[The effect of new synthetic fragments of thymus hormones on the proliferative response of lymphocytes]. / Vliianie novykh sinteticheskikh fragmentov timusnykh gormonov na proliferativnyi otvet limfotsitov.

Influence of three new artificial fragments of beta-thymosines Phe-Asp-Lys-Ala, Glu-Lys-Phe-Asp-Lys and Thr-Leu-Pro-Thr on phytohemagglutinin-induced proliferative response of human lymphocytes was studied. These peptides studied either stimulated or inhibited incorporation of 3H-thymidine in cell cultures of human lymphocytes. Possible mechanisms of these effects of the peptides on lymphocyte proliferation are discussed.

[A new mechanism of action of vasopressin on the neuronal membrane]. / Novyi mekhanizm deistviia vazopressina na membranu neironov.

It is shown in this work that vasopressin at the concentrations of 1 x 10(-16) to 1 x 10(-6) mol/l decreased statistically significant the amplitude of the electrosensitive sodium and calcium ionic currents of the mollusc's Lymnaea stagnalis neuronal membrane. This peptide increased the amplitude of the fast potassium current at the concentration of 1 x 10(-16) and 1 x 10(-15) mol/l. It decreased the fast potassium current and did not change the slow potassium current at the concentrations more than 1 x 10(-9) mol/l.

[The effect of synthetic protein fragments on humoral immune response]. / Vliianie sinteticheskikh fragmentov belkov na gumoral'nyi immunnyi otbet.

Effect of some protein and immunopeptide synthetic fragments on the humoral immune response has been studied. Some investigated peptides are shown to influence the antibody genesis at the secondary immune response to T-dependent antigen (bovine serum albumin) in mice. The serum antibody level specific for the bovine serum albumin is measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Possible mechanisms of the influence of such peptide fragments on the immune system is discussed.

[Immunomodulating and analgesic activity of synthetic fragments of various proteins and immunopeptides]. / Immunomoduliruiushchaia i anal'geticheskaia aktivnost' sinteticheskikh fragmentov razlichnykh belkov i immunopeptidov.

The biological activity of certain new peptides synthesized by the classic methods of peptide chemistry is investigated. The characteristic feature of these peptides is that they are parts of the sequences of many naturally occurring proteins and immunopeptides (beta-lactoglobulin, vicilin, B-hordein, gamma-gliadin, histones, Thy-I-antigen, thymosin beta, leukocyte interferon, neutrophil peptides and others) tested by the computer methods. Most of the investigated peptides are shown to enhance E-rosette-forming activity of human T-lymphocytes and to possess the analgesic activity. In some cases the analgesic effect was antagonized by naloxone. The possible mechanism of appearance of such peptide fragments and their biological role in human organism is discussed.

[Psychotropic properties of oxytocin]. / Psikhotropnye svoistva oksitotsina.

Oxytocin neurotropic qualities were investigated in "reserpine depression" tests under ethanol and levomepromazine anesthesia, phenamine depression, haloperidol catatonia and swimming of experimental animals in the cylinder. Twenty seven patients with schizophrenia were treated with the hormone mentioned, injected intravenously and/or intranasally, using a double blind control test. The activating psychotropic oxytocin effects were revealed, allowing one to utilize it as a therapeutic means for psychosis treatment.

[Pentacyclic triterpenes and ion excretion by rat kidneys]. / Pentstsiklicheskie triterpeny i ékskretsiia ionov pochkoi krysy

Experiments were conducted on rats. A study was made of water, sodium, potassium and creatine excretion 3 hours after the administration into the stomach of a 5% load with a 0.9% NaCl solution. In comparison with control, sodium excretion decreased considerably in the animals given 2 mg per 100 g of weight of trioxylupane or heterobetulin; water, potassium and creatine excretion remained unchanged. Sodium and water excretion increased with administration of dioxylupenal in a dose of 2 mg per 100 g of weight. Heterobetulin also increased the urinary potassium excretion under conditions of administration to rats of a 5% load with a 1.25% KCl solution. The data obtained were of interest for the understanding of the interrelationship between the structure of the substances and their physiological activity.