Variation in antiinfectious nonspecific resistance of the organism caused by cholinergic stimulation

Cholinergic stimulation (acetylcholine, aceclidine, armin) is found to improve antiinfectious nonspecific resistance in mice. The effect depends on the dose of cholinomimetic (armin), is maximal during the first 18 hours of the infectious process, and is determined by serum antibacterial activity, lysozyme activity, and the function of neutrophils and natural killers. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o . 8, pp. 164–166, August, 1995 Presented by Yu. A. Romanov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Effect of the hypothalamic cardioactive protein-hormonal complex on choline sensitivity of the small intestine and contraction of the vas deferens in rats

A cardioactive protein-hormonal complex capable of increasing the sensitivity of the small intestine to acetylcholine about 2.5 times was isolated from magnocellular nuclei of the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system. Moreover, this complex enhanced contraction of the vas deferens caused by transmural stimulation, exogenous noradrenalin, and phenylephrine. The findings indicate release of transmitters from cholinergic and adrenergic neurons under the influence of the complex. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 3, pp. 280–282, March, 1995     

A study of the mechanism of action of befol on Ca2+ metabolism in cardiomyocytes using a FURA-2 fluorescent probe

The dynamics of the Ca-response of cardiomyocytes is studied and the efficiency of befol, verapamil, and amiodarone is compared using various experimental models of stimulation of [Ca²⁺]_i. Befol (1–5 μM) is shown to inhibit the caffeine-and strophanthin G-induced rise of [Ca²⁺]_i. Unlike verapamil and amiodarone, befol exhibits no Ca-blocking activity in modeled K-depolarization. It is concluded that the cardiotropic effect of befol is mediated through its primary action on Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchange in cardiomyocytes, while the cardioplegic effect of verapamil and amiodarone is due to their ability to block the slow Ca²⁺ inward current. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, N ^o 3, pp. 288–291, March, 1996     

Time course of the cytotoxicity of blood mononuclears in patients with bladder cancer during endolymphatic immunotherapy with lymphokine-activated killers and recombinant interleukin-2

A specific stimulation of mononuclear cellsin vivo was observed after 3 or 4 endolymphatic injections of autologous lymphokine-activated killers and recombinant interleukin-2 in male patients with disseminated bladder cancer. This activation presented as an increase of the cytotoxicity of mononuclears towards target cells of bladder carcinoma. A statistically reliable increase of natural killer activity was observed, and in one patient a reliable increase of the cytolytic activity of mononuclear cells against Mel-1 target cells. After 1 or 2 injections the activity of natural killers increased to 80–90% for an initial level of 23–50%. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, N ^o 2, pp. 188–191, February, 1996 Presented by N. N. Trapeznikov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Comparison of the efficacies of cutaneous and subcutaneous administration of tactivin for correction of secondary immunodeficiency in infants and young children

A method for noninvasive administration of immunomodulators, specifically, of tactivin, has been developed. The dosage form for cutaneous applications represents a special film containing the immunocorrector tactivin. Before application the film and underlying skin site are moistened with normal saline, after which the film is held with a plaster on the skin of the forearm flexor surface for 10–12 h. The optimal dose of tactivin for applications is 100μg. Comparative analysis showed that the efficacies of cutaneous and subcutaneous administration of tactivin to infants and young children are comparable according to immunological criteria and clinical results. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 11, pp. 496–498, November, 1994 Presented by V. K. Lepakhin, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Mechanisms responsible for the resistance of tracheal smooth muscle to histamine in rats

A mechanographic study of contractile responses by tracheal smooth muscle segments of rats to a histaminergic agent showed that intact segments did not respond to histamine in the concentrations used (0.01–10 μM), whereas depolarized segments responded to histamine by dose-dependent contraction which were considerably enhanced following mechanical removal of the tracheal epithelium. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 9, pp. 263–264, September, 1995     

