Covid-19, Carnosine and Cognition

The possible ameliorative roles of the dipeptide carnosine with respect to Covid-19 viral infection and associated pathologies are discussed. In particular carnosine’s ability to suppress age-related changes in carbohydrate metabolism which normally exacerbate Covid-19-induced dysfunction as well as the dipeptide’s anti-inflammatory activity is considered. As carnosine is normally present in the olfactory lobe and that anosmia (loss of sense of smell) is a common feature of Covid-19’s effect on humans, the possibility that nasal administration of carnosine could be therapeutic is considered as a means of raising levels of the dipeptide in the olfactory lobe and thereby alleviates virus-mediated neuropathology.

Decerebration induced by surgical transection of cerebral ganglion of crayfish

Background: Since the neural structures of the crayfish brain closely resemble their equivalent in the mammals. This can be suggested by observing the similarity that exists in the brain divided by the surgical transection of the crayfish brain in which the protocerebrum remains attached to the first two cranial nerves, findings also described by Frederic Bremer in 1935 in cats with cerebral transection.Methods: Total 11 Adult male crayfish were trained to respond with defense reflex, the animals were placed in water at 0°C, remained without any movement, and subsequently through a small incision of 3 mm in diameter in the medial antero region and dorsal cephalothorax region, a surgical section of the cerebral ganglion was performed. Immediately after surgery, metal microelectrodes were implanted to collect the activity of the photoreceptors and visual fibers.Results: Once the defense reflex begins to recover in previously decerebrated crayfish, it means that it shows signs of reconnection. The isolated protocerebrum with the deutocerebrum olfactory lobe remain alive for several days and the neuronal connections were reestablished, as measured throughout the bilateral defense activity. The defense reflex was observed in all animals and then recovered after surgery.Conclusions: The crayfish is an excellent model to work the visual activity, all coding of visual information was suppressed in de-cerebrated crayfish. The recovery of the neural disconnection is observed from 40 days, where the defence reflex appears again before visual stimuli.

Acetylcholinesterase, Specific Acetylcholinesterase and Total Protein Concentrations in the Brain Regions of Broiler Chickens Fed Dietary Monosodium Glutamate

The study was carried out to examine the effect of varied levels of dietary monosodium glutamate on acetylcholinesterase, specific acetylcholinesterase and total protein concentrations in the brain regions of broiler chickens. Three hundred (300) day – old unsexed Abor – acre chickens were randomly assigned to diets: A, B, C, D, E and F containing 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 g/kg MSG respectively. Each treatment was replicated 5 times with 10 birds per replicate. The birds were fed ad – libitum and provided with clean water for 8 weeks (56 days) after which 2 birds per replicates were slaughtered. The brains were removed, dissected into different regions comprising of the olfactory lobe, pineal body, optic lobe, cerebellum and the medulla oblongata. The different parts of the brain were homogenized to determine the acetylcholinesterase and total protein which were also used in the assessment of the specific acetylcholinesterase of the brain. No significant differences were observed in the acetylcholinesterase activity of the olfactory lobe, pineal body, optic lobe, cerebellum except for the medulla. Likewise, the dietary monosodium glutamate did not influence the activities of the total protein and specific acetylcholinesterase of the olfactory lobe portion of the brain. The dietary monosodium glutamate exerted significant effects on the total protein of other brain parts studied and which invariably resulted in significant changes in the specific acetylcholinesterase of the optic lobe, cerebellum and medulla except for the optic lobe. This study revealed that monosodium glutamate added to broilers diet above 0.75 g/kg significantly altered the concentration of the brain acetylcholinesterase, total protein and specific acetylcholinesterase thereby impaired brain functions.

DEVELOPMENT CHARACTERISTICS IN JUVENILE OF SHEMAYA (CHALCALBURNUS CHALCOIDES) AT ARTIFICIAL CULTIVATION

The analysis of forming internal organs of shemaya ( Chalcalburnus chalcoides ) juvenile grown up in Temryuk fish breeding farm (Krasnodar region) showed that juveniles have got rather differentiated vital organs. Olfactory lobe looked like a small pair of growths on a forebrain; the third ventricle grew round; a formed epiphysis adjoined its upper part; an epithelial hypothesis adjoined its lower part. In the midbrain one could see visual lobe. The cerebellum contained considerable number of nerve cells; the medulla was shorter than a cerebellum; fossa rhomboidea was rather wide. The medulla narrowed into the spinal cord. Olfactory lobe was very wide, with open cavity, its epithelium gathered into rough longitudinal folds creating a socket. An eyeball had all well-differentiated scleras. All parts of a digestive tract had all three coats: mucous, muscular and connective; their thickness was different. The massive liver had well pronounced trabecular architectonics. Pancreas was actively producing enzymes. Shemaya juveniles have got completely formed gills that consist of filaments and lamellas. The heart of a shemaya juvenile has four well developed cameras: very wide auricle with thin walls; a ventricle; a small sinus venosus and an arterial cone. There are found species characteristics: gills have filaments of I and II orders, an arterial cone has a row of the pocket-style valves. Pathological changes are revealed in liver (fatty dystrophy) and gills (growths of a multilayered non-keratinized epithelium in the intervals between lamellas). This can be connected with violation of shemaya artificial cultivation technologies.

Effect of prostaglandin on reproduction in relation to pituitary gonadal axis in the fish, Cyprinus carpio (L.)

Prostaglandins are a class of fatty acids which are “traditionally” associated with a variety of autocrine and paracrine functions in the vertebrate body. In many fishes, however, F prostaglandins also function as a hormone that stimulates sexual behavior. In the present study, F prostaglandin was used to assess the efficacy on reproductive behavior and spawning in relation to pituitary gonadal axis in the fish, Cyprinus carpio by administering different doses. Early maturity was observed in fish leading to courtship and spawning. The histological study of olfactory lobe, pituitary gland and gonads showed that the prostaglandin is also functioning as potent olfactory stimulants with sex pheromonal activity of the fish. F prostaglandin was metabolized and released into the water where it functions as a sex pheromone, stimulating male and female sexual behavior resulting into spawning. It was concluded that F prostaglandin acts as an inducer for successful breeding in the fish, C. carpio.

Bilateral comparison of in situ neurolipofuscin accumulation in Callinectes sapidus caught in the wild

Age determination using quantification of in situ neurolipofuscin has been an useful and reliable tool to understand population dynamics of crustaceans. In the present investigation, in situ neurolipofuscin was quantified in the medulla terminalis of eyestalks (cluster A cell mass, MT-A), and in the olfactory lobe cell mass 10 (OLCM-10) of the supra-oesophageal ganglion of unknown age blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) caught in the wild. No significant difference in neurolipofuscin quantity was found between right and left MT-A and between right and left OLCM-10. Comparison between MT-A and OLCM-10 resulted in a weaker correlation. Average neurolipofuscin was 0.353±0.038% vol. and 0.896±0.105% vol. in MT-A and OLCM-10, respectively. Size explained 23% of the variation of neurolipofuscin loading in OLCM-10. No significant relationship was found between size and MT-A neurolipofuscin content. It can be concluded that both structures are suitable for the quantification of neurolipofuscin, and they have the potential for age determination for C. sapidus.