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Vol 482, No 1 (2018)

Physiology

Rearrangement of the Prefrontal Cortex Neural Activity in Both Hemispheres during Learning

Orlov A.A., Filatova E.V., Afanasyev S.V.

Abstract

Neuronal activity of both right and left hemispheres of the rat prefrontal brain cortex was recorded in the two-ring maze during animal learning to operate in response to signals. At the beginning of learning, pairwise comparison of neural activity that accompanied correct and incorrect choice of the right and left sides showed significant differences in the left hemisphere and the lack of differences in the right one. With increasing percentage of correct choices during a session of learning, the differences in neuronal responses appeared in the right hemispheres and were reduced in the left one. The opposite trends in rearrangement of the total impulse activity are believed to be related to different roles of hemispheres in the construction of the internal behavioral model.

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):163-165
pages 163-165 views

Working Memory for Low-Level Visual Features: Sensory Mechanisms for Detecting the Mismatch between the Current Orientations and Those Stored in Memory

Mikhailova E.S., Gerasimenko N.Y., Prokudin P.A.

Abstract

The amplitudes of the P100 and N150 early components of evoked potentials in the visual cortex have been analyzed on 33 volunteers with normal vision during matching between the current orientation and that stored in memory. An increase in the P100 response in the occipital and parietal cortical areas was identified as an informative indicator of mismatch between the current and stored-in-memory orientations. This effect was not found for more complex stimuli, namely, spatial patterns. The N150 component demonstrated a similar effect, but in contrast to P100 it was not stimulus specific. Thus, in the first 100 ms, a signal of mismatch between the current and stored-in-memory orientations arises in the early visual areas that represents a mechanism for early implicit response to changes in the basic characteristics of the visual space.

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):166-169
pages 166-169 views

Evolutionary Changes in the Content of Dehydrogenase System Metabolites as a Mechanism of Adaptation to Cold in Higher Vertebrates

Kolosova O.N., Kershengolts B.M., Solomonov N.G.

Abstract

It has been found that the optimal body balance control under the conditions of the adaptation to cold is mostly determined by the ratio of the blood concentrations of endogenous ethanol and acetaldehyde related to the activities of liver alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase in the order of increasing level of adaptation: higher vertebrates unadapted to cold, including human → small animals adapted to cold → large animals adapted to cold native to the North → hibernators, regardless of the species specificity and the environment.

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):170-173
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Morphological Study of Myelinated Fibers of the Sciatic Nerve in Mice after Space Flight and Readaptation to the Conditions of Earth Gravity

Rezvyakov P.N., Shaimardanova G.F., Lisukov A.N., Kuznetsov M.S., Islamov R.R., Nikolskiy E.E.

Abstract

We revealed a decrease in the thickness of the myelin sheath and myelin delamination in the tibial nerve of C57BL/6N mice after a 30-day flight aboard the biosatellite Bion-M1. The processes of myelin degeneration continued for seven days after return of the animals to Earth and adaptation to the conditions of natural gravity. Our data add to hypothesis on the role of neurogenic component in pathogenesis of hypogravity motor syndrome.

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):174-177
pages 174-177 views

Differences in the Postural Responses to Approaching and Receding Sound Images in Subjects with Different Perceptual Styles

Andreeva I.G., Gvozdeva A.P., Bobrova E.V., Gerasimenko Y.P.

Abstract

A hypothesis on the universal character of perceptual style for analyzing the surrounding space during sensory interactions has been tested. The indices of postural responses to moving and stationary auditory images in the groups of field-dependent and field-independent subjects, i.e., those who perceive spatial information about the object considering or ignoring the background, respectively, have been investigated. The differences in the sway parameters in both groups were revealed only in the case of moving auditory images. Body sway was more prominent in the group of field-independent subjects, whereas in the subjects from the field-dependent group, backward body displacement was observed during listening to approaching auditory images. Therefore, the perceptual style is reflected in the vertical postural responses to auditory information about the motion in the acoustic space.

