The Effects of Repeated Administration of the Micellar Complex of Methylprednisolone on the Locomotor Activity of a Terrestrial Snails

We studied the effects of repeated injections of methylprednisolone and its micellar complex with block-copolymer on locomotor activity of a terrestrial snail. It was shown that methylprednisolone solution injected into the hemolymph of the animal produced a direct effect on the muscle system of the animal as soon as 1 h after administration: it slowed down snail locomotion and reduced contractile activity of the foot muscles. The micellar complex of methylprednisolone with block-copolymer prevented this effect during the first 2 days of injection and negatively affected locomotion only in 2 days after injection, the decrease in locomotion in this case was not accompanied by a decrease in contractile activity of the foot muscle.

Changes in Membrane and Threshold Potentials of Command Neurons in Terrestrial Snail during Development of a Conditioned Situational Defensive Reflex

Changes of the electrical characteristics of command neurons of defensive behavior caused by the development of a conditioned situational defensive reflex were studied experimentally under in vitro conditions on preparations of the nervous system of snails. After learning, the membrane and threshold potentials of command neurons LPa3 and RPa3 significantly decreased and excitability of the studied neurons increased.

Spermine Induces Autophagy in Plants: Possible Role of NO and Reactive Oxygen Species

This is the first study to show that polyamine spermine, a low-molecular-weight nitrogen-containing compound, can induce autophagy in plants. This process is accompanied by an increased generation of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, which play a signal role and are required for triggering autophagy.

[The role of ATP-dependent potassium channels and nitric oxide system in the neuroprotective effect of preconditioning]

AIM

To study a role of ATP-dependent potassium channels (K+ATP) in the neuroprotective effect of ischemic (IP) and pharmacological (PP) preconditioning and evaluate the dynamics of blood nitric oxide (NO) metabolites in cerebral ischemia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A model of ischemic stroke induced by the electrocoagulation of a middle cerebral artery (MCA) branch was used in male rats (n=86). Glibenclamide, a selective inhibitor of ATP-sensitive K+ channels, and diazoxide, a potassium channel activator, were used. IP and PP were performed 24 h before MCA occlusion. Blood concentrations of NO, NO3- and NO2-were measured 5, 24 and 72 h after occlusion.

RESULTS

IP decreased a lesion area by 37% (p<0/05) and the preliminary introduction ofglibenclamide levelled the effect of IP. A protective effect of PP was similar to that of IP. A decrease in oxygenated R-conformers of Hb-NO and a reverse increase in non-oxygenated T-conformers as well as NO3- и NO2-were noted 5h after MCA occlusion. In the first 24 h after MCA occlusion, contents of NO3- and NO2- returned to normal values. There were changes in the concentrations of Hb-NO complexes as well, with the predominance of R-conformers and minimal contents of T-conformers. Moreover, the correlations between K+ATP channel blockade and the decrease in serum NO3- and NO2 were found (p<0/03).

CONCLUSION

The neuroprotective effect of preconditioning is caused by the activation of K+ATP channels. An analysis of NO metabolite concentrations in the blood of rats with IP suggests that Hb-NO complexes belonging to R-conformers deposit and carry NO in tissues releasing NO accumulated via R→T transfer in conditions of ischemia.

Impairing of Serotonin Synthesis by P-Chlorphenylanine Prevents the Forgetting of Contextual Memory After Reminder and the Protein Synthesis Inhibition

HIGHLIGHTS

The injection of p-chlorophenylalanine, specific blocker of 5-HT synthesis 3 days before reminder with anisomycin administration prevented forgetting.

It is known that the reminder cause reactivation of the long-term memory and it leads to reconsolidation of memory. We showed earlier that the disruption of the reconsolidation of contextual memory in terrestrial snail was caused by anisomycin, the inhibitor of protein syntheses (Gainutdinova et al., 2005; Balaban et al., 2014). In this paper we investigated the possible changes of the memory reconsolidation under the conditions of serotonin deficit, caused by administration of p-chlorophenylalanine, the inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase synthesis (intermediate stage of the synthesis of serotonin). It was shown that the forgetting process for contextual memory after reminder and inhibition of protein synthesis did not occur if the serotonin transmission in nervous system was impaired. This effect was significantly different from the direct action of anisomycin, which blocked the reconsolidation of contextual memory. We concluded that the serotonin system was included to the process of memory reconsolidation.

