Effect of exogenous human chorionic gonadotropin on ovulation in mice

The implementation of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), hormonal stimulation in particular, may change the quality of ovulated oocytes. The purpose of our work was to study ovulation in CD1 mice after their stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and to investigate the effects of such hormonal stimulation on the pregnancy duration, fetal losses and the weight of the offspring. No significant differences were found in the total number of ovulated oocytes or in the number of immature (without a polar body) ovulated oocytes; nor were there differences between the groups in the number of oocytes with a developing polar body. However, the number of matured oocytes with a distinct polar body was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in mice stimulated with hCG (experimental group) as compared with the controls (6.2 ± 0.86 and 2.2 ± 0.97, respectively). No significant differences were observed between the experimental and control mice in the duration of pregnancy or in the numbers of term offspring, including the percentage of live and stillborn pups. However, the body weight of the offspring in the experimental group was significantly lower (p < 0.001) as compared with the controls on the fifth day after birth (3.16 ± 0.09 and 3.76 ± 0.07, respectively). Thus, exogenous hCG facilitates the development of mouse oocytes in vivo, which leads to the larger number of their mature forms at ovulation, however, the offspring born after hCG-stimulated pregnancy was characterized by a lower body weight on the fifth day after birth

Effects of a high-fat diet on the lipid profile of oocytes in mice

There are evidences that obese women exhibit a detrimental oocyte quality. However, it remains unclear how this change is associated with obesity, indirectly – or directly through a change in the content and/or composition of lipids in oocytes. The aim of this work was to study effects of a high-fat diet applied to female donor mice on the amount and qualitative composition of lipids of immature and in vivo matured oocytes. A high-fat diet caused larger body weight in female mice compared with the control (p < 0.001; 44.77±1.46 and 35.22±1.57, respectively), and increased the blood levels of cholesterol (p < 0.05; 2.06±0.10 and 1.78±0.10, respectively) and triglycerides (p < 0.05; 2.13±0.23 and 1.49±0.21, respectively). At the same time, this diet does not affect the level of unsaturation of lipids in immature (0.207±0.004 in the experiment and 0.206±0.002 in the control) and matured oocytes (0.212±0.005 in the experiment and 0.211±0.003 in the control). Total lipid content increased during in vivo maturation of mouse oocytes. The amount of lipids was greater in mature oocytes in the experimental group compared to the control (p < 0.01; 8.15±0.37 and 5.83±0.14, respectively). An increase in intracellular lipid amount during oocyte maturation was revealed both after a standard diet (p < 0.05; 4.72±0.48 and 5.83±0.14, respectively) and after a fat-rich diet (p < 0.001; 3.45±0.62 and 8.15±0.37, respectively). Thus, during in vivo oocyte maturation in mice the content of intracellular lipids enhanced, the high-fat diet aggravated this dynamics of lipid increase during in vivo maturation of oocytes

Alterations in the social-conditioned place preference and density of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area in Clsnt2-KO mice

The incidence of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) constantly increases in the world. Studying the mechanisms underlying ASD as well as searching for new therapeutic targets are crucial tasks. Many researchers agree that autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Clstn2-KO mouse strain with a knockout of calsyntenin 2 gene (Clstn2) is model for investigating ASD. This study aims to evaluate the social-conditioned place preference as well as density of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which belongs to the brain reward system, in the males of the Clstn2-KO strain using wild type C57BL/6J males as controls. Social-conditioned place preference test evaluates a reward-dependent component of social behavior. The results of this test revealed differences between the Clstn2-KO and the control males, as the former did not value socializing with the familiar partner, spending equal time in the isolationand socializing-associated compartments. The Clstn2-KO group entered both compartments more frequently, but spent less time in the socializingassociated compartment compared to the controls. By contrast, the control males of the C57BL/6J strain spent more time in socializing-associated compartment and less time in the compartment that was associated with loneness. At the same time, an increased number of DA and possibly GABA neurons labeled with antibodies against the type 2 dopamine receptor as well as against tyrosine hydroxylase were detected in the VTA of the Clstn2-KO mice. Thus, a change in social-conditioned place preference in Clstn2-KO mice as well as a higher number of neurons expressing type 2 dopamine receptors and tyrosine hydroxylase in the VTA, the key structure of the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway, were observed

COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY AND COMPUTATIONAL VIBRATION SPECTROSCOPY OF AEROSIL

Spherical aerosil particles of 160 Å and more in diameter consist of an amorphous silica core that is neutral to chemical reactions, and an active surface. The chemistry of aerosil is the chemistry of its surface. This phenomenon, from the modern computational chemistry point of view, is considered in three steps: model simulation, methods of calculation and an analysis of the results obtained. Model simulation is based on a cluster approximation. The cluster consisting of up to 150 atoms is considered. The model for the core and surface of silica as well as for adsorbed molecules of water, methane, anthracene and other compounds is considered. The primary choice of a model is made with molecular mechanics methods. Optimized structures, binding energies and force-field constants are obtained with the program CLUSTER-Z1 based on the AM1 method of Dewar. Vibrational spectra are calculated with the program COSPECO. The obtained data are used to fit experimental spectra of inelastic neutron scattering. The fitting has resulted in making a choice of the most reliable model

COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY AND COMPUTATIONAL VIBRATION SPECTROSCOPY OF AEROSIL

Spherical aerosil particles of 160 Å and more in diameter consist of an amorphous silica core that is neutral to chemical reactions, and an active surface. The chemistry of aerosil is the chemistry of its surface. This phenomenon, from the modern computational chemistry point of view, is considered in three steps: model simulation, methods of calculation and an analysis of the results obtained. Model simulation is based on a cluster approximation. The cluster consisting of up to 150 atoms is considered. The model for the core and surface of silica as well as for adsorbed molecules of water, methane, anthracene and other compounds is considered. The primary choice of a model is made with molecular mechanics methods. Optimized structures, binding energies and force-field constants are obtained with the program CLUSTER-Z1 based on the AM1 method of Dewar. Vibrational spectra are calculated with the program COSPECO. The obtained data are used to fit experimental spectra of inelastic neutron scattering. The fitting has resulted in making a choice of the most reliable model

RENEWABLE NATURAL RAW MATERIALS ARE THE BASIS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL BIOPOLYMER REAGENT SYSTEMS FOR USE IN OILFIELD CHEMISTRY

The relevance of the study is caused by the need to use both non-renewable and renewable natural resources to meet the energy needs. The purpose: the use of renewable raw materials with similar technological characteristics (starch, guar gum and neutral lignosulfonate) to create new reagent systems LKR-1 and LGKR-1 for application in oilfield chemistry, in particular as part of drilling fluids for use in the construction of oil and gas wells. Methods: set of existing basic methods for studying the properties of raw materials and synthesis products of natural polymers; evaluation and analysis of consistency index and nonlinearity coefficient (Brookfield viscometer), rheological (Fann rotary viscometer) and filtration properties (Fann filter press) of the developed reagent systems and known brands of gums. Results. It is shown that for Russia the issue of the competent use of renewable raw materials products is relevant, since it is a world leader in the possession of forest reserves and timber. The structure of wood as a polymer composition and the main components of both deciduous and coniferous species – cellulose, camels, starch, lignosulfonates – are presented. The paper introduces the list of domestic and foreign scientists whose works are devoted to the research and application of natural polymers in oilfield chemistry, products of renewable natural raw materials. The authors considered the influence of the main natural polymers used in oilfield chemistry and their modified forms on the technological parameters of process fluids. The properties of the developed reagent systems and their components are considered, and the presence of pseudoplastic properties of the LCR-1 reagent system is established, despite the fact that its components – starch and lignosulfonate – do not possess these properties. It was found that the component of the LGCR-1 reagent system, guar gum of plant origin, gives the developed reagent pseudoplastic properties comparable to the properties of reagents based on more expensive xanthan gum of the enzymatic production method

Гемолитическая анемия вследствие дефицита глюкозо-6-фосфатдегидрогеназы, осложненная желчнокаменной болезнью: клинический случай

Background. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is one of the most frequent enzyme defects leading to hemolysis. About 2% of Russian Federation population have this pathology. This clinical case demonstrates such complication of this disease as cholelithiasis.Clinical case description. Patient B., 17 years old, is followed up by hematologist for anemia due to glucose6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Biliary calculi were revealed in 2019. Skin and scleral icterus was noted during examination, as well as soreness in the right hypochondrium during palpation. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography has shown two calculi in the distal parts of the ductus choledochus, gallstones, dilatation of the common hepatic and cystic ducts. Complete blood count: hyperchromic megalocytic anemia. Biochemical blood test: hyperbilirubinemia (mostly direct one) after 2 days of hospitalization. Endoscopic lithoextraction from ductus choledochus was performed. Drug therapy was prescribed. Positive dynamics were mentioned at control tests. The patient was discharged in a satisfactory condition on the 10th day.Conclusion. Adequate diagnosis and adequate management promote favorable disease outcome. Введение. Дефицит глюкозо-6-фосфатдегидрогеназы — одна из наиболее частых энзимопатий, приводящих к гемолизу. Около 2% процентов населения Российской Федерации имеют данную патологию. Клинический случай демонстрирует такое осложнение данного заболевания, как желчнокаменная болезнь.Описание клинического случая. Пациент В., 17 лет, наблюдается у гематолога по поводу анемии вследствие дефицита глюкозо-6- фосфатдегидрогеназы. В 2019 г. обнаружены конкременты желчного пузыря. При осмотре отмечается иктеричность кожных покровов и склер, при пальпации — болезненность в правом подреберье. При магнитно-резонансной холангиопанкреатографии: два конкремента в дистальных отделах холедоха, камни желчного пузыря, расширение общего печеночного и пузырного протоков. В общем анализе крови: гиперхромная макроцитарная анемия легкой степени. В биохимическом анализе крови: гипербилирубинемия, преимущественно за счет прямой фракции, после 2-х сут госпитализации. Проведена эндоскопическая литоэкстракция из холедоха. Назначена медикаментозная терапия. Отмечается положительная динамика в контрольных исследованиях. Пациент выписан в удовлетворительном состоянии на 10-е сут.Заключение. Адекватная диагностика и верная тактика лечения способствуют благоприятному исходу заболевания.