The pharmacology of some high-molecular polysaccharides

Summary The author presents data on the pharmacology of bacterial polysaccharides obtained fromProteus vulgaris andB. pyocyaneus. Within the first 2–3 hours after injection both preparations provoke pyrexia, reduce the oxygen intake and the vascular permeability. In doses tested they exercise no effect upon diuresis, smooth intestinal musculature and functional condition of the central nervous system. The arterial polysaccharide obtained fromB. pyocyaneus fails to produce any changes in the arterial blood pressure and the rate and depth of respiration.(Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR V. V. Parin) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 50, No. 9, pp. 97–100, September, 1960     

Action of the proteinases of Clostridium oedematiens and Clostridium perfringens on homologous and heterologous toxins

Summary The author elaborated a purifying method for endoproteinases ofCl. oedematiens and Cl.perfringens by precipitation with ammonium sulfate with a subsequent treatment with chloroform and acetone and gel filtration through sefadex G-50. The action of proteinases on partially purified homologous and heterologous toxins was accompanied by a marked drop of toxicity (titration in vivo and in vitro — on tissue culture of chick embryo). Trypsin action on the toxins studied was analogous to the effect produced byCl. oedematiens andCl. perfringens endoproteinases with a simultaneous splitting of a considerable proportion of proteins.(Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR G. V. Vygodchikov) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 57, No. 4, pp. 80–83, April, 1964     

Electrical activity of the cerebral cortex of apes during development

Summary Electrical activity was observed in the brains of lower monkeys — 20 pavian hamadryads, 20Cercopithecus callithricus, and 31 macaque rhesus; during the first days of life there were irregular variations, and slow waves preponderated. By the age of 1 month there was a considerable increase in the potentials, which reached a maximum by 6–8 months. Later there was less variation, and stabilization occurred at 2–2.5 years, when the higher frequency components of 8–12 and 16–32 waves per second were prevalent. A distinct -rhythm first appeared at the age of 4–6 months. In old age there was a further reduction in the amplitude of all EEG waves. From the first days of life and during the whole of the first year, distinct species differences appeared. InCercopithecus callithricus the amplitude of the waves was greater and the higher frequencies were more distinct.(Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR A. V. Lebedinskii) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 54, No. 12, pp. 3–6, December, 1962     

Effect of ionizing radiation on the development of immunity by immunization with live tularemia vaccine

Summary The process of formation of postvaccinal immunity against tularemia after immunization with the living tularemia vaccine is very radioresistant. Experiments were performed on guinea pigs. These animals were irradiated with various x-ray doses, ranging from 10–20 (30) LD to 50–60 (30) LD, at different periods before the vaccination and 24 hr after it. Such irradiation caused only a moderate reduction in intensity of the postvaccinal immunity. The process of postvaccinal immunity formation was found to be even more radioresistant in white mice, in which irradiation provoked an acute exacerbation of the vaccinal infection. The authors compare the ability of the irradiated and normal organisms to form immunity and the intensity of immunobiological reactions (antibody synthesis, inflamuratory reaction at the site of vaccine injection, the ability of the tissues to render the virulentPast.tularensis harmless, allergic reaction to tularin).(Presented by Active Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. V. Parin) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi biologii i Meditsiny Vol. 49, No. 5, pp. 94–98, May, 1960     

Experimental analysis of mixed tuberculous and staphylococcal infection in albino mice

Summary In infection of mice with small doses ofM. tuberculosis the concomitant staphylococcal infection, especially that developing in advance, leads to attenuation of the tuberculous process.(Presented by Active Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR Z. V. Ermol'eva) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 61, No. 5, pp. 90–91, May, 1966     

Comparative study of the biological action of the polysaccharide glucan and laminarin

Summary Polysaccharides glucan and laminarin produce a practically identical preventive effect in experimental staphylococcic sepsis and secure the survival of 76–83% of mice, whereas in control experiments the death rate is 90%.Substantial differences have been revealed in the action of these preparations in sepsis caused by gram-negative microorganisms (E coli.,B. typhi abdominalis,Proteus mirabilis). Glucan in a dose of 20 mg/kg infected intraperitoneally averted the death of animals, whereas laminarin in the same dose proved ineffective.Glucan injected intraperitoneally or intravenously in a dose of 20 mg/kg produced a pronounced antitumor effect against Ehrlich's turmor and sarcoma 180, inhibiting the tumor growth by 53–60%. No inhibitory activity of laminarin with regard to S-180 and Ehrlich's tumor was found under analoguous conditions.(Presented by Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. N. Orekhovich) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 61, No. 5, pp. 79–83, May, 1966     

Course of experimental tuberculosis in animals preliminarily acclimatized to hypoxia

Summary The work was done to ascertain the role played by nonspecific factors in the phenomena of natural resistance to Mycobacteriatuberculosis. Data are presented characterizing the course of experimental tuberculosis in albino mice, preliminarily acclimatized to hypoxia. The results of observations demonstrated that in the case of the model described preliminary acclimatization to hypoxia increased the resistance of albino mice to the subsequent infection with virulentMycobacteria tuberculosis.(Presented by Academician V. N. Chernigovskii) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 56, No. 10, pp. 35–40, October, 1963     

The influence of hibernation on the development of experimental tumors inCitellus maximus Pall.

