It is shown that the level of the Lep gene expression is a marker for B/Ks-Leprᵈᵇ/+ mice, which line serves as an optimal model for describing metabolic syndrome (MS) in preclinical studies. Mice were transplanted with cultured isogenic bone marrow cells (BMC) from heterozygous db/+ donors. The recipients were divided into two groups according to an early or advanced stage of MS development. We analyzed the expression of the Lep gene on the 3rd, 8th and 14th day following the administration of stem BMCs in the brain, liver and pancreas cells by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in real time. The Lep gene expression was evaluated in terms of the number of cDNA copies. According to our data, leptin is a complete regulator of metabolic processes due to its effect on the hypothalamus, which, together with the hippocampus, controls the production of acetylcholine and insulin in the brain. We have proven the role of the Lep gene as a quantitative criterion for evaluating the effi cacy of a cell therapy in MS.

The work was performed on cats with electrodes stereotactically implanted in various parts of the brain. The effect of melatonin, atomoxetine and chlorpromazine on cerebral cortex structures with different phylogenetic organization and on the hippocampus in particular was studied.

A normalization of FFT-transformed brain electrograms was conducted. The electrograms were recorded under the influence of the agents under study, which exhibit an activating and depressing effect recorded by the main pharmacokinetic points. Although the psychoactive agents demonstrate different neurochemical and clinical-pharmacological properties, their effects are most clearly seen on brain electrograms by the activity of hippocampal θ and γ rhythms that reflect mesolimbic mechanisms. These mechanisms are characterized by uniqueness of action during the entire period of influence, which coincides with the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic data.

These manifestations reflect the effect of the studied psychoactive agents on the fundamental mechanisms of the brain consisting, e.g., in the transformation of intracenter relations and the formation of cognitive functions. 

This work was aimed at investigating the effect of maral antler powder on the activity of animal hematopoietic stem cells both in vivo and in vitro.

For in vivo experiments based on the model of sleep deprivation, male mice of the CBA/CaLac line were used. Prior to the experiment, mice in the experimental and control groups were intragastrically administered with a water dispersion of a maral antler powder and distilled water, respectively. Subsequently, the extraction of bone marrow from the femur, cloning of erythro- and granulo-monocytopoiesis precursors and count of the number of cell colonies were performed. Experiments in vitro involved the extraction of bone marrow cells from the femur followed by their cultivation both in a culture containing a maral antler powder (experimental) and distilled water (control culture). The number of CFU was counted 7 days following the beginning of the experiment.

Maral antlers are found to exhibit no noticeable modulating effect on the colony-forming activity of mouse hematopoietic stem cells in vitro. However, according to our in vivo experiments on mice, a preventive administration of an antler powder before a stressful infl uence (sleep deprivation) prevents suppression of erythropoiaesis processes, thus exhibiting a modulating effect on the activity of CFU-E and CFU-GM by increasing the number of CFU-E and reducing the number of CFU-GM by more than three times. The modulating effect of maral antlers on the activity of hematopoietic and stem cells is based on the infl uence of biologically active substances contained therein on the neuroendocrine regulation of the hematopoietic system occurring in living organisms. 

The cerebroprotective activity of nootropics in combination with melaxen (melatonin containing drug) was investigated by a comprehensive morphological analysis using an experimental model of acute cerebral ischemia in rats. According to the obtained data, a preventive use of vinpocetine in combination with melaxen signifi cantly reduces the degree of lethality among experimental animals and the severity of ischemic brain damage. A suggestion is made about the potential feasibility of melatonin-containing drugs for increasing the effi cacy of neuroprotection in cerebral ischemia.

Oxidative stress is considered to be a factor leading to lung damage in premature infants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inhaled antioxidants incorporated into egg lecithin liposomes on the indicators of oxidative stress in the lungs of newborn guinea pigs under experimental hyperoxia (3 days). Bronchoalveolar lavage fl uid (BALF) was used as a material for the study. Under hyperoxia exposure, inhalation of liposomes containing N-acetylcysteine and alpha-tocopherol contributed to the suppression of the reactive oxygen species production by cells, normalization of glutathione peroxidase activity and carbonyls content, while not affecting the level of diene conjugates in BALF. The introduction of retinoid-containing liposomes (retinol and retinoic acid) under hyperoxia was accompanied by normalization of glutathione peroxidase activity as well as the content of protein oxidation products in BALF, while the generation of reactive oxygen species remained enhanced, and the diene conjugates and thiobarbituric acid reactive products exceeded the levels in animals exposed to hyperoxia alone. Thus, the inhaled liposomes containing retinoids and egg lecithin exhibit not only anti-, but also a prooxidant effect in the lungs under hyperoxia exposure, unlike the liposomal forms of N-acetylcysteine and alpha-tocopherol.

