Les systèmes vivants : une source d’inspiration pour les microsystèmes et les capteurs biomédicaux

Living beings are inventing, testing, improving new concepts, solutions and devices from hundred millions years. These living systems are able of self-feeding, they take their energy for the environment and also, they are able of reproduction, adaptation and self-repairing. Living beings as birds, butterflies, sharks and dolphins have optimized flight and swimming and their surface for moving with the lowest energy cost. The golf ball, the wings of aircraft, ships and submarines… are now inspired by the Nature's aero- and hydrodynamism. Our organs and tissues are under the control of millions of microsensors, which measure physical, chemical, mechanical… parameters and are associated to microactuators. This distributed intelligence is present even in the structure of living beings. The wing of fly or dragon fly and also bones have extraordinary characteristics of mechanical resistance and lightness and their complex structure is designed so that at any place there is exactly and appropriate quantities of matter with the good orientation and the smallest weight. The new materials, micro- and nanotechnologies, signal processing, the progress in chemistry and optics… allow us to understand and also to design and build at the scale and size of Nature, using its concepts and taking advantage of the human technologies. It is not always possible to copy directly living beings and their solutions; nature does not give us blue print “ready to copy”. We have to analyze the content of the “huge data bank” of living beings for the adaptation of our technologies. Miniaturization, intelligence, low energy, recycling, low cost, high reliability are the main qualities of “bioinspired devices”. They fit exactly with the needs of modern users. The multidisciplinary and the bioinspired approach have to link engineers, scientists and industrials for taking real benefits.     

Caractéristiques sérologiques des antigènes HLA-A,B et C.

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are transmembrane bicatenar glycoproteins; their heavy chain is coded by chromosome 6 and carries allotypic determinants. These molecules are present in nearly every cell, tissue and biologic fluid. Their congenital absence from fibroblasts is associated with progeria, while their absence from lymphocytes is associated with immunodeficiency. HLA antigens are usually studied microlymphocytotoxicity tests. The numerous cross-reactions encountered make the interpretation of results quite difficult. To clearly understand these reactions a complex-complex model is mandatory. The antigen, the HLA molecule, is complex since it carries many antigenic determinants; some of them are private ("subtypic"), while others are public ("subtypic"). Anti-HLA antibodies are also complex since they are heterogeneous, reacting with variable affinity with different antigenic determinants. The in vitro cross-reactions represent a partial explanation for varying cross-immunogenicity in vivo.     

Evolution des potentialités dysgénésiques du système P-M dans des populations expérimentales mixtes P,Q, M et M′ de Drosophila melanogaster

Change of hybrid dysgenesis potentials in P-M system of Drosophila melanogaster — In the P-M system of hybrid dysgenesis, three types of Drosophila melanogaster strains have been described in relation to hybrid gonadal sterility: P, Q and M. When M strain females were mated with P strain males, the P factors resulted in variable level of sterility in their progeny. The Q strain had no significant potential for sterility in any hybrid strain combination. To observe the dynamics of chromosomal contamination, due to the P transposable elements in different genetic context, mixed populations of these three types of strains were set up and monitored for their gonadal sterility potential during at least 30 generations.A first set of 16 experimental populations was set up; each of these was initiated with a mixture of 50% of individuals from the Harwich strain (a strong P strain) and 50% of individuals from a M or Q strain collected in natural populations. The M activity levels of these strains corresponded to a range from 100% to 0%. For all of these populations, the M activity potential disappeared during the five first generations. However, the P activity potential reached an equilibrium level positively correlated with the M activity potential level introduced at the beginning. It is proposed that the force of invasion of the P type by chromosomal contamination through the transposition of the P elements is dependent on the copy number of P sequences present on the chromosome of the M strain in competition.A second set of 18 experimental populations was set up with a mixture of P, M or Q strains collected in France between 1965 and 1982 (this period probably corresponds to the invasion of the P elements in France). After 30 generations, all of these populations (except one) had lost all dysgenic sterility potentiality and seemed to be of the Q type. Taking into account the results obtained from the two sets of experimental populations, the temporal and geographical distribution of P elements in the world could be explained by a progressive diffusion of autonomous P elements, from America with an accompanying decrease of their ability to transpose.

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Ce travail a été réalisé dans le cadre de l'A.T.P. Biologie des populations et de l'UA 693 du C.N.R.S.     

Étude au microscope électronique sur les systémes d'expansions foliacées présents dans les macrophages et les cellules épithélioides

Sommaire Dans les lésions pneumocomotiques ou tuberculeuses, chez l'homme ou l'animal d'expérience, on peut rencontrer des cellules du type macrophage ou éputhélioïdes présentant un nombre variable de voiles protoplasmiques réguliers minces de 0,05 à 0,1, long de 1 à 2 et toujours séparés entre eux par des espaces réguliers très minces. Ces voiles sont intriqués étroitement avec ceux de cellules voisines. Ces dispositifs peuvent conduire finalement à la fusion de cellules en éléments à noyaux multiples.     

