Neurophysiological maturation in adolescence - vulnerability and counteracting addiction to alcohol.

The results of contemporary studies confirm the formation of two neural networks in the brain during the period of adolescence. The first is defined as emotional, located in the limbic system, develops earlier, quicker, and more intensively than the second one in the prefrontal cortex, called the judgement network, which fulfils the role of control and inhibition of emotional reactions. The domination of the emotional network in adolescence is manifested by hyperactivity of the limbic system, accompanied by intensified undertaking of courageous, reckless, risky, or even sometimes dangerous actions, so very characteristic in the maturation.

Event-related potentials (ERP) and SGIP1 gene polymorphisms in alcoholics: relation to family history of alcoholism and drug usage.

Objective: The electrophysiological characteristics may serve as valuable biomarkers for the genetic vulnerability underlying alcoholism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the SGIP1 gene and the theta ERP quantitative traits.

Method: The theta band (4-7 Hz) visual ERP occurring in the P300 response in the resting EEG were examined to explore the electrophysiological effects of alcohol on the brain in five regions: frontal, central, parietal, temporal and occipital in patients with alcohol addiction.

The effect of LPS injections on non-specific immune response in affected pigeons.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of LPS injections on non-specific mechanisms of immunity in pigeons. On the first day of observation the experimental birds (n=18) were intravenously injected with Escherichia coli LPS (10 microg/kg b.w.

Epigenetic regulation in drug addiction.

The interaction between environmental signals and genes has now taken on a clear molecular form as demonstrated by stable changes in chromatin structure. These changes occur through activation or repression of specific gene programmes by a combination of chromatin remodelling, activation and enzymatic modification of DNA and histones as well as nucleosomal subunit exchange. Recent research investigating the molecular mechanisms controlling drug-induced transcriptional, behavioural and synaptic activity has shown a direct role for chromatin remodelling--termed as epigenetic regulation--of neuronal gene programmes and subsequent addictive behaviour arising from it.

Effects of combined maternal administration with alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) on prenatal programming of skeletal properties in the offspring.

Background: Nutritional manipulations during fetal growth may induce long-term metabolic effects in postnatal life. The aim of the study was to test whether combined treatment of pregnant sows with alpha-ketoglutarate and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate induces additive long-term effects on skeletal system properties in the offspring.

Methods: The study was performed on 290 pigs obtained from 24 sows divided into 4 equal groups and subjected to experimental treatment during two weeks before delivery.

Effects of dietary calcium content and vitamin D source on skeletal properties in growing turkeys.

1. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of feeding fast growing turkeys with differentiated dietary calcium (Ca) content, and the partial replacement of vitamin D(3) in the feed with 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D(3)), on skeletal properties. 2.

Aged garlic extract and allicin improve performance and gastrointestinal tract development of piglets reared in artificial sow.

This study was performed to investigate whether postnatal administration with aged garlic extract (AGE) and allicin influences performance and systemic development of piglets exposed to early weaning. Twenty-four male piglets were weaned from sows at the age of two days of life, divided into 4 weight-matched groups and kept under conditions of artificial sow for 6 days. The first group consisted of control animals, while piglets that were given AGE daily per os at the dosages of 1 ml and 2 ml/kg body weight, respectively belonged to the second and third group.

The influence of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) on mineralisation, mechanical and structural properties of ulna in turkey under conditions of osteotomy and denervation.

Background. Mechanical endurance of bones to acting forces is a result of geometrical properties, mineralisation and quality of the material they are built. Bone mineral density decrease influences lower bone mechanical endurance and its higher susceptibility on fractures.

Effect of maternal dexamethasone and alpha-ketoglutarate administration on skeletal development during the last three weeks of prenatal life in pigs.

Background: The effect of dexamethasone (Dex) on postnatal bone formation processes is known to decrease the synthesis of collagen and bone matrix, but the effect of alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) is to induce positive effects on growth and skeletal development during postnatal life. However, the effects of Dex and AKG treatment on the prenatal processes of skeletal development have not been investigated so far.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Dex and AKG administered separately or simultaneously to sows during the last three weeks of pregnancy on the skeletal development in fetuses.

Effects of alpha-ketoglutarate on bone homeostasis and plasma amino acids in turkeys.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of denervation and alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) administration on the development of osteopenia in the turkey radius. At 22 d of age, all turkeys were subjected to neurectomy of the right radius. Control turkeys were given a saline solution into the crop each day for 97 d.

