Flow and Diffusion in Channel-Guided Cell Migration

Collective migration of mechanically coupled cell layers is a notable feature of wound healing, embryonic development, and cancer progression. In confluent epithelial sheets, the dynamics have been found to be highly heterogeneous, exhibiting spontaneous formation of swirls, long-range correlations, and glass-like dynamic arrest as a function of cell density. In contrast, the flow-like properties of one-sided cell-sheet expansion in confining geometries are not well understood. Here, we studied the short- and long-term flow of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells as they moved through microchannels. Using single-cell tracking and particle image velocimetry (PIV), we found that a defined averaged stationary cell current emerged that exhibited a velocity gradient in the direction of migration and a plug-flow-like profile across the advancing sheet. The observed flow velocity can be decomposed into a constant term of directed cell migration and a diffusion-like contribution that increases with density gradient. The diffusive component is consistent with the cell-density profile and front propagation speed predicted by the Fisher-Kolmogorov equation. To connect diffusion-mediated transport to underlying cellular motility, we studied single-cell trajectories and occurrence of vorticity. We discovered that the directed large-scale cell flow altered fluctuations in cellular motion at short length scales: vorticity maps showed a reduced frequency of swirl formation in channel flow compared with resting sheets of equal cell density. Furthermore, under flow, single-cell trajectories showed persistent long-range, random-walk behavior superimposed on drift, whereas cells in resting tissue did not show significant displacements with respect to neighboring cells. Our work thus suggests that active cell migration manifests itself in an underlying, spatially uniform drift as well as in randomized bursts of short-range correlated motion that lead to a diffusion-mediated transport.     

Observations on the Ecology of Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius) in a Thai Mangrove Ecosystem and Their Effect on Herbivory of Rhizophora mucronata Lam.

Ants of the genus Oecophylla are predators of other insects and are able to protect a variety of terrestrial plants against pest insects; however, observations on the ecology of these ants in mangrove forests are lacking. General observations on the ecology of Oecophylla smaragdina were carried out in a Thai mangrove forest to determine if these ants can protect their host plants in less favorable mangrove habitats. Leaf herbivory and the density of O. smaragdina ants were measured on Rhizophora mucronata trees at two sites. The results showed a negative correlation between ant density and herbivory. At both sites, the mean percent damaged leaf area was more than four times higher on trees without ants compared to “ant‐trees.” A significant negative correlation was found between tree mean percent leaf damage and the density of ants on the tree. Furthermore, on trees with ants, there was less herbivory on leaves close to ant nests compared to other leaves on the tree. Most damage was caused by chrysomelid beetles (62%) and sesarmid crabs (25%) and both types of herbivory were significantly reduced on ant‐trees.     

Structure of Cu2(indomethacin)4 and the reaction with superoxide in aprotic systems

The copper complex of indomethacin (1-(p-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-indole acetate), a common anti-inflammatory drug, was prepared and characterized. Crystal structure determination revealed the dimeric form of the 1:2 complex, namely Cu₂(indomethacin)₄ · L₂, in the unit cell. Suprisingly, the copper-copper distance (263 pm) was very close to metallic copper (256 pm). The two coordination sites in the copper-copper axis can be readily replaced by superoxide. An intriguing similarity to Cu₂(acetate)₄ was seen.Due to the lipophilic nature of the indomethacin ligand, this copper complex reacted with superoxide in aprotic solvents. The superoxide dismutating activity was successfully demonstrated in Me₂SO/water and acetonitrile/water mixtures using the nitro-blue tetrazolium assay and pulse radiolysis. The second-order rate constant of 6 · 10⁹ M^?1 · s^?1 in strictly aqueous systems dropped only slightly to 1.1 · 10⁹ M^?1 · s^?1 when aprotic solvents were used. This is the fastest rate constant ever observed for a copper-dependent dismutation of superoxide. The KO₂-induced lipid peroxidation in both erythrocytes and liver microsomes was suppressed by 70% in the presence of 1 · 10^?10 mol · ml^?1 of Cu₂(indomethacin)₄. The inhibitory action dropped to 25% when Cu₂Zn₂superoxide dismutase was employed. The formation of copper · indomethacin in rat serum after administration of indomethacin was shown in vitro and in vivo.     

