Further results on the survival of a gene represented in a founder population

This paper is concerned with gene survival in a population which may increase without density dependence according to a generalization of the Moran model for haploid individuals. A selective advantage to one allele and the possibility of differential reproductive rates are allowed. Simple conditions are given for ultimate homozygosity to be certain and for the possibility of ultimate polymorphism. The results complement and extend those of Heyde (1981, 1982).     

Electron-microscopic and immunocytochemical analyses of Weibel-Palade bodies in the human umbilical vein during pregnancy

Summary The present study was done to elucidate the biological significance of the Weibel-Palade body of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Quantitative determinations of these endothelial-specific granules throughout pregnancy revealed that their numbers and size per cell profile were maintained at low levels from 12 to 19 weeks of gestation; then both rapidly increased from 33 weeks to full term. This increase coincided with the development of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and an increase in the number of endothelial cell pinocytotic vesicles. Light-microscopic peroxidase anti-peroxidase and electron-microscopic protein A-gold techniques provided evidence that factor VIII-related antigen was localized in the Weibel-Palade bodies. Furthermore, in vitro treatment of incubated umbilical vein tissue with compound 48/80, a histamine releaser, induced degranulation of Weibel-Palade bodies from the endothelium. The present study indicates that Weibel-Palade bodies are storage sites of both histamine and factor VIII-related antigen and have an important role in the obliteration of this vessel.     

Analysis of genetic changes in radiated and non-radiated bulk oat (Avena sativa L.) populations

Summary In both radiated and non-radiated oat populations inbreeding coefficients increased more slowly than was expected on the assumption of full selfing and equal selective values for homozygotes and heterozygotes. Assuming 1% outcrossing for oats and a selective value of 1.0 for the mean, the heterozygotes for two loci governing crown rust reaction have an advantage of 50% over the homozygotes. This study supports previous observations that the heterozygote often has a decided advantage in predominantly self-pollinated crops.     

A novel array-based assay of in situ tissue transglutaminase activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Transglutaminases (TGs), a family of calcium-dependent transamidating enzymes, are involved in functions such as apoptosis and inflammation and play a role in autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we describe a novel array-based approach to rapidly determine in situ TG activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and J82 human bladder carcinoma cells. Amine arrays were fabricated by immobilizing 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane on glass slides. The assay was specific and highly reproducible. The average coefficient of variation betweens spots was 2.6% (n = 3 arrays), and the average correlation coefficients between arrays and between arrays/reactions were 0.998 and 0.976, respectively (n = 3 arrays). The assay was successfully applied to detect changes in TG activity induced by maitotoxin and to analyze inhibition of the TG activation with cystamine and monodansyl cadaverine. In addition, the assay demonstrated that intracellular reactive oxygen species regulate the maitotoxin-induced activation of TG. Thus, the array-based in situ TG activity assay constitutes a rapid and high-throughput approach to investigating the roles of TGs in cell signaling.     

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation Of Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia In A Patient With Inferior Vena Cava Anomaly

Curative radiofrequency catheter modification of the slow pathway is the recommended therapy for patients suffering from recurrent symptomatic atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia. This is usually performed via femoral vein and the inferior vena cava (IVC). Presence of venous occlusion or complex venous anomaly involving the IVC may preclude this approach. Here, we report a case with a complex venous anomaly involving the inferior vena cava, who underwent electrophysiological study and successful radiofrequency ablation by an alternative approach.     

Studies on evolutionary and selective properties of hypercycles using a Monte Carlo method

Summary The most relevant properties of hypercycles were previously studied mainly from a theoretical point of view. We have developed a Monte Carlo method simulating hypercyclic organization to obtain information about the dynamics of this prebiotic organization. Nucleation, growth, and selective properties have been tested and the results obtained are in good agreement with those of the theoretical predictions. The influence of hypercyclic organization of the error threshold has also been studied. As a consequence of the emergence of a hypercycle, the value of this threshold decreases. The amount of this decrease depends on the population size. Moreover, for some interval of quality factor values, either the hypercycle organization or an error catastrophe can be produced, depending on the initial conditions. The influence of these phenomena on both the dynamic behavior and evolutionary advantages of the hypercycle, as well as their decisive roles on genome size, are discussed.Presented at the FEBS Symposium on Genome Organization and Evolution, held in Crete, Greece, September 1–5, 1986     

