Über die Chemodifferenzierung der Stammganglien der Ratte

Summary In foetal rat stem ganglia originating from the diencephalon, chemodifferentiation and morphogenesis take place earlier than in those from the telencephalon. Between 3 and 10 days postnatally, enzyme activities of all regions largely level up; later, the structures from the telencephalon show higher activities. Exceptions are acid phosphatase and thiamine pyrophosphatase, whose activities are higher in the stem ganglia from the diencephalon than in those from the telencephalon. The globus pallidus behaves in every respect like the structures from the diencephalon.     

Comparison of protein synthesis profiles in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells and B-lymphocytes from peripheral blood,cord blood and tonsil

2D-gel electrophoresis was used to investigate protein synthesis in leukaemic cells from a series of 15 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients, and in non-malignant B-cell populations from different sources. The protein synthesis profiles of CD5+ B-cells from umbilical cord blood and from tonsil were determined, and the levels of expression of their proteins were observed to be similar to the CLL cells. The CD5-cells from cord blood resembled peripheral blood B-lymphocytes, and the protein synthesis profile of CD5-cells from tonsils was very complex. One protein was also identified which consistently appeared to be synthesised at a low level in CD5+ B-cells from tonsil but which was always more prominant in CLL cells and other non-malignant B-lymphocytes. On the basis of these data it is possible that the closest non-malignant counterpart to CLL is the CD5+ B-lymphocyte from cord blood.     

Demonstration of nucleotide pyrophosphatase and phosphohydrolase activities in normal lymphocyte of Balb/c mice and absence of these activities in YC8 tumor cells and in lymphocytes of animals with YC8 lymphoma]

Saline extraction of tumor cells from YC8 lymphoma transplanted in Balb/c Mice, of lymphocytes from animals bearing this tumor and of lymphocytes from control animals, allowed us to show important hydrolytic activities towards UDP-[(14C)]-galactose and galactose-[(14C)]-1-phosphate in normal lymphocytes. These activities disappear in lymphocytes from Mice bearing this tumor and in tumor cells themselves.     

Tubulin pools in human erythrocytes: altered distribution in hypertensive patients affects Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>, K<Superscript>+</Superscript>-ATPase activity

The presence of tubulin in human erythrocytes was demonstrated using five different antibodies. Tubulin was distributed among three operationally distinguishable pools: membrane, sedimentable structure and soluble fraction. It is known that in erythrocytes from hypertensive subjects (HS), the Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase (NKA) activity is partially inhibited as compared with erythrocytes from normal subjects (NS). In erythrocytes from HS the membrane tubulin pool is increased by ~150%. NKA was found to be forming a complex with acetylated tubulin that results in inhibition of enzymes. This complex was also increased in erythrocytes from HS. Treatment of erythrocytes from HS with nocodazol caused a decrease of acetylated tubulin in the membrane and stimulation of NKA activity, whereas taxol treatment on erythrocytes from NS had the opposite effect. These results suggest that, in erythrocytes from HS, tubulin was translocated to the membrane, where it associated with NKA with the consequent enzyme inhibition.     

Presence in immunostimulated cells of an RNA molecule utilizable as template for reverse transcriptase of avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV)]

Cytoplasmic RNA extracted from antigen stimulated immunocompetant cells is transcribed in vitro into DNA by the RNA directed DNA polymerase from avian myeloblastosis virus, in the absence of any added primer. Cytoplasmic RNA from other organs of the same animal, from non-stimulated immunocompetent cells, or from cells in tissue culture is not transcribed in the absence of exogenous primer.     

Alloxan-induced hyperglycemia increases progestin and androgen accumulation by isolated rabbit follicles in vitro

Follicles isolated from Alloxan-treated rabbits and incubated in vitro, accumulated more progesterone and testosterone than those from saline-treated rabbits. LH augmented the accumulation of these 2 steroids. By contrast, the estradiol response to LH stimulation by follicles from Alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rabbits was diminished when compared to follicles from saline-treated rabbits. Ovaries from hyperglycemic rabbits also appeared to have more cystic follicles.     

