A Hardware-and-Software System for Experimental Studies of the Acoustic Startle Response in Laboratory Rodents.

We developed and tested a novel hardware-and-software system for recording the amplitude of the acoustic startle response in rodents. In our experiments, the baseline indexes of acoustic startle response in laboratory rats and pre-stimulation inhibition under the standard delivery of acoustic stimulation were similar to those evaluated by other investigators on foreign devices. The proposed system is relatively cheap and provides the possibility of performing experiments on freely moving specimens. It should be emphasized that the results of studies can be processed with free-access software.

Behavioral and Hemodynamic Effects of Free and Protein-Bound Angiotensin IV in Rats in Experimental Hypo- and Hyperglycemia: Comparative Aspects.

In rats with acute hypo- and hyperglycemia the initial effects of free angiotensin IV and its complexes with functionally different carrier proteins (transport protein BSA, neuron-specific protein S100b) on hemodynamics and behavior of rats were qualitatively altered, in comparison with those in intact animals. At the same time, free angiotensin IV under conditions of hypo- and hyperglycemia paradoxically acquired functions of angiotensin II (moderate hypertension, tachycardia, polydipsia and activation of instrumental drinking behavior). Concurrently, complexes of angiotensin IV with BSA and S100b acquired functions of free angiotensin IV (hypotensia, suppression of drinking behavior). It is suggested that complexes of angiotensin IV with functionally different proteins are involved in a differentiated way first in compensation of behavior and hemodynamics impairment produced by acute and/or chronic hypo- and hyperglycemia, and then in qualitative transformation of these adaptive processes into stable pathological condition involving mechanisms of so called "metabolic memory".

Comparative study of the effects of free bound and carrier protein angiotensin II in experimental hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

Experimental hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia eliminated the differences in the regulatory functions of free angiotensin II and its complexes with carrier proteins (transport protein BSA and neurospecific protein S100b) in rats. Under these conditions, free and protein-bound angiotensin II primarily suppressed operant drinking behavior and reduced the hypertensive and tachyarrhythmic effects in comparison with control rats. These changes were most pronounced during acute hyperglycemia. We hypothesized that complexes of angiotensin II with functionally different proteins are differentially and simultaneously involved in not only compensation of behavioral and hemodynamic disturbances during acute and/or chronic hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, but also their transformation into pathological processes mediated by the so-called metabolic memory mechanisms.

Free and protein-bound angiotensin II(1-7)in the regulation of drinking behavior and hemodynamics in rats.

We compared physiological activity of synthetic analogues of endogenous protein-peptide compounds, complexes of angiotensin II(1-7)with functionally different proteins (transport protein, serum albumin; and neurospecific Ca(2+)-binding protein, S100b). Physiological activity of angiotensin II(1-7)was shown to depend on the type of a carrier protein. Our results suggest that complexes of angiotensins with BSA and S100b are strong factors for the integration of central and peripheral functions at the homeostatic and behavioral level.

Modification of normal activities of angiotensin II and angiotensin IV in rats with experimental hypo- and hyperglycemia.

Changes in blood glucose levels are paralleled by modification of normal activities of angiotensin II and angiotensin IV. Hypo- and hyperglycemia similarly reduced the hypertensive effect of angiotensin II and similarly distorted the initial hypotensive effect of angiotensin IV. Presumably, the adaptation and compensatory processes in the renin-angiotensin system under conditions of shifted homeostatic constants manifest by phenomena of external reintegration and redistribution of functions of its individual peptide components. This provides restructuring of the mechanisms of intra- and intersystemic organization of physiological functions under extreme conditions.

Regulation of hemodynamic parameters under conditions of systemic administration of angiotensin II and angiotensin IV to rats after carotid glomectomy.

Systemic administration of angiotensin II was followed by an increase in systolic BP and HR in rats with carotid glomectomy, the time of attaining maximum values in treated animals was much higher than in sham-operated controls. Injection of angiotensin IV slightly reduced systolic BP in sham-operated animals and increased it in rats with carotid glomectomy. The involvement of the local renin-angiotensin system of the carotid body in systemic mechanisms of hemodynamics regulation is discussed.

