The effects of immunization against cholecystokinin fragment 30-33 in the behavior of white rats

Active immunization of white rats with cholecystokinin-4 covalently linked to the antigen carrier BSA evoked long-lasting changes in the rats' behavior, which were in the opposite direction to the anxiogenic effects of cholecystokinin-4 itself, showing that immunization had anxiolytic effects. Immunoenzyme analysis demonstrated the presence of antibodies to cholecystokinin-4 in the serum of immunized rats. These data are interesting from the point of view of correcting pathological anxiety and fear states by inverse immunoregulation.

[Long-term correction of brain function. Prospects of immunologic approaches]

Among various approaches to long-term correction of the highest functions of the brain there are two methods that are particularly promising. These included: 1) induction of autoantibodies against the enzymes involved in the metabolism of neuroregulators by means of immunization of respective heterologous enzymes; 2) immunization by covalent conjugates of monomolecular neurotropic compounds and neuropeptides with antigen carriers. The investigations of both methods are reviewed and illustrated in experiments on albino rats during alcoholization and some other processes of pathological behavior formation. Evidence is provided for that behavior can be corrected for several months or longer.

[Anticipated and unexpected physiological effects of oligopeptides (glyprolines, ACTH (4-10) analogs, taftsin, and thyroliberin)]

A short review of investigations resulting in determination of a new family of regulatory peptides (glyprolines) participating in modulation of hemostasis and protection of mucous membranes, obtaining of the ACTH4-10 new analogues which are potent neuroprotectors and nootrops, and revealing of unexpected biological activities of some other peptides (behavioural effects of tuftsin, lymph flow stimulation by thyroliberin, etc.). Further investigations into the functional peptide continuum is discussed.

[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]

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.

Comparative study of modulatory effects of Semax and primary proline-containing peptides on hemostatic reactions

Intranasal administration of Semax, peptide Pro-Gly-Pro, and a mixture of peptides Pro-Gly+Gly-Pro to rats for 5 days enhanced anticoagulant and fibrinolytic potential of the plasma (total fibrinolytic activity and plasmin and plasminogen activator activities) and decreased antiplasmin concentration. Semax and Pro-Gly-Pro decreased the weight of thrombi during experimental thrombosis.

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.

Novel synthetic analogue of ACTH 4-10 (Semax) but not glycine prevents the enhanced nitric oxide generation in cerebral cortex of rats with incomplete global ischemia

This work investigates whether nitric oxide production and lipid peroxidation contribute to the pathophysiology of ischemia and whether glycine and a novel Russian compound, Semax are neuroprotective via a mechanism involving the regulation nitric oxide (NO) and lipid peroxidation. In brief, nitric oxide and indices of lipid peroxidation were elevated following global ischemia. While glycine proved ineffective in reducing NO levels or ameliorating the neurological deficits following global ischemia, Semax proved to be highly effective in abating the rise in nitric oxide and restoring neurologic functioning.

Peptidergic correction of the effect of acute hypobaric hypoxia in pregnant rats on progeny

Acute hypobaric hypoxia of pregnant rats led to a significant delay in body weight gain, growth and time of eye opening in newborn rat pups which was paralleled by behavioral changes. Preventive intranasal instillations of peptide mixture (semax and beta-casomorphine-7) to pregnant females prevented the effect of hypoxia on the progeny.

[Searching for the optimal combinations of regulator anxiolytic peptides: theoretical rationale]

A vector method is proposed to initially select the complexes of regulatory peptides (RPs) with certain functional characteristics. As the result of a theoretical search for the optimal combinations of anxiolytic RPs with different spectra of side effects, the following complexes are proposed for subsequent experimental investigation: NPY-ANP, NPY-SP, NPY-NT, NPY-CGRP, NPY-DSIP, NPY-MIF-1, NPY-SP-MIF-1, NPY-ANP-DSIP, and NPY-CGRP-DSIP.

Main ethanol metabolizing alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH I and ADH IV): biochemical functions and the physiological manifestation

The range of the biochemical reactions which can be catalyzed by ADH I and ADH IV is extremely wide. The most characterized functions of these enzymes are protection against excess endogenous acetaldehyde, products of lipid peroxidation, exogenous alcohols and some xenobiotics. It was found also that ADH I and ADH IV are important members of the enzyme system synthesizing retinoic acid (especially during embryogenesis). They can oxidize some steroids and participate in bioamine and prostaglandin metabolism but so far the extent of their contribution to the latter processes is under discussion. Recent data suggest a correlation between the activity of ADH I in some organs and fine physiological processes including behavior regulation and craving for alcohol in albino rats.

