The influence of hyperosmolality on heart function

Summary Hyperosmolality produces a reduction in myocardial water content, an increase in ventricular stiffness and coronary blood flow, and a decrease in ventricular performance. The alterations of myocardial dehydration and ventricular stiffness are more pronounced in glucose-induced, and those of ventricular performance in urea-induced hyperosmolality.     

Effects of pertussis toxin on alpha 1-agonist-mediated phosphatidylinositide turnover and myocardial cell hypertrophy in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes

In neonatal rat ventricular myocytes pretreatment with pertussis toxin did not affect 1 microM (-)-norepinephrine stimulation of inositol phosphates or myocardial cell hypertrophy as measured either by protein radiolabelling or by myocardial cell protein content. Thus guanine nucleotide protein(s) ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin do not play a role in two alpha 1-adrenoceptor-mediated processes, phosphatidylinositide turnover and induction of myocardial cell hypertrophy.     

Effects of pertussis toxin onα 1-agonist-mediated phosphatidylinositide turnover and myocardial cell hypertrophy in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes

Summary In neonatal rat ventricular myocytes pretreatment with pertussis toxin did not affect 1 M (–)-norepinephrine stimulation of inositol phosphates or myocardial cell hypertrophy as measured either by protein radiolabelling or by myocardial cell protein content. Thus guanine nucleotide protein (s) ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin do not play a role in two ₁-adrenoceptor-mediated processes, phosphatidylinositide turnover and induction of myocardial cell hypertrophy.     

AMP deaminase, 5′-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase in rat myocardial tissue in myocardial infarction and hypothermia

Summary AMP deaminase, 5-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase have been estimated in skeletal muscle and myocardial tissue in normal rats and in rats subjected to experimental myocardial infarction or hypothermia. A difference in the enzyme distribution was found between the right and left ventricles in the normal rat. A decrease in the activity of 5-nucleotidase and an increase in the activity of adenosine deaminase were observed in infarcted myocardial tissue. The activity of all 3 enzymes was found to be depressed in the myocardium in rats subjected to hypothermia. These results are discussed in relation to adenosine production and its beneficial effects.     

An electrophysiological study on the myocardium of dystrophic mice

Summary Decreased resting potential and prolonged duration of the action potential were observed in left ventricular muscles of dystrophic mice, while there was no change in myocardial potassium content.This study was supported in part by a Research Grant for Cardiomyopathy from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan.     

Changes in the cardiac glutathione status after ischemia and reperfusion

In the isolated and perfused rabbit heart ischemia induced a rapid decline of contractility, associated with a reduction of the content of tissue GSH with no significant changes in GSSG. Reperfusion induced a small recovery of contractility, a substantial release of total glutathione and a further decrease in the content of tissue GSH with a significant increase of tissue GSSG. Glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase activities were not affected by ischemia and reperfusion. This study suggests a possible role for glutathione in the determination of functional damage induced by myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.     

Über die Wirkung von Prostaglandin E1 auf den Ca-Haushalt isolierter Meerschweinchenherzen

Summary The stimulatory effect of PGE₁ on different functions of isolated guinea-pig hearts (Langendorff method, Tyrode solution) was coupled with an increase in the rate of⁴⁵Ca uptake from the perfusion medium. The total myocardial Ca content and the amount of exchangeable cellular Ca were not affected. This action of PGE₁ on the myocardial Ca metabolism seems to be related to the positive inotropic action of PGE₁ and can most probably be explained by an increase in the membrane permeability to Ca ions (similar to the action of epinephrine).     

带反压气室油气弹簧数学模型

本文在理想状态和简化条件下,建立油气弹簧的数学模型。设活塞杆在正弦激励x=Asin（2π/t）作用下往复运动,利用气体和油液之间的压强关系,对活塞进行受力分析,计算油气弹簧活塞杆的输出力。为分析油气弹簧的刚度特性、阻尼特性、频率特性等重要特性奠定基础。     

Cerebral edema in the rat with galactosamine induced severe hepatitis

Summary With D-galactosamine hydrochloride severe hepatitis was induced in rats and the water content of cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem determined. The animals showed a parallel in cerebral water content and occurrence of cerebral symptoms.     

