[Metabolic memory enhances hormesis effect to the copper ions in age-depended manner].

The ability of young and old rats to manifest the hormesis effect to lethal doses of copper sulphate and the ability to save the induced "adaptive" pattern of redistribution of copper ions after the transfer of animals in the standard conditions is the mechanism of metabolic memory. It was found that pretreatment of animals with low-dose (1 mg per 100 g body mass, i.e. 33% of the lethal dose) of copper sulfate induced the formation of their resistance to lethal doses (3 mg per 100 g), so the hormesis effect was manifested. Hormesis effect depended on the number of pre injections of small doses of copper sulphate in an S-shaped manner. The protective effect increased after 1 to 3 of preliminary injections of copper sulfate, and after four or more injections the hormesis effect decreased. It is shown that the cardinal role in intracellular pattern of copper ion redistribution play heat-stable copper binding proteins 12 kDa cytosolic proteins. The formed "adaptive" pattern of intracellular distribution of the copper ions may be reproduced, after at least, one month. The prolonged hormesis effect can be attributed to the forming metabolic memory. The intracellular distribution pattern of the copper ions was age-dependent. Age-related differences were found in hormesis effect induced by copper ions, which results in increased binding capacity of copper binding proteins in old animals, with a higher content of copper ions in the mitochondria and microsomes as compared to young animals.

[Imprinting effect on the pattern of intracellular distribution of copper ions in the liver following repeated administration of copper sulfate].

Fractions of copper-binding protein (CBP) specifically bound copper ions were extracted from the rat liver cell cytosole. These fractions of 10-14 kDa proteins are involved in specific pattern of intracellular distribution of copper ions. The imprinting effect of specific pattern of copper ions intracellular distribution has been found. The effect was detected 30 days after sequented injections of copper sulfate into the body. It was shown, that after primary injection of copper the ability of CBP to bind copper ions could increase tenfold, regardless of schemes of copper sulfate injection.

[The frequency characteristics of the reaction to the intravenous self-administration of narcotics]. / Chastotnye kharakteristiki reaktsii vnutrivennogo samovvedeniia narkotikov.

Rat experiments have shown that the histograms of intervals between the self-injections of narcotic analgesics (morphine, promedol, buprenorphine) and psychomotor stimulants (cocaine, amphetamine) were essentially different. The quantitative measures of these differences are presented as discrepancy coefficients in the interval distribution between self-injections. The computerized "real time" system for collecting and analyzing the experimental findings of intravenous self-injection was used in rats.

Fusion of plant protoplasts: a study using auxotrophic mutants of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia, Viviani.

Protoplast fusion studies between various auxotrophic mutants of Nicotiana plumbaginifolia were performed to optimize conditions for PEG-mediated fusion and to identify factors influencing the plant protoplast fusion process. Numerous parameters in the isolation, culture, and fusion of protoplasts were tested, and established fusion protocols were compared. Fusion rates, calculated on the basis of colony growth on selection medium (genetic complementation), ranged from 10(-4) to 10(-2). Conditions that allow rapid and reproducible fusions at the highest rates were established. Particular emphasis was given to fusion of mesophyll-derived protoplasts, for which the ability to regenerate fertile plants from fusion products was shown to be particularly high. Preliminary experiments using electric-field mediated fusion suggest that electrofusion may offer significant advantages over the traditional chemical fusion.