Red cell metabolism in red and grey kangaroos

Summary Glucose utilization, lactate production and glutathione regeneration were measured in the red blood cells of 2 species of Australian Marsupials, Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus gigantus) and red kangaroo (Macropus rufus), and were found to be significantly lower in the red blood cells from grey than that of red kangaroos.The author wishes to thank Mrs T. Stephens, M. A. Gruca and A. Mulley for help in blood collection and laboratory work. This work was supported by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.     

Evolution of vasopressins in marsupials: a new hormone, phenypressin (Phe2-Arg8-vasopressin), present in the Macropodidae

A duplication of the pressor hormone has been found in some marsupials, either American species belonging to the family Didelphidae or Australian species belonging to the family Macropodidae. Two pressor peptides, lysine vasopressin and phenypressin (Phe2-Arg8-vasopressin) have been chemically identified in the red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) and the Tammar (Macropus eugenii). In contrast, the brush-tailed Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), a species belonging to the family Phalangeridae, has a single pressor hormone, arginine vasopressin. Because this latter hormone was also found in a prototherian species, the Echidna, it might be assumed that it is the product of a primitive gene and that a duplication and subsequent mutations led to lysine vasopressin and phenypressin in Macropodidae.     

Distribution of tunichrome and vanadium in sea squirt blood cells sorted by flow cytometry

Specialized blood cells of many tunicates accumulate high concentrations of vanadium and phenolic peptide pigments called tunichromes (TC). In order to determine whether V and TC reside in the same cells, Ascidia nigra and Ascidia ceratodes blood cell subpopulations were isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (flow cytometry) and chemically analyzed. V was found in the spherical, green/grey signet ring cells, and to a lesser degree in the mulberry-shaped, yellow/green morula cells (MRs), whereas free TC was detected mainly in MRs.     

Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase in the red blood cells of GSH-normal and GSH-deficient sheep

Levels of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were measured in the red blood cells of glutathione(GSH)-normal and GSH-deficient sheep. There were no significant differences in any of the 3 enzyme activities measured in the 2 groups of sheep. Also, there was no relationship between GSH level and the enzyme activity. These results suggest that inspite of large differences in GSH levels, the red blood cells from GSH-normal and GSH-deficient Merino sheep appear to have similar response to oxidative stress against which GSH is credited to play a major role.     

Rhythms of enzymatic activity in maternal and umbilical cord blood

The 24-h activity patterns of variouns enzymes were determined in human serum, red blood cells and white blood cells of maternal and umbilical cord blood. Blood was drawn from the brachial vein of mothers and from the umbilical cord within ten minutes after delivery. Corresponding blood specimens were obtained from 83 spontaneous labors, occurring at different hours over a period of 60 days. For each variable (variable=activity of a specific enzyme in one of the blood components) the results were grouped according to delivery hour, forming a 24-h pattern which was analyzed to elucidate time dependency. Five out of six corresponding maternal and fetal variables were similar with regard to pattern and peak time. The activity rhythms of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and glucose phosphate isomerase in red blood cells of mothers and fetuses possessed a significant bimodal pattern. The activity rhythms of the latter enzyme in white blood cells and sera exhibited a significant 24-h period. Hexosaminidase activity exhibited a distinct 24-h rhythm in maternal white blood cells, but no significant rhythm could be detected in the fetal white blood cells. The activity of hexosaminidase showed, identical 24-h patterns in maternal and cord serum when analyzed by best fit cosine, and no significant time-dependency when analyzed by ANOVA.     

31P-NMR study on nucleotides and intracellular pH of hereditary spherocytes.

As determined by 31p-NMR spectroscopy, intracellular pH of hereditary spherocytes was lower (pH 6.7-6.9) than that of normal red cells. The level of adenosine diphosphate in hereditary spherocytes was found to be persistently high. The metabolism of nucleotides and other phosphoryl compounds in human red blood cells have been studied in detail by 31p-MNR spectroscopy. However, to our knowledge, there seems to be no report describing the result of 31p-NMR spectroscopy on red blood cells from hereditary spherocytosis.     

Rhythms of enzymatic activity in maternal and umbilical cord blood.

The 24-h activity patterns of various enzymes were determined in human serum, red blood cells and white blood cells of maternal and umbilical cord blood. Blood was drawn from the brachial vein of mothers and from the umbilical cord within ten minutes after delivery. Corresponding blood specimens were obtained from 83 spontaneous labors, occurring at different hours over a period of 60 days. For each variable (variable = activity of a specific enzyme in one of the blood components) the results were grouped according to delivery hour, forming a 24-h pattern which was analyzed to elucidate time dependency. Five out of six corresponding maternal and fetal variables were similar with regard to pattern and peak time. The activity rhythms of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and glucose phosphate isomerase in red blood cells of mothers and fetuses possessed a significant bimodal pattern. The activity rhythms of the latter enzyme in white blood cells and sera exhibited a significant 24-h period. Hexosaminidase activity exhibited a distinct 24-h rhythm in maternal white blood cells, but no significant rhythm could be detected in the fetal white blood cells. The activity of hexosaminidase showed, identical 24-h patterns in maternal and cord serum when analyzed by best fit cosine, and no significant time-dependency when analyzed by ANOVA.     

Étude de la compétition antigénique chez des souris thymectomisées à la naissance

Summary The injection of horse red blood cells into the mouse 4 days before immunization with sheep red blood cells produces an inhibition of the primary response against sheep red blood cells. If the animal is thymectomized at birth, this antigenic competition does not occur. These findings do not permit a choice between the two hypotheses about antigenic competition.     

