Further evidence for the dissociation of digoxin-like immunoreactivity from Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitory activity

Summary The effects of adrenalectomy or nephrectomy, carried out one hour previously, on the levels of endogenous digitalis-like factors were determined in rat plasma. Factors were assayed by digoxin-like immunoreactivity and direct Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitory activity. Digoxin-like immunoreactivity significantly decreased one hour after bilateral ablation of adrenals, while Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitory activity remained unaltered. There were no changes in either activity one hour after bilateral nephrectomy. These results suggest that digoxin-like immunoreactivity may be derived from the adrenal gland or under adrenal control and the major substances detected by digoxin-like immunoreactivity and direct Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitory activity may be different.     

An optical spectrum of the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst at a redshift of z = 6.295

The prompt gamma-ray emission from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) should be detectable out to distances of z > 10 (ref. 1), and should therefore provide an excellent probe of the evolution of cosmic star formation, reionization of the intergalactic medium, and the metal enrichment history of the Universe. Hitherto, the highest measured redshift for a GRB has been z = 4.50 (ref. 5). Here we report the optical spectrum of the afterglow of GRB 050904 obtained 3.4 days after the burst; the spectrum shows a clear continuum at the long-wavelength end of the spectrum with a sharp cut-off at around 9,000 A due to Lyman alpha absorption at z approximately 6.3 (with a damping wing). A system of absorption lines of heavy elements at z = 6.295 +/- 0.002 was also detected, yielding the precise measurement of the redshift. The Si ii fine-structure lines suggest a dense, metal-enriched environment around the progenitor of the GRB.     

2,2′-dihydroxy-6,6′-dinaphthyl disulphide (DDD) diazo blue B reactive granules in the parathyroid gland of the rat and toad

Zusammenfassung Granula in Parenchymzellen von Ratten und Kröten-Epithelkörperchen treten durch 2,2-Dihydroxy-6,6-dinaphthyl-disulfid (DDD) Diazo-Blau-B-gefärbt, deutlich hervor. Ihre Menge, Färbbarkeit und Verteilung unter verschiedenen Bedingungen scheinen für die zelluläre Sekretionstätigkeit charakteristisch zu sein.     

Detection ofγ-crystallins in the developing amphibian lens by peroxidase-labelled antibodies

Zusammenfassung Antikörper, die entweder mit Fluoresceinisothiocyanat oder mit Peroxidase markiert waren, wurden auf ihre Spezifität im Erkennen von Linsen-Antigenen untersucht. Beide Markierer ergeben gleiche Resultate: die-Kristalline können in den Linsenfaserzellen lokalisiert werden, nicht aber in den Linsenepithelzellen.

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Supported by the Damon Runyon Memorial Fund for Cancer Research, New York; and by the Kredit zur Förderung des akademischen Nachwuchses an der Universität Zürich.

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This research was sponsored by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission under contract with the Union Carbide Corporation.