On the regulatory properties of a halophilic malic enzyme fromHalobacterium cutirubrum

Summary The NADP-linked malic enzyme fromHalobacterium cutirubrum is strongly inhibited by acetyl-CoA and NADH, and rather weakly inhibited by oxaloacetate and glyoxylate, in the presence of very high KCl concentrations (3,M), considered physiological for the extremely halophilic bacteria.This work was supported by grants from the consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina, and the Consejo de Investigaciones de la Universidad Nacional de Rosario. JJC and MCV are members of the Carrera del Investigador Científico of the former and the latter institutions, respectively.     

X-ray microanalysis of animal tissues by means of the field emission-scanning electron microscope

Summary With FESEM the X-ray microanalysis of unstained ultrathin sections (600 Å) free of osmium is possible. Deposits in smooth muscle cells of arteriosclerotic aortae show high calcium-peaks already after 80 sec of measurement. No contamination spots were seen after 11 min of measurement on the same point.     

The role of calcitonin in hypocalcemia in acute experimental pancreatitis

Summary Experimental pancreatitis in rats was accompanied by hypocalcemia. Thyroidectomy did not abolish the fall in serum calcium observed in intact animals during pancreatitis. Data presented in our study suggest that the thyroid gland and calcitonin are not important factors in causing the hypocalcemia observed in rats.     

Interaction of anaesthetics with electrical synapses

Studies of the interaction of anaesthetics with various preparations, from whole animals to organic solvents, have been continuing since Overton and Meyer found a correlation between anaesthetic potency and solubility in olive oil. Although the physiological basis of anaesthesia is far from clear, one popular hypothesis is that anaesthetics act primarily by interfering with the normal functioning of chemical synapses. This hypothesis is supported by experiments showing that these synapses are more sensitive to both local and general anaesthetics than are axons. The effects of anaesthetics on electrical synapses (gap-junctions or nexus) have not previously been studied. These ubiquitous structures, presumably responsible for cell-to-cell communication, are found in most vertebrate and invertebrate tissues. We report here the effects of several anaesthetics on electronic coupling between nerve cells, and show that electrical synapses are less sensitive to most anaesthetics than are chemical synapses and axonal membranes.     

Über die tuberkulostatische Aktivität von 2,5-Bis-(aminooxymethyl)-3,6-diketopiperazin,eines Umwandlungsproduktes des Cycloserins

Summary It has been ascertained that racemic 2,5-bis-(aminooxymethyl)-3,6-diketopiperazine, being a transformation product ofD,L-cycloserine, possesses the same effect againstMycobacterium tuberculosis asD,L-cycloserine itself.     

Histologische Veränderungen der Magenschleimhaut des Hundes bei wiederholter Tetrachlormethanzufuhr

Summary Long-term administration of tetrachloromethane led to cirrhosis of the liver in dogs. Neither a repeated administration of the hepatotoxic substance nor cirrhotic changes of the liver led to changes of the gastric mucosa. The histological picture of the gastric mucosa was the same in dogs with liver cirrhosis as in healthy animals.     

Structural characteristics and distribution of satellite cells along crayfish muscle fibers.

The distribution of satellite cells (sc) in long-sarcomere muscle fibers from the carpopod extensor muscle of the crayfish (Astacus fluviatilis) has been studied electron-microscopically. The sc are spindle-shaped and are oriented parallel to the long axis of a fiber. The mean lengths of sc nuclei (17.00 microns) and that of myonuclei (18.35 microns) differ non-significantly. In older animals, the mean ratio of the number of sc nuclei to the total number of nuclei (sc nuclei + myonuclei) is 0.0716, 0.0848, and 0.034 for the tendon, central and shell segments, respectively. The corresponding values for younger animals are 0.158, 0.166, and 0.081. The mean numbers of sc nuclei per mm of a fiber are 94, 117, and 47 (older animals), and 164, 117, and 94 (younger animals) for the tendon, central and shell segments, respectively. The high incidence of sc per unit fiber length in crayfish may be related to the fact that crayfish muscle fibers have a much larger diameter than vertebrate muscle cells.     

Renal handling of bilirubin photoderivatives

Summary The renal handling of unconjugated bilirubin in the dark and during light exposure was analyzed using an isolated rat kidney preparation. The parameters tested were pigment disappearance from the perfusion medium, pigment uptake by tissue, and its renal clearance. The results indicated that despite the fact that pigment disappearance from the medium was similar for both forms of pigment, the extraction ratio was higher for irradiated pigment than for pigment in the dark. When renal clearance of pigment was plotted vs pigment uptake of tissue, the results indicated that irradiated pigment may be more efficiently removed by the kidney. In addition, data on the rate of secretion of p-aminohippurate suggested that both pigment forms shared a common site for secretion.13 August 1986Acknowledgments. This work was supported by grants from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET), República Argentina. The valuable technical assistance of J. Pellegrino and E. Luque is gratefully acknowledged. We are also indebted to Dr S. Bravlavsky (Max-Planck Institut für Strahlenchemie, D-4330 Mülheim a. d. Ruhr, FRG) for stimulating discussion, and to Mr B. Leguizamón for secretarial assistance.