Immunocytochemical localization of GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone) systems in the brain of a marine teleost fish,the sole

Summary The GnRH system was studied in the brain of the sole by immunocytochemistry (peroxidase-antiperoxidase method) (PAP) using antibodies to synthetic salmon GnRH (s-GnRH). Two centers containing immunoreactive cell bodies were observed in the forebrain, one located at the junction between the olfactory bulbs and the telencephalon and the other in the preoptic area. Numerous immunoreactive fibers were found, especially in the telencephalon, hypothalamus, pituitary, optic tectum and retina.     

Glutamine synthetase activity during mouse brain development

The specific activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) in mouse brain was 2-fold higher in the olfactory bulbs than in other regions. After birth, the specific activity of GS increased more rapidly in medulla oblongata and in olfactory bulbs, than in cerebral and cerebellar cortex. The activity of GS in primary cultures of brain hemispheres increased more slowly than in homogenates of whole brains. However, when astroblasts were treated in vitro with glucocorticoids or mouse brain extracts, GS activity reached 4 times the level measured in the homogenate of an adult mouse brain. We conclude that levels of GS activity may relate to the maturation of astrocytes, and propose that GS may be used as a marker of astrocytic maturation.     

Glutamine synthetase activity during mouse brain development

Summary The specific activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) in mouse brain was 2-fold higher in the olfactory bulbs than in other regions. After birth, the specific activity of GS increased more rapidly in medulla oblongata and in olfactory bulbs, than in cerebral and cerebellar cortex. The activity of GS in primary cultures of brain hemispheres increased more slowly than in homogenates of whole brains. However, when astroblasts were treated in vitro with glucocorticoids or mouse brain extracts, GS activity reached 4 times the level measured in the homogenate of an adult mouse brain. We conclude that levels of GS activity may relate to the maturation of astrocytes, and propose that GS may be used as a marker of astrocytic maturation.     

Pre- and post-natal ontogeny of neutral endopeptidase 24-11 ('enkephalinase') studied by in vitro autoradiography in the rat.

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP, enkephalinase, CALLA) which is present in various neural and non-neural tissues, is able to cleave a variety of regulatory peptides. The distribution of NEP has been studied during rat pre- and post-natal development by autoradiography after in vitro binding of the tritiated inhibitor [3H]HACBO-Gly to whole-body and organ sections. In the central nervous system (CNS), where the presence of NEP has been related to the termination of the action of enkephalins, the external layer of the olfactory bulbs is the only structure prominently labeled before birth. Other CNS structures rich in NEP in the adult, such as the nigrostriatal tract, are progressively labeled after birth. Outside the CNS, the progressive appearance of NEP in the kidney, the lungs and the salivary glands suggests its concomitant involvement in adult physiological functions, including fluid balance control, possibly by cleaving the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and other peptides. On the other hand, transient or enhanced expression of NEP is observed during the development of several organs such as the sensory organs, the heart and the major blood vessels, the intestine, the bones and the genital tubercle. In addition to the still incompletely known physiological functions of the enzyme, the developmental pattern of its expression in several tissues strongly suggests a modulatory role for NEP in the ontogeny of a large number of organs.     

New data on serotonin control of sexual receptivity in the rat]

Serotonin was shown to be involved in the mechanisms whereby olfactory bulbs controlled sexual receptivity between 18 and 19 hrs. on prooestrus in 4-day cyclic female rats.     

Pre-and post-natal ontogeny of neutral endopeptidase 24-11 (‘enkephalinase’) studied by in vitro autoradiography in the rat

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP, enkephalinase, CALLA) which is present in various neural and non-neural tissues, is able to cleave a variety of regulatory peptides. The distribution of NEP has been studied during rat pre-and post-natal development by autoradiography after in vitro binding of the tritiated inhibitor [³H]HACBO-Gly to whole-body and organ sections. In the central nervous system (CNS), where the presence of NEP has been related to the termination of the action of enkephalins, the external layer of the olfactory bulbs is the only structure prominently labeled before birth. Other CNS structures rich in NEP in the adult, such as the nigrostriatal tract, are progressively labeled after birth. Outside the CNS, the progressive appearance of NEP in the kidney, the lungs and the salivary glands suggests its concomitant involvement in adult physiological functions, including fluid balance control, possibly by cleaving the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and other peptides. On the other hand, transient or enhanced expression of NEP is observed during the development of several organs such as the sensory organs, the heart and the major blood vessels, the intestine, the bones and the genital tubercle. In addition to the still incompletely known physiological functions of the enzyme, the developmental pattern of its expression in several tissues strongly suggests a modulatory role for NEP in the ontogeny of a large number of organs.     

Lycorine — a resistance factor in the plants of subfamily Amaryllidoideae (Amaryllidaceae) against desert locust,Schistocerca gregaria F.

