its content of vitamin E remains virtually unchanged during ontogeny. Significantly reduced vitamin E levels were noted in specimens from patients with chronic ischemic heart disease. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 6, pp. 584–586, June, 1995.     

Effects of methyluracil and hydroxymethacil on free-radical oxidation in model systems

Three pyrimidine derivatives — methyluracil, hydroxymethacil (a new compound), and its lithium salt — were tested in model systems of differing complexity for antioxidant properties in comparison with the well-known antioxidant ionol. Tests for antiradical activity and for effects on spontaneous and Fe²⁺-ascorbate- or NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation revealed high antioxidant activity (comparable to that of ionol) of the hydroxymethacil lithium salt. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 8, pp. 142–144, August, 1995 Presented by G.N. Kryzhanovskii, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Antiradical activity of ternary copolymers from the diallyl series in mediating the antimutagenic effect

Ternary copolymers of the diallyl series were tested for antiradical activity against the stable radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, and the numbers of active antitradical fragments which are present in their macromolecules and which may participate in the free-radical reactions induced by gamma radiation in living organisms were estimated. A correlation was found between the antiradical activity of ternary copolymers and their ability to protect barley seedling roots from mutagenic effects of gamma radiation. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 9, pp. 265–267, September, 1995 Presented by V. N. Smirnov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Effect of SOD and NO donor on reperfusion-induced rhythm disturbances in rats

Individual infusion of SOD and NO donor produces an antiarrhythmic effect, although does not completely prevent reperfusion-induced arrhythmias, while the combination of the antiradical agent and NO donor provides the most efficient protection of reperfused myocardium due to summation of their effects. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 7, pp. 137–140, February, 1999     

Changes in gluco- and mineralocorticoid adrenal functions in spontaneously hypertensive rats during experimental myocardial infarction

The dynamics of corticosterone and aldosterone contents during the acute and restoration periods of experimental myocardial infarction was studied in Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive rats. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, the increase in aldosterone concentration during the acute period was followed by elevation of corticosterone content, which attested the disadaptive course of experimental myocardial infarction against the background of hereditary arterial hypertension. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 129, No. 1, pp. 25–27, January, 2000     

Relationship between tobacco smoke and uterotropic effect of estrogen

Female rats aged 3.–3.5 months were daily exposed for 2 h to 2.25% tobacco smoke in a 20-liter chamber for 3 weeks. A week after the beginning of the experiments, all rats were subjected to bilateral oophorectomy. Some of them were injected with estradiol in a daily dose of 2 μg or diethylstilbestrol in a daily dose of 1 μg for 10 days. Tobacco smoke exposure led to an increase in the uterus weight in oophorectomized rats, and combined exposure to tobacco smoke and estrogens resulted in an increase in the proportion of intact (twisted) DNA in the uterus. These results can be explained by a relatively short term of tobacco smoke exposure (stimulation stage). Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 9, pp. 331–333, September, 1997     

Effect of hydrolipophilic equilibrium of the muramyl dipeptide derivatives on their internalization and interactions in biological membranes

The interaction between two homologous muramyl dipeptide derivatives (β-heptylglycoside and β-hexadecylglycoside) and model membranes and internalization of these derivatives into K562 human erythroleukemia cells are studied. It is suggested that the difference in the interaction of these homologs with model membranes and in their immunomodulating activities result from different hydrolipophilic balance of these perorations. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 12, pp. 658–661, December, 1996     

Effect of adaptation to physical exercise on α-adrenoceptor reactions of isolated resistance artery during acute experimental myocardial infarction

The contractile reactions of the caudal artery mediated by α-adrenoceptors do not significantly differ during experimental myocardial infarction in nonadapted rats and rats adapted to graded physical exercise (swimming). In nonadapted rats, experimental myocardial infarction produces a drastic inhibition of the contractile responses in comparison with nonadapted intact rats, which is related to desensitization of α-adrenoceptors. In adapted rats the contractile reactions markedly increased during myocardial infarction due to high sensitivity and density of α-adrenoceptors. Therefore, adaptation mobilizes the reserve capacities to normalize blood pressure during experimental myocardial infarction. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 128, No. 12, pp. 642–645, December, 1999     

A comparative study of the effects of dimebon,obsidan, finoptin,and cordaron on the functional state of ischemic focus and size of necrotic zone in experimental myocardial infarction

Dimebon, an antihistamine agent, exerts a moderate antianginal effect, improving the function of ischemic focus in the myocardium and decreasing the necrotic zone in experimental myocardial infarction. Dimebon is less active than obsidan, finoptin (except for the size of the necrotic zone), and cordaron. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 12, pp. 642–644, December, 1996     

