Thymus Polypeptide Preparation Tactivin Restores Learning and Memory in Thymectomied Rats.

We studied the effects of tactivin and splenic polypeptides on learning and memory of thymectomized animals. In 3-week rats, thymectomy blocked active avoidance conditioning. Injections of tactivin (0.5 mg/kg) during 1 month after surgery restored learning capacity; splenic polypeptides were ineffective.

[The influence of the thymus peptides on analgesia caused by acute and chronic immobilization].

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the influence of thymic polypeptides on pain sensitivity and to analyze a possible role of the opioid system in the implementation of the analgesia caused by immobilization stress. METHODS: The study was performed on male Wistar rats at the Moscow state University named after M. V. Lomonosov. We studied effects of thymus peptides: thymuline (0.15 mg/kg), fraction 5 thymosin (0.25 microgram/kg) and cattle thymus extracted product (CTEP) (0.5 mg/kg) on pain sensitivity in rats using test "tail flick" without stress, with acute (3 h) and sub acute (12 h) immobilization stress. The comparison groups were animals treated with saline and spleen polypeptides. RESULTS: It is shown that preparations of thymus increase the threshold of pain sensitivity in the intact animals. Immobilization stress duration 3 and 12 h in thymus peptides treated rats caused a less pronounced increase in pain threshold than in the control groups (immobilization stress 3 h: CTEP--p = 0.025, thymuline--p = 0.022, fraction 5 thymosin--p = 0.033; immobilization stress 12 h: CTEP--p = 0.034, thymuline--p = 0.027, fraction 5 thymosin--p = 0.036). The opioid receptor blocker naloxone (1 mg/kg) did not completely block the stress-induced analgesia, indicating the presence of both opioid and non -opioid components in this state. In thymus peptides treated rats, opioid component was less pronounced than in the control groups (CTEP--p = 0.031, thymuline--p = 0.026, fraction 5 thymosin--p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: Pre-activation of the opioid system by the thymus polypeptides leads to an increase in the share of non-opioid component of the stress-induced analgesia and prevents the depletion of the opioid system in immobilization stress.

Stress-protective effect of thymic peptides.

Experiments on Wistar rats showed that thymic peptides produce a stress-protective effect that manifested in prevention of functional impairment of conditioned active avoidance response and a decrease in generalized motor activity typical of higher nervous activity failure. We concluded that thymic peptides significantly modulate integrative functions of the brain and produce a stress-protective effect.

[The impact of immunoactive drugs on passive avoidance response].

AIM: The objective of this project was to explore the influence of immunoactive drugs (tactivin, thymulin, and thymosin fraction 5) on the development of the passive avoidance conditioned reflex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two types of passive avoidance boxes were used--a regular two-chamber box and a modified three-chamber box, comprising a dark chamber in which rats were exposed to electrical shock, a safe dark chamber, and a light chamber in the center. RESULTS: The project has established that the memory trace persists longer under the influence of the immunoactive drugs in both models, which is consistent with the reference nootropic piracetam test results. Notably, the immunoactive drugs' mnemotropic effect was more pronounced in the modified three-chamber box than in the standard two-chamber box. Using the modified box helped to establish the influence of tactivin, thymulin, and thymosin fraction 5 on the spatial memory component. Immunotropic preparations from thymus caused the animals to select the safe chamber 24 hours later and in subsequent tests. CONCLUSION: The project's results indicate that the drugs tested do possess mnemotropic properties, so their range of clinical use can be broadened.

Quantitative evaluation of learning and memory trace in studies of mnemotropic effects of immunotropic drugs.

Apart from restoration of disordered immunological parameters, tactivin and derinat exhibit a pronounced effect on the higher integrative functions of the brain. Experiments on Wistar rats have shown that these drugs accelerated conditioning of food and defense responses. New methods for quantitative evaluation of memory trace consolidation are proposed.

[Effect of tactivin on the behaviour and learning in rats].

The action of the immunocorrective agent tactivin on CNS functional activity was studied in an experiment using outbred white rats. The drug was shown to affect the animals' behaviour in an elevated cross-shaped maze including learning capacity and ability to overcome functional disorders of conditioned active avoidance response. The data obtained suggest anti-stress activity of tactivin.

