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Vol 110, No 4 (2024)
REVIEW
Interaction of the Endocrine and Exocrine Parts of the Pancreas
Abstract
The pancreas plays a key role in the endocrine system of animals and in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. The exocrine and endocrine pancreas are structurally separate from each other, but numerous studies suggest anatomical and functional connections between these parts. Previously, less attention was paid to these interactions, but the pancreas is now viewed as a single organ consisting of functionally related components that coordinates endocrine and exocrine responses. Our review examines the latest data indicating the functional connection and mutual influence of the endocrine and exocrine parts of the pancreas. In addition, we will also look at the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pancreatic function.
515-526
Transcription Factor NF-κB: Role and Significance in the Neuroimmunoendocrine Regulation of Respiratory Function in Normal Conditions and in Lung Pathology
Abstract
The problem of modern biomedicine is the elucidation of the multicomponent and multilevel mechanism of a single neuroimmunoendocrine regulation of physiological functions, which plays the role of a universal conductor of all life processes. Respiratory diseases lead in the structure of general morbidity among the population and remain one of the most pressing problems of modern healthcare. The spread of lung diseases is facilitated by lifestyle, air pollution, smoking, environment, infections, and genetic predisposition. Various risk factors can contribute to the development of pathologies such as pneumonia, lung cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and others. In addition, the rates of these diseases tend to increase every year. In this regard, verification and study of signaling molecules as factors involved in the neuroimmunoendocrine regulation of lung function in normal and pathological conditions, which on the one hand can be considered as biomarkers of disease prognosis, and on the other as potential targets for targeted effective therapy, is an urgent task of modern translational biomedicine. This literature review is devoted to study of the one of the key participants role in the neuroimmunoendocrine regulation of homeostasis – the transcription factor NF-κB in the regulation of respiratory function in health and the pathogenesis of lung diseases. Summarizing information on this topic is extremely important and promising for understanding the molecular mechanisms of the onset and course of diseases, and will also allow us to develop new approaches to targeted personalized therapy for socially significant pathologies: bronchial asthma, lung cancer, acute distress syndrome and COVID-19. A detailed study of the mechanisms of NF-κB activation and its relationship with other signaling pathways will lead to solving the main task of translational biomedicine – the development of innovative methods for the treatment and prevention of human diseases, including pathology of the respiratory system.
527-546
Oxygen-Dependent Aspects of the Action of Asprosyn
Abstract
A new hormone from the group of adipokines, called asprosin, was discovered in adipose tissue, which is a regulator of the body’s reactions to short-term fasting, initiates the release of glucose from the liver and increases appetite, and increases the total amount of energy reserves in adipose tissue. This hormone, determining the bioenergetic status of the body, affects the oxygen content in tissues, and, accordingly, the oxygen transport function of the blood in case of excess body weight and insulin resistance. In persons with an increased content of asprosin with overweight and obesity of the first degree, as well as with insulin resistance, a change in the position of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve is observed, accompanied by an increase in the concentration of the gas transmitter nitrogen monoxide and a decrease in the level of hydrogen sulfide. This factor is involved in the regulation of the gas transmitter system and the formation of blood oxygen transport mechanisms. The contribution of asprosin to the formation of oxygen supply and adaptive reserves of the body in individuals with metabolic disorders, which reflects a new aspect of the mechanism of its action.
547-560
EXPERIMENTAL ARTICLES
Insulin Signaling in Neurons of the Tuberal Area of the Hypothalamus of Rats During Aging
Abstract
The hypothalamus is a regulatory center that controls homeostasis, reproduction, circadian rhythms and the endocrine system. It is also involved in the regulation of aging. The expression of insulin receptors (INR) as well as insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) was studied in neurons of the arcuate (ARN), dorsomedial (DMN) and ventromedial (VMN) nuclei of the rat hypothalamus using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting in young males (2 months), adult (12 months) and old (24 months) rats. The results showed that the expression of INR and IRS1 in neurons of the nuclei of the mediobasal hypothalamus of rats changes in different directions with age. With age, INR expression decreases in the ARN and increases in the DMN and VMN. IRS1 expression is unchanged in the ARN and VMN and decreases in the DMN with aging.
561-572
Effect of Estradiol on Carbohydrate-Fat Metabolism and FGF21 System Activity in Female C57BL/6 Mice with Short-Term Consumption of the Cafeteria Diet
Abstract
The cafeteria diet contributes to the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome, reduces insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. Hepatic hormone fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) promotes adaptation to the consumption of sweet and fatty foods. Female mice are less sensitive to the damaging effects of the cafeteria diet than males, which may be due to the effect of estradiol on the activity of the FGF21 system: on the hepatic expression of the Fgf21 gene, on the blood level of hormone, or on the levels of receptors and coreceptors beta-clotho, which determine the sensitivity of tissues to FGF21. The purpose of this work was to verify this assumption. The effect of estradiol (10 mg/animal once every three days) was evaluated in ovariectomized female C57BL/6 mice who consumed a cafeteria diet (standard food, lard and cookies) for two weeks. Indicators of carbohydrate-fat metabolism, taste preferences, and activity of the FGF21 system were determined. Ovariectomy increased body weight and subcutaneous adipose tissue weight, fat intake, Pomc expression in the hypothalamus, decreased expression of estradiol receptors in the liver and cookie consumption. Estradiol did not have a significant effect on these parameters. In ovariectomized females with estradiol deficiency, blood cholesterol levels and liver expression of the glucose-6-phosphatase gene were lower than in sham operated females, and estradiol normalized these parameters. Ovariectomy lowered, and the administration of estradiol increased the level of coreceptor beta-clotho (Klb) mRNA in the liver and in the hypothalamus. These results suggest that at the initial stages of consumption of sweet and fatty foods, estradiol increases the sensitivity of the liver and hypothalamus to FGF21 and thereby enhances the contribution of the FGF21 system to the processes of adaptation to the cafeteria diet.
