A synthetic NCAM-derived peptide, FGL, protects hippocampal neurons from ischemic insult both in vitro and in vivo.

There is a major unmet need for development of innovative strategies for neuroprotection against ischemic brain injury. Here we show that FGL, a neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)-derived peptide binding to and inducing phosphorylation of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), acts neuroprotectively after an ischemic insult both in vitro and in vivo. The neuroprotective activity of FGL was tested in vitro on dissociated rat hippocampal neurons and hippocampal slice cultures, using a protocol of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD).

[Dimephosphon in complex therapy of acute edematous pancreatitis].

Clinical investigations of 120 patients have shown that Dimephosphon included in complex treatment of acute edematous pancreatitis facilitates more rapid arrest of the symptoms. An important effect of the drug is its ability to decrease the level of endogenous intoxication by both the hydrophilic and hydrophobic components. It was established that one of the mechanisms of favorable action of the drug is its ability to inhibit LPO, to decrease activity of phospholipase A2.

[Mexidol-induced modification of lipid metabolism in pancreatitis].

The chronic experiments on mongrel dogs with a model pancreatitis showed that mexidol decreases manifestations of the inflammatory process. The treatment with mexidol led to a decrease in the degree of lipid transformations in the initial stage of pancreatitis development, with normaliation of the lipid metabolism according to the liver and blood plasma characteristics. The membranoprotector effect of mexidol, manifested in normalization of the lipid spectrum, is probably related to inhibition of the lipid peroxidation (LPO) process and to a decrease in the activity of phospholipase A2.

Histological studies of atrazine toxicity on the thyroid gland in rats.

Little is known about the toxic activity of the atrazine (a herbicide, commonly used in agricultural production) on the thyroid gland. In this study the compound was administered orally in female albino rats at sublethal exposure equivalent to 0.2 LD50 doses for 6 and 12 days.

Neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) distribution may predict the effect of neurotoxins on the brain.

The neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) is a convenient neurospecific marker for investigating the effects of neurotoxins on cell migration, cell recognition and differentiation of neurons during development. In this report, we discuss the developmental toxicity of valproic acid studied by two different approaches (the immunochemical detection of N-CAM content and polypeptide composition, and immunohistochemical analysis of N-CAM topography). Immunohistochemical analysis of distribution of N-CAM as a surface marker on the neural cells predicted the effect of the neurotoxin.

A novel method for evaluation of carbohydrate-binding activity: enzyme-linked carbohydrate-binding assay (ELCBA).

A highly sensitive method for detection of the carbohydrate-binding activity of proteins is described. The method is based on interactions of carbohydrate-binding proteins, immobilized on a solid phase, with an enzyme-labeled soluble polysaccharide (peroxidase conjugated glycosaminoglycans-heparin, chondroitin sulfate or hyaluronic acid. Binding capacity was measured spectrofotometrically after enzymatic reaction with chromogenic substrate.

[Blood proteinase inhibitors and cathepsin D in diffuse peritonitis].

There were 52 patients with a diffuse peritonitis examined. The level of a proteinases alpha 1-inhibitor, alpha 2-macroglobulin, trypsin inhibitor, cathepsin-D was studied. Results witnesses the high activity of proteinases inhibitors cathepsin-D in the early, postoperative period.

Lateral patterns of the neural cell adhesion molecule on the surface of hippocampal cells developing in vitro.

In monolayer cultures of hippocampal neurons from newborn rats, an immunocytochemical quantitative study was carried out to investigate age-dependent arrangement of the neural cell adhesion molecules in different parts of cell membranes. On the fifth and 12th day in vitro, neural cell adhesion molecules were labelled with specific antibodies and protein A conjugated to colloidal gold particles. Samples of randomly selected electron micrographs that displayed labelled membrane fragments of cell bodies, growth cones, and axons were numerically analysed for the five- and 12-day in vitro neurons.

Changes in the neural cell adhesion molecule patterns on the rat glial cell surfaces with development and contact formation in vitro.

In monolayer cultures of newborn rat hippocampal cells, immunogold-labelling at the electron microscope level was used to study quantitatively the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) arrangement on the surface of glial soma and processes on 5 and 12 days in vitro (DIV). Four corresponding samples of micrographs were formed. To quantify the labelling, a stochastic geometry approach was used.

[Immunoglobin-binding proteins in human placenta].

Phenomena of the binding of poor-soluble placenta proteins (PSPP) with pregnant women sera IgG as well as placenta blood IgG were studied. PSPP were extracted from the placenta tissue, washed out from soluble proteins, by the use of 3M KCl solution containing 0.005 M PMSF.

[Chemiluminescence fiber optic immunosensor for detecting antibodies to the influenza virus].

