Elaunin fibres in the basement membrane of sweat gland secretory coil are rich in disulfide-groups

Summary Disulfide-groups of elaunin fibres of sweat gland basement membrane are demonstrated a) by thiosulfation/aldehyde-fuchsin staining or thiosulfation/Alcian Blue+0.8 M MgCl₂ staining, and b) by identifying SH-groups after reduction with sodiumthioglycollate. Elaunin fibres share this staining behaviour with elastic fibre microfibrils and with oxytalan fibres.     

Zur Histochemie der Gliafaser

Summary Histochemical investigations (periodate-Schiff reaction, lead-tetra-acetate-Schiff reaction, chromic acid-Schiff reaction, acetylation-, deacetylation-, and bromination-test) of neuroglial fibres from human brain and spinal cord indicate, that these proteinic fibres contain a small amount of prosthetic carbohydrate. The weak periodate reactivity of the glial fibres is due to -glycol groups and not to -oxy-amino-acids.     

Structural changes of deoxyribonucleoprotein fibres following γ-irradiation under aerobic and hypoxic conditions

Summary The DNP fibres -irradiated under aerobic condition showed a reduction of their diameter, while no remarkable changes were observed in the DNP fibres irradiated under hypoxic condition by scanning electron microscopy.     

A histochemical study of denervated marsupial hemidiaphragm

Summary The marsupial (quokka) hemidiaphragm showed postdenervation hypertrophy and subsequent atrophy. The type II muscle fibres hypertrophied up to 20 days postoperation and then regressed. However, the type I fibres hypertrophied throughout the experimental period (100 days) studied. Unlike denervated eutherian hemidiaphragm, fibre-splitting was absent in the denervated marsupial muscle. An enhancement of the ATPase reaction in the denervated type I fibres may be due to dedifferentiation. Presumably innervation exerts a negative control and prevents increase of type I fibre size in the normal hemidiaphragm.I am grateful to Dr O.M. Sola and Professor B.A. Kakulas for their help and encouragement.     

Giant collagen fibres in the gonopodium of the mosquitofishHeteradria formosa,Agassiz, 1853 (Pisces,Poeciliidae)

Summary The gonopodium of the mosquitofishHeteradria formosa was studied by transmission electron microscopy. In cross-section the gonopodium shows the following structure from the outside inwards: mutilayered epidermis, basal lamina and central supporting tissue, in which vessels and nerves are embedded. At the top of the gonopodium giant collagen fibres are found, which measure up to 150 m in length and 6 m in diameter. These fibres reinforce the gonopodium.This research was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Address for reprints: Forschungsgruppe Dermatologie der Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, D-6900 Heidelberg.     

The potential independent series resistance in rat ventricular fibres

Summary Current clamp experiments performed in rat ventricular fibres revealed the presence of a resistance Rs (between 14.5 and 15.5 K) in series with the membrane capacity. Rs behaved as a lumped resistance and its value remained constant throught the action potential repolarization phase.This work was supported in part by grants from D. G. R. S. T. and C. N. R. S.     

Studies of a key protein in the mechanism of the excitation-contraction coupling process of frog skeletal muscle,using phenylglyoxal

The excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling process in single twitch fibres from frog toe muscle was inhibited selectively by phenylglyoxal (PGO), a specific guanidyl modifying reagent. A new protein (31.5 kDa), which has PGO-binding ability and seems to play a key role in the E-C coupling process, was solubilized from transverse tubule membrane-junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum complexes (TTM-JSR) of frog skeletal muscles, using¹⁴C-PGO. The monoclonal antibody against this protein applied extracellularly inhibited the E-C coupling process of the single fibres. This protein appears to constitute the very first step of input for E-C coupling. It is considered to behave as an indispensable part of an electrometer to measure membrane potentials. Therefore, the name electrometrin is suggested for the new protein.     

A correlation of responses of the resistance and capacitance vessels of the intestine and kidney to changes of impulse in postganglionic nerves under pressor reflexes

Summary The responses of resistance vessels of the intestine and kidney were induced by high amplitude impulses (over 15 V), while those of capacitance vessels in these organs were induced by low amplitude impulses (15 V and lower) of postganglionic sympathetic fibres.     

Prostaglandin E2 increases mechanically evoked potentials in the peripheral nerve

Summary Subdermal injections of PGE₂ (5 g) in the rat foot lead to increases in the potentials evoked in sensory nerve branches by the mechanical stimulation of the skin. This sensitization of both A and C fibres complements the previously described hyperalgesic effects of prostaglandins of the E series.     

Studies on muscle fibre splitting in skeletal muscle

Summary Autoradiographic, stereological and histological studies have been carried out to determine the origin of muscle fibre splitting which supposedly occurs during muscle hypertrophy. The results obtained clearly indicate that the supposedly split fibres are a transient response probably derived from satellite cells and are not derived from pre-existing fibres by true splitting. Similarly, increases in muscle fibre size are not achieved by recruitment of satellite structures as indicated by lack of myonuclear recruitment.Acknowledgment. This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the Medical Research Council of Great Britain. The authors are grateful for the excellent technical assistance of Miss H. Caulton, M.J. Wild and M. Fenner.     

