Three-dimensional reconstruction of synapses and dendritic spines in the rat and ground squirrel hippocampus: new structural-functional paradigms for synaptic function.

Published data are reviewed along with our own data on synaptic plasticity and rearrangements of synaptic organelles in the central nervous system. Contemporary laser scanning and confocal microscopy techniques are discussed, along with the use of serial ultrathin sections for in vivo and in vitro studies of dendritic spines, including those addressing relationships between morphological changes and the efficiency of synaptic transmission, especially in conditions of the long-term potentiation model. Different categories of dendritic spines and postsynaptic densities are analyzed, as are the roles of filopodia in originating spines.

[Three-dimensional reconstruction of synapse and dendritic spines in the hippocampus of rats and ground squirrels: new paradigms of the structure and function of a synapse].

The article reviews the literature data and results obtained by the authors concerning synaptic plasticity and remodeling of synaptic organelles in the central nervous system. Modern techniques of laser scanning confocal microscopy and serial thin sectioning for in vivo and in vitro studies of dendritic spines including a correlation between morphological changes and synaptic transmission efficiency are discussed, particularly, in relation to long-term potentiation. Organization of different types of dendritic spines and involvement of filopodia in spine genesis are examined.

[The effectiveness of using the Vaxigrip vaccine from the firm of Pasteur Mérieux Connaught for influenza prevention in organized groups of adults].

The results of the study of the effectiveness of using vaccine Vaxigrip for the prophylaxis of influenza in organized groups of adults are presented. The vaccine was found to have high epidemiological effectiveness (the epidemiological index was 2.6), moderate reactogenicity and pronounced immunological activity (the protection level was 89.

[An evaluation of the epidemiological and economic efficacy of immunizing adults with the Vaxigrippe vaccine].

The results of the evaluation of the epidemiological and economic efficiency of the immunization of the adult population with the vaccine Vaxigrip (Pasteur Mérieux Connaught, France) are presented. In accordance with the results obtained in this investigation, this vaccine was found to have pronounced epidemiological (prophylactic) efficiency and to be well tolerated. To achieve a perceptible epidemiological effect, it was sufficient to cover 43% of the group with vaccination.

[Role of cyclic AMP in the action of dopamine on the spontaneous and glutamate-induced activity of neostriatal neurons in the rat].

The influence of microionophoretically applied dopamine and dibutyril cAMP on the background and glutamate-evoked spike activity of neostriatum neurons was studied in acute experiments on rats immobilized by d-tubocurarine. The mean rate, stationarity, interspike interval histograms and autocorrelation functions for extracellularly recorded spike activity were measured. It was shown that dibutyril cAMP imitated the inhibiting dopamine effect on the background and glutamate-evoked spike activity of neostriatum neurons rather than the stimulating effect.