Microscopic Slides of Cat Testis

DYES AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL USES Copley, A. L., and Whitney, D. V. The standardization and assay of heparin by the toluidine blue and azure A reactions. A correction. J. Lab. &; Clin. Med., 29, 117.

Finkelstein, Jacob. N-substituted sulfonamides. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 66, 407. 1944.

Fraenkel-Conrat, H., and Cooper, M. The use of dyes for the determination of acid and basic groups in proteins. J. Biol. Chem., 154, 239. 1941.

Gilman, Henry, and Shirley, David A. Some derivatives of pheno-thiazine. J. Amer Chem. Soc., 66, 888. 1944.

Gilman, Henry, and Spatz, Sydney M. Some quinolines patterned as “open models” of atabrine. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 66, 621. 1944.

Klotz, Irving M. The mode of action of sulfonamides. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 66, 459. 1944.

Mueller, Albert C. and Hamilton, Cliff S. Some derivatives of 7-methoxy- and 10-methoxybenzoquinoline. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 66, 860. 1944.

Peterson, Osler L. Therapeutic effects of forbisen and of toluidine blue on experimental typhus. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. &; Med., 55, 155-7. 1944.

ANIMAL MICROTECHNIC Ballantyne, E. N. A staining method for frozen sections. Canad. J. Med. Techn., 2, 65-7. 1940.

Bodian, David, and Mellors, Robert C. Phosphatase activity in chromatolytic nerve cells. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. &; Med., 55, 248-5. 1844.

Forbes, J. Glycerine jelly mounting medium for frog eggs and early embryos. Trans. Amer. Micr. Soc., 62, 325-6. 1943.

Hughes, R. F. Laboratory hints. Canad. J. Med. Techn., 3, 25-6. 1940.

Krajian, Aram A. Elastic fibre stains. Canad. J. Med. Techn., 3, 207. 1941.

Kupperman, H. S., and Noback, C. R. A rapid iron hematoxylin tissue stain for laboratory use. Science, 98, 591-2. 1948.

Laws, S. G. A method of staining blood films. Canad. J. Med. Techn., 3, 68. 1941.

Lillie, R. D. Studies on the decalcification of bone. Amer. J. Path., 20, 291-6. 1944.

Moore, Margaret E. Twenty-hour schedule for routine tissue sections. Canad. J. Med. Techn., 2, 70-1. 1940.

Paul, Pauline, Lowe, B., and McClurg, B. R. Changes in histological structure and palatability of beef during storage. Food, Research, 9, 221-33.

Pinkus, Hermann. Acid orcein Giemsa stain (modification of Unna-Taenzer method). A useful routine stain for dermatologic sections. Arch. Dermat. &; Sypk., 49, 355-6. 1944.

Pugsley, Marion L. Reticulocyte staining. Canad. J. Med. Techn., 3, 16-7. 1940.

Slavkin, Alice E. Quick paraffin method for small biopsies. J. Lab. and Clin. Med., 29, 74. 1944.

PLANT MICROTECHNIC Stuart, Neil W., and Emsweller, S. L. Use of enzymes to improve cytological techniques. Science, 98, 569-70. 1943.

Wittlake, Eugene B. Permanent prestaining in botanical microtechnic. Ohio J. of Sci., 44, 36-8. 1944.

MICROÖRGANISMS Alexander-Jackson, Eleanor. A differential triple stain for demonstrating and studying non-acid-fast forms of the tubercle bacillus in sputum, tissue and body fluids. Science, 99, 307-8. 1944.

Barritt, M. M. An improved Pappenheim stain for gonococci. Brit. Med. J., 494, 4344. 1944.

Bartholomew, J. W., and Umbreit, W. W. Ribonucleic acid and the Gram stain. J. Bad., 47, 415. 1944.

Bauer, William H. Tooth buds and jaws in patients with congenital syphilis. Amer. J. Path., 20, 897-319. 1944.

Begg, A. M., Fulton, F., and Van Den Ende, M. Inclusion bodies in association with typhus rickettsiae. J. Path. &; Bact., 56, 109-13. 1944.

Cherewick, W.J. Studies on the biology of Erysiphe graminis DC. Canad. J. Research, 22, 58-85. 1944.

Dissmann, Edwin. Erfahrungen mit der karbolnachtblaufärbung der Tuberkelbazillen nach Hallberg. Zentbl. Bald., I Abt. Orig., 150, 268-75. 1943.

Hunt, George A. A study of the Pappenheim stain. A stable modification. J. Lab. &; Clin. Med., 20, 207-10. 1944.

