[2-Methyl-3-phenylaminomethylquinolin-4-one as potential antidepressant with nootropic properties].

The new compound, 2-methyl-3-phenylaminomethylquinolin-4-on, belongs to V class of toxicity and exhibits antidepressant and antiamnesic properties. It is established that this compound reduces the duration of immobilization in the test of behavioral despair, prevents from the scopolamine induced amnesia, and exhibits antagonism with reserpine in mice. In a dose of 100 mg/kg, the synthesized compound influences the levels of cerebral catecholamines similarly to imipramine, but with a more pronounced decrease in the level of 5-hydroxytryptamine.

[Fullerenes C60, antiamyloid action, the brain and cognitive processes].

A short review of investigations along a new line: the antiamyloid action of fullerenes C60 and correction of disturbed cognitive processes is presented. The prospects for the development of drugs based on fullerenes acting on the key molecular mechanisms at the early stage of Alzheimer's disease are discussed.

[Central administration of the amyloid beta-peptide (25-35) and individual features of cognitive behavior of rats].

Individual features of cognitive behavior of rats induced by the administration of the aggregated amyloid beta3-peptide (25-35) (Abeta25-35) into the lateral ventricles of the brain were studied. A new approach to the estimation of individual differences in the effects of Abeta25-35 was applied. Navigation training was performed in one short session with a random position of a target; sessions were repeated with the intervals of a few days.

[Mechanism of eclamptic coma development].

Analysis of the course of the disease in 28 puerperas with eclamptic coma has ascertained that it develops only in the presence of hypokinetic circulation as a result of lower circulating blood volume and cardiac index, which is followed by a cerebral circulation reduction to the critical values due to blood flow in the cortical structures. To maintain high blood flow in the subcortical structures is one of the leading causes of vasogenic edema of brain glia, followed by impaired liquorodynamics, which indices eclampsia. Low sustained cerebral circulation as a consequence of inadequate intensive care favors the extent of edema to the cerebral cortical structures after relieving eclampsia.

[Biological systems of life support for space crews: some results and anticipations].

One of the challenges for space biology and medicine is resolution of lots of problems of biomedical support of humans in the extreme environment of space flight. These problems include also designing of robust and efficiently functioning life support systems (LSS). The paper gives an overview of the investigations of ground-based BLSS with human subjects conducted in Russia and other countries.

[Electron microscopic study of the influence of fullerene on the formation of amyloid fibrils by A beta(25-35) peptide].

The anti-amyloidogenic capacity of hydrated fullerene C60 HyFn was revealed by the use of electron microscopy. We first showed that when, connecting with growing amyloid fibrils formed by A beta(25-35)-peptide, fullerene prevented their subsequent growth and interfered with the formation of new fibrils. Instead of long helically twisted ribbons formed by A beta(25-35)-peptide in the absence of fullerene, short narrow protofibrils were found in the presence of fullerene .

[Growth, development and genetic status of pea plants cultivated in space greenhouse "LADA"].

In the period between March 2003 and April 2005 five crops of genetically marked dwarf pea were cultivated in greenhouse LADA on the ISS Russian segment to study morphology and genetics in consecutive generations. Results of the first space experiment were analyzed and characteristics of ground plants grown from space seeds were studied. It was shown that parameters of growth, development and genetic status of pea plants that completed the ontogenetic cycle in LADA did not differ substantially from the laboratory control and that plants cultivated in space flight do not incur losses in the reproductive function and form viable seeds.

[The effect of protein synthesis inhibition in the central nervous system on long-term memory formation in some behavioral tasks].

The effect of the maximum protein synthesis inhibition in brain and spinal cord on long-term memory formation in extreme situations was studied in various new behavioral tasks in rats. Cycloheximide injected bilaterally into the lateral ventricles three hours before learning suppressed protein synthesis in the central nervous system by 96% during one hour after learning. Forty-four hours after learning in a standard Morris water maze, the information about the platform position was not retained, whereas no memory disorder was observed in case of learning in a simplified Morris maze or a new test learned jump-out-of-water task.

[Biological processes of the human environment regeneration within the Martian crew life support systems].

Five ground-based experiments at RF SRC-IBMP had the purpose to make a thorough investigation of a model of the human-unicellular algae-mineralization life support system. The system measured 15 m3 and contained 45 liters of alga suspension; the dry alga density was 10 to 12 g/l and water volume (including the alga suspension) amounted to 59 l. More sophisticated LSS models where algae were substituted by higher plants (crop area in the greenhouse equaled 15 m2) were investigated in three experiments from 1.

[The evaluation of the error of the thermal pulse technique used to measure moisture content of root substrates in space greenhouse].