Responses of Withdrawal Interneurons to Serotonin Applications in Naïve and Learned Snails Are Different

Long-term changes in membrane potential after associative training were described previously in identified premotor interneurons for withdrawal of the terrestrial snail Helix. Serotonin was shown to be a major transmitter involved in triggering the long-term changes in mollusks. In the present study we compared the changes in electrophysiological characteristics of identifiable premotor interneurons for withdrawal in response to bath applications of serotonin (5-HT) or serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in preparations from naïve, neurotoxin-injected or associatively trained snails. It was found that 5-HT or 5-HTP applications caused a significant decrease of membrane potential in premotor interneurons of naïve snails, associatively trained snails and snails with impaired serotonergic system by injection of a selective neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) 1 week before the experiments. Applications of 5-HT or 5-HTP did not cause significant changes in the action potential (AP) threshold potential of these neurons in naïve snails. Conversely, applications of 5-HT or 5-HTP to the premotor interneurons of previously trained or 5,7-DHT-injected snails caused a significant increase in the firing threshold potential in spite of a depolarizing shift of the resting membrane potential. Results demonstrate that responsiveness of premotor interneurons to extracellularly applied 5-HT or 5-HTP changes for days after the associative training or serotonin depletion. Similarity of the effects in trained and 5,7-DHT-injected animals may be due to massive release of serotonin elicited by 5,7-DHT injection. Our results suggest that serotonin release due to aversive conditionining or elicited by the neurotoxin administration triggers similar changes in resting membrane potential and AP threshold in response to bath applications of 5-HT or its precursor 5-HTP.

Molecular Bases of Brain Preconditioning

Preconditioning of the brain induces tolerance to the damaging effects of ischemia and prevents cell death in ischemic penumbra. The development of this phenomenon is mediated by mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (KATP+) channels and nitric oxide signaling (NO). The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of molecular changes in mitochondria after ischemic preconditioning (IP) and the effect of pharmacological preconditioning (PhP) with the KATP+-channels opener diazoxide on NO levels after ischemic stroke in rats. Immunofluorescence-histochemistry and laser-confocal microscopy were applied to evaluate the cortical expression of electron transport chain enzymes, mitochondrial KATP+-channels, neuronal and inducible NO-synthases, as well as the dynamics of nitrosylation and nitration of proteins in rats during the early and delayed phases of IP. NO cerebral content was studied with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy using spin trapping. We found that 24 h after IP in rats, there is a two-fold decrease in expression of mitochondrial KATP+-channels (p = 0.012) in nervous tissue, a comparable increase in expression of cytochrome c oxidase (p = 0.008), and a decrease in intensity of protein S-nitrosylation and nitration (p = 0.0004 and p = 0.001, respectively). PhP led to a 56% reduction of free NO concentration 72 h after ischemic stroke simulation (p = 0.002). We attribute this result to the restructuring of tissue energy metabolism, namely the provision of increased catalytic sites to mitochondria and the increased elimination of NO, which prevents a decrease in cell sensitivity to oxygen during subsequent periods of severe ischemia.

Modulation of defensive reflex conditioning in snails by serotonin

Highlights Daily injection of serotonin before a training session accelerated defensive reflex conditioning in snails.Daily injection of 5-hydroxytryptophan before a training session in snails with a deficiency of serotonin induced by the "neurotoxic" analog of serotonin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine, restored the ability of snails to learn.After injection of the "neurotoxic" analogs of serotonin 5,6- and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine as well as serotonin, depolarization of the membrane and decrease of the threshold potential of premotor interneurons was observed. We studied the role of serotonin in the mechanisms of learning in terrestrial snails. To produce a serotonin deficit, the "neurotoxic" analogs of serotonin, 5,6- or 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6/5,7-DHT) were used. Injection of 5,6/5,7-DHT was found to disrupt defensive reflex conditioning. Within 2 weeks of neurotoxin application, the ability to learn had recovered. Daily injection of serotonin before a training session accelerated defensive reflex conditioning and daily injections of 5-HTP in snails with a deficiency of serotonin induced by 5,7-DHT restored the snail's ability to learn. We discovered that injections of the neurotoxins 5,6/5,7-DHT as well as serotonin, caused a decrease in the resting and threshold potentials of the premotor interneurons LPa3 and RPa3.

