[Diabetes, from the Origins of the Problem to the Nobel Prize. Bioethics].

Analysis of scientific works from the creation of an experimental model of diabetes before discovery insulin was done. Emphasized is the priority of the Russian pathologist L. W.

[Ivan Solomonovich Beritashvili (1885-1974)--At the Origins of Cognitive Behaviorism].

Presents scientific creativity of I. S. Beritashvili in the cultural and historical aspect.

[Animal experiments and the major achievements in the history of biomedicine].

It is shown that major achievements in the history of biomedicine, obtained in experiments on animals: the discovery of blood circulation, the achievements of microbiology and development of the concept of immunity, the discovery of reflex and the doctrine of higher nervous activity, achievements of genetics, formation of modeling methods on animals and drug testing. It is stressed that the benefits for science and medicine, obtained through experimentation on animals, does not relieve scientists from responsibility.

[The system of assessment of the severity of ultrasound epilepsy in rats].

The method of induction of epileptic reactions in rats by ultrasound (24.3 kHz; 116dB) and the system of severity estimation of epileptic reaction was developed. Ultrasound--frequency above 20 kHz--absolutely silent for a person, may cause epileptic reaction in 3-9% of the rats.

[Bioethics and biomedical experiment evolution from Alkmaion to Pavlov. Dedicated to 160 years since I.P. Pavlov's birthday].

Ethic aspects of biomedical experiment evolution from Alkmaion to Pavlov, are analysed. The history of reflexes in the paradigm of mechanitsism and antropomorphism is reinterpreted. It is emphasized that animal life and their behaviour exceed the bounds of mechanitsizm.

Development of resistance of an organism under various conditions of hypoxic preconditioning: role of the hypoxic period and reoxygenation.

Single exposure to moderate (10% O(2)) hypobaric, normobaric, and intermittent hypoxia is followed by a preconditioning response of the organism. The mechanisms for immediate adaptation are activated during the hypoxic period. Intermittent reoxygenation not only delays, but even suppresses this process.

[Minipigs as an object for medico-biological research].

The review considers the history of selection of minipigs convenient for maintenance in scientific laboratories. It is shown that minipigs are suitable for studies of wide range of problems and there are perspectives of their use for xenotransplantation. Problems of bioethics in connection with the appearance of new biomedical technologies are discussed.

[The experiments with laboratory animals from a bioethical point of view--history, modern time, perspectives].

The origin of laboratory animal science was called forth by violent development of experimental biology and medicine in the XIX century on the one hand, and on the other hand by the necessity to have standard healthy animals for experiments with strictly definite biological characteristics. With this aim in view management technology and animal use in experiments have been constantly improved. "Laboratory animal" notion has been formed by the end of the XIX century.

Ivan P. Pavlov's view on vivisection.

Pavlov's points of view on vivisection are analyzed and compared with the modern ethical conception of carrying out experiments on animals. It appears that Pavlov's points of view are largely in accordance with modern ethical requirements for experimenting on animals.

[Methods for the euthanasia of experimental animals--the ethics, esthetics and personnel safety].

In this paper there are shown chemical and physical methods of euthanasia of vertebrate animals. All methods are divided into three categories: A) Acceptable methods of euthanasia, B) methods acceptable only for unconscious animals, C) methods that are not acceptable for euthanasia. The acceptability or non-acceptability of the method is determined by ethic or aesthetic conceptions and also by conceptions of the personnel safety and the environment.

[I. P. Pavlov on vivisection and the modern ethical requirements for animal experiments].

It is shown that Pavlov's opinion is in agreement with the modern requirements for experiments in living animals: use of living animals in experiments is recommended only in the cases when there is no alternative and scientific-practical significance of the planned experiments is justified; minimization (as much as possible) of discomfort, distress and pain of animals under study without sacrifice of the quality of scientific research; use of appropriate number of animals necessary for obtaining reliable results which are adequate to a given experimental situation and general state of the animals inadmissibility of using extra number of animals; drawing up a protocol concerning the experimental procedure and results; reflection in the protocol the techniques of sedation, anesthesia, and euthanasia; constant care of the improvement of the theoretical and practical qualification of a researcher in the ethical questions and experimental technique. Pavlov's views led his time and at present they agree with modern concepts on the experimental ethics.

[I. P. Pavlov on animal experiments].

The paper is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of academician I.P. Pavlov's birthday.

[The regulation of experiments on animals--ethics, legislation and alternatives].

Legislation and rules for animal experiments in many countries are proposed. Activities of international and national organizations, committees and administrative authorities are described. The importance of the three Rs principle and alternative methods for the humanization of bio-medical animal experiments are discussed.

[Lipid peroxidation in experimental myocardial infarct: the action of hyperbaric oxygenation].

Rats with experimental myocardial infarction demonstrated decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase and increase in the content of lipid peroxidation (LPO) products and Schiff bases both in and outside the area of necrosis. The combined ischemic damage and hyperbaric oxygenation resulted in the over additive effect of accumulation of LPO products in and outside the area of infarction. The data suggest that it is desirable to use antioxidants during hyperbaric oxygenation.

[Possible correction of the isoenzyme spectrum of lactate dehydrogenase in the developing rat brain in antenatal hypoxia].

In ontogenesis (within 14 and 30 days of postnatal period) in brain cortex and medulla oblongata of rats the LDH isoenzyme spectrum was altered exhibiting an increase in LDH1 and a decrease in LDH5 content. Antenatal hypoxia caused a decrease in aerobic isoenzymes in brain cortex and an increase in their content in medulla oblongata. Nootropyl (pyracetame) corrected the LDH isoenzyme spectra in brain cortex of 14 days old rats and in medulla oblongata of 30 days old animals.

[Role of lipid peroxidation in damage to serotonin receptors and development of epileptiform seizures during hyperoxia].

Hyperoxia brought about substantial accumulation of primary and end products of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and a significant lowering of alpha-tocopherol content in rat brain tissues. Preinjection of animals with synthetic and natural antioxidants (4-methyl-2,6-ditretbutylphenol and alpha-tocopherol) prevented LPO activation and decreased the frequency of epileptiform seizures induced by hyperoxia. Administration of a mixture of unsaturated fatty acids led to an opposite effect.

[Effect of nootropic agents on serum biochemical indices in intellectually deficient children].

It was shown that a marked therapeutic effect or its absence in the piracetam and nootropil treatment of children with different degrees of mental retardation is largely determined by the presence in patients' metabolism (before treatment) of certain combined changes in the general activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and its isoenzymic spectrum with regard to the ratio between aerobic and anaerobic subunits. Experimental studies on rats support the necessity of taking into account patients' metabolism when prescribing nootropic agents. It is suggested that considering LDH changes (along with the clinical condition of patients) may be of prognostic significance in the efficacy assessment of treatment with nootropic drugs.