[Specific features of blood cell composition and structure in fishes from the pelagial and coastal zones of Lake Baikal].

Differences in the proportions and ultrastructure of peripheral blood cells between the Baikal cisco and roach have been revealed. Both species contain all main cell types involved in the immune response in higher vertebrates. However, cells mediating the innate immune response are represented in the Baikal cisco only by monocytes and pseudogranulocytes, whereas the blood of roach additionally contains true granulocytes. Significantly greater numbers of leukocytes and thrombocytes per unit volume in the roach are evidence for mobilization of the immune system in this species. The peripheral blood of both species contains lymphocytes, which are responsible for adaptive immunity. The content of hemoglobin in erythrocytes is lower in the roach than in the Baikal cisco. The state of blood in the two species may be considered adapted to typical conditions in their habitats.

[Primary structure of DNA, complementary for mRNA for the Baikal omul growth hormone]. / Pervichnaia struktura DNK, komplementarnoi mRNK gormona rosta Baikal'skogo omulia.

The pregrowth hormone DNA was synthesized by polymerase chain reaction from a pituitary gland cDNA library of Baikal omul (Coregonus autumnalis Pallas). A cDNA was sequenced and found to encode a precursor protein of 210 amino acid residues, which included a putative signal peptide of 22 amino acid residues. Sequence comparison reveals close similarity of the omul growth hormone to those of other Salmoniformes species.