Long-term denervation of the humerus in turkeys as an experimental model for osteopenia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of long-term denervation on volumetric bone mineral density, and geometrical and mechanical properties of the humerus in turkeys. The experiment was conducted from d 22 after hatching until wk 17 of life. All experimental birds (male turkeys) were randomly divided into 2 weight-matched groups.

Effects of sodium taurocholate and sodium dehydrocholate on bile flow, lipid and bilirubin secretion in sheep.

The investigation was performed on 8 sheep with implanted catheters in the common bile duct and in the cystic duct. Sodium taurocholate and sodium dehydrocholate were infused into the jugular vein at the rate of 50 mumol/min for 20 min. Directly after the termination of the sodium taurocholate infusion, the volume of the secreted bile increased from 8.

Thermoregulatory effects and electrical conductivity in vagina of cow during oestrous cycle.

Measurement of vaginal temperature and electrical conductivity of cervicovaginal mucus were conducted in 20 dairy cows and were related to the phase of the oestrus cycle. Temperature and electrical conductivity in the anterior part of the vagina changed in synchronicity with phases of the oestrous cycle. About 12 hours before ovulation, the vaginal temperature increased from 37.

[Effects of bile and bile acids on spontaneous motor activity of the small and large rabbit intestines in vitro].

The aim of our study was to describe the effects of bile and bile acids action on the spontaneous motor activity of the rabbit small and large intestines. The following fragments of intestines were used: duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum and colon of 25 rabbits of both sexes, weighing 2-3 kg. The motor activity of the isolated fragments of the intestines was recorded by the suspension method in a 300 ml container with oxygenated Krebs' solution, temp.

[Effect of bile and bile acids on monoamine oxidase and acetylcholinesterase activity in the jejunum of rabbits, guinea pigs and swine].

The studies were carried out in vitro on the jejunum of 10 pigs, 10 rabbits and 10 guinea pigs. The activity monoaminooxidase (MAO) was determined manometrically in Warburg's apparatus, that of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) spectrophotometrically after Ellman's method modified by urek and Syrowatka. The obtained results were statistically analysed.

Thyroxine effect on 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) level in sheep erythrocytes.

The reported investigations were carried out on 18 adult sheep weighing about 35 kg. One intramuscular dose of D,L-thyroxine 100 mg was given to 13 animals, and the remaining 5 control sheep received normal saline in the same way. In blood samples obtained from the jugular vein the concentration of 2,3-DPG and the level of haemoglobin were determined in the erythrocytes at 4-hour intervals during 44 hours.

Effect of acute posthaemorrhagic anaemia on the level of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) in the erythrocytes of sheep.

In 11 sheep anaemia was produced by one-time removal of from 17% to 20% total volume of blood. Blood samples for 2,3-DPG determinations in the erythrocytes were taken at 4-hour intervals during 72 hours. Posthaemorrhagic anaemic hypoxia caused in sheep a rise in the concentration of 2,3-DPG in the erythrocytes from a mean control value of about 0.

Postnatal changes in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) content of calf erythrocytes.

In 82 calves, 22 adult cows and 10 fetuses the 2,3-DPG level was determined in the erythrocytes. The lowest level was found in cows (1.13 microM/g haemoglobin, on the average), and in calves aged 35 days or more.

[Effect of intra-duodenal administration of HCl and NaHCO3 on the secretion and content of sodium, potassium and calcium in the pancreatic juice and bile of sheep].

The experiments were carried out on 3 sheep with a Harrison type cannula inserted into the funds of the gall-bladder enabling to obtain bile and with a Herrera type cannula fixed in the duodenum enabling to sample pancreatic juice. Administration of 3 mEq HCl in 50 ml of solution to the duodenum increased the volume of secreted bile from 6,04 ml to 8,11 ml/15 min with no essential changes in the volume of pancreatic juice. Administration of 15 mEq NaHCO3 in 50 ml of solution decreased the volume of secreted bile from 6.

[Monoamine oxidase and acetylcholinesterase activity in the pig's digestive tract in ontogenesis].

To obtain information about the regulating nervous mechanisms of the pig alimentary canal the activity of monoaminooxidase (MAO) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in duodenum, jejunum and colon was studied during the embryonal and postnatal growth. The activity of monoaminooxidase was measured manometrically according to the method prepared by Kolb and that of acetylcholinesterase colorimetrically according to Hestrin's method. It was found that the activity of MAO and AChE in different parts of the pig alimentary canal was considerably differentiated during ontogenesis.

The post-natal changes in minimal metabolic rate in the pig.

1. Minimal metabolic rate was measured as oxygen consumption in new-born pigs when environmental temperature was rising and passing through thermal neutrality.2.