[Influence of hypokinezia of varying duration on the nitric oxide productions dynamics in rat's heart, spinal cord and liver]

By electron paramagnetic resonance method analyzed the production of nitric oxide (NO) in atrias and ventricles of the rat's heart, spinal cord and liver of rats after the contained in conditions of hypokinesia during 30, 60 and 90 days. It was discovered that the regime of hypokinesia leads to increase NO production in all the investigated tissues, and the largest increases were observed in 30-day hypokinesia.

[Aqueous and salt solutions of quinine of low concentrations: self-organization, physicochemical properties and actions on the electrical characteristics of neurons]

Self-organization, the physicochemical properties of aqueous and salt solutions of quinine and the effects of salt quinine solutions in a wide range of concentrations (1 x 10(-22) - 1 x 10(-3) M) on the electrical characteristics of the edible snail's identified neurons were studied. Similar non-monotonic concentration dependencies of physicochemical properties of aqueous and salt quinine solutions at low concentrations are obtained. This allows of predicting the occurrence of biological effects at low concentrations of quinine solutions. Intrinsic (within 5% of the interval) changes in membrane potential, the amplitude and duration of the neuron action potential under the influence of quinine salt solutions at concentrations of quinine of 1 x 10(-20), 1 x 10(-18), 1 x 10(-10) M are found. For these concentrations the extreme values of specific conductivity and pH are shown.

[Electron paramagnetic resonance study of nitric oxide production in rat heart during hypokinesia]

By the method of EPR spectroscopy we studied the intensity of nitric oxide (NO) production after modeling of hypokinesia in rats (limitation of moving activity) through analyses of the amount of NO-containing paramagnetic complexes in tissues of heart and liver. Experimental animals were kept during 60 day protracted hypokinesia. NO amount was assessed by the intensity of EPR spectra of complex (DEDTC)2-Fe(2+)-NO. It was established that after 60 day hypokinesia the 2-3 fold increase of NO quantity occured in heart and liver tissues. The application of a nonspecific inhibitor of NO-synthases, L-NAME, in suspended rats led to a decreased NO quantity up to the value more lower than in control. The obtained results show that the main contribution to the increase in the intensity of NO production during hypokinesia belongs to the fermentative pathway of NO production and the formation of NO by nitrite-reductase activity is not enhanced during hypokinesia.

[Changes of the neuronal membrane excitability as cellular mechanisms of learning and memory]

In the presented review given literature and results of own studies of dynamics of electrical characteristics of neurons, which change are included in processes both an elaboration of learning, and retention of the long-term memory. Literary datas and our results allow to conclusion, that long-term retention of behavioural reactions during learning is accompanied not only by changing efficiency of synaptic transmission, as well as increasing of excitability of command neurons of the defensive reflex. This means, that in the process of learning are involved long-term changes of the characteristics a membrane of certain elements of neuronal network, dependent from the metabolism of the cells. see text). Thou phenomena possible mark as cellular (electrophysiological) correlates of long-term plastic modifications of the behaviour. The analyses of having results demonstrates an important role of membrane characteristics of neurons (their excitability) and parameters an synaptic transmission not only in initial stage of learning, as well as in long-term modifications of the behaviour (long-term memory).

Production of hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide following introduction of nitrate and nitrite into wheat leaf apoplast

Infiltration of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedling leaves with excess of nitrate, nitrite, or the NO donor sodium nitroprusside leads to increase both in content of hydroperoxide and activity of peroxidase and decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the leaf apoplast. Polymorphism of extracellular peroxidases and the presence of Cu/Zn-SOD have been shown in apoplast. Using an ESR assay, a considerable increase in the level of NO following infiltration of leaf tissues with nitrite has been demonstrated. These data suggest development of both oxidative and nitrosative stresses in leaves exposed to high levels of nitrate or nitrite. A possible interplay of NO and reactive oxygen species in plant cells is discussed.

