Distribution and number of fluorescent granular perithelial cells in coronal sections of rats cerebrum

Summary The fluorescent granular perithelial cells (F.G.P.) of rats aged 1 week to 2 years were observed under a light microscope to investigate intracellular granules and localization. This study showed that a marked proliferation of F.G.P. occurs within 3 weeks after birth and the total number remains constant for 2 years. The F.G.P. are mainly distributed in the gray matter, and are scarce in the white matter. The number and distribution of F.G.P. seems to reflect a difference of vascularization and function in different cerebral regions.     

Uptake of fat by fluorescent granular perithelial cells in cerebral cortex after administration of fat rich chow

Summary As reported previously, fluorescent granular perithelial cells (F.G.P.) are distributed along small blood vessels, possibly postcapillary venous vessels, in the cerebral cortex; these cells take up intraventricularly administered horseradish peroxidase efficiently. In this study it is shown that lipid substances of the blood are easily incorporated into F.G.P. and stored in their cytoplasm. The quantity of fat deposits in F.G.P. varies with the age of the animal and is very marked in old rats. The administration of elastase suppresses the fat uptake and/or facilitates the fat metabolism in F.G.P.Acknowledgment. This study was supported in part by a grant in aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education of Japan (No. 448085). The authors also would like to express their hearty thanks to Eisai Co. for a supply of elastase.     

Tyrosinase-cytalyzed conjugation of dopa with glutathione

Summary A convenient method is described for the preparation of 5-S- and 2-S-glutathionyldopa, based on tyrosinase oxidation of dopa in the presence of glutathione. The yields of 5-S, 2-S, and 6-S isomers produced were about 76, 12, and 5%, respectively.One of the authors (G.P.) thanks the C.N.R. (P.F. Chimica Fine e Secondaria) for partial financial support.     

Chromosomes of the squirrelFunambulus palmarum bellaricus Wroughton

Summary The chromosome complement ofFunambulus palmarum bellaricus Wroughton (Mammalia-Rodentia-Sciuridae) has been studied for the first time, and the diploid number established to be 54, in contrast to the subspeciesF. p. palmarum which has 2n=46 chromosomes. The known karyotypes within the genusFunambulus are compared. We thank Prof. G. T. Tonapi for providing the laboratory facilities and the Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Station, Pune for identifying the specimens.     

Phytosterols from pressmud residue obtained after methanogenic fermentation

Summary Pressmud, a sugar factory waste, was fermented with methanogenic bacteria in an anaerobic fermenter for 40 days at 31±2°C. The pressmud residue obtained after fermentation was used as a source for the extraction of phytosterols. The anaerobic digestion degraded the organic matter and resulted in enrichment of phytosterols from 0.33% in the pressmud to 3.05% in the residue. Refluxing of 100 g of residue with benzene, petroleum ether, and ethanolic KOH (1051) yielded 8 g of soft cake, which on further fractionation with methylcyanide and isopropanol gave three fractions: 1) a crude mixture of phytosterols, 2) resin, and 3) undigested organic matter. The crude mixture of phytosterols after purification on neutral alumina followed by GLC analysis resulted in the separation of 68.7% of -sitosterol, 18.4% of stigmasterol and 12.9% of campesterol and brassicasterol together. Phytosterols were extracted more easily from fermented than from unfermented samples, because of biodegration of lipophilic compounds by the methanogenic bacteria.Acknowledgments. S.K.S. and J.C.S. are thankful to the authorities of the U.G.C., New Delhi, for the award of Teacher-fellowships. R.C.S., R.A.K.S. and D.K.M. are thankful to the authorities of the C.S.I.R., New Delhi, for providing R.A., S.R.F., and J.R.F., respectively. Reprint request to S.N.M.     

Effect of lesions of the locus coeruleus complex on the circadian rhythm of plasma corticosterone in the mouse

Summary An apparently transient elevation of basal morning (08.00 h) plasma corticosterone levels in male mice was found 48 h after bilateral electrolytic lesions of the brainstem locus coeruleus complex but was not observed 6 weeks after lesioning.Supported by Alfred P. Sloan Foundation research fellowships awarded to W.G. Luttge and S.F. Zornetzer.     

Sterilization of solanaceous hadda,Epilachna vigintioctopunctata F. by irradiating pupae using gamma radiation

Summary Sterility in males and females was observed in the resulting adults when 3–4-day-old pupae of solanaceous hadda,Epilachna vigintioctopunctata F. were exposed to gamma radiation doses of 2000 rad and 2500 rad. However, at 2500 rad longevity of treated insects was adversely affected.Acknowledgment. Financial help to one of us (J.K.G.) by C.S.I.R. in the form of J.R.F. is gratefully acknowledged. Authors are thankful to Prof. P.N. Srivastava and Dr A.R. Rao, School of Life Sciences, J.N.U. Delhi for providing radiation facility.     

