Laboratory of Radioisotope Researches

The Lab was founded in 1993

The Laboratory was headed ever since by professor Georgy I. Kovalev (birthdate 1950).

tel.: +7(495) 601-2051

E-mail: g.kovalev@relcom.ru; kovalev_g@m9com.ru

Main goals of the Lab activities are as follows:

• Investigation of neurochemical mechanisms of action produced by pharmacological substances designed and studied at the Institute using isotope and related methods;
• Scientific organizational and methodical provision of isotope investigations conducted by allied laboratories at the Institute.

Major lines of scientific research:

• Investigation of behavioral, cellular and membrane mechanisms involved in development of the effects traditional and novel nootropics (cognitive enhancers) exert in norm and in model of given pathology of higher nervous activity (natural aging, intrauterine intoxication and etc.);
• Study on neurobiological grounds of toxicomania trough the identification of typological behavioral and neurochemical predictors of voluntary preferred consumption of organic solvent vapors in experiment with the aim to work out a rational approach to pharmacotherapy and pharmacoprevention of inhalatory dependence;
• Evaluation of main CNS neurotransmitters involvement in rat brain electrical activity development in order to identify the receptor component in EEG frequency band of psychotropic drugs.
• Investigation of behavioral, cellular and membrane mechanisms involved in the effects of drugs with antiparkinsonian activity exert in norm and in model of given pathology;
• Investigation of behavioral, cellular and membrane mechanisms involved in development of the pharmacological effects of plant medicines.

Scope of Laboratory activities:

• Complex experimental studies with other affiliations and Institute units in light of promoting the research of its main scientific interest;
• Studies on pharmacokinetics, biotransformation and distribution of pharmacological agents through organs and tissues using isotope-labeled compounds;
• Education and training of scientific stuff (Ph.D. applicants, postgraduate and diploma preparing students in "Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology”).

Within the period of Lab existence 2 Doctor and 7 Ph.D. theses were supported in "Pharmacology" and "Human and Animal Physiology" Presently the authors work successfully in universally acknowledged medical and biological laboratories of USA, UK and Canada.

The Lab maintains scientific contacts with the other labs of the Institute of Pharmacology RAMS, Department of Higher Nervous Activity of Moscow Lomonosov' State University, Institute of Cell Biophysics RAS, Institute of Molecular Genetics RAS, Saint Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology.

Recent publications:

1. NV Markina, OV Perepelkina, FZ Bizikoeva, IB Fedotova, GI Kovalev, and II Poletaeva. Neonatal buspirone modulates the intermale aggression in adult mice. Zh Vyssh Nerv Deiat Im I P Pavlova, Jul 2006; 56(4): 491-8. [in Russ.].
2. G Kovalev, R Salimov, D Abaimov, J Firstova, G Presnova, A Chistyakov, V Balakshin. Psychotropic activity of Betulin-сontaining dry extract from Birch Tree bark in mice. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, Abstr.15th World Cong.Pharmacol., July 2-7, 2006 Beijing, China, P040017.
3. D.A.Abaimov and G.I.Kovalev. The study of acute and sub-chronic effects of Hemantane on [3H]-Dopamine uptake in rat striatal synaptosomes ex vivo. Eksp Klin Farmakol, 2007, Jul 2007; 70(4): 11-4. [in Russ.].
4. G.I.Kovalev, D.A.Abaimov, M.V.Voronin, J.Yu.Firstova, O.V.Dolotov. The Study of Auto- and Heteroreceptor Components of Presynaptic Dopamine Re-Uptake Modulation in the Mechanism of Novel Antiparkinsonian Drug Hemantane action in vitro. "Neurochemical Journal", 2007, Vol.1, No.3, pp.253-259.
6. DA Abaimov, IA Zimin, and GI Kovalev. Effects of hemantane on the main subtypes of dopamine receptors in the rat striatum ex vivo. Eksp Klin Farmakol, Jan 2008; 71(1): 18-21 [in Russ.].
7. GI Kovalev, J.Yu. Firstova, and RM Salimov. Effects of piracetam and meclofenoxate on the brain NMDA and nicotinic receptors in mice with different exploratory efficacy in the cross maze test. Eksp Klin Farmakol, Jan 2008; 71(1): 12-7 [in Russ.].
8. DA Abaimov, TA Zenina-Antipova, GI Kovalev, SB Seredenin. Effect of antiparkinsonian drug himantane on the content of dopamine transporter DAT protein in rat striatum and cultured pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells. Bull Exp Biol Med, Mar 2008, 145(3):331-3.
9. DA Abaimov, IA Zimin, VS Kudrin, and GI Kovalev. Effects of antiparkinsonian drug hemantane on the level and metabolism of biogenic monomines in brain structures of C57BL/6 mice. Eksp Klin Farmakol, 2009, 72(1):64-7 [in Russ.].
10. YA Zolotarev, YY Firstova, DA Abaimov, AK Dadayan, VS Kosik, AV Novikov, BV Vas'kovskii, IV Nazimov, GI Kovalev, and NF Myasoedov. Ligands of glutamate and dopamine receptors evenly labeled with hydrogen isotopes. Bioorg Khim, May 2009, 35(3):323-33 [in Russ.].
11. Iu.Iu.Firstova, OV Dolotov, AE Kondrakhin, EМ Dubynina, IA Grivennikov, and G.I.Kovalev. Effects of nootropic drugs on hippocampal and cortical BDNF levels in mice with different exploratory behavior efficacy. Eksp Klin Farmakol, Nov 2009; 72(6):3-6 [in Russ.].
12. I.A.Zimin, D.A.Abaimov, E.A.Budygin, Yu.A.Zolotarev, G.I.Kovalev. The role of brain dopaminergic and serotoninergic systems in realization of the psychopharmacological effects of Ladasten and Sydnocarb. Eksp Klin Farmakol, Feb 2010, 73(2):2-5 [in Russ.].
13. Г.И.Ковалёв, Ю.Ю.Фирстова, Р.М.Салимов, Е.А.Кондрахин. Механизмы избирательного действия Семакса при когнитивном дефиците. 2010, Психиатрия, 3(45):23-27.
14. Г.И.Ковалёв, Н.А.Старикова. Пантогам актив: механизм фармакологического действия. Русский медицинский журнал, 2010, 18(22):2-4.
15. Г.И.Ковалёв, Ю.Ю.Фирстова. Ноотропные препараты: разные мишени - общий эффект. Клиническая фармакология и терапия, 2010, 19(6):72-73.
16. Vorobyov V., Schibaev N., Kaptsov V., Kovalev G., Sengpiel F. Cortical and hippocampal EEG effects of neurotransmitter agonists in spontaneously hypertensive vs. kainate-treated rats. Brain Res., 2011, doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2011.01.107
17. Vorobyov V.V., Kovalev G.I. Effects of nootropics on EEG in conscious rats and their modification by glutamatergic inhibitors. Brain Res. Bull., 2011, v.85,pp.123-132.
18. Abaimov D.A.& G.I.Kovalev. Sigma Receptors as a Pharmacological Target for Neuroprotectors. New Horizons of Pharmacotherapy of Parkinson Disease. Neurochemical Journal, 2011, v.28, N02, pp.83-91.
19. Firstova Yu.Yu., D.A.Abaimov, I.G.Kapitsa, T.A.Voronina, G.I.Kovalev. The Effects of Scopolamine and the Nootropic Drug Phenotropil on Rat Brain Neurotransmitter Receptors in Passive Avoidance Task. Neurochemical Journal, 2011, v.5, No 2, pp.115-125.
20. Goldstein N., Goldstein R., Terterov D., Kamensky A.A., Kovalev G.I., Zolotarev Yu.A., Avakyan G.N., Terterov S. Blood-Brain Barrier Unlocked. Biochemistry (Moscow), 2012, v.77, #5, pp.419-424.
21. Kovalev G.I., Firstova Yu.Yu., Abaimov D.A., Starikova N.A. Pantogam and Pantogam active: qualitative and quantitative features of the interaction with neurotransmitter receptors in vitro. Zh.Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S.S.Korsakova. 2012,#3, pp.44-48 [in Russian].
22. Firstova J.J., Abaimov D.A., Surina N.M., Poletaeva I.I., Fedotova I.B., Kovalev G.I. Bull Exp Biol Med., 2012, v.154, #8, pp.58-60.
23. Vasil'eva E.V., Salimov R.M., Kovalev G.I. Effects of Nootropic Drugs on Behavior of BALB/c and C57BL/6 Mice in the Exploratory Cross-Maze Test. Eksp Klin Farmacol, 2012, v.75, #7, pp.32-37.[in Russian].
24. Salimov R.M., Kovalev G.I. Enrichment Discrimination Behavior in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. 2012, v.2, No 4, pp.479-484.
25. Kovalev G.I., Kondrakhin E.A., Salimov R.M. Behavioral and Neuroreceptor Differences in BALB/c and C57BL/6 Mice. Neurochemical Journal, 2013, v.7, No 2, pp.121-127.
26. Vasileva E.V., Zolotarev Yu.A., Kovalev G.I. The Effects of Nootropic Drugs on Brain Glutamate Metabotropic Receptors in BALB/c and C57BL/6 Mice. Neurochemical Journal, 2013, v.7, No 2, pp.128-134.
27. Salimov R.M., Kovalev G.I. Effect of Atomoxetine on Behavior of CD-1 Mice in the Enrichment Discrimination Test. J Behav Brain Sci, 2013, v.3, No 2, pp.210-216.