Transcriptomic changes triggered by ouabain in rat cerebellum granule cells: Role of α3- and α1-Na+,K+-ATPase-mediated signaling

It was shown previously that inhibition of the ubiquitous α1 isoform of Na+,K+-ATPase by ouabain sharply affects gene expression profile via elevation of intracellular [Na+]i/[K+]i ratio. Unlike other cells, neurons are abundant in the α3 isoform of Na+,K+-ATPase, whose affinity in rodents to ouabain is 104-fold higher compared to the α1 isoform. With these sharp differences in mind, we compared transcriptomic changes in rat cerebellum granule cells triggered by inhibition of α1- and α3-Na+,K+-ATPase isoforms. Inhibition of α1- and α3-Na+,K+-ATPase isoforms by 1 mM ouabain resulted in dissipation of transmembrane Na+ and K+ gradients and differential expression of 994 transcripts, whereas selective inhibition of α3-Na+,K+-ATPase isoform by 100 nM ouabain affected expression of 144 transcripts without any impact on the [Na+]i/[K+]i ratio. The list of genes whose expression was affected by 1 mM ouabain by more than 2-fold was abundant in intermediates of intracellular signaling and transcription regulators, including augmented content of Npas4, Fos, Junb, Atf3, and Klf4 mRNAs, whose upregulated expression was demonstrated in neurons subjected to electrical and glutamatergic stimulation. The role [Na+]i/[K+]i-mediated signaling in transcriptomic changes involved in memory formation and storage should be examined further

Selank and semax as potential hepatoprotectors in medical treatment of tuberculosis

The article notes that administering selank and semax to patients with tuberculosis would significantly reduce the number and severity of hepatotoxic reaction

Genome-wide association studies targeting the yield of extraembryonic fluid and production traits in Russian White chickens

Background: The Russian White is a gene pool breed, registered in 1953 after crossing White Leghorns with local populations and, for 50 years, selected for cold tolerance and high egg production (EL). The breed has great potential in meeting demands of local food producers, commercial farmers and biotechnology sector of specific pathogen-free (SPF) eggs, the former valuing the breed for its egg weight (EW), EL, age at first egg (AFE), body weight (BW), and the latter for its yield of extraembryonic fluid (YEF) in 12.5-day embryos, ratio of extraembryonic fluid to egg weight, and embryo mass. Moreover, its cold tolerance has been presumably associated with day-old chick down colour (DOCDC) white rather than yellow, the genetic basis of these traits being however poorly understood. Results: We undertook genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for eight performance traits using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of 146 birds and an Illumina 60KBeadChip. Several suggestive associations (p <5.16*10(-5)) were found for YEF, AFE, BW and EW. Moreover, on chromosome 2, an association with the white DOCDC was found where there is an linkage disequilibrium block of SNPs including genes that are responsible not for colour, but for immune resistance. Conclusions: The obtained GWAS data can be used to explore the genetics of immunity and carry out selection for increasing YEF for SPF eggs production.Peer reviewe

Особенности естественного возобновления в сосново-липовых и лиственнично-липовых насаждениях города Москвы

Problems of natural renewal of tree species (pine-linden and larch-linden stands) were studied in the territory of Forest experimental station, Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. Natural regeneration of tree species is one of the most urgent problems of forestry and forest park management in urban areas. Reforestation refers to complex natural processes that affect all components of biogeocenoses. The purpose of the research was to study natural regeneration in mixed stands in Moscow. Methods and results of field surveys of forest stands in permanent trial plots were described. The forest stands of permanent trial plots are mature and overmature, therefore at present there is a loss of large-sized pine and larch trees. Due to greater durability, larch falls off more slowly compared to pine. Further growth of pine-linden and larch-linden plantations depends on quantity and quality of undergrowth, its viability and growing conditions. In Forest experimental station, natural renewal prevails, represented mainly by the following species: maple and linden. Saplings of pine, larch, oak, and birch appear on some permanent test plots, but soon die due to unfavorable conditions. Oak undergrowth is also unreliable due to powdery mildew infection. The greatest loss of growth occurs in unfavorable growing conditions due to increased recreational loads.Рассмотрены проблемы естественного возобновления древесных пород на примере сосново-­липовых и лиственнично-­липовых насаждений Лесной опытной дачи Тимирязевской сельскохозяйственной академии. Естественное возобновление древесных пород — одна из актуальнейших проблем ведения лесного и лесопаркового хозяйства на урбанизированных территориях. Лесовосстановление относится к сложным природным процессам, оказывающим влияние на все компоненты биогеоценозов. Цель исследования — изучение естественного возобновления в смешанных насаждениях в условиях Москвы. Описаны методы и результаты полевых обследований лесных насаждений постоянных пробных площадей. Древостои постоянных пробных площадей относятся к спелым и перестойным, поэтому в настоящее время наблюдается отпад крупномерных деревьев сосны и лиственницы. Ввиду большей долговечности лиственница отпадает медленнее по сравнению с сосной. Дальнейшая динамика сосново-­липовых и лиственнично-­липовых насаждений зависит от количества и качества подроста, а также показателей его жизнеспособности и условий произрастания. В Лесной опытной даче преобладает естественное возобновление, представленное, главным образом, следующими породами: кленом и липой. Всходы сосны, лиственницы, дуба, березы появляются на некоторых постоянных пробных площадях, но вскоре погибают из-за неблагоприятных условий. Подрост дуба также является неблагонадежным из-за поражения мучнистой росой. Наибольшие потери прироста подроста по высоте происходят в неблагоприятных условиях произрастания, в результате утраты жизнеспособности из-за повышенных рекреационных нагрузок

Thermogravimetric Research Into Fish and Plant Semifinished Products Made of Raw and Blanched Tissues of Azov Goby and Wheat Bran

