State of the body in disorders of diurnal physiological rhythms and long-term hypokinesia

In order to study the effects of hypokinesia and circadian rhythm restructuring on the morphological and functional status of the hypothalamo-hypophysic-adrenal system, young male Wistar rats were placed in small cages for varying periods. The animals were decapitated and preparations were made from sections of the brain and adrenals and numerous destructive changes were noted in the investigated regions of the brain, indicating that the condition of these areas is directly affected by disruption of established rhythms in physiological processes

Dysregulation of microtubule stability impairs morphofunctional connectivity in primary neuronal networks

Functionally related neurons assemble into connected networks that process and transmit electrochemical information. To do this in a coordinated manner, the number and strength of synaptic connections is tightly regulated. Synapse function relies on the microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton, the dynamics of which are in turn controlled by a plethora of MT-associated proteins, including the MT-stabilizing protein Tau. Although mutations in the Tau-encodingMAPT gene underlie a set of neurodegenerative disorders, termed tauopathies, the exact contribution of MT dynamics and the perturbation thereof to neuronal network connectivity has not yet been scrutinized. Therefore, we investigated the impact of targeted perturbations of MT stability on morphological (e.g., neurite- and synapse density) and functional (e.g., synchronous calcium bursting) correlates of connectivity in networks of primary hippocampal neurons. We found that treatment with MT-stabilizing or -destabilizing compounds impaired morphofunctional connectivity in a reversible manner. We also discovered that overexpression of MAPT induced significant connectivity defects, which were accompanied by alterations in MT dynamics and increased resistance to pharmacological MT depolymerization. Overexpression of a MAPT variant harboring the P301L point mutation in the MT-binding domain did far less, directly linking neuronal connectivity with Tau's MT binding affinity. Our results show that MT stability is a vulnerable node in tauopathies and that its precise pharmacological tuning may positively affect neuronal network connectivity. However, a critical balance in MT turnover causes it to be a difficult therapeutic target with a narrow operating window

Morphofunctional correlations in the experimental study of myocardiopathies under the stress of forced restraint. Note 2: The influence of adrenal imbalance

Tests were performed with 70 rats to determine the effects of restraint on the functions and structure of the myocardium under varying conditions of adrenal imbalance. Results showed that in rats with adrenal imbalance, fasting and restraint produced the same biochemical alterations as in the controls. The morphologic alteractions, as well as their electric expression, were more varied and evident in the animals with adrenal imbalance. Persistence of the microscopic and electrocardiographic alterations after 72 hours restraint in the animals subjected to unilateral adrenalectomy suggests chronic evolution of the myocardial lesions. This proves the necessity of intact adrenals for a good adaptability to stress

The morphofunctional approach to emotion modelling in robotics

In this conceptual paper, we discuss two areas of research in robotics, robotic models of emotion and morphofunctional machines, and we explore the scope for potential cross-fertilization between them. We shift the focus in robot models of emotion from information-theoretic aspects of appraisal to the interactive significance of bodily dispositions. Typical emotional phenomena such as arousal and action readiness can be interpreted as morphofunctional processes, and their functionality may be replicated in robotic systems with morphologies that can be modulated for real-time adaptation. We investigate the control requirements for such systems, and present a possible bio-inspired architecture, based on the division of control between neural and endocrine systems in humans and animals. We suggest that emotional epi- sodes can be understood as emergent from the coordination of action control and action-readiness, respectively. This stress on morphology complements existing research on the information-theoretic aspects of emotion

Targeting neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease

Almost 47 million people suffer from dementia worldwide, with an estimated new case diagnosed every 3.2 seconds. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) accounts for approximately 60%–80% of all dementia cases. Given this evidence, it is clear dementia represents one of the greatest global public health challenges. Currently used drugs alleviate the symptoms of AD but do not treat the underlying causes of dementia. Hence, a worldwide quest is under way to find new treatments to stop, slow, or even prevent AD. Besides the classic targets of the oldest therapies, represented by cholinergic and glutamatergic systems, β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques, and tau tangles, new therapeutic approaches have other targets. One of the newest and most promising strategies is the control of reactive gliosis, a multicellular response to brain injury. This phenomenon occurs as a consequence of a persistent glial activation, which leads to cellular dysfunctions and neuroinflammation. Reactive gliosis is now considered a key abnormality in the AD brain. It has been demonstrated that reactive astrocytes surround both Aβ plaques and tau tangles. In this condition, glial cells lose some of their homeostatic functions and acquire a proinflammatory phenotype amplifying neuronal damage. So, molecules that are able to restore their physiological functions and control the neuroinflammatory process offer new therapeutic opportunities for this devastating disease. In this review, we describe the role of neuroinflammation in the AD pathogenesis and progression and then provide an overview of the recent research with the aim of developing new therapies to treat this disorder

