Vasopressin, hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system and aging.

Based on the authors' own data and a review of current literature, the role of vasopressin (VP) in the mechanisms of age-related changes, development of stress-reactions and pathology onset is discussed. In aging, the VP concentration in blood and cerebrospinal fluid increased, its level in pituitary rose and that in hypothalamus fell. Under stress (emotional-painful stress, water deprivation) the potential capabilities of the VP-ergic system decreased with age.

[Mechanisms of nitric oxide activity in cardiovascular system as a basis of pathogenetic therapy of related diseases].

General characteristics and mechanisms of effects of nitric oxide (NO) and its role in the development of pathology are reviewed. Presented are the data about NO participation in the regulation of circulation and cardiovascular system; NO-dependent mechanism of regulation of cardiovascular reactivity against the background of dysfunction of endothelium; cGMP-independent mechanism of NO effect upon Ca homeostasis and the sensitivity of myofibrils of smooth muscle cells to Ca ions; pharmacological correction of disturbances of NO metabolism and related endothelial dysfunction; role of age changes of the endothelial function in the development of cardiovascular pathology.

[Changes in the longevity of rats under the influence of enzyme imprinting by phenobarbital].

Experiments on the Wistar rats showed that neonatal daily injections of phenobarbital (35 mg/kg) during first 3 days of life resulted in the enzyme imprinting of liver microsomal monooxygenases. Rise in the activities of liver microsomal oxidation enzymes is constantly maintained during all the life leading to increase in average lifespan of rats. Analysis of the survival curves in Gompertz equation co-ordinates showed that enzyme imprinting by phenobarbital caused changes in mortality patterns at different stages of ontogenesis.

[Influence of saturated long-chain N-acylethanolamines on lipid composition and heart contractility of isolated rat heart under ischemia-reperfusion].

The heart contractility and changes of lipid composition of isolated rat heart (n = 26) under total ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion was studied. The effect of N-stearoyl-ethanolamine under these conditions was investigated. N-stearoyl-ethanolamine leads to remodelling of fatty acyl chain composition of myocardial phospholipids: to drastic fall of polyunsaturated fatty acyl chains (18:2w6, 20:3w6, 20:4w6, 22:5w3, 22:5w6, 22:6w3 and 22:6w6) and enhancement of 18:0.

[Characteristics of the effect of implantation of the human ApoA1 gene on the condition of hepatocytes in rats of varying age].

The results obtained show the essential changes in functional state of hepatocyte's plasmatic membrane due to the implantation of human ApoA1 gene to the rat liver. The changes in phospholipid composition, hyperpolarization, increase in activity of membrane bound enzymes, cytochrome P-450 and biosynthesis of liver total proteins have been found. The essential changes characterizing cell effect were more marked in the adult rats, and membrane effect in the old ones.