Interval Mapping of High Growth (Hg), a Major Locus That Increases Weight Gain in Mice

The high growth locus (hg) causes a major increase in weight gain and body size in mice. As a first step to map-based cloning of hg, we developed a genetic map of the hg-containing region using interval mapping of 403 F(2) from a C57BL/6J-hghg X CAST/EiJ cross. The maximum likelihood position of hg was at the chromosome 10 marker D10Mit41 (LOD = 24.8) in the F(2) females and 1.5 cM distal to D10Mit41 (LOD = 9.56) in the F(2) males with corresponding LOD 2 support intervals of 3.7 and 5.4 cM, respectively. The peak LOD scores were significantly higher than the estimated empirical threshold LOD values. The localization of hg by interval mapping was supported by a test cross of F(2) mice recombinant between the LOD 2 support interval and the flanking marker. The interval mapping and test-cross results indicate that hg is not allelic with candidate genes Igf1 or decorin (Dcn), a gene that was mapped close to hg in this study. The hg inheritance was recessive in females, although we could not reject recessive or additive inheritance in males. Possible causes for sex differences in peak LOD scores and for the distortion of transmission ratios observed in F(2) males are discussed. The genetic map of the hg region will facilitate further fine mapping and cloning of hg, and allow searches for a homologous quantitative trait locus affecting growth in humans and domestic animals.     

Biogeochemical,Isotopic and Bacterial Distributions Trace Oceanic Abyssal Circulation

We explore the possibility of tracing routes of dense waters toward and within the ocean abyss by the use of an extended set of observed physical and biochemical parameters. To this purpose, we employ mercury, isotopic oxygen, biopolymeric carbon and its constituents, together with indicators of microbial activity and bacterial diversity found in bottom waters of the Eastern Mediterranean. In this basin, which has been considered as a miniature global ocean, two competing sources of bottom water (one in the Adriatic and one in the Aegean seas) contribute to the ventilation of the local abyss. However, due to a recent substantial reduction of the differences in the physical characteristics of these two water masses it has become increasingly complex a water classification using the traditional approach with temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen alone. Here, we show that an extended set of observed physical and biochemical parameters allows recognizing the existence of two different abyssal routes from the Adriatic source and one abyssal route from the Aegean source despite temperature and salinity of such two competing sources of abyssal water being virtually indistinguishable. Moreover, as the near-bottom development of exogenous bacterial communities transported by convectively-generated water masses in the abyss can provide a persistent trace of episodic events, intermittent flows like those generating abyssal waters in the Eastern Mediterranean basin may become detectable beyond the availability of concomitant measurements.     

Transactivation of human immunodeficiency virus promoter by human herpesvirus 6.

Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are often infected with a number of other heterologous viruses in addition to the initial human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and these agents could act as potential reactivating agents of latent HIV. A new antigenically distinct herpesvirus, designated human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), has recently been isolated from patients with AIDS and has been shown to infect a number of different human cells, specifically human T cells, B cells, and glial cells. Since these are some of the same cells that harbor the AIDS virus, it is quite important to determine any interaction between this new herpesvirus and HIV. In this report, we demonstrate that HHV-6 can trans-activate the HIV promoter in human T-cell lines as measured by the expression of the bacterial gene chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. This indicates that stimulation of HIV gene expression by HHV-6 could play a role in HIV pathogenesis.     

Reactivity of monoclonal islet cell antibodies on normal hyperplastic and neoplastic thyroid C-cells

Summary Thyroid C-cell reactivity to 15 monoclonal antibodies raised against a series of pancreatic islet cells (H[human]ISL, B[bovine]ISL and R[rat]ISL) was evaluated using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique on frozen thyroid sections. Of the monoclonal anti-islet cell antibodies, five reacted specifically with bovine C-cells or human hyperplastic and neoplastic C-cells but not with follicular cells. Two monoclonal antibodies of the bovine series showed strong immunoreactivity with C-cells and only a weakly positive immunostaining of follicular cells. Five monoclonal antibodies reacted with both thyroid C-cells and follicular cells, whereas 3 monoclonal anti-islet cell antibodies did not stain any cell type of the thyroid. In human medullary carcinomas, calcitonin- and somatostatin-producing neoplastic cells were immunoreactive with the same monoclonal antibodies as were normal human C-cells. The protein bands identified by the monoclonal antibodies in human medullary carcinomas had the same molecular weight as those from pancreatic islet extracts. Our study demonstrates the presence of similar differentiation antigens on thyroid C-cells and pancreatic islet cells; this further illustrates common modes of differentiation and specialisation of these embryologically different members of the dispersed neuroendocrine system. The crossreactivity of seven of the monoclonal antibodies investigated with follicular epithelium of the thyroid suggests the existence of common antigenic determinants in different endocrine organs and may partly explain the multiple organ autoimmune response found in patients with polyendocrine diseases.     

