An immunohistochemical study on the distribution of histiocytes containing S-100 protein-like antigen in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma/leukemia; a preliminary report

The immunohistochemical distribution of histiocytes containing S-100 protein-like antigen in the skin lesions of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma/leukemia is investigated. Marked hyperplasia of these histiocytes is found in two cases of mycosis fungoides.We thank Prof. Y. Ishida, Gunma University School of Medicine, Dr K. Iwata, Kochi Prefectural Central Hospital, Dr M. Motoi, Okayama University Medical School, Dr H. Enzan, Kochi Medical School, for supplying the material.     

Endogenous inhibitor of ecdysone synthesis in crabs

Summary Attempts to isolate the molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH) of crustaceans from crab eyestalks (ES) resulted in the characterization of xanthurenic acid as an inhibitor of ecdysone biosynthesis in the cultured Y-organ-complex (YOC) homogenate. It was also found that 3-hydroxyl-l-kynurenine present in the ES is transformed into xanthurenic acid in the YOC and body fluid. Its mode of inhibitory action in ecdysone biosynthesis is probably inactivation of cytochrome P-450.Acknowledgments. We thank Prof. M. Oka (Nagasaki University) and Dr J. Cappuzo (Oceanographic Inst.) for information on Y-organ and molting stages, Dr J. Termini and Mr J. Cesarelli (Columbia University) for organ excision of blue crabs and experiments in the early stage of this study, the Japan Sea Farming Association for aqua culture of crabs, Prof. Y. Umebachi (Kanazawa University) for a gift of 3-OH-l-Kyn, and Mr J. Rudloe (Gulf Specimen Co.) for collection and shipping of some selected crabs. This study was partially supported by NIH grant AI 10 187 (to K. N., at Columbia University).     

Inhibitory effect of some heteropolyanions on potato virus X

Summary Heteropolyanions like 12-tungstozincic acid (i.i.), potassium 13-vanadomanganate (i.v.), potassium 13-vanadonickelate (i.v.) and sodium tungstoborate produced an inhibitory effect on potato virus X. Amongst these, tungstozincic acid was found to be the most potent.The authors are thankful to Prof. R. P. Rastogi, Head of the Chemistry Department, University of Gorakhpur for providing necessary facilities. The financial support by Council of Science and Technology, U.P., Lucknow is gratefully acknowledged.     

Sex determination in mammals — Before and after the evolution of SRY

Therian mammals (marsupials and placentals) have an XX female: XY male sex chromosome system, which is homologous to autosomes in other vertebrates. The testis-determining gene, SRY, is conserved on the Y throughout therians, but is absent in other vertebrates, suggesting that the mammal system evolved about 310 million years ago (MYA). However, recent work on the basal monotreme mammals has completely changed our conception of how and when this change occurred. Platypus and echidna lack SRY, and the therian X and Y are represented by autosomes, implying that SRY evolved in therians after their divergence from monotremes only 166 MYA. Clues to the ancestral mechanism usurped by SRY in therians are provided by the monotremes, whose sex chromosomes are homologous to the ZW of birds. This suggests that the therian X and Y, and the SRY gene, evolved from an ancient bird-like sex chromosome system which predates the divergence of mammals and reptiles 310 MYA. Received 4 March 2008; received after revision 22 April 2008; accepted 3 June 2008     

The localization of mutarotase in rat kidney

Summary The localization of mutarotase in rat kidney was investigated by fluorescein-labelled and peroxidase-labelled antibody techniques, and by method of isolation of the nuclei and cytoplasm in non-aqueous solvents. In these immunohistochemical studies, mutarotase was almost exclusively recognized in the nuclei of epithelial cells of renal tubules and glomeruli in rat. The specific activity of mutarotase was found to be 1.5 times higher in the nuclei (122 units/g dry wt) than that in the cytoplasm (80 units/g dry wt) isolated with non-aqueous solvents. These results suggest that mutarotase may be involved in the metabolism of D-glucose in nuclei.Acknowledgment. The authors thank Prof. Y. Nishizuka (Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kobe University) for his valuable advice.     

α-Adrenoceptor blocking action of hymenin,a novel marine alkaloid

Summary In the rabbit isolated aorta, hymenin (10^–6 M) a novel marine alkaloid, caused a parallel rightward shift of the dose-response curve for norepinephrine without affecting that for histamine or KCl, suggesting that hymenin is a competitive antagonist of -adrenoceptors in vascular smooth muscles.Acknowledgments. We thank Ms A. Kajiwara and Ms M. Hamashima of this institute for their technical assistance, and Prof. Y. Hirata of Meijo University for his encouragement.     