Biochemical polymorphism and the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in the sheep red blood cells

Summary There was no significant difference in the level of 2,3-DPG in the red blood cells of sheep of different haemoglobin types (Hb A and Hb B) or potassium types (HK and LK). However, low glutathione (GSH^L) sheep had significantly higher (p<0.01) level of 2,3-DPG in their red blood cells than high glutathione (GSH^H) sheep. There was also significant effect of interactions between glutathione, haemoglobin and potassium types (p<0.05) and glutathione and haemoglobin types (p<0.01) on red cell 2,3-DPG levels.     

Erythrocytäre Anionenkonzentrationen bei renaler Insuffizienz

Summary In chronic renal insufficiency, concentrations of chloride and inorganic phosphate in human red blood cells are elevated. There is no correlation between serum non-protein nitrogen and the anionic concentrations of red blood cells. Positive correlations exist between corresponding cellular and extracellular anionic concentrations.     

31P-NMR study on nucleotides and intracellular pH of hereditary spherocytes

Summary As determined by³¹p-NMR spectroscopy, intracellarar pH of hereditary spherocytes was lower (pH 6.7–6.9) than that of normal red cells. The level of adenosine diphosphate in hereditary spherocytes was found to be persistently high. The metabolism of nucleotides and other phosphoryl compounds in human red blood cells have been studied in detail by³¹p-NMR spectroscopy^1–3. However, to our knowledge, there seems to be no report describing the result of³¹p-NMR spectroscopy on red blood cells from hereditary spherocytosis.     

Ropalocytosis in acute leukemia

Summary Unusual club-shaped processes have been seen in the lymphoblasts in the peripheral blood of case of untreated acute leukemia. These arose from a single area of the cell surface and appeared identical to the morphologic change seen in ropalocytosis in red cells. Red cells in the peripheral blood were also affected.     

A highly active glutathione peroxidase in red blood cells of normal and acatalasemic mice

The activities of catalase (E.C.1.11.1.6) and glutathione peroxidase (E.C.1.11.1.9) were compared in red blood cells from humans, ducks and normal and acatalasemic mice. In the cells from both strains of mice, an equally high activity of GSH-Px was found which could be inhibited completely by iodoacetate but was not sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide.     

Receptors for polymerized albumin on liver cells.

By the use of rabbit polymerized albumin labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate, or coated on sheep red blood cells, specific receptors on rabbit liver cells were demonstrated. The possible biological role of these receptors is discussed.     

Red blood cell glycolysis and potassium type in sheep

Summary Based on the observations made on human and dog red blood cells, it was recently proposed that the response of red cell glycolysis to variations in the levels of specific cations is an evolutionary adaptation in response to a specific cellular environment. We have now examined the effect of K⁺ and Na⁺ on the activity of pyruvate kinase (PK) in the red blood cells from 2 genetically different types of sheep high potassium (HK) and low potassium (LK). The results indicate that K⁺ stimulate glucose consumption and the activity of PK in both types of sheep. It thus appears that red cell PK from LK sheep does not fit into the concept of cellular environment and PK activity.This work was supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti New South Wales Foundation and the Helena Rubenstein Foundation, Inc.     

Erythrophagocytosis by cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with hereditary metabolic disorders

Phagocytosis of native allogenic red blood cells was observed in cultures of skin fibroblasts obtained from patients with neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis, Niemann-Pick disease type C and morbus Fabry. Occasional phagocytizing cells were observed in 9 other syndromes. Cells from three normal donors did not phagocytize.     

Effects of loading density on cafish blood

Summary Results from this study indicate that a fish density stress syndrome exists for red blood cell morphology. Smaller (by 3.5%) and rounder (by 0.6%) red blood cells were consistently found in intensive fish cultures.Acknowledgments. This work was conducted as part of the Federal Interagency Energy/Environmental Research and Development Program with funds administered through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Contract No. EPA-IAG-D8-E721-DR, TVA Contract No. TV-41967A). Dr Ralph H. Brooks and Billy G. Isom are acknowledged for making this study possible. The data were kindly donated by Dr R.W. Williams and W.E. Barksdale, both formerly with the Department of Biology, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama.     

Änderung des Glukosetransports frischer menschlicher Erythrozyten bei längerer Inkubation

Summary Incubation of fresh defibrinated blood at 37°C increases the volume of red cells and decreases their permeation rate for glucose. The kinetics of sugar transport show direct proportionality between rate and the osmotic content of red cells. The measured volume changes and the changes of osmotic content calculated from the glucose permeation curves are in good agreement. Adenosine reconstitutes the increased volume and the decreased permeation rate in red cells. Therefore the decrease in permeation rate is explained by the increase in volume.     

Arylsulfatase in coelomocytes of Holothuria polii

Holothuria polii coelomocytes possess arylsulfatase enzymes. Two pH optima were found for arylsulfatase activity in cell lysate preparations, one at pH 5.0 and the other at pH 5.8. Both increased after injection of zymosan particles or formalinized sheep red blood cells (fSR-BC), indicating an active role of the enzymes during phagocytosis of particulate substances. Under a light microscope, the acid hydrolase arylsulfatase were localized in the granules of spherula cells, and therefore considered lysosomal in nature.     

Beziehung zwischen Nebenniere und aktivem Kationentransport

Summary The active sodium transport through the membrane of coldstored red cells of adrenalectomised rats is significantly decreased, whereas the rate of active exchange of potassium is not influenced by adrenalectomy. Cardiac glycosides likewise slow down only the active sodium exchange in the blood of both the normal and adrenalectomised animals in contrast to their action on human red cells.