Electrophysiological Activity and Survival Rate of Rats Nervous Tissue Cells Depends on D/H Isotopic Composition of Medium

The deuterium content modification in an organism has a neuroprotective effect during the hypoxia model, affecting anxiety, memory and stress resistance. The aim of this work was to elucidate the possible mechanisms of the medium D/H composition modification on nerve cells. We studied the effect of an incubation medium with a 50 ppm deuterium content compared to a medium with 150 ppm on: (1) the activity of Wistar rats’ hippocampus CA1 field neurons, (2) the level of cultured cerebellar neuron death during glucose deprivation and temperature stress, (3) mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the generation of reactive oxygen species in cultures of cerebellar neurons. The results of the analysis showed that the incubation of hippocampal sections in a medium with a 50 ppm deuterium reduced the amplitude of the pop-spike. The restoration of neuron activity was observed when sections were returned to the incubation medium with a 150 ppm deuterium content. An environment with a 50 ppm deuterium did not significantly affect the level of reactive oxygen species in neuron cultures, while MMP decreased by 16–20%. In experiments with glucose deprivation and temperature stress, the medium with 50 ppm increased the death of neurons. Thus, a short exposure of nerve cells in the medium with 50 ppm deuterium acts as an additional stressful factor, which is possibly associated with the violation of the cell energy balance. The decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential, which is known to be associated with ATP synthesis, indicates that this effect may be associated with the cell energy imbalance. The decrease in the activity of the CA1 field hippocampal neurons may reflect reversible adaptive changes in the operation of fast-reacting ion channels.     

Influence on the Energy of the Covalent Bond of the Isotopic Composition of its Nuclei

Russian Physics Journal - Based on the classical quantum-mechanical approach, the physical mechanism of isotope fractionation is proposed associated with the predominance of a certain number of...     

Influence of Environmental Parameters on the Stability of the DNA Molecule

Fluctuations in viscosity within the cell nucleus have wide limits. When a DNA molecule passes from the region of high viscosity values to the region of low values, open states, denaturation bubbles, and unweaving of DNA strands can occur. Stabilization of the molecule is provided by energy dissipation—dissipation due to interaction with the environment. Separate sections of a DNA molecule in a twisted state can experience supercoiling stress, which, among other things, is due to complex entropic effects caused by interaction with a solvent. In this work, based on the numerical solution of a mechanical mathematical model for the interferon alpha 17 gene and a fragment of the Drosophila gene, an analysis of the external environment viscosity influence on the dynamics of the DNA molecule and its stability was carried out. It has been shown that an increase in viscosity leads to a rapid stabilization of the angular vibrations of nitrogenous bases, while a decrease in viscosity changes the dynamics of DNA: the rate of change in the angular deviations of nitrogenous bases increases and the angular deformations of the DNA strands increase at each moment of time. These processes lead to DNA instability, which increases with time. Thus, the paper considers the influence of the external environment viscosity on the dissipation of the DNA nitrogenous bases’ vibrational motion energy. Additionally, the study on the basis of the described model of the molecular dynamics of physiological processes at different indicators of the rheological behavior of nucleoplasm will allow a deeper understanding of the processes of nonequilibrium physics of an active substance in a living cell to be obtained.     

The shear modulus of the human vocal fold in a transverse direction

The aim of this study was to measure the shear modulus of the vocal fold in a human hemilarynx, such that the data can be related to direction of applied stress and anatomical context. Dynamic spring rate data were collected using a modified linear skin rheometer using human hemilarynges, and converted to estimated shear modulus via application of a simple shear model. The measurement probe was attached to the epithelial layer of the vocal fold cover using suction. A sinusoidal force of 3g was applied to the epithelium, and the resultant displacement logged at a rate of 1kHz. Force measurement accuracy was 20microg and position measurement accuracy was 4microm. The force was applied in a transverse direction at the midmembranous point between the vocal process and the anterior commissure. The shear modulus of the three female vocal folds ranged from 814 to 1232Pa. The shear modulus of the three male vocal folds ranged from 1021 to 1796Pa. These data demonstrate that it is possible to obtain estimates for the shear modulus of the vocal fold while preserving anatomical context. The modulus values reported here are higher than those reported using parallel plate rheometry. This is to be expected as the tissue is attached to surrounding structures, and is under natural tension.     

