Reoxidation of reduced hen egg white lysozyme fragment 1–123

Summary The reactivation of reduced lysozyme, whose 6 COOH-terminal amino acid including cysteine 127 were cut off, was studied. The results show that the disulfide bridge I–VIII as well as the COOH-terminal hexapeptide do not play a decisive role in the acquisition of the native 3-dimensional structure of the enzyme.Acknowledgments. The authors are grateful to Miss B. Couteaux for her help with regard to the preparation of carboxypeptidase Y. This work was supported by a Grant of the Fonds National Belge de la Recherche Fondamentale et Collective and by a grant of the Fonds Emile Defay.     

Origin and development of neuroepithelial bodies in fetal rabbit lungs

Summary Light-microscope studies concerning the embryological development of fetal rabbit lungs revealed the occurrence of argyrophilic neuroepithelial bodies in an early gestational stage (i.e. already in the glandular period and from the 18th day onwards). Their morphological characteristics and further differentiation towards birth are detailed.Supported by a grant from the Nationaal Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek — Fonds voor Geneeskundig Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (Belgium). We thank E. Swinnen. H. Van den Bosch and M.R. Van hamme for technical, G. Pison for photographical and L. Lauwers for secretarial assistance.     

Fluid and protein clearance in the rat endometrium. Part I: Ultrastructural proof of the absence of an intrinsic lymphatic system from the rat endometrium

Summary An integrated histological and ultrastructural study of the endometrial microcirculation in rats reveals that lymphatic capillaries are absent from the superficial uterine mucosa. Blood capillaries are fenestrated, and their basement membrane may be poorly developed.Supported by a grant from the Nationaal Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek-Fonds voor Geneeskundig Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (Belgium).     

The central tubuli in distal segments of olfactory cilia lack dynein arms

Summary By means of the tannic acid-glutaraldehyde fixation method, the lack of dynein bridges between the central two tubuli in distal segments of mouse olfactory cilia is demonstrated. Consequently, these organelles are supposed to be unable to beat actively, in contrast to the proximal ciliary shafts.Supported by grant Nr. 2099 from Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung.     

Fluid and protein clearance in the rat endometrium. Part II: Ultrastructural evidence for the presence of alternative,non-lymphatic clearance mechanisms in the rat endometrium

Summary In the rat endometrium, resident macrophages and exudate phagocytes ensure proteolysis by means of phagocytosis, macro-and micropinocytosis. Using exogenous tracer particles no ultrastructural evidence could be obtained for the occurrence of endometrial prelymphatics. It is suggested that the free tissue fluid may be drained via the fenestrated (probably venous) blood capillaries.Supported by a grant from the Nationaal Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek-Fonds voor Geneeskundig Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (Belgium).     

Bacteriophage T4 mutants which propagate on E. coli K12 but not on E. coli B

Summary We have isolated and characterized 2 mutants of coliphage T4 which are able to propagate on E. coli K12 but not on E. coli B. We have assigned the mutations to genes 8 and 53, both structural genes. The products of genes 8 and 53 are found in the baseplate.Supported by grant No 3.519.75 from the Fonds national Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique.     

Effect of vincristine on the ultrastructure of rat neurohypophysis

Résumé Des hypophyses postérieures de rat ont été incubées en présence de vincristine, substance qui interfère avec le système microtubulaire et provoque la formation d'inclusions cristalloides caractéristiques. L'ultrastructure a révélé ces inclusions dans les fibres nerveuses et les pituicytes. La discussion porte sur les répercussions fonctionnelles que ces altérations morphologiques pourraient entraîner.

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This work was supported by grant from the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche scientifique and by grant No. 117 grom the Fondation F. Hoffmann-La Roche.     

Microspectrography of formaldehyde and fluorescamine-induced fluorescence in rabbit pulmonary neuroepithelial bodies: Demonstration of a new,probably polypeptide intracytoplasmic substance

Summary The microspectrographic analysis of the fluorescence emitted by NEB's in gaseous formaldehyde-fixed lung tissue, posttreated with fluorescamine, revealed the presence of numerous primary amino groups which are clearly different from the serotonin identified in our earlier studies and correspond to a new, probably a polypeptide intracytoplasmic substance.Supported by a grant from the Council for Tobacco Research (USA) and the National Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (Belgium). We thank C. Armee, M.-R. Van Hamme and E. Swinnen for technical, G. Pison for photographical and N. Tyberghien for secretarial assistance.     

Depth perception by means of ambient sounds in a small mammal

Summary Golden hamsters placed on a jumping stand from which they can descend onto a shallow or deep landing platform prefer to descend on to the shallow platform, even when tested under IR-light without tactile cues. This preference disappears for subjects with plugged ears. The simultaneous recording of the animal's behaviour and possible emission of ultrasound as well as experiments in which the external acoustical conditions or the sound-reflecting properties of the jumping apparatus were altered suggest that the animals use certain parameters of the ambient sound field for depth perception. Acknowledgments. This research was supported by the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique, grant No. 3.349.74.     

Binding capacities of various analogues of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine to protein methyltransferase II from human erythrocytes.

A series of analogues of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine, modified mainly in the amino acid portion of the molecule, have been synthesized. All were found to be competitive inhibitors of protein methyltransferase II from human erythrocytes. S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine remains however by far the most effective inhibitor of the methylase.     

Is the variation in the susceptibility of various species to atherosclerosis due to inborn differences in prostacyclin (PGI2) formation?

Summary Species exhibiting a higher susceptibility to the development of atherosclerosis have a reduced prostacyclin (PGI₂)-generation in the arterial wall, which differs in various parts of the vascular system. As the difference in PGI₂-formation in various diseases is a generalized vascular effect, the changes can be detected in all vessels. This is a very important point for diagnostic purposes in humans.This study was supported by a grant of the «Fonds 600 Jahre Wiener Universität der Kammer der gewerblichen Wirtschaft für Wien».     

