Studies of learning and memory processes in adult rats in conditions of intracerebral administration of caspase inhibitors.

The effects of caspase inhibitors on different types of learning and memory were studied in adult rats on administration into the cerebral ventricles and application to the vermis of the cerebellum. The wide-spectrum caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk, given into the lateral ventricles of adult rats, facilitated the formation of long-term spatial memory in a water maze and increased the ability to rearrange the habit at the early stages of acquisition of this skill. Application of the specific caspase 3 inhibitor z-DEVD-CHO to the cerebellar vermis stimulated the extinction of an acoustic startle reaction but had no effect on its retention or reproduction. These results indicate that caspases may be involved in the mechanisms of learning and memory both via indirect influences on the linked processes of neurogenesis and apoptosis in the adult brain and by regulating synaptic efficiency.

[Study of learning and memory processes in adult rats under conditions of intracerebral caspases inhibitors administration].

Effects of caspase inhibitors injected intracerebroventricularly or applicated to cerebellar vermis of adult rats on different types of learning and memory were studied. Pancaspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk introduced into lateral cerebral ventriculi enhanced elaboration of long-term spatial memory in Morris water maze and stimulated habit alteration at the early stage of its formation. Caspase-3 inhibitor z-DEVD-CHO applied to cerebellar vermis enhanced the elaboration of acoustic startle habituation but had no effect on its storage and retrieval. These results indicate caspase participation in mechanisms of learning and memory both through influence on coupled processes of neurogenesis-apoptosis and through modulation of synaptic efficiency.

Central injection of caspase inhibitors facilitates the formation of freezing behavior in rats.

We studied the effects of central administration of pancaspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk and specific caspase 3 inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk on learning and memory in rats. The inhibitors selectively facilitated the formation of freezing behavior without modulating consolidation and retrieval of passive defense behavior in the model of conditioned freezing.

[A mathematical analysis of the relationship of the clinical manifestations of side effects to the blood biochemical indices in subjects undergoing x-ray contrast studies]. / Matematicheskii analiz sviazi klinicheskikh proiavlenii pobochnykh reaktsii s nekotorymi biokhimicheskimi pokazateliami krovi liudei pri provedenii rentgenokontrastnykh isledovanii.

During 73 single contrast investigations with 76% triobrast, 76% verographin, 76% urographin, urotrast and omnipaque-300, 65% of patients had clinical adverse reactions which were mainly mild. In 79% of cases, the syndrome of side effects consisted of one clinical manifestation. The occurrence of clinical adverse reactions caused by diatrizoate derivatives was proved to be associated with the elevation of blood levels of histamine and prostaglandin F2 alpha, with the activation of the complement system by an alternative pathway and to be independent of the sex and age of patients. According to the effects of contrast media on these blood biochemical parameters, patients are classified as "tolerant" and "sensitive", the proportion of the latter is 50-80%. With this, plasma histamine levels greater than values of the capacity of the complement system to activate by the alternative pathway greater than blood prostaglandin F2 alpha amounts may serve as mathematically significant criteria for the likelihood of side reactions occurring in the contrast diagnosis with diatriazoates. An elevated diastolic pressure is a valid symptom of side effects of the radioopaque media tested by us on the human body.

[The effect of x-ray contrast media on the blast transformation of human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes in vitro]. / Vliianie rentgenokontrastnykh sredstv na blasttransformatsiiu T-limfotsitov perifericheskoi krovi cheloveka in vitro.

The effects of radiopaque agents on peripheral blood T-lymphocyte blast transformation were in vitro studied in healthy donors. It was shown that depending on the dose and type, radiopaque agents activated spontaneous proliferation of these cells and inhibited or activated PGA-induced proliferation. An individual sensitivity of peripheral blood lymphocytes to the radiopaque agents was revealed. There was a positive correlation between the functional response of peripheral blood lymphocytes to PGA and the degree of bilignost-induced inhibition of this reaction. There was also antagonism of some radiopaques in response to peripheral blood T-lymphocyte blast transformation.

[The effect of desferal on the cellular proliferative activity of the mouse spleen, thymus and bone marrow]. / Vliianie desferala na proliferativnuiu aktivnost' kletok selezenki, timusa i kostnogo mozga myshei.

CBA mice were given a single Desferal dose (50 mg/kg). The mice received 3H-Thymidine 1 hour before they were killed. They were killed 1, 2, 6, or 9 hours after Desferal. Radiometry, and autoradiography were used to determine the level of DNA synthesis. Desferal was found to stimulate splenic 3H-incorporation 3 hours after drug injection and to increase the DNA-synthesizing cell fraction. In contrast, the agent inhibited 3H-incorporation in the bone marrow and thymus 9 hours after injection. This suppressive affect was accompanied by a decrease in the DNA-synthesizing cell fraction in these organs. In the thymus, there was a significant increase in the DNA-synthesizing cell fraction among lymphoblasts 1 and 3 hours following the administration of Desferal.

[Separation of bone marrow cells in a Percoll discontinuous density gradient]. / Separatsiia kletok kostnogo mozga v stupenchatom gradiente plotnosti perkolla.

Human bone marrow cells were separated by centrifugation in percoll discontinuous density gradient with 1.020-1.080 g/ml densities. CFU-GM test and EPICS analysis were used to characterize cell compositions of the resultant fractions. The employed mode of separation permits obtaining cell fractions rich for monocytes, macrophages, T and B lymphocytes.

[Studies of the immunostimulating properties of lipopolysaccharides and dextran sulfate based on a model of radiogenic immunodepression]. / Untersuchungen der immunstimulierenden Eigenschaften von Lipopolysacchariden und Dextransulfat an einem Modell der radiogenen Immundepression.

At a model of initial immunoresponse of mice to sheep erythrocytes the immunostimulating activity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and dextransulphate (DS) was tested. It was shown, that suppression of the immunosystem after influence of radiation can be compensated successfully by application of lipopolysaccharide and dextransulphate. The prophylactic application of these preparation is more ineffective.