METABOLIC PARAMETERS OF ONTOGENESIS OF ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY IN THE BRAIN. SODIUM-POTASSIUM ACTIVATED ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATASE IN DEVELOPING CHICK EMBRYO BRAIN

—(1) The activity of the Na-K ATPase in the particulate fraction of the chick embryo brain has been assayed at different stages of development with the objective of finding whether or not changes in the activity of this enzyme bear any relation to the maturation of spontaneous and evoked electrical activity of the growing chick brain. (2) The specific activity of the enzyme is low on day 6 and it rises rapidly between days 10 and 12, at which time it attains a plateau and remains essentially unchanged from day 12 until day 20. Experimental evidence rules out the possible presence of an inhibitor of the enzyme in 8-day-old brain homogenates, suggesting that these developmental changes in the activity of the enzyme may represent new synthesis of enzyme rather than its activation. The period between days 10 and 12 does not represent a unique stage of general protein synthesis. (3) The chick brain particulate enzyme has an optimum activity at pH 7·4 and at 37°. It is optimally activated by a Na⁺ concentration of 100mm and K⁺ concentration of 20 mm . The enzyme is inhibited by ouabain and Ca²⁺. (4) The results have been discussed.     

GUANYL CYCLASE IN CHICK EMBRYO BRAIN CELL CULTURES: EVIDENCE OF NEURONAL LOCALIZATION

Abstract— Guanyl cyclase activity was studied in dissociated chick embryo brain cell cultures presenting different ratios of neuronal to glial elements. The cultures containing neurons in substantial numbers always had higher guanyl cyclase activities than those consisting mainly of glial cells. No guanyl cyclase activity could be found in cultures made up of pure glial or meningeal cells. These results provide further evidence for our conclusion based on subcellular fractionation studies (G oridis & M organ , 1973), that brain guanyl cyclase might be overwhelmingly concentrated in neurons. Guanyl cyclase activity of chick embryo cerebral hemispheres increased sixfold between day 12 and day 16 after fertilization; an increase, though of much smaller magnitude, was also seen in cultured cells of the same age.     

POLYAMINES and NUCLEIC ACID METABOLISM DURING DEVELOPMENT OF CHICK EMBRYO BRAIN

Abstract— Spermine and spermidine reach maximum concentrations in the chick embryo brain between the 12th and 14th day of incubation. Sucrose-density-gradient analysis of polyribosome distribution in the developing chick embryo brain, showed the presence of polyribosomal aggregates in the regions of 147 S and 206 S between the sixth and eighth day of incubation. After the 16th day of incubation the presence of heavier polyribosomal aggregates in the region of 259 S and 280 S was found. The injection of spermine or spermidine into the air space of embryos on the tenth day of incubation leads to a remarkable increase in the incorporation rate of [³H]formate into the ribosomes. Studies under similar experimental conditions, showed an increased radioactivity in the region of 147 S, 206 S, 259 S and 280 S in embryos injected with spermine or spermidine.     

STRUCTURAL VARIATIONS DURING MITOSIS IN THE CHICK EMBRYO

Selected tissues from chick embryos were fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde and 1% OsO₄, both buffered at pH 7.6 with Veronal-acetate, and were embedded in Maraglas or Araldite. Two types of cell division have been noted. Generally, epithelial cells divide predominantly by a shortening of the chromosome-to-pole distance rather than by spindle elongation; mesenchymal cells undergo extensive spindle elongation. The presence of numerous continuous microtubules in cells that undergo extensive spindle elongation functionally implicates these tubules in the elongation process. In most embryonic epithelia, the cleavage furrow converges to a fixed site forming a mid-body near the anchoring desmosomes at the free surface; symmetrical furrow formation is typical of mesenchymal cells which lack desmosomes. The hypothesis of cleavage furrow formation and the fate of the mid-body that is formed during cytokinesis are discussed.     

CHANGES IN THE LEVELS OF DNA, RNA, PROTEIN AND DNases IN DEVELOPING AND OLD CHICK BRAIN

—The levels of DNA, RNA, protein and activities of acid and alkaline DNases in developing and old chicken brain were studied. A rapid increase in DNA content was found in the embryonic brain until just prior to hatching. Thereafter, with a transient plateau around the day of hatching, the DNA continued to increase but at a very slow rate. Two-year-old brain was found to have a markedly higher level of DNA as compared to the 10th day postnatal value. RNA showed a steady increase up to the 20th day of embryonic life. Protein levels showed a gradual increase throughout the period studied. Both acid and alkaline DNases exhibited maximum activity during embryonic life, i.e. at a time when rapid cellular proliferation was occurring. With advancing age, the acid DNase activity showed a marked decline thus exhibiting no correlation to the high level of DNA found in the old brain. The alkaline DNase activity, however, was still at a significant level in the 2-year-old brain.     

ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE IN MOUSE BRAIN, ERYTHROCYTES AND MUSCLE

Abstract— The properties of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) from mouse brain, erythrocytes and muscle were investigated. The enzymes were examined by gel filtration in Sephadex G-200, polyac-rylamide gel electrophoresis, immunological reactions, active-site labelling with tritiated di-isopropyl-phosphorofluoridate and also their kinetic properties were compared. All three enzymes appeared to have a single active small mol. wt. component of 80,000 to 82,000 which produced higher mol. wt. forms by aggregation. The partial purification of the enzyme from brain was achieved by affinity chromatography and this product was used to prepare antibodies. The purified immunoglobulin was shown to react with all three enzymes.     

THE HALF-LIFE OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE IN MATURE RAT BRAIN

—The rate of degradation of acetylcholinesterase [EC 3.1.1.7] in mature rat cerebral cortex was determined from the time course of the label introduced into the protein by one intraventricular injection of l -leucine-l-¹⁴C. The half life of the enzyme was 2.84 ± 013 days.     

COMPARATIVE PEPTIDE MAPPING AND ISOELECTRIC FOCUSING OF ISOLATED SUBUNITS FROM CHICK EMBRYO BRAIN TUBULIN

The α- and β-subunits of chick embryo brain tubulin have been isolated under denaturing conditions and compared with respect to their molecular weight, amino acid composition, tryptic peptide maps, amide content and isoelectric focusing properties. An 8 M-Urea-containing polyacrylamide gel system with varying acrylamide concentrations was used for calculation of the retardation coefficients (K_R) of the tubulin subunits. A molecular weight of 53,000 was estimated for each subunit by comparison to K_R values for standard proteins. Amide contents of approx 41% of the carboxyl groups of α-tubulin and 48% of the carboxyl groups of β-tubulin were calculated using the average PI value, the pK_intrinsic for the ionizable side chains of the amino acids and the amino acid composition of each subunit. Comparative peptide maps of trypsin digested α- and β-tubulin demonstrated 16 peptides unique to each subunit and 23 peptides which comigrate. Both subunits give rise to multiple species on electrofocusing gels. The average isoelectric points for the α- and β-subunits are 5.4 and 5.2, respectively.     

ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE TURNOVER IN BRAIN, CEREBROSPINAL FLUID AND PLASMA

—By assay of acetylcholine hydrolysis to measure total cholinesterase activity and acetyl-β-methylcholine hydrolysis to measure acetylcholinesterase (E.C 3.1.1.7) activity, patterns of regeneration of enzyme activity were measured in seven areas of brain, cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of cats after administration of an irreversible inhibitor. Halftimes of recovery of total cholinesterase in the brain tissues ranged from 0·9 to 3·8 days (av = 2·5 days) and acetylcholinesterase recovery halftimes ranged from 1·2 to 5·3 days (av = 3·6 days). Regeneration of total cholinesterase was also followed in subcellular fractions of guinea-pig and rat brains after similar inhibition. In both species, the fastest recovery occurred in the soluble fraction with halftimes of 1·8 and 1·6 days, while the synaptosomal fractions exhibited the slowest recoveries with halftimes of 8·3 and 4·1 days. Regeneration of activity in plasma and CSF most nearly resembled that of the soluble brain fraction.     

ADENOSYLMETHIONINE DECARBOXYLASE IN DEVELOPING RAT BRAIN

Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase from rat brain has been found to be similar to the same enzyme isolated from other rat tissues in regard to kinetic parameters, pH optimum, putrescine requirement, and subcellular location. Evidence is presented that pyridoxal phosphate is not the functional cofactor in enzymatic decarboxylation by the rat brain preparation. The capacity for spermidine synthesis in developing rat brain was determined by measurement of the activity of adenosylmethionine decarboxylase. The activity increased dramatically after 10 days of postnatal age. This increase occurred after the period of maximum nucleic acid synthesis, an observation which suggests that spermidine may have a role in the functional development of the brain.     

TRITON SOLUBILIZED ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE OF BRAIN

—The total AChE of brain can be readily extracted into aqueous Triton X-100. By column chromatography of these extracts a preparation was obtained at least six times as active as the original material and in yields of 60-80 per cent of the original amounts. The molecular weight of this material was estimated to be over 200,000. When brain tissue was treated with venom or bacterial protease, a water-soluble AChE was obtained with an overall purification of 150-fold. The most active preparation of AChE hydrolysed 880 μ-moles of acetylthiocholine/hr/mg of protein. The molecular weight of this preparation was estimated to be about 100,000. The enzyme which was extracted by Triton X-100 is probably the precursor of the more water-soluble enzyme that can be prepared from brain tissue by treatment with venom or protease.     

SOME FACTORS INFLUENCING BRAIN GLYCOGEN IN THE NEONATE CHICK

—Studies of the brain glycogen concentration in the chick during the perinatal period showed that there was an increase immediately prior to hatching. This was followed by a pronounced decrease between 1 and 2 days after hatching. The decrease was most marked in the cerebellum. During ischaemia, the rate of glycogen depletion was greater in 1-day-old chicks than in 2- and 7-day-old birds. Brain glycogen concentration exhibited a circadian rhythm which was not closely related to changes in motor activity or body temperature. Exposure to a high environmental temperature (40°C) caused a depletion of glycogen, but exposure to a low temperature (2°C) had no effect. Four hours of hyperglycaemia resulted in a lowering of brain glycogen levels whereas hypoglycaemia was without effect.     

