Expression of VEGF and VEGF-R3 receptor by placental endothelial cells in health and gestosis.

We carried out a comparative analysis of changes in VEGF secretion and expression of VEGF-R3 receptor by placental endothelial cells in health and gestosis and of changes in VEGF-R3 expression by EA.hy926 human endothelial cells during culturing with supernatants conditioned by placental explants from women with normal pregnancy and patients with gestosis. Reduced secretion of VEGF and expression of VEGF-R3 by placental endothelial cells in gestosis can be caused by functional deficiency of the endothelial cells and low viability of endothelial cells.

Contractile activity of rabbit uterus at the end of pregnancy and a method for its registration.

We developed a method for synchronous registration of electrical activity of the myometrium in pregnant rabbit females and electrocardiograms of the female and fetus on a paper tape and on PC in the online mode using an original pickup for registration of intrauterine pressure in awaken animals in a natural (sitting) posture. The method causes no pregnancy complications and is adequate for evaluation of uterine contractility, female and fetal status in different variants of the experiment.

Comparative efficiency of intraperitoneal interleukine-2 and interferon-A in rats with experimental endometriosis.

Intraperitoneal injection of rat IFN-alpha and human IL-2 to rats with experimental endometriosis led to complete regression of endometrioid heterotopies in 50 and 60% cases, respectively. Retention of the endometrioid epithelium resulted in a significant reduction of proliferative activity of its cells, degree of vascularization, and number of macrophages in the leukocytic infiltration of endometrioid heterotopies.

Spontaneous and LPS-induced secretion of cytokines by villous chorion tissue.

Secretion of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha cytokines by villous chorion cultures (7-14 weeks) during normal pregnancy and in spontaneous abortions was studied. Secretion of IL-1alpha and IL-6 increased 4.5 and 7.

Study of cytokine profile and angiogenic potential of peritoneal fluid in patients with external genital endometriosis.

The concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6), vascular endothelium growth factor, tumor growth factor-beta, and insulin-like growth factor-1 were measured in the peritoneal fluid of patients with external genital endometriosis and healthy women by enzyme immunoassay. The effect of peritoneal fluid from patients with external genital endometriosis on proliferative activity of EA.Hy926 human endothelial cells was evaluated by the method based on the analysis of cell cycle by flow cytometry.

Local production of interleukins and growth factors in external genital endometriosis.

Secretion of some IL and growth factors (VEGF, IGF-I, TGFbeta) by endometrial tissues and endometrioid heterotopies was studied in vitro in patients with external genital endometriosis of different severity. The production of IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, and VEGF in the endometrium increased in severe external genital endometriosis, while the secretion of TGFbeta decreased; hyperproduction of IL-2, IL-6, VEGF and decreased production of TGFbeta were detected in endometrioid foci. Presumably, local cytokine imbalance and increased proliferative activity of endometrial cells are involved in the mechanisms of formation and functioning of endometrioid foci.

[Cytogenetic analysis of human spermatozoa using intracytoplasmic sperm injection into mouse oocytes].

The chromosome complement of human spermatozoa has been analyzed after their intracytoplasmic injection into unfertilized mouse oocytes. A total of 427 metaphase plates have been obtained, including 176 metaphase plates from spermatozoa with normal head morphology (108 and 68 spermatozoa from patients with normal (the control group) and abnormal spermogram parameters, respectively), and 251 metaphase plates from spermatozoa with abnormal heads (76, 91, 67, and 17 spermatozoa with large, amorphous, elongated, and round heads, respectively). The frequency of chromosome abnormalities in the control group is 26.

[Genomic and molecular medicine].

Molecular medicine is a new research field underlain by achievements of the Human Genome Project. The review considers the contribution of the Laboratory of Prenatal Diagnostics of the Ott Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology to the development of molecular medicine in Russia. Special emphasis is placed on molecular diagnostics, predictive medicine, and gene therapy.

[Analysis of the association of HLA-DQ1 alleles with mutation of the 21-hydroxylase gene in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia].