Changes in the coronary vessel tone resulting from immobilization stressA

Coronary perfusion pressure at increasing flow of Krebs-Henseleit buffer in the hearts of animals exposed to stress is decreased 23%, a decrease which is eliminated by administering the NO-synthase blocker N^G-monomethyl-L-arginine. Stimulated vasodilation of coronary vessels (administration of sodium nitroprusside and acetylcholine) decreases markedly in stressed animals; the concentrations of sodium nitroprusside and acetylcholine inducing a half-maximum coronary response increase. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 9, pp. 246–249, September, 1994 Presented by K. V. Sudakov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

The effect of μ-and σ-opiate receptor agonists on cell division of corneal and tongue epithelium in albino rats

The effect of μ- and σ-opiate receptor agonists at 10 μg/kg on the processes of cell division in corneal and tongue epithelium of albino rats is studied using the method of autoradiography with³H-thymidine. The ligand of the μ-receptors causes the inhibition of DNA synthesis in corneal epithelium 4, 12, and 24 h later and lowers the mitotic index after 4 and 24 h. In contrast, in the tongue epithelium stimulation of the proliferative processes occurs. Ligand of the σ-receptors stimulates DNA synthesis in corneal epithelium after 12 and 24 h and cell division after 12 h. In the tongue epithelium DNA synthesis is activated after 4, 12, and 24 h and cell division after 12 h. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 5, pp. 533–535, May, 1994 Presented by Yu. A. Romanov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Inhibition of mitogen-stimulated proliferation of human lymphocytesin vitro by synthetic peptide fragments of α-2 interferon

Human α-2 interferon and peptides representing parts of the amino-acid sequence 124–138 of the IF molecule inhibit the proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy donorsin vitro induced by ConA. It is shown that neither interferon α-2 nor biologically active peptides change the level of interleukin-2 ConA-induced production by human blood mononuclears. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 1, pp. 72–74, January, 1994 Presented by I. P. Ashmarin, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Spectrum of histone proteins and acridine orange binding by liver cell chromatin in rats at different times after partial hepatectomy

Changes in the spectrum of hepatic histones characteristic of active chromatin were observed in rats as early as 3 h after partial hepatectomy. At 6–9 h postsurgery, acridine orange binding to deproteinized chromatin areas was considerably increased. At 13 h the histone spectrum of liver cells from operated rats did not differ from that of control samples from sham-operated animals. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 4, pp. 369–371, April, 1995     

Second messengers contribute to cholinoceptor modulation by amiridine inHelix lucorum neurons

The effect of amiridine on the local inward acetylcholine current and its volt-ampere characteristic are studied by the two-electrode method of membrane voltage clamp in identified RPa3 and LPa3helix lucorum neurons pretreated with forskolin, sodium nitroprusside, A23187, and EGTA. The results suggest that second messengers (Ca²⁺, NO, cGMP, and cAMP) are implicated in the amiridine-mediated regulation of cholinoceptors inHelix lucorum neurons. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 11, pp. 470–473, November, 1994 Presented by Yu. A. Romanov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Role of adrenocorticotropic hormone in the activation of heparin secretion by mast cells in stressed rats

A morphometric analysis of mast cell populations in the subcutaneous tissue and mesentery from rats demonstrated stimulation of heparin secretion by adrenocorticotropic hormone. Thirty minutes after the administration of this hormone to unstressed rats, the functional stutus of mast cells did not differ from that of such cells from rats stressed by being immobilized for 30 min after receiving physiological saline instead of the hormone. In contrast, the 30-minute immobilization failed to elicit an adequate secretory response from the mast cells of rats in which the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone had been blocked by dexamethasone. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 10, pp. 349–351, October, 1995 Presented by I. P. Ashmarin, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Chronobiological parameters of pain sensitivity of rats and mice

Circadian and 12-hour rhythms of pain sensitivity to stimuli of different origin were detected in male rats and mice by cosinor analysis in chronobiological experiments. The minimal pain sensitivity to thermal and electric stimulation was observed in rats during the first half of the light phase of 24 h, while in the case of mechanical stimulation it was observed during the dark phase. Biorhythms of sensitivity of mice and rats to thermal pain exposure were similar. Hence, the chronobiological organization of pain sensitivity depends mainly on the type of nociceptive stimulation. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 5, pp. 537–540, May, 1995     

Reactivity of the conjunctival microcirculatory bed in students from various regions of the world as an indicator of adaptation of the organism

