Comparative distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance P and PHI in the enteric sphincters of the cat

Summary In the feline gastrointestinal tract, the neuropeptides, substance P, VIP and PHI were investigated by specific radioimmunoassays and immunocytochemistry. The concentrations of all 3 peptides and the level of peptidergic innervation were significantly less in the anal sphincter than elsewhere, whereas no significant differences were seen between other sphincter and non-sphincter regions.     

A histochemical study on the innervation of the cerebral blood vessels in the carp

Summary Adrenergic and cholinergic innervation of the cerebral blood vessels were studied in the carp using fluorescence and cholinesterase histochemistry. Most of the major cerebral and pial arteries were densely innervated with both nerves. Moreover, both nerves, being probably of central origin, were observed frequently on the walls of parenchymal arterioles and capillaries in the sections of the inferior lobe but were only rarely found in the other brain sections.     

A histochemical study on the innervation of the cerebral blood vessels in the carp.

Adrenergic and cholinergic innervation of the cerebral blood vessels were studied in the carp using fluorescence and cholinesterase histochemistry. Most of the major cerebral and pial arteries were densely innervated with both nerves. Moreover, both nerves, being probably of central origin, were observed frequently on the walls of parenchymal arterioles and capillaries in the sections of the inferior lobe but were only rarely found in the other brain sections.     

Hormonal facilitation in the release of sperm from the spermatheca of the red-spotted newt

Several neurotransmitters and hormones with potential to trigger a simultaneous contraction of the oviducts and the spermathecal myoepithelium were examined. Saline (0.05 ml), or 0.05 ml saline plus acetylcholine (9 mg), norepinephrine (50 micrograms), arginine-vasotocin (25 units), prostaglandin F2 alpha (3 micrograms) were injected into the spermathecal region of female newts (n = 24 per group). The numbers of sperm present in the cloacae of prostaglandin-injected animals (107 +/- 30 SEM) were significantly greater than the numbers detected in saline (27 +/- 5 SEM) and in uninjected (14 +/- 3 SEM) controls. Smaller and less consistent increases in the numbers of sperm were detected in the vasotocin- and norepinephrine-injected groups. Study of sections from ovulating female newts failed to produce evidence that pressure from the passage of ova through the posterior portion of the oviduct forced sperm from the spermatheca. Observations indicate an active role for the spermathecal myoepithelium in the discharge of stored sperm and of a role for prostaglandin F2 alpha in triggering that discharge.     

Innervation of the ovarian interstitial cell of the chick embryo

Summary Electron microscopic examination of the developing ovary of 15–20-day chick embryos revealed that the interstitial cells were well innervated. Nerve fibres and nerve endings were observed in close contact with steroid-producing cells.     

Lack of participation of cytoplasmic choline in the synthesis of acetylcholine in the striatal synaptosomes of the rat]

Synaptosomes prepared from Rat striatum were loaded with (14C) choline at 0 degrees C in the course of a 60 min. preincubation. After the removal, by washing, of the extracellular molecules, synaptosomes were incubated 5 min. at 37 degrees C in the presence of (3H) choline. The measurement of the amounts of (3H) ACh and of (14C) ACh formed allowed us to conclude that the acetylation of the molecules of choline was directly coupled to their passage through the synaptosomal membrane.     

Prolongation of the duration of motility and fertilizing ability of rainbow trout spermatozoa by the addition of theophylline to the dilution medium

After rainbow Trout sperm were diluted in 0.01 and 0.001 M theophylline media, motility and fertilizing ability were prolonged as compared to the control media without theophylline. However, the motility observed was lower and of a different type than normal motility. This suggests that other factors besides cyclic nucleotides intervene in the motility of Trout spermatozoa.     

Influences of the chemical structure on the activity of new inhibitory compounds of the angiotensin-converting enzyme

Summary The ACE inhibitory activity of some perimidines, chinazolinones and amidinohydrazones is described. Relations were found between the chemical structure and the inhibitory activity on the ACE.     

Influences of the chemical structure on the activity of new inhibitory compounds of the angiotensin-converting enzyme

The ACE inhibitory activity of some perimidines, chinazolinones and amidinohydrazones is described. Relations were found between the chemical structure and the inhibitory activity on the ACE.     