THE ISOLATION OF LYSOSOMES FROM EHRLICH ASCITES TUMOR CELLS FOLLOWING PRETREATMENT OF MICE WITH TRITON WR-1339

A method is described for obtaining highly purified lysosomes from Ehrlich ascites tumo cells grown in mice injected with Triton WR-1339. The isolated particles show a high specific activity for aryl sulfatase, representing an 80–90-fold purification over the homogenate, and a 15–18% yield of the total enzyme activity. Mitochondrial and microsomal marker enzymes are present in negligible amounts (0.2% of the activity of the homogenate). The biochemical evidence for a rather high degree of homogeneity of the fraction is supported by the electron microscopic examination of the purified lysosomes. The intracellular localizations of N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, NADH-cytochrome c reductase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase in Ehrlich ascites cells are also reported, the first two being present in highest concentration in the combined mitochondrial-lysosomal fraction and the third in the microsomal fraction.     

Genetic effect of low doses of radiation in occupationally exposed workers in coal mines and in coal fired plants

Summary Analyses of structural aberrations of chromosomes and of the body burden of lead-210 were carried out in a group of workers occupationally exposed to chemical pollutants and low doses of ionizing radiation during a technological process in which coal is used as fuel. A parallel study was performed in a control group of workers.In the exposed group the percentage of chromatid and chromosome aberrations and the results of radiochemical analyses were higher than in the control group.This paper is based on work performed under International Atomic Energy Agency contract No. 2346/RB     

Mathematical models for mixing in deep jet bioreactors: analysis

A mathematical model for single and multi step deep-jet bioreactors is presented. A stagewise approach based on macroscopic mechanistic model which divides the reactor into compartments with good quality of mixing and plug flow regions (macromixer), was used. For the mathematical representation of this model a system of differential equations, describing the concentration of tracer in structural elements based on mass balance, and the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg numerical method of integration, was applied. The mixing time in a 300 dm³ tank was determined by conductivity method with NaCl as tracer.List of Symbols V _g dm³ total volume of liquid - V ₁; V ₆ dm³ volumes of ideally mixed compartments in the vessel - V ₂; V ₇ dm³ volumes of macromixer in the inner circulation flows - V ₃; V ₉ dm³ volumes of liquid phase in the pump - V ₄; V ₈ dm³ volumes of liquid phase in the pipe between the vessel and the pump - V ₅; V ₁₀ dm³ volumes of liquid phase in pipes between the pump and the air input system, including falling jet - F _E; F _E,1; F _E,2 dm³/s the inner volumetric circulation flow rates accross the macromixers - F _E,3; F _E,4 dm³/s exchanges volumetric flow rates between two ideally mixed compartments in the vessel - F _cir; F _1,cir; F _2,cir dm³/s external volumetric circulation flow rates (pumping capacity) - t _A s time interval of puls application - t _AA s time point of impuls application related to the free chosen point of simulation - t _end s end time of simulation - F _qu g²/dm⁶ sum of quadratic error - C _*,* kg/m³ concentration of the tracer in the indicated compartment - C ₀ kg/m³ concentration of the tracer before the injection - C _t kg/m³ concentration of the tracer at the indicated time - C kg/m³ theoretical concentration of full mixed tracer - i index of an arbitrary tank - C _sim kg/m³ calculated concentration of the tracer by numerical integration method     

Expression of villin in the mouse oviduct and the seminiferous ducts

Summary Villin, a 95-kD cytoskeletal protein selectively expressed in the microvilli of some absorptive cells was localized immunohistochemically in the oviduct and the seminiferous excretory ducts of the mouse. Villin was found in the proximal part of the oviduct, comprising the preampulla, ampulla, and part of the isthmus. Distal to the isthmus the oviductal cells lining the junctura and the intrauterine colliculus tubaris were devoid of villin. No villin could be detected in the uterine cells.Ductuli efferentes, connecting the rete testis with the epididymis were the only portion of the male seminiferous ductal system expressing villin. The cells lining the epididymis and the vas deferens were devoid of villin. These data show that villin is selectively expressed in male and female reproductive systems and that it is limited to anatomically defined proximal portions of the reproductive ducts.     

Behavioral changes during weaning in captive chimpanzees

Behavioral changes during weaning of chimpanzee infants in captive social groups were compared with those of infants in the natural habitat. Results of the weaning process were the same for the mother-infant pairs in captivity and the natural habitat, i.e., an infant independent of suckling, regular maternal transport and sleeping with the mother. The captive infants, however, did not respond to weaning with depression or regression to infantile behaviors as did infants in the natural habitat. Quite probably the social and physical environmental differences between the two habitats faciliated a less stressful weaning period for the captive mother-infant pairs.