Ultrastructure of Hepatocytes from Laboratory Mice Fed a Standard Dry Laboratory Animal Diet.

The significant destructive changes in ultrastructure of hepatocytes from laboratory mice kept in different vivariums in Moscow and fed with dry laboratory animal diets acquired from different domestic manufacturers that were not standardized for initial products were demonstrated using electron microscopy. Furthermore, disruption in the ultrastructure of liver parenchymal cells occurred regardless of the animal status (SPF or conventional), conditions of various vivariums, as well as the feed manufacturer. At the same time, studies on ultrastructure of liver hepatocytes from mice kept in the Charles River Laboratory facilities in Germany and fed with the Altromin Spezialfutter laboratory animal diet (GmbH & Co., Germany) that was produced using quality control of ingredients did not reveal destructive changes in the internal ultrastructure of hepatocytes. However, if these mice were later fed with the food produced in local manufactures, changes in the structure of liver cells developed after 2 months. Thus, feeding with dry diet from the domestic producers of an unspecified composition causes significant changes in the ultrastructure of hepatocytes in control animals, reflecting the development of some pathological processes in the body.

Effects of Mitochondrial Antioxidant SkQ1 on Biochemical and Behavioral Parameters in a Parkinsonism Model in Mice.

According to one hypothesis, Parkinson's disease pathogenesis is largely caused by dopamine catabolism that is catalyzed on mitochondrial membranes by monoamine oxidase. Reactive oxygen species are formed as a byproduct of these reactions, which can lead to mitochondrial damage followed by cell degeneration and death. In this study, we investigated the effects of administration of the mitochondrial antioxidant SkQ1 on biochemical, immunohistochemical, and behavioral parameters in a Parkinson-like condition caused by protoxin MPTP injections in C57BL/6 mice. SkQ1 administration increased dopamine quantity and decreased signs of sensory-motor deficiency as well as destruction of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area in mice with the Parkinson-like condition.

[Administration of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid drug eiferol decreases alcohol motivation in albino rats by elevating the level of antibodies to alcohol dehydrogenase]. / Vvedenie preparata polinenasyshchennykh zhirnykh kislot semeistva omega-3 (éiferola) snizhaet alkogol'nuiu motivatsiiu u belykh krys, povyshaia uroven' antitel k alkogol'degidrogenaze.

The study experimentally assessed the approach proposed by the authors to lower alcohol motivation, which involves enhancement of a specific immunity at the stage of alcoholization when acetaldehydemodified ethanol exchange enzymes [alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)] and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase may be expected to occur. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) drugs enhance the formation of autoantibodies to modified ADH and decrease the activity of ADH in the stomach and liver. At the same time, PUFA drugs can, under certain conditions, produce an anti-alcoholic activity and a positive effect on the psychoemotional status of animals after the ethanol deprivation period.

Effect of eiconol enriched with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on rat behavior and alcohol motivation.

We evaluated the effect of eiconol containing polyunsaturated fatty acids on the behavior and alcohol motivation in rats. Administration of eiconol for 10 days to alcoholized rats against the background of ethanol deprivation produced a sustained suppression of alcohol motivation and corrected deprivation-specific behavior.

[Mechanisms of suppression of alcohol motivation after immunization of albino rats against alcohol dehydrogenase I: The role of ADH epitopes and ADH activity in the adrenal glands]. / O mekhanizmakh podavleniia alkogol'noi motivatsii pri immunizatsii belykh krys k alkogol'degidrogenaze I: rol' épitopov ADG i aktivnosti ADG v nadpochechnikakh.

Experimental results have demonstrated a significant decrease in the level of alcohol consumption by albino rats immunized with heterologous horse alcohol dehydrogenase. The role of ADH epitopes 9-14, 93-115, and 265-276 in this phenomenon was examined, and it was established that the latter sequence (265-276) plays the biggest role. The inhibition of ADH activity in the adrenals of immunized rats was much higher compared to the liver. We propose a hypothesis that the effect of alcohol dehydrogenase on alcohol consumption is connected with its role in catecholamine metabolism.