Modulation of the heart rate by thyroid hormone in the newborn rat

Confirming the literature data the authors describe that the heart rate is smaller in the newborn rats than in adult ones and increases until the adult values during the first two weeks of life. On the other hand, the blood thyroid hormone exhibits the same pattern, showing an early postnatal increment. As, according the Adolph's data (1967), the heart rate enhancement is not due to the catecholamines, the authors suppose that such enhancement might conceivably depend on thyroid hormone increment.     

Biological,chemical and physical factors influencing the seasonal change of polysaccharide concentration in irrigation-channel sediment

Variation of polysaccharide concentration in irrigation-channel sediment was determined concurrently with biological, chemical and physical factors influencing the benthic algal community. Phenol-sulphuric acid method was used to measure polysaccharide concentration. Polysaccharide concentration, biomass of benthic algae, and species composition changed spatially and temporally. Fluctuations of total suspended solid (TSS) concentration and exposure of channel bed to direct sunlight had major effects on algal growth and polysaccharide production. Polysaccharide concentration was correlated to chlorophyll a concentration (r=0.73, P<0.001) and algal biomass (r=0.57, P<0.001). Fragilaria construens and Aulacoseira (Melosira) italica were the most common diatoms in the benthic flora. Chlorophyll a concentration in the sediment showed a strong negative correlation (r=-0.99, P<0.001) with the seasonal variation of TSS concentration in channel water. The polysaccharides produced by benthic microorganisms play a major role in clogging channel bed and thereby reducing seepage from earthen irrigation channels. Correlations between polysaccharide concentration and chlorophyll a (and algal biomass) further indicate the importance of benthic algae for polysaccharide production. Since availability of light to the algal flora is critical for the production of polysaccharides, the effect of clogging can be maximized by exposing the channel bed to direct sunlight during non-irrigation period (winter).     

Effects of Macroposthonia xenoplax on the Growth of Concord Grape

Concord grape (Vitis labrusca) plants were inoculated with Macroposthonia xenoplax at levels of 100, 1,000, and 10,000 nematodes. After 4 months, plants inoculated with 10,000 M. xenoplax were stunted, and root systems were darker and had fewer feeder roots than those in other treatments. The lower nematode inoculation levels suppressed top growth but did not affect root growth. M. xenoplax reproduced well on Concord grapes.     

Ethanol inhibits ligand-activated Ca2+ channels in human B lymphocytes.

Ethanol reportedly is immunosuppressive, interfering with lymphocyte proliferation. To investigate the basis for this immunosuppression, the effects of acute treatment with ethanol were studied on Ca2+ mobilization in tonsillar B lymphocytes and the human lymphoblastoid B-cell line, Ramos. The level of intracellular Ca2+ was monitored in cells loaded with the fluorescent dye indo-1 following stimulation with either anti-IgM antibody or platelet activating factor. The effect of ethanol was also examined on the induction of the early proto-oncogene c-fos in these cells. Ethanol inhibited ligand-activated Ca2+ mobilization due to transmembrane influx but not intracellular store release, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This inhibition was not due to the inability of anti-IgM to bind to its surface receptor nor to membrane depolarization induced by ethanol. Ethanol also inhibited the Ca2(+)-dependent induction by anti-IgM of c-fos in these cells. The inhibitory effects of ethanol on ligand-activated Ca2+ channels and subsequent induction of c-fos may provide the basis for its immunosuppressive action.     

Receptor mediated endocytosis of N-acetylglucosamine and mannose exposing molecules by cultured chick embryo hepatocytes.

We studied the receptor mediated endocytosis of a modified glycoprotein (N-acetylglucosamine-BSA) and mannan in cultured hepatocytes isolated from 19-days-old embryos. The binding sites for molecules exposing terminal N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNac) and mannose residues were localized and quantified at the ultrastructural level by means of protein-gold complexes. The binding sites were found to be randomly distributed as single gold particles on cultured hepatocyte cell surfaces not restricted to specialized areas of the plasma membrane. The gold ligands were internalized following a receptor mediated pathway, which was studied at different interval times (15, 30 and 60 min.) after incubating the cells with the electron dense markers.     

Analysis of conjugated bile acids by packed-column supercritical fluid chromatography

A rapid method has been developed for the simultaneous separation of the polar glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile acids by packed-column supercritical fluid chromatography. Samples were analysed on a cyanopropyl-bonded silica column with ultraviolet detection at 210 nm and carbon dioxide modified with methanol as the mobile phase. The influence of the stationary phase, modifier concentration, temperature, column pressure and modifier identity on retention was also studied. This new chromatographic method is applicable to the assay of conjugated bile acids in duodenal bile samples from patients with hepatobiliary diseases.