The role of lysosomal proteinases and estradiol in neurodegeneration induced by beta-amyloid.

Activation of lysosomal degradation process in nervous tissue may be neuroprotective. One of the factors that may influence on expression of lysosomal proteinases is the sex hormone, estradiol (E2). In this regard the expression of lysosomal proteinases after intracerebral injection of beta-amyloid peptide (Aß) was investigated as well as the neuroprotective effect of E2 in Aß-induced neurodegeneration. Intracerebral injection of Aß was shown to cause the significant increase in expression of cathepsin D in rat hippocampus and cerebral cortex. On the background of Aß intoxication, E2 treatment resulted in further increase in cathepsin D gene expression in hippocampus region and in its lowering to the control level in cerebral cortex. It was demonstrated for the first time that neuroprotective effect of E2 may be mediated by cathepsin D up-regulation.

[Calpain system dysregulation in rat brain at beta-amyloid-induced neurodegeneration].

Experimental evidences of calcium-dependent proteolysis dysregulation in brain of murine model of Alzheimer disease were obtained. Experimental treatment consisted in intra-hippocampal injection of amyloid beta-peptide (AP1-40) promoted activation of main calpain forms in murine brain along with decrease incontent of natural calpain inhibitor, calpastatin. As a result of prognostic experiment on the correction of neurodegeneration induced in murine the neuroprotective properties of steroid hormone estradiol were confirmed and one of the possible protective action mechanisms was suggested. Obtained results allow considering both biochemical modifications in protein facilities of pathology-affected brain and the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neuroprotection.

[Mechanisms of reproductive behavior in humans: olfactory markers of males' attractiveness].

The present work represents a pilot study in the area of olfactory communication in humans. On the basis of experiments, it is demonstrated that women are able to detect, by means of smell, a number of morphological and psychological characteristics of men. The samples of sweat from 29 young men were collected, as well as anthropometry measurements (interpupillary distance, height and width of the lower jaw, and so forth) and behavioral characteristics (personality questionnaire NEO, risk-taking questionnaire, Sandra Bem masculinity and femininity indices, a self-rating on aggression Buss-Perry questionnaire). Data on hormonal status of all males were collected (testosterone and cortisol). It is demonstrated that women are able to detect both morphological (masculinity, physical health) and psychological characteristics (aggression, risk taking, neuroticism, extraversion, cooperation, etc.). The smell of men rating high on cortisol is estimated as the least attractive. On the contrary, the sweat of men with combination of high level of testosterone and low level of cortisol is considered the most attractive. Females rating of male's smell differed depending on a phase of a monthly cycle. The data obtained are discussed in the light of evolutionary basis of permanent partner choice.

[Level of neuroactive steroids in the brain, and gender-related differences in formation and decrease of conditioned reflex in rats].

We investigated gender-related differences in dynamics of the brain sexual steroids during learning and the decrease of conditioned reflex in the modeling experiment. It was revealed that, before training to conditioned reflexes, females manifested a greater anxiety than males. Significant differences between males and females in formation of the conditioned reflex of passive avoidance were not revealed, whereas the conditioned response decrease were by 2-3 days faster in male rats than in females. It was revealed that there was an increase of testosterone content in various structures of the brain, especially in hippocampus and frontal cortex with its constant level in the blood plasma in learning conditioned response of passive avoidance in male adult rats. Also an increased estradiol concentration was found in females' amygdale, while increased value of estradiol was detected in hippocampus and the singular cortex in decrease of the conditioned response of passive avoidance. In blood plasma, the testosterone level was not changed, and the estradiol concentration was reduced significantly after the decreased conditioned reflex. Different dynamics of changes in the levels of sex steroids in the brain and the blood plasma can indicate a probability of their formation in nervous tissue. The correlation analysis confirms the conception about selective involvement of the brain's testosterone and estradiol in the specific structures in realization ofthe learning and memory processes in adult male and female rats.

[Sex-related peculiarities of conditioned reflex activity and dynamics of sex steroids in the brain].

Sexual peculiarities of dynamics of brain sex steroids in the process of learning and extinction of the conditioned reflex of passive avoidance have been studied in model experiment. Prior to learning of conditioned reflex, females were found to be distinguished by manifestation of anxiety and fear as compared with males. At formation of the conditioned reflex, no significant sex differences were detected between males and females, whereas extinction of the conditioned reaction of passive avoidance in rat males occurred by 2-3 days faster than in females. At learning of conditioned reaction of passive avoidance, in sexually mature rat males there was revealed an increase of the testosterone content in various brain structures, especially in hippocampus and frontal cortex, while its level in blood plasma remained unchanged. Also shown was an elevation of estradiol concentration in female amygdale, whereas at extinction of the conditioned reaction of passive avoidance, a rise of estradiol values was noted in hippocampus and cingular cortex. At the same time the testosterone level in blood plasma did not change, whereas the estradiol concentration decreased statistically significantly after extinction of the conditioned reflex. Different dynamics of changes of the sex steroid levels in brain and blood plasma can indicate a probability of their formation in the nervous tissue. The performed correlation analysis confirms the concept of selective involvement of testosterone and estradiol of specific brain structures in realization of the process of learning and memory in sexually mature rat males and females.