High-temperature deformation and specific features of dislocation structure of Ti<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al

The transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the dislocation structure of intermetallic Ti₃Al after deformation at temperatures T = 1073–1273 K. It is established that its microstructure contains mobile 2c + a and superdislocations. Possible models describing the destruction of barriers associated with 2c + a superdislocations in pyramidal planes are discussed using the results of computer simulation of the superdislocation core structure in Ti₃Al.     

Reduction of Deuterium Level Supports Resistance of Neurons to Glucose Deprivation and Hypoxia: Study in Cultures of Neurons and on Animals

The effect of a reduced deuterium (D) content in the incubation medium on the survival of cultured neurons in vitro and under glucose deprivation was studied. In addition, we studied the effect of a decrease in the deuterium content in the rat brain on oxidative processes in the nervous tissue, its antioxidant protection, and training of rats in the T-shaped maze test under hypoxic conditions. For experiments with cultures of neurons, 7–8-day cultures of cerebellar neurons were used. Determination of the rate of neuronal death in cultures was carried out using propidium iodide. Acute hypoxia with hypercapnia was simulated in rats by placing them in sealed vessels with a capacity of 1 L. The effect on oxidative processes in brain tissues was assessed by changes in the level of free radical oxidation and malondialdehyde. The effect on the antioxidant system of the brain was assessed by the activity of catalase. The study in the T-maze was carried out in accordance with the generally accepted methodology, the skill of alternating right-sided and left-sided loops on positive reinforcement was developed. This work has shown that a decrease in the deuterium content in the incubation medium to a level of −357‰ has a neuroprotective effect, increasing the survival rate of cultured neurons under glucose deprivation. When exposed to hypoxia, a preliminary decrease in the deuterium content in the rat brain to −261‰ prevents the development of oxidative stress in their nervous tissue and preserves the learning ability of animals in the T-shaped maze test at the level of the control group. A similar protective effect during the modification of the ²H/¹H internal environment of the body by the consumption of DDW can potentially be used for the prevention of pathological conditions associated with the development of oxidative stress with damage to the central nervous system.     

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the brittle fracture of Ti<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al

The formation of microcracks upon dislocation interactions was studied by means of TEM analysis. The types of microcracks were classified depending on the orientation of deformation axes in single crystals. The Griffith surface energy was simulated, and the energy of unstable stacking faults was calculated by the molecular dynamics method using the N-particle EAM potentials of the interatomic interaction for Ti₃Al. The Rice—Thompson model was used to study the relationship between the tendency toward cleavage and the plastic relaxation of stresses near a crack tip by the emission of dislocations in Ti₃Al single crystals.     

3-(2-Arylhydrazono)-1,1,1-trifluro-3-(phenylsulfonyl)propan-2-ones as selective carboxylesterase inhibitors

Russian Chemical Bulletin - We improved the synthetic procedure for 3-(2-arylhydrazono)-1,1,1-trifluro-3-(phenylsulfonyl)propan-2-ones and established their structure. The study of their esterase...     

Formation of microcracks in an indented Ti<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al intermetallic compound

Microcracks in the Ti₃Al alloy indented at room temperature have been analyzed by electron microscopy. Analysis of the microstructure has revealed that microcracks propagate in the {0\(\overline 1 \)11} pyramidal planes and in the slip bands of the 2c + a superdislocations in the {20\(\overline 2 \)1} and {11\(\overline 2 \)1} pyramidal planes. It is found that the formation of a slip band in the basal plane at the microcrack tip leads to a change in the character of microcrack propagation from straight-line to steplike.     

Sorption Capacity of Silver Nanoparticles on Plain Polished Catgut

Russian Physics Journal - The paper studies the interaction between surgical catgut and silver nanoparticles depending on the fiber surface treatment and time of exposure (1 and 24 hours) in...