In vitro fertilization of mouse and hamster eggs after freezing and thawing

Summary Mouse eggs (12–14%) and hamster eggs (87–94%) appear normal upon thawing after having been stored for 30 min to 25 h at –70°C and –196°C. While 89–98% of the normal appearing hamster eggs are capable of fertilization in vitro, only 4–13% of the mouse eggs can be fertilized. The ability of fertilized eggs to develop in culture and their viability upon transfer to pseudopregnant recipients is under investigation.This work was supported by grants from the U.S. Public Health Service and the Ford Foundation. Sincere thanks are due to Prof.Y. Nishikawa of Kyoto University, Japan, for advice and to Mrs.Rose Bartke and Ms.D. M. Hunt for assistance.     

Intersubspecific sex chromosome difference inCitellus citellus L. (Rodentia,Sciuridae)

Summary The autosomal karyotypes of all subspecies studied ofCitellus citellus from Bulgaria do not differ. The X chromosome, by contrast, is different in 1 of the subspecies where it seems to have undergone a pericentric inversion.The authors wish to express their sincere thanks to Prof. Ts. Peshev (Sofia University, Department of Zoology) for providing and identifying the subspecies and also to D. Todorova for her skilful technical help.     

Effect of adaptation level on maintained firing and sensitivity in receptive field center of X and Y cells

Maintained firing rates of X cells and Y cells were compared at 6 adaptation levels (AL) between -2.71 log cd/m2 and 2.28 log cd/m2 (10 mm2 pupil size). X cell maintained firing was higher at all ALs and was statistically different at medium and high ones. Changes in AL had nearly identical effects upon X and Y cell suprathreshold sensitivity to a flashing spot in the center of their receptive fields; the Weber function had a slope of 0.744 for Y cells and 0.743 for X cells. These values are not statistically different.     

C-band positive W chromosome in the female Indian frog

Summary In the female Indian frog,Rana tigrina (2n=26; NF=52), the female is heterogametic. The heterochromosomes (ZW) are morphologically indistinguishable, but the W chromosome proves by C-banding analysis to be entierly heterochromatic.Acknowledgment. S.C. is grateful to Prof. G.K. Manna, Zoology Department, Kalyani University, Prof. Archana Sharma, Botany Department, Calcutta University and to Prof. T. Sharma, Zoology Department, Banarus Hindu University for encouragements. He is also thankful to Prof. D.K. Choudhuri, Burdwan University for support.     

C-banding pattern on the chromosomes of the Japanese house shrew,Suncus murinus riukiuanus,and its implication

Summary The C-band on the chromosomes of the Japanese house shrew,Suncus murinus riukiuanus (Insectivora), was studied. Various types of C-banding pattern were found in the genome of this subspecies. Such banding patterns could be useful for an understanding of autosome and sex-chromosome polymorphisms withinS. murinus.Acknowledgment. The authors are very grateful to Prof. T. Wasano of Fukuoka University for his encouragement, Dr K. Ogawa of Fukuoka University, the Nohara family for help in collecting specimens, and Prof. E.W. Jameson, Jr, University of California, Dr J.W. Bickham and his students of Texas A & M University for comments.     

Formation of carthamin by a partially purified enzyme from safflower seedlings

Summary An enzyme responsible for synthesizing carthamin from precarthamin was partially purified and the catalytic properties were investigated.Acknowledgments. The authors wish to thank Prof. A. Komamine, University of Tokyo, for reading this paper. We are indebted to Prof. A. Saito, Tokai University, for performing emission spectrochemical analysis of the enzyme protein used in this study.     

Effect of adaptation level on maintained firing and sensitivity in receptive field center of X and Y cells

Summary Maintained firing rates of X cells and Y cells were compared at 6 adaptation levels (AL) between –2.71 log cd/m² and 2.28 log cd/m² (10 mm² pupil size). X cell maintained firing was higher at all ALs and was statistically different at medium and high ones. Changes in AL had nearly identical effects upon X and Y cell suprathreshold sensitivity to a flashing spot in the center of their receptive fields; the Weber function had a slope of 0.744 for Y cells and 0.743 for X cells. These values are not statistically different.This research is supported by Public Health Service grant no. EY 00701.     

Xanthumin and 8-epi-xanthatin as insect development inhibitors fromXanthium canadense Mill.

Summary Two insect development inhibitors againstDrosophila melanogaster have been isolated from the leaves ofX. canadense and identified as xanthumin and 8-epi-xanthatin.Search for Insect Development Inhibitors in Plants, IV. Part III, Heterocycles10, 117 (1978).This investigation was supported in part by grants (No. 056141 and No. 376065) from the Ministry of Education of Japan. The authors express their sincere thanks to Prof. Junkichi Iwasa of this department for his encouragement and to Dr Kenji Uneyama, Department of Industrial Chemistry of this University, for¹³C-NMR measurements.     