Interaction of total blood calcium levels and brain catecholamines during the formation and reinforcement of memory traces in hypoparathyroidism.

Interactions between the total blood calcium level and catecholamine contents in limbic brain structures during the formation and extinction of a conditioned passive avoidance reflex were studied in rats with hypoparathyroidism. Impairments of calcium support for the processes of conditioned reflex activity were seen after removal of the parathyroid glands. Animals with hypoparathyroidism not only showed changes in basal dopamine and noradrenaline levels in limbic structures, but also impairments of catecholamine dynamics during the acquisition and forced extinction of a conditioned passive avoidance reflex. These results demonstrate changes in the functional dynamics of the dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems of the brain in conditions of abnormal calcium homeostasis in the body, which underlie abnormalities of conditioned reflex activity and the acquisition of the adaptive behavioral strategies.

[Changes in renal and testicular veins in left-sided varicocele and choice of the surgical method in children and adolescents]. / Izmeneniia pochechnykh, iaichkovykh ven pri levostoronnem varikotsele i vybor metoda operatsii u detei i podrostkov.

Selective phleborenotesticulography, ++tensiometry of the left iliac, right and left renal veins, vena cava inferior, duplex scanning of the left renal vein were performed in 356, 296 and 57 patients, respectively, of a total of 356 examinees aged 8-17 years with left-side varicocele. Among other tests were measurements of hormones in the blood from the left and right testes (n = 24), pO2, pCO2. Stenosis, aortomesenteric compression (AMC) of the left renal vein, left-side venous renotesticular hypertension (RTH) of the left renal vein were diagnosed in 12, 342 and 158 patients, respectively. Secondary genesis of left varicocele has been proved. The diagnosis of left-side phlebohypertensive nephropathy was made preoperatively. Estradiol content in the blood of the left testis was 1.7 times higher than from the right one. 4 groups of patients were formed: group 1 patients (n = 142) had stenosis, AMC, dilatation of the testicular vein (DTV) and RTH; group 2 patients (n = 18) had AMC, DTV, borderline high pressure; group 3 patients (n = 18) had AMC, RTH, multiple thin testicular veins; group 4 patients (n = 174) had moderate AMC without hypertension. 160 patients of group 1 and 2 have undergone two-direction venous testiculo-iliac anastomosis operation. 193 patients of groups 3 and 4 have undergone Ivanissevich's operation. After Ivanissevich's operation 2 patients with secondary varicocele of the third degree retained varicocele of the first degree. After establishment of anastomoses, neither varicocele recurrences nor anastomosis thrombosis were registered.

[Content of hypophysiotropic, adrenotropic and thyrotropic hormones in the blood in Duchenne's progressive muscular dystrophy]. / Soderzhanie tropnykh gormonov gipofiza, nadpochechnikov i shchitovidnoi zhelezy v krovi bol'nykh progressiruiushchei myshechnoi distrofiei Diushenna.

Content of hypophysis-, adrenal gland- and thyroid gland-tropic hormones was studied in blood plasma of children with primary X-linked Dushenne's myopathy at various periods of the disease, as compared with the patterns observed in healthy children of the same age. Increase in the functional activity of hypophysis and decrease -- in functions of adrenal cortex glands were observed in the muscular dystrophy; these alterations correlated with the disease steps. Relationship between the hormonal alterations and the dystrophy steps suggests the importance of the hormones in pathogenesis of the myodystrophic impairment.

[Biological standardization of the gonadotropin-inhibiting factor]. / Biologicheskaia standartizatsiia gonadotropiningibiruiushchego faktora.

The authors suggest a method of quantitative determination of the goandotropin-inhibiting factor in the urine; the principle of calculation of the activity of the standard preparation of the gonadotropin-inhibiting factor is presented. Investigation of the activity of the inhibitor in the individual portions of the urine of 6-8-year-old children demonstrated that the method of obtaining, testing and calculating the activity of the gonadotropin-inhibiting factor reflected quite adequately the biological activity of the extracts of child urine preventing the action of crude gonadotropins.