Antioxidant system alterations and physiological characteristics of neonatal and juvenile DAT-KO rats.

Dopamine transporter knockout (DAT-KO) rats represent a valuable rodent model for studying the molecular and phenotypical outcomes of the effects of excessive dopamine accumulation in the synaptic cleft and the prolonged action of dopamine on neurons. Animals with DAT deficiency are characterized by hyperactivity, stereotypy, cognitive deficits, and impairments in behavioral and biochemical indicators. Several key pathophysiological mechanisms are known to be common to psychiatric, neurodegenerative, metabolic, and other diseases. Among these mechanisms, oxidative stress systems play a particularly important role. One of the main antioxidant systems in the brain is glutathione: specifically, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, and catalase play a significant role in the regulation of vital oxidative processes, and their dysfunction has been shown in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases. The current study aimed to analyze the dynamics of the activity levels of glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase in erythrocytes, as well as catalase in the blood plasma, of DAT-deficient, homo- and heterozygous, neonatal and juvenile rats (both male and female). Their behavioral and physiological parameters were evaluated at the age of 1.5 months. For the first time, changes in physiological and biochemical parameters were shown in DAT-KO rats at 1.5 months of postnatal life. The key role of glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, and catalase in the regulation of oxidative stress in DAT-KO rats at the 5th week of life was demonstrated. A positive effect of a slightly increased dopamine level on memory function was shown in DAT-heterozygous animals.

[The intestinal microbiota composition in patients with multiple sclerosis receiving different disease-modifying therapies DMT]. / Osobennosti sostava mikrobioty kishechnika u patsientov s rasseiannym sklerozom, poluchaiushchikh preparaty, izmeniaiushchie techenie rasseiannogo skleroza.

AIM: To describe characteristics of the intestinal microbiota in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with glatiramer acetate (GA) or fingolimode (FG) for understanding causal relationships between gut microbiota and autoimmune processes in MS patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 34 patients treated with GA (n=17) or FG (n=17). GA was used in a dose of 20 mg/kg subcutaneously once a day, FG in a dose of 0.5 mg daily. All patients were examined during remission. To assess the composition of gut microbiota, bacteriological and real-time PCR techniques were used. DNA was extracted from feces using DNA-EXPRESS kit. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was a decrease in numbers of Escherichia coli with normal enzymatic activity, which was replaced by atypical forms of E. coli, Enterobacter spp. and fungi of the genus Candida, and, during treatment with GA, by atypical forms of E. coli, Proteus spp., Parvimonas micra. These differences indicate the effect of the therapy on the intestinal microbiota composition.

Erythropoietin and Nrf2: key factors in the neuroprotection provided by apo-lactoferrin.

Among the properties of lactoferrin (LF) are bactericidal, antianemic, immunomodulatory, antitumour, antiphlogistic effects. Previously we demonstrated its capacity to stabilize in vivo HIF-1-alpha and HIF-2-alpha, which are redox-sensitive multiaimed transcription factors. Various tissues of animals receiving recombinant human LF (rhLF) responded by expressing the HIF-1-alpha target genes, hence such proteins as erythropoietin (EPO), ceruloplasmin, etc. were synthesized in noticeable amounts. Among organs in which EPO synthesis occurred were brain, heart, spleen, liver, kidneys and lungs. Other researchers showed that EPO can act as a protectant against severe brain injury and status epilepticus in rats. Therefore, we tried rhLF as a protector against the severe neurologic disorders developed in rats, such as the rotenone-induced model of Parkinson's disease and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis as a model of multiple sclerosis, and observed its capacity to mitigate the grave symptoms. Moreover, an intraperitoneal injection of rhLF into mice 1 h after occlusion of the medial cerebral artery significantly diminished the necrosis area measured on the third day in the ischaemic brain. During this period EPO was synthesized in various murine tissues. It was known that EPO induces nuclear translocation of Nrf2, which, like HIF-1-alpha, is a transcription factor. In view that under conditions of hypoxia both factors demonstrate a synergistic protective effect, we suggested that LF activates the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway, an important link in proliferation and differentiation of normal and malignant cells. J774 macrophages were cultured for 3 days without or in the presence of ferric and ferrous ions (RPMI-1640 and DMEM/F12, respectively). Then cells were incubated with rhLF or Deferiprone. Confocal microscopy revealed nuclear translocation of Nrf2 (the key event in Keap1/Nrf2 signaling) induced by apo-rhLF (iron-free, RPMI-1640). The reference compound Deferiprone (iron chelator) had the similar effect. Upon iron binding (in DMEM/F12) rhLF did not activate the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway. Added to J774, apo-rhLF enhanced transcription of Nrf2-dependent genes coding for glutathione S-transferase P and heme oxygenase-1. Western blotting revealed presence of Nrf2 in mice brain after 6 days of oral administration of apo-rhLF, but not Fe-rhLF or equivalent amount of PBS. Hence, apo-LF, but not holo-LF, induces the translocation of Nrf2 from cytoplasm to the nucleus, probably due to its capacity to induce EPO synthesis.