[The effect of serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan and neurotoxic analogue 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine on defensive conditioning in a snail]

This study is devoted to investigation of the influence of precursor of serotonin 5-hydroxytryptophane (5-HTP) and neurotoxic analogue 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) on defensive conditioning and electrical characteristics of command neurones of defensive behaviour after learning. Snails injected with 5-HTP learned faster as compared to control group injected with physiological solution. After the 5,7-DHT injection, snails failed to form the conditioned reflex. Injection of 5-HTP after the preliminary injection of neurotoxin 5,7-DHT restored the capability of snails for learning. Injections of 5-HTP prevented the effect of 5,7-DHT at the behavioural level, but not at the level of electrical characteristics of the command neurones.

[Electrophysiological study of effects of chronic injection of caffeine on defensive reflex conditioning in grape snail]

It was found that chronic injection of caffeine to grape snail increases a velocity of elaboration of conditioned defensive reflex. It was shown that after daily injection of caffeine immediately after procedure of learning the conditioned defensive reflex elaborated faster than daily injection before procedure of learning. It has been shown, that chronic injection of caffeine both in naive as well as learned snails led to depolarizing shift of membrane potential and to decrease of threshold potential of command neurons of the defensive behaviour of grape snails. It was also found that addition of caffeine in bath solution led to decrease of threshold of generation of action potential of command neurons both in intact and learned snails. The resting membrane potential of command neurons was not changed.

Modulatory action of combined treatment with antibodies against S100 protein and low doses of this protein on membrane effects of quinine

Antibodies against calcium-binding protein S100 (AB-S100) 1.5-fold increased, while quinine 2-fold decreased the frequency of action potential generation in B4 and B6 neurons. Application of quinine against the background of AB-S100 treatment returned this parameter to the initial level. Pretreatment with AB-S100 in low doses prevents changes the frequency of action potential generation induced by application of AB-S100 in the initial dilution. The duration of action potential increased by 1.6 times after application of AB-S100 and quinine, while after application of quinine increased this parameter by more than 6 times. AB-S100 decreased maximum inward current by 20%. Our experiments demonstrated a modulating effect of combined administration of AB-S100 and its low doses on the membrane effects of quinine.

The effects of changes in extracellular calcium concentrations on the electrical properties of command neurons after acquisition of a defensive conditioned reflex in snails

Studies of the electrical characteristics of the command neurons of a defensive reflex showed that the membrane potential showed no significant changes in response to changes in the calcium concentration in the perfusing solution in either intact or trained snails. Increases in the calcium ion concentration in intact snails were accompanied by increases in the threshold potential, from 14 +/- 0.7 mV at 2.5 mM Ca2+ to 21.8 +/- 0.9 mV at 20 mM Ca2+. The threshold potential in trained snails decreased in response to both increases and decreases in calcium concentrations, from 16.8 +/- 0.6 mV (physiological saline containing 10 mM Ca2+) to 13.3 +/- 0.6 mV at 20 mM Ca2+ and 11.8 +/- 0.8 mV at 2.5 mM Ca2+. The critical depolarization level changed correspondingly: in intact snails, this decreased with increases in calcium concentration, while in trained snails it increased in response to both increases and decreases in the calcium concentration.

Locomotor responses and neuron excitability in conditions of haloperidol blockade of dopamine in invertebrates and vertebrates

Levels of movement activity were used to identify two groups of rats: those with high- and low-activity levels. Blockade of dopamine receptors with haloperidol led to suppression of locomotor activity in both groups of rats; in common snails, haloperidol decreased the rate of locomotion. The excitability of spinal centers in rats decreased 5 min after single i.v. injections, with gradual recovery seen by 30 min. Chronic administration of haloperidol suppressed post-tetanic potentiation of the H response in the gastrocnemius muscle of spinal rats. Prolonged use of haloperidol induced significant hyperpolarization of the membrane potential of command neurons in common snails and increased the action potential generation threshold. Selective pharmacological exclusion of the brain dopamine system was found to lead to decreases in the excitability of defined neurons in snails and the spinal motor centers in rats, also producing impairments in locomotor responses in these animals.

