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The journal publishes critical reviews on different problems of physiology as well as the articles containing author's original concepts concerning principal physiological problems. The journal is addressed to lectures, physiologists and medical biophysicists.
The journal was founded in 1970.
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Vol 55, No 1 (2024)
Articles
XXIV congress of the physiological society named after: I.P. Pavlova
3–7
Blood physiology. erythrocyte based on the plenary lecture at the XXIV congress of the physiological society named after. I. P. Pavlova…
Abstract
Human red blood cells have a complex system for regulating cell volume and deformability. This is absolutely necessary to ensure good blood rheology both in large vessels and in the capillary network. The review examines the features of the erythrocyte structure that provide good gas transport functions and excellent blood rheology, despite the fact that erythrocytes occupy 40% of the blood volume. Providing these properties requires the participation of a number of metabolic systems, which allows the red blood cell to work effectively in the bloodstream for 100–120 days without the synthesis of new proteins.
8–15
Extracellular matrix as a factor regulating the physiological microenvironment of the cell
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic three-dimensional network of macromolecules that provides structural support to cells and tissues. Over the last decades, a significant body of evidence has accumulated showing that ECM also plays a key regulatory role. The structural components of the ECM (proteins, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans), the complex of remodeling molecules (proteases / antiproteases), and deposited/released bioactive mediators form an integrated functional system, which provides physiological homeostasis in the tissue. ECM can continuously adopt under the influence of mechanical, biochemical, physical signals, providing the ability to configure various tissues to meet the demands of their functions. The review briefly presents the current data on the structural components of the ECM. Special attention is paid to ECM as depo, as well as the source of biologically active products resulting from the physiological remodelling of the ECM. The role of the most important physical factor of the microenvironment, the tissue oxygen level, in the physiology of the ECM of stromal lineage cells is discussed.
16–30
Social isolation: relationship with cardiovascular diseases
Abstract
Social and demographic changes in the recent decades have led to an increase in the prevalence of social isolation and loneliness in modern society. Social isolation and loneliness are common but underrated factors that determine health, especially cardiovascular health. In addition, the results of various studies have shown that the negative impact of loneliness and social isolation leads to dysfunction of other systems. Social isolation and loneliness are accompanied by the development of oxidative stress in brain structures. This stress activates neurons in the prefrontal cortex and limbic areas, which is accompanied by prolonged increased production of glucocorticoid hormones, eventually leading to resistance to glucocorticoids. At the same time, the sympathetic nervous system is also activated, which, against the backdrop of resistance to glucocorticoids, causes a persistent increase in blood pressure and the development of a pro-inflammatory state. As a result, lonely people experience increased peripheral vascular resistance and increased blood pressure. In addition, the atherosclerotic changes in the arteries develop faster. Although the molecular mechanisms responsible for increased cardiovascular risk in lonely and socially isolated people are not well studied, these changes have been proven to contribute to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Current measures to fight against loneliness and social isolation have the potential to reduce their negative impact on health. However, given their limited use, their effectiveness for society as a whole is insufficient. In order to better understand the mechanisms of the negative impact of loneliness and social isolation on cardiovascular health, more in-depth research and the development of more effective interventions are needed.
31–46
Growth differentiation factor GDF11 as a potential target for the treatment of age-related diseases
Abstract
The article presents a review of literary sources dedicated to the physiological role and functions of certain proteins of the TGFβ superfamily, specifically GDF11 and GDF8, as well as their place in the pathogenesis of several diseases whose risk increases with age. Possible therapeutic applications of these proteins are described. It is shown that the role of GDF11 in the pathogenesis of the described diseases is ambiguous. GDF11 is a previously unrecognized regulator of bone remodeling, prevents myocardial hypertrophy, and improves the condition of animals with experimental diabetes or neurodegeneration. The anti-proliferative action of GDF11 is also observed in many oncological diseases. However, GDF11 may have a negative impact on the metabolism of muscle and bone tissue, which may limit its use in certain conditions. Due to differences in the expression and function of GDF11 in cardiac, nervous, muscular, and other tissues, its divergent actions, and the narrow therapeutic range of recombinant GDF11, further research is needed to determine the optimal range of indications and limitations, dosages, and methods to reduce side effects.
47–62
Analysis of the relationship of various pathologies with the degree of multifractality of electrical activity of the brain
Abstract
The review is devoted to the analysis of the relationship between dynamic changes in patterns of electrical activity of the brain during the occurrence of mental disorders in the form of paranoid schizophrenia and depression and in patterns of brain activity in cardiovascular pathology associated with permanent atrial fibrillation, as well as indicators of multifractality of the studied patterns. To assess these indicators of electroencephalographic patterns, we describe a method of multifractal analysis based on the search for maxima of wavelet coefficient modules, and to isolate the fractal component of the signal in the power spectrum we describe a method of autospectral analysis with irregular resampling. It has been shown that the main differences between the multifractal properties of the electrical activity of the brain in health and in pathology are the different widths of the multifractality spectrum and its location, associated with different types of sequential pattern values. In this regard, the multifractality indicators can serve as informative markers of neuronal disorders and can be included in a set of tests for studying various pathologies.
63–73
Contribution of oxytocin and dopamine to the formation of neural clusters in the neocortex representing multimodal sensory stimuli
Abstract
We have previously proposed a unified mechanism for the formation of contrasted representations of multimodal sensory stimuli in the activity of neocortical neurons. Contrasting is based on the opposite sign of modification of the efficacy of strong and weak excitatory inputs to the spiny cells of the striatum (the input structure of the basal ganglia) and the subsequent dopamine-dependent activity reorganizations in parallel cortico – basal ganglia – thalamocortical loops. Oxytocin and dopamine (through D1 receptors) can improve the contrast of these representations, contributing to the induction of LTP of the efficacy of excitation of cortical, thalamic, and hippocampal neurons innervating spiny cells. In addition, oxytocin and dopamine can improve contrasting enhancement by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio in the neocortex, hippocampus, and striatum. A proposed mechanism for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio is based on the opposite sign of a long-term modification of the efficacy of monosynaptic excitatory and disynaptic inhibitory inputs, simultaneously affecting the postsynaptic neuron. The proposed mechanisms may underlie the contribution of oxytocin and dopamine to improving the formation and long-term maintenance of activity in neuronal groups with similar receptive fields that form columns in the primary visual cortex, a tonotopic map in the primary auditory cortex, a somatotopic map in the sensorimotor cortex, and distributed clusters in the olfactory piriform cortex. These mechanisms differ from the commonly accepted mechanisms of the formation of neuronal clusters in the neocortex with similar RPs, that are based on afferent and lateral excitation and inhibition, which does not allow providing the specificity and duration of effects. Understanding the mechanisms of involvement of oxytocin and dopamine in the processing of multimodal sensory information may be useful for developing treatments for some disorders of social behavior.
74–87
Genatically determined excitability of the nervous system: impact on brain function and behavior
Abstract
The study of connections between the action of genes and the implementation of behavior involves analyzing their influence on the structure and functions of the nervous system at different levels of its organization, among which special importance is given to the basic properties of nervous processes, the excitatory process and the excitability of the nervous system. The review is devoted to a historical examination of studies devoted to elucidating the role of hereditarily determined excitability in determining the functional characteristics of the nervous system, its influence on the brain and behavior, and revealing the physiological and genetic mechanisms of their interaction using animal models of different phylogenetic levels.
88–104