Impairment of non-associative learning in a rat experimental model of preclinical stage of Parkinson's disease.

An experimental model of the preclinical stage of Parkinson's disease was induced by double intranasal administration of the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin. The results demonstrated signs of cognitive impairments expressed as impaired non-associative learning. This was related to degeneration of one-third of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area of the midbrain and their axons in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Impairment of non-associative learning may be an early non-motor marker of Parkinson's disease indicating the start of neurodegenerative processes in the dopaminergic mesocortical system of the brain.

[Telomere-telomerase system in aging, norm and pathology (literature review)].

This literature review presents results of research showing association between functional activity of the telomere-telomerase system and mental cognitive and emotional processes in normal and various pathological states: chronic stress, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, mild cognitive impairment and dementia in aging. It also refers to age-specific, psycho-social, economic, immunological, genetic and epigenetic factors that influence these relationships.

Enterococcus faecium strain L-3 and glatiramer acetate ameliorate experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in rats by affecting different populations of immune cells.

The effect of probiotic Enterococcus faecium strain L-3 was studied in rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Glatiramer acetate (GA) was used as control drug. E. faecium strain L-3 and GA both were able to reduce the severity of EAE in a similar fashion. Both approaches increased the proportion of EAE resistant rats and rats with mild disease, prolonged the inductive phase of EAE and reduced the disease duration. Study of the phenotypes of immune cells in blood revealed the differences in immunoregulatory pathways that mediate the protective action of probiotic or GA treatment of EAE. The presence of pronounced protective and immunomodulating effects of the probiotic E. faecium strain L-3 opens an opportunity of its application for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

[THE INTEGRATIVE LEVEL OF THE HIERARCHICAL SYSTEM OF SPATIAL ORIENTATION OF ANIMALS].

The purpose of this review is to analyze the current knowledge about the higher, integrative level of the physiological system of orientation of animals in space. The significance of the study of this level caused by the fact that its disruption can cause deterioration of the capacity for spatial orientation (spatial agnosia) which is an important sign of some diseases of the brain, and in particular Alzheimer's disease. In recent decades, the main functional components of integration of information on space position of animals were discovered. The significance of these discoveries was reflected in a number of prestigious awards and honors, including the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2014.

[EFFECT OF PROBIOTIC ENTEROCOCCI AND GLATIRAMER ACETATE ON THE SEVERITY OF EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS IN RATS ].

Currently intestinal microbiota is considered as a potential target for influence in various pathologies which have inflammation, autoimmunity or neurodegeneration in the genesis. Multiple sclerosis (MS) combines all these processes in the pathogenesis. Furthermore, the balance of the components of intestinal microbiota is disrupted during MS and followed by disbiosis. Different probiotics - bacteria with proven beneficial properties are widely used to correct dysbisis. In this paper, was investigated the ability of probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium L-3 to reduce disease severity in multiple sclerosis model - experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). E. faecium L-3 were used alone or in combination with glatiramer acetate (GA). It is shown that administration of E. faecium L-3 reduces the severity of EAE in rats almost as same as that of GA. However, when the probiotic enterococci administered together with GA the protective effect does not observed. It is assumed that these preparations stimulates different ways of the immune system, because their action stimulate different immune cells populations. The study demonstrates the ability of E. faecium L-3 to influence on the immune system in MS, directly and indirectly (through the correction of dysbiosis). This fact allows us to consider E. faecium L-3 as a potential tool for immunomodulation in autoimmune, inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

[MECHANISMS OF NEURONAL LOSS IN ALZHEIMER''S DISEASE].

One of the main elements of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease is neuronal loss in different areas of the brain, which is more intensive than in normal aging. Necessity of studying the pathogenesis of this process is determined by the fact that the loss of neurons begins at the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease when the amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (main morphological manifestations of the disease) is not yet formed and that the loss of neurons correlates with the severity of clinical symptoms. To date, there is evidence that allows delineating probable pathogenetic mechanisms of neuronal loss. This is the purpose of this review of the literature.

[EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS IN ADULT RATS AFTER ADMINISTRATION OF INTERLEUKIN-1beta DURING DIFFERENT PERIODS OF EARLY LIFE].

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the CNS that affects people of working age, in which the targets of aggressive immune cells become the myelin and myeline producing cells, as well as neurons. It is assumed that a predisposition to MS is forming in childhood, due to common infections. In this paper the experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was examined in rats administered IL-1beta at different periods of the early postnatal ontogenesis. EAE was induced in rats at the age of 3 months by single subcutaneous immunization with a homologous homogenate of spinal cord in complete Freund's adjuvant. The number of sick animals were evaluated, as well as the severity of the disease and its duration. It was shown that in rats after administration of IL-1beta on 1st and on 4th week of life EAE is more severe than corresponding control groups of rats. Discusses the damaging or protective effects of injections of IL-1beta during different periods of early postnatal ontogenesis, role of stress reactivity and communication with the "hygiene hypothesis".

[THE DEPENDENCE OF THE DYNAMICS IN THE BAND OF THETA ON THE TIME DELAY AND LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY IN THE PRESENTATION OF THE ACOUSTIC IMAGE OWN EEG].

Dynamics of activity in the frequency band of theta waves during of procedures, listening of the acoustic image of the own EEG was investigated. The formation of the acoustic image EEG was performed with a significant reduction of musical properties. It is shown that the increase in activity in the theta range depends on the level of synchronization and consistency of the presentation of the acoustic image own EEG relative to the current bioelectrical activity of the brain. The maximum increase in activity in the theta range was observed with minimum time delay and maximum consistency requirements of sounds with the current EEG. It is concluded that the increase in activity in the range of theta waves in the listening environment acoustic image own EEG is determined by the correlation of sounds with the current bioelectric activity of the brain.

Modification of Anxious Behavior after Psychogenic Trauma and Treatment with Galanin Receptor Antagonist.

Effects of blockage of central galanin receptors on anxiety manifestations were studied in rats with psychogenic trauma. Psychogenic trauma was modeled by exposure of a group of rats to the situation when the partner was killed by a predator. Antagonist of galanin receptors was intranasally administered before stress exposure. Animal behavior was evaluated using the elevated-plus maze test, free exploratory paradigm, and open-field test. Psychogenic trauma was followed by an increase in anxiety level and appearance of agitated behavior. Blockage of galanin receptors aggravated behavioral impairment, which manifested in the pathological anxious reactions - manifestations of hypervigilance and hyperawareness. The results suggest that endogenous pool of galanin is involved into prevention of excessive CNS response to stressful stimuli typical of posttraumatic stress disorder.

[Clinical parameters and the level of certain cytokines in blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Parkinson's disease].

In the past decade, much attention has been given to immunological mechanisms of development of Parkinson's disease with special reference to the role of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The study was aimed at elucidating the cytokine status of PD patients taking account of the stage, duration, and clinical manifestations of the disease. It was shown that PD patients regardless of severity of the disease had elevated serum and liquor IL-1ß and IL-6 levels compared with controls while the I-IRA level was decreased. Patients with predominantly left-side localization of PD had an elevated blood TNFα level. It was shown for the first time that the cytokine profile in PD patients varies with progression of disease. The high rate of progression was associated with the high liquor TNFα level and blood IL-1ß level compared to the patients with moderate and slow progression. The blood IL-10 level was found to be related to the degree of anxiety and depression whereas the TNFα level correlated with the severity of cognitive deficit.

[Effects of activation of kappa-opioid receptors on the behavior at the postnatal development of the stress reactivity systems].

It is known that stress changes state and reactivity of humoral systems of stress, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system (HPA) and the dynorphin-K-opioid system (DKOS) in any age periods, including ones of early postnatal development. Supposedly these changes are underlying some disorders. Difference in state and reactivity of the HPA system is well established. But the role of DKOS is not clear. Further study of this requires summarizing of the literature data on physiology of DKOS activation and ethological features of the activation in different periods of postnatal development. It is possible to conclude that the mode of reaction to stimulation of the DKOS differs in the early development in contrast to adult animals. The mode of reaction can be changed in relation to the periods of development of the system of stress-reactivity and can depend on prior activation of the stress system in a particular period.

