Endorcine cells producing regulatory peptides

Summary Recent data on the immunologication of regulatory peptides and related propeptide sequences in endocrine cells and tumours of the gastrointestinal tract pancreas, lung, thyroid, pituitary (ACTH and opioids), adrenals and paraganglia have been revised and discussed. Gastrin, xenopsin, cholecystokinin (CCK), somatostatin, motilin, secretin, GIP (gastric inhibitory beenrevised and discussed. Gastrin, xenopsin, cholecystokinin (CCK), somatostatin, motilin, secretin, GIP (gastric inhibitory polypeptide), neurotensin, glicentin/glucagon-37 and PYY (peptide tyrosine tyrosine) are the main products of gastrointestinal endocrine cells; glucagon, CRF (corticotropin releasing factor), somatostatin, PP (pancreatic polypeptide) and GRF (growth hormone releasing factor), in addition to insulin, are produced in pancreatic islet cells; bombesin-related peptidesare the main markers of pulmonary endocrine cells; calcitonin and CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) occur in thyroid and extrathyroid C cells; ACTH and endorphins in anterior and intermediate lobe pituitary cells, -MSH and CLIP (corticotropoin-like intermediate lobe peptide) in intermediate lobe cells; met- and leu-enkephalins and related peptides in adrenal medullary and paraganglionic cells as well as in some gut (enterochromaffin) cells; NPY (neuropeptide Y) in adrenalin-type adrenal medullary cells, etc.. Both tissue-appropriate and tissue-inappropriate regulatory peptides are produced by endocrine tumours, with inappropriate peptides mostly produced by malignant tumours.     

Perennial N2 supersaturation in an Antarctic lake

The dry valleys of southern Victoria Land in Antarctica contain several closed basins in which perennially ice-covered lakes are found. One of the most unusual features of these lakes is the occurrence of high O2 concentrations in the water column; values ranging from slightly more than saturation to more than four times saturation have been reported. Recently, we considered a bulk O2 budget for Lake Hoare, Antarctica, which led us to suggest that biological processes alone were not sufficient to explain the observed elevated oxygen levels. Consequently, there must be a non-biological source of O2. We suggested that this source results from the exclusion of O2 during the freezing of aerated meltstream water at the bottom of the ice cover, and predicted that this physical mechanism should also enhance the other atmospheric gases. Here we report the results of a study which, for the first time, documents the supersaturation of N2 in a lake. Dissolved N2 levels of 145% and 163% were determined from samples taken just below the ice cover and at a depth of 12 m, respectively. The relatively importance of biological and abiological sources is reflected in the ratio of N2 concentration to O2 concentration. In Lake Hoare this ratio was 1.20 at ice/water interface and 1.05 at 12 m; considerably different from the ratio in equilibrium with air (approximately 1.8). Based on these results, we have determined that about half of the net O2 production in the lake is the result of biological processes.     

Photoperiodic summation is temperature-dependent inPyrrhocoris apterus (L.) (Heteroptera)

Summary InPyrrhocoris apterus, a low temperature, 15°C, prevented the termination of diapause by long days and, unexpectedly, also the induction of diapause by short days. Both responses were enabled at a higher temperature, 26°C. In contrast to current concepts, it was proved that the summation of photoperiodic signals was temperature-dependent, since the morphogenetic development was prevented by starvation.     

A major metabolite of Δ1-tetrahydrocannabinol reduces its cataleptic effect in mice

Summary The results described here demonstrate that THC-induced catalepsy in mice can be substantially inhibited by the prior administration of ¹-THC-7-oic acid, the major metabolite of THC in most species including humans. This raises the possibility that the intensity and duration of action of THC may depend to a large degree on the levels of this metabolite at the sites of action.We thank the National Institute on Drug Abuse for supporting this project by grants DA-02043 and DA-02052 and for supplying all of the cannabinoids. One of us (S.B.) is also the recipient of a Research Scientist Award from NIDA. We are grateful to Kristen Carlson and Thomas Honeyman for helpful suggestions in preparing this report.     

Binding of 11-cis retinaldehyde to the partially purified cellular retinaldehyde binding protein from bovine retinal pigment epithelium

Summary 11-cis retinaldehyde binding analysis was performed on a bovine retinal pigment epithelium preparation of cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP), whose purity degree was estimated as 75%. Equilibrium binding studies were carried out measuring the replacement of tritium-labeled with unlabeled 11-cis retinaldehyde at 25°C. Analysis of the experimental data both by a direct curve-fitting procedure utilizing a non linear least square regression analysis and by a conventional Scatchard plot revealed a single non-interacting binding site with an apparent equilibrium constant of 0.9×10^–7 M.A binding stoichiometry of approximately 1 mol of 11-cis retinaldehyde/mol of binding protein can be calculated from the experimental data. Competition studies carried out in the presence of unlabeled trans and cis isomers of Vitamin A derivatives confirm the high degree of specificity of the 11-cis retinaldehyde binding.     

贵州省不同类型自然保护地空间分异及其影响因素

受自然与社会因素的影响,不同类型自然保护地的空间分异存在较大的差异.研究针对贵州省内的自然保护区、森林公园、湿地公园和风景名胜区等4类自然保护地,综合运用最邻近点指数、地理集中指数、核密度和地理探测器模型对其空间分异特征进行分析,并探讨其影响因素.结果表明：自然保护区与其余3种自然保护地在数量的空间分异特征上具有明显差异,但4种自然保护地在面积的空间分异特征上均表现出离散化分布的特征,具有较高的相似性.相同影响因素的解释力在不同类型的自然保护地上差异较大,在数量上主要影响因素呈现出趋异性,而面积上主要影响因素则呈现出趋同性.任意2个影响因素交互后其解释力均增强,交互的特征呈多维度复合影响的态势.不同类型自然保护地功能定位的差别是其主要影响因素呈现出趋异性和趋同性的主要原因.     

基于差异化绿色电力交易需求的省级绿色电力市场绩效评价

绿色电力作为环境友好型能源在近年来得到了广泛的应用,为探索省级电力市场绿色电力交易成效,首先通过梳理国外绿色电力市场机制和交易组织情况,并对比分析国内国网区域和南网区域的绿色电力交易现状,总结出国内各网省绿色电力交易的开展情况和规则特点。然后从分布式绿色电力参与市场交易、绿色电力偏差调整和绿色电力曲线形成三个方面,进行了差异化绿色电力交易需求分析与实践探索。最后针对性构建省级绿色电力交易的绩效评价指标体系,并进行实例分析,为省级电力市场绿色电力交易方法和市场评价提供参考方案。