Effects of sex hormones and antihormones on the activity of redox system enzymes of human erythrocyte glutathione

Effects of estradiol and testosterone and of the antiandrogens cyproterone acetate, niftolide, and antiestrogen tamoxifen on the activities of human erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were studiedin vitro. In contrast to hormone preperations, antihormones in high concentrations (10⁻⁴−5×10⁻⁴ M) modified the enzyme activities. Cyproterone acetate and tamoxifen increased the activity of glutathione reductase, while tamoxifen stimulated glutathione reductase and inhibited glutathione peroxidase. Niftolide inhibited both enzymes. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 8, pp. 185–187, August, 1997     

Comparison of antiarrhythmic activities of befol,lidocaine, and bonnecor

The antiarrhythmic activity of befol (an isotoxic dose) is higher than (or comparable to) that of lidocaine and bonnecor in atrial and ventricular arrhythmias induced by acute ischemia, reperfusion, myocardial infarction, or ouabain treatment. In epinephrine-induced arrhythmia, befol is inferior to these drugs (except lidocaine) in activity and range of therapeutic action. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 12, pp. 665–668, December, 1996     

Quantitative morphological analysis of acute focal damage and myocardial infarction

Some approaches based on polarization microscopy and stereology are proposed for quantitative evaluation of acute dystrophic and necrotic lesions in the myocardium. It is shown that in sudden death and myocardial infarction the degree III contractures predominate in cardiomyocytes, while lumpy degradation of myofibrils under these conditions is half as often. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 125, No. 1, pp. 112–115, January, 1998     

The Mast cell system and blood coagulation in mountain dogs with myocardial infarction

A comparative study of the responses of the mast cell and coagulation systems to experimentally induced myocardial infarction in dogs that had been constantly living at a medium altitude (1600 m above sea level) and those constantly living at a low altitude (760 m) revealed less marked morphological and functional changes in these systems in the former (“mountain”) dogs, which may be interpreted as an indication of their enhanced nonspecific resistance acquired as a result of long-term adaptation to conditions prevailing at medium altitudes. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 6, pp. 580–583, June, 1994 Presented by K. V. Sudakov, Member of the Russian Academy, of Medical Sciences     

Proliferative activity of cardiomyocytes and specific features in the course of acute experimental myocardial infarction in rats with chronic alcohol poisoning

Vascular mesenchymal changes are less expressed in rats preexposed to alcoholization, and the fibrillogenesis associated with these changes occurs later and is less severe. In rats suffering myocardial infarction in the presence of chronic alcohol poisoning the proliferative activity of cardiomyocytes is reduced. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 2, pp. 172–174, February, 1994 Presented by D. S. Sarkisov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Effect of the γ-aminobytyric acid derivative TZ-50-2 on systemic and cardiac hemodynamics and size of myocardial necrosis

The linear derivative of γ-aminobutyric acid TZ-50-2 (4-hydroxy-3-benzylamino-N-benzyl-butanamide hemisuccinate) stimulates coronary circulation (particularly in the left ventricular myocardium) in intact cats, decreases vascular resistance, stimulates the blood flow in ischemic endo- and mesocardium, and decreases (similarly as perlinganite, obsidan, and finoptin) the necrotic zone area in experimental myocardial infarction. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 12, pp. 662–665, December, 1998     

Effect of preliminary adaptation to transauricular electrostimulation on the content of catecholamines and met-enkephalin in rat heart and adrenals in stress and acute myocardial infarction

Adaptation to transauricular electrostimulation decreases the content of epinephrine in the adrenal glands and norepinephrine in the heart. Immobilization stress has no appreciable effect on the content of catecholamines in the heart and adrenal glands. In animals with myocardial infarction, the content of norepinephrine in the heart decreases 2-fold, while the content of epinephrine in the adrenals decreases inconsiderably. Adaptation to transauricular electrostimulation is associated with a rise in met-enkephalin concentration. Preadaptation induces a more pronounced rise of met-enkephalin and promotes normalization of epinephrine in the adrenals, without changing the content of norepinephrine in the heart. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 10, pp. 388–391, October, 1997     

Effects of sex steroid hormones on lipid peroxidation and glutathione antioxidant system in rat skin

Effects of estradiol and testosterone on the intensity of lipid peroxidation and contents of glutathione redox system components in the dermis and epidermis of rat skin were studied. Only estradiol induced considerable dose-dependent and tissue-specific biphasic antioxidant effects on the skin. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 128, No. 12, pp. 663–666, December, 1999