Differences in response to the toxin sirodesmin PL produced by Phoma lingam (Tode ex fr.) Desm. on protoplasts,cell aggregates and intact plants of resistant and susceptible Brassica accessions

Summary The selective property of sirodesmin PL, a toxin produced by Phoma lingam, was studied on protoplasts, cell aggregates, leaves and roots. Directly after isolation, protoplasts from all the different Brassica accessions were sensitive when treated with toxin in a concentration higher than 1 M. When more differentiated plant tissue. i.e. cell aggregates, leaves or roots, were investigated, insensitivity to the toxin was found in the plant material resistant to P. lingam, while the plant material susceptible to P. lingam was sensitive. The results reveal that a clear correlation between resistance to P. lingam and insensitivity to sirodesmin PL is present, and that the toxin can be used to distinguish resistant plant material from susceptible both in vivo and in vitro.     

Local anesthetic action of phentolamine on insect mechanoreceptors

1. The effect of phentolamine on the response properties of insect mechanoreceptors and on the conduction in their axons was examined using electrophysiological techniques. 2. Phentolamine blocked conduction of action potentials along axons, an effect which exhibited 3 characteristics typical of local anesthetics: the effect was frequency-dependent, reversible and varied for nerves with different diameters. 3. The concentration of phentolamine required to block axonal conduction (1-2 x 10(-3) M) was significantly higher than that required to abolish the response of receptors to mechanical stimulation (3-5 x 10(-4) M). 4. All mechanoreceptors that were examined in Locusta migratoria and Periplaneta americana were inactivated by phentolamine (Table 1). The type I receptors (chordotonal, campaniform and hair sensilla) were inactivated within 5-15 min following phentolamine application. The only type II receptor examined (forewing stretch-receptor) underwent a phase of repetitive discharge before being inactivated. 5. Tolazoline and metoclopramide inactivated, like phentolamine, mechanoreceptors at lower concentrations than necessary to block axonal conduction. However, yohimbine and chlorpromazine inactivated mechanoreceptors and blocked axonal conduction at similar concentrations. 6. These findings suggest that phentolamine affects sense-organ specific ionic processes that are more sensitive to the drug than the ionic processes along the axons.     

Ovigerity,selective predation,and variable diel vertical migration in Euchaeta elongata (Copepoda: Calanoida)

Summary We present a statistical analysis of a previously published (Yen, 1983) but heretofore unanalyzed data set on the vertical distributions and diel vertical migration (DVM) of adult females of the marine planktonic copepod Euchaeta elongata in Dabob Bay, Washington, USA. Non-ovigerous females were strongly migratory on all four dates sampled, residing between 75–175 m during the day and at shallower depths during the night, commonly entering the upper 50 m of the water column. In contrast, ovigerous females were non-migratory or weakly migratory, largely remaining between 100–175 m both day and night, and entering the upper 50 m of the water column only rarely. Thus non-ovigerous females always migrated much more strongly, as measured by both amplitude of migration and the proportion of animals migrating, than did ovigerous females. These results led us to hypothesize that differential susceptibility to visually orienting predators was the cause of these differences in DVM behavior in female E. elongata, and we subsequently undertook an experimental study of the feeding selectivity of the copepod's natural predator, Pacific herring (Clupea harengus pallasi). Pacific herring exhibited a highly significant preference for ovigerous over nonovigerous adult female E. elongata. The demographic consequences of variable DVM in adult female E. elongata were investigated by way of life table analyses. Results indicated that under conditions of thermal stratification of the water column there is a distinct demographic disadvantage (reduced rate of realized population growth) incurred by non-migratory or weakly migratory ovigerous females due to delayed egg development at cooler subsurface temperatures. We conclude that ovigerous female E. elongata remain at depth both day and night to avoid visually orienting predators, and that such behavior must afford the copepod a demographic advantage of no less than a 26% reduction in adult mortality to offset the demographic cost of delayed egg development.