Complexes of angiotensin IV with functionally different proteins in the regulation of drinking behavior and hemodynamics in rats.

We compared physiological activity of synthetic complexes from angiotensin IV and functionally different proteins (transport protein, bovine serum albumin; and neurospecific Ca(2+)-binding protein, S100b) as model analogues of endogenous protein-peptide complexes. Physiological activity of angiotensin IV was specifically modified by these proteins. Our results suggest that complexes of angiotensin IV with bovine serum albumin and S100b are strong factors for the integration of central and peripheral functions at the homeostatic and behavioral level.

Physiological effects of complexes of angiotensins with functionally different carrier proteins.

We compared activity of synthetic complexes of angiotensin II and functionally different proteins (transport protein, serum albumin and neurospecific Ca2+-binding protein S100b) as analogues of endogenous protein-peptide complexes. Physiological activity of angiotensin II was specifically modified by these proteins. It was hypothesized that the complex of angiotensin II and S100b is primarily involved in the regulation of hemodynamics, whereas the complex of angiotensin II and bovine serum albumin plays a role in the formation and realization of drinking behavior.

Reduction of alcohol dependence in rats after carotid glomectomy.

Carotid glomectomy significantly reduced the degree of alcohol addiction in rats, which was induced over 12 weeks. After glomectomy, the mean weekly volume of alcohol consumed by alcoholic animals over 4 weeks was lower compared to the preoperation level, while water consumption significantly increased by the 3rd and 4th weeks after surgery. Control sham operation had no effect on ethanol and water consumption in alcoholic rats. Possible involvement of the local renin-angiotensin system in chemoreceptor cells of the carotid body into systemic mechanisms of alcohol dependence is discussed.

[Regulatory peptides in system mechanisms of goal-directed behavior: experience of physiological activity study].

The paper presents some new data and original approaches to study of the role of opioid and vasoactive peptides in the integrative functioning of the brain. The authors performed a comparative analysis of the physiological activity of native and complex (combined with protein) forms of these biologically active substances, and discuss a possible role of autoimmune processes in peptide self-regulation of goal-directed behavior.

Protein-peptide complexes of angiotensins in the mechanisms of thirst motivation.

A comparative analysis of the physiological actions of native angiotensin I and angiotensin II and protein-peptide complexes of angiotensin I and angiotensin II on drinking behavior in rats was performed. The protein-peptide complexes of angiotensin I and angiotensin II had wider spectra of physiological activity than the native peptides. Protein-conjugated angiotensin I, unlike the motivationally neutral native angiotensin I, produced marked activation of innate drinking behavior in mice. The protein-peptide complex of angiotensin II showed selective effects on acquired drinking behavior. These data are assessed with respect to the specific involvement of protein-peptide complexes of angiotensin I and angiotensin II in the mechanisms of thirst motivation during the performance of innate and acquired habits.

[Peptide-protein complexes of angiotensins in the mechanisms of thirst]. / Belkovo-peptidnye kompleksy angiotenzinov v mekhanizmakh motivatsii zhazhdy.

The comparative analysis of learned and natural drinking behavior under native angiotensin-I (A-I), angiotensin-II (A-II) and its protein-peptides complexes (PPC) administration in rats, was performed. Various effects of these substances on drinking behavior were observed. PPC of A-I became a dipsogenic agent as compared with the native one. Moreover, PPC of A-II facilitated selectively learned and not natural forms of drinking behavior. It's suggested that PPC of angiotensins play a specific role in endogenous mechanisms of thirst. An important function of this complexes due to their conformational properties and participation in realization of basic needs, is discussed.

[Protein-peptide complexes in the mechanisms of inborn and learned behavior patterns]. / Belkovo-peptidnye kompleksy v mekhanizmakh vrozhdennykh i priobretennykh form povedeniia.

