Role of adrenergic structures in functional control over the cerebral circulation

An investigation of the cerebral circulation by the thermoelectric method showed that stimulation of the cervical sympathetic nerve leads to considerable changes in the blood supply to the brain. The changes in blood flow are biphasic in character: An initial small increase is followed by a decrease below the original level. Pharmacological analysis with and adrenoblockers showed that the constrictor response of the cerebral vessels is due to excitation of-adrenergic structures and the dilator response to excitation of-adrenergic structures. A possible mechanism of these changes is postulated.Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. M. Chernukh.Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 81, No. 1, pp. 9–12, January, 1976.     

Study on Myeloperoxidase Role in Antituberculous Defense in the Context of Cytokine Activation

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), next to the NO synthase2 (NOS2), and NADPH oxidase, is the key enzyme of the oxidative burst responsible for the antimicrobial immunity. Because MPO participates in the eradication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the in vitro model and the extracellular enzyme may activate cells to cytokine synthesis, we investigated the changes in the enzyme concentration in serum of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and correlations between MPO and TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-12. To our knowledge, our study is the first to indicate the involvement of MPO during active TB which manifested itself in the significant increase in serum concentration. The statistically significant elevation of TNF-alpha and IL-12 was also noticed in serum of the TB positive group. The statistical analysis revealed no correlation between the cytokine and MPO production in the studied cases. However, the increase in TNF-alpha and IL-12 serum concentration with simultaneous elevation of serum MPO in the group of the highest enzyme concentration may imply that correlation between the enzyme and the cytokines should not be excluded. Our study suggests possible involvement of MPO in the antituberculous, immunological response, and implies its connection with TNF-alpha and IL-12 activation.     

Role of adrenergic structures in functional control over the cerebral circulation

An investigation of the cerebral circulation by the thermoelectric method showed that stimulation of the cervical sympathetic nerve leads to considerable changes in the blood supply to the brain. The changes in blood flow are biphasic in character: An initial small increase is followed by a decrease below the original level. Pharmacological analysis with and adrenoblockers showed that the constrictor response of the cerebral vessels is due to excitation of -adrenergic structures and the dilator response to excitation of -adrenergic structures. A possible mechanism of these changes is postulated.Laboratory of Pathophysiology of Respiration, Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. M. Chernukh). Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 81, No. 1, pp. 9–12, January, 1976.     

Role of the endogenous opioid system in the analgesic effect of α-tocopherol in dysmenorrhea

Laboratory of General Pathology of the Nervous System, Research Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. No. 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Pathological Physiology, and Laboratory of Experimental Therapy, Institute of Experimental Cardiology, All-Union Cardiologic Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 105, No. 2, pp. 148–140, February, 1988.     

Effects of reserpine treatment on β-adrenergic/adenylate cyclase modulated secretion and resynthesis by the rat submandibular gland

Summary Chronic reserpine (adrenergic blocking) treatment causes a marked accumulation of secretory protein in the rat submandibular gland (SMG) but discharge of this material is delayed in response to isoproterenol stimulation. The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of chronic reserpine treatment on 1) the number of -adrenergic receptors, 2) the sensitivity of cell-surface-associated adenylate cyclase to various concentrations of isoproterenol, and 3) to correlate these data to morphologic studies of the secretion and resynthesis phases of the isoproterenol-induced secretory cycle in the rat SMG. Animals were injected with reserpine (0.5 g/g b.w.) for 6 days. Plasma membrane fractions were prepared. The adenylate cyclase response to a series of isoproterenol concentrations, and the number of -adrenergic receptors ([³H]-alprenolol binding) were determined. Other animals were given a single dose of isoproterenol (0.8 mg/100 g b.w.) and the SMG was examined by light and electron microscopy at various times (30 min to 24 h) after treatment. Chronic reserpine treatment leads to a 2.5-fold increase in SMG -adrenergic binding sites and a 50-fold increase in adenylate cyclase sensitivity to IPR stimulation when compared to controls. However, secretion and resynthesis of secretory product in response to IPR stimulation was greatly delayed in reserpinized rats.A preliminary report of this data has been previously presented: Cutler, L.S. et al. (1979) J. Dent. Res. 58A:380     

Control of metastatic properties of BL6 melanoma cells by H-2Kb gene: immunological and nonimmunological mechanisms

The effect of class I H-2 antigen expression on the metastatic properties of BL6 melanoma cells was investigated. The BL6-8 clone isolated from the highly metastatic BL6 melanoma did not express H-2K b gene. Following transfection with the H-2K^b gene, BL6-8 cells displayed a low metastatic potential in the immunocompetent as well as immunosuppressed (X-irradiated) or triple-immunodeficient mice with impaired T, B and natural killer (NK) cells function. The expression of H-2K^b gene and the low metastatic ability of transfected BL6 melanoma cells were associated with appearance of cell membrane soybean agglutinin (SBA) and Griffonia simplicifolia 1B₄ (GS1B₄) lectin-binding carbohydrataes. These alterations in cell surface carbohydrates were found to be a result of reduction in sialylation of SBA binding sites and upregulation of the 1.3 galactosyltransferase (1.3GT) gene. To assess the importance of H-2K^b-induced alterations in cell surface carbohydrates for metastasis formation, BL6-8 melanoma cells were transfected with H-2K^b gene without neo^r gene cotransfection and selected for adherence to SBA-lectin-conjugated agarose beads. The transfected clones that expressed SBA and GS1B₄ lectin-binding carbohydrates were low metastatic. Further analysis of these clones showed that presence of SBA and GS1B₄ lectin-binding carbohydrates rather than expression of H-2K^b molecules per se might be responsible for low metastatic potentials of H-2K^b-transfected cells in the immunocompromized mice. Studies of the possible mechanisms responsible for low metastatic ability of H-2K^b-transfected melanoma cells revealed that these cells displayed a reduced ability to adhere to murine pulmonary endothelial cells as well as to laminin and collagen IV. We hypothesized that the observed nonimmunological effects of H-2K^b gene in BL6 melanoma cells is a result of an interaction between the H-2K^b gene and B16 melanoma-specific ecotropic retrovirus. It results in inhibition of this retrovirus production with consecutive alteration in the expression of cellular genes controlling cell surface glycosylation and adhesion properties essential for the metastatic phenotype of BL6 melanoma.     

Anticholinesterase Mechanism as a Factor of Immunotoxicity of Various Chemical Compounds

Experiments on Wistar rats showed that acute poisoning with chemicals in a dose of 0.75 LD₅₀ (dimethyl dichlorovinyl phosphate, sarin, VX substance, sulfur yperite, lewisite, tetraethyl lead, dichloroethane) inhibiting platelet acetylcholine esterase, -naphthyl-AS-acetate esterase, and -naphthyl-butyrate esterase suppressed T cell-mediated immune reactions.