Accelerated and prolongated multiplication of antibody-forming spleen cells byBordetella pertussis in mice immunized with sheep red blood cells

Zusammenfassung Der Wirkungsmechanismus immunologischer Adjuvantien ist nicht bekannt. Mittels Anwendung der Jerneschen Technik wurde daher die Frage untersucht, ob Pertussisorganismen ihre adjuvante Wirksamkeit über eine Vermehrung immunologisch kompetenter Zellen entfalten. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die simultane Injektion vonB. pertussis und Schaferythrocyten im Vorgleich zur alleinigen Injektion von Schaferythrocyten bei NMRI-Mäusen zu einer beschleunigten, gesteigerten und verlängerten Bildung anti-körperbildender Milzzellen führt.

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This work was supported by research grant No. Fi 115/1 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

A radiation hybrid map of the zebrafish genome.

Recent large-scale mutagenesis screens have made the zebrafish the first vertebrate organism to allow a forward genetic approach to the discovery of developmental control genes. Mutations can be cloned positionally, or placed on a simple sequence length polymorphism (SSLP) map to match them with mapped candidate genes and expressed sequence tags (ESTs). To facilitate the mapping of candidate genes and to increase the density of markers available for positional cloning, we have created a radiation hybrid (RH) map of the zebrafish genome. This technique is based on somatic cell hybrid lines produced by fusion of lethally irradiated cells of the species of interest with a rodent cell line. Random fragments of the donor chromosomes are integrated into recipient chromosomes or retained as separate minichromosomes. The radiation-induced breakpoints can be used for mapping in a manner analogous to genetic mapping, but at higher resolution and without a need for polymorphism. Genome-wide maps exist for the human, based on three RH panels of different resolutions, as well as for the dog, rat and mouse. For our map of the zebrafish genome, we used an existing RH panel and 1,451 sequence tagged site (STS) markers, including SSLPs, cloned candidate genes and ESTs. Of these, 1,275 (87.9%) have significant linkage to at least one other marker. The fraction of ESTs with significant linkage, which can be used as an estimate of map coverage, is 81.9%. We found the average marker retention frequency to be 18.4%. One cR3000 is equivalent to 61 kb, resulting in a potential resolution of approximately 350 kb.     

Die Unterdrückung des letalen anaphylaktischen Schocks bei der Maus

Summary The effect was investigated of Endoxan (cyclophosphamide) on anaphylactic shock in mice, induced with the aid of pertussis organisms. A complete inhibition by a dose of 4 mg/mouse can be proved. The formation of antibodies in the Endoxan-treated mice is depressed.     

The influence ofBordetella pertussis on the kinetics of antibody production to sheep red blood cells in NMRI mice

Zusammenfassung Die simultane i.p. Injektion von 4 × 10⁸ Schaferythrozyten und 2 × 10⁹ Zellen vonB. pertussis führt im Vergleich zur alleinigen Injektion des Erythrozytenantigens bei NMRI-Mäusen zu einer gesteigerten und verlängerten Proliferation M- und G/A-Antikörper produzierender Milzzellen.

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This work was supported by research grant No. Fi 115/1 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Deletion in Catna2, encoding alpha N-catenin,causes cerebellar and hippocampal lamination defects and impaired startle modulation

Mice homozygous for the cerebellar deficient folia (cdf) mutation are ataxic and have cerebellar hypoplasia and abnormal lobulation of the cerebellum. In the cerebella of cdf/cdf homozygous mice, approximately 40% of Purkinje cells are located ectopically in the white matter and inner granule-cell layer. Many hippocampal pyramidal cells are scattered in the plexiform layers, and those that are correctly positioned are less densely packed than are cells in wild-type mice. We show that fear conditioning and prepulse inhibition of the startle response are also disrupted in cdf/cdf mice. We identify a deletion on chromosome 6 that removes approximately 150 kb in the cdf critical region. The deletion includes part of Catna2, encoding alpha N-catenin, a protein that links the classical cadherins to the neuronal cytoskeleton. Expression of a Catna2 transgene in cdf/cdf mice restored normal cerebellar and hippocampal morphology, prepulse inhibition and fear conditioning. The findings suggest that catenin cadherin cell-adhesion complexes are important in cerebellar and hippocampal lamination and in the control of startle modulation.