[Trait variability in ontogenesis of epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl].

Ontogenesis of the foliose lichen Hypogymniaphysodes has been described on the basis of the material obtained from natural populations. Ontogenetic dynamics (diameter of thallus and the number of lobes) and the features of reproductive structures (the number and diameter of labelloid and galeated sorales) were studied in ecologically different pine forests. We reasonably rejected the use of the variance analysis and nonparametric criteria for the result processing.

Artemisia dracunculus L. (tarragon): a critical review of its traditional use, chemical composition, pharmacology, and safety.

Artemisia dracunculus L. (tarragon) has a long history of use as a spice and remedy. Two well-described "cultivars" (Russian and French) are used widely and differ in ploidy level, morphology, and chemistry.

[Ontogeny and morphogenesis of the fruticose lichen Usnea florida (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg].

The development of the fruticose lichen Usnea florida was described in accordance with the concept of a discrete approach to the description of higher plant ontogeny proposed by T.A. Rabotnov and A.

[Inheritance of coat color in the mole vole (Ellobius talpinus Pallas)].

Based on the ecological features of the mole vole, family analysis of the inheritance of coat color was performed with the use of material collected in a wild population. Analysis of coat color in parents and offspring has demonstrated that the offspring segregation into black and nonblack animals after crosses of different types agrees with the hypothesis on the monogenic inheritance of these color variations. Black mole voles are homozygous for the recessive allele (genotype aa).

[Morphological polyvariance of ontogeny in natural plant populations].

The main patterns of expression of the morphological polyvariance of plants are discussed: diversity of biomorphs, pathways of ontogeny, and disturbances of morphogenesis. The diversity of biomorphs of tap root plants in different ecological conditions has been analyzed in detail. Promising directions of future studies have been formulated.

[Biometrical analysis in the radiobiology works of N. V. Luchnik].

The contribution of the famous Russian geneticist and biophysicist N. V. Luchnik into biometrical analysis of radiobiological data is discussed.

[Energy metabolism in the kidneys after hypokinesia of varying duration].

This paper presents data suggesting that tissue homogenates can be used to assess mitochondrial oxidation. The effect of hypokinesia of various duration on tissue respiration and oxidative phosphorylation of rat kidneys was investigated for the first time. It was found that 3-day hypokinesia led to a decrease of tissue respiration due to a lower contribution of endogenous fatty acids; 10-day hypokinesia caused activation of tissue respiration on endogenous and exogenous pyridine and flavoprotein-dependent substrates; 30-, 70- and 140-day hypokinesia brought about changes in energy formation at the expense of inhibition of respiratory activity of preparations and uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation.

[Energy metabolism in muscle tissue during hypokinesia of various durations].

The state of energy metabolism in skeletal muscles and myocardium of albino rats was studied under long hypokinesia. It is established that on the 30th-70th days of hypokinesia endogenic fatty acids, whose oxidation promotes the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and inhibition of the creatine phosphokinase reaction, are the main substrate of energy metabolism. In blood there occurs hyperlipemia and a decrease in the glucose content.

[Energy metabolism disorders in the myocardium due to alcoholic intoxication].

Energy metabolism was studied in rat myocardial mitochondria by estimation of respiratory enzymes activity and content of the Krebs cycle substrates under conditions of acute and chronic intoxication with ethyl alcohol. In the acute intoxication mitochondrial redox enzymes were inhibited (glutamate- and malate dehydrogenases, NADH cytochrome C oxidoreductase and cytochrome C oxidase), succinate- and lactate dehydrogenases were activated; at the same time, contents of pyruvate, succinate, and alpha-ketoglutarate were elevated and the content of oxalacetic acid was decreased. Prolonged administration of alcohol (within 2 months) caused an intensification of glycolysis and an increase in NADH cytochrome C oxidoreductase pathway with preferable oxidation of succinate and activation of cytochrome C oxidase; the phenomenon appears to be an adaptation to chronic "alcohol hypoxia".

[Effect of glutamate on the trace element content in the mitochondria of the liver, heart and kidneys of rats with acute and chronic hypoxia].

Acute hypoxia ("height" 8000 metres, 60 minutes) decreases concentration of copper, zinc and magnesium in mitochondria of the liver, kidney, that of copper and magnesium decreases in the heart. Chronic hypoxia ("height" 6000 metres, 6 hours a day for 2 weeks) also causes a decrease in the concentration of copper, zinc and magnesium in mitochondria of the liver, kidney and that of copper and magnesium--in the heart. Glutamic acid (acute and chronic hypoxia) increases the level of copper, zinc and magnesium in mitochondria of the liver, heart and kidney of albino rats which is close to its values in the normal animals.