PROBLEMS OF CONTEMPORARY PHYSIOLOGY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240044-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 11, 2011
• Sequence Number: 44
• Publication Date: September 22, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240044-5
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240044-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240044-5
STAT
PROBLEMS OF COMPEMPORARY PJIYSIOLOGy
Meditsinski Rabotnik, Vol 18, No 53
Moscow, 2 Jun 55 Prof U Frolov
Honorary Worker of
Science
The Eighth All-Union Congress of Physiologists, Biochemists, and Pharma-
cologists was devoted to summarizing the results of scientific work done dur-
ing the past 8 years. The representatives of the three related special fields
did not discuss general problems which would have a bearing on the program of
fliture work. Principal attention was paid to the definition of new problems
in the solution of which all experimental workers could join forces whose
chief aim is establishing the closest connection between theoretical disciplines
and practical work in public health. In connection with the very rapid devel-
opment of technical procedures, great significance was attached to new methods
of investigation. New equipment, appliances, designs, and operations were demon-
strated on an extensive scale. Emphasis was also placed on methods of instruc-
tion and discussions of the results of work done by the administration of the
All-Union Society of Physiologists, Pharmacologists, and Biochemists. A size-
able group of foreign scientists participated in the congress.
As far as the problem of the interrelationships between the cerebral cor-
tex and subcortical.formations is concerned, the most extensive material on this
subject was presented in a report by K. M. Bykov. In addition to reviewing the
results of his former investigations of the influence exerted by interoreceptor
signals on the behavior of the organism, he cited a number of new data obtained
lately. Among these data, the most convincing are those pertaining to the ir-
radiation and concentration of the excitation in the interoreceptors of the
intestines as well as facts which prove the dynamic localization of interore-
ceptors in the brain. These facts were obtained in the course of an ontogeni-
tic investigation. The main points presented by Bykov in his report are the
principle of the very close interaction between external receptors and inter-
nal receptors and the existence of specific induction relationships between
them. Another basic conclusion made by Bykov in regard to the existence of the
closest connection between interoreceptive and hiumoral factors. He based his
arguments on the example of the upper cervical sympathetic ganglion of the cat.
In his opinion, this ganglion can be regarded as a model of the operation of
the external cortical centers of the brain.
Seeeral physiological laboratories concentrated on the problem of clini-
cal death. V. A. Negovskiy confirmed again that the conditioned- ref; pn.e in
cases of massive blood losses disappear bef..re unconditional reflexes, while
the processes of active internal inhibition are interfered with earlier than
the processes of excitation. The same strict step-wise-order of pathological
functions of the cerebral cortex is observed in partial and complete starva-
tion, as has already been pointed out by I. P. Pavlov. When the blood is re-
plenished by transfusion, all these phenomena take place in a strictly defined
order.
It is of interest to note that whenever there is the slightest delay in
the restoration of the activity of the cerebral cortex, the process of the
restoration of other vital functions is also disturbed. Comparatively new is
the use of artificial hypothermia (lowering of the temperature of the body
down to 428? C) with the view to extending the period during which life can
be restored after clinical death under conditions of deprivation of the ani-
mals of blood. Morphological investigations of the brain show that the nerve
cells are preserved much more effectively after hyothermia has been established.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240044-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240044-5
In a report made during the discussion, P. H. Chepov stated that after
a large-scale blood-letting the effects are not li
mited to spasms of the
pheripheral arteries of the extremities, but that in addition to this medium
arteries which are rich in muscle tissue begin to carry out rhythmic peristal-
tic contractions in the direction to the heart, thus stimulating coronary blood
circulation. This phenomenon, which had been discovered by Chepov with the aid
of motion-picture X-ray vasography carried out after introduction of a contrast
liquid into the arteries, confirms fully the theory of a peripheral arterial
heart which has been advanced at one `ime by M. V. Yanovskiy, who established
the active role played in blood circulation by changes in arterial tonus.
P. S. Kupalov gave a thoroughgoing analysis of a phenomenon which was al-
ready known, i.e. of the development of paths in the cerebral cortex. This
author called attention to radical changes in the tonus of the excited uncon-
ditional center governing the evolution of saliva, or to be more exact, of the
cortical representation of this center, which creates the prerequisite for the
formation of a temporary connection, thus illustrating the principle of the
formation of paths. As far as the classical conditioned reflexes, i.e., tempo-
rary associations, are concerned, P. S. Kupalov asserts with justice that some-
times a reinforcement of the conditioned irritation which has been repeated
several times leads to inhibition and breaking of the temporary association,
as has already been indicated in I. P. Pavlov's work. This must serve as a
warning to those who test conditioned reflexes by the motor method and in doing
so apply 20-30 irritations in succession.
A report by E. A. Asratyan dealt with the basic mechanisms of the forma-
tion of conditioned reflexes and of conditioned inhibitions. In this report
the role played by the intensity of superinposed secondary irritants in the
formation of a conditioned reflex of the second order (a positive effect) or
of a condititioned inhibition (a negative effect) was emphasized. This is a
convincing proof of the unity of the processes of excitation and inhibition.