Correction of morphofunctional disturbances arising when modelling Preeclampsia with resveratrol and nicorandil

Preeclampsia is one of the most serious diseases of the second half of pregnancy and is surely amongst the top three causes of maternal mortality. Therefore, the creation of new drugs for preventing and correcting preeclampsia is an urgent tas

Effect of ischemia on the canine large bowel: A comparison with the small intestine

Mucosal injury caused by ischemia and reperfusion has been well documented with the small intestine, but little is known about the colon. In the present study, the effect of warm and cold ischemia on the canine colon was studied and compared to that on the small intestine. After in situ flushing, the small intestine and the colon from six beagle dogs were removed and stored for 0.5, 1.5, and 3 hr at 37°C (warm ischemia) or for 1, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hr at 4°C (cold ischemia). Electrophysiology, permeability, biochemistry, and histopathology of the specimens at each ischemic period and after reperfusion in the Ussing chamber were determined. Warm and cold ischemia induced duration-dependent suppression of electrophysiology in both organs, but the colonic mucosa retained higher activity of absorptive enterocytes and cryptic cells than the small intestine. Only the colon showed increased permeability of FITC-conjugated Dextran from the mucosal surface to the submucosal layer after prolonged ischemia. Changes in adenine nucleotides and purine catabolites were not markedly different between the organs. Histopathologic abnormalities during ischemia and after reperfusion were more serious with the small intestine than with the colon. Compared to warm ischemia, hypothermia lessened or delayed these morphofunctional derangements in both organs, which became universally worsened after reperfusion. Colonic mucosa receives morphofunctional derangements from ischemia and reperfusion, but the severity of the damage was much less severe in the colon than in the small intestine

Морфофункціональні особливості юних легкоатлетів-бігунів 9-11 років

(uk) Статтю присвячено морфофункціональним особливостям юних легкоатлетів-бігунів 9-11 років. Розглянуто сучасний стан питання про рівень морфофункціональних показників у хлопців 9-11 років. Метою дослідження є характеристика особливостей за основними морфофункціональними показниками юних легкоатлетів у віковий період з 9-ти до 11-ти років. Завдання дослідження: вивчення сучасного стану питання; виявлення вірогідних відмінностей між відповідними морфо функціональними показниками юних спортсменів та хлопців, що не займаються спортом; порівняльний аналіз виявлених відмінностей між цими показниками у юних легкоатлетів 9-11 років і хлопців, що не займаються спортом, того ж віку; узагальнення результатів дослідження та формулювання висновків. Результати: досліджено відмінності за станом та динамікою морфофункціональних показників між юними легкоатлетами 9-11 років та хлопцями, що не займаються спортом того ж віку. Виявлено морфофункціональні показники, що найбільш стабільно відрізняють юних легкоатлетів-бігунів 9-11 років та хлопців, що не займаються спортом того ж віку. Висновки: питання морфофункціональних особливостей юних легкоатлетів 9-11 років є актуальним і відповідає запитам практичної роботи фахівців. Найбільш інформативною складовою морфофункціональних особливостей юних легкоатлетів 9-11 років є стан відповідних показників, на відміну від динаміки, за якою нами не виявлено достовірних відмінностей від хлопців, що не займаються спортом. Найбільш стабільним із морфофункціональних показників рівня розвитку рухової функції юних легкоатлетів 9-11 років, що достовірно (Р<0,05) демонструє їх відмінність від хлопців того ж віку які не займаються спортом протягом всього дослідженого вікового періоду, є екскурсія грудної клітини