The Paraventricular Thalamic Nucleus and Its Projections in Regulating Reward and Context Associations.

The paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT) is a brain region that mediates aversive and reward-related behaviors as shown in animals exposed to fear conditioning, natural rewards, or drugs of abuse. However, it is unknown whether manipulations of the PVT, in the absence of external factors or stimuli (e.g.

Myelopeptides Reduce Morphine Tolerance in C57BL/6j Mice.

The development of morphine tolerance in C57BL/6j mice was estimated by the analgesic effect in tail-flick and hot plate tests. Morphine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg body weight) was administered to animals twice for 5 days and once on the sixth day, saline or myelopeptides were injected 15 min before morphine administration (2 μg/kg body weight). In the tail-flick test, all studied myelopeptides suppressed the development of tolerance to morphine and did not show their own analgesic activity.

Features of Postnatal Hippocampal Development in a Rat Model of Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease.

Aging is the major risk factor of the most common (∼95% of cases) sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accumulating data indicate middle age as a critical period for the relevant pathological processes, however, the question of when AD starts to develop remains open. It has been reported only recently that in the early postnatal period-when brain development is completing-preconditions for a decrease in cognitive abilities and for accelerated aging can form.

Effects of Specific Inhibitor of Phosphodiesterase 7 at the Late Stage of Long-Term Potentiation in Murine Hippocampal Slices.

Second messengers cAMP and cGMP play an important role in synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation. The inhibitors of phosphodiesterases, enzymes hydrolyzing these cyclic nucleotides, are actively studied as potential drugs for the treatment of various cognitive disorders and depression. We studied the effects of a new inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 7 AGF2.

Uncoupling DISC1 × D2R Protein-Protein Interactions Facilitates Latent Inhibition in Disc1-L100P Animal Model of Schizophrenia and Enhances Synaptic Plasticity via D2 Receptors.

Both Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) and dopamine receptors D2R have significant contributions to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Our previous study demonstrated that DISC1 binds to D2R and such protein-protein interaction is enhanced in patients with schizophrenia and Disc1-L100P mouse model of schizophrenia (Su et al., 2014).

[Protective Effects of Myelopeptides in Neuroblastoma C-1300 Cell Culture].

The effects of bone marrow regulatory peptides--myelopeptides 1-6--in mouse neuroblastoma C-1300 were studied. Cultivation in presence of myelopeptides stimulated morphological differentiation of neuroblasts. Neuroprotective abilities of myelopeptides were shown on the models of morphine toxity and oxygen-glucose deprivation in neuroblastoma cell culture.

Neuritogenic and neuroprotective effects of polar steroids from the Far East starfishes Patiria pectinifera and Distolasterias nipon.

The neuritogenic and neuroprotective activities of six starfish polar steroids, asterosaponin Р₁, (25S)-5α-cholestane-3β,4β,6α,7α,8,15α,16β,26-octaol, and (25S)-5α-cholestane-3β,6α,7α,8,15α,16β,26-heptaol (1-3) from the starfish Patiria pectinifera and distolasterosides D₁-D₃ (4-6) from the starfish Distolasterias nipon were analyzed using the mouse neuroblastoma (NB) C-1300 cell line and an organotypic rat hippocampal slice culture (OHSC). All of these compounds enhanced neurite outgrowth in NB cells. Dose-dependent responses to compounds 1-3 were observed within the concentration range of 10-100 nM, and dose-dependent responses to glycosides 4-6 were observed at concentrations of 1-50 nM.

Age-specific peculiarities of formation of long-term posttetanic potentiation in OXYS rats.

OXYS rats with hereditary hyperproduction of active oxidative radicals and early disorders in the mitochondrial structure and functions are an interesting model for studies of age-specific features of synaptic plasticity. The formation of long-term posttetanic potentiation in the mossy fibers-CA3 pyramidal neuron system were studied in hippocampal slices from Wistar and OXYS rats aged 3 and 4.5 months (young), 11 (middle-aged), and 18 months (old).

Participation of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels in facilitation of long-term potentiation during the formation of morphine dependence in rats.

Parameters of long-term potentiation in the system mossy fibers-CA3 pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices in experimental animals vary during the formation of chronic opiate dependence. During the first day of morphine treatment, the value of potentiation was significantly lower than in controls. Starting from day 8 and at early stages of dependence (days 25-29), facilitation of long-term potentiation was recorded.

Neuroprotective effect of ultra-low doses of antibodies against S100 protein in neuroblastoma culture during oxygen and glucose deprivation.

Antibodies against S100 protein applied in high and ultra-high dilutions possess neuroprotective activity and maintain survival of neuroblastoma C-1300 cells under conditions of oxygen and glucose deprivation. The examined antibody preparations stimulated differentiation in neuroblastoma culture thereby demonstrating pronounced neurotrophic activity.

[Polyhydroxylated steroid compounds from the Far Eastern starfish Distolasterias nipon].

