Differences in cardiac myosin light chain LC1 among human, monkey and sheep

The atrial and ventricular myosin light chains of human, monkey and sheep hearts were compared by dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The atrial light chain 2 and ventricular light chain 2 are similar among these mammals. However, the atrial light chain 1 of monkey has different electrophoretic mobility from those of human and sheep. The monkey ventricular light chain 1 has same mobility as that of sheep but different from that of human.     

Number of glucocorticoid receptors in lymphocytes and their sensitivity to hormone action

The study demonstrated a decreased level of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in peripheral blood lymphocytes from hypercholesterolemic subjects, and an elevated level in patients with acute myocardial infarction. In the lymphocytes with a high GR number, dexamethasone inhibited [3H]-thymidine and [3H]-acetate incorporation into DNA and cholesterol, respectively, in the same manner as in the control cells. On the other hand, a decreased GR number resulted in a less efficient dexamethasone inhibition of the incorporation of labeled compounds. These data showed that the sensitivity of lymphocytes to glucocorticoids changed only with a decrease of GR level.     

Membrane resting potentials in cultured mouse neuroblastoma cells

Summary Membrane resting potentials (MRP) were measured systematically in cultured mouse N₂A neuroblastoma cells: 1) in the logarithmic growth phase; 2) in subconfluent cultures; 3) in confluent cultures; 4) after dBcAMP had induced morphological differentiation. Neurite extension was accompanied by a significant increase in MRP as compared to the appropriate controls. No significant differences in MRP were observed with regard to the different growth phases.     

Latent iron deficiency alters gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate metabolism in rat brain

Summary A diet containing 18–20 mg iron/kg to young weaned rats for 8 weeks altered the metabolism of gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate in the central nervous system without affecting blood hemoglobin. Subsequent rehabilitation with 390 mg iron/kg diet for 2 weeks normalized these changes.     

Spatiotemporal programs and genetics of orientation

Summary A number of migratory bird species have endogenous annual rhythms that regulate the entire annual cycle including the migratory portion. Moreover, captive migrants display inherited migratory activity; this could theoretically also be used by free-living migrants as a time-program for migration. Finally, this heritable migratory activity is oriented in a seasonally appropriate direction even in naive birds. These, characteristics should enable inexperienced migrants isolated from contact with experienced conspecifics to utilize a heritable vector-navigation program to migrate from the breeding grounds to the winter quarters. That is, migrants should reach goal areas they have never experienced by migrating in programmed directions, for as long a period as the genetically fixed time-program for migratory activity induces them to do so. The time-course of migration as established by trapping stations, theoretical influences of environmental variables on migratory programs, and also compensatory behavior and migratory backup measures, are discussed. The present evidence supports the view that a large number of migrants are essentially brought to their wintering areas by vector-navigation systems.     

Structure assignments of two new C-18-oxygenated steroidal ketals isolated from a pacific soft coral of the genusSinularia

Summary Two new C-18-oxygenated sterols possessing a spiroketal function (1 and2) have been isolated from a soft coral of the genusSinularia. The proposed structures are based on spectral data.     

Interpreting animal wall-following behavior

Summary Using computer simulations and behavioral experiments with the American cockroach, we found that active vs passive (barrier-directed) wall-following can be readily distinguished and quantified by incorporating a range of convex curves into test arenas. Although previously considered strongly thigmotactic, more than 50% of running American cockroaches depart convex curves with diameters, less than 1 m. A new framework for evaluating wall-following behaviors is presented.     

Cryopreservation of Drosophila melanogaster embryos

There is an urgent need to preserve the ever-increasing number (greater than 30,000) of different genetic strains of D. melanogaster that are maintained in national and international stock centres and in the laboratories of individual investigators. In all cases, the stocks are maintained as adult populations and require transfer to fresh medium every two to four weeks. This is not only costly in terms of materials, labour and space, but unique strains are vulnerable to accidental loss, contamination, and changes in genotype that can occur during continuous culture through mutation, genetic drift or selection. Although cryopreservation of Drosophila germ-plasm would be an enormous advantage, many attempts using conventional procedures have been unsuccessful. D. melanogaster embryos are refractory to conventional cryopreservation procedures because of the contravening conditions required to minimize mortality resulting from both intracellular ice formation and chilling injury at subzero temperatures. To overcome these obstacles, we have developed a vitrification procedure that precludes intracellular ice formation so that the embryos can be cooled and warmed at ultra-rapid rates to minimize chilling injury, and have recovered viable embryos following storage in liquid nitrogen. In a series of 53 experiments, a total of 3,711 larvae emerged from 17,280 eggs that were cooled in liquid nitrogen (18.4 +/- 8.8%). Further, using a subset from this population, approximately 3% of the surviving larvae (24/800) developed into adults. These adults were fertile and produced an F1 generation.