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.     

Rhythmic activity in frog (Rana pipiens) visual system

Zusammenfassung Nachweis, dass die Netzhaut-Ganglienzellen dritter Klasse beiRana pipiens auf Beleuchtungsperiodenausgleich reaktiv rhythmische potentialfolgen von bursts und firing erzeugen. Als wirksamste Beleuchtungsperioden erwiesen sich solche im mesopischen Bereich bei Mindestdauer von 15 sec. Weder skotopische noch photopische Belichtungen führten zu rhythmischer Aktivität.     

Hypophysial hormones and a G1 block in the lens epithelium of the adult frog (Rana pipiens)

Summary Mechanical injury initself may be responsible for the transition of lens epithelial cells from the G₀ to the G₁ compartment of the cell cycle. This traverse which does not depend on DNA-dependent hypophysial hormones may be in part reversible.     

Autoradiographic studies on the neurosecretory hypothalamo-hypophysial system of the grass frog (Rana pipiens) after disconnection of the distal hypophysis

Zusammenfassung Nach Durchschneidung der proximalen Hypophyse wird im proximalen und distalen Stumpf der Neurohypophyse ein erhöhter Gehalt an neurosekretorischen Granula festgestellt. Die Tatsache, dass nur proximal S³⁵-L-Cystein-Hydrochlorid nachgewiesen werden kann, schliesst die immer wieder vorgebrachte Hypothese einer distalen Neurosekretsynthese endgültig aus.

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Supported by NIH grant No. NB-06641 and the Space Sciences Research Center of the University of Missouri.     

Inhibitory effects of dibutyryl and cyclic AMP on the compound action potential in the frog (Rana pipiens) sciatic nerve

Résumé Le dibutyryle et l'AMP cyclique ont apparement un effet sur la conductibilité membraneuse. Cet effet se marque par une réduction d'amplitude et de vitesse de conductibilité aussi bien que par une augmentation du seuil à atteindre et du retard dans l'élaboration du processus. Ces effets ont été confirmés par la théophylline et la caféine. Les ions de calcium semblent accélérer les effets du AMP cyclique en augmentant la résistance membraneuse (réduction d'amplitude de l'impulsion nerveuse) de 30%.     

Morphological and functional changes in the distal hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system of the grass frog (Rana pipiens) after transection of the proximal neurohypophysis

Zusammenfassung Nach Durchtrennung der proximalen Neurohypophyse wird im distalen Stumpf eine gegenüber Kontrolltieren erhöhte Menge paraldehyd-fuchsinpositiver Substanz gefunden, die im Elektronenmikroskop einwandfrei als Neurosekret identifiziert werden konnte. Die im Tierversuch ermittelte erhöhte, blutdrucksteigernde Aktivität des distalen Teils der Neurohypophyse spricht für eine lokale Synthese des Neurosekrets.

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Supported by NIH Grant No. NB 06641 and the Space Sciences Research Center of the University of Missouri.     

The effect of perchlorate ion and some pharmacological agents on the sensitivity of the frog (Rana pipiens) rectus abdominis to acetylcholine

Zusammenfassung Die Reaktion des mit Eserin vorbehandelten musculus rectus abdominis des Frosches auf Acetylcholin liess sich durch Oxotremorin (2.0·10^–5 M), Arecolin (2.0·10^–5M), Aceclidin (1.0·10^–4 M) und Carbachol (2.0·10^–7 M) verstärken, während Atropin (1.0·10^–5 M) hemmend wirkte. Perchlorationen in Konzentrationen über 2 · 10^–4 M sensibilisierten den Froschmuskel erheblich und reduzierten die Grenzdosis, bei der eine Potenzierung durch Substanzen mit muskarinähnlicher Wirkung beobachtet wird. Alle beschriebenen Reaktionen liessen sich durch Gehirnextrakte verstärken, in denen zuvor Acetylcholin durch Kochen in alkalischer Lösung zerstört worden war.

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This work was supported by NIH Grants No. NB 03007 and No. 5-F1-GM-22,905.     

The control of the frog (Rana esculenta) thumb pad

Summary Extirpation of the pars distalis of the pituitary or castration in any period of the year cause thumb pad regression. Thumb pad development is regulated by an interaction of both temperature and androgenic hormones.Work done under the C.N.R.-finalized project Biologia della Riproduzione.     

Cholera toxin B-subunit incorporation into synaptic vesicles of the neuromuscular junction of the rat

Summary The B-subunit of cholera toxin, a nontoxic macromolecule which binds specifically to GM1 ganglioside, was conjugated to colloidal gold and injected into skeletal muscle of the rat. It was taken up rapidly in vesicles in the terminal axons at the neuromuscular junctions. Injection of albumin-colloidal gold conjugates resulted in an insignificant uptake. The results indicate that uptake of extracellular macromolecules into the terminal axon of the neuromuscular junction may be greatly enhanced by binding to gangliosides at the presynaptic membrane, and that it may occur without association with vesicular recycling related to transmitter release.The study was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (proj. No. 07122).—Part of this study was performed at INSERM U-153, Paris, headed by Dr M. Fardeau.     

Cholera toxin B-subunit incorporation into synaptic vesicles of the neuromuscular junction of the rat

The B-subunit of cholera toxin, a nontoxic macromolecule which binds specifically to GM1 ganglioside, was conjugated to colloidal gold and injected into skeletal muscle of the rat. It was taken up rapidly in vesicles in the terminal axons at the neuromuscular junctions. Injection of albumin-colloidal gold conjugates resulted in an insignificant uptake. The results indicate that uptake of extracellular macromolecules into the terminal axon of the neuromuscular junction may be greatly enhanced by binding to gangliosides at the presynaptic membrane, and that it may occur without association with vesicular recycling related to transmitter release.     

A human calcitonin-like molecule in the ultimobranchial body of the amphibia (Rana pipiens)

Summary As assessed by radioimmunoassay, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), frog ultimobranchial calcitonin was found to be similar to synthetic human calcitonin but completely different from synthetic salmon calcitonin.Acknowledgments. This work was supported in parts by grants from the Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust, Spanish Ministry of Universities and Egyptian Ministry of High Education.