Chromatography of mast cell sensitizing antibodies in guinea-pigs

Résumé L'inoculation intraveineuse d'albumine humaine (HA), provoque chez le cobaye l'apparition d'un anticorps (-1) sensibilisant les cellules mast (CM) homologues. L'inoculation dans le coussinet plantaire (HA et adjuvant de Freund complet) fait apparaître deux anticorps: l'un (-2) sensibilisant les CM hétérologues, l'autre (dans le-1 ainsi que dans le-2) sensibilisant les CM homologues.

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We thank Mrs.Nava Raz, Mrs.Tamar Minai and Mr.I. Ofek for technical assistance.     

Effects of isolation on maternal aggressiveness and body growth rates of offspring

Résumé L'isolement prolongé de souris femelles ralentit le développement et l'augmentation de poids de leurs progénitures. Aucun effet n'a été observé sur la fertilité ou la fécondité maternelle.     

Pluripotency of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adult marrow

We report here that cells co-purifying with mesenchymal stem cells--termed here multipotent adult progenitor cells or MAPCs--differentiate, at the single cell level, not only into mesenchymal cells, but also cells with visceral mesoderm, neuroectoderm and endoderm characteristics in vitro. When injected into an early blastocyst, single MAPCs contribute to most, if not all, somatic cell types. On transplantation into a non-irradiated host, MAPCs engraft and differentiate to the haematopoietic lineage, in addition to the epithelium of liver, lung and gut. Engraftment in the haematopoietic system as well as the gastrointestinal tract is increased when MAPCs are transplanted in a minimally irradiated host. As MAPCs proliferate extensively without obvious senescence or loss of differentiation potential, they may be an ideal cell source for therapy of inherited or degenerative diseases.     

DNA reveals high dispersal synchronizing the population dynamics of Canada lynx

Population dynamics of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) have been of interest to ecologists for nearly sixty years. Two competing hypotheses concerning lynx population dynamics and large-scale spatial synchrony are currently debated. The first suggests that dispersal is substantial among lynx populations, and the second proposes that lynx at the periphery of their range exist in small, isolated patches that maintain cycle synchrony via correlation with extrinsic environmental factors. Resolving the nature of lynx population dynamics and dispersal is important both to ecological theory and to the conservation of threatened lynx populations: the lack of knowledge about connectivity between populations at the southern periphery of the lynx's geographic range delayed their legal listing in the United States. We test these competing hypotheses using microsatellite DNA markers and lynx samples from 17 collection sites in the core and periphery of the lynx's geographic range. Here we show high gene flow despite separation by distances greater than 3,100 km, supporting the dispersal hypothesis. We therefore suggest that management actions in the contiguous United States should focus on maintaining connectivity with the core of the lynx's geographic range.     

A molecular mechanism for long-term sensitization in Aplysia

Sensitization of the gill- and siphon-withdrawal reflex in Aplysia is thought to result from a set of molecular processes with different time courses: short-term sensitization is explained by cyclic AMP-dependent modulation of ion-channel function in sensory neurons lasting minutes; memory that endures for hours or longer, by the expression and distribution within the neurons of new gene products. Because gene induction and axonal transport are relatively slow, there may also be a need for a distinct form of intermediate memory to bridge the short- and long-term processes. We now report that a protocol producing long-term sensitization results in a decrease in the amount of regulatory subunits of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase in animals 24 h after training, with no effect on the catalytic subunit. The loss appears to be post-translational. Because a decrease in the ratio of regulatory to catalytic subunits would result in elevated kinase activity after cAMP has returned to its unstimulated concentration in sensory cells, it could be the molecular mechanism of intermediate memory.     

Functionally distinct subsites on a class II major histocompatibility complex molecule

Mature T lymphocytes are activated by recognition of the combination of foreign protein antigen and membrane products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Studies of peptide antigen binding to detergent-solubilized class II MHC molecules (Ia) have established that peptide-Ia interaction occurs in the absence of the T-cell receptor and varies according to allele-specific features of Ia molecules. The residues of immunogenic peptides thus contribute to two largely independent functions--the control of association with Ia molecules and the determination of the specificity of T-cell receptor binding. Two analogous and potentially independent functional sites have been postulated for Ia molecules--a region that controls binding to peptides and a region that interacts with T-cell receptors. Here we present evidence from functional analysis of recombinant class II molecules that these two postulated functional regions of Ia molecules do exist and can be independently manipulated, consistent with our recent demonstration of the segmental nature of Ia molecule structure-function relationships.     

Reaction time of the topminnowAplocheilus lineatus to surface waves determined by video- and electromyogram recordings

Summary Evoked muscle potentials during a localizing response for a wave center occur inAplocheilus lineatus 30±1.5 msec ( ) earlier than the simultaneously monitored body movements. Considering this time, only the first 8–10 wave cycles of a total wave signal are utilized to identify and localize a wave source.This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.