Haemopoietic colony stimulating factors promote cell survival by suppressing apoptosis.

The survival, differentiation, proliferation and development of haemopoietic precursor cells and the functional activity of mature blood cells are all influenced by colony stimulating factors (CSFs). As haemopoietic cells rapidly die in the absence of appropriate CSF, the promotion of cell survival mediated by CSFs, or growth factors, is fundamental to all the other effects exerted by these factors. This enhancement of cell survival is distinct from the stimulation of proliferation. Here we show that the death of haemopoietic precursor cells on withdrawal of the relevant CSF. is due to active cell death, or apoptosis, indicating that CSFs promote cell survival by suppression of the process of apoptosis. The existence of a positive control mechanism regulating precursor cell survival has important implications both for the regulation of normal haemopoiesis and for tumorigenesis.     

The effect of endotoxin on membrane fatty acid composition in BCG-sensitized mice

Summary The effects of endotoxin on mouse liver phospholipid fatty acid composition have been investigated. Administration of endotoxin fromSalmonella abortus equi led to a decrease in the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of livers from mice sensitized with Bacille Calmette Guérin (GCG). The content of arachidonic acid fell significantly in both the phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol fractions whereas in the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction the linoleic acid content was significantly reduced. The polyunsaturated fatty acids were replaced by increased amounts of oleic acid and palmitic acid, leading to a reduction in the polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio.     

Consequences of sulphate-reducing bacterial growth in a lab-simulated waste disposal regime

Summary Experiments are described which investigate corrosion of forged 0.2% carbon steel in the presence of sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB). Cultures of a thermophilic bacteriumDesulfotomaculum nigrificans were mixed with bentonite and synthetic groundwater to simulate a bacteria-contamined backfill, and placed in contact with carbon steel disc specimens in perspex cells at 50°C under anaerobic conditions. The rates of corrosion were monitored by electrochemical techniques, together with changes in near field redox potential. After 340 days the nature and extent of any corrosion was measured and the SRB content of the bentonite determined. Recovery of relatively large numbers of bacteria after about one year incubation in an alkaline (pH 9.5) medium confirmed the pH tolerance of the strain. Enhanced corrosion (three times the rate of the control) occurred in at least two of the five cells that contained SRB despite the nutritionally poor environment which existed in the bentonite gel.     

Smooth muscle in the hepatic artery, portal vein and hepatic vein within the liver of the raccoon and guinea pig

The amount and arrangement of smooth muscle in the intrahepatic vessels suggests that the guinea pig would be a good animal model for studying mechanisms controlling intrahepatic portal vein blood flow, while the raccoon would be good for studying hepatic vein mechanisms of control.     

Smooth muscle in the hepatic artery,portal vein and hepatic vein within the liver of the raccoon and guinea pig

Summary The amount and arrangement of smooth muscle in the intrahepatic vessels suggests that the guinea pig would be a good animal model for studying mechanisms controlling intrahepatic portal vein blood flow, while the raccoon would be good for studying hepatic vein mechanisms of control.     

Particulate-bound pigment ofSerratia marcescens (Chromobacterium prodigiosum)

Résumé Le broyage mécanique deSerratia marcescens pigmentés produit un liquide rouge clair. Après centrifugation à 105 000×g, le pigment se sédimente sous forme d'un agglomérat rouge et la phase liquide reste incolore. La courbe du matériel de l'agglomérat remis en suspension montre à l'ultracentrifuge un seul sommet coïncidant avec le pigment.S. marcescens non pigmentés ne produisent pas d'agglomérat après broyage et centrifugation et donnent une courbe différente à l'ultracentrifuge.     

A protein with several possible membrane-spanning domains encoded by the Drosophila segment polarity gene patched

The patterning of cells in insect segments requires the exchange of information between cells, which in Drosophila depends on the activity of members of the segment-polarity class of genes. Here we report the molecular characterization of one such gene, patched. We find that patched encodes a large protein with several possible membrane-spanning domains and is expressed in a complex pattern during embryogenesis.