Comparative study of the expression of ATF-3 and ATF-4 genes in vessels involved into atherosclerosis process and in psoriatic skin.

Expression of ATF-3 and ATF-4 genes was examined quantitatively by real-time PCR and changes in the expression of these genes in atherosclerotic lesions and in psoriatic skin were demonstrated. It was found that concomitant pathologies do not affect the expression of these genes. Opposite changes in the expression of ATF-3 and ATF-4 genes in atherosclerotic and psoriatic samples were revealed and a hypothesis was put forward that this parameter could be a criterion of pathological process in both diseases.

Ultrastructure of neurons in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus of rats with different stress reactivity.

The rats were divided into groups demonstrating extremely high and low stress reactivity depending on the results of testing for the nociceptive threshold and thermolability in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide administration. Specific structural features of the nucleus and mitochondria were revealed in neurons of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus in rats with constitutionally high reactivity, which reflects high functional activity and stress-induced lability of these structures. Ultramicroscopic study revealed phenotypic differences in one of the key hypothalamic nucleus, which enables potent and rapid neurogenic response of the stress system in animals with high stress reactivity.

Ultrastructural changes in the lateral reticular nucleus of the medulla oblongata in prepubertal rats under the effect of long-term stress exposure.

Ultrastructural changes in the lateral reticular nuclei of the medulla oblongata of rat pups developing under the effect of chronic mental and pain stress indicate impaired histogenesis of structures of the medulla oblongata reticular formation and appearance of pronounced morphofunctional differences between the neurons.