Effect of beta-adrenergic blockade on intramuscular triglyceride mobilization during exercise

Summary It was shown in the rat that mobilization of intramuscular triglyceride during exercise is controlled by the adrenergic system.Acknowledgments. The work was supported by the Polish Academy of Sciences, grant No. 10.4.2.01.3.2.     

Nuclear lamellae in the germ-line cells of gall midges (Cecidomyiidae,Diptera)

Summary Lamellar structures in oogonial and spermatogonial cells of gall midges were found to form a complicated system of intranuclear compartments inside which all heteropycnotic chromosomes present in the germ-line cells of these insects are located. In this way, the heteropycnotic S-chromosomes are separated by the nuclear lamellae from the remaining, decondensed chromosomes (E-chromosomes) of the interphase germ-line nucleus.This investigation was supported in part under Contract DPKBN/52/76-II.1.3.10. with the Polish Academy of Sciences.     

Structural differences of cone ‘oil-droplets’ in the light and dark adapted retina ofPoecilia reticulata P.

Summary The vast majority of oil-droplets in the dark and light-adapted retinal twin-cones ofPoecilia reticulata is of the matrix-type. In bright light (day light+overhead strip light) there occurs in some regions a very pronounced numerical change from matrix to cristate-type, whereas other regions remain unaffected. The functional significance of these differences is discussed.     

Cytotoxicity of mouse peritoneal cells after alloimmunization]

CBA Mice were immunized by two intraperitoneal injections of 30 X 10(6) DBA/2 or C57BL/6 spleen cells at days--12 and--2. Peritoneal cell population was obtained at day zero by washing the peritoneal cavity of Mice. Adherent cells were then separated using a 2 hrs. incubation in "Falcon" plates followed by washing. This macrophage-rich peritoneal cell population was found nonspecifically cytotoxic against 51Cr labeled tumoral target cells: P815 X DBA/2 mastocytoma cells, EL4 X C57BL/L lymphoma cells and spontaneous lymphoma AKR cells (same H--2k as CBA). This adherent peritoneal cell cytoxicity was demonstrated after 24 hrs. incubation with the target cells. It was found in nonspecific combination as well as when using target cells syngeneic to the donor. These findings suggest that adherent peritoneal cell cytotoxicity could be at least partly due to macrophages and result from factor (s) released by sensitized lymphocytes in vivo in the same way as has been previously demonstrated in vitro.     

Spatial conformation of human serotransferrin glycans]

The construction of molecular models for the human serotransferrin glycans shows that they present one compact section linked to the protein and constituted by the pentasaccharide alpha-Man-(1 leads to 3)-[alpha-Man-(1 leads to 6)]-beta-Man-(1 leads to 4)-beta-GlcNAc-(1 leads to 4)-beta-GlcNAc-(1 leads to)-Asn to which are attached two "antennae" consisting of the trisaccharide alpha-NANA-(2 leads to 6)-beta-Gal-(1 leads to 4)-beta-GlcNAc. The trisaccharide sequence beta-Man-(1 leads to 4)-beta-GlcNAc-(1 leads to 4)-beta-GlcNAc adopts a flat and rigid conformation, stabilised by hydrogen bonds. In contrast, the sequence alpha-NANA-(1 leads to 6)-beta-Gal-(1 leads to 4)-beta-GlcNAc-(1 leads to 2)-alpha-Man takes up a helical configuration. The two "antennae" can be disposed on the pentasaccharide core to give two possible configurations, one Y-shaped and the other T-shaped. In both cases, the general conformation of the glycans is perfectly compatible with their postulated role as a recognition signal.     

Conversion of mammalian cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase into modulator-dependent protein kinase (type II) in vitro

The spontaneous conversion of mammalian cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (G-PK) into modulator-dependent protein kinase (type II) (M-PKII) in the absence of cGMP or histone was observed in vitro. The findings, together with similarity in substrate protein specificity, suggest that M-PKII is the catalytic subunit of mammalian G-PK.     

Effects of thyrotrophic-releasing hormone (TRH) on thermoregulation in the rat

At ambient temperatures (Ta) of both 8 and 22 degrees C, intraventricular administration of TRH (10-80 microgram) produced a dose-dependent hypothermia in rats. The hypothermia was due to both decreased metabolic heat production and cutaneous vasodilatation. In contrast, at 30 degrees C Ta, TRH increased metabolic heat production (due to behavioral excitation) and led to hyperthermia.     

Inheritance and expression ofEsterase-1 allozymes inPeromyscus leucopus

Summary We analyzed inheritance of 5Es-1 alleles inP. leucopus and found them to be co-dominant and segregating from a single autosomal locus, thereby verifying assumptions of Mendelian inheritance imfield data. We also described an allele that is silent in hemolysate, but is active in liver extract.Acknowledgment. Laboratory analysis was partially supported by a grant-in-aid (No. 0171-02-240-76) to Kaufman from the Research Foundation of State University of New York.     

Down's syndrome: changes in protein fractions of blood plasma

Summary A statistically significant decrease of prealbumin and statistically significant increases of alpha₂-macroglobulin and IgA were found in blood plasma of patients with Down's syndrome using quantitative crossed immunoelectrophoresis.We are indebted to Prof. T.C. Bøg-Hansen, University of Copenhagen, for the helpful discussion of our results.