The relation between spruce monoculture and incipient podzolisation in ochreous brown earths of the Belgian Ardennes

Summary The effects of coniferous monoculture on the distribution of C, Fe and Al in the upper horizons of brown ochreous earths of the Belgian Ardennes were investigated by comparing 5 soil profiles developed under an 80 year old spruce stand with another 5 profiles developed under a climactic broad-leaved forest (beechwood).Organic carbon, Fe and Al were extracted with 0.1N NaOH/Na-tetraborate solution buffered at pH 9.7: recent studies have shown that this extraction is particularly appropriate for the detection of incipient podzolisation in brown earths-brown podzolic soils intergrades.Even if most of the classic podzolisation indexes fail to illustrate differences, nevertheless our results show that fulvic acids and organo-ferric complexes are present in significantly greater amounts in the upper part of the cambic (B)₁ horizon of the soils developed under conifers. Moreover, this podzolic tendancy is confirmed by the weathering patterns of the clay minerals in the A₁(B) horizons developed under spruces, i.e. a more pronouced weathering of chloritic layers than those observed in the beechwood soil, with a correlative genesis of more abundant smectite-like minerals. One may therefore conclude that the change in the humus type (moder to mor) after the planting of spruce trees, has been sufficient, within the local climatic and edaphic context, to promote incipient podzolisation.     

Tunicamycin inhibition of carbohydrate incorporation into thyroglobulin

Carbohydrate chains formation into thyroglobulin (Tg) is a prerequisite for thyroid hormones formation and completeness of carbohydrates chains is necessary for secretion of Tg into the follicles. Tg biosynthesis has been investigated by in vitro experiments, incubating rat thyroid glands with labeled amino-acid and carbohydrate in the presence of tunicamycin, a specific inhibitor of protein glycosylation. Tunicamycin inhibit Tg biosynthesis which is impaired in carbohydrate chains addition but slightly in the polypeptide synthesis, as shown by inhibition of 3H-glucosamine incorporation. Thus tunicamycin inhibits carbohydrate incorporation into Tg without affecting the polypeptide chain growth and decreases its secretion into the follicles.     

Basis and extent of genetic variability among doubled haploid plants obtained by pollen culture in Nicotiana sylvestris

Summary All diploid plants (doubled-haploid plants: D.H.) regenerated by androgenesis from binucleated pollen grains in Nicotiana sylvestris differ genetically from the original line as far as morphological features and growth rates are concerned. This androgenic variation (A.V.) is under nuclear control and is transmitted continuously by some D.H. for at least four generations of selfing; other D.H. progenies segregate. Further androgeneses carried out on one single D.H. reveal a new variability and increase the drift from the original line. All results cannot be explained by the presence of residual heterozygosity in the original line, and we suggest that most of the A.V. could originate from changes that occur in the DNA of the vegetative pollen grain cell. D.H. resulting from endomitosis of the vegetative cell would be homozygous and stable, whereas D.H. resulting from nuclear fusion between a vegetative and a generative cell would be heterozygous and would segregate in seeds through succeeding generations.     

The value of electrocardiographic R-wave changes in exercise testing: Preexercise versus postexercise measurements

To determine the usefulness of R-wave amplitude changes during exercise testing for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and to understand the discrepancies that have been described in the literature regarding their value, we studied two groups of patients by means of electrocardiographic (EKG) treadmill testing and coronary arteriography. Group I was composed of 149 patients who were studied prospectively. The specificity of R-wave changes measured from preexercise to immediately postexercise (SRV(5)) was 81%, but that of R-wave changes measured from preexercise to peak exercise (URV(5)) was 46%. A group of 156 patients (Group II) evaluated retrospectively showed a high specificity for the SRV(5) (84%) and poor specificity for the URV(5) (39%). The sensitivity of the SRV(5) was 38% in Group I and 42% in Group II. Therefore, if measured during the immediate postexercise period and not at peak exercise, changes in R-wave amplitude may be of value in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease by electrocardiographic exercise testing.     

Coronary artery bypass with glycerol-preserved saphenous vein allografts

Over a 2-year period, 19 patients whose autologous saphenous veins were either unsuitable or unavailable underwent myocardial revascularization with saphenous vein allografts (SVAs) at our institution. All SVAs had been preserved in 98% glycerol at room temperature for at least 3 weeks (average, 7 weeks); before use, they were rinsed with saline and antibiotic solution. One operative death (5.2%) and three late deaths (16.6%) occurred. Fourteen of the long-term survivors have been observed for 24 to 48 months (average 32.2 months) postoperatively. Nine are asymptomatic, whereas four complain of angina, and one reports exertional dyspnea with-out chest pain. Only three patients have been restudied (7, 10, and 18 months after surgery, respectively); in each of these patients, angiography has shown occlusion of all SVAs. However, histologic examination of glycerol-preserved SVAs has not revealed pathologic changes that would suggest potential graft failure. Despite fairly satisfactory clinical results, preliminary hemodynamic data indicate that glycerol-preserved SVAs are unsuitable for myocardial revascularization in the absence of autologous saphenous veins.     