Kirsh, David, and Schenken, John R. A comparison of the Ziehl-Neelsen and the Moss cold carbol fuchsia stains for acid-fast bacilli. New Orleans Med. and Surg. J., 96, 394-6. 1944.

Lee, H. I. Comparison of procedures for staining tubercle bacilli in fluorescent microscopy. J. Lab. &; Clin. Med., 29, 218-21. 1944.

Noble, Glenn A. A five-minute method for staining fecal smears. Science, 100, 87-8. 1944.

HISTOCHEMISTRY Dische, Zachakias. Two characteristic and sensitive color reactions between sulfhydryl compounds and thymonucleic acid. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. &; Med., 55, 217-8. 1944.

Wilmer, Harry A. Failure to demonstrate alkaline phosphatase activity in inclusion bodies by the bistochemical technic. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. &; Med., 55,206-7. 1944.     

Synthesis of a compound with folic acid activity by Lactobacillus arabinosus 17-5

Summary A compound with folic acid activity is synthesized by growing as well as respiring cells of Lactobacillus arabinosus in the presence of p-aminobenzoic acid. The essentiality of glutamic acid is seen in studies with respiring cells.The free folic acid activity elaborated by Lactobacillus arabinosus reaches its maximum in about 48 hrs. and is present mainly in the culture filtrate.Additions of Tween 80, or biotin and of xanthine show marked stimulation of the synthesis of folic acid activity.With the organisms Streptococcus faecalis R and Lactobacillus casei, requiring exogenous folic acid for growth, it is seen that the entire folic acid activity resides in the cells and as citrovorum factor.Sulphanilamide inhibits the synthesis of folic acid activity by Lactobacillus arabinosus.     

Resolvins, docosatrienes, and neuroprotectins, novel omega-3-derived mediators, and their aspirin-triggered endogenous epimers: an overview of their protective roles in catabasis

The molecular basis for the beneficial impact of essential omega-3 fatty acids is of considerable interest. Recently, novel mediators generated from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that displayed potent bioactions were first identified in resolving inflammatory exudates [J. Exp. Med. 192 (2000) 1197; J. Exp. Med. 196 (2002) 1025] and in tissues enriched with DHA [J. Exp. Med. 196 (2002) 1025; J. Biol. Chem. 278 (2003) 14677]. The trivial names Resolvin (resolution phase interaction products) and docosatrienes were introduced for the bioactive compounds belonging to these novel series because they demonstrate potent anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory actions. The compounds derived from eicosapentaenoic acid carrying potent biological actions (i.e., 1-10 nM range) are designated E series, given their EPA precursor, and denoted as Resolvins of the E series (Resolvin E1 or RvE1), and those biosynthesized from the precursor docosahexaenoic acid are Resolvins of the D series (Resolvin D1 or RvD1). Bioactive members from DHA with conjugated triene structures are docosatrienes (DT) that are immunoregulatory [J. Exp. Med. 196 (2002) 1025; J. Biol. Chem. 278 (2003) 14677], and neuroprotective [J. Biol. Chem., 278 (2003) 43807; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. [submitted for publication]] and are termed neuroprotectins. The specific receptors for these novel bioactive products from omega-3 EPA and DHA are abbreviated Resolvin D receptors (i.e., ResoDR1), Resolvin E receptor (ResoER1; RER1), and neuroprotectin D receptors (NPDR), respectively, in recognition of their respective cognate ligands. Aspirin treatment impacts biosynthesis of these compounds and a related series by triggering endogenous formation of the 17R-D series Resolvins and docosatrienes. These novel epimers are denoted as aspirin-triggered (AT)-RvDs and -DTs, and possess potent anti-inflammatory actions in vivo essentially equivalent to their 17S series pathway products. Here, we provide a syntomy overview of the formation and actions of these newly uncovered pathways and products as well as highlight their role(s) as endogenous protective mediators generated in anti-inflammation and catabasis.     

Tetrahydrobiopterin and nitric oxide: mechanistic and pharmacological aspects

In previous minireviews in this journal, we discussed work on induction of tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis by cytokines and its significance for nitric oxide (NO) production of intact cells as well as functions of H4-biopterin identified at this time for NO synthases (Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 203: 1-12, 1993; Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 219: 171-182, 1998). Meanwhile, the recognition of the importance of tetrahydrobiopterin for NO formation has led to new insights into complex biological processes and revealed possible novel pharmacological strategies to intervene in certain pathological conditions. Recent work could also establish that tetrahydrobiopterin, in addition to its allosteric effects, is redox-active in the NO synthase reaction. In this review, we summarize the current view of how tetrahydrobiopterin functions in the generation of NO and focus on pharmacological aspects of tetrahydrobiopterin availability with emphasis on endothelial function.     