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):178-181
pages 178-181 views

General Biology

Morphological and Taxonomic Interpretation of Orestovia and Schuguria, Enigmatic Devonian Plants from Russia

Gomankov A.V.

Abstract

A detailed study of the external and internal surfaces of the cuticle of Orestovia and Schuguria using scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser microscopy has shown that the structures formerly interpreted as stomata or reproductive organs are most likely to be gland cells producing mucilage. Each structure represents a single large cell with a complex aperture on the external wall. In addition, a reproductive organ similar to multilocular sporangia known in brown algae of the order Ectocarpales has been found in attachment to a compression fossil of Orestovia. These data suggest similarity of the genera studied with brown algae.

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):182-184
pages 182-184 views

Activity of the Enzymes of the Energy and Carbohydrate Metabolism in the Organs of the Three-Spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus from Different Biotopes of the White Sea

Churova M.V., Shulgina N.S., Nemova N.N.

Abstract

The activity of the key enzymes of the energy and carbohydrate metabolism (cytochrome c oxidase, lactate dehydrogenase, aldolase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) have been studied in the three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus spawning in different biotopes of the White Sea (Sel’dyanaya Bay, Sukhaya Salma Strait, and Kolyushkovaya Lagoon). It was found that individuals of stickleback from different spawning grounds differed mainly in the level of anaerobic metabolism and in the degree of utilization of carbohydrates during glycolysis. The results testify to the existence of adaptive mechanisms for the restructuring of the metabolic pathways of the energy metabolism depending on habitat conditions in different biotopes during the spawning period.

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):185-187
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Dynamics of Estradiol Level during Metamorphosis in the Daubed Shanny (Leptoclinus maculatus, Fries, 1838) from Spitsbergen Island

Nemova N.N., Rendakov N.L., Pekkoeva S.N., Nikerova K.M., Murzina S.A.

Abstract

The estradiol content of muscles during metamorphosis in the daubed shanny (Leptoclinus maculatus) from different fjords of Spitsbergen Island, Svalbard, have been studied using mass spectrometry. The level of estradiol at the L4 larval stage of development is significantly lower than at the L2 stage. Values of this parameter in adults are significantly higher than in post-larvae (stage L5). Variations in the estradiol level during metamorphosis can be associated with the growth stimulation and regulation of the process.

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):188-190
pages 188-190 views

A Mass Burial of Fossil Lions (Carnivora, Felidae, Panthera (Leo) ex gr. fossilis-spelaea) from Eurasia

Gimranov D.O., Kotov V.G., Rumyantsev M.M., Silaev V.I., Yakovlev A.G., Yakovleva T.I., Zelenkov N.V., Sotnikova M.V., Devyashin M.M., Plasteeva N.A., Zaretskaya N.E., Nurmukhametov I.M., Smirnov N.G., Kosintsev P.A.

Abstract

The vertebrate fauna from the cave deposits in Imanai Cave in the Southern Urals (53°02′ N, 56°26′E) has been studied. It contains 715 bones that belonged to at least 11 individuals of fossil lion (Panthera (Leo) ex gr. fossilis-spelaea). It has been established that this is one of the largest Eurasian burial sites of fossil lions. The bones were accumulated due to the natural death of animals inside the cave. The age and sex estimations have shown that at least six adult males and five adult females died there. According to the accompanying fauna, radiocarbon, geochemical, and mineralogical analyses and archaeological finds, the interval of the lion bone accumulation is determined as the first half to middle of Late Pleistocene (OIS 5–3).

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):191-193
pages 191-193 views

The Results of Sable (Martes zibellina) Reintroduction Demonstrate the Founder Effect

Monakhov V.G.

Abstract

The relative abundance of intrapopulation groups with different parameters of skull size, coat color, and expression of an epigenetic cranial trait was compared in autochthonous, reintroduced, and donor populations of sable. Recovery of the species resources and broad variability of the phenotypic trait complex in the newly fomned populations were observed. A large proportion of the animals had the phenotype that included large size, dark coat color, and pronounced expression of a specific phene trait (foramen in the condylar fossa) and was not characteristic of the neighboring autochthonous populations. It is reasonable to attribute the presence of individuals with an unusual morphology in the newly formed populations of animals to a manifestation of the founder principle, because the effect of this principle was promoted by spatial isolation of the primary foci of translocated animals.