Effect of chronic administration of chlorpromazine on electrical parameters of command neurons in edible snail

Electrophysiological experiments showed that chronic administration of neuroleptic chlorpromazine depolarized plasma membrane and decreased the threshold of action potential generation in command neuron of defense behavior of edible snail and motoneurons of pneumostome closure reflex. The effects of chlorpromazine on electrical parameters of the identified neurons can be explained by its serotonin-depleting action.

The effects of 6-hydroxydopamine on the electrical characteristics of snail neurons in long-term sensitization

The effects of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine on the formation of long-term sensitization and changes in the membrane characteristics of identified neurons were studied. Injections of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine blocked the acquisition of long-term sensitization; when neurotoxin injections were given after the formation of long-term sensitization, they had no subsequent effect on conduction parameters. At the cellular level, recording of the electrical characteristics of common snail defensive behavior command neurons (LPa3, RPa3, LPa2, and RPa2) showed that the effects of 6-hydroxydopamine consisted of a small depolarization shift in the membrane potential and a change in the action potential generation threshold. Formation of long-term sensitization after injections of 6-hydroxydopamine did not lead to further decreases in the membrane and threshold potentials of command neurons as compared with snails only given injections of 6-hydroxydopamine. The changes in electrical measures of command neurons induced by administration of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine lasted at least two weeks.

[Sensomotor learning and heart rhythm dynamics under the conditions of monocular vision]

According to P. K. Anokhin's general functional system theory, integral behavior is considered to be realization of processes directed towards achieving a useful result. The subjects of the study were a number of students, whose ECG was recorded while they were trained to fulfill a visual-motor task. Successfulness of learning was estimated. The study demonstrated a connection between the heart rhythm dynamics and the level of learning to fulfill visual-motor tasks.

[Chemical plasticity of cerebral neurons in the dynamics of goal-directed behavior]

The main purpose of the study was to establish physiological regularities and neurochemical mechanisms of the participation of cortical neurons of cats in performance of food-seeking behavioral systemoquanta. The study shows that individual stages of food-seeking systemoquantum are characterized by different sensitivity of the visual cortex to neuromediators. The author considers combination of methods of functional neurochemistry and the theory of behavioral quantization to be advantageous in a certain way, because it reveals a possible association between neurochemical mechanisms of involvement of individual neurons and the stages of the development of behavioral systemoquantum.

[Effect of changes in extracellular calcium concentration on electrical characteristics of command neurons after defensive reflex conditioning in snail]

Studies of electrical characteristics of command neurons of the defensive reflex have shown that membrane potential does not reliable differ for both naive and learned snails with changing of the calcium concentrations in external solution. With increasing of the concentrations of calcium ions it is observed the increases of threshold potential from 14 + 0.7 mV in 2.5 mM Ca2+ to 21.8 + 0.9 mV in 20 mM Ca2+ for naive snails. Threshold potential decreases from 16.8 + 0.6 mV (saline solution for snail--10 mM Ca2+) to 13.3 + 0.6 mV in 20 mM Ca2+ with increasing of calcium concentrations for learned snails, and under its reduction it is also decreased, but less remarkably, than for naive, to 11.8 + 0.8 mV in 2.5 mM Ca2+. On the same scheme it is changed a critical level of depolarization: for naive snails it decreases with increasing of the calcium concentrations, and for learned snails it increases either with increasing of the calcium concentrations, and so with its reduction.