Laboratory Hints from the Literature

DYES AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL USES Burckhalter, J. H., Jones, E. M., Holcomb, W. F., and Sweet, L. A. N-substituted 2-methoxy-6-chloro-9-aminoacridines. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 65, 2012. 1943.

Galat, Alexander. New processes for sulfanilamide. Ind. and Eng. Chem., Ind. Ed., 36, 192. 1944.

Kumler, W. D., and Daniels, T. C. The relation between chemical structure and bacteriostatic activity of sulfanilamide type compounds. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 65, 2190. 1943.

Kwartler, C. E., and Lucas, Philip. The preparation of sutfanil-amidoindazoles. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 65, 1804. 1943.

Mueller, A. C., and Hamilton, C. S. The synthesis of 1-substituted aminobenzo(f)quinolines. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 65, 1017. 1943.

Popkin, A. H. Derivatives of biphenylsulfonamides. I. Preparation of p-(o-aminopnenyl)-benzenesulfonamide. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 65, 2043. 1943.

Popkin, A. H., and Perretta, Gertrude M. Derivatives of biphenyl-sulfonamide. II. Derivatives of p-(o-aminophenyl)-benzenesulfonamide. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 65, 2046. 1943.

Shreve, R. N., and Bennett, R. B. Studies in azo dyes. I. Preparation and bacteriostatic properties of azo derivatives of 2,6-diaminopvridine. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 65, 2241. 1943.

Shreve, R. N., and Bennett, R. B. Studies in azo dyes. II. Preparation and bacteriostatic properties of azo derivatives of 8-quinolino. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 65, 2243. 1943.

Siebenmann, C., and Schnitzer, R. J. Chemotherapeutic study of p-nitrobenzoyl- and related compounds. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 65, 2127 1943.

ANIMAL MICROTECHNIC Barrett, A. M. A method for staining sections of bone marrow. J. Path & Bact., 56, 133-5. 1944.

Barrett, A. M. On the removal of formaldehyde-produced precipitate from sections. J. Path. & Bact., 56, 135-6. 1944.

Chang, Min-Chueh. Disintegration of epidymal spermatozoa by application of ice to the scrotal testis. J. Exp. Biol., 20, 16-22. 1943.

Ercoli, N., and Lewis, M. N. The age factor in response of bone tissue to alizarin dyes and the mechanism of dye fixation. Anat. Rec., 87, 67-76. 1943.

Hess, Manfred, and Hollander, Franklin. Permanent metachromatic staining of gastric mucus smears. J. Lab. and Clin. Med., 29, 321-3. 1944.

Miller, John A. A new method of staining nervous tissue. Ohio J. of Sci., 44, 31-5. 1944.     

The dissociation of aggregate forms of dextransucrase

Aggregate forms of dextransucrase obtained from Streptococcus sanguis dissociate in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. However, the enzyme was unstable under these conditions. Nonionic detergents such as Triton X-100 stabilize the enzyme (A. W. Miller and J. R. Robyt, (1981) Fed. Proc. Fed. Amer. Soc. Exp. Biol.40, 1656), but do not cause disaggregation. The combination of both detergents, at concentrations below their critical micellar concentrations, is effective in dissociating and in stabilizing the enzyme. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the enzyme in the presence of the mixed detergents produced five major active enzyme forms, and two minor ones. The molecular weights of these forms were established by a modification of the procedure of Hedrick and Smith ((1968) Arch. Biochem. Biophys.113, 675–683).     

Laboratory Hints from the Literature

Chaze, J. Sur le mode de formation et la detection des alcaloides dans la plantule de tabac. Bull. d'Histol. Appl., 5, 253. 1928.

Nan, Yao. Sur un fixateur cytologique particulièrement adapté aux tissues des insectes. Bull. d'Histol. Appl., 4, 71, 1927.

Reichardt, H., and Wetzel, A. Paraffineinbettungsmethode nach vorhergegangener Zelloidindurchtränkung unter Vermeidung der härtenden Intermedien, Xylol, Benzol, Chloroform. Zeit. f. wiss. Mikr., 45, 476-479. 1928.

Erb, N. M. A rapid stain for direct miroscopic examination of milk. J. Lab. & Clin. Med., 14, 377. 1929.

