The impact of background γ-radiation on erythrocyte nuclear pathology, the serotonergic system, and cytochrome P-450 in hens (GALLUS GALLUS DOMESTICUS) from Azerbaijan.

High levels of background γ-radiation exist in the suburbs of Baku, Azerbaijan. We examined the impact of radiation on erythrocyte nuclear pathologies, levels of cytochrome P-450, and serotonin-modulating anticonsolidation protein (SMAP) in the tissues of the hens from three settlements with different levels of background radiation. Higher levels of radiation resulted in increased nuclear pathologies, upregulation of tissue SMAP levels, and downregulation of cytochrome P-450. We also carried out controlled dosage studies on Wistar male rats, which showed significant upregulation of heat shock proteins with molecular mass 70 kDa (HSP70) in the bone marrow 3 and 5 h after SMAP intraperitoneal administration. Administration of SMAP to rats 3 h prior to γ-radiation exposure (8 Gy) provided significant protection to somatic cell nuclei. We conclude that SMAP can provide protection from the genotoxic effects of γ-radiation through upregulation of HSP70 or the transformation of chromatin into a condensed, more protective conformational state.

[Increase of mutation level in tissues of goby and fry of sturgeon under conditions of block by antibodies against serotonin-modulated anticonsolidation protein].

The work present data on studies of a decreased activity of serotoninergic system on the level of mutagenic changes (the micronuclear test) in the goby Neogobius fluviatilis and the fry if sturgeon Acipenser güldenstädti persicus. It has been shown that the long exposure of the animals to conditions of industrial and oil pollution leads to a significant decrease in their liver of the level of serotonin-modulated anticonsolidation protein (SMAP) correlating directly with the serotonin level as well as to sharp increase of the level of micronuclei in erythrocytes. The intramuscular administration of anti-SMAP polyclonal antibodies to the fry of the sturgeon produces a significant increase of the amount of micronuclei as compared with that in the animals injected with non-immune gamma-globulin. The obtained results allow concluding that the decrease of activity of the serotoninergic system is the mechanism that is triggered with adverse environmental factors and realizes mutagenic damages in the modified genetic apparatus.

Decrease in activity of the serotoninergic system during mutagenesis.

We studied changes in the content of serotonin-modulated anticonsolidation protein in the liver of goldfishes and gobies caused by oil and industrial pollution. The concentration of serotonin-modulated anticonsolidation protein in fish liver increased after short-term exposure to oil-contaminated water (100 mg/liter), but decreased under long-term effect of industrial wastes. We hypothesize that serotonin plays a role in antimutagenic protection of the organism and maintains the differentiated state of mature cells.

The retinofugal pathways in a primitive actinopterygian, the chondrostean Acipenser güldenstädti. An experimental study using degeneration, radioautographic and HRP methods.

Experimental study of the retinofugal pathways in Acipenser güldenstädti was carried out on 109 specimens using 3 experimental tracing methods: Fink-Heimer (after retinal ablation), radioautography (after intraocular injection of tritiated markers) and HRP (after intraocular injection of HRP or iontophoretic deposit of HRP on the optic nerve). The optic fiber was found to partially decussate at the chiasm and to project to 5 contralateral regions: (1) hypothalamus (area optica hypothalami); (2) thalamus (area optica dorsalis thalami, area optica mediale thalami, nucleus thalamicus tractus optici marginalis, nucleus laminaris ventralis); (3) pretectum (nucleus pretectalis ventralis, nucleus commissurae posterioris, nucleus intercalaris lateralis); (4) optic tectum (superficial layers); and (5) mesencephalic tegmentum (area optica accessoria). The ipsilateral component was well developed and innervated the same regions mentioned above. A few contralateral optic fibers crossed again in the posterior commissure and terminated within ipsilateral visual pretectal structures. Although the architecture of the visual centers was less elaborated in this paleopterygian than in neopterygians (holosteans, teleosteans), we observed that the general organization of the retinal contralateral projections in this fish was comparable to that of more advanced actinopterygians. Our results indicate that this pattern was probably set at a very early date, perhaps as soon as the emergence of the chondrostean grade at the beginning of the Devonian.