Changes in the cardiac glutathione status after ischemia and reperfusion

Summary In the isolated and perfused rabbit heart ischemia induced a rapid decline of contractility, associated with a reduction of the content of tissue GSH with no significant changes in GSSG. Reperfusion induced a small recovery of contractility, a substantial release of total glutathione and a further decrease in the content of tissue GSH with a significant increase of tissue GSSG. Glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase activities were not affected by ischemia and reperfusion. This study suggests a possible role for glutathione in the determination of functional damage induced by myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.This study was supported by a grant from Ministero Pubblica Istruzione and CNR Rome (no 8202331.56).     

Water movement between myocardial tissue and capillary blood during and after coronary reactive hyperemia as studied by continuous measurement of colloid osmotic pressure of cardiac venous blood

Summary Colloid osmotic pressure (COP) of blood from the great cardiac vein was continuously measured by the use of a membrane colloid osmometer during reactive hyperemia resulting from temporary occlusion of the anterior descending branch of left coronary artery. The COP increased sharply but transiently after the release, then it decreased below the initial level and gradually recovered. It was concluded that a measurable amount of water moved from the capillary blood into the myocardial tissue and then flowed back slowly into the capillary blood.     

A new,rapid and precise method for measuring the intra-cellular water content by gas chromatography and3H-sucrose

Summary A new rapid method for measuring intra-cellular water content by gas chromatography and an isotopic (³H-sucrose) technique is described. Water content of circulating red cells was revealed to be 71.26±0.31%. Intra-cellular water content increased to 102.9% of its original value following addition of 3 volumes of acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD) to 20 volumes of blood.     

Molecular basis for differences between human joints

The molecular program of a cell determines responses including induction or inhibition of genes for function and activity, and this is true of the cells within articular cartilage, a major functional component of the joint. While our studies have previously focussed on differences in the molecular programs of the cells within the superficial and deep zones, we have recently begun to focus on relative differences between joints, such as the knee and ankle. In the human, these joints vary greatly in their susceptibility to joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA). We have predicted that there would be a molecular basis for differences between joints that could lead to differences in susceptibility to OA, if inherent pathways locked into the resident cells induce differences in their response to their environment. We have been able to show that there are differences between the matrix components and water content; these properties correspond to a higher equilibrium modulus and dynamic stiffness but lower hydraulic permeability and serve to make the ankle cartilage stiffer, slowing movement of molecules through the cartilage. In addition to these biochemical differences in the cartilage matrix, we have also identified relative differences in the strength of the response to stimulation of chondrocytes from knee and ankle. The stronger response of the knee chondrocytes includes factors that increase damage to the cartilage matrix, such as a depression of matrix synthesis and increased enzyme activity. This response by the knee chondrocytes results in enzyme damage to the matrix that the cells may not be able to repair, while the weaker response of the ankle chondrocytes may allow the cells to repair their matrix damage.     

Changes to cellular water and element content induced by nucleolar stress: investigation by a cryo-correlative nano-imaging approach