Protein-peptide complexes involved in learned and natural drinking behavioral patterns were comparatively analyzed in rats. Active immunization with protein-conjugated angiotensin II and beta-endorphin produces some behavioral responses. It is suggested that protein complexes of these peptides play a specific informational role in the systemic organization of learned behavior. The paper discusses whether these complexes perform an important function due to their conformational properties and their participation in the hierarchical organization of integrative processes in the nervous system.

[The effect of a preparation from the horns of the saiga antelope on the goal-directed drinking behavior of rats]. / Vliianie preparata iz rogov antilopy saigi na tselenapravlennoe pit'evoe povedenie krys.

Saitarin (an extract from the horns of antelope Saiga) depresses complex instrumental drinking behavior of rats and induced specific changes in the structure of goal-directed behavioral acts. Such changes are to a certain extent suppressed by naloxone. The obtained evidence suggest that the effects of saitarin are caused by its predominant influence on the processes of reinforcement in the course of realization by animals of the learned behavioral acts.

[An attempt at the objective evaluation of systems quanta in the drinking behavior of rats]. / Opyt ob''ektivnoi otsenki sistemokvantov pit'evogo povedeniia krys.

The system architectonics of "systemoquanta" of rat drinking behavior was objectively evaluated in the dynamic process of its formation by means of studying intermediate and final results. The developed experimental equipment made it possible to determine characteristic features of formation and realization of drinking "systemoquanta" and the dynamics of their internal structure. Various "strategies" of system organization of identical behavior were revealed in rats of different groups. The revealed peculiarities of the internal structure of "systemoquanta" in rats of different groups are probably determined by the innate individual differences in the processes of prediction and estimation of intermediate and final results in the framework of strategic "systemoquantum" of drinking behavior.

[A comparative analysis of the complex realization of the goal-directed behavior of animals under chronic morphine and cocaine administration]. / Sravnitel'nyi analiz realizatsii slozhnogo tselenapravlennogo povedeniia zhivotnykh pri khronicheskom vvedenii morfina i kokaina.

A new approach to estimation and prediction of morphine and cocaine effects was proposed based on the analysis of animal behaviour directed to a satisfaction of one of the main biological needs, thirst. Both morphine and cocaine did not essentially effect the level of the basic biological (drinking) motivation by the index of the general volume of liquid consumption. Both drugs produced opposite effects on the duration of recognition/manipulation and drinking components of the structure of water-reinforced instrumental act. The proposed methodology is of diagnostic and prognostic value in respect of the complex behavioural effects of the drugs and presumably some other active factors.

[Characteristics of physiological reactions during long-term immunization of rats with protein conjugates of angiotensin II]. / Osobennosti fiziologicheskikh reaktsii pri dlitel'noi immunizatsii krys belkovymi kon"iugatami angiotenzina II.

The results show that during long-term immunization of rats against conjugates of angiotensin II with bovine serum albumin definite age dynamics of immune response have been observed. It was shown that the changes of physiological readings were correlated with growing of antibodies titer against angiotensin II, accordingly, as the immune response was lower, these readings return to the initial level.

[Physiologically adequate experimental model of aggression and emotional stress]. / Fiziologicheski adekvatnaia éksperimental'naia model' agressii i émotsional'nogo stressa.

A simple adequate experimental model of aggression and emotional stress has been elaborated, based on mild fixation of rats tails in the cage wall. It is shown that in a group of rats, in these conditions a continuous aggressive behaviour arises, leading to the development of emotional stress. The elaborated experimental model has no defects, characteristic of other models of aggression and stress. It demands neither a prolonged training of animals nor special expensive equipment; it allows simultaneous use in experiments of a great number of animals, creates conditions for natural aggressive-defensive behaviour of rats without provoking artificial manipulations. The proposed model allows to study the pathogenesis of emotional stress, mechanisms of resistivity and predisposition to it and also search and testing of biologically active substances, enhancing resistance to emotional stress.