Studies on the Dd antigen-antibody system. I. The nature of antigen Dd and its antibodies

Summary The nature of antigen Dd, an antigen present in the extracts of human dandruff which precipitates human sera selectively, and antibodies reacting with it are reported.This work was supported through U.G.C. Grant No. F.23-230/75/SR II. H.K. participated in this study, first as J.R.F. of U.G.C. and then as S.R.F. of I.C.M.R. We are grateful to Dr Baruch S. Blumberg for his invaluable suggestions and to Professor H. Walter for the gift of IgG, IgM and IgA immune sera.     

Lumican基因对人肺腺癌细胞株A549体外增殖和侵袭的影响

目的 观察基膜聚糖(Lumican)基因过度表达对人肺腺癌细胞株A549体外增殖和侵袭的影响.方法 以携带人Lumican基因的重组慢病毒感染A549细胞,用嘌呤霉素(puromycin)筛选法建立稳定细胞株.分别用Real-time PCR和Western blotting方法检测A549细胞组、空载体组及Lumican感染组目的基因mRNA和蛋白的表达.运用MTT法研究Lumican基因对A549细胞增殖的影响.运用Transwell法检测Lumican基因对A549细胞侵袭的影响.结果 ①各组Lumican mRNA表达差异显著(x2=21.60,P＜0.01),Lumican感染组明显高于其它两组(F=102.86,P＜0.000 1),Lumican感染组的蛋白表达水平高于其它两组.②Lumican感染组在不同时间(1、2、3、4、5 d)OD(吸光度)值与A549细胞组和空载体组差异不显著(P＞0.05).③各组穿膜细胞数差异显著(x2=23.49,P＜0.01),Lumican感染组明显高于其它两组(F=73.92,P＜0.001).结论 成功构建了Lumican高表达的人肺腺癌A549稳定细胞株,Lumican基因对人肺腺癌细胞的体外增殖能力无影响,但能增强人肺腺癌细胞的体外侵袭能力.     

Release of platelet activating factor (P.A.F.-acether) by isolated perfused rat kidney

Platelet-activating factor (a 1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine, P.A.F.-acether) causes the aggregation of platelets from various Mammalian species and the release of their granule content. P.A.F.-acether activity has been recovered in vitro from perfused isolated Rat kidneys, stimulated by the ionophore A 23187. The maximum release was reached 10 min. after addition of the ionophore. P.A.F.-acether from kidney exhibited the same physico-chemical and biological characteristics as P.A.F.-acether from leucocytes. These data demonstrate that the kidney secretes a mediator of immediate hypersensitivity (P.A.F.-acether) in the veinous vasculature. Therefore the kidney itself has the ability of inducing intravascular platelet aggregation with subsequent local increase in vasopermeability.     

Depletion of synaptic vesicles at the frog (Rana pipiens) neuromuscular junctions by tetraphenylboron

Summary At the frog neuromuscular junction tetraphenylboron produced a decrease in miniature endplate potential amplitude, accompanied by a decrease in the number but not the size of synaptic vesicles.This work was supported by NIH Grants Nos NS-07740 and NS-05707 to R. L. P. and was done during the tenure of a Research Fellowship of Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America, a Wellcome Research Travel Grant and a grant from the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland to I. G. M. The assistance of Dr.R. M. Schnitzler, W. G. Boldosser andP. M. Spannbauer is gratefully acknowledged.     

Improving the thermal stability of lactate oxidase by directed evolution

Lactate oxidase is used in biosensors to measure the concentration of lactate in the blood and other body fluids. Increasing the thermostability of lactate oxidase can significantly prolong the lifetime of these biosensors. We have previously obtained a variant of lactate oxidase from Aerococcus viridans with two mutations (E160G/V198I) that is significantly more thermostable than the wild-type enzyme. Here we have attempted to further improve the thermostability of E160G/V198I lactate oxidase using directed evolution. We made a mutant lactate oxidase gene library by applying error-prone PCR and DNA shuffling, and screened for thermostable mutant lactate oxidase using a plate-based assay. After three rounds of screening we obtained a thermostable mutant lactate oxidase, which has six mutations (E160G/V198I/G36S/T103S/A232S/F277Y). The half-life of this lactate oxidase at 70 °C was about 2 times that of E160G/V198I and about 36 times that of the wild-type enzyme. The amino acid mutation process suggests that the combined neutral mutations are important in protein evolution. Received 15 September 2006; received after revision 21 October 2006; accepted 2 November 2006     