In 96 patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and 50 healthy donors from northwestern Russia the distribution of the HLA-DQA1 alleles and the mutation spectrum and frequency at the CYP21B gene were examined. In the patients with nonclassical (NC) CAH, the distribution of the HLA-DQA1 polymorphic alleles was similar to that in the population sample. In the patients with the salt-wasting form of the disease a statistically significant decrease of the *0401 or *501 major allele frequency was observed.

[Dependence of the efficacy of transfecting muscle fibers in vivo on electroporation conditions].

This study is a survey of in vivo experiments on transfection of laboratory mouse muscle fibers by electroporation using an original device generating electric impulses. Transfection efficiency proved to depend on DNA dose and the number of electric impulses. It can be increased significantly by electroporation at varying pulse burst polarity.

[Experimental progestogenic activity of novel derivatives of 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone].

Experiments on infantile female rabbits showed that new 17a-hydroxyprogesterone derivatives (AMOL phenyl propionate, AMOL isopropyl ester) possess a pronounced gestagenic activity. In particular, AMOL isopropyl ester is capable of maintaining pregnancy in ovariectomized animals (Corner-Allen assay).

Hormonal function and proliferative activity of thymic cells in humans: immunocytochemical correlations.

Objectives: The immunocytochemical study of the localization of hormones in thymic cells has been performed to clarify possible correlations of their expression with proliferative activity of thymocytes.

Methods: We used commercial antibodies to serotonin, melatonin, somatostatin, glucagon, gastrin, beta-endorphin and histamine, and ABP or BSP kits for visualization of reaction. Computer image analysis was used to find correlations between hormone production and proliferative activity of thymocytes.

Secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by villous chorion tissue in spontaneous abortion.

Secretion of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IFN-alpha, and IFN-gamma by the chorion tissue (8-12 weeks) was studied in normal gestation and spontaneous abortion. The production of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and IFN-alpha virtually did not change in spontaneous abortion, while IFN-gamma was not secreted in all experimental groups. The production of IL-6 increased more than 2-fold in patients with spontaneous abortion during the first trimester.

[Analysis of the polymorphic alleles of genes encoding phase 1 and phase 2 detoxication enzymes in patients with endometriosis].

Polymorphysms of the three genes encoding phase 1 (CYP1A1, mEPH1, and CYP2E2) and the three genes encoding phase 2 (NAT2, GSTM1, and GSTT1) xenobiotic detoxication enzymes were typed by use of PCR in 74 patients with extragenital endometriosis. Distribution of the CYP1A1, mEPHX1, CYP2E1, NAT2, and GSTM1 polymorphic alleles in the patient group corresponded to that in the control group. At the same time, functionally defective genotypes GSTM1 0/0, NAT2 S/S; GSTM1 0/0, GSTT1 0/0; and GSTT1 0/0, NAT2 S/S were three, four and eight times more frequent among the patients than in healthy individuals.

[The frequency of heteroploidy in spermatozoa of patients with infertility].

The incidence of heteroploid spermatozoa was studied by mono- and dual-colored fluorescence in situ hybridization in semen samples from donors and patients with normal and impaired spermatogenesis. The frequency of heteroploid sperm in the ejaculate was linearly and inversely correlated with sperm parameters (sperm concentration in the ejaculate and proportion of motile and morphologically normal spermatozoa). The level of heterploidy was the most significant in the semen samples from patients with oligoasthenoteratospermia and oligoasthenospermia.

[Molecular genetic analysis of Y-chromosome micro deletions in men with severe spermatogenic defects].

Microdeletions of the Y-chromosomal AZF loci were revealed in 10 (12%) of 82 patients with severe idiopathic spermatogenetic defects. Deletions involved AZFc in six patients, AZFa in one patient, AZFb + c in two patients, and AZFa + b + c in one patient. Microdeletion analysis employed multiplex PCR with 22 pairs of primers directed to Y-specific STS of deletion intervals 5, 6, and 7 (Yq11).

[Analysis of association of Col1a1 gene alleles with the development of osteoporosis].

