Additive stimulation of hepatic putrescine production by glucagon and insulin after partial hepatectomy in rats

When rats received glucagon or insulin every 2 h after partial hepatectomy (Hx), hepatic putrescine content was increased above control levels at 6 and 12 h, respectively. When the two hormones were combined, the increased levels were additive. Hepatic ornithine decarboxylase activity was above control levels at 12 h after insulin treatment. Hepatic spermidine N1-acetyltransferase activity was enhanced at 6 h only when glucagon was dosed. Putrescine administration from 0 to 4 h or from 6 to 10 h increased hepatic DNA synthesis to similar levels 22 h after Hx. These results suggest that glucagon and insulin additively stimulate hepatic putrescine production after Hx. This may explain the cooperative stimulation of liver regeneration by both hormones.     

Inheritance studies with inbred lines of maize having different activity levels of the AP 1 controlled acid phosphatase isozymes

Summary The genetic control of acid phosphatase-1 (AP ₁) activity in pollen of maize was studied by crossing inbred lines having different AP ₁ isozymes and different activity levels of the A P ₁ enzyme. Usually, the intensities of the SS and FF isozyme bands were not equal in pollen of A P ₁ ^S /A P ₁ ^F heterozygous F ₁ hybrids, but the relative intensities of the two bands were not correlated to the activity levels of the parental lines. The A P ₁ ^S /A P ₁ ^S and A P ₁ ^F /A P ₁ ^F F ₂ populations differed in their mean level of activity. Both populations showed segregation in the activity levels indicating single gene control. The intensity ratios of the SS and FF bands in the different heterozygous A P ₁ ^S /A P ₁ ^F F ₂ plants did not segregate. The results support the competition model for gene regulation proposed by Schwartz (1971).     

On feeding and nutrition in Fungiacava eilatensis (Bivalvia, Mytilidae), a commensal living in fungiid corals

The enlarged inhalant siphon of Fungiacava eilatensis opens into the coelenteron of species of fungiid corals with which it lives in commensal association. Material consisting of mucus, zooxanthellae, nematocysts, plankton and inorganic matter, is taken exclusively from the coelenteron. The very mobile foot possibly assists in food collection and in the removal of pseudofaeces; but, with large ctenidia, the bivalve is a typical ciliary feeder. Experiments with labelled zooxanthellae reveal that these are taken into the gut of Fungiacava with subsequent metabolic incorporation of products derived from them. The other prime source of food must be phytoplankton carried in with the feeding currents of the coral, itself carnivorous so that there is no competition for food between commensal and host. The Fungia zooxanthella– Fungiacava association operates as a "Troika" the productivity of which is autoregulated in proportion to the number of bivalves present. The inorganic wastes of the bivalve (as well as those of the coral) are utilized by the zooxanthellae, resultant increase in the algal component becoming available as food to the bivalve. Losses in the cycle are balanced by intake of exogenous food.     

Coccus-shaped Bacillus subtilis cells are inhibited at stage 0 of sporulation

RodA and rodB mutations cause rod-shaped Bacillus subtilis cells to become coccus-shaped when the growth temperature is increased from 30 to 45 degrees C. At 30 degrees C four rod strains sporulated as well as the genetically closely related rod+ strains. In contrast, at 45 degrees C the sporulation frequencies of rod strains decreased approximately 10(2)- to 10(4)-fold, while those of rod+ strains remained either unchanged or decreased only slightly. Temperature shift experiments and ultrastructural data indicated that coccus-shaped cells were unable to form prespore septa and were, therefore, inhibited at stage 0 of sporulation.