Summary Lycorine, an alkaloid was isolated from the bulbs ofHymenocallis littoralis Salisb. The percentage of lycorine was 0.00083. When sprayed on cabbage leaves this alkaloid inhibited the feeding of the desert locust,Schistocerca gregaria at 0.05% concentration.Acknowledgements. The authors are grateful to Dr. H.M. Fales and Dr H.A. Lloyed, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, National Institute of Health, Maryland, for sending the sample of lycorine hydrochloride and tazettine.     

Influence of pinealectomy on corticotropin (ACTH)

Sensory deprivation produced by removing the eyes and olfactory bulbs in male rats allowed pinealectomy to markedly augment the post-adrenalectomy elevation of ACTH levels. Pineal removal or sensory deprivation separately did not have this effect. Thus, intact sensory input and an intact pineal gland are independently capable of restricting the post-adrenalectomy rise in ACTH levels.     

Effect of temperature on in vitro proliferative activity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells, skin fibroblasts, and retinal pigment epithelial cells are cultivated in medium supplemented with 15 to 20% serum in our laboratory. The effects of various incubation temperatures on the proliferation of these cells was examined. Our study shows that the mitogenic response of the endothelial cells to a change of temperature differed markedly from that of the fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Cultivation of human umbilical vein endothelial at 37°C required seeding densities as high as 1–2×10⁴ cells/cm², and yet resulted in a low growth rate and premature senescence. However, under the same culture conditions, but at 33°C, the proliferative capacity of these endothelial cells was potentiated. The results were striking; at 33°C the cells grew actively and the life span was extended. The number of cumulative population doublings increased fourfold compared with that for the same cells cultivated at 37°C. The inoculum size could be reduced, since at 33°C the endothelial cells were able to replicate at seeding densities as low as 20 cells/cm². The cells serially subcultured at 33°C retained morphological features and specific immunological markers of endothelial cells.     

Cellularity and composition of epididymal adipose tissue from cold-acclimatized rats.

Cold acclimatization induces morphological and compositional modifications of rat epididymal adipose tissue: a decrease in fat cell size, an increase of fat cell number per g of tissue, but no significant increase in total fat cell number in the tissue; finally, an increase in protein content and a decrease in triglyceride content.     

Characterization of neurite outgrowth and ectopic synaptogenesis in response to photoreceptor dysfunction

In the mammalian retina, light signals generated in photoreceptors are passed to bipolar and horizontal cells via synaptic contacts. In various pathological conditions, these second-order neurons extend neurites into the outer nuclear layer (ONL). However, the molecular events associated with this neurite outgrowth are not known. Here, we characterized the morphological synaptic changes in the CNGA3/CNGB1 double-knockout (A3B1) mouse, a model of retinitis pigmentosa. In these mice, horizontal cells looked normal until postnatal day (p) 11, but started growing neurites into the ONL 1 day later. At p28, the number of sprouting processes decreased, but the remaining sprouts developed synapse-like contacts at rod cell bodies, with an ultrastructural appearance reminiscent of ribbon synapses. Hence, neurite outgrowth and ectopic synaptogenesis in the A3B1 retina were precisely timed events starting at p12 and p28, respectively. We therefore performed microarray analysis of retinal gene expression in A3B1 and wild-type mice at those ages to evaluate the genomic response underlying these two events. This analysis identified 163 differentially regulated genes in the A3B1 retina related to neurite outgrowth or plasticity of synapses. The global changes in gene expression in the A3B1 retina were consistent with activation of signaling pathways related to Tp53, Smad, and Stat3. Moreover, key molecules of these signaling pathways could be localized at or in close proximity to outgrowing neurites. We therefore propose that Tp53, Smad, and Stat3 signaling pathways contribute to the synaptic plasticity in the A3B1 retina.     

Isoperoxidase spectra of single tulip cultivars and their parrot mutants

Summary The isoperoxidase spectrums of 2 single tulip cultivars and their parrot mutants were analyzed by disc electrophoresis in leaves and tepals i.e. petals plus sepals excised from within the bulbs. It was found that the anodal isoperoxidase pattern of parrot mutant tepals differs distinctly from tepals of their mother cultivars, but no differences were observed in cathodal isoperoxidases. Both the anodal and cathodal isoperoxidase spectra of parrot mutant leaves and leaves of their mother cultivars were similar.     

The perirenal venous arch of the rat: Its functional significance

Summary A functional and morphological study of the perirenal venous arch of the rat has been carried out. The various drainage possibilities of this arch through its multiple collaterals are demonstrated. Venous renal blood can reach the adrenal gland via the perirenal arch. The endocrine interactions between these organs are discussed.     

Mitotic activity of adrenal medullary cells in the mouse at different ages and following unilateral adrenalectomy.