Delayed behavioral effects of beta-casomorphin-7 depend on age and gender of albino rat pups

Systemic administration of beta-casein heptapeptide beta-casomorphin-7 (YPFPGPI, 1 mg/kg daily) to 10-23-day-old albino rat pups produced delayed anxiolytic effects, which were more pronounced in female than in male rats. Experimental findings confirm our assumption on the important role of nutritional opioids in brain development in newborn mammals.

Effect of Semax on homeostasis of gastric mucosa in albino rats

The ACTH(4-7)analogue Semax administered intraperitoneally in a dose of 50 microg/kg 1 h before exposure to ulcerogenic factors (ethanol, water immersion immobilization stress) protected gastric mucosa from damage. Postoperative treatment with Semax for 5 days after application of glacial acetic acid on the mucosa prevented acetic acid-induced ulcers and promoted their healing. The antiulcer effects of Semax in the studied dose were comparable with those of tripeptide Pro-Gly-Pro in a dose of 1 mg/kg.

[Effect of immunization to cholecystokinin fragment (30-33) on the behavior of albino rats]

Active immunisation of albino rats by the BSA-conjugated CCK-4 induced formation of antibodies to the CCK-4 and some long-term changes of the rat behaviour. These changes were contrary to anxiogenic effect of the CCK-4 and demonstrated an anxiolytic effect of the immunisation. The data obtained suggest a possibility of an immunocorrection of pathological anxiety and fear by an inverse immunoregulation.

The effect of prolil-glycil-proline (PGP) peptide and PGP-rich substances on haemostatic parameters of rat blood

The effect of intravenous and intranasal administration of proline-containing peptide, especially prolil-glycil-proline (PGP), on the haemostatic system of rats was investigated. Tripeptide PGP after single intravenous (0.2, 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg) or intranasal (0.5 mg/ kg) administration increased (P < 0.05) total fibrinolytic and fibrin depolymerizating (FDA) activities, and tissue plasminogen activator levels (t-PA), and decreased the plasmin inhibitors (PI) and activated factor XIII (factor XIIIa) levels in blood plasma. Repeated daily intranasal administration (5 days) of PGP produced a significant increase of anticoagulant and fibrinolytic activities (P < 0.05), and a decrease of platelet aggregation, PI and factor XIIIa levels in blood plasma. Fibrinogen concentrations remained practically unchanged. Chronic peroral administration of gelatin (protein particularly rich of PGP, prolil-glycil, glycil-proline) as a food supplement significantly increased t-PA level (by 120%) at day 10 and FDA (by 290%) at day 14 in blood plasma. We also observed potent suppression of thrombus formation (venous thrombosis model) by intranasal PGP administration. Therefore, PGP and some PGP-rich substances can be qualified as potent anticoagulant and antithrombotic agents.

Chronic administration of interferon-a decreases blood pressure and heart rate in rats

We studied the effects of interferon-alpha on rat cardiovascular system. Intravenous administration of intron-A in a dose of 100,000 IU/kg for 3 days led to a permanent and statistically significant decrease in blood pressure (on days 2 and 3) and reduction in heart rate. These effects were not associated with changes in baroreflex regulation of the cardiovascular system.

GABA-induced changes of the tissue-specific peptide pool of white rat brain

Internasal administration of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) induced prolonged behaviour changes and the appearance of three new compounds absent in the brain extracts of control rats. Two peptides associated with GABA administration were isolated and sequenced: Thr-Tyr-Thr-Phe, which corresponds to a gamma-immunoglobulin segment, and Val-Leu, which is present in a great number of proteins, hence its precursor could not be established. The third compound was not amenable to the Edman degradation technique. The data obtained show that the introduction of a neurotransmitter could cause specific changes in the levels of tissue-specific peptide components.

Improvements in the selective perception and training of rats using an original analog of the C-terminal fragment of vasopressin

This report presents studies on the effects of intranasal administration of five doses (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 microg/kg) of a new analog of arginine-vasopressin fragment AVP(6-9), i.e., D-MPRG, on the learning ability of rats with positive and negative reinforcement. All doses of the peptide improved learning. The most effective dose was 0.01 microg/kg, at which the peptide accelerated the acquisition of a conditioned active avoidance reflex both when given 1 h before and when given immediately after training sessions. The peptide had greater effects when animals were trained with negative reinforcement. Analysis of the results suggests that the action of D-MPRG is mainly on perception processes, i.e., extraction of the conditioned stimulus from the environmental surroundings and evaluation and enhancement of its biological significance. In addition, this peptide prevented extinction of the acquired habit and improved the processes of consolidation, though this effect was weaker than its effect on perception.