Halophilous Vegetation of the Southern Coast of the Pechora Bay.

Geobotanical studies of the coastal halophilous vegetation are carried out on the southern coast of the Pechora Bay (the Barents Sea region). The ecological-phytocenotic approach is applied for classification; in total, 11 plant associations (including 2 subassociations) belonging to 10 formations are described. The syntaxa are identified considering 94 original geobotanical descriptions.

Cytogenetic biomarkers for the assessment of the influence of pollution on natural fish populations.

Cytogenetic analysis methods were used to study the developing embryos of the following four Coregonidae species: Coregonus peled (Gmelin), Coregonus lavaretus (Gmelin), Coregonus nasus (Pallas) and Coregonus muksun (Pallas). Spawners of these species were selected from rivers and lakes of the Tyumen region (Russia) with different levels of pollution. The variability of the chromosomal aberration rate was analyzed during a monitoring period of more than 20 years.

Intensity of in vitro incorporation of 3H-melatonin in the thyroid gland of rabbits with pineal gland hypofunction.

The structure and hormonal activity of the thyroid gland and its capacity to bind (3)H-melatonin were studied in young adult Chinchilla rabbits with pineal gland hypofunction induced by 2-month exposure to constant illumination. After 2 months of constant exposure to light, the experimental animals exhibited signs of the so-called "latent hypothyroidism" and more intense binding of (3)H-melatonin by the thyroid gland. This fact indicated intactness of its receptor system underlying the possibility of restoring activity of the thyroid gland under conditions of melatonin replacement therapy in hypothyroidism induced by chronic melatonin insufficiency.

[Activity of membrane-bound protein kinase C and ATPase in erythrocytes in diabetic angiopathy].

The activities of protein kinase C, total, Mg2 and Na+, K(+)-dependent ATPases in red cell membranes were compared in 46 patients with insulin independent, 30 ones with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus with various degrees of vascular disorders, and in 17 patients with atherosclerosis with the predominant involvement of the main vessels of the lower limbs. Diabetes mellitus and the progress of vascular disorders were associated with a more marked depression of protein kinase C, total and Na+, K(+)-dependent ATPase activities, this being particularly characteristic of the patients with insulin-independent diabetes and macrovascular disorders. Inhibited activities of protein kinase C and ATPases in red cell membranes in the course of diabetic vascular disorders progress evidence their contribution to the pathogenesis of diabetic angiopathy.

[Effects of docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids on the state of metabolites of the prostacyclin I2--thromboxane A2 system in streptozotocin diabetes mellitus].

Data are presented on the level of stable metabolites of prostacyclin I2-thromboxane A2 system in streptozotocin diabetes mellitus in rats. It is shown that simulation of streptozotocin diabetes mellitus leads to the reduction of 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha content in the aortal wall tissue and blood plasma, and to a rise of thromboxane B2 level and the thromboxane B2/6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha ratio in the blood plasma. Inclusion of docosahexaenic and eicosapentaenic acid concentrate into the ration of animals with streptozotocin diabetes mellitus is conducive to normalization of the stable metabolite level in the prostacyclin I2-thromboxane A2 system.