Contact potential difference of cellsin vitro as a measure of hydrophilic properties of the cell membrane

Construction of an apparatus for the determination of the cell contact potential difference and the measuring method are described. The contact potential differences are attributed to the degree of hydrophobic properties of the cell surface and referred to human erythrocytes and chloroplasts.     

The Process-inducing Activity of Transmembrane Agrin Requires Follistatin-like Domains

Clustering or overexpression of the transmembrane form of the extracellular matrix proteoglycan agrin in neurons results in the formation of numerous highly motile filopodia-like processes extending from axons and dendrites. Here we show that similar processes can be induced by overexpression of transmembrane-agrin in several non-neuronal cell lines. Mapping of the process-inducing activity in neurons and non-neuronal cells demonstrates that the cytoplasmic part of transmembrane agrin is dispensable and that the extracellular region is necessary for process formation. Site-directed mutagenesis reveals an essential role for the loop between β-sheets 3 and 4 within the Kazal subdomain of the seventh follistatin-like domain of TM-agrin. An aspartic acid residue within this loop is critical for process formation. The seventh follistatin-like domain could be functionally replaced by the first and sixth but not by the eighth follistatin-like domain, demonstrating a functional redundancy among some follistatin-like domains of agrin. Moreover, a critical distance of the seventh follistatin-like domain to the plasma membrane appears to be required for process formation. These results demonstrate that different regions within the agrin protein are responsible for synapse formation at the neuromuscular junction and for process formation in central nervous system neurons and suggest a role for agrin''s follistatin-like domains in the developing central nervous system.     

Zur Frage der Selektion von Kindern in ABO-blutgruppenunverträglichen Ehen

Zusammenfassung In der Annahme, daß Blutgruppeninkompatibilität sich häufig erst nach Immunisierung der Mutter durch eine vorausgegangene Schwangerschaft für die nachfolgenden Kinder deletär auswirken dürfte, kamen wir zu der Vermutung, daß die der Selektion verfallenen Blutgruppen bei nachgeborenen Kindern seltener angetroffen werden müßten als bei Erstgeburten, während vor allem die Blutgruppe O eher vermehrt zu finden wäre. Wir haben daher die Blutgruppen-verteiling bei 1186 estgeborenen derjenigen von 2112 nachgeborenen Kindern gegenübergestellt. Es zeigt sich, daß die Blutgruppe O bei den weiteren Kindern häufiger vorkommt als bei den erstgeborenen, die Blutgruppen B and AB dagegen seltener. Ein vermehrter Ausfall von Knabengeburten als Folge der größeren Anfälligkeit des männlichen Geschlechtes scheint nach unseren Ermittlungen nur für Erstgeburten zuzutreffen. Gleichartige Veränderungen der Häufigkeitsverteilung Rh-positiver Individuen scheinen in viel geringerem Ausmaße vorzukommen.

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The ABO blood group distribution was compared in 1186 first born and 2112 later born children. Among the later born children group 0 is significantly more frequent, whereas groups B and AB are rarer. Additionally, the number of firstborn males seems to be reduced due to selection. The influence of selection by incompatibility seems to be smaller in the Rh than in the ABO system.

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Ärztl. Leiter: Prim. Dr. W. Kircher     

Study of the combined effects of PTH treatment and mechanical loading in postmenopausal osteoporosis using a new mechanistic PK-PD model

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - One of only a few approved and available anabolic treatments for severe osteoporosis is daily injections of PTH (1-34). This drug has a specific dual...