In this work, we set out to study changes in the heart rate frequency (HRF) and wave characteristics of the heart rate variability (HRV) of nonlinear male rats in pharmacological tests under a single administration of hexametonium (HM, 7 mg/kg), atropine (AT, 1 mg/kg), anapriline (ANP, 2 mg/kg), as well as under a sequential administration of HM and atropine (anapriline) in the same doses. A spectral analysis of the HRV was carried out across the following ranges: HF (0.9–3.5 Hz), LF (0.32–0.9 Hz), VLF (0.15–0.32 Hz). HM administration increased the HRF by 12–16%, simultaneously reducing the power of VLF, LF and HF by 85% (p<0.001), 60% (p<0.05) and almost 40%, respectively. This indicates the degree of participation of H-cholinergic transmission in the formation of HRV waves at the level of vegetative nodes. The blockade of M-cholinoreceptors (M-ChR) with AT sharply increased the HRF (by 30%, p<0.001) and reduced the wave power of the HRV spectrum by 95–98% (p<0.001), which confi rms the leading role of the cardiomyocyte M-ChR system in the formation of all the waves of the HRV spectrum. The injection of the β-AR blocker lowered the HRF by 25% (p<0.001) and the HRV wave power, in particular VLF, by 70% (p<0.01). A preliminary blockade of the vegetative nodes by HM somewhat weakened a drop in the power of HRV waves after AT administration, leveled the reduction of the HRF and potentiated the increase in the power of HF waves after ANP administration. The results indicate that the wave power across the entire range of the HRV spectrum is greatly determined (by 95–98%) by regulatory infl uences through the M-cholinoreceptors of the cardiomyocyte system, as well as by their interaction with infl uences through the myocardial adrenoreceptors and the ganglionic level of the autonomic nervous system. Vegetative nodes contribute to the formation of all HRV waves, in particular VLF and LF, change the degree and character of HRV changes when affecting the myocardial M-ChR and AR, which should be taken into account in experimental practice.

Mitochondria play a key role in the life of any cell. The most characteristic feature of mitochondria is the presence of a large number of enzymes involved in oxidative phosphorylation and the supply of a cell with energy. In addition, mitochondria participate in the storage and transmission of hereditary information, as well as in apoptosis and plastic processes. Any disease is associated with violation of the mitochondrion functions; therefore, research into the functional characteristics of mitochondria in various pathologies under clinical and experimental conditions, as well as a search for new diagnostic markers seem to be a promising and relevant task.

This article presents the results of an experimental study of a new domestic preparation “Vitreolon”, an artifi cial vitreous body based on a weakly cross-linked hydrogel. The safety and effi cacy of this product for the treatment of retinal detachment in experimental animals was evaluated in comparison with silicone oil. The tamponade properties of each drug, their effect on the internal structure of the animal’s eye, convenience and safety of use in ophthalmic surgery were investigated. A base for conducting detailed preclinical and clinical trials was prepared.

Rabbits of the gray chinchilla breed were chosen for the study, largely because the size of their eye is close to that of the human eye. This fact allowed us to study the effect of “Vitreolon” in an amount approximately equal to that used in clinical conditions. During the experiment, the indicators of ophthalmological examinations of experimental animals were recorded. The physiological state of the animals was controlled daily. The observation period ranged from 3 months (for rabbits with a silicone tamponade) to 6 months (for rabbits with a tamponade using the new hydrogel artificial vitreous body).

It is found that “Vitreolon” is not inferior to silicone oil in terms of tamponade properties. Moreover, it boasts a number of signifi cant advantages, such as a lack of emulsifi cation, absence of migration to the anterior chamber of the eye, no effect on the exchange of intraocular fl uid, no effect on the intraocular pressure (IOP), long-term retention of the shape and transparency. The characteristics of the new hydrogel artifi cial vitreous body are close to those of the native vitreous body. The application of “Vitreolon” in ophthalmic surgery will increase the effi cacy of retinal detachment treatment by reducing the recovery time.

This article presents the results of a study aimed at determining the gastroprotective activity of a number of short-chain peptides against the background of experimental gastropathy in rats. Indomethacin ulcer was used as a model of ulceration. Omeprazole, a drug of basic therapy, was used as a comparison drug. According to the results of the study, two peptides — tetrapeptide LA-4 and hexapeptide LF-6 — demonstrated the gastroprotective activity. The effect was manifested in a signifi cant decrease in the average number of erosions on the surface of the gastric mucosa, their depth, the number of stripe-shaped erosions and Paul’s Index. At the same time, the LF-6 peptide had an effect comparable to that of omeprazole, which makes it promising and interesting for further study.