[The organization of pre-clinical studies of bactericidal and wound healing effects of the impulse photoherapy device "Zarya"].

The purpose of the study is to determine therapeutic effectiveness of the pulsed high intensity optical irradiation device "Zarya" exemplified by treatment of model wounds in laboratory animals and to compare with traditional methods of wound treatment. The prototype of "Zarya" device was used whose operating principle was based on pulsed irradiation of affected areas with high intensity optical radiation in continuous spectrum generated by pulsed xenon lamp. The therapeutic effect of the "Zarya" device was compared with effectiveness of the certified medical ultraviolet irradiator based on low-pressure mercury lamp and also with known wound-healing and antibacterial medication Levomekol ointment. The mature male rats of Wistar line were used in the study. The animals were distributed to 4 groups: group 1 was irradiated by "Zarya" device, group 2 was irradiated by low-pressure mercury lamp, group 3 was treated with Levomekol ointment and group 4 was exposed to no exposure. The linear wound was modeled according to the standard method under ether anesthesia. The therapeutic procedures were applied daily during 7 days. The bactericidal effect was studied on the basis of smears from wound onto flora on the 2nd, 5th and 7th day. On the 8th day the animals were subjected to euthanasia. It was established that "Zarya" device application permits to reduce considerably both duration of therapeutic procedures and therapy course in general and also to achieve more pronounced bactericidal effect. The obtained data is supposed to be used for development of program of clinical trials.

Effect of Chronic Administration of Obestatin and Its Fragment FNAP-NH2 on Behavioral Activity and Nociceptive Threshold in Rats with Normal and Excess Body Weight.

The effects of chronic intranasal administration of 300 nmol/kg obestatin and its fragment FNAP-NH2 on behavioral activity and nociceptive threshold were examined in male Wistar rats with normal body weight or alimentary obesity. In normal rats, obestatin produced no effect on behavior and nociception, whereas FNAP-NH2 fragment enhanced risk-taking behavior. Rats with excess body weight demonstrated less pronounced risk-taking behavior and elevated nociceptive threshold in comparison with normal animals, but these differences were abolished by chronic administration of FNAP-NH2.

Changes in Behavior and Blood Corticosterone Level in Male and Female Rats after Single Administration of Obestatin Fragment 1-4.

Single administration of the obestatin fragment 1-4 (300 nmol/kg) to male Wistar rats produced a significant weight loss in male rats on observation days 5-8, while in female rats only on day 8. In addition, males demonstrated decreased risk factor in the elevated plus-maze test, but no effect of the preparation on behavior of female rats was revealed. Obestatin fragment 1-4 had no effect on corticosterone level 1 week after single administration in both females and male rats.

Antioxidant Defense System after Single and Chronic Administration of Obestatin and Its Fragment (1-4) to Normal and Overweight Male Rats.

We studied the effects of anorectic peptide obestatin and its fragment (1-4) on the antioxidant defense system in animals with normal and experimentally induced increased body weight. In rats with normal body weight, no changes in activity of the antioxidant defense system 1 week after single administration of the substances. After chronic administration of obestatin and fragment (1-4) for 1 week, total antioxidant capacity of the plasma decreased; obestatin also lowered the content of TBA-reactive products. In the overweight rats, SOD-like activity in the plasma increased 1 week after chronic administration of obestatin. Hence, obestatin and its fragment (1-4) induced changes in the antioxidant defense system only after chronic administration.

Effect of anorexigenic peptide obestatin on platelet aggregation and osmotic resistance of erythrocytes.

We studied the effects of the anorexigenic peptide obestatin on the coagulation system and blood rheology (by the parameters of platelet aggregation and osmotic resistance of erythrocytes) in vitro and in vivo. Obestatin inhibited in vitro platelet aggregation in the entire dose range and reduced osmotic resistance of erythrocytes in all doses except 300 nmol/kg (obestatin in a dose of 300 nmol/kg had no effect on this parameter). Similar to the results of in vitro experiments, intranasal, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous administration of obestatin in a dose of 300 nmol/kg inhibited platelet aggregation and had no effect on the osmotic resistance of erythrocytes.

Effects of GSM-Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation on Some Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Rats.

Single exposure of white outbred rats to electromagnetic radiation with a frequency 905 MHz (GSM frequency) for 2 h increased anxiety, reduced locomotor, orientation, and exploration activities in females and orientation and exploration activities in males. Glucocorticoid levels and antioxidant system activity increased in both males and females. In addition to acute effects, delayed effects of radiation were observed in both males and females 1 day after the exposure. These results demonstrated significant effect of GSM-range radiation on the behavior and activity of stress-realizing and stress-limiting systems of the body.

[Transgenerational effects of prenatal stress of different etiology].

This paper considers the transgenerational effects of prenatal stress of different etiology. The impacts of stress factors on the biochemical and morphofunctional parameters of life of the mother, fetus, and offspring in the first and subsequent generations (F1-F4) are estimated. Particular attention is paid to assessing changes in the parameters of physical development, the state of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, proinflammatory status, behavioral indicators, cognitive performance, and vegetative balance in the post-stress period. Contemporary concepts of possible mechanisms of transgenerational transmission of the effects of prenatal stress are considered.

Comparative analysis of the effects of various stress factors at the stage of early organogenesis on heart rate variability in pregnant female rats and their offspring.

We studied changes in the autonomic balance of heart regulation (by the parameters of heart rate variability) in non-pregnant female rats and rats on the days 10-11 of pregnancy on the next day after stress provoked by acute hypobaric hypoxia, intermittent normobaric hypoxia, or immobilization. The same parameters were assessed in 36-day-old offspring. In non-pregnant rats, the intermittent hypoxia resulted in a shift of the autonomic balance of heart regulation towards activation of the parasympathetic nervous system; in pregnant females, immobilization led to a shift of the autonomic balance towards the sympathetic nervous system. In the offspring, the changes also depended on the type of stress.

[Postnatal behavioral consequences of antenatal intermittent hypoxia experienced during early organogenesis in mature rats].

This study analyses the spontaneous behavior and anxiety-phobic status of mature rats that were subjected to antenatal intermittent hypoxia during the early stages of organogenesis. Antenatal intermittent hypoxia caused a decrease of motor activity as well as an enhanced anxiety level in rats of both sexes, while males appeared to be more sensitive to hypoxic influence. The effects of single antenatal intermittent hypoxia were more expressed than those of double exposure.