[Daphnia magna (straus): a new test object for modeling of dopaminergic neurotransmission deficiency induced by the selective neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine].

The possibility of using Daphnia magna (Straus) hydrobionts as a test object in modeling the disturbances of dopaminergic neurotransmission was investigated. The toxic action of a selective dopaminergic neurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), on D. magna was determined in a broad interval of concentrations (from 2 x 10(-5) to 10(-2) M). Plots of the real time of daphnia death versus MPTP concentration are presented and the concentration limits of its specific activity are evaluated. Experiments on daphnia under the conditions of MPTP intoxication were used to study the modulating effects of drugs producing a pharmacological correction of dopamine secretion disturbances in mammals. It is shown that the exogenous dopamine, muscarinic cholinoblocker pentifine, and antioxidant unithiol exhibit a protective action. Reduced glutathione does not possess protective properties. It is suggested to use D. magna as a simple and informative test object for the modeling of dopaminergic transmission deficiency and for the primary screening of various substances intended for the pharmacological correction of dopamine transmission disturbances.

[Immunologic and pharmacologic activity of atropine-protein conjugates]. / Immunologicheskaia i farmakologicheskaia aktivnost' belkovykh kon"iugatov atropina.

The immunological (production of specific antibodies to hapten) and pharmacological activity of bovine serum albumin conjugates with different chemical modifications of atropine was investigated. Mice and rabbits treated with atropine-protein conjugates (1-10 mg/kg) have produced a considerable number of specific serum antibodies to hapten during primary and secondary immune response. Mice treated with atropine-protein conjugates (25 and 50 mg/kg) have produced undetectable amounts of specific serum antibodies. The study of pharmacological activity in mice has revealed peripheral activity of atropine-protein conjugates. There was a correlation between the pharmacological activity of atropine-protein conjugates (25-50 mg/kg) and the activity of atropine (5 mg/kg), however the pharmacological effect of atropine-protein conjugates was somewhat longer. The results suggest that atropine-protein conjugates are both immunologically and pharmacologically active compounds.