Displacement currents of the sodium channels of the membranes of Ranvier's nodes

A method to record the displacement current in nodal membrane is described and results obtained on nerve fibres from the frog Rana ridibunda are presented. This current is shown to be due to displacement of charges from an initial state, associated with a large negative membrane potential, to a final state. The dependence of the charge displacement on the membrane potential and degree of inactivation of the sodium channels suggests that the displacement current observed in these experiments is associated with activation of m-gates of the sodium channels. The density of the sodium channels in nodal membrane of Rana ridibunda determined from the density of the charge displaced is about 5000 channels/mum2.     

Effect of treatment with cardiac glycosides and biologically active substances on the state of the lesser circulation according to the electrokymographic data

Electrokymography was used to assess by pulmonary densograms and pulmonary artery pulse curves treatment-induced changes in cardiac contractility and lesser circulation in 455 patients with rheumatic heart disease and stage IIA, IIB, and III circulatory insufficiency. Treatment with cardiac glycosides in combination with metabolic preparations (ATP methionine, vitamin B12, inosine-F, and extract of the heart muscle) leads to a more conspicuous reduction in the symptoms of congestion in the lesser circulation than that encountered in treatment with cardiac glycosides alone. The reduction in these symptoms following treatment with ATP and heart-muscle extract may be explained not only by improved myocardial contractility but also by the direct vasodilating effect of adenyl compounds.     

Carbohydrate adaptive substance for prophylaxis of immune disorders and correction of dysbacterioses

Effects of a new preparation, adaptokhit, on the intestinal microbiocenosis and some parameters of immune resistance were studied in Macaque rhesus during 13-day hypokinesia. Experimental animals were given adaptokhit as an alimentary supplement preventing dysbiotic consequences of the microecologic unbalance due to motor restraint. Results of the investigation showed certain distinctions in the intestinal microflora in the experimental and control animals as early as on day three of the experiment. Intestinal microflora of the experimental primates who daily consumed adaptokhit at 50 mg/kg of the body remained stable throughout the period of observation. In contrast, in their controls lactoflora was found to decrease in parallel to the growth of opportunistically pathogenic endobacteria including representatives of Proteus and Clostridia sp., and development of dysbacteriosis of categories II and III. Besides, in the experimental animals adaptokhit prevented decline in the proliferative activity of lymphocytes further into adaptation. Also, at the final stage of observation following canceling the preparation there were signs of normalization of the allergologic status of primates in the experimental group. Therefore, adaptokhit can be used as an alimentary supplement to strengthen the colony resistance of animals in extreme conditions.