Stoichiometry and ion affinities of the Na−K−Cl cotransport system in the intestine of the winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus)

Summary Na–K–Cl cotransport stoichiometry and affinities for Na, K and Cl were determined in flounder intestine. Measurement of simultaneous NaCl and RbCl influxes resulted in ratios of 2.2 for Cl/Na and 1.8 for Cl/Rb. The effect of Na and Rb on Rb influx showed first order kinetics withK _1/2 values of 5 and 4.5mm and Hill coefficients of 0.9 and 1.2, respectively. The effect of Cl on rubidium influx showed a sigmoidal relationship withK _1/2 of 20mm and a Hill coefficient of 2.0. The effects of variations in Na and Cl concentration on short-circuit current (I _sc) were also determined. TheK _1/2 for Na was 7mm with a Hill coefficient of 0.9 and theK _1/2 for Cl was 46mm with a Hill coefficient of 1.9. Based on the simultaneous influx measurements, a cotransport stoichiometry of 1Na1K2Cl is concluded. The Hill coefficients for Cl suggest a high degree of cooperativity between Cl binding sites. Measurements of the ratio of net Na and Cl transepithelial fluxes under short-circuit conditions (using a low Na Ringer solution to minimize the passive Na flux) indicate that the Cl/Na flux ratio is approximately 21. Therefore Na recycling from serosa to mucosa does not significantly contribute to theI _sc. Addition of serosal ouabain (100 m) inhibited Rb influx, indicating that Na–K–Cl cotransport is inhibited by ouabain. This finding suggests that a feedback mechanism exists between the Na–K-ATPase on the basolateral membrane and the apical Na–K–2Cl cotransporter.     

Taurine Levels in Discrete Brain Nuclei of Rats

Concentrations of taurine have been measured in 44 microdissected rat brain nuclei or areas. Taurine is ubiquitously present and distributed unevenly in the rat brain: the ratio of the highest (pyriform cortex) to lowest (midbrain reticular formation) concentrations is 4.7:1. High taurine levels were found in cerebral cortical areas, caudate-putamen, cerebellum, median eminence, and supraoptic nucleus. Acute pain stress reduced taurine levels in the hypothalamus and the lower brainstem nuclei but not in cortical areas. Increased locomotor and behavioral activities following a high dose of amphetamine elevated taurine concentrations significantly in the substantia nigra and locus ceruleus.     

Population dynamics of gyrinid beetles

Summary Survival chances have been estimated for populations of the waterbeetle Gyrinus marinus Gyll. from capture-recapture sequences in 1974–1978. The average weekly survival chance is estimated as 0.9247 in spring, decreasing to 0.7701 in autumn; males survive longer than females. Survival shows little variation in time or space (variation coefficient V<0.1). Survival chance did not significantly decrease with age. Freshly emerged tenerals apparently have a lower survival chance than older beetles. The survival chance during hibernation (October–April) is about 0.33, with a greater variation between years (V=0.7) than between populations (V=0.4).Communication N⁰ 301 of the Biological Station, Wijster     

Microbial responses to salt-induced osmotic stress

Summary Soil columns were exposed to balanced (low Na⁺) or unbalanced (high Na⁺) high-salt solutions for a period of 7 days followed by 7 days of stress reflief. Total numbers of bacteria released into the perfusates rose under both types of stress, but the proportion of displaced bacteria that were viable fell significantly. Relief from both types of stress stimulated rapid increases in the number of viable micro-organisms released from soil. Examination of the soils at the end of the relief periods revealed that soils exposed to stress contained more viable bacteria than the non-stressed controls. However, high levels of balanced stress led to a significant decrease in species diversity within the microbial population, but a similar effect was not observed in soils exposed to unbalanced, high Na⁺ stress. These results suggest that, while salt stress may cause a significant reduction in the number of microorganisms in a soil, a large portion of the microbial population can rapidly adapt to marked changes in salinity.     

Relationship between growth,nitrogen fixation and assimilation in a legume (Medicago sativa L.)

Summary Symbiotic N₂ fixation, NO ₃ ⁻ assimilation and protein accumulation in the shoots were measured simultaneously in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grown in the field or in pots, in order to study how the balance between the two modes of nitrogen nutrition could be influenced by agronomic factors, such as harvest, mineral nitrogen supply and drought stress. During periods of rapid growth, fixation and assimilation may function simultaneously; they are antagonistic at the beginning and at the end of the growth cycle, when the nitrogen requirement of the plant is lower. When nitrogen nutrition does not limit growth, mineral nitrogen supply favours assimilation at the expense of fixation, but does not modify the amount of nitrogen accumulated, which is adjusted to the growth capacity of the plant. After cutting, nitrate assimilation compensated for the decrease in fixation and supplied the plant with the nitrogen required by the regrowth, the proliferation of which determined the fixation recovery. Drought stress decreased N₂ fixation much more than NO ₃ ⁻ assimilation. The latter made growth recovery possible when water supply conditions became normal again. These results suggested the existence of an optimum level of nitrate assimilation, which differed depending on the age of the plants and allowed both maximum growth and fixing activity.     

水分胁迫对植物线粒体结构和脯氨酸氧化酶活性的影响

水分胁迫期间,小麦幼苗芽鞘和棉花幼苗胚轴细胞内游离脯氨酸浓度增加;但复水后又恢复正常。电镜观察发现线粒体肿大,嵴消失。胞质中出现脂肪滴。气相层析技术分析,发现水分胁迫使线粒体脂肪酸组成及含量有明显变化;不饱和脂肪酸含量增加。随着水分胁迫时间的延长,脯氨酸氧化酶活性也明显下降。设想水分胁迫使线粒体结构和组分发生了不利于脯氨酸氧化酶活性表达的变化,因而抑制了酶活性。