[Locomotor reactions and excitability of neurons during the blockade of dopamine by haloperidol in vertebrate and invertebrate animals]

Two groups of rats with different level of motor activities: high- and low-active animals, were distinguished. The blockade of dopamine receptors by haloperidol led to depression of locomotor activity in both groups of rats; in grape snails, haloperidol caused a decrease of the velocity of locomotor responses. In was found that within 5 minutes of intravenous injection of haloperidol the excitability of spinal centers of rats decreased; but in 30 minutes in started restoring. Chronic application of the preparation depressed the effect of posttetanic potentiation of H-response in gastrocnemius muscle of spinal rats. In command neurons of grape snail, chronic injections of haloperidol causes a significant hyperpolarization shift of membrane potential and an increase of threshold of the generation of action potential. It was shown that the selective pharmacological inhibition of dopaminergic system of the brain led to a decrease of excitability in some determined neurons of the snail and spinal motor centers of rats, as well as inhibited the locomotor responses both in vertebrate and in invertebrate animals.

Effect of chronic haloperidol on electrical parameters of command neurons in Helix Lucorum

We studied the effects of neuroleptic haloperidol on electric characteristics (resting potential, action potential threshold, and critical level of depolarization) of command neurons LPa3, RPa3, LPa2, and RPa2 responsible for defense behavior in edible snail Helix Lucorum. Chronic administration of haloperidol led to hyperpolarization shift of the membrane potential and increased the threshold of action potential in these neurons. The data indicate a new possible mechanism of sedative action of neuroleptics based on hyperpolarization of some cerebral neurons, in particular, neurons responsible for some behavioral functions.

Electrophysiological studies of the effects of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine on the acquisition of a conditioned defensive reflex in snails

The role of serotonin in the membrane properties of identified neurons was studied during acquisition of a conditioned defensive reflex. Serotonin deficiency was created using the neurotoxic serotonin analog 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT). Injection of 5,6-DHT was found to prevent decreases in the membrane and threshold potentials of command neurons during acquisition of the conditioned reflex as compared with snails given 5,6-DHT without training. Common snails recovered the ability to acquire the conditioned reflex two weeks after a second 5,6-DHT injection.

[Effect of 6-hydroxydopamine on the electrical characteristics of snail neurons in long-term sensitization]

Studies of the influence of neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine selectively destroying the catecholamine terminals on long-term sensitization, and the role of dopamine in manifestation of characteristics of a membrane of identified neurons during elaboration of plasticity, were fulfilled. Injection of saline was used as the control. It is shown that preliminary injection of 6-hydroxydopamine reduces duration of long-term sensitization, but does not block it completely. It was shown that injection of 6-hydroxydopamine prevents diminishing of membrane and threshold potentials in withdrawal interneurons during formation of long-term sensitization. The experiments demonstrate that shift of electrical characteristics of withdrawal interneurons caused by injection of neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine to both naive snails and sensitized snails, statys during at least 10 days.

[Duration of changes in electrical characteristics of command neurons after defensive conditioning in snails]

Electrical characteristics of snail command neurons were studied during and after defensive conditioning. Tapping on the shell was used as a conditioned stimulus. A light air blow into the lung cavity orifice (pneumostome) was used as an unconditioned stimulus. The conditioned defensive reflex is known to be retained for 40 days. We have shown earlier the decrease in membrane and threshold potentials of command neurons after defensive conditioning (Gainutdinov et al., 1996). In these experiments it has been found that the decreased level of membrane and threshold potentials are maintained during 40 days after defensive reflex conditioning.

Membranotropic effects of antibodies to S100 protein in ultralow doses

Two types of neurons exhibiting various reactions to application of antibodies against S100 protein in the washing solution were revealed in the nervous system of Helix lucorum snails. After treatment with antibodies against S100 protein the frequency of action potential generation decreased in spontaneously active B1, B3, B17, and PPa6 cells, but increased in B4 and B6 cells. The effect of antibodies against S100 was less pronounced in the solution of potentiated antibodies against this protein. After pre-exposure of ganglia in the solution of potentiated water the effect of antibodies against S100 protein decreased to a lesser extent. No significant changes were revealed in the membrane resting potential of cells. Combination treatment with antibodies and potentiated antibodies against S100 protein increased the threshold of action potential generation in B1 and B17 cells. Our results indicate that potentiated antibodies against S100 protein specifically modulate the activity of nerve cells.

