Vol 13, No 3 (2015)

Background. Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic degenerative disease. The risk factors for the development of knee OA are joint trauma and genetic predisposition. The aim of the present work was to study the associations between gene polymorphisms -84G > A nNOS and -786T > C eNOS and the risk of post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis (PTOA) development among Rostov region residents and to define the interactions between these polymorphisms and nitrite level in the plasma and synovial fluid (SF) and chondrocyte apoptosis in patients with PTOA. Materials and Methods. Case-control study involved 117 post-traumatic knee OA patients and 94 healthy controls. The nNOS and eNOS polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction. The nitrite concentrations in the plasma and synovial fluid were defined using Griess reaction. Chondrocyte apoptosis in cartilage sections was assessed morphologically by electron microscopy. Results. The G-84A nNOS genotype showed statistical differences between groups. The A allele is associated with PTOA development (OR 2,02, CI 1,08-3,76, p = 0,02). The eNOS genotype did not show statistical difference between groups. The NOx- concentration was higher both in plasma (p = 0,022) and synovial fluid (p = 0,014) of PTOA patients compared with plasma of healthy subjects. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that the nitrite level in the SF is linked with -786T > C NOS3 genotype; the -786С allele leaded to the decreasing in NOx- concentration. The electron microscopy confirmed the presence of early and late apoptotic chondrocytes in PTOA cartilage tissue. Conclusion. The G-84A nNOS polymorphism may be associated with PTOA development and chondrocyte apoptosis intensification. The -786С allele of -786T > C NOS3 is associated with reduced NOx- concentration in the synovial fluid.

With the use of DNA-markers (RAPD and ISSR) the gene pool of nineteen populations of specially protected relict species Helicopsis striata (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Pulmonata) in Southern Mid-Russian Upland was studied. These results demonstrate a high degree of subdivision of populations (Фst = 0,404, Gst = 0,358) and increased levels of homozygosity in a number of groups that live in the industrial zone and the steppe habitats. The significant correlation between the level of gene flow and geographic distances between populations (R = 0,571 ± 0,052) was found, this corresponds to isolation by distance model. The values of the effective number was calculated on the basis of index units. They were significantly lower than the effective number of not protected species of snail.

Background. Rust is a dangerous flax disease, which reduces the yield and quality of products. The choice of methods of breeding for resistance should be based on knowledge of the processes occurring in the fungi population, and leading to changes in its virulence. Materials and methods. The article describes the results of over then 40 years observation of the flax rust pathogen Melampsora lini (Pers.) Lev. populations’ virulence during the study of resistance of accessions from VIR world flax collection on artificial infectious background. Late sparse sowings were infected by last year’s infected with fungi straw. The method of this background creation allows one to maintain a natural flow of race-forming process. Results. Susceptibility of 45 relatively resistant accessions from 1978 to 2011 is presented. The significant narrowing of the fungi populations’ virulence, caused by the spread in flax sowing zone cultivars with polygenic resistance, providing a calm epidemiological situation for several decades, was shown. Now under the influence of the distribution of varieties with different types of resistance, fungi turned into depression. Conclusion. The modern trend of breeding, mainly aimed at the creation of varieties with vertical resistance, and in the absence of control over the originality of their R-genes can lead to a new round of the disease development.

Heavy metals are drastically different group from the point of view of its mutagenic properties. The mutagenic potential of eight heavy metals (Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Pb, W) was investigated using plant test-system Crepis capillaris L. Ag and Cr were mutagens at the lowest concentrations (up to 10-8M), Cu and W were not mutagens. Analysis of the results obtained with other plant test-systems was done and good correlations were established. Toxic and mutagenic sequences of these metals were made up.