Testicular metamorphosis rates in European Starlings maintained under short daily photophases

Juvenile male European Starlings(Sturnus vulgaris) were maintained under discrete fixed daily photophases ranging from 1 to 11 h in duration. Treatment began on 20 December when all birds were reproductively quiescent, and continued until 14 June of the following year.In situ measurements of left testis widths at monthly intervals documented testicular width increases to levels associated with complete spermatogenesis in birds under all photoperiod regimens. Starlings maintained under the shortest and longest photoperiods required fewer days of treatment to achieve spermatogenic testes than did those under intermediate-length photoperiods. Data are consistent with the hypothesis that prolonged daily periods of darkness result in oscillations of a circadian timing system stimulating increased gonadotropin secretion and consequent testicular metamorphosis.     

A new coumarin from Ferula loscosii and the correct structure of coladonin

From the roots of Ferula loscosii the coumarins umbelliprenin, coladin and coladonin and the new natural isovaleryl derivative of the latter have been isolated. A study which confirms the structure of coladonin and its difference from farnesiferol A is also given.     

Nucleotide pyrophosphatase of rat liver. A comparative study on the enzymes solubilized and purified from plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum.

Studies on the subcellular distribution of rat liver nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity revealed its presence in the plasma membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum only. The enzymes from either source were solubilized specifically with trypsin without an apparent change of their catalytic properties. A 200-fold and 1600-fold purification, respectively, was achieved by a procedure including DEAE-cellulose and affinity-chromatography with AMP as ligand, gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 and gel electrophoresis. Both nucleotide pyrophosphatases were isolated as electrophoretically homogeneous soluble proteins. They were shown to contain carbohydrate moieties. The electrophoretic mobility of both enzymes in polyacrylamide gels was identical at three pH values. Dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis indicated a molecular weight of 137 000 for both glycoproteins. The enzymes hydrolyze a variety of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides yielding a 5'-nucleoside monophosphate. Adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate, nucleic acids and phosphate monoesters are not cleaved, but p-nitrophenyl-thymidine5'-monophosphate is readily hydrolyzed. In view of their substrate and inhibitor specificities the enzymes are considered nucleotide pyrophosphatases rather than phosphodiesterases.     

Proton conductance of cell membranes

Several workers have suggested that cell membranes have a high proton conductance. Our interest in this concept arose from the possibility that the nutrient (submucosal-facing) membrane of the gastric mucosa may have a high proton or hydroxyl ion conductance which would play a role in the regulation of the acid-base balance of the cell. We found that wide changes in the H⁺ concentration of the fluid bathing the nutrient side of the in vitro frog gastric mucosa did not result in significant changes in p.d. However, a maintained change of the H⁺ concentration of the bathing fluid would be expected to produce only a temporary change in p.d. Since a diffusion barrier is present on the nutrient side the temporary change in p.d. might be masked. An analysis of this possibility was made on the basis of a conceptual model and as a result of the analysis it is concluded that the proton (and/or OH^?) conductance of the nutrient membrane of the frog gastric mucosa is not a significant fraction of its total conductance. The present status of the proton conductance hypothesis with respect to striated muscle and to the secretory membrane of the gastric mucosa is reviewed.