Organization in "barrels" of layer-IV cells of the S1 cortex in the mouse: effects of lesions or deprivation of the mystacial vibrissa]

In newborn mice the mystacial pads of the upper lips were submitted to different destructive or functionally reducing procedures. The effects on the barrels of the somato-sensory cortex were judged in mature animals and classified into 3 categories: 1. the barrels were present and normal; 2. the cortex was devoid of barrel structures; 3. the barrels were disorganized. Only procedures which involved peripheral lesions, and not those which reduced only the functional level, produced effects as deep as absence or disorganization of the barrels.     

New data on the precise location of the lacrimo-muconasal nucleus of the rat

Summary Three methods (axonal degeneration, retrograde labelling with HRP and Golgi's silver impregnation) were used in the identification of a group of cells located in the ventrolateral part of the reticular formation of the pons, which are postulated to form the lacrimo-muconasal nucleus of the rat.     

Elucidating the principles of the molecular organization of heteropolymeric tight junction strands

Paracellular barrier properties of tissues are mainly determined by the composition of claudin heteropolymers. To analyze the molecular organization of tight junctions (TJ), we investigated the ability of claudins (Cld) to form homo- and heteromers. Cld1, -2, -3, -5, and -12 expressed in cerebral barriers were investigated. TJ-strands were reconstituted by claudin-transfection of HEK293-cells. cis-Interactions and/or spatial proximity were analyzed by fluorescence resonance energy transfer inside and outside of strands and ranked: Cld5/Cld5?>?Cld5/Cld1?>?Cld3/Cld1?>?Cld3/Cld3?>?Cld3/Cld5, no Cld3/Cld2. Classic Cld1, -3, and -5 but not non-classic Cld12 showed homophilic trans-interaction. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy revealed that, in contrast to classic claudins, YFP-tagged Cld12 does not form homopolymers. Heterophilic trans-interactions were analyzed in cocultures of differently monotransfected cells. trans-Interaction of Cld3/Cld5 was less pronounced than that of Cld3/Cld1, Cld5/Cld1, Cld5/Cld5 or Cld3/Cld3. The barrier function of reconstituted TJ-strands was demonstrated by a novel imaging assay. A model of the molecular organization of TJ was generated.     

A fast transient osmotic method. Simultaneous in vivo determination of the reflexion coefficient and of the permeability/filtration coefficient ratio of the pulmonary capillary endothelium in the dog]

Thermodynamic variables characterizing the transport of water and urea across Dog pulmonary capillary membrane were obtained in vivo by means of a pulse transient osmotic method. Results were inconsistent with the hypothesis of a homoporous membrane. When data were interpreted in terms of an exclusive water channel and of a shared pore pathway, the value of the pore reflexion coefficient was close to zero for urea.     

The involvement of the renin-angiotensin system in the regulation of cell proliferation in the rat endometrium

Oestrogens are known to enhance angiotensin biosynthesis by increasing the elaboration of its precursor, angiotensinogen. On the other hand, we found that inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) suppressed the proliferative response of the rat anterior pituitary gland to oestrogens. To answer the question whether the angiotensin system is involved in the control of the cell proliferation of the uterine epithelium, the effects of an ACE inhibitor, enalapril maleate, and of angiotensins II and IV, alone or together with losartan, an antagonist of angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1), on endometrial epithelial cell proliferation have been studied. The experiments were performed on ovariectomized female Wistar rats. In the first experiment the animals were injected with a single dose of oestradiol benzoate or received an injection of solvent only. Half of the oestrogen-treated rats were injected additionally with enalapril maleate (EN, twice daily). The incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU) into endometrial cell nuclei was used as an index of cell proliferation. It was found that oestradiol alone dramatically increased the BrDU labelling index (LI) of endometrial cell nuclei, and this effect was partially blocked by the simultaneous treatment with EN. In the second experiment, the animals were injected intraperitoneally with angiotensin II (AII), angiotensin IV (AIV) or saline, alone or together with losartan. It was found that AIV induced an increase in the LI in uterine epithelium, and this effect was not blocked by the simultaneous treatment with losartan. The increase in LI in uterine epithelium was also observed in the rats treated with AII and with losartan. These findings suggest an involvement of angiotensin IV in the control of uterine epithelium cell proliferation. Received 12 October 1998; received after revision 6 January 1999; accepted 2 February 1999     

