Milos Blagojevic

Phenylephrine preconditioning in embryonic heart H9c2 cells is mediated by up-regulation of SUR2B/Kir6.2: A first evidence for functional role of SUR2B in sarcolemmal KATP channels and cardioprotection.

ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels were originally described in cardiomyocytes, where physiological levels of intracellular ATP keep them in a closed state. Structurally, these channels are composed of pore-forming inward rectifier, Kir6.1 or Kir6.2, and a regulatory, ATP-binding subunit, SUR1, SUR2A or SUR2B. SUR1 and Kir6.2 form pancreatic type of KATP channels, SUR2A and Kir6.2 form cardiac type of KATP channels, SUR2B and Kir6.1 form vascular smooth muscle type of KATP channels. The presence of SUR2B has been described in cardiomyocytes, but its functional significance and role has remained unknown. Pretreatment with phenylephrine (100 nM) for 24 h increased mRNA levels of SUR2B and Kir6.2, without affecting those levels of SUR1, SUR2A and Kir6.1 in embryonic heart H9c2 cells. Such increase was associated with increased K+ current through KATP channels and Kir6.2/SUR2B protein complexes as revealed by whole cell patch clamp electrophysiology and immunoprecipitation/Western blotting respectively. Pretreatment with phenylephrine (100 nM) generated a cellular phenotype that acquired resistance to chemical hypoxia induced by 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP; 10 mM), which was accompanied by increased in K+ current in response to DNP (10 mM). Cytoprotection afforded by phenylephrine (100 nM) was abolished by infection of H9c2 cells with adenovirus containing Kir6.2AFA, a mutant form of Kir6.2 with largely reduced K+ conductance. Taking all together, the present findings demonstrate that the activation of α1-adrenoceptors up-regulates SUR2B/Kir6.2 to confer cardioprotection. This is the first account of possible physiological role of SUR2B in cardiomyocytes.

Lack of clastogenic effects of L-thyroxine in whole-blood cultured human lymphocytes

Abstract Thyroidhormonesstimulateaerobicmetabolismwhichmayleadtooxidativestressaccompaniedbydamagetovari-ous cellular macromolecules, including DNA. Previous comet assay studies have shown that thyroid hormonescause DNA damage due to the creation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, cytogenetic studies have beenequivocal because although an increase in the sister-chromatid exchange frequency per cell has been reported in-creasedmicronucleifrequencyhasnot.Weusedcytogeneticexaminationofchromosomebreakageandaberrationsinwhole-bloodculturesofhumanperipheralbloodlymphocytestoinvestigatepossibleclastogeniceffectswhenlym-phocytes were exposed to 0.002 μMto50μM of L-thyroxine for 24 h and 48 h, these concentrations being chosenbecausetheyhadbeenusedinpreviousstudiesofsister-chromatidexchangeandmicronucleifrequency.Underourexperimental conditions thyroxine did not induced any statistically significant increase in chromosome breakage oraberrations. This lack of clastogenic effects is in contrast to the reported comet assay results obtained using purifiedlymphocytes, possibly because whole-blood cultures contain catalase and glutathione peroxidase capable of reduc-ing the effects of reactive oxygen species.

Skull Bone Anatomy of the Young Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus Amphibius)

Abstract Hippopotamidae family is nowadays represented by two species within two different genera: pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) and common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius). The common hippopotamus has a very unique anatomy, and the shape of the body, especially the head is adapted for a semi-aquatic life style. The morphological examination and description of the gross anatomical features of the hippopotamus skull is described in this paper. The shape of the skull is adapted for the amphibian way of life. Their eyes, ears and nostrils are placed high on the roof of the skull which allows these organs to remain above the surface of the water while the animal is being submerged underwater. The skull is massive, but the brain case (neurocranium) is extremely small compared with the splanchnocranium and complete head. The dental formula of the common hippopotamus is: incisors (I) 2/2, canines (C) 1/1, premolars (P) 3-4/3-4 and molars (M) 3/3. Incisors and canine teeth are formed in the shape of tusks and are used for threat or “demonstration of power” among animals when vigorously fi ghting. Incisor teeth grow continuously and are twice bigger in males than in females.

Anatomical and histological characteristics of the lungs in the ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus)

The aim of this work was to study the topography, morphology, vascularisation, histology and innervation of the lungs in the ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) and compare these data with those concerning the rat, mole rat, rabbit and mouse. The research was carried out on 15 animals. It was revealed that the right lung has four lobes (cranial, middle, caudal and accessory lobes), while the left lung is not divided into segments. The functional vessels are a. pulmonalis dextra et sinistra and vv. pulmonales (5-6), while the nutritive vessels of the lungs are a. bronchoesophagea dextra and v. bronchoesophagea dextra. Histological tissue sections of the lungs revealed that the wall of terminal bronchioles contains no cartilage and the mucosal epithelium is pseudostratified, cubic and ciliated. Clara cells (club cells, bronchiolar exocrine cells) are present but have no cilia. The lung alveolar diameter is 37 μm on average, and the thickness of the alveolar wall and the interalveolar septa is 1.38 μm. Destruction of the alveolar walls, accumulation of erythrocytes in the capillaries of alveolar septa and destruction of the cytolemma of the capillary endothelium were detected. In addition, connective tissue fibres and peripheral nerves were detected by silver impregnation.

