Zur Frage der Alternsforschung

Summary Starting from the social problem of increasing average age, the aims and methods of modern research on ageing are discussed. They are based on experiment and observation of the ageing processes over the whole span of life from birth to death, corresponding to the shifting of the steady state characterising the living. Here, the energy economy of the organism, the maintenance of the biopotentials and the biotone are of special importance. The energy requirement is measured by means of the basal metabolism, this depending on the size of the organism. In this connection, the hypothesis ofRubner concerning the constancy of the amount of energy convertible per individual is discussed. Further considerations are given to the course of the ageing processes, whether of single organs or of a population of organisms. The survival statistics of the latter may be interpreted according toPütter as the result of the combat between damage and resistance. The connection between the change of adaptive and regenerative capacity and the diseases of old age is mentioned. Finally, the psychological and mental aspects are emphasised. In addition to statistical studies on senescence, prolonged observation on single individuals is afforded and suitable tests to follow the ageing processes have to be elaborated.

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Einführendes Referat anlässlich des Symposiums der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Gerontologie vom 11. Dezember 1954 in Basel (Vorsitz Prof.Verzár). Referate der Vorträge siehe Schweiz. med. Wschr.85, 686 (1955).     

Zur Frage der Natur der Ablagerungen in den Gichtknoten

Summary A gout-tophus, which we examined by X-rays and micro-crystallographic methods was definitely proved to be a deposit of monosodiumurate-monohydrate in the form of crystals which could just be detected under the microscope.     

Zur Frage der Natur der Ablagerungen in den Gichtknoten

Summary The spectrum of the aurora of April 17, 1947, exhibited again the forbidden line 5199 Å of the nitrogen atom and confirmed the long duration of this excitation calculated on the basis of theory at 5 hours.     

Zur Frage der thermoelastischen Eigenschaften des Nerven

Summary The thermo-elastic properties of nerve have been studied by measurements of the change in length caused by changes in temperature. The thermal coefficient (per °C) of linear expansion, always positive in sign, is of the order of 10^–4 for intact nerve and 10^–5 for dissected nerve.     

Zur Frage der Indolyl-3-acetaldehyd-Mutase in Mikroorganismen

Summary No evidence of the existence of a single indoleacetaldehyde mutase in microorganisms is available. Different results from studies on living cultures and cell-free extracts ofEndomycopsis vernalis, Hansenula anomala, Torulopsis utilis andAgrobacterium tumefaciens indicate the participation of 2 different enzymes: an aldehyde dehydrogenase and an aldehyde reductase.     

Zur Frage der Markierung einzelner Nervenzellen durch Mikroelektroden

Summary A method of electrophoretical marking of individual neurons with methylene blue by means of a glass micropipette (used in electrophysiology) is described. In combination with a new histological crushing technique, cytochemical analysis of whole undamaged cells thus marked can be correlated with electrophysiological findings in the same neuron.     

Zur Frage der glomerulären Permeation höhermolekularer Proteine

Summary Haptoglobin and isoagglutinin were found in the urine of diabetic patients, and their renal excretion was higher in patients with diabetic angiopathy. It is concluded from these results (the biological activity of the two polypeptides in urine was intact) that the mechanism of proteinuria can perhaps be explained only by an extension of pores of the renal glomerular filter.     

Zur Frage der genetischen Änderung eines Ascites-Hepatoms der Ratte durch Heterotransplantation auf chinesische Hamster

Summary Heterotransplantation of the rat hepatoma of Zajdela into golden hamsters, mice and Chinese hamsters has induced virtually no change in the neoplasm. The host tissues have shown, however, a 1% increase in their own mitoses, which is attributed to growth stimulation by the tumor.     

Zur Frage der Wirkung von DTPA auf Säugerchromosomen in vitro

Summary The influence of DTPA on the chromosome aberration rate of Chinese hamster cells in culture was studied. No increase of the aberration rate was observed after treatment with 10^–2 and 10^–3 M concentrations.     

Zur Frage einer antagonistischen Wirkung von Herzglykosiden und Nebennierensteroiden am Kationentransport der Erythrocytenmembran

Summary Previous experiments indicating antagonistic effects of cardiac glycosides and corticosteroids on ion transport in red cells and published independently from our own laboratories¹ and byBernstein ² could not be repeated under a variety of experimental conditions.     

Zur Frage der Neubildung von Primordialfollikeln aus dem Keimepithel während der Geschlechtsreife im menschlichen Ovar

Summary Findings in the human ovary confirmed the fact already pointed out in animal ovaries that under the influence of oestrogens the germinal epithelium is capable of forming new oocytes. Whether the germinal epithelium of the mature woman can form new oocytes under normal conditions cannot be determined as yet, but the present findings allow the conclusion that neo-oogenesis during the reproductive period of women seems possible. Further investigations, now in progress, are required to determine this possibility.     

Zur Frage der Verteilung von Radiolutetium (177Lu) im Organismus der Maus bei unterschiedlicher Applikationsart

Summary The authors describe the absorption, distribution, and excretion of¹⁷⁷LuCl₃ following subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injection of 4 μC¹⁷⁷Lu in mice over a period of 30 days after injection. This isotope shows certain differences in its biological behaviour opposite to the light rare earthes such as lanthanum, cerium etc.      