Galactose transfer and UDP-Galactose hydrolysis in urine from normal balb/c and Balb/c YC8 mice

Summary By chromatographic method we have shown the existence of a complex system for galactose transfer from UDP-galactose and for nucleotide hydrolysis in urines from Balb/c YC8 and normal Balb/c mice. By action of sera from normal and ascitic mice as source of enzyme, we have been able to detect transfer for galactose in urines from ascitic mice and an important inhibitory effect of the nucleotide sugar hydrolysis by the sera with urines from normal mice.     

Glucose formation from methylglyoxal in hepatocytes from streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice: the effect of insulin

Acetol and methylglyoxal are intermediates of the intrahepatic metabolism of acetone leading to pyruvate formation. In hepatocytes prepared from fasted streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, net glucose production could be measured from methylglyoxal but not from acetone or acetol. Insulin increased glucose formation from methylglyoxal in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas it was ineffective when pyruvate was used as substrate. Drug oxidation, as evidenced byp-aminophenol formation from aniline, was enhanced by methylglyoxal, and insulin proved to be stimulatory in this case as well. It is concluded that insulin might be involved in the regulation of glucose formation from methylglyoxal, but its mode of action is not yet clear.     

Changes with hypertension and maturation in the response of stomach fundus to acetylcholine

The purpose of these experiments was to compare the contractile response to ACh of stomach fundal strips from hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive (WKY) rats during the development of hypertension. The results indicate that the reactivity to ACh is the same in fundal strips from young SHR and WKY rats; however, with maturation strips from WKY rats undergo a reduction in responsiveness which does not occur in the SHR. Therefore, strips from older SHR rats are more reactive to ACh than are those from age matched WKY rats.     

Geographic populations of the medfly may be differentiated by mitochondrial DNA variation

Restriction enzyme cleavage sites of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the Mediterranean fruit fly were found to vary among introduced populations in the Neotropics. The survey included samples from 15 established natural populations and 5 laboratory cultures from Hawaii, Central America, South America and West Africa and samples from recent California infestations (1989, 1991). Based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms from 2 enzymes, Hawaii is an unlikely source for the 1989 and 1991 California infestations. Interpopulational variation in mtDNA demonstrates the potential for the technique to trace the process of colonization (geographic spread) by this insect.     

Isolation of a protease from the cell-free medium of in vitro cultured mammary carcinoma.

Trypsin-like protease with wide spectrum of enzymatic activities have been isolated from cell-free medium from in vivo cultured human mammary carcinoma cells, and from peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with mammary carcinoma cultured in presence of cell-membrane carcinoma-associated glycoprotein.     

Das Chromosomenkomplement des Wildschweins (Sus scrofa)

Summary Wild pigs from Germany have 36 chromosomes with 4 pairs of acrocentrics. This is in accordance with the findings in European wild pigs from Tennessee (McFee et al.) but differs from those in the wild pig from Japan and in the domestic pig. Intraspecific Robertsonian changes and a preferential selection of the 38-chromosome-type in the course of domestication may be responsible for these variations.     

A simple diagnostic method for the differentiation of Tamm-Horsfall glycoproteins from healthy probands and those from recurrent calcium oxalate renal stone formers

Tamm-Horsfall glycoproteins (THPs)^* from healthy probands, and those from a majority of recurrent calcium oxalate renal stone formers, reveal different properties when analyzed using isoelectric focusing. The pl-values of THPs from healthy probands are approximately 3.5 while THPs from recurrent renal stone formers have pl-values between 4.5 and 6. The two groups of THPs exhibit completely different protein patterns in IEF. This proves the structural difference of these THPs. The differences in IEF analysis allow the differentiation between THPs from healthy probands and those from recurrent calcium oxalate stone formers. These differences could possibly by used as a simple diagnostic method for the recognition of recurrent calcium oxalate renal stone formers.     