The cell is a crowded volume, with estimated mean mass percentage of macromolecules and of water ranging from 7.5 to 45 and 55 to 92.5 %, respectively. However, the concentrations of macromolecules and water at the nanoscale within the various cell compartments are unknown. We recently developed a new approach, correlative cryo-analytical scanning transmission electron microscopy, for mapping the quantity of water within compartments previously shown to display GFP-tagged protein fluorescence on the same ultrathin cryosection. Using energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDXS), we then identified various elements (C, N, O, P, S, K, Cl, Mg) in these compartments and quantified them in mmol/l. Here, we used this new approach to quantify water and elements in the cytosol, mitochondria, condensed chromatin, nucleoplasm, and nucleolar components of control and stressed cancerous cells. The water content of the control cells was between 60 and 83 % (in the mitochondria and nucleolar fibrillar centers, respectively). Potassium was present at concentrations of 128–462 mmol/l in nucleolar fibrillar centers and condensed chromatin, respectively. The induction of nucleolar stress by treatment with a low dose of actinomycin-D to inhibit rRNA synthesis resulted in both an increase in water content and a decrease in the elements content in all cell compartments. We generated a nanoscale map of water and elements within the cell compartments, providing insight into their changes induced by nucleolar stress.     

The effect of irradiation conditions on the radioinduced acidity of solid phase glucose]

Radioinduced acidity in solid state glucose is studied as a function of irradiation conditions (dose, dose rate, temperature, atmosphere composition), glucose characteristics (physical structure, water content) and post-irradiation treatments (presence of gas in dissolving water, storage).     

利用Hydrus-1D反推土壤水力参数方法分析

预测分析非饱和土壤水分运动特征必须首先获得土壤水力参数,而且土壤水力参数的准确性决定着与这些参数有关的土壤水分运动的数值模型的准确性。本文依据一维积水入渗试验的累积入渗量资料利用Hydrus-1D软件反推土壤水力特性参数,利用反推的土壤水力特性参数和Hydrus-1D软件对一维积水入渗过程的累积入渗量、入渗率、湿润深度、含水量分布进行模拟并与实测值进行对比,结果显示,土壤累积入渗量、入渗率、湿润锋、含水量分布的实测数据与模拟数据之间的平均相对误差均在2％～15％之间,软件模拟数据与试验实测教据基本吻合,这说明利用Hydrus-1D软件在反推土壤水力特性参数及模拟土壤水分运动方面是可行的。     

Comparative ultrastructural and cytochemical analysis of the cephalopod systemic heart and its innervation

Summary The present knowledge of the morphology of cephalopod central hearts is presented. The cytological characteristics of the epicardial, myocardial and endothelial tissue layers are reviewed. Myocardial cells are characterized as obliquely striated myocytes with a high level of oxidative metabolism. The voluminous myocardium is intensively penetrated by nerve fibers controlling the myogenic heart rhythm by different chemical transmitter systems. Catecholaminergic fluorophores and acetylcholinesterase activity could be localized by means of histochemical and cytochemical investigations. A glio-interstitial cell system is shown to be present in connection with nerve fibers and also uncombined between heart muscle cells. Its content of large different-sized inclusions is described and their function discussed.     

A centrally induced vasodepressor response after intravenous administration of whole venom ofNaja mossambica pallida in cats

Summary Naja mossambica pallida venom administered i.v. (300 /kg) produces an initial brief fall in blood pressure, due to a direct myocardial depressant effect, and a sustained fall due to central depressant effect.This study was supported by University of Nairobi research grants (670–376). We also thank Mr E. Njogu for photographic assistance.     

Variations de salinité chez la Tanche (Tinca tinca L.): Effet de la vagotomie sur l'intensité respiratoire et la teneur en eau et cations (Na+ et K+) du tissu hépatique

Summary Vagus nerve section was performed on a stenohaline species: the tench (Tinca tinca L.). The oxygen consumption and Na⁺ content increased in both tap water and after transfer to salt water. It is suggested that the vagus nerve plays a role in water and electrolyte flux in this fish.     

Changes in water permeability of an insect egg in response to level of water in the environment

Summary The water permeability of eggs of the southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber, varied depending on the previous experience of the eggs. Eggs acclimated in a water vapor system were seen to be less permeable than eggs acclimated in contact with moist paper, as measured by the rate of loss of water from the eggs and the susceptibility of the eggs to death from desiccation. This is the first known report of the ability of an insect egg to adapt to the level of water available in the environment.