Galesesco, P., and Bratiano, S. Coloration des graisses par l'extrait alcoolique de Daucus carota. Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol., 99, 1460. 1928.

Goldner, J' Résultats obtenus chez la seiche par l'emploi de divers colorants vitaux Comp. Rend. Soc. Biol., 99, 1323. 1928.

Hadjioloff, A. Une modification rapide de la méthode de Weigert-Pal. Bull. d'Histol. Appl., 5, 431-434. 1928.

Hausdorf, G. Farbung zur Darstellung reifer Samenzellen im Hodenschnittpraparat. Zeit. f. wiss. Mikr., 44, 327-328. 1927.

Houcke, E. Emploi des colorants mixtes en technique histologique. Comp. Rend. Soc. Biol., 99, 783. 1928.

Houcke, E. Emploi des mélanges de fuchsines et de blues basiques pour la coloration histologique. Comp. Rend. Soc. Biol., 99, 786. 1928.

Houcke, E. Emploi du mélange rhodamine-blue de méthylène dans la coloration des tissus splénique et lymphcïde. Comp. Rend. Soc. Biol., 99, 788. 1928.

Lillie, R. D. Erne Schnellmethode zur Toluidinblau-Schleimfarbung. Zeit. f. wiss. Mikr., 45, 381. 1928.

Ochs, Georg Wilhelm. Über den Einfluss der Temperatur auf die Färbung von Blutausstrich-Präparaten. Folia Hematologica, 37, 241-257. 1928.

Verne, Jean. Une nouvelle coloration élective de la myeline. Bull. d'Histol. Appl., 5, 223-224. 1928.     

Identification of 4-acetoxyaminoquinoline from the hydrolysis of 1-acetoxy-4-acetoxyimino-1,4-dihydroquinoline,in vitro and in vivo properties

4-Acetoxyaminoquinoline (Ac-4-HAQ) (1) was identified as a hydrolysis product of 1-acetoxy-4-acetoxyimino-1,4-dihydroquinoline (diAc-4-HAQO). The reaction allowing the obtention of (1) obeys to a reduction mechanism implying the N₁-O cleavage. The carcinogenic properties of (1) observed by Sato et al. (Japan J. Exp. Med., 40 (1970) 475) in mice were studied in rats with the in vivo system we used previously with 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) and 4-hydroxyaminoquinoline-1-oxide (4-HAQO). In rats (1) does not covalently bind DNA. It was, therefore, possible to propose an interpretation of the results obtained by Enomoto et al. (Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 136 (1971) 1206) who injected diAc-4-HAQO s.c. to mice and rats. Compound 1 could be responsible for the carcinogenic effects observed through the following pathway: (1) should be formed by hydrolysis of diAc-4-HAQO and reactivated by an enzymatic system to N-oxide derivative, the 4-acetoxyaminoquinoline-1-oxide (Ac-4-HAQO), which constitutes an ultimate carcinogen model of 4-NQO.     

Peroxynitrite decay in the presence of hydrogen peroxide,mannitol and ethanol: A reappraisal

We have reported previously that the apparent rate of peroxynitrite (ONOO^-) decay, as followed from its absorbance at 302 nm, decreases in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, mannitol and ethanol (Alvarez et al., 1995, Chem. Res. Toxicol. 8:859-864; Alvarez et al., 1998, Free Radic. Biol. Med. 24:1331–1337). Recently, two papers confirmed the observation and proposed that this slowing effect was due to the formation of absorbing peroxynitrate (O₂NOO^-) as intermediate (Goldstein and Czapski, 1998, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120:3458–3463; Hodges and Ingold, 1999, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121:10695–10701). Peroxynitrate would be formed from the reaction of peroxynitrite-derived nitrogen dioxide with superoxide. Superoxide, in turn, would arise from the one-electron oxidation of hydrogen peroxide, or from the reaction of reductive radicals derived from mannitol and ethanol with dioxygen. In agreement with this concept, we show herein that under the conditions of our previous work, the slowing effect is prevented by superoxide dismutase and, in the case of mannitol and ethanol, by reducing the dioxygen concentration of the reaction solutions. Thus, superoxide formation is necessary for the decrease in the rate of absorbance decay. In addition, by simulations using known rate constants and absorption coefficients, we show that the slowing effect can be quantitatively accounted for by the formation of peroxynitrate.     