Haptoglobin development in newborn infants from diabetic mothers

Haptoglobin (Hp) development during the neonatal period has been studied in 325 newborn infants from normal pregnancies and in 242 infants from diabetic mothers. In infants from diabetic mothers Hp development is delayed as compared to infants from normal pregnancies. This delay is associated with a change in the pattern of relationship between Hp development and the polymorphism of acid phosphatase (ACP1) (an enzyme which shows phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) activity). In infants from normal pregnancies who show ACP1 phenotypes with the highest activity, the appearance of Hp is accelerated as compared to other infants. In contrast, infants from diabetic pregnancies who have ACP1 phenotypes with the highest activity, show delayed Hp development.     

Detection of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA from cell-free plasma of immunosuppressed patients by nested PCR: influence of nucleic acid extraction method

Conclusions Blood cells and plasma preparations from HCMV-seropositive healthy blood donors were all nPCR negative. Detection of HCMV DNA from PBMC and granulocytes (DNAemia) of immunosuppressed patients by nPCR did not correlate with the isolation of infectious virus from these cell populations in cell culture (viremia). However HCMV could be isolated in 60% of cases from other materials of the same patient. HCMV DNA detected in blood cells persisted for up to one year in an asymptomatically infected individual after NTX. The sensitivity of HCMV DNA detection in cell-free plasma (up to 5 fg) depended on the method used for DNA isolation. The rate of HCMV DNA detection in plasma was lower than in leukocytes. In all cases of positive plasma PCR infectious virus could be isolated from any other material of the symptomatically infected patients. Therefore HCMV DNA PCR from plasma of immunosuppressed patients seems to be a suitable and easy alternative to HCMV RT/PCR for routine diagnosis of HCMV disease.     

Modification of the contractile responses of rabbit mammary strips to oxytocin by prostaglandin E1.

PGE1 administration to isolated strips from pregnant and lactating rabbit mammary gland resulted in different effects on oxytocin-induced contractions. In strips from pregnant animals, oxytocin action was enhanced; in those from lactating animals, it was reduced and threshold doses for oxytocin were markedly higher.     

Aberrant protamine 1/protamine 2 ratios in sperm of infertile human males

Summary Protamines were extracted from the sperm of fertile and infertile human males and the relative proportion of protamines 1, 2, and 3 were determined by scanning microdensitometry following electrophoresis of total protamine in polyacrylamide gels. The proportion of the three protamines was found to be similar in sperm obtained from different normal males. The distribution of protamines in sperm obtained from a select group of infertile males producing an elevated level of large sperm heads, in contrast, was different from that of the fertile males.     

Aberrant protamine 1/protamine 2 ratios in sperm of infertile human males

Protamines were extracted from the sperm of fertile and infertile human males and the relative proportion of protamines 1, 2, and 3 were determined by scanning microdensitometry following electrophoresis of total protamine in polyacrylamide gels. The proportion of the three protamines was found to be similar in sperm obtained from different normal males. The distribution of protamines in sperm obtained from a select group of infertile males producing an elevated level of large sperm heads, in contrast, was different from that of the fertile males.     

Serum lectins from the scorpion Vaejovis spinigerus Wood bind sialic acids

We have partially characterized the specificity of serum lectins from the scorpion Vaejovis spinigerus Wood. Agglutination, crossed-absorption and hemagglutination-inhibition patterns were similar but not identical to serum lectins from other members from the family Vaejovidae , and different from the Buthidae species studied so far. V. spinigerus serum lectins bind sialic acids and sialoconjugates , but also bind 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate, uronic acids and N- acylaminosugars , all substances present in bacterial cell walls suggesting that they might be involved in defense functions.     

Regulation of neutrophil trafficking from the bone marrow

Neutrophils are an essential component of the innate immune response and a major contributor to inflammation. Consequently, neutrophil homeostasis in the blood is highly regulated. Neutrophil number in the blood is determined by the balance between neutrophil production in the bone marrow and release from the bone marrow to blood with neutrophil clearance from the circulation. This review will focus on mechanisms regulating neutrophil release from the bone marrow. In particular, recent data demonstrating a central role for the chemokines CXCL12 and CXCL2 in regulating neutrophil egress from the bone marrow will be discussed.