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We performed a comparative morphological study of the placentas in spontaneous and induced pregnancy. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed pronounced decrease in the expression of markers of transmembrane (α-SNAP 23, annexin 3) and energy (ferritin light chain, ATP5J) in placental terminal villi.

The incidence of contamination of cell strains used in biological and virological studies and of fetal calf sera (FCS) manufactured by Russian and foreign companies used for cell culturing with noncytocidal bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV; Pestivirus, Flaviviridae) was analyzed. The virus was detected by reverse transcription PCR and indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies to BVDV virion envelope glycoprotein in 25% of 117 cell strains and 45% of 35 tested FCS lots. The virus multiplied and persisted in a wide spectrum of human cell strains and in monkey, swine, sheep, rabbit, dog, cat, and other animal cells. The levels of BVDV genome RNA in contaminated cell cultures reached 10(2)-10(3) g-eq/cell and in serum samples 10(3)-10(7) g-eq/ml. These facts necessitate testing of cells and FCS for BVDV reproduced in cells without signs of infection detectable by light microscopy. The molecular mechanisms of long-term virus persistence in cells without manifestation of cell destruction are unknown.

We conducted a comparative morphological study of placentas from women with gestational diabetes and diabetes mellitus. Morphometry of histological preparations revealed similar type of changes in the studied parameters of placental villi in diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes. The maximum deviation of the studied parameters from the control was noted in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Plasma γ-globulin fraction proteins, copper and zinc cations, and metal complexes formed by these cations and human serum γ-globulin induce blast transformation of splenocytes from BALB/c mice at a level comparable to that induced by concanavalin A. Zinc bound to γ-globulin reduces by 25% and copper in complex with this protein stimulates by 1.6 times its capacity to induce blast transformation. Combinations with concanavalin A reproduce the effects of γ-globulin-metal complex under conditions of mitogen induction. Incorporation of(3)H-thymidine in splenocytes incubated with combinations of γ-globulin-copper metalcomplex, copper cations, and control protein with concanavalin A was by 1.4, 1.3 (p<0.1), and 1.25 times higher (p<0.05), respectively, than after incubation with concanavalin A alone.

The number of the fatty acid double bonds (unsaturation degree) in the plasma lipid pool was evaluated by automated ozone titration. A positive relationship between the content of double bonds, cholesterol, and glycerol was detected. The higher was plasma cholesterol level, the more double bonds contained fatty acids. At cholesterol level of 0.8-18.9 mmol/liter the double bond/cholesterol ratio approached 4.0 and double bond/glycerol ratio was 1.3-1.5. The maximum content of double bonds was detected in LDL. It was hypothesized that the greater part of plasma cholesterol is esterified with arachidonic acid possessing 4 double bonds; three fatty acids are esterified with glycerol, which altogether have 1-3 double bonds. It seems that plasma cholesterol level indirectly but significantly reflects the level of essential polyenic fatty acids, while glycerol reflects the levels of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. The role of cholesterol in the plasma consists in the participation in transfer of essential fatty acid in the nonpolar form and their absorption by cells. LDL are the main transmitters of essential polyenic fatty acids in the form of cholesterol esters.