Morphological and Neurological Impairments Induced by Chronic Administration of Dimethyl Sulfoxide in Mice.

We studied the influence of DMSO administered ad libitum with drinking water in concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, and 1% for 4 and 6 weeks on pain sensitivity, motor coordination, and myelin content in the corpus callosum of C57BL/6 mice. After 6-week administration, DMSO in all studied concentrations decreased myelin content in the corpus callosum. Moreover, 4-week administration of 0.1% DMSO and 6-week administration of 1% DMSO increased the latency to fall in the rotarod test by 3.1 (p<0.05) and 5.1 (p<0.001) times, respectively. After 4-week administration of DMSO in concentrations of 0.01 and 0.1%, the latency of the tail flick response increased by 2.1 (p<0.05) and 1.8 times (p<0.001), respectively. Administration of DMSO in concentrations of 0.01 and 1% for 6 weeks led to a decrease of this parameter by 2.7 (p<0.05) and 3.8 times (p<0.01), respectively. Thus, DMSO in all studied concentrations decreased myelin content in the corpus callosum of C57BL/6 mice and modified motor coordination and pain sensitivity of animals.

[Pharmacokinetic properties of an innovative nootropic agent based on a derivative of 3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane]. / Farmakokineticheskie svoistva veshchestva na osnove proizvodnogo 3,7-diazabitsiklo[3.3.1]nonana.

The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of a derivative of 3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane exhibiting a nootropic effect, were studied after a single dose to rats. The pharmacokinetics of the compound was studied after oral and intravenous administration to 270 male rats Sprague Dawley at doses of 2.5 mg/kg, 13 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg. Its distribution in organs and tissues (brain, thymus, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen) was also investigated. It was found that after a single intravenous administration, the investigated substance was determined in the blood of animals for 24 h; the half-life was 4.69 h. The relative bioavailability of the 3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivative after oral administration was 42.3%, thus suggesting the prospect of creating dosage forms for oral administration. After a single oral administration, the dose dependence of AUC0-t was exponential. The substance is characterized by heterogeneous distribution in the body with preferential accumulation mainly in well-vascularized tissues.

Preclinical Studies of Immunogenity, Protectivity, and Safety of the Combined Vector Vaccine for Prevention of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is an acute inflammatory disease of the respiratory system caused by the MERS-CoV coronavirus. The mortality rate for MERS is about 34.5%. Due to its high mortality rate, the lack of therapeutic and prophylactic agents, and the continuing threat of the spread of MERS beyond its current confines, developing a vaccine is a pressing task, because vaccination would help limit the spread of MERS and reduce its death toll. We have developed a combined vector vaccine for the prevention of MERS based on recombinant human adenovirus serotypes 26 and 5. Studies of its immunogenicity have shown that vaccination of animals (mice and primates) induces a robust humoral immune response that lasts for at least six months. Studies of the cellular immune response in mice after vaccination showed the emergence of a specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell response. A study of the vaccine protectivity conducted in a model of transgenic mice carrying the human DPP4 receptor gene showed that our vaccination protected 100% of the animals from the lethal infection caused by the MERS-CoV virus (MERS-CoV EMC/2012, 100LD50 per mouse). Studies of the safety and tolerability of the developed vaccine in rodents, rabbits, and primates showed a good safety profile and tolerance in animals; they revealed no contraindications for clinical testing.