Sex-peptides: seminal peptides of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis> male

Mating affects the reproductive behaviour of insect females: the egg-laying rate increases and courting males are rejected. These post-mating responses are induced mainly by seminal fluid. In Drosophila melanogaster, males transfer two peptides (sex-peptides, = Sps) that reduce receptivity and elicit increased egg laying in their mating partners. Similarities in the open reading frames of the genes suggest that they have arisen by gene duplication. In females, Sps bind to specific sites in the central and peripheral nervous system, and to the genital tract. The binding proteins of the nervous system and genital tract are membrane proteins, but they differ molecularly. The former protein is proposed to be a receptor located at the top of a signalling cascade leading to the two post-mating responses, whereas the latter is a carrier protein moving Sps from the genital tract into the haemolymph. Sps bind to sperm. Together with sperm they are responsible for the persistence of the two post-mating responses. But Sps are the molecular basis of the sperm effect; sperm is merely the carrier.Received 10 February 2003; received after revision 25 April 2003; accepted 1 May 2003This article is dedicated to the 85th birthday of the discover of the sex-peptide, Prof. Dr. Pei Shen Chen, Zoological Institute, University of Zürich, Switzerland. P. S. Chen has served on the Editorial Board of Experientia (now CMLS) from 1974 to 1988.     

Subcellular distribution of catecholamines and enzymes in human neuroblastoma

Résumé Dans 18 cas de neuroblastome humain la noradrénaline (NA) et la dopamine--hydroxylase présentent des profils de distribution intracellulaire identiques, suggérant un stockage dans la même particule. Le contenu en NA de ces particules n'est pas inférieur à celui des particules du nerf splénique; on peut en conclure qu'un stockage défectueux de NA dans les cas de neuroblastome est peu probable.

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The authors are grateful to Prof.F. Derom (Surgical Clinic, University of Ghent Medical School), Prof.R. Eeckels and Prof.E. Eggermont (Paediatric Clinic, University of Leuven Medical School), Prof.A. Lacquet and Prof.J. Gruwez (Surgical Clinic, University of Leuven Medical School), Dr.G. Delalieux, Dr.F. Delange, Dr.P. De Mol, Dr.R. Denis, Dr.R. Maurus and Dr.J. Otten (Paediatric Clinic, University of Brussels Medical School) and Dr.W. Mattheiem (Surgical Clinic, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels) for making the tumors available to them.     

Y chromosome in the sibling speciesAnopheles atroparvus (van Thiel, 1927) andA. labranchiae (Falleroni, 1926) (Diptera: Culicidae): Differential behaviour of the short arm after acid-alkaline treatment and Coriphosphine-O staining

Summary An acid-alkaline treatment followed by Coriphosphine-O staining was used for detecting chromosomal differences between the 2 sibling speciesAnopheles atroparvus (van Thiel) andA. labranchiae (Falleroni) (Diptera: Culicidae). The short arm of the Y chromosome was found to stain differently in the 2 species.The authors wish to thank the entomologist C. Contini for collecting and classifyingA. labranchiae larvae and Prof. U. Bianchi and Prof. U. Laudani for helpful discussions and suggestions on the subject.     

The effect of abrin,anti-lymphocyte globulin and their conjugates on the immune response of mice to sheep red blood cells

Summary A chemical conjugate of anti-mouse lymphocyte globulin and abrin, is about twice as effective as a similar conjugate made with normal immunoglobulin and abrin, in suppressing the ability of the mouse to respond immunologically to an injection of sheep red blood cells.Acknowledgment. We thank Dr Stuart, Society of Herbalists, London, and Prof. G.C. Clark, Dept. of Botany, University of Ghana, for gifts ofAbrus precatorius seeds, and Mrs L. Bushby for help in the preparation of the horse anti-mouse lymphocyte globulin. D.C.E. is an external member of the staff of the Wellcome Foundation Ltd.     

Localization of vitelline-coat lysin purified from testis of a top shell,Turbo cornutus

Summary The vitelline-coat lysin purified from the testis ofTurbo cornutus was found, by an immunofluorescence technique, to be located in the acrosome of the sperm, which suggested that the lysin reacts with the vitelline-coat in an early phase of fertilization to allow the sperm to penetrate through the coat.We are grateful to Professor M. Akino (Tokyo Metropolitan University) for his helpful advice.     

Glischropus tylopus,the first known old-world bat with an X-autosome translocation

Summary Glischropus tylopus shows an X-autosome translocation in which a small acrocentric chromosome has been transferred to the X. The diploid number is 30 for the females and 31 for the males. RBG banding shows that in the late replicating X of the female only the original X replicates late, the autosomal part replicates early, showing the same pattern as the corresponding autosomal Y₂ of the male. In the X chromosome, a heterochromatic band separates the autosomal from the gonosomal sequences.23 January 1987I am very grateful to Prof. R.A. Pfeiffer for giving me the opportunity to work at the Department of Human Genetics.My stay in Malaysia was supported by a grant of the DAAD.