Allele frequencies of the G-->T polymorphism at the regulatory region of the Collal gene in the population of the northwestern Russia (control group) and in osteoporotic patients were estimated by the RFLP method based on PCR-mediated site-directed mutagenesis. Three patient groups with radiologically confirmed osteoporosis were examined. Group 1 consisted of 64 patients with severe osteoporosis complicated by fractures (SO); group 2 included 15 children with idiopathic osteoporosis (IO); group 3 consisted of 98 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis developed at the background of estradiol-deficiency state (PMO).

Drift of tetM determinant in urogenital microbiocenosis containing mycoplasmas during treatment with a tetracycline antibiotic.

We studied the correlation between genetic transfer of tetM determinant in Tn916 conjugative transposon by urogenital mycoplasmas (Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum) and changes in the bacterial repertoire during treatment with a tetracycline antibiotic. Basic conditions favoring the nonspecific transfer of tetM determinant into mollicute cells are determined and the allele polymorphism of tetM determinant in clinical strains of M. hominis and U.

Effect of megestrol caproate on the reproductive function of laboratory animals.

In vivo experiments on rats and rabbits showed that megestrol caproate, a 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone derivative exhibits 10-fold higher gestagenic activity compared to progesterone and possesses no androgenic, anabolic, and estrogenic activities.

Glutathione-dependent system of antioxidant defense in the placenta in preterm delivery.

Components of the antioxidant defense system in placental tissues were studied in women with normal pregnancy and full-term delivery and women with spontaneous abortions at 28-36 weeks. In women with spontaneous abortions glutathione peroxidase activity in placental tissues increased and the content of SH compounds decreased, which led to exhaustion of the antioxidant defense system. Glutathione-S-transferase activity also decreased, which attests to impaired detoxifying function of the placenta.

[Therapeutic efficacy of novel 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone derivatives in experimental preterm labor].

The ability of a series of new 17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesteron derivatives (acetomepregnol, AMOL phenyl propyoate, butagest) in preventing the prostaglandin-induced preterm labor was experimentally studied in mice. It was found that all the synthetic gestagens studied, especially butagest, maintained pregnancy in all test animals on the model of enzaprost F induced abortion. The proposed progestogens can be used to prevent abortion in pregnancies in cases of risk from diseases connected with excess prostaglandin secretion.

[Adaptive thermoregulatory reactions of the rabbit fetus at the end of the intrauterine development].

The data of permanent simultaneous registration of electrocardiogram, rectal & brown adipose tissue temperatures of the rabbit foetus have been obtained in chronic experiments. The haemodynamic shift in intensity of maternal-placental and foeto-placental blood flow (by female trental injection) led to a decrease in the foetus rectal temperature (0.33 +/- 0.

[Disruption of circadian rhythms of biogenic amines in rat hypothalamus upon administration of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine].

Levels of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and the main metabolite of serotonin 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) have been measured in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), preoptic area (PA), and median eminence (ME) of hypothalamus of rats after sole subcutaneous injection of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (SDMH). Circadian changes of DA in all the brain structures under study as well as of NE in PA were observed in the control group, their levels in the mornings being higher than in the evenings; a circadian change of 5-HIAA in SCN had an opposite tendency. Both the evening (11 p.

Effect of chronic inhalation of toluene and dioxane on activity of free radical processes in rat ovaries and brain.

The effects of toluene and dioxane inhalations on the intensity of free radical oxidation in rat ovaries and brain cortex were studied. Both toxins in a dose 10-fold surpassing the maximum permissible concentration increased activity of glutathione peroxidase in brain tissue; moreover, toluene increased chemiluminescence intensity, which attested to activation of free radical processes. In ovarian tissue toluene increased activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase and the intensity of lipid peroxidation.

[Analysis of deletional damage in SMN1, SMN2, and NAIP genes in patients with spinal muscular atrophy in the northwestern region of Russia].

Polymerase chain reaction with subsequent SSCP (single-strand DNA conformational polymorphism) and restriction (BselI restriction endonuclease) analyses were used to type the DNA samples of affected individuals and their relatives from 23 Russian families with high risk of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) residing in the northwestern region of Russia. Deletions of exon 7 of the SMN gene were found in 96% of the individuals examined. The frequency of homozygous deletion of exons 7 and 8 of the SMN1 gene was 65%.