Comparative characteristics of metacarpal bones (Ossa metacarpi) and finger articles (Ossa digitorum pedis seu phalanges digitorum) of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and sheep (Ovis aries) in order to determine animal species

UPOREDNE KARAKTERISTIKE METAKARPALNIH KOSTIJU (OSSA METACARPI) I ČLANAKA PRSTIJU (OSSA DIGITORUM MANUS SEU PHALANGES DIGITORUM) SRNE (CAPREOLUS CAPREOLUS) I OVCE (OVIS ARIES) U CILJU UTVRĐIVANJA VRSTE ŽIVOTINJA* COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF METACARPAL BONES (OSSA METACARPI) AND FINGER ARTICLES (OSSA DIGITORUM PEDIS SEU PHALANGES DIGITORUM) OF ROE DEER (CAPREOLUS CAPREOLUS) AND SHEEP (OVIS ARIES) IN ORDER TO DETERMINE ANIMAL SPECIES

A. Femoralis in the small Green Monkey(Cercopithecus aethiops sabeus)

Mali zeleni majmun (Cercopithecus aethiops sabeus) u velikim grupama nastanjuje Afričke savane. Naše životinje su dopremljene iz Istočne Afrike, odnosno iz Kenije, Ugande i Tanzanije. Njegova celokupna dužina iznosi 110 cm, a samo rep je dug 50 cm. Često se viđaju u zoološkim vrtovima. Prema podacima, uglavnom zoovrtova, svi majmuni žive oko 15-17 godina, izuzetno 20 godina. Cilj rada je bio da obradimo deo kardiovaskularnog sistema i na taj način doprinesemo boljem poznavanju građe tela ove životinje i damo doprinos komparativnoj anatomiji. Kao materijal za ispitivanje koristili smo 6 malih zelenih majmuna, oba pola, starosti 3-4 godine, telesne mase 2000-3000 grama dobijenih iz Instituta za virusologiju, vakcine i serume u Beogradu. Za dobijanje arterijske vaskularizacije zadnjih ekstermiteta, posle iskrvarenja životinja u trbušnu aortu ubrizgana je kontrastna masa želatin obojen slikarskom temperom. Posle injiciranja, krvni sudovi su preparisani i fotografisani. Kod malog zelenog majmuna butna arterija (A. femoralis) je produžetak spoljašnje bedrene arterije (A. iliaca externa). Grane butne arterije su : A. profunda femoris, A. saphena, A. genus descendens i A. caudalis femoralis. Od A. profunda femoris se odvajaju A. circumflexa femoris lateralis, Ramus muscularis i A. circumflexa femoris medialis. ORIGINALNI RAD / ORIGINAL PAPER

A. Hepatica in European ground squirrel (Citellus Citellus) compared to other experimental animals

Also, at the section Literature following reference should be stated in full: Blagojević Miloš, Vitorović Duško, Adamović Ivana, Nešić Ivana, Brkić Zlata, Zdravković Marija, Đorđević Milena, Jović Slavoljub, Zorić Zoran, Ćupić Dejana, Vascularization of the kidney of the ground squirrel (Citellus citellus) in comparison with other experimental animals, Veterinarski glasnik, 2015 69(1-2):31-40 https://doi.org/10.2298/ VETGL1502031B

Comparison of M. semitendinosus morphometry and structure in gilts and barrows at market age.

Abstract The aim of this paper was to investigate the differences in morphometric characteristics and histological structure of m. semitendinosus, between gilts and barrows of German Landrace breed at the end of the fattening period. Morphometric characteristics (weight, length, diameter and cross sectional area) of m. semitendinosus were not significantly different, while gender as a factor influenced the histological properties of this muscle. A very high statistical difference (p<0.01) in the total number of muscle fibers in m. semitendinosus was determined, with gilts having a higher total fiber number. The cross sectional area of fast twitch oxidative (FTO) fibers was significantly higher (p<0.05) in barrows. Gender did not affect the distribution of different fiber types: in both gender, the most present fiber types (48-52 %) were fast twitch glycolitic (FTG), FTO fibers represented 27-30 % of the total fiber number, while slow twitch oxidative fibers (STO) were the least represented (≈ 20 %).