A new variant of an optoimmunosensor for determination of antibodies to the influenza virus has been elaborated. Its advantages as compared to the traditional solid phase immunoenzyme analysis in respect to sensitivity and expressiveness are demonstrated. Time of the sensor response is below 17 min.

[Expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the developing human brain].

It was shown that the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) content in developing (fetal) human brain is sharply increased. The expression of GFAP was observed already on the 7th-8th week after gestation, the GFAP concentration being less than 0.05% in comparison with adult brain.

[The effect of low doses of ionizing radiation on the intermediate filaments and the Ca2+-activated proteolysis system in the rat brain].

The immunochemical methods were used to study the effect of low-level radiation (0.00645 C/kg and 0.0129 C/kg) on the content and polypeptide composition of glial intermediate filament proteins (GIFP) in different rat brain areas.

[The distribution of glial fibrillary acidic protein and protein S-100 in experimental brain tumors in rats].

The methods of quantitative immunoelectrophoresis and indirect immunofluorescence were used study the content of glial fibrillary acid protein in 10 serially reinoculated rat gliomas induced primarily by ethylnitrosourea (a total of 135 tumors). It was found that the GFAP content reduced with increase of malignancy. However, wide scattering of the GFAP content in some of the tumors was characteristic of all strains.

[Characteristics of brain gastrin/cholecystokinin-binding proteins].

Gastrin/cholecystokinin-binding proteins were purified using the column affinity chromatography on immobilized pig tetragastrin and cholecystokinin. Immunoblotting analysis of different human tissue extracts with specific antisera obtained against gastrin-binding proteins was performed. It was found that high molecular weight polypeptide zones of 120 kDa and 35 kDa were characteristic of the brain only.

[The CNS syndrome. The characteristics of the intermediate filaments of the rat brain].

A study was made of the effect of ionizing radiation on the content and polypeptide composition of filamentous and soluble glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in different regions of rat brain. Ionizing radiation was shown to decrease considerably the level of soluble GFAP in cerebral cortex, cerebellum, middle brain and hippocampus. Polypeptide composition of soluble GFAP detected by the immunoblot method was found to be changed considerably in different brain areas of irradiated animals.

[A method of solid phase immunoenzyme analysis using antigen molecules immobilized on membranes].

The enzyme-linked immunoassay modification has been worked out. The method combines advantages of membrane technology of antigen immobilization which is used in the enzyme immunosensory technique and of conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The nitrocellulose and polypropylene membranes are used as a solid-phase.

[Characteristics of concanavalin A-binding neurospecific glycoproteins from various regions of the rat brain during experimental neurosis].

The polypeptide composition of neurospecific glycoproteins in different areas of the rat brain under experimental neurosis is characterized using SDS-PAG-electrophoresis followed by electroblot and immunofixation on nitrocellulose membranes. The soluble and membrane-bound glycoproteins are purified by Con A-Sepharose column chromatography. Changes in the glycoprotein polypeptide composition in different areas of the rat brain under experimental neurosis are qualitative.

[An analysis of blood serum proteins in chronic alcoholism patients by a cross immunoelectrophoresis method].

Prealbumin, albumin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, transferrin, IgG, IgM and IgA were studied in blood serum of healthy donors and of patients with chronic alcoholism by means of cross immuno-electrophoresis and immunodiffusion. Only content of alpha 1-antitrypsin was distinctly altered in blood serum of the patients with alcoholism as compared with normal state, while individual variations in content of the proteins studied were considerably higher in blood serum of the patients. At the same time, distinct dissimilarity of the patterns studied was found between healthy donors and patients with chronic alcoholism when concentration ratios of some positively and negatively charged acute phase proteins were calculated (alpha 1-antitrypsin/albumin, haptoglobin/albumin, haptoglobin/transferrin).

[A study of membrane glycoproteins from the rat brain using D-galactose-specific lectin].

Immobilized D-galactose-specific lectin from Zea mais was used to purify rat brain membrane glycoproteins. The membrane glycoproteins preliminarily washed from soluble proteins were solubilized consecutively by 2% triton X-100 and 1% SDS. PAG-electrophoresis with SDS and 2-mercaptoethanol revealed 10 polypeptide bands (Mm 109, 62, 59, 54, 51, 42, 16, 14, 12.

[Identification and characteristics of concanavalin A-binding neurospecific glycoproteins in human brain and brain tumors].

Soluble and membrane-bound neurospecific Con A-binding glycoproteins from human brain and tumours were identified and characterized, using a procedure which included stepwise extraction with low and high ionic strength buffers, buffered. Triton X-100 and sodium deoxycholate followed by ConA-Sepharose column chromatography, SDS-PAAG electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Adsorbed antisera against different types of neurospecific glycoproteins were used.