Microcirculatory vessels of the eyeball conjunctiva were examined during exercise in students from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The reactivity of microvessels was found to be increased at the early stages of adaptation, which indicates a high-level compensatory potential of the organism. An appreciable reduction of microvessel reactivity after 1 to 2 years of university studies indicates a decrease of the compensatory potential in this period of adaptation. After 4–5 years of studies the reactivity of the microvessels is virtually the same in foreign and Russian students, this indicating the formation of a stable phase of adaptation. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 4, pp. 423–426, April, 1995 Presented by N. A. Agadzhanyan, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Plasma content of 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in mice protected with zinc-metallothionein against acute alcohol intoxication

The malonic dialdehyde content in murine plasma decreases considerably after 1–24 h of acute alcohol intoxication (3 g/kg intraperitoneally). Zinc-metallothionein from rat liver administered in a dose of 2 mg/kg prior to alcohol normalizes the malonic dialdehyde level, whereas a mixture modeling zinc-metallothionein (albumin, cysteine, and zinc) does not change it. A 2- to 2.5-fold increase in the malonic dialdehyde content is observed in all cases after 3 days. It is assumed that the effect of zinc-metallothionein is associated with its ability, similarly to other thiol compounds, to stimulate the metabolism of ethanol and acetaldehyde and to reduce the toxicity of the latter by forming mixed compounds. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 1, pp. 46–49, January, 1995 Presented by I. V. Domoradskii, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Aldosterone binding with corticosteroid brain receptors in rats: Effect of behavioral typology and stress

Differences in³H-aldosterone binding with hippocampus cytosol receptors were found to be dependent on the behavioral type of male Wistar rats in the “emotional resonance” test. These differences were not observed in the cytosol analysis of the remaining part of the brain. Control rats and rats subjected to short-term stress by painful electrical stimulation showed a long-term drop of³H-aldosterone binding with hippocampus cytosol in active as compared to passive animals preferring a closed space. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 7, pp. 49–51, July, 1995 Presented by I. P. Ashmarin, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Effect of low-intensity luminescence on reparative processes in skin wounds in the rat

Low-intensity noncoherent luminescent radiation stimulates reparative processes in soft tissue wounds of rats. The stimulation is dependent on the frequency of light pulsation and the luminescence spectrum. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 6, pp. 665–667, June, 1994 Presented by B. A. Korolev, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Stimulation of proliferative activity of human natural killers (CD16+CD56+ cells) by recombinant interleukin-3in vitro

The proliferative activity of human natural killers (CD16⁺CD56⁺ cells) in the presence of 100 and 1000 IU/ml human recombinant interleukin-3 is investigatedin vitro. It is shown that recombinant interleukin-3 reliably enhances natural killer proliferation, causing a 9–15.2-fold increase of³H-thymidine uptake by CD16⁺CD56⁺ cells both in complete culture medium and in conditioned medium. The effect of the factor is 3.9–6.4 and 3.6–8.9-fold more potent than that of recombinant interleukin-2 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, respectively, in the same doses. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 4, pp. 409–412, April, 1995 Presented by S. V. Prozorovskii, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Impact of twelve-day combined exposure to hypobaric hypoxia and physical exercise on structural and metabolic characteristics of skeletal muscle in rats

This study, in which rats were exposed on 12 successive days to hypoxia in combination with exercise on a treadmill, showed that a reduction in partial oxygen pressure leads to a decrease in the magnitude of the structural component of vascular resistance rather than to improvement in the system of oxygen utilization, and that such combined exposure may cause alterations in protein synthesis and result in early stimulation of capillary growth in muscles, as well as elicit differential changes of enzyme activity in different types of muscle fibers. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 6, pp. 602–605, June, 1995 Presented by A. I. Grigor'ev, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Role of intraosseous receptors in afferent and motor reaction modulation

Acute experiments on cats demonstrated facilitation effects of afferent reactions, and segmentary motor reactions during stimulation of sciatic nerves and inhibition of corticofugal motor reactions induced by electrical stimulation of ilium osteoreceptors. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 7, pp. 40–41, July, 1995 Presented by N. A. Agadzhanyan, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences