DCCD-sensitive Na+-transport in the membrane vesicles of Halobacterium halobium

The effects of N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) and various ionophores on light-induced 22Na+-transport were studied in right-side-out membrane vesicles from Halobacterium halobium R1M1. The light-induced Na+ efflux was inhibited at the same DCCD concentration (greater than 40 nmol/mg protein) as required for inhibition of the Na+-dependent membrane potential (delta phi) formation. This supports our previous indication that the DCCD-sensitive, Na+-dependent transformation of pH-gradient (delta pH) into delta phi is mediated by Na+/H+-antiporter (Murakami, N. and Konishi, T. (1985) J. Biochem. 98, 897-907). FCCP or a combination of valinomycin and triphenyltin (TPT) inhibits the light-induced Na+ efflux in accordance with the notion of protonmotive force (delta mu H+)-driven antiporter. However, a marked lag in initiation of the Na+ efflux occurred in the presence of valinomycin, TPMP+, or a small amount of FCCP, suggesting that a gating step is involved in the Na+ efflux. On the other hand, the delta pH-dissipating ionophore TPT did not cause the lag. A simultaneous determination of delta phi, delta pH, and Na+ efflux rate at the initial stage of illumination revealed that the antiporter is gated by delta phi rather than delta mu H+.     

Natural substances regulating fertility. Effect of plant extracts in the Ivory Coast pharmacopoeia on the release of LH by hypophyseal cells in culture

The in vitro action of hydro-alcoholic extracts of plants from Ivory Coast pharmacopoeia was analyzed on cultured rat pituitary cells. Cells were treated for 24 hours with various doses of extracts and then stimulated for 4 hours with 10(-8) M LHRH. Extracts from Afrormosia laxiflora, Cola nitida, Pterocarpus erinaceus and Tetrapleura tetraptera inhibit the LHRH-induced release of LH. On the contrary, extract from Combretodendron africanum stimulates the basal release of LH and this increase is added to the LHRH-induced release. Therefore, the natural substances contained in these plants may in vitro exert a regulation of the gonadotropin release.     

Immunoelectron microscopic localization of progesterone receptor in the chick oviduct

A peroxidase-anti-peroxidase (PAP) method using polyclonal anti-PR antibodies was used to localize progesterone receptor (PR) electron microscopically in the chick oviduct. The immunoreaction precipitate indicating PR was localized inside the nuclei of epithelial, glandular and stromal cells. In the estrogen withdrawn oviduct cytoplasmic immunoreaction precipitate was not seen. Inside the nucleus unoccupied PR was localized mainly like the heterochromatin. As visualized by the PAP technique, the localization of PR was not systematically changed after progesterone administration. In conclusion, we suggest that progesterone receptor in the chick oviduct is an intranuclear protein.     

Recovery from thermal damage of mammalian cells fixed by treatment with a hypertonic sodium chloride solution

The survival of Chinese hamster cell V79-4 after hyperthermic treatment (42 degrees C, 40 minutes) in the exponential growth phase considerably increases with the duration of holding them in the growth medium at 37 degrees C before hypertonic salt treatment (1.5 M NaCl, 15 minutes). The experimental data are interpreted as a recovery of mammalian cells from thermal lesions, whose lethal action manifests itself at high salt concentrations.