Summary A tumor caused by the administration of 9, 10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene developed in oneCitellus maximus Pall. from the non-hibernating group in one year and eleven months. Within five months it reached the size of 50×46×23 mm. This neoformation proved to be a spindlecell sarcoma with considerable polymorphism. It is markedly transplantable. No signs of tumor growth were detected in the experimental group of animals which were in a deep summer hibernation for two weeks.(Presented by Active Member of the Akad. Med. Nauk SSSR V. V. Parin) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 52, No. 7, pp. 96–98, July, 1961     

The influence of certain drugs on the response of smooth muscle to direct electrical stimulation

Summary Neither the absence of KCl from Tyrode's solution or the presence of 2·10^–7 adrenalin or 1·10^–5 atropine altered the response of the smooth muscle of a section of guinea pigtaenia coli to direct electrical stimulation. The response was depressed by 26, 39, 42, 43, 63, and 86% through the action of 4·10^–5 spasmolytin, 1·10^–4 dimedrol, 2·10^–4 promedol, 4·10^–5 dibazol, 4·10^–5 papaverine, and by 2.5·10^–5 2,4-dinitrophenol respectively. From published reports and our own results the explanation of the spasmolytic effects of adrenalin and atropine in smooth muscle appears to be that they act by an alteration of the condition of polarization of the smooth muscle fiber membranes, whereas papaverine appears to act both on the cell membrane and on the biochemical reaction of smooth muscle.(Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR V. V. Zakusov) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 54, No. 12, pp. 57–60, December, 1962     

Effect of preparations of Clematis fusca on target organs for androgens

During the action of preparations ofClematis fusca Turcz. on the prostate gland and seminal vesicles of castrated rats increased functional activity of these organs was observed, similar to that found under the influence of methyltestosterone. Substances with androgenic action are evidently present in this plant.Department of Pharmacology and Department of Histology, Vladivostok Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. V. Zakusov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 80, No. 7, pp. 60–61, July, 1975.     

The influence of drugs on toxicity acquired by serum through exposure to ionizing radiation

Summary It had been observed previously by Genes that the serum of animals treated with ionizing radiation acquires a toxicity which may be detected by the use ofParamecium caudatum as a test organism. The present investigation was carried out on dogs, rabbits, and albino rats, and four drugs (leukogen, caferid, and batyl and selachyl alcohols). These drugs rendered the serum of nonirradiated animals more favorable to the survival and reproduction of paramecia. The increase of the serum toxicity in the nonirradiated animals was less pronounced when the drug had been given.From the Radiological Department (Head-Professor A. V. Kozlova) State Scientific Research X-ray Institute (Director-Professor I. G. Lagunova)Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR V. V. Parin Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 53, No. 1, pp. 28–31, January, 1962     

Changes in the activity of some serum enzymes during the action of strong stimuli

Summary As established in experiments on rats, hypoxia, hypothermia, aseptic inflammation, burn shock, and septicemia caused byE. coli increased the serum glutaminicopyuvic and glutamico-oxalacetic transaminase and aldolase activity. In conditions of acidosis (asphyxia, hypothermia, closed vessel, convulsions) the action of the stimuli did not increase the activity of these two transaminases and aldolase.Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR S. V. Anichkov Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 55, No. 5, pp. 67–69, May 1963     

The influence of bacterial polysaccharides upon experimental tissue regeneration

Summary There was no unfavorable effect noted from parenteral administration of polysaccharides obtained fromAz. xylinum (cy ine) or fromE. Coli K-12 (preparation K-12) on the tissue regeneration in foot trauma inflicted on mice. In a number of cases tissue regeneration in animals which received cyine or K-12 preparation was even quicker than in control animals. Evidently, this results from the complex of favorable shifts, such as a more rapid elimination of the infective agents, activation of macrophagic elements and removal of the factor of venous compression by edema fluid.(Presented by Active Member Academy of Medical Sciences USSR V.L. Troitskii) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 52, No. 7, pp. 107–110, July, 1961     