The number of mitoses as well as the number of the cells of the adrenal medulla was determined in the mouse at various ages and after unilateral adrenalectomy. It was found that a decrease in the mitoses and an increase in the cell number occurs up to 4 months. In 12-month-old rats, mitoses, although rare, are still present. No changes in the mitosis and cell number was observed after unilateral adrenalectomy.     

Mitotic activity of adrenal medullary cells in the mouse at different ages and following unilateral adrenalectomy

Summary The number of mitoses as well as the number of the cells of the adrenal medulla was determined in the mouse at various ages and after unilateral adrenalectomy. It was found that a decrease in the mitoses and an increase in the cell number occurs up to 4 months. In 12-month-old rats, mitoses, although rare, are still present. No changes in the mitosis and cell number was observed after unilateral adrenalectomy.     

Cellularity and composition of epididymal adipose tissue from cold-acclimatized rats

Summary Cold acclimatization induces morphological and compositional modifications of rat epididymal adipose tissue: a decrease in fat cell size, an increase of fat cell number per g of tissue, but no significant increase in total fat cell number in the tissue; finally, an increase in protein content and a decrease in triglyceride content.Acknowledgments. We especially thank Mr M. Joliff for his very valuable help for fat cell size determination (Hospital Bichat, Paris).     

The effect of 5-bromodeoxyuridine on mouse embryos during neurulation in vitro

Mouse embryos explanted at various stages during neurulation were cultured for 20-28 h in the presence of 25-900 micrograms/ml of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR). BUdR strongly inhibited closure of the cranial neural tube, which was found to be stage-dependent. When mouse embryos were exposed to BUdR after development of the concave curvature in the neuroepithelium of the midbrain to the upper hindbrain regions, they became insensitive to the drug-induced open cranial neural tube. Histological observations showed that BUdR interfered with interkinetic migration and cytokinesis of the neuroepithelial cells. These cellular abnormalities were not dependent on the morphological development of the cranial neural folds. The 3H-BUdR experiment confirmed that the label was mostly incorporated into the DNA fraction.     

Influence of pinealectomy on corticotropin (ACTH)

Summary Sensory deprivation produced by removing the eyes and olfactory bulbs in male rats allowed pinealectomy to markedly augment the post-adrenalectomy elevation of ACTH levels. Pineal removal or sensory deprivation separately did not have this effect. Thus, intact sensory input and an intact pineal gland are independently capable of restricting the post-adrenalectomy rise in ACTH levels.This work was supported in part by NIH Grant No. P30 HD 10202. We thank F. Lynd and R.J. Reiter for advice, P. Starr and J. Sackman for technical assistance, and Bess Mitchell for typing.     

耦合节理上下表面形貌参数关系

节理的表面形貌特征对节理的力学和水力学性质有重要影响.在地下岩石工程施工过程中,会有大量的人工节理产生,为了研究人工节理表面的形貌特征,采用巴西劈裂法制作耦合良好的人工节理,用 TalysurfCLI2000三维非接触式激光形貌仪扫描各节理的两表面,分别计算了各表面粗糙度的最大峰高、算术平均值、偏态系数值、峰态系数值和 JRC值,对比分析耦合节理两表面的形貌参数值,发现如下规律:1)耦合节理两表面的最大峰高、表面高度的算术平均值和高度分布的峰态系数值近似相等,不同节理的算术平均值和高度分布的峰态系数值相差较大;2)大部分耦合节理两表面高度分布的偏态系数值表现出一正一负,个别节理两表面的偏态系数值同为负;3)耦合节理两表面的峰点分布曲线变化一致,且峰点数量集中分布在节理表面中间高度范围内;4)耦合节理两表面的 JRC值近似相等     

基于四元数表达的模糊矢量形态学算子

由于经典的形态学算子不能直接拓展到彩色图像处理中,提出一类基于四元数表达的模糊矢量形态学算子.该算子利用四元数表达彩色图像并结合其分解特性,将彩色图像的模值、四元数的垂直分量和角度信息作为词典编纂顺序的3个边缘分量.3个分量一方面去除了彩色图像多通道数据的相关性,另一方面更便于词典编纂顺序等级的划分.并利用模糊数学解决了现有词典编纂顺序存在的等级判定难以深层进入的问题,给出了基于四元数表达的模糊矢量排序算法.与现有的矢量排序算法相比,新的矢量排序算法同时考虑了各分量的作用,并将判定进行到词典编纂顺序的最后一层,实现了矢量的正确排序.基于新的矢量排序规则,定义了矢量形态学算子,并将新的矢量形态学算子应用于彩色图像滤波、分割中.实验结果表明,与现有的矢量形态学算子相比,新的矢量形态学算子在平滑彩色图像噪声的同时保留了图像细节,并能正确地分割多类彩色图像,具有较高的鲁棒性及实用性.