[Time course of changes in cardiac rhythms in successful and unsuccessful solution of visual and motor tasks under the conditions of binocular and monocular visions]

The P. K. Anokhin theory of the general functional system considers integral behaviour as realization of processes aimed at reaching a useful result. Electrograms were recorded in students who were solving visual and motor puzzle tasks. Their results were estimated. There were two groups of subjects: 1) those with normal binocular vision and 2) those with monocular vision. Some specific features were found in cardiac rhythm power in each group. The findings suggest that there are relationships between the results of task solution, the type of visual perception, and heart rate parameters.

[Electrophysiological study of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine effect on defensive reflex conditioning in the snail]

The role of serotonin in expression of membrane properties of identified neurons was studied during defensive reflex conditioning using the neurotoxic analogue of serotonin 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT). The defensive reflex conditioning in snails was destroyed on the second day after second injection of 5,6-DHT. Through the 1st weeks after second injection of 5,6-DHT the snails were learned but worse than snails after injection of saline solution. This result shows the recovery of snail's learning ability within 2 weeks after the second injection of 5,6-DHT. It was found that injection of 5,6-DHT prevented the decrease of membrane and threshold potentials of command neurons during defensive reflex conditioning as compared with the snails injected with 5,6-DHT without learning.

The electrical characteristics of command and motor neurons during acquisition of a conditioned defensive reflex and formation of long-term sensitization in snails

The mechanisms of the acquisition of a conditioned defensive reflex and formation of long-term sensitization were studied at the level of an analysis of the electrical characteristics of defensive behavior command neurons and motor neurons which open and close the pneumostoma. Significant decreases in membrane and threshold potentials were seen in command neurons in response to acquisition of the conditioned defensive reflex and formation of long-term sensitization, along with further decreases in these parameters in snails which were trained after long-term sensitization. Changes in the critical level of depolarization and amplitude of action potentials were insignificant. The changes observed here provide evidence for an increase in the membrane excitability of command neurons. Similar changes were not seen in motor neurons.

[The duration of the storage of the electrical characteristics of command neurons in the acquisition of long-term sensitization in the snail]

The retention of the long-term sensitization (LTS) of defensive reflex and dynamics of change in electric characteristics (membrane potential (Vm) and action potential generation threshold (Vt)) of command neurons of defensive reflex was studied in a snail during behavioral tests. The membrane mechanisms were analyzed by measuring electrical characteristics of the LPa3, RPa3, LPa2, and RPa2 command neurons on the 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, and 14th days after the LTS formation and 1 month later. The membrane potential and threshold potential in sensitized snails (-54.1 +/- 2.0 and 24.5 +/- 1.4 microV, respectively) were significantly (p < 0.001) decreased in comparison with the control animals (-60.9 +/- 0.8 and 19.9 +/- 0.6 microV respectively). These changes retained within 14 days after the LTS formation. The results suggest the long-term retention of the increased excitability of command neurons. A month after the LTS formation, the duration of the defensive reflex returned to the initial level and the electric characteristics of command neurons did not significantly differ from the control (-61.1 +/- 2.0 and 19.3 +/- 1.4 microV, respectively).

[The action of the neurotoxins 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine and p-chlorophenylalanine on the electrical activity parameters of the command neurons during long-term sensitization and learning in the snail]

The influence of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT), which selectively destroyed serotonin terminals, and p-chlorphenylalanine, which inhibited serotonin synthesis, was studied on the long-term sensitization (LTS) in a snail. The membrane mechanisms were analyzed by measuring electrical characteristics of command neurons of defensive behavior LPa3, RPa3, LPa2, and RPa2. Snails injected with saline served as an active control. It was shown that the injected drugs inhibited the LTS in certain concentrations. A significant increase was observed in the membrane potential and the threshold of the action potential generation in the command neurons after 5,6-DHT injection in the doses of 20 and 30 mg/kg (in comparison with the active control). Sensitization of snails injected with saline solution led to the LTS and decrease in the membrane and threshold potentials of the command neurons. After the LTS, changes in membrane and threshold potentials in snails injected with 5,6-DHT were negligible in comparison with those injected with 5,6-DHT but without the LTS. Neither the LTS nor subsequent learning resulted in a further decrease in membrane and threshold potentials. Thus, the neurotoxin injection led to an increase in excitability of command neurons and their depolarization, and the LDS did not elicit further excitability increase. Since the shifts of the threshold and membrane potentials were the same, it was concluded that the increase in membrane excitability was induced by the depolarizing shift of the membrane potential.

