[Clinical and biochemical parameters of parkinsonism induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,2,6-tetrahydropyridine and its methyl-phenyl and methoxy-phenyl derivatives in C57Bl/6 mice]. / Klinicheskie i biokhimicheskie pokazateli parkinsonizma, vyzvannogo 1-metil-4-fenil-1,2,3,6-tetragidropiridinom i ego metil-fenil- i metoksi-fenil-proizvodnymi u myshei C57Bl/6.

Possibility of ortho-, para-, meta-methylphenyl and methoxyphenyl-derivates of MPTP to produce parkinsonism was investigated. Only ortho-methylphenyl- and ortho-methoxyphenyl-derivates of MPTP cause a persistent loss in dopamine content in the brain and produced the clinical symptoms of parkinsonism. All substances produced Parkinsonian-like syndrome gives the symptoms of activation of nervous system during 0.5-1 h after injection and symptoms of depression in following 3 h of observations.

[Evaluation of the capability of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and pyridine derivatives to evoke parkinsonism]. / Otsenka sposobnosti 1-metil-4-fenil-1,2,3,6-tetragidropiridina i nekotorykh proizvodnykh piridina vyzyvat' parkinsonizm.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) produce an irreversible parkinsonian-like syndrome in humans, monkeys and mice C57BL/6. Experimental parkinsonism produced by MPTP on mice C57BL/6 were studied with the aim of working up the method for testing MPTP-like substances. It has been shown that intraperitoneal administration the maximal tolerated doses of MPTP cause significant decrease (by 40-60%) of dopamine content on the mice brain. Number of injections did not influence the results. The similar administration of 4-phenyl-pyridyl and 4,4'-dipyridyl derivates, including known herbicides paraquat and cyperquat, produce neither decrease of dopamine content in the brain, nor the development of parkinsonian-like behavioral syndrome.

[A new low molecular-weight protein effector of human complement from the venom of the Central Asian cobra Naja naja oxiana]. / Novyi nizkomolekuliarnyi belkovyi éffektor komplementa cheloveka iz iada sredneaziatskoi kobry Naja naja oxiana.

Six protein effectors of human complement were isolated from the whole venom of the Central Asian cobra Naja naja oxiana. Three of them have acidic properties and molecular weights of 61 000, 5000 and 3000, and the rest are basic proteins with molecular weights of 54 000, 9000 and 7000. Two low molecular weight basic proteins CFB-II and CFB-III are isolated in as high amounts as 115 and 85 mg per g of dry venom. All the effectors inhibit the classical pathway of complement activation and, with the exception of CFB-II and CFB-III, the alternative pathway. The latter, on the contrary, enhances the alternative pathway of activation. N-Terminal sequence determination for CFB-III demonstrated its identity to the earlier characterized cytotoxin II. The action of CFB-III on the classical pathway of complement activation consists in the component C4 inactivation. A mechanism for the CFB-III activation of the alternative pathway is proposed implying the CFB-III induced transformation of the C3 component into a C3b-like one producing a soluble C3 convertase.

[A mechanism of human complement activation by immunostimulators from the bacterial cell wall]. / Mekhanizm aktivatsii komplementa cheloveka immunostimuliatorami iz kletochnykh stenok bakterii.

Effects on the human complement system of the cell wall preparations: lipopolysaccharides and polysaccharides of E. coli, Salmonella typhi (pyrogenal, salmosan), Bact. prodigiosum (prodigiosan) and peptidoglycan of Lactobacillus bulgaricus (blastolysin) have been studied. Lipopolysaccharide of E. coli, pyrogenal and salmosan were found to bind efficiently the first complement factor C1q. The constants for inhibition of the C1q binding to antibodies by the mentioned preparations were determined, and their ability to initiate the classical pathway of complement activation (consumption of C4, C2 and C3 factors) was assayed. These preparations only slightly affect the alternative pathway. Prodigiosan, not influencing the classical pathway, initiates the alternative one. Its binding constant with the activated Bb factor was determined. This constant reflects the Bb association with C3b and is (2,4 +/- 0,1) x 10(7) mole-1 l. Blastolysin is effective both in the C1q binding and initiation of the alternative pathway of complement activation. Immunostimulating activity of the bacterial cell wall preparations seems to involve activation of the complement system and the release of the fragments from the complement factors which are mediators of the immune response.

[Effective method of simultaneous isolation from human serum of highly purified factors B and D of the alternative pathway of complement activation]. / Effektivnyi metod odnovremennogo polucheniia iz syvorotki krovi cheloveka vysokoochishchennykh faktorov B i D al'ternativnogo puti aktivatsii komplementa.

A simple method for isolation from human serum of the complement alternative pathway factor B, in a yield over 40% and purity over 80% with respect to protein, has been developed. Such a high yield was reached due to rejection of ammonium sulphate fractionation and employment of only two chromatographic stages: on CM-Sephadex C-50 and on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B. An additional chromatography on QAE-Sephadex A-50 provides factor B of 100% purity but with a loss of some amount of protein (yield approximately 20%). One of the fractions, obtained at the first stage of factor B purification, contained also factor D. After rechromatography on CM-Sephadex C-50 and gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 it afforded factor D in yield more than 60% and purity above 100%.