Penetration of pegylated gold nanoparticles through rat placental barrier.

Penetration of pegylated (enveloped in polyethylene glycol) gold nanoparticles 5 and 30 nm in diameter through the placental barrier was studied in pregnant rats injected intravenously with these particles in a dose of about 0.8 mg Au/kg on day 10 of gestation. The particles were visualized in tissues by silver nitrate autometallography; the total content of gold in the fetuses was evaluated by atomic adsorption spectroscopy. Gold nanoparticles were detected in the fetal liver macrophages and in the spleens; high total content of gold in the fetuses was demonstrated for particles of both sizes. The data suggest that gold nanoparticles penetrate through rat placental barrier in vivo. No morphological changes were detected in the liver, kidneys, spleen, and brain of fetuses.

[Algorithm for the coproscopic diagnosis of human intestinal parasites].

The purpose of the study was to elaborate a detection algorithm for human intestinal helminth eggs. There is a broad spectrum ofcoproscopic methods recommended for the detection of Opisthorchis eggs in man and animals; these include Fulleborn's method, formalin-ether method, Goryachev's, Katoh's, Kalantaryan's, Shcherbovich's, and Kotelnikov-Varenichev methods. Combined coproscopic methods are significantly more effective in detecting the causative agents of enteric parasitoses than is Katoh's method. Among the considered coproscopic techniques for the diagnosis of human ascariasis, it is most rational to use a combined method for fecal examination, the basis for which is a multicomponent flotation system (such as the author's one). The Kotelnikov-Varenichev method is optimal for diagnosing opisthorchiasis. It is optimal to use 2-3 methods of different groups simultaneously for the screening diagnosis of intestinal parasitoses.

[The influence of finely-ground vivarium feed on structural and functional condition of the liver hepatocytes in rats].

It was determined that a long-lasting consumption of a finely-growing feed vivarium even in the early postnatal period (60 days) causes certain changes in liver hepatocytes in rats. There takes place nucleous area and cell cytoplasm diminishing, accompanied by a decrease of albumines' synthesis level. In the later postnatal period (120 days) the hepatocytes' nucleus and cytoplasm area drastically increases, which is accompanied by the increase of albumine content in blood up to reference values. During the following period of the natal development (120-180 days) the levels as on the 128th day of the animals' development. In such a case the nucleous area slightly diminishes.

[The effect of pathogens and phytohormones on the rate of oxidation of phenols by oxalate oxidase in wheat seedlings].

We studied the effect of various fungal phytopathogens and exogenous phytohormones on the rate of o-phenylenediamine oxidation mediated by oxalate oxidase, which is one of protective proteins of wheat. The pattern of changes in o-phenylenediamine oxidation rate depended on pathogen type, cultivar resistance, and phytohormone class. This reaction is proposed as a model reaction for studying plant response to infection and effects of various physiologically active compounds.

"Chitin-specific" peroxidases in plants.

The activity of various plant peroxidases and the ability of their individual isoforms to bind chitin was studied. Some increase in peroxidase activity was observed in crude extracts in the presence of chitin. Activated peroxidases of some species fell in the fraction not sorbed on chitin and those of other species can bind chitin. Only anionic isoperoxidases from oat (Avena sativa), rice (Oryza sativa), horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), garden radish (Raphanus sativus var. radicula), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum Link et Otto) were sorbed on chitin. Both anionic and cationic isoforms from pea (Pisum sativum), galega(Galega orientalis), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), and zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) were sorbed on chitin. Peroxidase activation under the influence of chitin was correlated to the processes that occur during hypersensitive reaction and lignification of sites, in which pathogenic fungus penetrates into a plant. The role of chitin-specific isoperoxidases in inhibition of fungal growth and connection of this phenomenon with structural characteristics of isoperoxidases are also discussed.

[Inhibition of IAA-induced growth of wheat coleoptile fragments by chitin-chitosan oligomers]. / Ingibirovanie IUK-indutsirovannogo rosta otrezkov koleoptilei pshenitsy khitin-khitizanovymi oligomerami.

