Cell death proteins as markers of early postmortem interval

Estimation of time since death is one of the challenges in forensic science. There are many approaches to estimate the postmortem interval, including both physical and thanatochemistry methods. Decomposition is triggered by a process called autolysis, which induces destructive changes in the cell leading to cell death. Based on the process of cell death signaling, this study analyzed the early postmortem interval (2–8 h since death) using the study of the mRNA expression of Fas Ligand (FasL) and phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) by Quantitative-PCR. Results of the study indicate a time-dependent increase in the mRNA levels of both proteins up until 6 h after death. Using a regression analysis in these first 6 h, a positive linear correlation was found between the mRNA expression of these proteins and the time since death. Since PTEN and FasL are implicated in signaling pathways, both proteins are potential candidates to analyze the time since death in time intervals of 6 h or less. Further research is needed to find additional cell death markers and expand the time period for time since death estimation.     

Cell death and phagocytosis in the neuroepithelium of the developing retina. A TEM and SEM study.

Phagocytosis by neuroepithelial cells independent of the presence of pseudopodes is observed as the main mechanism of elimination of physiologically degenerating cells during the early development of the retina in the chick embryo.     

Cell division and cell death during regression of the chick embryo Müllerian ducts.

In 9-day-old chick embryos, decreased DNA synthesis and enhanced necrosis were observed in a defined area of the right female Müllerian ducts, supporting the idea of the existence of a regression process in this organ. In the male ducts, decreased DNA synthesis and a low level of necrosis were present all over the studied portion of the organ.     

Biological effects of UV-radiation generated within the living organism

Zusammenfassung Eine Methode wird beschrieben, die es ermöglicht, UV-Strahlung innerhalb des Dünndarms in vivo zu erzeugen. Die induzierte Strahlung verursacht am Zottenepithel des Rattenjejunums eine wesentlich stärkere Schädigung als die zur Induktion verwendete Röntgenstrahlung.     

The fate of 4-hydroxytryptophan in the rat organism

Riassunto Nell'organismo del ratto ha luogo una rapida ed intensa decarbossilazione del 4-idrossitriptofano a 4-idrossitriptamina. Oltre ad essere attaccata dalla monoaminossidasi, con formazione di acido 4-idrossiindolacetico, l'amina viene anche O-coniugata con acido glucuronico. Analogamente al 5-idrossitriptofano, anche il 4-idrossitriptofano valica la barriera ematoencefalica dando luogo a formazione di 4-idrossitriptamina nella compagine del tessuto nervoso.

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A full report on the methods used in this study, as well as on the biochemical and pharmacological results will be published elsewhere, together with the discussion of the collected data.

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Supported by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, New York.     

On the contamination of the Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma with a pleuropneumonia-like organism

Résumé La terramycine et la néomycine ne parviennent pas à décontaminer le lymphosarcome de Murphy-Sturm infecté par un «pleuropneumonia-like organism». Il a été constaté que ce microorganisme est transmissible à d'autres tumeurs transplantables. Le rat porteur d'une tumeur infectée devient résistant à l'induction d'arthrite par l'exsudat d'une tumeur homologue. L'exsudat d'un lymphosarcome de Murphy-Sturm provenant d'un autre laboratoire est également doué de propriétés arthritogènes.

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This work was supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute of Canada. The authors also gratefully acknowledge generous gifts of terramycin from Pfizer Canada, Montreal, and neomycin from The Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, U.S.A.

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Medical Research Associate of the National Research Council of Canada.     

Apoptotic and necrotic cell death induced by death domain receptors

Apoptosis and necrosis are two distinct forms of cell death. Caspases are indispensable as initiators and effectors of apoptotic cell death and are involved in many of the morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis. Major changes in mitochondrial membrane integrity and release of proapoptotic factors, such as cytochrome c from the mitochondrial intermembrane space, play an important sensor and amplifying role during apoptotic cell death. In vitro studies of cell death in cell lines have revealed that inhibition of the classical caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway leads in several cases to necrotic cell death. Thus, the same cell death stimulus can result either in apoptotic or necrotic cell death, depending on the availability of activated caspase. Therefore, death domain receptors may initiate an active caspase-independent necrotic signaling pathway. In this review, we describe what is known about the apoptotic and necrotic cell death pathways. Principal elements of necrosis include mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, reactive oxygen production, and non-caspase proteolytic cascades depending on serine proteases, calpains, or cathepsins.     

Decontamination of pleuropneumonia-like organism (PPLO) infected tissue cultures

Zusammenfassung PPLO-verunreinigte Zellkulturen wurden mit Novobiocin® PPLO-eliminierend behandelt. Nach dem Empfindlichkeitstest folgte die Bestimmung der Toxizität dieses Antibiotikums für Gewebekulturzellen. Anschliessend wurden maximale, für Zellen nichttoxische Konzentrationen verwendet. Die entwickelte Methode ermöglicht, den Wirkungsgrad dieser antibiotischen Behandlung zu bestimmen.     

A new observation onHalobacterium halobium; light-induced volume flow through the whole organism

Summary A new observation on theH. halobium cells is reported. It has been observed that when the cells are exposed to light a volume flow is observed through them. The magnitude of the light-induced volume flow depends on the intensity and wavelength of the exciting light and is also influenced by temperature. The phenomenon appears to be relevant to the physiology of the organism.Acknowledgment. Thanks are due to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Dehli for financial support and to Dr Th. Schreckenbach of Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Germany for his gift of a sample ofHalobacterium halobium S9 strain.     

Characterization of the host-specific toxins produced byHelminthosporium sacchari,the causal organism of eyespot disease of sugarcane

Summary Investigation of the host-specific toxin complex fromH. sacchari has led to the isolation of 3 isomeric glycosidic components C₃₉H₆₄O₂₂, each active at 2×10^–11 moles. The 3 isomers consist of 4 galactose units linked to an aglycone residue C₁₅H₂₄O₂.Acknowledgments. The Boyce Thompson-Cornell group thanks J.F. Rissler, University of Maryland, A.K. Bose, Stevens Institute of Technology, R. Barker and A. Serriani, Cornell University, and C. Grinnalds and J. Golay, Boyce Thompson Institute for help with various aspects of this work. Supported in part by a grant to V.M. from the US Department of Agriculture (8100720). The Zürich group thanks Dr G.A. Strobel, Department of Botany and Microbiology, Montana State University, Bozeman, for supplying a potent toxin-producing strain (M 36), a susceptible clone of sugarcane (51 NG 97), and a reference sample of helminthosporoside, Dr. K. Hostettmann and Mme M. Hostettmann-Kaldas, Pharmazeutisches Institut ETH Zürich, for assistance in developing the DCC separation and Sandoz A.G., Basel, for financial support.