Does tenotomy of skeletal muscle alter Z-line width in older animals?

Summary Results of unilateral achilles tenotomy on older (350–410 g) male rats, showed that the general width of Z-lines in the tenotomized muscles was not significantly altered by this procedure. Streaming of the Z-lines and rod formations was still present, as in younger rats.This investigation was supported in part by NIH grants 1-RO1-NS-14033 and 1-T32-07224.     

Coexistence of neoteny and an internal cycle a polystomatid (Monogenea)]

Metapolystoma cachani a parasite of Ptychadena longirostris (Peters) has been discovered in the Ivory coast. Its life cycle is the first to involve both the possibility of an internal cycle in the bladder of the adult Amphibian and a neotenical reproduction on the gills of the Tadpole. This double process is the link between the Monogeneans which are only parasites of aquatic hosts and those which are adapted to terrestrial hosts. Its place is therefore essential in the phylogeny of Polystomatidae.     

Degenerative atrophy of central terminals of primary sensory neurons induced by blockade of axoplasmic transport in peripheral nerves

Summary Perineural colchicine- or vinblastine-treatment results in disappearance of non-lysosomal acid phosphatase activity, characterizing axon terminals in the Rolando substance of the normal spinal cord. Ultrastructural alterations are identical with those seen in the course of degenerative atrophy.Supported by research grant No. 4-01-0303-01-1 from the Hungarian Ministry of Health.     

Structure of an antibody combining site by magnetic resonance.

The structure of the combining site of the DNP binding IgA mouse myeloma protein MOPC 315 has been determined by a combination of high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance, model building and chemical modifications. This approach yields that general dimensions of the site, its polarity and asymmetry features, the assignment of the DNP-contact residues and their three-dimensional coordinates.     

Antifertility activity of trimethylphosphate in male rats

Summary The toxic effect of trimethylphosphate on rat testes was investigated after oral dosing with 250 mg/kg for either 5 days/week for 30 days or 6 days/week for 60 days. After these prolonged treatments azoospermia resulted.Acknowledgments. The authors wish to thank Ms M. Michelles, Ms A. Murray and Ms R. Peake for their technical support.     

HLA-restricted T-cell recognition of Epstein-Barr virus-infected B cells

In mice the cytotoxic T-cell response to several types of virus is influenced by genes within the major histocompatibility complex; in particular, genetic control is exercised at the effector cell level through a requirement that virus-specific cytotoxic T cells recognise viral antigens in association with H-2K and H=2D region gene products on the surface of infected cells. In man the restriction which the analogous HLA-A, -B and -C-region gene products might place on virus-specific T-cell function is still in dispute. The earliest and most controversial evidence concerns the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a B lymphotropic agent which causes infectious mononucleosis (IM) and which induces an unusually vigorous T-cell response; cytotoxic T cells from IM patients' blood were shown to be EBV-specific yet, in contrast to mouse systems, apparently free of any obvious HLA restriction. Since then T-cell recognition of EBV-infected B cells has assumed particular significance as a model system for the study of cytotoxic T-cell function in man. This report describes the results of a new approach clearly indicating that HLA-A and -B region products do indeed have a role in this system.     

Intrauterine device increases the fibrinolytic activity of the rat endometrium at deciduation, a new aspect of its contraceptive effect.

The fibrinolytic activity of the endometrium of the two uterine horns in the rat was histochemically determined. One of the horns contained a plastic-IUD, the other served as control. The endometrium of the control horn was almost inactive in contrast with that of the IUD-horn in which fibrinolytic activity was apparent. The fibrinolytic activity induced by the IUD might be involved in the prevention of ova implantation.