Point thermopulse probes were used to monitor moisture level in the root substrates during cultivation of higher plants in a space greenhouse. Investigated were performance data of the thermopulse moisture probe in integration with the space greenhouse. It was shown that within the substrate moisture range from 20 up to 100% of the full saturation the technique error does not exceed 1.

Long-term changes in hippocampus and neocortex EEG spectra in response to pharmacological treatments affecting the cholinergic system.

Statistical analysis of EEG spectra averaged over 10-min intervals showed that in rats performing free behavior, peripheral administration of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine induced long-lasting characteristic changes (lasting tens of minutes) in the electrical activity of the dorsal hippocampus (field CAI) and the somatosensory cortex. An increase in the physostigmine dose from 0.05 to 1 mg/kg shifted the peak of the theta rhythm to lower frequencies (3.

[Growth and development of plants in a row of generations under the conditions of space flight (experiment Greenhouse-5)].

Results of the experiment aimed at harvesting a second space generation of wheat var. Apogee in Mir greenhouse Svet (experiment GREENHOUSE-5) are presented. In space flight, germination rate of space seeds from the first crop made up 89% against 100% of the ground seeds.

[Growth and development of plants in a sequence of generations under the conditions of space flight (experiment Greenhouse-3)].

The purpose was to study characteristic features of growth and development of several plant generations in space flight in experiment GREENHOUSE-3 as a part of the Russian-US space research program MIR/NASA in 1997. The experiment consisted of cultivation of Brassica rapa L. in board greenhouse Svet.

[Long-term changes in EEG spectra of the hippocampus and neocortex during pharmacological action on the cholinergic system].

Statistical analysis of EEG spectra averaged over 10-min periods showed that inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase physostigmine induced the long-term (tens of minutes) characteristic changes in the electric activity of the dorsal hippocampus (CA1 field) and somatosensory cortex of unrestrained rats. With increasing the physostigmine dose from 0.05 to 0.

[Growth of wheat from seed-to-seed in space flight].

In our earlier space experiment with super dwarf wheat we found the spikes developed in space to be barren. The cause of the full crop sterility was sensitivity of this wheat species to the ethylene concentration of 0.3-0.

[Biological life support systems: investigations on board of orbital complex "Mir"].

From 1989 till 1998 twelve experiments were performed by Bulgarian, Russian, Slovak, and US researchers and engineers on the effects of space flight on the model of ecosystem "algae-fishes-bacteria", and ontogenesis of birds (Japanese quail) and higher plants. For the first time several viable chicks were hatched and passed the whole cycle of their embryonic development in the MIR microgravity. The length of the plant ontogenetic cycle as a whole and its specific stages appeared to be same as on Earth.

[Evaluation of super dwarf wheat growth and development in greenhouse "Svet" during cultivation in inhabited pressurized chamber].

Goals of the 3-month experiment GREENHOUSE using the equipment of greenhouse SVET (ECO-PSY-95) were to feature growth and development of wheat through the entire cycle of ontogeny under the maximally mimicked MIR environment, and to try out the procedures and timeline of space experiment GREENHOUSE-2 as a part of the fundamental biology investigations within the MIR/NASA space science program. Irradiation intensity (PAR) was 65 W/m2 and 38 W/m2 in the experiment and laboratory control, respectively. Values of other environmental parameters were MIR average (18-25 degrees C, relative air humidity in the interval between 40% and 75%, total gas pressure of about 660 to 860 mm Hg, partial oxygen pressure within the range from 140 to 200 mm Hg, partial carbon dioxide pressure up to 7 mm Hg).

[Some peculiar features of liquid supply to the root medium of plants growing in microgravity].

Sixteen point probes monitored moisture level in the root medium of the wheat plants grown in greenhouse SVET on the MIR/NASA space science program. The article outlines types of water migration in the absence of gravity. Hydrophysical characteristics of perspective root media have been explored.

[Effect of electromagnetic fields of UHF range on dopamine-dependent behavior of rabbits].

SHF radiation of low intensity does not influence on a stereotyped behaviour of rabbits induced by a dopamine receptor stimulator, apomorphine. However, 10% of animals exhibited a marked decrease in the test-response after SHF-irradiation (16 Hz) which was perhaps associated with the increased individual sensitivity of some animals to SHF-radiation.

[Selective dopaminergic regulation of stereotyped forms of aggressive and defensive behavior].

In rabbits the dopaminergic agonists (L-DOPA, apomorphine) induce and control the stereotypic forms of behaviour (thumping, licking and biting) selectively. These forms of behaviour can be used as test-responses for quantitative studies of the neuropsychotropic substances acting on the central dopaminergic synapses, and also for screening the antiparkinsonic agents.