We studied the comparative effects of the phytohormone indolylacetic acid (IAA) and chitooligosaccharides (5-10 kDa, degree of deacetylation 35%) on the growth of coleoptile fragments of 3-day wheat germlings. IAA (10 mg/l) stimulated elongation of coleoptile fragments by 80%, as compared to the control (water). Chitooligosaccharides at 0.01-1500 mg/l or higher did not exert auxin-like effects, but at 100 mg/l or higher, suppressed elongation of the coleoptile fragments, as compared to the control (water). Incubation of coleoptile fragments in solutions containing both IAA and chitooligosaccharides (100 mg/l or higher) suppressed their IAA-induced elongation, which correlated with the inhibition of growth of 3-day wheat germlings after wetting seeds in solutions of chitooligosaccharides. It has been proposed that the phytohormone-like properties of chitooligosaccharides can be related to changes in the endogenous balance of phytohormones in plants.

Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence analysis of chitooligosaccharide-induced rapid production of hydrogen peroxide by intact wheat seedlings.

The feasibility of a luminol-dependent chemiluminescence analysis of hydrogen peroxide production by intact wheat seedlings using a KhL-003 chemiluminometer was determined. It was shown that the minimal H2O2 concentration that can be detected in a 0.5-ml sample with this instrument is 0.125 microM. Analysis of biological activity of a mixture of chitooligosaccharides with molecular masses from 5 to 10 kD and acetylation degree of 65% demonstrated that, at a concentration of 1 microg/ml, they induce rapid overproduction of H2O2 in roots of 3-day-old wheat seedlings.

Chitooligosaccharide-induced activation of o-phenylenediamine oxidation by wheat seedlings in the presence of oxalic acid.

A method for determination of oxidation of phenolic compounds by intact wheat seedlings using o-phenylenediamine (OPD) was developed. The reaction is initiated by the addition of oxalic acid to the incubation medium. It is suggested that an endogenous peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide formed during oxidation of oxalic acid by endogenous oxalate oxidase are involved in OPD oxidation. Treatment of plants with chitooligosaccharides (1-10 mg/liter) with acetylation degree of 65% and molecular masses of 5-10 kD significantly activated OPD oxidation by wheat seedlings.

[Comparative bilateral morphometric characteristics of human finger bones]. / Sravnitel'naia bilateral'naia morfometricheskaia kharakteristika pal'tsev kisti cheloveka.

The morphometric parameters of fingers of the hand in teenage girls were studied using the measurement complex developed by the author. The quantitative characteristics of distal phalangers, individual finger segments and the whole fingers as local anatomical structures belonging to hand, are presented. The analysis of these parameters was performed from the point of view of principles of bilateral and radial symmetry, structural and functional lateralization and evolutionary development of hand of the prehensile type. The results obtained may find application in designing the peripheral devices for telecommunication and computer techniques.

[Development of blunt Tilletia caries (D.C.) Tul. pathogen on embryogenic wheat callus]. / Razvitie vozbuditelia tverdoi golovni Tilletia caries (D.C.) Tul. na émbriogennom kalluse pshenitsy.

The development of Tilletia caries on embryogenic and morphogenic wheat calluses from germination of spores up to sorus formation have been investigated. Pathogene growth was similar in variants with wheat calluses of susceptible species Triticum aestivum and resistant species T. timopheevii, but intensity of its development of embryogenic calluses of both species was lower, than on morphogenic. Necrosis of parenchyma-like cells was more distinct in the embryogenic than in morphogenic calluses. It was combined with low accumulation rate of infected cells in embryogenic calluses. Necrosis reduced the healthy cell reproduction in meristem-like cells of morphogenic calluses and thereby additionally decreased resistance of morphogenic calluses to pathogene.

[Development of Tilletia caries (D.C.) Tul. in callus and suspension wheat cultures]. / Razvitie Tilletia caries (D.C.) Tul. v kallusnykh i suspenzionnykh kul'turakh pshenitsy.

All phases of ontogenesis of Tilletia caries were found in combined suspension and callus culture of the wheat and causative agent of common bunt of wheat. Newly formed spores were observed on calluses of the susceptible species Triticum aestivum and resistant species T. timopheevi within 90 and 120 days after inoculation, respectively, which can be used for their production in the laboratory. On the other hand, susceptibility of the callus culture of the resistant species T. timopheevi suggests different responses of the callus cultures and vegetating plants to the pathogen. The capacity of Tilletia caries of growing on callus culture of T. timopheevi indicates to the possibility of overcoming a resistance barrier of the "timopheevi" type, which would allow a study of this phenomenon for selection purposes.