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with left ventricular aneurysm and normal coronary arteries: Case study indicating genetic tendencies of cardiomyopathy

A 50-year-old man presented with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOC) associated with a left ventricular aneurysm and normal coronary arteries. His history revealed no evidence of myocardial infarction or atypical angina. Physical examination disclosed HOC but did not suggest the presence of an aneurysm. Although the patient was treated medically, heart failure ensued, and he died suddenly while working his farm. Subsequent investigation of the patient's family revealed that three of his five children were also affected by cardiomyopathy, which was especially pronounced in the eldest, a 22-year-old man. The possible hemodynamic relationship between HOC and left ventricular aneurysm is discussed, along with probable indications. The role of left ventricular aneurysm is also presented in relation to the natural history of the disease.     

Structural regularities in tetraether lipids of Caldariella and their biosynthetic and phyletic implications

Individual di(biphytanyl) diglycerol tetraether lipids from thermoacidophile archaebacteria of the Caldariella series, with differently cyclized biphytanyl components, are separated and shown to have structures 8–12, with the glycerol and biphytanyl components demonstrably both antiparallel and with partial assignments of stereochemistry. Tetraethers with alternative arrangements of the components are absent. The structures allow previous observations on these and related lipids to be rationalized both biosynthetically and phyletically.     

Characterization and kinetics of isoenzymes of pyruvate kinase from developing castor bean endosperm

Isozymes of pyruvate kinase (PK) have been isolated from developing castor bean endosperm. One isozyme, PK_c, is localized in the cytosol, and the other, PK_p, is in the plastid. Both isozymes need monovalent and divalent cations for activity, requirements which can be filled by K⁺ and Mg²⁺. Both isozymes are inhibited by citrate, pyruvate, and ATP. PK_c has a much broader pH profile than PK_p and is also more stable. Both have the same K_m (0.05 millimolar) for PEP, but PK_p has a 10-fold higher K_m (0.3 millimolar) for ADP than PK_c (0.03 millimolar). PK_c also has a higher affinity for alternate nucleotide substrates than PK_p. The two isozymes have different kinetic mechanisms. Both have an ordered sequential mechanism and bind phosphoenolpyruvate before ADP. However, the plastid isozyme releases ATP first, whereas pyruvate is the first product released from the cytosolic enzyme. The properties of the two isozymes are similar to those of their counterparts in green tissue.     

An improved method of measuring photosynthetic electron transport in Euglena under in vivo conditions

A method is described to measure photochemical activity in intact cells of Euglena under in vivo conditions. The method employs a cell wall digesting enzyme (cellulysin) to induce enough permeability in the cell walls and membranes in order to allow dyes, commonly used to investigate light-dependent electron transport reactions to enter, but without inducing a concomittant efflux of metabolites. Between 1 and 2 h of incubation in 5% (w/v) cellulysin provided conditions which allowed measurement of photosystem I-, II- and I+II-dependent electron transport with rates up to 600% higher than in control cells; whereas other cell wall degrading enzymes (cellulase and pectinase) still did not increase the entry of the dyes. Cellulysin up to 2 h of incubation had little or no effect on whole cell respiration, photosynthetic O₂ evolution, or the export of potassium and (¹⁴C) labeled compounds out of cells; therefore cellulysin obviously did not change the normal habit or physiology of Euglena. Cellulysin (4 h digestion), cellulase and pectinase (2–4 h of incubation) on the other hand led to a lowering of respiration and light-dependent O₂ evolution, and increased the efflux of K⁺, but apparently decreased that of (¹⁴C)labeled fixation products.Abbreviations DBMIB dibromothymoquinone - DCPIP 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol - DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - DMMIB 2,3-dimethyl-5,6-methylenedioxy-p-benzoquinone - MV methylviologen - PSI photosystem I - PS II photosystem II     

Presynaptic dense bars at neuromuscular synapses of the lobster,Homarus americanus

Summary The threedimensional ultrastructure of presynaptic dense bars was examined by serial section electron microscopy in the excitatory neuromuscular synapses of the accessory flexor muscle in the limbs of larval, juvenile, and adult lobsters. The cross-sectional profile of the dense bar resembles an asymmetric hourglass, the part contacting the presynaptic membrane being larger than that projecting into the terminal. The bar has a height of 55–65 nm and varies in length from 75–600 nm. In its dimensions it resembles the dense projections in the synapses of the CNS of insects and vertebrates. The usual location of these dense bars is at well defined synapses, though a few are found at extrasynaptic sites either in the axon or terminal. In the latter case the bars are close to synapse-bearing regions, particularly in the larval terminals, suggesting that the extrasynaptic bars denote early events in synapse formation. In all cases the bars are intimately associated with electron lucent, synaptic vesicles located on either side, in the indentation of its hourglass-shaped cross sectional profile. The vesicles occur along the length of the bar and contact the presynaptic membrane. Consequently the dense bar may serve to align the vesicles at the presynaptic membrane prior to exocytosis. A similar role has been suggested for the presynaptic dense bodies at the neuromuscular junction of the frog, where synaptic vesicles form a row on either side of this structure.Supported by Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada and NSERCC. Generous use of laboratory facilities at Woods Hole was provided by the late Fred Lang