Two color light scattering identifies physical differences between lymphocyte subpopulations

Forward angle light scattering of two different wavelengths by cells in a flow cytometer was used to investigate physical differences between lymphocytes of different lineage, functional subclass and developmental stage. Correlation of the ultraviolet (UV: 351 nm and 364 nm) and 488 nm light scattering signals produced by lymphoid cells demonstrated that the two signals were not equivalent and that they placed different emphasis on the physical parameters characterizing lymphocytes. Both small T and B lymphocytes from peripheral lymphoid tissues and mitogenically activated large T and B lymphocyte blasts were discriminated by both wavelengths. Differences between the Lyt-2 negative and Lyt-2 positive T lymphocyte subsets were also apparent. Two color light scattering could also discriminate between immature thymocytes and mature peripheral T cells and between small bone marrow cells and mature peripheral B cells. In bone marrow an increase in UV light scattering coincided with the appearance of cell surface immunoglobulin on small cells. These data establish that two color light scattering is a sensitive probe for distinguishing cells of apparently similar morphology and that it can be used to study the physical changes that occur during lymphoid cell differentiation.     

Influence of oxytocin on human memory processes: Validation by a control study

An earlier report (1) of an adverse effect of high doses of oxytocin on human memory included results of studies on women receiving oxytocin as part of the treatment to induce 2nd trimester therapeutic abortion. These women served as their own controls. We have now been able to study a group of women who have been treated in all ways like the original group, with the exception that they did not receive oxytocin. The results from this external control corroborate the finding that oxytocin affected memory.     

Isolation of zymogen granules from rat pancreas and characterization of their membrane proteins

A zymogen granule fraction has been isolated from rat pancreas, and its purity has been assessed by biochemical and morphological criteria. Specific activities of two marker enzymes, amylase and chymotrypsin, are increased by 4.6 and 5.4-fold, respectively, as compared to the homogenate. The purified fraction is devoid of detectable RNA, DNA and 5'-nucleotidase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and cytochrome c oxidase activities. Electron micrographs confirm the absence of mitochondria, lysosomes, and rough endoplasmic reticulum fragments. Zymogen granule membranes were isolated from this fraction on a sucrose gradient following lysis in alkaline buffer. Secretory contaminants were efficiently removed from the membranes as indicated by experiments in which labeled secretory proteins were added during the isolation procedure and secondly by measuring residual levels of amylase and chymotrypsin. Three enzyme activities were found in the membranes: thiamine pyrophosphatase, ATP-diphosphohydrolase, and low levels of acid phosphatase. Membrane proteins were solubilized by urea-Triton X-100 and separated in double-dimension (isoelectric focusing and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). Isoelectric point and molecular weight of each protein band were determined.     

Rapid electrocatalytic procedure for hydrogenase kinetic determination in the H2 evolution direction

The linear sweep voltammetric method is used as a new approach for kinetic determination with enzymes accepting reversible redox couples as cosubstrate. A monolayer of hydrogenase molecules is grafted onto a glassy carbon electrode which is both the support of the enzyme and the detector of the activity. Reduced viologen concentration in the enzyme microenvironment is controlled by the electrode potential. The catalytic current produced by the enzyme allows an easy kinetic constant determination without the classical constraints found in hydrogenase kinetic measurements.     

Cat satellite DNA. Isolation using netropsin with CsCl gradients

The absence of centromeric bands in the karyotype of Felis catus is confirmed. It is also confirmed that no satellite band is visible in CsCl density gradients. However, a satellite is observed both by recentrifuging the fraction of the DNA that bands at high density in CsCl and by using netropsin to enhance the resolution of a CsCl gradient containing total F. catus DNA. The satellite, about 0.5% of total DNA, was isolated by repeated centrifugation in CsCl alone and in CsCl with netropsin. Netropsin was removed and a pure satellite DNA obtained. The reassociation kinetics (C0t1/2 less than 10(-3) M . s) show that the satellite is of the simple sequence type and hence a candidate for centromeric heterochromatin. Its cytological localisation awaits in situ hybridisation experiments.     

A high‐throughput method to quantify feeding rates in aquatic organisms: A case study with Daphnia

1. Food ingestion is one of the most basic features of all organisms. However, obtaining precise—and high‐throughput—estimates of feeding rates remains challenging, particularly for small, aquatic herbivores such as zooplankton, snails, and tadpoles. These animals typically consume low volumes of food that are time‐consuming to accurately measure.
2. We extend a standard high‐throughput fluorometry technique, which uses a microplate reader and 96‐well plates, as a practical tool for studies in ecology, evolution, and disease biology. We outline technical and methodological details to optimize quantification of individual feeding rates, improve accuracy, and minimize sampling error.
3. This high‐throughput assay offers several advantages over previous methods, including i) substantially reduced time allotments per sample to facilitate larger, more efficient experiments; ii) technical replicates; and iii) conversion of in vivo measurements to units (mL^‐1 hr^‐1 ind^‐1) which enables broad‐scale comparisons across an array of taxa and studies.
4. To evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of our approach, we use the zooplankton, Daphnia dentifera, as a case study. Our results indicate that this procedure accurately quantifies feeding rates and highlights differences among seven genotypes.
5. The method detailed here has broad applicability to a diverse array of aquatic taxa, their resources, environmental contaminants (e.g., plastics), and infectious agents. We discuss simple extensions to quantify epidemiologically relevant traits, such as pathogen exposure and transmission rates, for infectious agents with oral or trophic transmission.