Inhibitor of the oxidation of catechin released from the roots of corn seedlings

Summary When the specific activities of the catechin oxidases (catechin as the substrate) which were released from the roots of the seedlings of alfalfa, tomato, wheat, lettuce and corn were compared, it was found that the oxidizing activity was absent from the root exudate of corn seedlings. A 6.3 kDa protein was purified from the root exudate of corn seedlings and in the presence of this protein, the oxidation of catechin was inhibited. This inhibitor is responsible for the inability of the root exudate of corn seedlings to oxidize catechin.     

Accumulation of phenylpropanoids in the rectal glands of males of the Oriental fruit fly,Dacus dorsalis

Summary Two phenylpropanoid compounds, 2-allyl-4,5-dimethoxyphenol(II) and coniferyl alcohol(III), were characterized from body tissue of wild males of the Oriental fruit fly,Dacus dorsalis. These compounds accumulated in the rectal glands only when laboratory-reared males were fed with methyl eugenol. Compound II was released into the air during dusk, which coincides with the fly courtship period. Pheromonal and allomonal effects of the phenylpropanoids were examined.     

Identification using glass microelectrodes of the activities recorded in the neighborhood of axons and cell bodies of the trigeminal sensory complex]

Using glass micropipettes unitary activities were recorded at the level of the trigeminal sensory complex. Iontophoresis of pontamine blue allowed us to localise the recording loci. Two types of spikes were observed, they were distinguished on the basis of their shape: one corresponds to an axon spike, the other to a cell body spike.     

A comparative study of the innervation of the choroid plexus in amphibia

The aminergic and cholinergic innervation of choroid plexuses in three species of amphibia was investigated. Plexuses of the Japanese toad and the bullfrog had poor innervation by adrenergic nerves of sympathetic origin, but in the clawed toad, these plexuses were heavily innervated by adrenergic axons from ganglion cells located in the plexus stroma. Nerve fibers positive for acetylcholinesterase were not found in the plexuses, except for a few fibers with very weak enzyme activity in the clawed toad.     

Action of Corynebacterium parvum on the activity of glycosidases and proteases of peritoneal macrophages in the mice]

Glycosidase and peptidase of non-treated Mouse peritoneal macrophages were characterized. The enzymatic activities of Corynebacterium parvum stimulated Mouse macrophages were compared to those of macrophages obtained from non-treated animals. All the enzymatic activities, but beta-C-galactosidase, were higher in stimulated Mouse macrophages.     

Species-specific differences in the mitogenic activity of heparin-binding growth factors in the sera of various mammals

Sera from different mammalian species displayed great differences in mitogenic activity, as measured by stimulation of DNA synthesis in BALB/c 3T3 cells (3T3 cells). Among the sera examined, fetal bovine serum was least active, and increasing activity was detected in calf serum, human serum, rat serum and mouse serum, in that order. Rat and mouse sera exhibited extremely high mitogenic activity with 3T3 cells, but when TIG-1 human fetal lung fibroblasts were used for the DNA assay instead, the activity levels of all of the sera were lower, and the differences between them were smaller. To determine the reasons for these differences, the heparin-binding growth factors in each serum were separated on a heparin affinity column. Five peaks of DNA-stimulating activity were obtained. Three of these were found in all sera examined, with both 3T3 cells and TIG-1 cells. Two other peaks were found only with 3T3 cells; one was peculiar to rat and mouse sera, with extremely high activity in the rat, and the other was specific to fetal serum. The dependence of the activity of these peaks on the cells used for the test was confirmed using normal rat lung fibroblasts and immortalized rat kidney cells. These findings adequately explain the species-specific differences in mitogenic activity of whole sera, and the variation in activity depending on the cells used for assay of DNA synthesis.