Zur Frage des Angriffspunktes des Thiouracil

Summary The mechanism of action of thiouracil and thiourea was investigated on Xenopus tadpoles. Both substances are able to stop metamorphotic changes if administered early enough. Characteristic disturbances occur in the epithelium of the thyroid follicles after only 24 hours. The action of these substances over a period of several weeks may lead to goitre. In the pituitary anterior lobe, on the other hand, the same characteristic changes take place in the basophilic cells as after thyroidectomy. The thyroid structure of hypophysectomised tadpoles corresponds to that of untreated hypophysectomised animals. Thiourea and thiouracil do not inhibit the thyroxine effect on thyroidectomised and hypophysectomised tadpoles. These findings indicate that the point of attack of thiouracil and thiourea lies in the follicular epithelium of the thyroid, and thus supportAstwood's hypothesis.     

Zur Frage des pH-Optimums des Pepsins

Summary Natural and purified proteins were split by crystallized pepsin. The break down of substrates was followed by a turbidimetric method. pH optima were found from 1.5 to 3.8. Only unpurified egg albumin had two optima, crystallin had one in the acid range. Ovomucoid not being split by pepsin, the second peak at pH 3.79 is referred to conalbumin. While the disintegration of caseinogen becomes slow with decreasing acidity, this is not true for casein (paracasein) which is well split up to pH 3.28 (cows casein) or 3,73 (womens casein). Nevertheless, the optimum is in the range of 1.5–2.0, like most proteins. Above this limit, the following optima were found: fibrinogen 2.93, thrombin 2.78, edestin 3.08, crystallized hemoglobin 3.19, conalbumin 3.79.     

Beitrag zur Frage der Eisenresorption

Summary In rabbits whose intestinal tract has been sterilised by means of penicilline and terramycine, there is no detectable iron resorption, even when the animals are made anaemic.Iron resorption can be restored by means of addition of terramycine-resistentE. coli or Enterococci to the diet.     

Zur Frage des Vorkommens von N-Nitroso-Verbindungen im Tabakrauch

Summary Important facts in connection with the occurrence of N-Nitroso compounds in tobacco smoke have been summarized. This paper reports on analytical methods for the identification of N-Nitroso compounds. The figures known about nitrate content and volatile bases of tobacco, as well as the nitrogen oxides and volatile bases of tobacco smoke as precursors of N-Nitroso compounds, are summarized. The third order reaction of secondary amines with an equimolar mixture of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide is a precondition for the formation of N-Nitroso compounds in tobacco smoke. While examining tobacco smoke for N-Nitroso compounds, temperature and time conditions have to be adapted to the natural smoking process. The use of solvent as well as cold traps has to be avoided to exclude the formation of artifacts. Analyses completed under these conditions furnished results of 0.004µg of a mixture consisting of N-Nitroso-dimethylamine and N-Nitroso-pyrrolidine, calculated as N-NO per cigarette. A number of animalexperimental preconditions are still lacking, to judge the biological effects of these extraordinarily small amounts of N-Nitroso compounds.     

Experimenteller Beitrag zur Frage der Mitochondrienfunktion

Summary In the phase microscope it can be seen that cloudy swelling is the consequence of an enlargement of the mitochondria, whereby the membrane of the mitochondria is detached from the body of the mitochondrion. An increased water intake seems to be the reason of this phenomenon.The intraperitoneal injection of hen egg albumen is followed after several hours by an accumulation of hyaline droplets in the protoplasma of the renal tubule cells. The PM reveals that this foreign protein is stored within the mitochondria, which are converted into brilliant granules. The same is true for the accumulation of vital dyes in kidney tubule cells, but in this case there is a combination of the dye with protein deriving from a slight lesion of the cells.     

Zur Frage der Beziehungen zwischen enddiastolischem Ventrikeldruck unddp/dt bzw.d 2 p/dt 2 der Ventrikeldruckkurve des Herzens

Summary Correlations between left ventricular enddiastolic pressure of the heart and first and second derivation of left ventricular pressure curve (dp/dt, d ² p/dt ² respectively) were examined at various hemodynamic conditions. The results showed only a particular dependence ofdp/dt andd ² p/dt ² from enddiastolic pressure. Therefore, it is concluded, that enddiastolic pressure is not the most important factor, which influences the dynamics of ventricular contraction.     

Beitrag zur Frage der Entstehung mehrkerniger Zellen

Summary The author describes the origin of 2 daughter cells of HeLa cellular line: one double nuclear and the other single nuclear cell. Both cells origined by the mitotic division of the single nuclear mother cell without any artificial treatment. The observation is documented by the series of partial photographs of the time-lapse cine-film.     

Zur Methodik der Gefrierschnitt-Mikroautoradiographie

Summary A microautoradiographic technique for frozen sections is described. The method makes it possible to follow the distribution of inhaled radon in the organism with high degree of accuracy. After inhaling radon, the mice were killed and stored in liquid air (freezing method ofRajewsky ⁹). The organ sections (5µ thick) were prepared by means of a freezing microtome in the Kryostat. A thin fixing and protecting layer of chromic alum gelatine was placed between the tissue-sections and the photographic emulsion. The exposure took place in an atmosphere of nitrogen.