573-589
Effectiveness of Course Use of Metformin and its Combination with Intranasal Insulin for Treatment of Rats with “Cafeteria Diet”-Induced Obesity
Abstract
The “cafeteria diet,” which includes an excess of saturated fats and easily digestible carbohydrates, leads to obesity and is a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. Metformin (MF) is often used to correct diet-induced obesity (DIO), but in some patients it causes serious side effects, which requires a reduction in its doses, including through combined use with drugs that potentiate the effects of MF. A candidate for the role of such drugs is intranasally administered insulin (INI), which itself has a restorative potential in the treatment of metabolic disorders. The goal of the work was to study the effectiveness of a three-week combined use of MF (100 mg/kg/day, perorally) with INI in two doses (1.5 and 6.0 IU/kg/day) for the correction of metabolic and hormonal disorders in male rats with DIO induced by a “cafeteria diet”. It was shown that in rats with DIO, the combination of MF and INI normalized body weight and abdominal fat, restored glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, basal and glucose-stimulated levels of insulin and leptin. Compared with MF monotherapy, the combined use of MF and INI more effectively restored sensitivity to insulin, assessed by a decrease in the insulin resistance index, and also normalized glucose tolerance, assessed by a decrease in the value of AUC0-120, the integrated area under glucose concentration curves in the glucose tolerance test. The combination of MF with INI at a dose of 1.5 IU/kg/day normalized the hormonal status of the thyroid system, disturbed in DIO, while the combination of MF with INI at a dose of 6 IU/kg/day worsened the hypothyroid state, mainly due to hyperactivation of thyroid-stimulating hormone secretion and the development resistance of the thyroid gland to it. Thus, for the correction of metabolic and hormonal parameters in DIO, including the restoration of the functions of the thyroid system, the use of MF with relatively low doses of IVI, which does not have a negative effect on the thyroid axis, is promising.
590-604
Peculiarities of the Emotions Manifestation by 7–8 Old Children in Speech and Facial Expressions
Abstract
The purpose of the research was to study the characteristics of the reflection of emotional states “neutral (calm state) –– sadness –– joy – anger – fear” in the speech and facial expressions of children 7–8 years old and to identify differences in the expression of emotions by boys and girls of this age. The work was carried out as part of a study of the emotional sphere of children with typical and atypical development using the CEDM method for assessing the emotional development of children. 14 children (7 boys, 7 girls) – primary school students – took part in the study. The ability of children to reflect emotions in the characteristics of voice and facial expressions and to recognize emotions was analyzed. For this purpose, speech recording and video recording of children’s facial expressions and behavior, instrumental and perceptual analysis of emotional speech, and automatic analysis of facial expression were carried out. The children’s heart rate was recorded, and the dominant hemisphere was determined by speech using a dichotic test. The features of the reflection of the emotional states of boys and girls in the characteristics of speech are revealed. The specificity of reflecting the emotional states of children in facial expression is described. The connections between the psychophysiological indicators of children and their reflection of emotional states in their voice and facial expressions were determined.
605-623
Genotoxic Stress is a Trigger of Endothelial Dysfunction in Wistar Rats: Results of a Molecular Genetic Study
Abstract
Atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease are the leading causes of disability and mortality among the population. Genotoxic stress can be considered as a new trigger of endothelial dysfunction underlying the pathogenesis of these diseases. This research was aimed to the study of molecular genetic markers of endothelial dysfunction associated with genotoxic stress in normolipidemic Wistar rats. Male Wistar rats that received tail vein injections of the alkylating mutagen mitomycin C (MMC) at the dosage of 0.5 mg/kg body weight (experimental group) or 0.9% NaCl solution (control group) three times a week for a month were included in the presented study. Genotoxic stress in animals was assessed using a micronucleus assay in polychromatophilic erythrocytes (PCE); endothelial dysfunction was identified by assessing the expression of the Vcam1, Icam1, Sele, Selp, Il6, Ccl2, Cxcl1, Mif, Vwf, Serpine1, Plau, Plat, Klf2, Klf4, Nfe2l2, Nos3, Snai1, Snai2, Twist1, Zeb1, Cdh5 and Cdh2 genes in the endothelial monolayer of the descending aorta. It was found that rats from the experimental group are characterized by pronounced genotoxic stress, as evidenced by a more than threefold increased frequency of micronucleated PCE and a decreased proportion of PCE in the total pool of analyzed erythrocytes. Gene expression profiling showed that rats included in the experimental group are characterized by pro-inflammatory activation of endothelium, accompanied by increased expression of the Vcam1, Icam1, Selp, Il6, Ccl2 and Cxcl1 genes, as well as impaired endothelial mechanotransduction, characterized by decreased expression of the Klf2 and Klf4 genes. Thus, MMC-induced genotoxic stress in normolipidemic Wistar rats is associated with impaired two key links of the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction and can be considered as one of its triggers.
624-638