Stephanoscyphus Allman (Scyphozoa Coronatae), ein rezenter Vertreter der Conulata?

The scyphopolypStephanoscyphus Allman 1874 represents the polyp generation of the scyphomedusan order Coronatae. The benthonic polyp is known to occur with several species on the continental shelves and in greater depths of the oceans. Participating in the International Indian Ocean Expedition 1964 to 1965 on board of the German research vessel «Meteor», the author was able to collect living specimens. For the first time, it was possible to rear these polyps in laboratory cultures.Stephanoscyphus differs from all other living scyphopolyps by the possession of a firm periderm tube enclosing completely the soft body. It is this primitive feature whichStephanoscyphus has in common with the Conulata being the ancestors of the recent Scyphozoa. The characteristics found in a detailed investigation of the periderm tube ofStephanoscyphus conform well with those found in the tubes of the Conulata except for the closure of the aperture by triangular flaps which are absent inStephanoscyphus. The soft body contains primitive features as well. Hence from the existence, morphology and life history it must be concluded that the type of organization which the Conulata exhibited has survived inStephanoscyphus.     

Stephanoscyphus (Scyphozoa,Coronatae) und seine direkte Abstammung von den fossilen Conulata

The scyphopolypStephanoscyphus Allman 1874 represents the polyp generation of the scyphomedusan order Coronatae. Though this polyp has been known for more than a hundred years its general morphology, systematics, and evolution have been inadequately described. Participating in the International Indian Ocean Expedition, 1964 to 1965, on board of the German research vessel “Meteor”, the author was able to collect a sufficient supply of livingStephanoscyphus off the coasts of South Arabia and East Africa. For the first time, it was possible to rear these polyps in laboratory cultures. A thorough investigation of morphology, developmental history and behaviour based on longterm observations of the living polyps gave clear indications thatStephanoscyphus directly descended from the fossil group of Conulata, the scyphozoan nature of which has been affirmed byKiderlen (1937) andKnight (1937). The main feature whichStephanoscyphus has in common with the Conulata is the possession of a periderm tube. The characteristics found in a detailed investigation of the periderm tube conform well with those found in the periderm of the Conulata except for the closure of the aperture by triangular flaps which are absent inStephanoscyphus. The soft body contains primitive features as well. Hence it must be concluded finally that the type of organization which the fossil ancestors exhibited has survived inStephanoscyphus and that the Coronatae represent the most basic group of all living Scyphozoa. On the other hand, the results give strong support for the scyphozoan nature of the Conulata, the organization and life history of which have been elucidated by the observations of the living representatives ofStephanoscyphus.     

Cytotoxic T cell responses in HLA-A2.1 transgenic mice. Recognition of HLA alloantigens and utilization of HLA-A2.1 as a restriction element

Previous studies have indicated that the frequency of murine CTL precursors (CTLp) for human class I molecules is one to two orders of magnitude lower than that for murine class I alloantigens, and that this is due to species-specific structural differences between these molecules. Transgenic mice expressing the human class I MHC Ag HLA-A2.1 were used to examine changes in the frequency of class I HLA-specific precursors after T cell differentiation in an HLA-A2.1 positive environment. The HLA-A2.1 gene product was expressed at levels comparable to those of the endogenous H-2Db molecule in thymus, bone marrow, and spleen. By limiting dilution analysis, it was observed that the frequencies of CTLp in transgenic mice responding to the human alloantigens HLA-B7 or HLA-A2.2 were comparable to or lower than those in normal C57BL/6 mice, regardless of whether the Ag was presented on human or murine cells. Thus, expression of a human class I molecule in these animals did not result in an expansion of the number of CTLp specific for other human class I Ag. In addition, the frequency of HLA-A2.1-restricted, influenza specific CTLp was substantially lower than the frequency of H-2b restricted CTLp, indicating a poor utilization of HLA-A2.1 as a restricting element. Finally, the frequencies of CTLp for HLA-A2.1 expressed on syngeneic murine tumor cells were decreased significantly. Thus, expression of HLA-A2.1 in these animals appeared to induced tolerance to this Ag. Interestingly, however, these mice were not tolerant to the HLA-A2.1 molecule expressed on human cells. This indicates that the HLA-A2.1 associated epitopes expressed on murine and human cells differ and suggests that, under these circumstances, HLA-A2.1 acts as a restricting element for human nominal Ag. These results are discussed in the context of current models of T cell repertoire development.     

Extensive changes in cytokeratin expression patterns in pathologically affected human gingiva

The stratified squamous epithelium of the oral gingiva and the hard palate is characterized by a tissue architecture and a cytoskeletal composition similar to, although not identical with, that of the epidermis and fundamentally different from that of the adjacent non-masticatory oral mucosa. Using immunocytochemistry with antibodies specific for individual cytokeratins, in situ hybridization and Northern blots of RNA with riboprobes specific for individual cytokeratin mRNAs, and gel electrophoresis of cytoskeletal proteins of microdissected biopsy tissue samples, we show changes in the pattern of expression of cytokeratins and their corresponding mRNAs in pathologically altered oral gingiva. Besides a frequently, although not consistently, observed increase in the number of cells producing cytokeratins 4 and 13 (which are normally found as abundant components in the sulcular epithelium and the alveolar mucosa but not in the oral gingiva) and a reduction in the number of cells producing cytokeratins 1, 10 and 11, the most extensive change was noted for cytokeratin 19, a frequent cytokeratin in diverse one-layered and complex epithelia. While in normal oral gingiva cytokeratin 19 is restricted to certain, sparsely scattered cells of --or near--the basal cell layer, probably neuroendocrine (Merkel) cells, in altered tissue of inflamed samples it can appear in larger regions of the basal cell layer(s) and, in apparently more advanced stages, also in a variable number of suprabasal cells. Specifically, our in situ hybridization experiments show that this altered suprabasal cytokeratin 19 expression is more extended at the mRNA than at the protein level, indicating that cytokeratin 19 mRNA synthesis may be a relatively early event during the alteration. These changes in cytokeratin expression under an external pathological influence are discussed in relation to other factors known to contribute to the expression of certain cytokeratins and with respect to changes occurring during dysplasia and malignant transformation of oral epithelia.     

Measurement of ammonia and glutamine in cell culture media by gas sensing electrodes

Summary This paper describes the use of a commercially available off-line gas sensing electrode for determination of ammonia and glutamine in cell culture media. The measurement technique was tested in different media preparations with different serum concentrations. The glutamine decomposition was studied as a function of pH for cell culture medium and the results were compared to those obtained by conventional methods,i.e., HPLC. Finally, glutamine and ammonia metabolism were studied during the cultivation of a hybridoma cell line.