Effect of Exogenous Gangliosides on Amino Acid Uptake and Na+,K+-ATPase Activity in Superior Cervical and Nodose Ganglia of Rats

The effects of some gangliosides on active uptake of nonmetabolizable alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) and Na+, K+-ATPase and Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase activities in superior cervical ganglia (SCG) and nodose ganglia (NG) excised from adult rats were examined during aerobic incubation at 37 degrees C for 2 h. In NG, amino acid uptake was greatly accelerated with the addition of galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-[N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosylgluc osyl ceramide (GM1) (85%) and also with N-acetylgalactosaminyl-[N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosylglucosyl ceramide (GM2) or [N-acetylneuraminyl]-galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-[N-acetyl- neuraminyl]-galactosylglucosyl ceramide (GD1a) (43% each) compared with a nonaddition control at a 5 nM concentration. Under identical conditions, Na+, K+-ATPase activity was strongly stimulated with GM1 (180%) and GD1a (93%), whereas Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase activity showed no change. In SCG, on the other hand, AIB uptake was apparently inhibited (-27%) by addition of GM1, with a slight decrease in Na+, K+-ATPase but no change in Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase activity in the tissue. Both asialo-GM1, in which N-acetylneuraminic acid is deficient, and Forssman glycolipid, which is not present in nervous tissue, failed to produce any significant increase in both SCG and NG not only in amino acid uptake, but also in Na+, K+-ATPase activity. A kinetic study of active AIB uptake showed that GM1 ganglioside produced an increase in Km with no change in Vmax in SCG, whereas it caused a decrease in Km with a slight increase in Vmax in NG. Treatment of NG and SCG with neuraminidase from Vibrio cholerae, an enzyme that split off sialic acid from polysialoganglioside, leaving GM1 intact, caused little inhibition of the amino acid uptake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of sequences from the malB regions of Salmonella typhimurium and Enterobacter aerogenes with Escherichia coli K12: A potential new regulatory site in the interoperonic region

Summary The malE and malK genes from Salmonella typhimurium, and the MalEFG operon and a portion of malK from Enterobacter aerogenes were cloned and sequenced. Plasmid-borne malE genes from both species and the malF and malG genes from E. aerogenes were expressed normally in Escherichia coli, and their products function in maltose transport. This shows that the malB products from the three species are interchangeable, at least in the combinations tested. The general genetic organization of the malB region is conserved. Potential binding sites and distances between them are highly conserved in the regulatory intervals. An unexpected conserved region was detected, which we call the U box, and which could be another target for a regulatory protein. This hypothesis is supported by the presence of the U box in the regulatory, region of the pulA-malX operon in Klebsiella pneumoniae. The intergenic region between malE and malF from S. typhimurium and E. aerogenes, contains inverted repeats similar to the palindromic units (PU or REP) found at the same location in E. coli. The predicted amino acid sequence of the encoded proteins showed 90% or more identity in every pairwise comparison of species.     

Appearance of retrogradely labeled neurons in the rat superior cervical ganglion after injection of wheat-germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate into the contralateral ganglion

Summary Injection of wheat-germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate (WGA-HRP) into the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) of the rat results in accumulation of WGA-HRP in sympathetic postganglionic neurons in the contralateral SCG. The sympathetic pathways involved and the mechanism underlying the labeling were investigated. The labeling in neurons in the contralateral SCG was apparent 6 h after injection and increased in intensity with longer survival times. The number of labeled neurons reached 1300 at 72 h after the injection. Transection of the external (ECN) or internal carotid nerves (ICN) resulted in considerable reduction in the number of labeled neurons. Combined transection of both ECN and ICN virtually eliminated labeling in the contralateral SCG. This provides strong evidence that these two nerves are the major pathways for WGA-HRP transport out of the SCG. No labeling was observed in the contralateral SCG following injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Therefore, it seems unlikely that a direct nerve connection exists between the bilateral ganglia. Instead, the labeling of contralateral SCG neurons appears to depend on the transneuronal transport capacity of WGA-HRP, which conveys the marker in an anterograde direction along the postganglionic fibers to terminals in sympathetic target organs, and then delivers it transneuronally to contralateral SCG neurons. We suggest that the sympathetic nerve fibers originating in the bilateral SCGs run intermingled and are in close contact in their peripheral target organs.     

家兔面神经后核内侧区在呼吸节律起源中的作用

从腹侧面暴露家兔延髓,脑内微量注射1%普鲁卡因阻滞面神经后核内侧区(mNRF),全部动物(n=20)一次注射(0.3—1.0μl)后即能可逆地消除呼吸节律。区域对照显示此区非常局限,范围约1.0×1.0×1.0mm。组织学检查表明为面神经后核内侧区。本文分析了 mNRF的呼吸相关神经元(RRNs)的放电形式。在 mNRF 有较多的呼气(E)神经元和呼气-吸气跨时相(E-IPS)神经元。在阻滞 mNRF 引起呼吸停止期间,观察到低位延髓背侧呼吸群(DRG)和腹侧呼吸群(VRG)尾端区 RRNs 放电的节律性消失,表现连续放电或停止放电。电刺激DRG,VRG 尾端区,只能诱发短串的膈神经放电,而不能产生节律性发放。说明这些区域的RRNs 无自动节律性活动的能力。结果表明,面神经后核内侧区与呼吸节律发生有关,它可能是呼吸节律发生器的一个重要的所在部位。     

Cervical screening performance in general practice. An evaluation in a single health district

This paper describes a study of cervical screening in 50 general practices in the East Berkshire Health District over a period of 2 1/2 years. Six practices organized their own practice based screening scheme. Thirty-nine participated in a district organized scheme and five did not actively participate in any scheme. The proportion of women screened was highest among the practices which organized their own scheme. These practices were large, in non-urban locations and employed a practice nurse. In contrast, practices which had a poor record of screening were small, single handed, in an urban location and were unwilling to participate in a district call scheme or organize their own scheme. It is recommended that the practices which are prepared to organize their own screening programmes should be encouraged to do so. The resources which are saved could then be more usefully spent on providing assistance to the practices which do not offer a cervical screening service to women on their practice lists.     