[GAP-43 and its proteolytic fragment in spinal cord cells of rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis].

The regenerative capacity of the Central Nervous System (CNS) is a key factor implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, the regenerative capacity of the CNS is considered using one of the markers of regeneration, Growth Associated Protein-43 (GAP-43) and its proteolytic fragment GAP-43-3 in the Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal model of multiple sclerosis. The EAE on Wistar rats was characterized as an adequate model of multiple sclerosis, with typical clinical (pares and paralysis) and morphological (infiltration of spinal cord and deformation of motoneurons) disorders. Normally about 60% of GAP-43 is cleaved by m-calpain and stays in the form of GAP-43-3. During severe form of EAE up to 85% of GAP-43 can be found cleaved. We speculated that the cleavage of GAP-43 can play a crucial role for regenerative capacity of CNS during EAE development. Thus the distribution of GAP-43 and GAP-43-3 in the spinal cord was analyzed. The manifestation of clinical signs of EAE has been found to be in correlation with the levels of GAP-43 proteolysis both in the homogenate of the spinal cord and on the spinal cord slices. The immunoreactive staining enabled the observation of the accumulation of GAP-43-3 predominantly in microglial cells.

Behavioral, hormonal, and neurotransmitter reactions to stress in adult rats with a history of high IL-1ß content in the early postnatal ontogeny.

Behavioral, hormonal, and neurotransmitter reactions to foot shock were studied in adult rats treated with IL-1ß during week 3 of life. After stress, these animals differed from controls treated with saline by high levels of dopamine, serotonin, and 5-hydroxy-indolacetic acid in the hypothalamus. In contrast to controls, they developed a significant stress-induced increase of blood corticosterone level and exhibited lesser motor and exploratory activities in the open field test.

[CHANGES IN THE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION OF GUT MICROBIOTA IN RATS DURING EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS].

In this study, on the model of multiple sclerosis - experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), the dynamics of changes in the qualitative and quantitative composition of the intestinal microbiota in rats with symptoms of the disease and asymptomatic course were compared. It was found that the composition of the intestinal microbiota in rats with the clinical symptoms of EAE is shifted towards gram-negative opportunistic microorganisms of the genus Citrobacter, Prote- us, Klebsiella and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. It has been shown that rats without clinical signs of EAE have higher levels of Faecalibacteriumprausnitzii. The significance of the complex changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota, indicating long-lasting dysbiosis in rats during the development of EAE is discussing.

[Specifics of perception of acoustic image of intrinsic bioelectric brain activity].

We studied the particularities of perception of the acoustic image of intrinsic EEG. We found that the assessment of perception of sounds, the presentation of which was synchronized and was agreed with current bioelectric brain activity, is higher that assessment of perception of acoustic EEG image presented in recorded form. Presentation of recorded acoustic image of EEG is accompanied by increased activity of beta-band in the frontal areas, while real-time presentation of acoustic EEG image is accompanied by the increase of slow wave activity: theta- and delta-bands of occipital areas of the brain. Increase activity in theta- and delta-bands of occipital areas in sessions of hearing the acoustic image of EEG in real time depend on the baseline frequency structure of EEG and correlates with expression of alpha-, beta- and theta-bands of bioelectric brain activity in both frontal and occipital areas. We suppose that presentation of sounds synchronized and agreed with the current bioelectric activity, activated the regulatory brain structures.

[The administration of interleukin-1beta during early postnatal develop ment impairs FGF2, but not TIMP1, mRNA expression in brain structures of adult rats].

According to the Neurodevelopmental hypothesis, the long-lasting cognitive deficit in schizophrenia and other types of neuropathology may occur by injurious factors, such as hypoxia, traumas, infections that take place during pre- and postnatal development, at least at early stages. These pathological conditions are often associated with the high production of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1B (IL-1B) by the cells of immune and nervous systems. We investigated the expression of genes involved in the neuroplastic regulation (Fgf2 and Timp2) in medial prefrontal cortex and dorsal and ventral regions of hippocampus of adult rats that were treated with IL-1beta between P15 and P21. The learning impairment in IL-1beta-treated rats is accompanied by lower FGF-2 mRNA levels in medial prefrontal cortex and ventral (not dorsal) hippocampus, but TIMP-1 was not affected. No differences in TIMP-1 and FGF-2 mRNA expressions were observed in untrained IL-1beta-treated when compared to control rats.