Noncontact, laser-mediated extraction of polar bodies for prefertilization genetic diagnosis.

PURPOSE: We tested an entirely noncontact polar body-extraction method using an ultraviolet laser beam for laser zona drilling and a near infrared laser beam for polar body (PB) trapping and extraction. METHODS: A hole was drilled into the zona pellucida of an oocyte. Then, the PB was trapped with optical tweezers and dragged through the drilled hole. RESULTS: Bovine first PBs could be extracted in 49 out of 63 oocytes (78%) using this method. In human oocytes, PB extraction was successfully demonstrated, which however was more time consuming. A number of extracted PBs were dried on a special membrane, circumcised with the laser microbeam, and successfully catapulted into the lid of a microfuge tube (laser pressure catapulting). CONCLUSIONS: This solely laser-mediated extraction method allows convenient procurement of PBs without the danger of contamination and is a promising approach that might replace standard micromanipulation methods in the future.

[Interleukin-1 production by exudate and bone marrow macrophages in experimental acute infectious peritonitis]. / Produktsiia interleikina-1 makrofagami éksudata i kostnogo mozga pri éksperimental'nom ostrom infektsionnom peritonite.

The model of acute infectious peritonitis in mice has been used to show that inflammation is attended by a marked phasic increase in interleukin-1 (IL-1) production by macrophages of exudate and bone marrow. The increased IL-1 production by macrophages of exudate proceeds earlier than that by macrophages of the bone marrow. This indicates that activation of the bone marrow macrophages may be a result of the effect of OL-1 and other haemopoietic factors released by macrophages on the inflammatory focus.

[The effect of immunosuppressive substances on the zinc content in cells]. / Vliianie immunosupressivnykh veshchestv na soderzhanie tsinka v kletkakh.

Decreases in zinc levels in the cells of various organs were observed in mice received cyclosporin A and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate. Glucocorticoid therapy induced a decrease of zinc levels in the granulocytes of human peripheral blood. The role of alterations in cell zinc metabolism in the mechanism of action of immunosuppressive agents is discussed in the paper.

[Status of the erythron during growth of induced tumors]. / Sostoianie éritrona v protsesse rosta indutsirovannykh opukholei.

The authors conducted complex (with the use of radionuclide, cytospectrophotometric, electron microscopic, interfermometric, and other methods) examination of the morpho-functional condition of the central and peripheral erythron links in rats during the development of tumors induced by 20-methyl-cholanthrene administration. It was found that increased hemolysis of mature circulating red cells plays the principle role in the pathogenesis of anemia developing in the experimental animals. The early periods of the hemolysis may be detected in the latent period of cancerogenesis.

[A model of mononuclear phagocyte block using carrageenan-kappa]. / Model' blokady mononuklearnykh fagotsitov s ispol'zovaniem karraginana kappa.

Experiments conducted on CBA mice to study the effect of intraperitoneal injections of 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10 mg/mouse of carrageenan-kappa (Sigma, USA) on the ingesting capacity of mononuclear phagocytes allowed the authors to suggest a model of 10- and 24-hour macrophage block. Doses of 2.5 and 5 mg/mouse are most advisable. Monocytopenia was encountered in peripheral blood in block of macrophages. The depth and duration of the macrophage block can be controlled according to the response of peripheral blood monocytes of mice given carrageenan-kappa.

[Mechanism of phasic fluctuations of glycemia after administration of diabetogenic substances]. / K mekhanizmu faznykh kolevanii glikemii pri vvedenii diabetogennykh veshchestv.

Dithizone induces similar glycemic changes in rabbits, golden hamsters and mice (triphasic fluctuations resulting in diabetes). In rabbits who received 8-(p-toluenesulfonylamino)-quinoline, 8-(benzenesulfonylamino)-quinoline or alloxan, the glycemic reaction is similar to that observed after a dithizone injection. A degree of glycemic reaction to chromophiric chelants injected to animals, depends on their accumulation in the lysosome-segregation apparatus, of insulin producing cells (acidotropic action).

[Optical properties of tissues and organs in relation to laser rays with a wave length of 632.8 and 488 nm]. / Opticheskie svoistva nekotorykh tkanei i organov po otnosheniiu k lucham lazerov s dlinoi volny 632,8 i 488 nm.

The authors measure the coefficient of attenuation of the equivalent depth of penetration in tissues and organs of rats of helium-neon and argon lasers with the generation wave length of 632.8 and 488 nm, respectively. Blood and organs with numerous capillaries proved to have the greatest capacity to absorb laser ray energy. With the reduction of the generation wave length there occurred a sharp partial elevation of the absorptive capacity of the blood. This permits to expect a greater blood photoreactivity to laser rays generating in the short wave part of the visible wave length range.