[The electrical characteristics of the command and motor neurons during the acquisition of a conditioned defensive reflex and the development of long-term sensitization in snails]

The mechanisms of conditioning of the defensive pneumostome closure reflex and long-term sensitization were studied at the level of electrical characteristics of the command and motor neurons. A significant decrease in membrane and threshold potentials in the command neurons was observed after the acquisition of the defensive reflex and long-term sensitization. These potentials decreased to a greater extent in the snails subjected to conditioning after the sensitization. Changes in the critical depolarization level for the action potential generation and its amplitude were insignificant. Thus, the observed phenomena testify to an increase in membrane excitability of the command neurons. Similar changes were not found in the motor neurons.

[Polymorphism of virus-like particles of retrotransposons in Drosophila and yeast cells]

Data on the molecular arrangement of viruslike particles (VLPs) of yeast and Drosophila retrotransposons are presented. Two methods for identifying VLPs from specific retrotransposon families have been offered. The first method is based on VLPs fractionation by electrophoresis in agarose gel under strictly controlled conditions. VLPs of the Drosophila melanogaster retrotransposon families copia and gypsy and D. virilis retrotransposon Tv1 were identified by this method. The method based on heterologous induction of retrotransposons in cells of the mutant spt3 strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used to identify VLPs of yeast retrotransposon Tyl and D. melanogaster gypsy retrotransposon.

Chemical plasticity of visual cortical neurons in integrative organization of feeding behavior in cats

The P.K. Anokhin conception of organization of systemic behavior was used to study the discharge activity and chemical plasticity of cortical neurons in a goal-directed behavior. Chemical sensitivity of neurons in the visual cortex of instrumentally conditioned cats was studied during successive stages of food procuring and consuming. The results showed that definite stages of this integrated behavioral act are characterized by differences in the chemical sensitivity of visual neurons to neurotransmitters. The largest number of neurons resistant to neurotransmitters was found among cells that did not respond at successive stages of goal-directed behavior. The iontophoretic delivery of cycloheximide and lyzilvasopressine altered the discharge activity of individual cortical neurons at different stages of stereotyped instrumental conditioned acts. This suggests that the integrative organization of the feeding behavior is determined by chemical plasticity of the brain's visual cortical neurons and is dependent upon the processes of protein synthesis. According to the functional system theory (Anokhin, 1974) each brain neuron is included, by various degrees of freedom, in the stages of systemic organization that underlie the goal-directed behavior. Thanks to the plastic reorganization of brain units, each stage is directed toward the achievement of useful adaptive results for the organism during interaction with different environmental factors (Adrianov, 1993; Fadeev, 1988). It may be proposed that the reorganization of discharges of brain neurons that occurs at different stages of activity is due to changes in their chemical capacities. In concordance with such a hypothesis, the purpose of the present investigation was to study the chemical sensitivity of single visual cortical neurons to neurotransmitters at different stages of systemic organization of feeding behavior. The influence of protein synthesis inhibitors on the sensitivity of cortical neurons was also investigated.

Characteristics of the chemical sensitivity of cerebral cortical neurons at the stages of food-procuring behavior of cats as a function of the quality of reinforcement

The chemical sensitivity to the principal neuromediators of neurons of the visual area of the cerebral cortex was investigated at sequential stages of instrumental behavior in this study using the method of the microiontophoresis, in two experimental situations. In the first of these a portion of milk was used as the reinforcement; in the second, a portion of meat powder. It was demonstrated that the number of universal neurons decreases against the background of the application of norepinephrine and acetylcholine in behavioral acts with qualitatively different food reinforcements. At the same time, the number of neurons that are areactive at all stages of the behavior increases in the situation involving milk reinforcement, while it decreases in the situation involving meat reinforcement.