Über die Wirkung von Thyroxin und thyreotropem Hormon auf den Stoffwechsel und die Färbung des Goldfisches

Zusammenfassung Der Sauerstoffverbrauch des Goldfisches fällt, bei Aufenthalt in der Durchströmungsapparatur, bis zur 8. Std erheblich. Er sinkt auch danach in geringen Grenzen weiter bis zu einem Minimum ab. Helligkeit und Dunkelheit sind ohne wesentlichen Einfluß auf den O₂-Verbrauch. Injektion von physiologischer Kochsalzlösung ruft für 30–40 min eine Beunruhigung hervor, die sich in einer O₂-Verbrauchserhöhung von etwa 20% bemerkbar macht.Eine einmalige Injektion von Thyroxin bewirkt einen Anstieg des O₂-Verbrauchs bis zu 5 1/2 Std nach der Injektion. Im Sommer beträgt die Erhöhung maximal über 100%. Die Kontrollen zeigen weiteres Absinken des O₂-Verbrauchs. Es zeigt sich ein deutlicher Unterschied der Thyroxinwirkung zwischen Jungund Alttieren (Grenze 15 g). Jungtiere zeigen weit geringere Reaktion.Einmalige Injektion von thyreotropem Hormon zeigt ebenfalls einen Anstieg des O₂-Verbrauchs. Im Unterschied zur Thyroxinwirkung erfolgt er in kürzerer Zeit und steigt auf höhere Werte (maximal über 200%). Auch hier ist ein deutlicher Wirkungsunterschied zwischen Jungund Alttieren vorhanden.An Stelle von Thyreoidektomie wird Methylthiouracil zur Ausschaltung der Schilddrüse Verwendet. 0,1 cm³ einer 5% igen Na-Lösung wirken über 4 Tage stoffwechselsenkend und lassen thyreotropes Hormon nicht zur Wirkung kommen.Im Sommer und Winter bewirkt mehrmalige Verabfolgung von Thyroxin nach einer verschieden langen Latenzzeit einen Anstieg des O₂-Verbrauchs.Auch mehrmalige Verabfolgung von thyreotropem Hormon läßt den Sauerstoffverbrauch der Fische ansteigen. Die unterschiedliche Wirkung zwischen Jung und Alttieren läßt sich auch hier statistisch sichern.Wird bei durch thyreotropes Hormon erhöhtem O₂-Verbrauch MTU verabfolgt, so sinkt der O₂-Wert rapide und steigt auch nicht mehr auf die vorherige Höhe an.Bei Thyroxinbehandlung über längere Zeit zeigt sich zunächst eine Expansion der Melanophoren und eine Zunahme des Pigments, welche dann von einem destruktiven Prozeß an den Farbzellen abgelöst wird, der nach etwa 90 Tagen zum völligen Zerfall aller Melanophoren führt. Bei Behandlung mit thyreotropem Hormon und bei Thyroxinbehandlung an jungen Tieren konnte nur eine Expansion der Melanophoren beobachtet werden.Herrn Prof. Dr. H. Giersberg möchte ich auch an dieser Stelle meinen Dank aussprechen für die Anregung und die Unterstützung bei der Durchführung dieser Arbeit.     

The genetics of chemotaxis in Drosophila melanogaster: Selection for repellent insensitivity

Summary In a Y-unit maze wild-type flies of Drosophila melanogaster were tested for their chemotactic behavior reactions to insect repellents. Selection over 12 generations in two parallel experiments yielded two insensitive lines. Crosses indicated that the genes that were responsible for insensitivity were at least in part dominant. Lines selected for insensitivity to one repellent were also insensitive to a second repellent.