Antiedematous activity of new thiazolo[5,4-b]indole derivatives containing a fragment of isothiourea and characterized by higher antihypoxic activity compared to known antihypoxants was studied on a model of toxic edema of the lungs in mice. Compounds exhibiting high activity on two models of hypoxia (hypobaric and hemic) better protected from lung edema than compounds active only in hypobaric hypoxia.

Intravenous infusion of taurine prevents a decrease in cardiac pump function caused by electric stimulation of the aortic arch and promotes recovery of systemic blood flow and total peripheral resistance.Key Words: taurine; stress; electric stimulationThe role of nonprotein sulfur-containing amino acid taurine in the regulation of cardiovascular functions is now well established. Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) exerts vasodilatory and hypotensive effects, stabilizes cardiac rhythm, and improves heart contractions [2]. Taking into account the positive effects of taurine on the cardiovascular system, of particular interest is the possibility of using this amino acid for prevention of stress-induced hemodynamic disturbances. Stress was modeled by electric stimulation of the aortic arch. This procedure is routinely used for modeling of neurogenic damage to the myocardium [1,3]. MATERIALS AND METHODSExperiments were carried out on male Chinchilla rabbits weighing 2.5-3 kg. The animals were narcotized and an electrode was introduced through the common carotid artery into the aortic arch, while its proximal end went out thought the ear skin. Another needle electrode was stuck into the left paw skin. The electrode positioned in the aorta was connected to a generator and stimulation with 10-msec square pulses was performed (50 Hz, 5-7 V) for 3 h as described previously [3]. The animals were then sacrificed via air embolization and the location of the stimulating electrode was verified.Taurine (50 ~tmol/kg/h) or physiological saline (0.1 ml/min) were infused to experimental and control rabbits, respectively, throughout the stimulation per-

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