[Molecular and cellular aspects of radiation hormesis in Drosophila melanogaster]. / Molekuliarnye i kletochnye aspekty radiatsionnogo gormezisa u Drosophila melanogaster.

The long-term effects of the R-irradiation of D. melanogaster at the 1-hour egg stage with the dosages of 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 Gy were investigated. DNA samples were isolated from whole 5-6-days adult males. The aliquots of DNA were digested by S1-nuclease. Preimaginal stage lethality increased with irradiation dose increasing. At the same time, decrease in imaginal LS (life span) was observed after irradiation with the greatest dose (4 Gy) only. Moreover, hormesis by LS has revealed: in males irradiation with 0.25, 0.75 and 1 Gy increased the mean LS, and with 0.25 and 0.5 Gy caused the maximum LS; in females exposures with 0.25, 0.75 and 2 Gy increased the maximum LS. The densitometric assay of DNA electrophoregrams showed decrease by 39.2% of the part of high-molecular-weight DNA in control as a result of S1-nuclease action. Samples of DNA from the irradiated flies were more stable to enzyme action. The higher stability of DNA originated from the irradiated flies could be the result of reparation system activation. Ultrastructural changes induced at the egg stage by irradiation at the dose of 0.75 Gy testify the increased transcriptional activity of the brain cells.

[The age-related characteristics of autophagocytosis in different tissues of laboratory animals]. / Vozrastnye osobennosti autofagotsitoza v razlichnykh tkaniakh laboratornykh zhivotnykh.

To elucidate the role of autophagy in age-related lipofuscinogenesis, the accumulation of autophagic vacuoles (AV) caused by the blockade of their fusion with lysosomes under the effect of vinblastine was studied in cells of various tissues (hepatocytes, pinealocytes, epitheliocytes of choroid plexus, cardiomyocytes, neurons) in mice and rats of different ages. The degree of AV accumulation in cells of old animals did not exceed that in adult ones. The results suggest that the accumulation of lipofuscin (LF) in aging cells is mainly due to the disturbance of lysosomal degradation or removal of LF out of cells rather than to the increase in autophagy.

[Vasopressin concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid and the structural indices of the function of the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system in aging and stress]. / Kontsentratsiia vazopressina v likvore i nekotorye strukturnye pokazateli sostoianiia gipotalamo-neirogipofizarnoi sistemy pri starenii i stresse.

The radioimmunological analysis revealed an increase in the concentration of arginine vasopressin in the cerebrospinal fluid of rats during aging. This correlated with the results of karyometry of neurosecretory neurons of the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus which showed an increase in the size of their nuclei. Under conditions of water deprivation of both adult and old rats, there was an increase in the above parameters being more marked in the adult than old rats. All this indicated pronounced changes of the vasopressin regulation in aging, limited reserves of the hypothalamic-neurohypophysial system, and age-related decrease of its response to stress. An enhanced role of the cerebrospinal fluid in accomplishment of vasopressin-induced regulation of brain functions in the old age was suggested.

[Ultracytochemical research on the different ATPases and alkaline phosphatase of the vascular plexuses of the rat brain in aging]. / Ul'tratsitokhimicheskoe issledovanie razlichnykh ATFaz i shchelochnoi fosfatazy sosudistykh spletenii mozga krys pri starenii.

The ultracytochemical investigation of the localization of Mg(2+)-ATPase, Na+, K(+)-ATPase (ouabain-sensitive potassium-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase component of Na+, K(+)-ATPase complex), Ca(2+)-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase activities in choroid plexus of the adult and old rat brain ventricles has shown the age-related decrease in intensity of the enzymatic reactions. This can influence the character of liquor production, as well as metabolic, regulatory and transport processes in the blood-liquor barrier in aging. The most typical areas of enzymes activity localization have been established, which are zones of the greatest functional significance.

[A comparative ultracytochemical and biochemical study of the ATPases of the choroid plexus in aging]. / Sravnitel'noe ul'tratsitokhimicheskoe i biokhimicheskoe issledovanie ATFaz sosudistykh spletenii golovnogo mozga pri starenii.

A complex study was undertaken on the ATPase and an ouabain-sensitive potassium-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase part of the Na, K-ATPase complex at the ultrastructural level, in addition to a biochemical assay of the total ATPase activity and activity of Na, K-ATPase of the choroid plexus (CP) of brain ventricles in adult (6-8 mo) and old (26-28 mo) rats. A correlation between the results of cytochemical and biochemical analyses was noted pointing to an age-related decrease in ATPase activity of the CP. Especially marked was the decrease in Na, K-ATPase activity that evidenced for the reduced level of liquor production in the CP during aging. Identified were the sites of a predominant localization of enzymes on the plasma membranes and intracellular organelles of the CP epitheliocytes. The latter fact was associated with their involvement in the processes of energy transformation and transport of substances. The data of the ultracytochemical and biochemical analyses, together with the results of the ultrastructural investigation, indicate an age-related decrease in the functional activity of the CP that represents one of the essential links in the mechanism of brain aging.