Effect of tactivin on functional disturbances in avoidance reaction in rats.

Experiments on outbred albino rats showed that tactivin (thymic polypeptide preparation) reduced functional disturbances in active avoidance reaction induced by extra electric current exposure violating the established relationships between the stimuli, reaction, and its result. The preparation provided high level of avoidance reaction after its violation. New effects of immunocorrective agent tactivin were detected. It not only restored the disordered immunological parameters, but also exhibited a pronounced effect on the higher integrative functions of the brain and produced an antistress effect.

[Intravenous high dose glucocorticoids in patients with ankylosing spondylitis].

AIM: To study efficacy and tolerance of 1-3-day intravenous therapy with high dose glucocorticoids in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Methylprednisolone (MP, n = 33) and dexamethason (DM, n = 13) were given to 46 patients with active AS (median BASDAI 47; coxitis was in 37 patients, arthritis of other peripheral joints--in 30 patients). MP and DM were given as 1-3 intravenous infusions, in single doses equivalent to 500-1000 mg of MP. Total doses were 500-3000 mgfor MP and 120-360 mg for DM. Intervals between the infusions were from I to 8 days. RESULTS: An immediate positive effect was seen in all the patients. Significant reduction of AS activity (lowering of BASDAI by 50% and more) was registered in 22 (48%) patients. In accordance with ASAS criteria, 20% improvement occurred in 35 (76%) patients, 50%--in 25 (54%). A significant decrease was seen in the number of joints with inflammation, volume of exudate in hip joints, ESR, C-reactive protein level, functional condition of the patients (BASFI), spinal mobility. Side effects were observed in 26 of 46 (56%) patients. Severe side effects manifested in 17% cases. Efficacy and tolerance of MP and DM were comparable. The immediate response to therapy and side effect rate were unrelated to single and total doses of glucocorticoids. The response persisted for 3 months in 41% patients, a significant effect was observed for 3 months in 9% patients. CONCLUSION: Short-term intravenous therapy with high-dose glucocorticoids is highly effective in the majority of patients with active AS and well tolerated. A short-term effect was seen both for spondylitis and arthritis of peripheral joints, including coxitis, but the effect is not long-lasting.

[Differential diagnosis of chronic urogenic arthritis]. / O differentsial'noi diagnostike khronicheskogo urogennogo artrita.

AIM: To investigate features of chronic urogenic arthritis (CUA) and its differences with psoriatic arthritis (PA) and ankylosing spondylarthritis (AS) with joint lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CUA, AS, PA were diagnosed according to S. M. Sidelnikova et al., S. van der Linden and Agababova, respectively, in 94 patients. The disease ran for more than 3 years. Articular syndrome was examined in CUA, AS and PA. RESULTS: Articular syndrome in CUA remains for the most part monoarticular with affection of the joints of the low extremities. AS has clinical and x-ray signs of sacroileitis, affection of the spinal column and hip joints. PA runs with multiple arthritic lesions of the hand and foot joints. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic infection persists in all the CUA and PA patients. Its exacerbation coincides with arthritis aggravations. Only in CUA there is a chronological connection between acute or aggravated chronic urogenital infection and initial symptoms of joint disease.

[Effect of chronic pathology of the upper cervical sympathetic ganglion on the cerebral cortex (experimental study)]. / O vozdeistvii khronicheskoi patologii verkhnego sheinogo simpaticheskogo gangliia na koru mozga (éksperimental'noe issledovanie)]

A study was made of the character of disorders of glycogen metabolism and dynamics of the glycogen synthetic properties of sensorimotor cortical neurons at different stages of dystrophic processes under chronic irritation of the anterior cervical ganglion. The authors demonstrate the local glycogen synthesis in synapse ultrastructures, which is of paramount importance for local homeostasis, ensuring high plasticity and dynamism of cortical synapses in information transmission. Decimetric radiotherapy revealed that the sclerosed sympathetic ganglion exerts a permanent tonic effect on the regulation of intracerebral vessels. It may be assumed that control of sympathetic fibers from the cervical ganglion is aimed to a definite measure at specialized regulation of energy brain supply.