As far as the important problem of the localization of functions in the
cortex and subcortical centers is concerned, two opposite tendencies found ex-
pression. One group of physiologists attempted to ascribe the process of es-
tablishing the connection in the temporary food association completely to the
cortical ends of the arialysor, asserting that this is the place where the cor-
tical synthesis takes place. This concept is beguiling because of its pnysio-
logical way of interpreting the phenomena. Those inclined to the second ap-
proach (N. A. Rozhanskiy et al) are of the opinion that closing of the con-
dititioned [reflex, connection takes place with an obligatory participation of
the subcortical formations and that the subcortical centers are themselves
capable of forming the simplest conditioned reflexes. This view received sub-
stantial support on the part of the Slovak physiologist, K. Lishak. He show-
ed in his report that in applying the method of prolonged implantation and
healing in of miniature electrodes in the region under the bulges of the brain
heightened sensitivity and reinforcement of orientation reactions can be brought
about and demonstrated. If the electrical irritation is reinforced by food, a
full-fledged conditioned food reflex is developed.
Lishak's declaration to this effect was emphatically supported by N. A.
Rozhanskiy, who pointed out that Lishak's theory would explain the formation
of condititioned reflexes in animals which lack a cerebral cortex, i.e., fish,
and also by N. I. Grashchenkov, who pointed out that this theory lends fur-
ther support to the assumption that there is a connection between higher ner-
vous activity and endocrinic factors, i.e., effects the centers of which are
located under the bulges of the brain.
The problem of the phylogenesis of cortical reactions has interested phys-
iologists for a long time, being one of the basic problems of the physiology
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240044-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240044-5
STAT
of evolution. Two opposed points of view were expressed at the congress on
the important problem of the qualitative differences between the higher ner-
vous activity of higher animals and lower animals.
Some physiologists are of the opinion that the number of reinforcements
required for the formation of a conditioned reflex cannont serve as a measure
at' the degree of development of the brain of the animal and that conditioned
food reflexes in response to single irritations form in fish, turtles, birds,
rats, dogs, and simians after approximately the same number of reinforcements
by means of unconditioned irritants (L. G. Voronin). Other physiologists as-
sume that the slow formation of conditioned reflexes in humans whose mental
development is retarded speaks against this interpretation.
The majority agrees that the formation of processes of inner inhibition
(particularly processes of the diminishing of trace reflexes) and formation
of synthetic conditioned reflexes with subsequent differentiation of their
individual links serve as the most effective criteria of evolutionary devel-
opement.
A considerable amount of interest was elicited by a report of L. A. Orbeli
dealing with the ontogenesis of the higher nervous activity of children, parti-
cularly the origin of reflexes of the second signal system, which are of great
importance in pediatry. Orbeli emphasized that there can be no single method
for studying the development of children of different ages. The ontogenesis
of the mental activity should be investigated with consideration for the capac-
ity of the children to subject speech signals to acoustic analysis and also
of the social meaning to be attached to sounds, i.e., semantics.
The problem of the biological action of radiation of the alpha, beta, and
gamma types was also discussed at the congress. Reports by B. N. Tarusov,
G. M. Frank, D. I. Zakutinskiy, G. Ya. Gorodisskaya and A. A. ISanarevskaya dealt
with this subject.
Although according to the data which are available, the radiation factor
primarily affects the blood and the organs of blood formation (the bone mar-
row, the lymphatic nodes, and the spleen) and also the liver, a particularly
important role, possibly a decisive role, is played in radiation injuries by
the central nervous system. since interference with the functions of the lat-
ter brings about pronounced dystrophic changes in the organism.
The problem of effects exerted on the organism by radiant energy has a
close relationship to the problem of the origin of cancer, because a remote
consequence of exposure to ionizing radiation which exerts an internal effect
is the formation of malignant tumors (cancer and sarcoma), as well as devel-
opment of malignant leukoses.
Thus the possibility of controlling the physiological mechanism of the
action exerted by various types of rad,?'pnt energy brings us nearer to an under-
standing of the biological essence of cancer and consequently to the therapy
and prophylaxis of cancer.
The demonstration at the congress of new appliances and methods of in?:es-
tigation based on the principles of electronics and telemechanics aroused great
interest. It is known that cathode tubes used as oscillographs make it pos-
sible to introduce a high degree of precision into physiological and clinical
investigations and to make processes otherwise hidden from view completely
visible.
At present techniques involving the use of photocells have advanced to
such an extent that it is possible not only to determine the hemoglobin
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240044-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240044-5
content in the lobe of the ear, but also to measure the level of the blood
pressure and the condition of the capillary network several times per min-
ute with a high degree of precision.
M. N. Livanov and a group of engineers succeeded in designing an appli-
ance resemgling a television screen, on which one may see simultaneously as
images 30 or more projections of brain centers where electzital'oscillations
are being excited by means of electrodes equipped with conductors. These
oscillations correspond to currents pertaining to the activity of the brain
and the method described is referred to as complex electro-encephalography.
A great impression was made by the demonstration carries out by L. Nik-
olai (German Democratic Republic) of a new type of an electronic amplier
based on the semiconductor principle and using a germanium diode. With the
aid of this amplifier, one may induce an excitation in any tissue of the
organism without using conducting wires. This is done by letting a minature
germanium diode heal directly into skeletal muscles, the muscules of the
heart, intestines, or any other tissue, using for the induction of irrita-
tions an external field of high frequency.
The 8th All-Union Congress has demonstrated that soviet physiological
science, including biochemistry and pharmacology, forges ahead with assur-
ance, surmounting considerable difficulties and achieving new successes in
the course of its advance. The great number of reports that have been pre-
sented and the multiplicity and precision of the methods of research that
have been used testify to this.
Soviet physiologist have condemned the possibility that any line of re-
search or any group of scientists may acquire a monopoly. The participants
at the meeting have set an example of a critical evaluation of scientific
opinions and have declared themselves in favor of active criticism and self-
criticism in scientific discussions as well as for the maintenance of the
closest connections between physiological theory and practical work in pub-
lic health.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/12 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700240044-5