[Ultrastructural manifestations of blood-tissue barrier reactions to acute hypoxia in old animals]. / Ul'trastrukturnye proiavleniia reaktsii gistogematicheskikh bar'erov starykh zhivotnykh na ostruiu gipoksiiu.

Readjustments occurring in different blood-tissue barriers (the brain, endocrine glands, heart, liver, jejunum) in response to acute hypoxia in old animals develop against the background of the preceding age-specific changes, including the adaptive ones. This results, first, in a significant narrowing of the adaptive reaction range and, second, acceleration and deepening of destructive processes in tissues and prolongation of the restoration period.

[Age-related ultrastructural characteristics of various cells in acute hypoxia]. / Vozrastnye osobennosti ul'trastruktury razlichnykh kletok pri ostroi gipoksii.

Ultrastructural peculiarities, concerning reaction of cells in various populations brain-sensorimotor cortex, mammillary nuclei, vascular plexus; myocardium; liver; jejunum) in mature (6-8 months) and old (24-30 months) male white Wistar rats have been studied at an experimental acute hypobaric hypoxic hypoxia. Both general changes, that are manifested in various degree in different cell groups and organo-specific ones are noted. The manifestation degree of the reactive changes is evidently connected with certain metabolic and functional peculiarities, as well as with the character of cell restoration. In the old animals hypoxic hypoxia produces more profound destructive processes in all cell populations studied. This is accompanied with a restriction in ability to adaptation.

[Intranuclear inclusions in the cells of different tissues of the aging rat]. / Vnutriiadernye vkliucheniia v kletkakh razlichnykh tkanei u krys pri starenii.

Ultrastructure of neuronal and glial nuclei has been studied in various parts of the CNS, in parenchymatous cells of internal organs, in endotheliocytes and pericytes of their blood capillaries in intact rats--mature (6-8-month-old) and old (26-28-month-old), as well as at certain experimental influences. In all the cellular populations studied (most often in neurons), various in their structure, intranuclear inclusions (INI) have been revealed, that are considered as five main types. The number of INI increases sharply at ageing, that is especially noticeable under experimental conditions. Some INI are situated in morphologically preserved, actively working cells, being normal components of the nucleus, others--reflect profound rearrangements of nuclear proteins, disturbances in lipid metabolism up to irreversible destructive processes in the nucleus.

[Characteristics of the wall of the 3d cerebral ventricle in rats from the viewpoint of age]. / Osobennosti stenki III zheludochka golovnogo mozga u krys v vozrastnom aspekte.

The results of the light-, electron microscopic and cytophotometric investigation performed in the wall of the third cerebral ventricle are presented. It includes the ciliar, tanycytar ependyma and subependymal layer in male rats of three age groups (immature--1 month, mature--8-10 months and old--24-26 months of age). A certain decrease in the arrangement density of cellular elements of the ventricular wall is noted with age. A depressed functional activity of the ciliar ependymocytes is revealed with ageing. At the same time, some compensatory-adaptive rearrangements develop; they counteract age decrease of the function. A suggestion is made that the drenage function of the ciliar ependymal area is disturbed with age. Specific age features of the ultrastructure of the blood capillaries situating subependymally are revealed. The age changes of ependymocytes and tanicytes, as well as those of certain groups of tanycytes are not unitypical; this speaks in favour of their different functional role.

[Structural characteristics of the "dark" cells of animal and human brains]. / O strukturnykh osobennostiakh "temnykh" kletok golovnogo mozga zhivotnykh i cheloveka.

An analysis of contradictory data from literature and the authors' observations (light- and electron-microscopic examination of various pathological and experimental material) permits confirming the validity of the conclusion that "dark" cells of the animal and human nervous tissue represent in most cases elements arising during development and are functionally dependent.

[Current concepts on the "dark" cells of human and animal brains]. / Sovremennye predstavleniia o "temnykh" kletkakh golovnogo mozga zhivotnykh i cheloveka.

The latest current literature is reviewed on the dark cells of the brain and internal organs of animals and man. The following questions are considered: shrinked and picnomorphic neurons; dark neurons and glyocytes--structure and function; and perspectives of research into the problem of dark cells. A conclusion has been made that in most cases dark cells of the animal and human nervous tissue constitute functionally conditioned elements emerging during the life span.