[Comparative evaluation of the hypnotic drugs under conditions of brain injury].

The effect of hypnotic drugs on the brain stability with respect to complete ischemia posttraumatic convulsive reactions and hypoxia has been studied in animals with model brain injury. It is established that zopiclone exhibits pronounced hypnotic effect during the first and second week after brain injury, while nitrazepam, zolpidem, and melaxen are effective in the first week. The neuroprotective effects of zopiclone and zolpidem are more pronounced than those of melaxen and nitrazepam.

[Comparison of neuroprotective effects of anticonvulsant drugs in brain injury therapy].

The effect of anticonvulsant drugs on posttraumatic convulsive reactions and the stability of the brain with respect to complete ischemia and hypoxia upon brain injury has been studied in animals with model contact craniocerebral trauma. It is established that lamotrigine, topiramate, and sodium valproate produce a strong effect on convulsive reactions, while magnesium sulfate and gabapentin produce a moderate action. The antiishemic and antihypoxic action of lamotrigine and sodium valproate is stronger than that of topiramate and gabapentin.

[Comparison of neuroprotective properties of nootropes, calcium channel blockers, and panangin].

Neuroprotective properties of a series of drugs including nootropes, calcium channel antagonists, and panangin have been studied on a model of craniocerebral trauma. It is established that beglimin and nooglutil exhibit a moderate antiischemic, antihypoxic, and antiamnesic action in posttraumatic period; panangin possesses antiischemic, anticonvulsant, and antiamnesic properties; while nimodipin exhibit only antiamnesic action. It is concluded that beglimin, nooglutil and panangin are of importance in the pharmacological treatment of secondary traumatic brain injury.

[Changes in the learning ability of epiphysectomized rats].

The experiments on rats have shown changes in the learning ability of animals. The learning of locomotor reactions of escape and avoidance conditioned reflex was accelerated in animals after pinealectomy. Training of rats in U-shaped and 16-door mazes was significantly affected after pinealectomy.

[Relation of the effect of psychostimulants on learning ability to internal and external factors].

It has been shown in rat experiments that the action of psychostimulants on the learning ability of rats in a T-shape maze and Dombrovskaya's maze depends to a greater degree on the problem complexity rather than on its type. The learning ability was enhanced in animals which responded to stress by the manifestations of the avoidance conditioned reflex. Sydnocarb and amphetamine were capable to abolish "passive" responding to stress and to enhance the learning ability.

[Comparison of the effect of sidnocarb and other psychostimulants on discrimination and prediction processes in performing conditioned food-procuring reflexes].

In an Y-shaped maze a differentiation of the positive and negative reflex signals given at random in a ratio of 50 to 50 per cent and an active selection of one of two feeding troughs, reinforced at varying frequency (0.1--0.9), were determined.

[Phenamine sterotypy as a drug-induced model of psychopathology].

Stereotype movements in cats following the administration of bid dosages of phenamine is accompanied by crude disorders of conditioned avoidance with an increase of intrasignal reactions, a weakening of differentiated inhibition and an inhibition of avoidance responses due to low frequency irritation of the caudate nucleus. Caffeine even in large dosages does not possess such properties. Phenamine as in caudectomia decreases the amount of monomodel neurons in the neocortex, as well as group postdischarges in the caudate response of neurons.

[Effect of caffeine and phenamin on caudate inhibition of aggressive reactions in cats].

In chronic experiments conducted on cats it was shown that caffeine (10--30 mg/kg) failed to change agressive reactions developing in stimulation of the meso- or diencephalic structures. Phenamine (1--3 mg/kg) facilitated the appearance of emotional manifestations and lowered the threshold of the agressive response. Subliminal stimulation of the caudate nucleus in control experiments caused motor tranquilization and depressed the agressive behaviour to a lesser degree when practised against the background of the caffeine action.

[Influence of phenamin on the reaction of cortical neurons evoked by stimulation of mesodiencephalic structures].

Experiments set upon 32 cats demonstrated that d, l-amphetamine (1-3 mg/kg, intravenously) augmented the number of responding units, modified the structure of the response and the intensity of the reaction from the sensorimotor (somatosensory) cortex neurones following stimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation. Weakening of phasical and significant intensification of tonic reactions from the lateral hypothalamus was noted, this being attended by a rise of areactive neurones. A single stimulation of the antero-medial hypothalamus evoked inhibitory responses more often than it did in controls.