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):194-197
pages 194-197 views

The Natural Abundance of Heavy Nitrogen Isotope (15N) in Plants Increases near a Large Copper Smelter

Chashchina O.E., Chibilev A.A., Veselkin D.V., Kuyantseva N.B., Mumber A.G.

Abstract

The ratio of stable isotopes of nitrogen (15N and 14N) has been assessed in leaves of the forest plants from different functional groups (with ectomycorrhiza, ericoid, and arbuscular mycorrhiza; in a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis) under the conditions of strong transformation of ecosystems by the Karabashsky Copper-Smelting Plant effluents in the Southern Urals. The abundance of 15N in the plants generally increases in polluted habitats. The abundance of the heavy isotope 15N increases significantly with pollution in ericaceous dwarf shrubs (by 3.3‰) and herbs with arbuscular mycorrhizae (by 2.8‰). This indicates a strong alteration in conditions or modes of plant mineral nutrition under the influence of heavy metal pollution of forest ecosystems.

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):198-201
pages 198-201 views

Evaluation of the Applicability of the Comparatory Method for Species Diagnosis of Unionidae (Bivalvia) by Genetic Analysis

Bogatov V.V., Neretina T.V., Anisimova A.S., Abdrakhmanov A.

Abstract

Five genetically distant groups of mussels possessing high intragroup homogeneity were identified among 65 specimens of 14 East European Unionidae “comparatory species” by genetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial markers. By shell morphology other than the shape of the convex contour of the shell, the identified groups correspond to five “taxonomic species” according to Zhadin’s classification. The use of the comparatory method for Unionidae species identification is unjustified.

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):202-205
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New Data on Dinosaurs of the Crimean Peninsula

Lopatin A.V., Averianov A.O., Alifanov V.R.

Abstract

Reexamination of the holotype of Riabininohadros weberae from the Upper Cretaceous (upper Maastrichtian) of the Crimean Peninsula (Besh-Kosh) allowed determination of previously unknown elements of the femur, astragalus, and calcaneus. This taxon shows a set of primitive characters observed in iguanodontids and basal ornithischians and is referred to as Styracosterna indet. The second dinosaur specimen from Crimea (Aleshino) is a fragmentary skeleton, including cervical and dorsal vertebrae. It possibly belongs to advanced iguanodontids or primitive hadrosauroids. Thus, in the Maastrichtian of the Crimean Peninsula, at least two dinosaur species coexisted.

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):206-209
pages 206-209 views

Cell Biology

α-Fetoprotein Influence on the Conversion of Naïve T-Helpers into Memory T-Cell Effector Subpopulations

Zamorina S.A., Timganova V.P., Bochkova M.S., Khramtsov P.V., Fomicheva K.A., Rayev M.B., Chereshnev V.A.

Abstract

The effect of native α-fetoprotein (AFP) on the conversion of naïve T-helpers into central memory T-cells (TCM) and effector subpopulations of the preterminally differentiated (TEM) and terminally differentiated (TEMRA) memory T-cells was studied. AFP was found to prevent the conversion of naïve T-helpers into effector subpopulations of memory T cells (TEM and TEMRA) while reducing the total production of IL-4 and IFN-γ by the studied cell populations. The data reveal a new role of AFP in the immune tolerance formation during pregnancy.

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):210-213
pages 210-213 views

Tannosomes in the Pericarp Cells of Maloideae (Rosaceae)

Kumachova T.K., Voronkov A.S., Orlova Y.V., Zhirov V.K.

Abstract

Data on the presence of structural units termed tannosomes in the pericarp cells of Maloideae has been obtained for the first time. Tannosomes merge in the vacuoles to form “tannoglobules.”

Doklady Biological Sciences. 2018;482(1):214-218
pages 214-218 views