Two new steroid glycosides: distolasteroside D6, (24S)-24-O-(beta-D-xylopyranosyl)-5alpha-cholestane-3beta,6alpha,8,15beta,16beta,24-hexaol, and distolasteroside D7. (22E,24R)-24-O-(beta-D-xylopyranosyl)-5alpha-cholest-22-ene-3beta,6alpha,8,15beta,24-pentaol were isolated along with the previously known distolasterosides D1, D2, and D3, echinasteroside C, and (25S)-5alpha-cholestane-3beta,4beta,6alpha,7alpha,8,15alpha,16beta,26-octaol from the Far Eastern starfish Distolasterias nipon. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and MALDI TOF mass spectrometry.

Neurotrophic effects of polyhydroxylated steroids and steroid glycosides in cultured neuroblastoma cells.

The effects of steroid compounds from Pacific Ocean starfishes were studied using cultured neuroblastoma C-1300 cells. Vital observations and examination of silver-impregnated preparations showed that the test substances in a concentration of 2-10 microM stimulate differentiation and improves survival of neuroblastoma cells under adverse conditions (similarly to neurotrophins). These substances in high concentrations (20-40 microM) had no effect or exhibited cytotoxic activity.

In vitro effects of bipathic treatment with antibodies in ultralow doses during long-term post-tetanic potentiation.

We studied the effects of individual or combination treatment with monoclonal antibodies 5F5-B6 in ultralow doses specifically marking mossy fibers in rat hippocampus and antibodies to S100 protein during long-term post-tetanic potentiation in hippocampal slices. The possible mechanisms of changes produced by therapeutic administration of antibodies in ultralow doses were revealed.

Effect of antibodies to morphine in ultralow doses on induction of long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices from rats with chronic morphine dependence.

Antibodies to morphine produced after its chronic administration can contribute to changes in the central nervous system during opiate abuse. Facilitation of long-term posttetanic potentiation in mossy fibers of the hippocampus in rats with chronic morphine dependence can be reproduced in hippocampal slices from normal animals treated with antibodies to morphine. Incubation of hippocampal slices with ultralow doses of antibodies to morphine had no effect on control rats, but reduced facilitation of long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices from animals with chronic morphine dependence.

Effect of antibodies to morphine on synaptic plasticity of the hippocampus.

Incubation of hippocampal slices with antibodies to morphine did not change the total excitatory postsynaptic potential of mossy fibers, but markedly facilitated long-term posttetanic potentiation. Culturing of the organotypic hippocampal culture in the presence of 10 microM morphine increased the total excitatory postsynaptic potential of mossy fibers and reduced the probability of long-term posttetanic potentiation.

Membrane and synaptic effects of anti-S-100 are prevented by the same antibodies in low concentrations.

Effects of antiserum to S-100 protein (AS-100) in high (HC, corresponding to antiserum dilution 1:5 - 1:50) and low (LC, 1:10(12)) concentrations were studied in identified snail neurons and rat hippocampal slices. HC-AS-100 changed the frequency of action potential generation in spontaneously active neurons and blocked formation of long-term potentiation in mossy fiber synapses. LC-AS-100 alone did not affect any characteristic measured in our experiments, but 20 min pre-incubation of snail ganglia or hippocampal slices with LC-AS-100 abolished the effects of the same antibodies in HC.

The materials specialists education and features of biomaterials study and analysis.

The work considers some questions of the biomaterials specialists education. The problem of the specialists education in the field of a biomedical material science is not finally solved till now, because of the complexity and variety of necessary knowledge. The main question is what base education is the best for the biomaterial specialists? This work represents the standpoint of scientific school, realizing the educational process based on an electronic engineering material science.

Quantitative assay of S-100 protein in mouse brain cortex synaptosomes.

1. Data on the presence of S-100 protein in synaptic endings are revised, and evidence is given in favor of its localization inside mouse brain cortex synaptosomes and on the surface of their external membrane. 2.

[An immunohistochemical analysis of rat hippocampal antigens in early postnatal ontogeny by using monoclonal antibodies].

In order to study the molecular mechanisms of neurogenesis, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced against antigens of the developing rat hippocampus. MAb 3G7-F8 was used for immunohistochemical localization of the corresponding antigen of paraffin sections of the rat brain at days 0, 5, 14, and 21 of the postnatal development. In the hippocampus of newborn and 5-day-old rats, positive immunostaining was observed in the cytoplasm and proximal segments of processes of neurons located in granular, polymorph, and pyramidal layers, as well as in entorhinal cortex.

[Development of long-term post-tetanic potentiation and changes in S-100 protein contents in hippocampal slices of rats in different functional states].

Male rats of the strains with low (LE) high excitability (HE) of the nervous system have been used in this study. Half of the animals of each strain were neurotized in accordance with the Hecht's scheme. In the hippocampal slices of the non-neurotized LE rats there was a significant increase of the populational spike amplitude during development of LTP as compared with the opposite group of the animals.

[Monoclonal antibodies to individual antigens of the nervous system of the snail, Helix pomatia].

Seven positive hybridoma clones were chosen by immunoenzyme analysis amons 103 clones obtained by hybridization of NSO plasmocytoma cells and splenocytes from BALB/C mice, immunized with snail's nervous system antigens. Specific binding of Mabs with neuron cytoplasmic antigens was indicated on cryostat sections of visceral, pedal and cerebral ganglia. The Mabs obtained could be used for the study of physiological role of antigens identified.