Early Influences on Probability and Statistics in the Russian Empire

Historiography of the development of probability and statistics in the Russian Empire focusses on the contributions of the central figure Pafnutiy Lvovich Chebyshev (1821–1894) and his successors. The purpose of this article is to concentrate on an earlier period which culminates with Chebyshev, and specifically on two less-than-well-explored aspects: (1) The background and motivation for his activity in probability and statistics; (2) The French connections and influences on his work. The key figures in this account are A.F. Pavlovsky (1789–1875); M.V. Ostrogradsky (1801–1862); V.Y. Buniakovsky (1804–1889); N.D. Brashman (1796–1866); N.E. Zernov (1804–1862), S.G. Stroganov (1794–1882); P.S. de Laplace (1749–1827); A.L. Cauchy (1789–1857); I.J. Bienaymé (1796–1878); N.V. Khanykov (1819–1878); and, in Chebyshevs childhood, a governess and relation, Avdotiia Kvintillianovna Sukhareva. Chief among these, from the years of Chebyshevs maturity, are Buniakovsky and Bienaymé. The cultural contacts between France and the Russian Empire in the 19th century were strong, and these connections are particularly well-illustrated in this setting. (Received January 10, 1998)     

The site of gating in the ventricular conducting system of rabbit,dog and monkey hearts

Summary The longest action potential durations of the ventricular conducting system were found at about two thirds of the distance along each false tendon in dog and monkey hearts. In the rabbit heart, this area—which corresponds to the gating mechanism—was found in the middle part of the bundle branches; therefore the number of gates is much smaller in the rabbit than in the other 2 species.Acknowledgements. We wish to thank F. Pezziardi and P. Guiraudou for their technical assistance.     

The introduction of the differential notation to Great Britain

In the history of chemistry, the Danish chemist Julius Thomsen (1826–1909) is best known for his contributions to thermochemistry. Throughout his life, he was a pronounced atomist and a tireless advocate of neo-Proutian views as to the constitution of matter. On many occasions, especially in his later years, he engaged in speculations concerning the unity of matter and the complexity of atoms. In this engagement, Thomsen was alone in Danish chemistry, but his works were representative of a large number of 19th-century chemists, particularly in England and Germany. Thomsen's ideas as to the constitution of matter, the periodic system and the noble gases, may be seen as typical of this vigorous trend in fin de siècle chemistry.     

Effects of high hydrostatic pressures on the movements of Na+, K+ and Cl− in isolated eel gills

Summary Hydrostatic pressure applied to isolated eel gills induces changes in the tissue, Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^– contents. It also inhibits the activity of the (Na⁺+K⁺) ATPase. Results are discussed in terms of an effect of pressure on the Na⁺ and Cl^– pumps and on the passive permeability processes.A. P., Chargé de Recherches du F. N. R. S.; R. G., Chercheur qualifié du F. N. R. S., We are grateful to Prof. A. Distèche and E. Schoffeniels for their advice throughout this work. We also want to thank Mr J. M. Theate and Mrs C. Marchand-Coquay for their valuable technical assistance.     

A new rapid method for collection and preparation of cell suspensions for electrom microscopy

Summary We describe a new rapid and simple method for collection and preparation of cell suspensions for electron microscopy; the cells are prefixed with glutaraldehyde in their culture medium, and are then compacted on a filter disc. Post-fixation in osmium, staining and dehydration are performed by transferring the filter disc and the cell pellet from one solution to the next. The pellet is easily separated from the filter disc just before treatment in propylene oxide. This method preserves the fine structure as well as the classical technique. Advantages are that numerous cells have the same orientation in the sections and that many samples can be taken in a very short time.Acknowledgments. The authors are indebted to Prof. H. Leclerc, Director of I.N.S.E.R.M. laboratory U 146 in which part of this work has been performed, and to Dr J.F. Dubremetz, Dr G. Prensier and Dr P.A. Trinel for their advices.     

Announcement of the Editor-in-Chief

Announcement.  As decided in July 2005 we continue to publish once a year (in July) the names of the authors and the titles of the two most read (by Internet) Research Papers and Reviews published in Cell. Mol. Life Sci. the previous year. Thus we have the pleasure to provide you with the results of 2005. Research Articles  

Demonstration by stereological methods of pre-prophase doubling of the number of ribosomes in Ehrlich tumor cells]

Homogeneous populations of G1, S or G2 Ehrlich tumor cells are analysed by stereological methods at the ultrastructural level. This analysis demonstrates that the number of cytoplasmic ribosomes is doubled before the prophase.     

A novel tetracyclic sesquiterpene from the oil of orejuela ofCymbopetalum penduliforum (Dunal)

Résumé De l'éther de pétrole extrait de l'huile de l'Orejula (Cymbopetalum penduliforum Dunal, Baill) fut examiné pour son contenu en terpènes. On a isolé les sesquiterpènes tétracycliques (ishwarone). L'évidence chimique et spectral appuie la constitution chimique et sa conversion à isoishwarone.

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The authors are grateful to Dr.F. Will, Mr.W. F. Kuhn and Mr.G. Vilcins for their valuable analytical data and to Dr.R. F. Dawson for the oil of orejuela and Dr.P. C. Parthasarathy for the authentic sample of isoishwarane. We wish to thank ProfessorsA. Burger andN. H. Cromwell for helpful discussions.