[Methods for acquisition of quantitative from confocal images of gene expression in situ].

In this review we summarize original methods for the extraction quantitative information from the confocal images of gene expression patterns. These methods include image segmentation, extraction of quantitative numerical data on gene expression, removal of background signal and spatial registration. Finally it is possible to construct a spatiotemporal atlas of gene expression form individual images obtained at each developmental stage. Initially all methods were developed to extract quantitative numerical information form confocal images of segmentation gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster. Application of these methods to Drosophila images makes it possible to reveal new mechanisms of formation of segmentation gene expression domains, as well as to construct the quantitative atlas of segmentation gene expression. Most image processing procedures can be easily adapted to process a wide range of biological images.

[Dynamic filtration of the variability of expression patterns of zygotic segmentation genes in Drosophila].

An analysis of the quantitative data obtained by processing the confocal images showed that the early variability of expression patterns of zygotic segmentation genes in Drosophila drastically decreases by the time of the onset of gastrulation. The following components of variability were examined: the scatter of the levels of gene expression in different embryos, the time and sequence of the formation of expression domains, the type of their formation, and the domain positioning. It was found that the positioning error at the level of zygotic genes is dynamically filtered with time.

[Spatial registration of data on gene expression in situ]. / Prostranstvennaia registratsiia dannykh ob ékspressii genov in situ.

For registering data on the in situ expression of segmentation genes, a method of image registration was developed basing on the spline approximation. The reference points for the registration were the coordinates of extrema in one-dimensional patterns of gene expression. This registration method is characterized by a very high accuracy. A method of creating a generalized pattern of gene expression in single cells is proposed. Such patterns were constructed for nine segmentation genes belonging to the gap and pair-rule classes of genes.

[Computer program of genetic map construction and database of gene localization]. / Komp'iuternaia programma postroeniia geneticheskikh kart i baza dannykh o lokalizatsii genov.

Computer data base containing information about gene localization in the chromosomes of various organisms is composed. Computer program of genetic map constructing is created. The program represents graphically the information conserving in the data base. The data base and the program are intended for realization on the IBM-compatible computers.

[Analysis of the survival rate in a combined radiation lesion. The evaluation of synergism (or antagonism) in the case of 2 exposures]. / Analiz vyzhivaemosti pri kombinirovannom radiatsionnom porazhenii. Otsenka sinergizma (ili antagonizma) v sluchae dvukh vozdeistvii.

The method of the estimation of interaction between two harmful effects based on the statistical survival rate data is discussed. In terms of the competitive risk model, an independent effect was defined as a product of survival functions corresponding to an isolated effect of each injurious factor. The proposed method is based on the comparison between the animals' lifetimes in the case of the isolated effects and the actual survival rates after the combined radiation effect. The comparison of the two alternatives was made by the regression model of Cox adapted for the purposes of this study.

[Comparison of survival curves based on a model of proportional risks]. / Sravnenie krivykh vyzhivaniia na osnove modeli proportsional'nykh riskov.

Regression analysis of proportional risks was adapted to a two-tailed test for comparing survival of cancer patients. The method allowed both testing the hypothesis on the difference between two survival functions and evaluation of the degree of the difference. The method was applied to data on survival of patients with cancer of the cervix uteri following radiation treatment.

[Effect of etimizol on age-related characteristics of the formation of the conditioned passive avoidance reaction]. / Vliianie étimizola na vozrastnye osobennosti formirovaniia uslovnoi reaktsii passivnogo izbeganiia.

The authors have demonstrated the effect of ethimizol on the processes of training and consolidation, the duration of memory traces, and process of reproduction in adult and old mice and rats. It has been found that ethimizol in doses of 1.5-5 mg/kg facilitates the formation of passive avoidance behavior in old animals difficult to be trained and raises the duration of storing the reflex formed in both the age groups. The improvement of reproduction of passive avoidance behavior after ethimizol administration has been discovered to be characteristic for old animals.

[Effect of neurotropic drugs on the excitability of the structures of the striopallidal complex]. / Vliianie neirotropnykh sredstv na vozbudimost' obrazovanii striopallidarnogo kompleksa.

The results of investigations into the effect of microinjections of a number of adrenocholino- and dophaminergic agents on excitability of the pale globe, caudate nucleus and shell are reported. The non-uniformity of the effects produced by the agents of the mediator type action is established both in different segments and in individual zones of the extrapyramidal system with continuous concurrent antagonism between the mimetics and the corresponding blocking agents. The presence of alpha- and beta-adrenoreceptors and also of M- and N-cholinoreceptors in the structures of the striopallidal complex is suggested.

[Distribution and functional characteristics of N- and M-cholinoreceptors in structures of the striopallidal complex]. / O raspredelenii i funktsional'noi kharakteristike N- i M-kholinoretseptorov v strukturakh striopallidarnogo kompleksa.

Microapplication of arecoline, nicotine, methamizil, and beta-ethydiphazil in unanesthetized immobilized rabbits through chemotrodes implanted into the head of nucleus caudatus, putamen, globus pallidus, hippocampus, reticular formation and frontal cortex revealed inhibitory and activating effects of arecoline and nicotine. Specific antagonism between the effects of M- and N-cholinomimetics and between corresponding M- and N-cholinoblockers, was shown. Existence of M- and N-cholinoreactive biochemical systems with reciprocal relations is supposed in different zones of the striatum.

[Functional significance of alpha- and beta-adrenoreceptors in structures of the stropallidal system]. / O funktsional'nom znachenii alpha- i beta-adrenoretseptorov v strukturakh striopallidarnoi sistemy

Microapplication of noradrenaline, isadrine, phentolamine, and propranole to neuroanal populations of the striatum in curarized unanesthetized rabbits revealed an inhibitory and stimulatory effects of noradrenaline and isadrine. A specific antagonism between alpha- and beta-adrenomimetics and respective alpha- and beta-adrenoblocking agents, was noted. Noradenaline seems to have a very important mediatory function in the adrenergic synapases of the striatum. Existence of alpha- and beta-adrenoreceptors with different functions in different brain areas, is suggested.