État et problèmes de l'étude et de l'utilisation en U.R.S.S. des entomophages dans la lutte biologique contre les insectes nuisibles

Summary The biological control in the U.S.S.R. is used against about 20 insect pests. The development of biological control realized in these lines:a) guarding and accumulation of useful entomophagous insects in nature;b) laboratory breeding, seasonal colonization and overflooding in breeding places of pests;c) introduction and acclimatization of the effective foreign entomophagous insects;d) inland distribution;e) use of indigenous entomophagous insects and raising of their effectivness by selection and hybridization.

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Резюме Биологический метод боръбы в СССР исполъзуется примерн о против 20 видов вредних насекомых. Развитие биологического метода борщбы с вредителями идет в направлениях: а) охраны и “накопления” энтомофагов в природе; б) искусственного размножения энтомофагов в лаборатории и сезонной колонизации их в очагах размножения вредителей; в) интродукции и акклиматизации испытанных иноземных энтомофагов; г) внутриареeлъного расселения эффективных, но локалъно распространенных полезных видов энтомофалов; д) исполъэования местных, абориленных энтомофагов, путем повыщения их эффективности методами отбора и гибридизации.

     

Apomorphine, systèmes dopaminergiques centraux et contrôle de l’érection

Relaxation of penile erectile tissue and increased blood flow in the penile arteries are the two basic local mechanisms of erection. Relaxation is elicited by several agents released by the nerve terminals of sacral parasympathetic pathways (nitric oxide [NO] and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide [VIP]) and endothelial cells. The increased activity of sacral parasympathetic pathways leads to erection. Other molecules (e.g. noradrenaline) released by the nerve endings of sympathetic pathways contract the penile tissue and arteries. A decrease in sympathetic pathway activity can therefore lead to erection. A better understanding of the local mechanisms of penile erection has led to the production of compounds designed to treat erectile dysfunction via a peripheral target. Such compounds are recognised as initiators if they elicit erectionper se or as conditioners if they potentiate a mechanism already present. The central control of penile erection plays an important role in the optimal functioning of the erectile process. Sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves to the penis originate in the spinal cord. In a sexually relevant context, it is likely that a shift of the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activities causes erection. This shift is controlled at the spinal cord level by information from the periphery (reflex pathways) and from supraspinal nuclei. Recent experiments have focused on supraspinal nuclei present in the brainstem, pons, and hypothalamus that directly project onto the sacral spinal cord. Pharmacological approaches have revealed an important role for central dopamine in the control of sexual behavior and the genital tract in males. Central dopamine can therefore regulate both sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways. Levels of DA and its metabolites increase in several brain structures during sexual activity. DA agonists, e.g. the D₁/D₂ agonist apomorphine, affect the sexual behavior, erection and ejaculation in a variety of animal species and in humans. Recent clinical investigations have revealed the benefits of the use of apomorphine in patients suffering from erectile dysfunction. Compounds acting centrally, such as apomorphine, can contribute to reorganize the activity of sympathetic and parasympathetic outflows leading to an appropriate recruitment of the autonomic pathways to the genital tract.     

Les problèmes géologiques et typologiques des sites paléolithiques dans le Nord-Est du Japon

The northeastern area of Honshu is composed of six departments: Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Miyagi, Yamagata and Fukushima. The study of Paleolithic began in 1927 and has given place to the discovery of the site of Hanaizumi. Subsequently, one pushed the research below on land and the discovery of the first paleolithic site in Iwajyuku happened in 1946. Then, H. Nakagawa took back a success of survey of the geomorphological processes and the ordering of the fluviatile terraces with some layers from the volcano-sedimentary deposit of the Pleistocene in the basin of Kitakami and the one of Mabechi. Therefore, we understood that the archaeological levels of the region contain several sedimentary deposits volcano of quaternary origin from the Mounts Öu. In the basin of Kitakami, one noted the deposit of fall pyroclastic of Aiçra (AT) above the layer of the local volcanic ash from Kurosawajiri. Especially, it is one key of an important layer, the last horizon located under AT and above the tephra of Daïfudô from the local volcano, the pyroclastic stream of Towada and the involution of the layer of the volcanic ash from Kurosawajiri. More than 610 paleolithic sites has been counted in the Northeast.     

