[Crystalline histiocytosis].

The paper describes a case of diagnosis of the rare monoclonal secretion-associated disease crystalline histiocytosis with kidney and bone marrow involvement. The female patient with multiple myeloma (MM) was found to have intralysosomal crystals in the cells of the bone marrow (histiocytes, plasmocytes), kidneys proper (mesangiocytes, podocytes), and subsequently in those of a kidney graft. Lower secreted monoclonal IgG and ceased Bence-Jones protein secretion after MM chemotherapy were accompanied by improved and stabilized kidney graft function. However, a repeat morphological study of a renal biopsy specimen showed that the crystalline inclusions were preserved in the podocytes. By comparing the immunological and renal responses, it is reasonable to suggest that monoclonal IgG rather than Bence-Jones protein is of value in the pathogenesis of crystal formation.

[Protective effect of lornoxicam on development of myocardial infarction in rats under conditions of ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion].

Activation of inflammation and enzyme cyclooxygenase with formation of proinflammatory prostaglandins is a key element of development of myocardial infarction in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Basing on literature data and own experience we suggested that single intravenous injection of 230 mg/kg of nonselective inhibitor of type 1 and 2 cyclooxygenase lornaxicam in the phase of initialization of inflammation 20 min after onset of ischemia would lead to reduction of myocardial infarction volume in rats in irreversible ischemia and ischemia with subsequent reperfusion. The conducted study allowed to reveal that administration of lornoxicam in recommended for human use dose lowered mortality of animals and increased number of capillaries per one cardiomyocyte in case of irreversible coronary artery occlusion. In ischemia-reperfusion as in irreversible myocardial ischemia lornoxicam reduced volume of necrosis and degree of thinning of left ventricular wall in the region of infarction, and lowered volume of connective tissue in periinfarction zone of the myocardium in remote period.

[Protective effect of peptide semax (ACTH(4-7)Pro-Gly-Pro) on the rat heart rate after myocardial infarction].

Semax, a member of ACTH-derived peptides family, was used in treatment of ischemic stroke in patients. It decreased neurological deficiency and reduced NO hyperproduction in the rat brain caused by acute cerebral hypoperfusion. We suggest that semax is also capable of protecting the rat heart from ischemic damage 28 days after myocardial infarction (MI) induced by left descendent coronary artery occlusion. Semax (150 microg/kg) was given i. p. in the operating day twice: 15 min and 2 hours after coronary occlusion, and once a day for the following 6 days. In 28 days after infarction, the MI group developed cardiac hypertrophy, cell growth was caused mainly by the increase of contractile filaments not supported by the appropriate mitochondrial growth that indicated an impaired energy supply of the cells. Moreover, cardiac hypertrophy was accompanied by decreased mean arterial blood pressure and cardiac contractile function and increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Pharmacological change of cardiac afterload revealed that, in 28 days after MI, the rat heart was not able to change its contractile performance in response to either increase or decrease of systemic blood pressure, and as a result could not maintain its diastolic pressure. All these changes obviously reflect development of heart failure. Semax did not affect cardiac work but partially prevented end-diastolic pressure growth in left ventricle as well as ameliorated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and disproportionate growth of contractile and mitochondrial apparatus, thus exerting beneficial effect on the left ventricular remodeling and heart failure development late after myocardial infarction.

[Influence of DOPA, dopamine and melatonin on adrenal function in rats]. / Vliianie DOFA, dofamina i melatonina na funktsiiu nadpochechnikov u krys

Experiments were conducted on Wistar rats, 160 to 180 g in weight. Epiphysectomy and pseudoepiphysectomy were carried out 14 days before the main experiment. Adrenal gland function was assessed by the rate of secretion of aldosterone and corticosterone into the adrenal vein and by the content of adrenaline in the adrenal glands. DOPA, dopamine and melatonine were administered into the third cerebral ventricle in a dose of 1 gamma per 100 g of weight, and intravenously in a dose of 100 gamma per 100 g of weight. Intraperitoneally melatonin was injected in a dose of 1 mg/100 g twice a day for 3 days. It was shown that administration of DOPA to males and of dopamine to females into the third ventricle of the brain increased the rate of aldosterone secretion in the intact rats. With different methods of administration melatonine decreased the rate of aldosterone and corticosterone secretion in the intact rats. Intravenous injection of melatonine to epiphysectomized rats stimulated the rate of secretion of the mentioned hormones.