EPIDERMAL METAPLASIA OF THE CORNEAL ANTERIOR EPITHELIUM IN THE CHICK EMBRYO

The corneal anterior epithelium of younger chick embryos can be changed into a keratinized epidermis, when it is cultured in vitro combined with 6 1/2-day dorsal dermis. Even if a Millipore filter is inserted between the corneal anterior epithelium and underlying dorsal dermis, the epithelium undergoes similar metaplastic changes. In older embryos, however, the epithelium gradually loses the competence for the keratinization. Cultivation of cornea (anterior epithelium, stroma and endothelium) of 6 1/2- or 10-day embryos results in maintenance of its original pattern, and the epithelium fails to differentiate into a keratinized epidermis. The dermis isolated from 8 1/2-day dorsal or 12 1/2-day tarsometatarsal skin is not so effective in inducing the epidermal metaplasia. The mesenchyme of 5 1/2-day proventriculus or 5 1/2-day gizzard fails to bring about any endodermal metaplasia of the corneal epithelium. The corneal stroma, on the other hand, has no inhibitory action on the keratinization of the epidermis obtained from 6 1/2-day dorsal skin.     

INDUCTIVE TISSUE INTERACTIONS IN THE BEAK OF A CHICK EMBRYO *

Series of homologous and heterologous recombination experiments were made between the beak and other skin derivatives, by means of a modified chorioallantoic membrane grafting, to investigate inductive tissue interactions involved in the upper beak of a developing embryo and a hatched chick. 6-day beak epidermis, as well as 6-day cephalic skin epidermis, differentiated into typically normal epidermis of the beak, when they were associated with the mesenchyme taken from 6-day upper beak region. These epithelia, when grafted without association with beak mesenchyme, failed to differentiate into the beak epidermis. 6-day beak epidermis differentiated into typical down feathers when combined with 7-day back skin dermis, prospective feathered area. The inductive potency of the beak mesenchyme was not limited in embryonic life, but persisted even after hatching. These findings were discussed in relation to the role of inductive tissue interactions involved in the expression and stabilization of the differentiated characters of the epidermis in both embryos and adults.     

NUCLEOLAR NECKLACES IN CHICK EMBRYO MYOBLASTS FORMED BY LACK OF ARGININE

The round nucleoli of chick embryo myoblasts, when grown in a culture medium devoid of arginine, unravel in several days into 5–20 µ long, beaded strands termed nucleolar necklaces (NN). Addition of arginine reverses this change. The NN contain protein, RNA, and traces of DNA as determined cytochemically by enzyme digestion and by acridine-orange fluorescent staining. When a cell containing the beaded strand is treated with agents, such as actinomycin D, that prevent rRNA polymerase action, the strand collapses and condenses into a small dense nucleolus with segregated regions of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) and deoxyribonucleoprotein (DNP). The properties of the NN appear to resemble those of the nucleolar necklaces of amphibian oocytes. Cycloheximide or puromycin inhibition of general protein synthesis does not lead to NN formation. We suggest that NN formation during arginine starvation may be a result of a singular depletion of some rapidly turning over, arginine-rich proteins that normally attach to ribosomal RNA precursor molecules during their synthesis in the processing towards maturation of the ribosomes.     

FOLATE LEVELS IN DEVELOPING MOUSE BRAIN1

Abstract— The folate coenzymes of mouse brain underwent quantitative and qualitative changes during the first few weeks after birth. The total folate coenzymes per unit wet weight declined by approximately 60 per cent. In the newborn brains a relatively small proportion of the total folates were poly-γ-glutamyl derivatives, but the percentage of the total folates in these forms increased as the brain matured.     

THE DETERMINATION OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY OF BRAIN SLICES AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN STUDIES OF EXTRACELLULAR ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE

The AChE activity of single slices obtained from the surface of the temporoparietal region of rat brains was measured colorimetrically under anaerobic conditions with acetylthiocholine as substrate. In intact slices from untreated rats AChE activity was only a small proportion of that of homogenates made from the slices, but this proportion increased with the surface area to weight ratio of slices and with an increase in substrate concentration, intact slices not showing substrate inhibition. The inhibition of AChE determined in slices from rats treated with DFP or paraoxon was less than that in homogenates obtained from the slices. When the access of substrate was limited to the cut surface of a slice, the rate of hydrolysis was four times greater than that observed when access was solely from the uncut surface. It is concluded that under anaerobic conditions the substrate diffuses into slices to a depth which is not constant but a function of both substrate and enzyme concentration. Thus the AChE activity of slices cannot be used as a measure of extracellular AChE.