Ultrastructure et constitution des corps nucléaires dans les plasmocytes

Résumé Chez la souris C57 Bl, 2% des sections de noyaux de plasmocytes ganglionnaires contiennent un corps nucléaire, rarement plus. Chez les animaux immunisés par une injection d'hématies hétérologues, le pourcentage de noyaux plasmocytaires contenant un ou plusieurs corps nucléaires augmente jusqu'à 14% du 4ème au 9ème jour qui suivent l'administration de l'antigène. Cette augmentation est parallèle à l'élévation du taux des anticorps sériques. De plus, au même moment, le nombre des noyaux contenant plusieurs corps nucléaires augmente proportionnellement plus que celui des sections n'en contenant qu'un.Les corps nucléaires ont un diamètre moyen de 1,5 . Ils sont principalement formés d'un matériel finement granulaire ou filamenteux dont les éléments constitutifs ont un diamètre de 60 à 70 Å et de granules denses de 250 à 280 Å de diamètre. On en distingue plusieurs types selon la proportion relative et la disposition de ces constituants. Certains contiennent également des formations sphériques plus volumineuses dont le diamètre varie de 1000 à 1400 Å.L'étude ultrastructurale de ces corps après incubation des coupes en présence soit de RNAase soit de DNAase, révèle que les fins granules sont constitués de RNA, tandis que les grains denses représentent du DNA. Les digestions enzymatiques font apparaître une disposition en spirale de ces derniers éléments. Quant aux plus volumineuses formations sphériques, elles subsistent après les deux digestions et apparaissent comme étant en fait des tubes denses à double membrane.L'origine des corps nucléaires est discutée ainsi que la relation entre leur présence et la synthèse des protéines.

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Ultrastructure of the nuclear bodies in the plasma cells

Summary In the C57 Bl mouse, 2% of the sections of plasma cells nuclei from lymphnodes contain one nuclear body (N.B.). The occurrence of two or several bodies per nuclear section is rare. The percentage of plasma cell nuclear sections with one or more nuclear bodies rises up to 14% from the 4th to the 9th day after the injection of heterologous erythrocytes. This increase is parallel to that of blood antibodies. The number of nuclei with several N.B. increases more than that of nuclei with only one.These nuclear bodies have a mean diameter of 1.5 . They are made up of a finely granular or filamentous material (60 to 70 Å in diameter) and of larger dense granules (250 to 280 Å). According to the relative distribution of these constituents, several types of N.B. can be identified. Some of these contain also larger spherical granules with a diameter of about 1000 to 1400 Å.Sections have been incubated with RNAase or DNAase. The fine granules disappear with the former while the dense grains are attacked by the latter enzyme. These digestions show a spiral distribution of the dense grains. The large spherical structures are not modified by these treatments but they are then found to be dense tubes with double membranes.The origin of the nuclear bodies is discussed as well as their relationship to protein synthesis.

     

Facteurs de limitation des populations d'Aphis fabae dans l'ouest de la France III. Répartition et incidence des différentes espèces d'Entomophthora dans les populations

Résumé Plusieurs espèces d'Entomophthora participent à la régulation des populations d'Aphis fabae Scop. sur féverole dans l'Ouest de la France. Les r?les respectifs de chaque espèce ont été évalués en 1971 et de 1973 à 1975. Entomophthora fresenii Nowak. est l'espèce qui se dissémine le plus rapidement et le plus complètement dans les parcelles, et qui est la plus agressive au niveau des colonies. Ces deux caractères en font l'agent pathogène dominant d'A. fabae dans l'Ouest, 3 années d'observations sur 4.Entomophthora aphidis Hoffman, bien que présent tous les ans n'est le pathogène le plus efficace qu'en 1973.Entomophthora thaxteriana Petch etEntomophthora planchoniana Cornu n'apparaissent pas chaque année et, lorsqu'ils sont présents, n'interviennent que pour une faible part dans le développement des mycoses. Des facteurs inhérents à l'agent pathogène (spécificité, caractères du cycle) ainsi que des facteurs écologiques (climatiques) sont évoqués pour expliquer la prédominance d'E. fresenii.

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Summary Several species ofEntomophthora take part in the natural control ofAphis fabae Scop. on field beans (Vicia faba) in the West of France. The respective importance of each species was assessed in 1971 and from 1973 to 1975. Entomophthora fresenii Nowak. is the species that most completely and quickly spreads in the fields, and the most efficient in the colonies. For both reasonsE. fresenii is the main pathogen ofA. fabae in the West of France 3 years over 4. AlthoughEntomophthora aphidis Hoffman occurs every year, this species was the most efficient pathogen in 1973 only.Entomophthora thaxteriana Petch just occurred in 1974 and 1975 and, these years, its contribution in the total sum of infected aphids was low.Entomophthora planchoniana Cornu appeared in 1975 only, very late in the season, which makes its pathogenicity difficult to assess. Factors inherent to the pathogen (specificity ofE. fresenii, nature of its cycle, dependence of the aggregation of aphids) and ecological factors such as response to climate variations, may at least to a great extent explain the predominance ofE. fresenii. All these factors must be studied for a good understanding of this species.

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Les 2 premiers mémoires de cette étude ont été publiés dans Entomophaga respectivement parRobert et al. (18, 1973, 61–75) etRabasse & Robert (20, 1975, 49–63)     

Analyse immunoélectrophorétique des antigènes fongiques et systématique des champignons. Répercussions pratiques sur le diagnostic des mycoses

Conclusion En 1959, dans une note (2) à l'Académie des Sciences, nous écrivions, en conclusion d'un travail préliminaire sur l'étude immunoélectrophorétique desCandida: Si l'avenir apportait la démonstration de résultats similaires obtenus avec d'autres champignons que les levures du genreCandida, on disposerait en mycologie d'une méthode générale d'analyse des fractions antigéniques...; de plus, les connaissances acquises dans ce domaine auraient vraisemblablement d'heureuses répercussions pratiques sur les problèmes taxonomiques en suspens et sur le diagnostic sérologique des mycoses. Six ans plus tard, il nous semble que l'application de l'immunoélectrophorèse à la mycologie ait tenu ses promesses. Sans se substituer à d'autres techniques, ne fut-ce que parce que son objet est limité à l'étude des fractions antigéniques solubles ou à celle des anticorps précipitants, et parce que sa mise en oeuvre est souvent longue et délicate, elle complète heureusement ces techniques, apportant effectivement, dans bien des cas, un argument nouveau, analytique et élégant, à la taxonomie des champignons et ouvrant une voie nouvelle au diagnostic sérologique de certaines mycoses.(avec la collaboration technique deM. Brugge)Communication présentée à l' International Society for human and animal mycology, Third meeting. Edinburgh, July 31st-August 2nd, 1964.     

Températures et varicocèles

Varicocele is considered to be responsible for male infertility by several authors, while varicocele may also exist in fertile men. Hyperthermia or “raised” testicular temperature is one of the pathophysiological mechanisms proposed to explain impaired spermatogenesis when a varicocele is present in infertile men. The reported clinical data in humans and experimental results of surgically-induced varicocele in animals indicate the following findings. In most studies, mean testicular and scrotal temperatures are bilaterally increased in populations of men with unilateral left varicocele compared to control populations. Similar results are observed following surgical induction of experimental left varicocele in animals. In the case of bilateral varicocele, the increase in mean temperature is similar to that observed in unilateral varicocele. Data concerning the effects of varicocelectomy on testicular or scrotal temperatures are still inconclusive in humans because of the discordant results in the small number of studies dealing with this topic. However, experimental data indicate that varicocelectomy results in recovery of normal mean temperature in animals submitted to surgically-induced varicocele, but experimental animal models of varicocele have failed to provide any explanation for the increase in temperature. In conclusion, although there is a relationship between varicocele and testicular temperature, testicular temperature is not increased in every case of varicocele.     

Découverte de Foraminifères planctoniques paléocènes dans les brèches,précédemment tenues pour aptiennes et d'origine diapirique,des Pyrénées basco-béarnaises

After the dating, by means of planktonic Foraminifera, of post-metamorphic marine breccias, Upper Danian–Lower Selandian in age, associated to hemipelagites and unconformably overlying the Cretaceous tectogenic axis of the Pyrenees from Roussillon to Bigorre, was it possible to extend westwards the breccia-filled Palaeocene ‘trough’ as far as the ‘Zone des Chaı̂nons béarnais’? This later unit, which belonged to the North-Iberian palaeomargin during Lower Cretaceous, was previously considered by several authors as characterized by an important halokinesis generating, during Aptian/?Albian, collapses of the Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous carbonate cover above dissolved salt domes and spectacular accumulations of breccias. In fact, we have everywhere identified Palaeocene planktonic microfauna within the matrix of these breccias (and within the associated hemipelagites), particularly of the reference ‘diapiric’ breccias of Etchebar, Lauriolle, Layens and Bosmendiette/Beloscare. Deposited into intra- ‘trough’ sub-marine canyons, after karstification and erosion of intermediate mountains with a steep topography previously induced by Uppermost Cretaceous compressions, the herein studied Palaeocene marine breccias should not be hereafter regarded as linked to any Lower Cretaceous diapirism on the North-Iberian palaeomargin. To cite this article: B. Peybernès et al., C. R. Palevol 1 (2002) 3–10.