Preparation of isolated cells from rat heart

Summary Suspensions of isolated cells from rat heart were prepared and the data for viability and yield are given. Glucose uptake by the cells was mediated by a carrier system.The technical assistance of Mr.E. T. Potter, Mr.K. D. Patel and Mr.M. Griffin is gratefully acknowledged.     

Effect of the juvenoid methoprene on the hemolymph composition of the cabbage maggotDelia radicum (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)

Summary Treatment of post-feeding larvae of the cabbage maggotDelia radicum with methoprene did not affect the capacity of the insect to pupate, but suppressed eclosion to the adult stage. The concentration of hemolymph trehalose was significantly decreased by methoprene treatment, although hemolymph protein and amino nitrogen levels were unaffected.19 December 1986The authors are grateful to D. C. Read of the Research Centre, Agriculture Canada, Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada for supplying eggs ofD. radicum for the stock colony. TheD. radicum colony was maintained at the Agriculture Canada Research Station, St. John's West, Newfoundland, Canada. The sample of methoprene was donated by Zoecon Corp., Palo Alto, California, U.S.A. This research was supported by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Operating grant A6679).     

Reputed rat scotophobin prepared by a solid-phase procedure shown invalid by comparison with a product derived from a classical synthesis on the basis of physical and biological properties

Zusammenfassung Eine Synthese von Scotophobin mit klassischen Methoden ergab ein Produkt, das sich vom natürlichen Peptid hinsichtlich seiner biologischen, chromatographischen und physiologischen Eigenschaften unterschied. Es wird daraus gefolgert, dass die für das natürliche Produkt vorgeschlagene Strukturformel nicht korrekt ist.     

Electrolyte transport in the seminiferous tubules of the rat studied by the stopped-flow microperfusion technique

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe der «stopped-flow»-Mikroperfusionstechnik wurden am Samenkanälchen Elektrolyttransportprozesse untersucht. Es wurde gefunden, dass die Kanälchen ein kaliumreiches Primärsekret bilden. Dieses unterscheidet sich in seiner Zusammensetzung von dem Sekret, das man gewöhnlich unter ungestörten Fliessbedingungen findet.

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This project was supported by the Rural Bank of Australia. One of us (R.D.H.) thanks the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia for the award of a B.Sc. (med.) studentship for 1970.     

Spink5-deficient mice mimic Netherton syndrome through degradation of desmoglein 1 by epidermal protease hyperactivity

Mutations in SPINK5, encoding the serine protease inhibitor LEKTI, cause Netherton syndrome, a severe autosomal recessive genodermatosis. Spink5(-/-) mice faithfully replicate key features of Netherton syndrome, including altered desquamation, impaired keratinization, hair malformation and a skin barrier defect. LEKTI deficiency causes abnormal desmosome cleavage in the upper granular layer through degradation of desmoglein 1 due to stratum corneum tryptic enzyme and stratum corneum chymotryptic enzyme-like hyperactivity. This leads to defective stratum corneum adhesion and resultant loss of skin barrier function. Profilaggrin processing is increased and implicates LEKTI in the cornification process. This work identifies LEKTI as a key regulator of epidermal protease activity and degradation of desmoglein 1 as the primary pathogenic event in Netherton syndrome.