The influence of the plasma and blood serum of animals of different species-resistance on the assimilation of oxygen and phosphorus by Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Summary This paper deals with the effect of the blood plasma and serum of animals with different species-resistance to tuberculosis on the respiration and phosphate assimulation in Koch's bacillus. An ability of the serum in the naturally resistant animals to depress the oxidative phosphorus assimilation inM. tuberculosis was detected, which testifies to the presence in these animals of a humoral factor evidently connected with phenomena of antituberculosis immunity. The latter confirms the fact that the serum of immunized guinea pigs acquires an ability to stop the binding of inorganic phosphate byM. tuberculosis. The factor described is not specific, since it exerts the same effect on the phosphorus metabolism of other microorganisms as well (E. coli).(Presented by Academician V. N. Chernigovskii) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 82–86, April, 1961     

The use of cysteine to normalize interoceptive reflexes altered by the action of toxic substances of ascarides

Summary In acute experiments on cats under urethane anesthesia the author studied the change of the vascular and respiratory reflexes from the chemoceptors of a humorally isolated intestine following the action of ascarides toxic substances (Ascaris suum water extracts or the metabolites of these parasites produced in vitro), as well as the normalizing effect of cysteine. As established, the vascular and respiratory reflexes, altered as a result of the toxic products of ascarides, become normalized after the administration of cysteine. In the presence of marked ascariasis in cats, the interoceptive reflexes from the chemoceptors of the isolated intestine are similarly changed; cysteine administration also normalizes the reflexes in natural Ascaris infestation.(Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR V. V. Parin) Translated from Byulleten' Ékpserimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny Vol. 49, No. 5, pp. 83–86, May, 1960     

Enhancement of antibacterial and antiviral resistance and immune response by a pharmacopoeial preparation of RNA

Sodium nucleate (SN) substantially increased the resistance of mice to pathogenic strainEscherichia coli 026,Proteus vulgaris,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, andSerratia marcescens and had a general stimulating action on nonspecific antibacterial resistance; homologous low-polymer RNA from the liver had a similar stimulating activity. SN enhanced the resistance of animals to viruses of tick-borne encephalitis and encephalomyelitis and increased the number of antibody-forming cells (AFC). Manifestation of the side effect of heat-inactivated vaccine prepared from pathogenicE. coli cells was weakened in animals previously treated with SN.D. I. Ivanovskii Institute of Virology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. D. Timakov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 87, No. 3, pp. 256–259, March, 1979.     

Action of a polysaccharide from Salmonella typhi on hematopoietic stem cells

The dynamics of the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) in the spleen and bone marrow of unirradiated F₁(CBA×C57BL) mice was studied after intraperitoneal injection of polysaccharide (PC) fromSalmonella typhi. The method of exogenous colony formation was used. After a single injection of PC the number of CFUs in the bone marrow was increased by 2–2.5 times and in the spleen by 3 times. Repeated (6–9 times) injections of PC were no more effective than a single injection. PC evidently acts as an inducer which, by inducing proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells, maintains this process automatically for a certain period of time.Laboratory of Radiation Immunology, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR G. V. Vygodchikov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 79, No. 3, pp. 66–68, March, 1975.     

Detection of centers of succinodehydrogenase activity in Escherichia coli

Summary 2, 3, 5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride is a specific reagent for succinodehydrogenase in theEscherichia coli cell. A cell is found to have from 1 to 3 activity centers of succinodehydrogenase. Since the tissue succinodehydrogenase is associated with mitochondria, one may speak of mitochondria equivalents in the bacterial cell.(Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR V. V. Zakusov) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 50, No. 8, pp. 106–107, August, 1960     

Abolition of the presynaptic action of carbachol by tubocurarine

The presynaptic action of carbachol (C) was studied in experiments on a neuromuscular preparation of the sartorius muscle ofRana ridibunda. C was shown to significantly reduce the quantum composition of the endplate potentials (mEPP) as a result of the direct action of C on motor nerve endings. D-Tubocurarine caused a marked decrease in the sensitivity of motor nerve endings to C. Relations between C and tubocurarine as regards their action on the quantum composition of mEPP were of the competitive antagonism type. Atropine, in low concentrations, had no effect on the presynaptic action of C. The results of these experiments indicate that the decrease in mEPP under the influence of C is mediated through specific nicotinic cholinergic structures of motor nerve endings.Department of Physiology, Medical Institute, Kazan'. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. V. Zakusov). Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 87, No. 2, pp. 171–174, February, 1979.     

Fistulate diffusion chamber and its use to study microbial associations in vivo

A fistulate diffusion chamber intended for the in vivo culture of microbial associations has been constructed. Relations between yeast-like fungi (Candida albicans), staphylococci, andShigella sonnei and their effect on the host and also the resonse of the host to their combined action were studied.Kiev Research Institute of Epidemiology, Microbiology, and Parasitology. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR L. V. Gromashevskii.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 2, pp. 247–249, February, 1978.