Can brain inflammation cause the heart to skip a beat? And how can we restore the connection between the immune system and the body's main "pump"? Vladimir Belyakov, Associate Professor at the Department of Human and Animal Physiology at Samara University, spent a year seeking answers to these questions in the laboratory before presenting his findings to the world at an international neuroscience conference in Morocco. Exclusively for sobaka.ru, the scientist opens the doors to his research lab, explaining how experiments on laboratory rats are conducted and why this work could save human lives in the future.
— Do you remember the moment when biology truly captivated you? Were you interested in it as a child?
— Yes, it happened after reading Mikhail Bulgakov’s novella Heart of a Dog and subsequently watching the film adaptation! Beyond the obvious social and artistic values, I already paid attention to physiology back then. I was fascinated by the idea of endocrine gland transplantation, the alteration of appearance under the influence of hormones, and the question of the boundaries between normalcy and pathology. Perhaps that was the first impulse toward a conscious study of how a living organism actually works.
— Were there any relatives of yours who were involved in science and inspired you to follow in their footsteps?
— There were no physiologists, doctors, or professional scientists in my family, which makes the support I received from my loved ones at the beginning of my journey even more valuable. It is especially significant that all this reverence and sincerity took place during the incredibly difficult 1990s—a time of economic instability and the closure of industrial enterprises in Samara. Despite all the hardships, the opportunity to engage in science was preserved at our university, and my family never doubted my choice. It was precisely this confidence that allowed me to navigate the stages of a student's fascination, postgraduate research, and my subsequent development as a university lecturer.
— And when did you say "yes" to physiology as your life's calling?
— The definitive decision came to me when I met Nina Andreevna Merkuloa, Doctor of Medical Sciences and Professor at Samara University. She was a brilliant lecturer and, alongside Professor Sergievsky, a founder of what was then the Kuybyshev School of Physiologists. Her course, "Human and Animal Physiology," was not just a recitation of facts, but a true immersion into the history of science. The professor's ability to explain complex concepts clearly, her academic culture, and her profound erudition left a massive impression on me. Nina Andreevna became my scientific supervisor, guiding me from my coursework all the way to my PhD dissertation. Incidentally, 2026 marks exactly 100 years since her birth, and I note with deep gratitude that it was this classical university school that defined my path!
— But there is also medicine or genetics; why were you so captivated by the study of human and animal organisms?
— I have always been interested in the internal settings of the organism, its deep mechanisms—and that is the very essence of physiology. It is no coincidence that the world's premier scientific award is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Physiology is the very foundation upon which all clinical practice is built. Moreover, it is the pure thrill of live experimentation. To conduct it today, one must be a universalist: capable of reading the body's signals, working with statistics, understanding molecular biology, and packaging the results into scientific papers. I am incredibly fascinated by this intersection of sciences. By the way, I am directly connected to practical medicine—I teach a course in normal physiology to future doctors at medical universities in Samara. And I always emphasize to students: understanding how the organism works under normal conditions is the foundation without which it is impossible to intervene in a pathological process.
— What attracted you to Samara as a scientific platform back in the day, and why have you remained loyal to this department?
— You are right, I have been dedicated to the department for almost 25 years! This is a conscious choice: my professional activities align with a deep personal interest. The Samara School of Physiologists has a glorious history; the Faculty of Biology has raised more than one generation of classical biologists, and I feel a sense of belonging to this tradition. Samara, with its Volga River, history, and intellectual environment, is also a significant factor. Here, a special, unhurried, and thoughtful style of scientific work has developed, which I highly appreciate.
— Is there room for childlike wonder in physiology?
— Absolutely, and I would argue that without passion, and sometimes genuine wonder, full-fledged work in physiology (and other sciences!) is impossible. A modern researcher must stay abreast of current biomedical discoveries, and here, emotional engagement plays the role of a powerful internal driver. If we delve deeper, from a neurophysiological perspective, this "wonder" is linked to the effects of dopamine—a special reward molecule for our brain. When a hypothesis is confirmed, when you obtain the expected results, you experience that very emotional uplift that reinforces the scientific quest. It is a kind of "good addiction."
— We've sorted out the emotions, but what impressions do modern technologies leave on students? Do they help them "touch" what cannot be read in a textbook?
— Yes, indeed! In the educational process, we actively use digital physiological laboratories that allow students to record their own biosignals and analyze them immediately. This translates abstract textbook diagrams into the realm of personal experience. Furthermore, simulation technologies are applied, such as software that models the propagation of impulses along a nerve fiber. What cannot be "touched" by hand becomes visible and measurable on a screen, which is a crucial step toward understanding complex physiological processes.
— To keep teaching interesting, you regularly engage in self-education. What has been the most valuable part of this experience?