Immunocytochemical localization of hyperglycemic hormone (HGH) in the neurosecretory system of the eyestalk of the crayfishAstacu leptodactylus

Summary Hyperglycemic hormone (HGH) fromAstacus leptodactylus can be visualized by an immunocytochemical procedure using a specific antiserum against HGH and the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase (PAP) method. HGH containing cells are localized in the most distal portion of the x-organ in the medulla terminalis. Their cell diameter is about 47±7 m; the nucleus measures about 22±2 m. They form a subgroup of neurosecretory cell type 1, already described for the crayfish. A large amount of this HGH material is homogeneously stored in the sinus gland. A group of fibres in the x-organ — sinus gland — tractus can be followed, due to their positive reaction with the PAP-reagent.     

Blocking by picrotoxin of nigra-evoked inhibition of neurons of ventromedial nucleus of the thalamus

Summary The transmitter substance released by nigro-thalamic fibres is proposed to be -aminobutyric acid, since picrotoxin blocked nigra-evoked monosynaptic inhibition of thalamic neurons.Supported by grants Nos 212009 and 311410 from Ministry of Education of Japan.The authors wish to thank Dr Marjorie Anderson, University of Washington, Seattle, for improving the English.     

Evidence for cross bridge slippage in a stretched muscle fibre

Summary Bundles of glycerol-extracted psoas fibres which were contracted by immersion in a saline containing 15 mM MgATP and 12 M free Ca⁺⁺ were subjected to up to 3 stretches (rise time 0.8 msec) each of amplitude 1% L_i at intervals of 10 msec. The elastic tension responses to these stretches were all of comparable size and the peak tensions reached during the stretches were in each case followed by a rapid tension decline almost to the tension values before the stretches. This indicates that stretch-induced detachment and reattachment of cross bridges to the actin filament occurred within 10 msec (slippage).Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, grant Ru 154/12. The editorial assistance of Mr D.J. Williams is gratefully acknowledged.     

Paramyosin-Struktur und Sperrtonus,Untersuchungen am Byssusretraktor vonMytilus edulis mit dem Interferenz-Kontrast-Mikroskop

Summary Surviving muscle fibres of a molluscan smooth muscle (ABRM) in catch exhibit a characteristic pattern of longitudinal stripes when examined with theNomarski technique (Differential interference contrast). The pattern appears to be due to aggregated paramyosin-filaments; it disappears after abolishing the catch with 5-hydroxytryptamine or — in freeze-dried preparation — after raising the pH of the ATP-salt solution.     

The role of muscle in determining growth and size in teleost fish

Summary Rapid growth to large size in fish results from a sustained recruitment of new fibres into their axial series of myomeres. Cessation of recruitment at a small fish size leads to slow growth and a small final size of the fish. Fibre growth dynamics of fishes evidently govern growth and size through fibres' surface area to length ratios, which control their nutrient assimilation rates.     

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) occurs in nerves of the pineal gland

Summary Nerves staining with antibodies against vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were detected in the pineal gland of the rabbit, cat and pig. VIP nerves were numerous in the cat but few in the rabbit and pig. A particularly rich VIP nerve supply was noted in the pineal stalk of the cat. The nerves were predominantly located around small blood vessels. Occasionally, nerve fibres were seen in the glandular parenchyma without obvious relation to blood vessels.Grant support from the Swedish Medical Research Council (04X-4499).     

Ectopic human chorionic gonadotropin in breast carcinoma

Summary Immunoreactive human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was found in 9 of 65 surgically removed malignant breast tumors. Concentrations ranged from 5 to greater than 500 mIU hCG/g tumor. hCG was measured by a -chain specific radioimmunoassay. In further study of these specimens, an immunoperoxidase staining technique was used to stain for hCG in formalin-fixed sections. The hCG was shown to be localized within the cytoplasm and on the surface of the malignant cells.     

Elektrophysiologische Untersuchungen an der Seitenlinie vonXenopus laevis

Summary Electrophysiological recording of the spontaneous activity from a single group of lateral sense organs on the abdomen ofXenopus laevis results in a more or less regular series of large spikes, either all of the same height or of two different sizes (each group is innervated by two large lateralis fibres). Mechanical stimulation of such a group may cause a rise or a fall of spontaneous impulse frequency. There is evidence for a two-directional sensitivity of the same unit (nerve fibre) from a single group, out of the middle as well as out of the dorsal lateral line.     

Hundert Jahre Schweizer-Reagens

Summary Cuprammonia as a solvent for cellulose was discovered a hundred years ago byEduard Schweizer, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Zurich, and the heterogeneous swelling of plant fibres with this reagent was described in the same year byCarl Cramer, Professor of Botany at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology then recently founded. Both discoveries were published in the Vierteljahrsschrift der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft Zürich 1857 and early 1858.     

Neurosecretory products diversity in the pars intercerebralis of insects

Summary The pars intercerebralis of insect brain, which has numerous physiological functions, contains more neurosecretory cell types than previously thought. There are 2 distinct types among the A cells. In addition to these cells, there are azocarminophilic cells, the C(r) cells, which are not apparent when using classical staining methods.