According to results of thermogravimetric and differentia-thermal studies, we compared characteristics of the amount of adsorption– and capillary-bound moisture in the experimental samples of fish and plant semifinished products, as well as determined the values of activation energy of the molecules of water at different temperatures of moisture removal. By the results of analysis of the DTG peaks, it is established that the largest amount of osmotic– and adsorption-bound moisture is observed in samples made on the base of raw fish raw materials due to the higher degree of hydration of protein molecules in minces.It is found that the application of hydrothermal pre-treatment of muscle, connective and skeletal tissue complex of Azov goby leads to the reduction in the amount of adsorption-bound moisture and decreses the energy of its bond with the product. The use of wheat bran somewhat increases the amount of bound moisture in the fish mince structure as a result of increase in the number of available hydroxyl groups and the formation of macroporous structure, which causes the increase in its hydrofilicity. It is established experimentally that the influence of plant raw materials on the increase in activation energy of the molecules of water for the experimental fish and plant semifinished products is less significant than the use of native fish raw material.The obtained results allow better understanding of the structural changes that occur in the process of drying the fish and plant semifinished products. They might be applied to optimize the drying processs of fish and plant semifinished products and to predict their technological behavior in various food systems, as well as while storing

Development of Annealing Conditions wire Rod Alloy of Al-Zr System to Reach Required Properties

В статье рассмотрено влияние непрерывного и ступенчатого отжига на удельное электрическое сопротивление и механические свойства катанки из малолегированных сплавов системы Al-Zr для достижения заданного уровня свойств. Установлена связь между концентрацией легирующих элементов, структурой и свойствами катанки из исследуемых сплавов. Разработан и рекомендован для внедрения на предприятиях алюминиевой промышленности ступенчатый режим термической обработки, позволяющий получать катанку с соответствующим уровнем свойств международного стандартаIn this article was considered the influence of continuous and stepped annealing on resistivity and mechanical properties of dilute alloy wire rod of a Al-Zr system for reaching of required properties. There was determined the connection between concentrations of alloying elements, structure and properties of investigated alloys wire rod. The stepped heat treatment conditions was developed and recommended for application at the factories of aluminum industry, that allows producing wire rod with properties of international standard

Oxylipin Profiles in Plasma of Patients with Wilson’s Disease

Wilson&rsquo;s disease (WD) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder resulting from mutations in the copper-transporting, P-type ATPase gene ATP7B gene, but influences of epigenetics, environment, age, and sex-related factors on the WD phenotype complicate diagnosis and clinical manifestations. Oxylipins, derivatives of omega-3, and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are signaling mediators that are deeply involved in innate immunity responses; the regulation of inflammatory responses, including acute and chronic inflammation; and other disturbances related to any system diseases. Therefore, oxylipin profile tests are attractive for the diagnosis of WD. With UPLC-MS/MS lipidomics analysis, we detected 43 oxylipins in the plasma profiles of 39 patients with various clinical manifestations of WD compared with 16 healthy controls (HCs). Analyzing the similarity matrix of oxylipin profiles allowed us to cluster patients into three groups. Analysis of the data by VolcanoPlot and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed that eight oxylipins and lipids stand for the variance between WD and HCs: eicosapentaenoic acid EPA, oleoylethanolamide OEA, octadecadienoic acids 9-HODE, 9-KODE, 12-hydroxyheptadecatrenoic acid 12-HHT, prostaglandins PGD2, PGE2, and 14,15-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids 14,15-DHET. The compounds indicate the involvement of oxidative stress damage, inflammatory processes, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathways in this disease. The data reveal novel possible therapeutic targets and intervention strategies for treating WD

Modulation of the Primary Astrocyte-Enriched Cultures’ Oxylipin Profiles Reduces Neurotoxicity

Recently, manipulations with reactive astrocytes have been viewed as a new therapeutic approach that will enable the development of treatments for acute brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. Astrocytes can release several substances, which may exert neurotoxic or neuroprotective effects, but the nature of these substances is still largely unknown. In the present work, we tested the hypothesis that these effects may be attributed to oxylipins, which are synthesized from n-3 or n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). We used astrocyte-enriched cultures and found that: (1) lipid fractions secreted by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)—stimulated rat primary astrocyte-enriched cultures—possessed neurotoxic activity in rat primary neuronal cultures; (2) both of the tested oxylipin synthesis inhibitors, ML355 and Zileuton, reduce the LPS-stimulated release of interleukin 6 (IL-6) by astrocyte cultures, but only ML355 can change lipid fractions from neurotoxic to non-toxic; and (3) oxylipin profiles, measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) from neurotoxic and non-toxic lipid fractions, reveal a group of n-3 docosahexaenoic acid derivatives, hydroxydocosahexaenoic acids (HdoHEs)-4-HdoHE, 8-HdoHE, and 17-HdoHE, which may reflect the neuroprotective features of lipid fractions. Regulating the composition of astrocyte oxylipin profiles may be suggested as an approach for regulation of neurotoxicity in inflammatory processes

Investigation of NO Role in Neural Tissue in Brain and Spinal Cord Injury

Nitric oxide (NO) production in injured and intact brain regions was compared by EPR spectroscopy in a model of brain and spinal cord injury in Wistar rats. The precentral gyrus of the brain was injured, followed by the spinal cord at the level of the first lumbar vertebra. Seven days after brain injury, a reduction in NO content of 84% in injured brain regions and 66% in intact brain regions was found. The difference in NO production in injured and uninjured brain regions persisted 7 days after injury. The copper content in the brain remained unchanged one week after modeling of brain and spinal cord injury. The data obtained in the experiments help to explain the problems in the therapy of patients with combined brain injury