Ritual production of environmental history among the Arawakan Wakuénai of Venezuela

This essay examines ritual and ceremonial activities among the Arawakspeaking Wakuénai of the Venezuelan Amazon as processes of constructing power relations in changing historical and ecological conditions. Ritual evocations of the vertical dimension of power relations between mythic ancestors and human descendants adapt local populations to conditions of relatively severe stress, such as epidemics and scarcity of fish in long wet seasons. Other rituals evoke the horizontal dimension of power relations between affinally-related groups as a way of expanding the local descent group in conditions of lowered stress. These two ways of exercising ritual power link human populations to specific natural habitats and provide flexibility needed to adjust to demographic and other historical changes. Through ritual performances, the Wakuénai transform the natural environment into a cultural landscape of socialized objects and, conversely, remember the history of political relations among peoples through spirit-naming of natural species, objects, places, and geographic landmarks.     

Role of the N-terminal region of the A chain in beta 1-bungarotoxin from the venom of Bungarus multicinctus (Taiwan-banded krait)

The N-terminal -amino groups of ₁-bungarotoxin (₁-Bgt) fromBungarus multicinctus venom were modified with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and the modified derivative was separated by high performance liquid chromatography. The trinitrophenylated (TNP) derivative contained two TNP groups at the -amino groups of A chain and B chain and showed a marked decrease in enzymatic activity. Methionine residues at positions 6 and 8 of the A chain were oxidized with chloramine T or cleaved with cyanogen bromide to remove the N-terminal octapeptide. Oxidation of methionine residues and removal of the N-terminal octapeptide caused a precipitous decrease in enzymatic activity, whereas antigenicity remained unchanged. The presence of dihexanoyllecithin influenced the interaction between ₁-Bgt and 8-antilinonaphthalene sulfonate (ANS) and revealed that ₁-Bgt consists of two types of ANS-binding sites, one at the substrate binding site of the A chain and the other might be at the B chain. The modified derivatives still retained their affinity for Ca²⁺ and ANS, indicating that the N-terminal region is not involved in Ca²⁺ and substrate binding. A fluorescence study revealed that the -amino group of the A chain was in the vicinity of substrate binding site and that the TNP -amino groups were in proximity to Trp-19 of the A chain. In addition, the study showed that the N-terminal region is important for stabilizing the architectural environment of Trp-19. The results, together with the proposal that Trp-19 of the A chain is involved in substrate binding, suggest that the N-terminal region of the A chain plays a crucial role in maintaining a functional active site for ₁-Bgt.     

Growth and reproduction of the mosquitofish,Gambusia affinis,in relation to temperature and ration level: consequences for life history

The allocation of energy to growth and reproduction, in relation to temperature and food availability, was investigated in laboratory experiments with the mosquitofish,Gambusia affinis. At constant temperature of 20, 25 and 30°C and ad libitum feeding, specific growth rates increased with increasing temperature at 1.7, 3.1 and 3.4% dry mass day⁻¹, respectively. Growth rates in a cycling temperature regime (20–30°C, ) were faster than in a 25°C constant temperature. As temperature increased from 20 to 30°C, mean age at first reproduction decreased from 191 to 56 days and brood size and mass of offspring increased significantly. Interbrood interval was also temperature dependent; estimates at 25 and 30°C for females >1000 mg were 22.6 and 18.6 days, respectively. Interbrood interval could not be calculated at 20°C. Although fitness was highest at 30°C, females at 25°C invested a greater proportion of surplus energy (growth and reproduction) to reproduction (38%) than at 20 (17%) or 30°C (36%) during the 32-week study. Fish at cooler temperatures began reproduction at a smaller size. Where rations were controlled at low, medium, and ad libitum levels, somatic and gonadal growth increased with increasing temperatures and food availability. The proportion of energy invested in reproduction was highest at 25°C for each comparable ration level. Calculated energy budgets indicated that over the 10-week study, 17–22% of the food energy was invested in growth, 0–7% in reproduction, and 75–83% in respiration and excretory losses, depending on feeding and temperature conditions.     

The temporal region and the supramastoid ridge in mesolithic skulls from Padina in the Iron Gate Gorge of the Danube

Studies of the morphological features of the temporal region of mesolithic skulls from Padina in the Iron Gate Gorge of the Danube revealed a very prominent and large supramastoid ridge which is the most striking feature in skulls of both sexes. Mastoid processes were larger in male skulls, but in 25% of the cases there was an overlap between the size of the processes in male and female specimens. The mastoid ridge was prominent in both sexes. The digastric fossa was always well defined in both sexes and in the two thirds of the skull specimens it was deep. The posterior root of the zygoma was prominent in all the skulls, but it was better developed in the male specimens. The parietotemporal suture in both sexes rises above the level of the pterion. There were no morphological or anthropometrical differences between the left and the right side of individual skulls outside the limits of natural asymmetry. All these morphological characteristics of the temporal region may help in racial and sexual diagnosis of the Mesolithic skulls from the Iron Gate Gorge.