Studies of the behaviour of isolated cells in an open system

Summary A computer-aided arrangement was used to study the time function of lactate output of isolated intestinal epithelial cells in an open system. The results indicate better viability of the cells than in a closed system.Supported by grant no. 2134 of the Austrian Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung.     

Endocytosis and inositol hexakisphosphate levels inras transformants ofDictyostelium discoideum amoebae

Summary Fluid-phase pinocytosis kinetics and lysosomal enzyme secretion parameters were measured inDictyostelium discoideum amoebae constructed from strain AX3 by transformation with a multicopy plasmid carrying either a normalras gene (ras-Gly12), a mutatedras gene (ras-Thr12) or by the vector carrying the geneticin resistance gene only (pDNEO2). It was found that the pinocytosis rate and extent as well as the lysosomal enzyme secretion were slightly different in the three strains. These changes, however, were related to minor modifications of the cellular volumes. The overall concentration of inositol hexakisphosphate was similar in the three strains.This work was supported in part by a grant from the Ligue Nationale Française contre le Cancer (n^o 880258) to MS, and by a grant from the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique (No. 3.623-087) to CR.     

Lucibufagins,IV. New defensive steroids and a pterin from the firefly,Photinus pyralis (coleoptera: Lampyridae)

Summary Two new defensive steroids (lucibufagins6 and7) and a fluorescent pterin (8) have been isolated and characterized from the fireflyPhotinus pyralis.Acknowledgment. We are grateful to the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique (bourse de relève to M.G.). Partial support of this work by the NIH (grants No. AI 12020 and AI 02908), the NSF (grant No. PCM-77-25807), and the American Heart Association is acknowledged with pleasure. Paper No. 66 of the series Defense Mechanism of Arthropods.     

Seasonal changes in the electrical parameters of the small intestine,colon and bladder mucosa of land tortoises (Testudo hermanni hermanni Gmelin)

Summary During hibernation of tortoises, a marked decrease in the short-circuit current together with an increase in the electrical resistance are observed across the small intestine, colon and bladder mucosa and D-aldosterone (which is decreased in the plasma) has no effect on these parameters.Acknowledgments. This work has been aided by grant No. 2.4544.76 from the Fonds de la Recherche Fondamentale Collective attributed to Prof. E. Schoffeniels.     

Platelet aggregation by Thrombofax®. Studies on the mechanism of action

Résumé Le Thrombofax Ortho provoque l'agrégation des plaquettes humaines (ainsi que celles du chien, du cobaye et du rat) suite à la libération d'ADP endoplaquettaire. La¹⁴C-sérotonine et le facteur plaquettaire 4 sont aussi libérés au cours de la réaction. La fraction active du produit semble résider dans les acides gras libres.

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Supported in part by grant No. 1216 of the Fonds voor Geneeskundig Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Brussels.     

Role of sex pheromone,and its insignificance for heterosexual and homosexual behaviour of larch bud moth

Zusammenfassung Das Geschlechtspheromon des LärchenwicklersZeiraphera diniana wird in einer Drüse des Weibchens an der Basis des Ovipositors produziert und scheint mittrans-11-Tetradecenylacetat identisch zu sein. Das Pheromon ist ausschliesslich Lockstoff mit Distanzwirkung und ist für die Kopulation bedeutungslos. Diese wird unter bestimmten Umweltsbedingungen durch rein optische Stimuli ausgelöst. Da die Männchen nicht streng zwischen den Geschlechtern unterscheiden können, kommen homosexuelle Kopulationen vor.

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Contribution Nr. 47 of the research team for the investigation of the population dynamics of the larch bud moth. The reserch was aided by a grant of the Swiss National Fonds for Scientific Research.     

Clarification of the osmiophilic granules of the rat pinealocytes byp-chlorophenylalanin

Résumé L'administration de PCPA, un inhibiteur de la synthèse de la sérotonine et de la mélatonine, entraîne la clarification des granules osmiophiles de l'épiphyse du rat blanc. Cette observation est en faveur de l'hypothèse selon laquelle la sérotonine et la mélatonine sont des constituants des granules osmiophiles. De plus, plusieurs hypothèses sont proposées pour expliquer l'augmentation des lysosomes primaires constatée parallèlement à la clarification des granules.

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This work was supported by a grant from the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche scientifique.     

Specificity of antibodies to arginine-vasopressin raised with succinylated poly-l-lysine as carrier

Résumé Des anticorps dirigés contre l'arginine-vasopressine ont été obtenus chez le lapin après immunisation avec un copolymère ramifié de poly-l-lysine succinylée et d'arginine-vasopressine. La spécificité de ces anticorps est remarquable puisque non seulement l'on n'observe pratiquement pas de réaction croisée avec l'oxytocine, mais en plus leur affinité pour la lysine-vasopressine est environ 35 fois plus faible que pour l'arginine-vasopressine.

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Supported by grant No. 4768.3 of the Fonds National Suisse pour la Recherche scientifique.     

Peroxidase as biochemical measure of fresh weight and sugar yield in sugar-beet

Résumé L'activité peroxydasique est toujours nettement plus élevée dans les tubercules de populations de Betterave caractérisés par un poids frais moyen peu élevé et par une forte teneur en sucre. Cette corrélation est décelable dans les plantules de quelques jours: elle peut donc servir de critère biochimique de sélection.

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Work supported by the S. A. Société européenne de Semences, Tienen and the Fonds de la Recherche Fondamentale Collective (grant No. 998).