— The opportunity for live communication with colleagues working in different cities, countries, and scientific schools. We do not limit ourselves to scientific meetings and official presentations: there is also the joint discussion of unpublished data, and often, a vibrant cultural program. A unique "chemistry" arises: new ideas, methodological discoveries, and an outside perspective on one's own work. This forces you to rethink routines and sometimes even change the direction of your research.
— Are you afraid that someday artificial intelligence will know more about the workings of the brain and heart than physiologists themselves?
— On the contrary, I see this not as a threat, but as a powerful tool. Artificial intelligence helps in selecting individualized medications for treating complex diseases. It is important to understand: algorithms remain a tool used to test hypotheses formulated by humans. This machine is not yet capable of independent scientific intuition, let alone taking responsibility for the application of knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to work in tandem: the researcher asks the questions, and the neural network helps find the answers.
— In a world where everything can be Googled, why is "live" scientific experience in the laboratory still irreplaceable for a future doctor or scientist?
— Search engines provide information, but they do not build practical skills or scientific thinking. One must understand that laboratory experience is working with uncertainty: not every experiment yields the expected result, instruments sometimes fail, and a biological object does not always behave according to the textbook. It is precisely in such situations that a student or an established researcher learns to make decisions, analyze artifacts, and test hypotheses. Furthermore, manual contact with a living object or the real-time recording of a physiological signal creates a unique memory that cannot be replaced by reading or watching a video. Finally, live scientific experience cultivates a critical attitude toward information, forming a clear understanding of how much effort it takes to obtain a single reliable fact. Therefore, despite any technological advancements, laboratory practicums and research remain an irreplaceable part of training future biologists, doctors, and scientists.
— Your primary activity involves research on laboratory rats. Why did you choose them specifically, rather than mice?
— Rat physiology is very close to ours: evolution has cemented common principles of organism system regulation, similar signaling mechanisms in the brain, and identical physiological responses to stress. Moreover, rats are the most studied object in science. A colossal database has been accumulated on them: from ready-made research protocols and genetics to precise reference intervals for all indicators. This allows us to compare new results with already known data. Finally, they are social, sufficiently phlegmatic animals, which makes them convenient for behavioral experiments (maze learning, anxiety tests). So, it is an explainable classic!
— Is it difficult to maintain a cold, analytical research mind when working with living creatures? How do you find this balance?
— I would say it is not "coldness," but discipline, adherence to bioethical norms, and respect for the object of study. As you delve into physiology, you gradually realize how complex and harmoniously the organism is structured. This does not foster indifference, but rather a special, reverent attitude toward life. It must be noted that no test-tube experience or computer simulation can fully replace a whole organism, because the processes of interaction between different organs arise only at the systemic level. An experiment must be maximally informative and minimally traumatic.
— Can such experiments impact practical medicine in the near future?
— One of the directions we are currently developing with physiology students is precisely what I consider promising! It concerns research into the problem of brain aging and the development of neurodegenerative diseases. It is known that in patients with the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease, the ability to distinguish odors decreases long before memory and attention are impaired. We are trying to reproduce a model of chronic neuroinflammation induced through the nasal mucosa (the so-called "nose-to-brain" pathway) in rats, and subsequently study the behavioral and brain function characteristics of these animals. Perhaps this research, along with the work of other specialists, will allow for the more active use of simple olfactory function analysis to establish the onset of the disease. Furthermore, new drugs for treating patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease can be tested on this model.
— Can you describe the path: how data obtained during physiological research can ultimately save someone's life?
— Most likely, this path is connected to the training of qualified personnel. Every graduate of the Faculty of Biology or a medical university who comes to work in a laboratory or a hospital understands physiological principles. And when such a lab technician or doctor recognizes a pathology or a life-threatening condition in time, this is the result, in part, of their university training. Even without the direct implementation of their own methodologies, a physiology teacher contributes to saving lives.
— Is there an example of how the data from your experiments is already helping doctors or scientists in Samara and beyond?
— Currently, one of our studies is dedicated to the psychophysiological adaptation of international students to studying at Samara universities. For now, our focus is on students from India. Genetically, they are predisposed to the fact that stress quite often causes metabolic and cardiovascular complications for them. Moving to another country, changing dietary habits, and the language barrier—all of this creates powerful physiological and psychological tension. Such studies allow specialists working with international students to take a personalized approach to supporting "at-risk" individuals. In a broader sense, our research supports the spirit of international university education.
— Is there a specific achievement over the past year that you are particularly proud of?
— Yes, there is! We managed to advance in studying the impact of neuroinflammation on heart function. We presented this data in Morocco, received feedback from colleagues around the world, and mastered new analysis techniques that we are now integrating into our practice. For me, an achievement is seeing how our Samara research integrates into the global context, and how the horizons and capabilities of our home department become broader.
Photo: Adelya Kalimullina
Source: sobaka.ru