Dextransucrase: studies on donor substrate specificity

Previous studies (D. S. Genghoff and E. J. Hehre, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 1972, 140, 1298–1301) have shown that an α-linked fluorine atom at C-1 of glucose provided sufficient activation to permit this analog to be a donor substrate for dextransucrase. In order to study the specificity at the donor substrate binding site, a series of α-1-fluorosugars have been synthesized. In kinetic experiments, it has been determined that they served as competitive inhibitors of sucrose, the natural substrate. A comparison of the K_i's provided information about the importance of specific changes in the glucose moiety with regard to binding to the enzyme. Similar kinetic studies were carried out with several β-1-fluorosugars, and the corresponding free monosaccharides. These were found to be noncompetitive inhibitors, and to bind poorly. The α-1-fluorosugars were also examined as donor substrates in reactions with known acceptors. With the exception of α-1-fluoroglucose, none of these analogs were active in this capacity.     

Iron-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-catalyzed superoxide dismutation revisited: An explanation of why the dismutase activity of Fe-EDTA cannot be detected in the cytochrome c/xanthine oxidase assay system

The recent assertion of J. Diguiseppi and I. Fridovich (1980, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 203, 145–150) that Fe-EDTA does not catalyze superoxide dismutation is disputed. By directly observing superoxide generated during pulse radiolysis, we have confirmed the results of a previous study (G. J. McClune, J. A. Fee, G. A. McClusky, and J. T. Groves, 1977, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 99, 5220–5222) which concluded that Fe-EDTA catalyzed superoxide dismutation. We also demonstrate that the reaction of Fe(II)-EDTA, formed during catalyzed superoxide dismutation, with cytochrome c, the probe molecule in the cytochrome c/xanthine oxidase/xanthine assay system for superoxide dismutase activity, is sufficiently rapid (H. L. Hodges, R. A. Holwerda, and H. B. Gray, 1974, J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 96, 3132–3137) to obscure the weak catalysis of superoxide dismutation by Fe-EDTA.     

Comparison of surface potentials due to several singularity representations of the human heart

In electrocardiography the electrical potentials due to the heart actions can be analyzed by assuming the human body to be a conductor of homogeneous medium and the heart to be a combination of singularities within it. For a spherical conductor the “interior sphere theorem” of G. Ludford, J. Martinek, and G. Yeh (Proc. Cambridge Phil. Soc.,51, 389–93, 1955) renders potential expressions due to any singularity. For a conductor of prolate spheroidal shape the potential expressions due to a source-sink pair and a general dipole have been given by J. R. Wait (Jour. App. Physics,24, 496–97, 1953) and the authors (paper at the Conference on the Electrophysiology of the Heart, Feb. 16–17, 1956, in New York, to appear in theAnn. N. Y. Acad. Sciences) respectively. (A theorem which applies to any singularity inside a prolate or oblate spheroid will be published by the authors soon). This paper presents numerical and graphical results of potentials on the surfaces of a prolate spheroid and a sphere due to source-sink pairs and dipoles of several locations and directions and compares the various representations. A discussion on the judicious choice of heart models concludes the paper. This investigation was supported by The National Heart Institute under a research grant H-2263.     

Segmental isotopic labeling of HIV-1 capsid protein assemblies for solid state NMR

Recent studies of noncrystalline HIV-1 capsid protein (CA) assemblies by our laboratory and by Polenova and coworkers (Protein Sci 19:716–730, 2010; J Mol Biol 426:1109–1127, 2014; J Biol Chem 291:13098–13112, 2016; J Am Chem Soc 138:8538–8546, 2016; J Am Chem Soc 138:12029–12032, 2016; J Am Chem Soc 134:6455–6466, 2012; J Am Chem Soc 132:1976–1987, 2010; J Am Chem Soc 135:17793–17803, 2013; Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 112:14617–14622, 2015; J Am Chem Soc 138:14066–14075, 2016) have established the capability of solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements to provide site-specific structural and dynamical information that is not available from other types of measurements. Nonetheless, the relatively high molecular weight of HIV-1 CA leads to congestion of solid state NMR spectra of fully isotopically labeled assemblies that has been an impediment to further progress. Here we describe an efficient protocol for production of segmentally labeled HIV-1 CA samples in which either the N-terminal domain (NTD) or the C-terminal domain (CTD) is uniformly ¹⁵N,¹³C-labeled. Segmental labeling is achieved by trans-splicing, using the DnaE split intein. Comparisons of two-dimensional solid state NMR spectra of fully labeled and segmentally labeled tubular CA assemblies show substantial improvements in spectral resolution. The molecular structure of HIV-1 assemblies is not significantly perturbed by the single Ser-to-Cys substitution that we introduce between NTD and CTD segments, as required for trans-splicing.     

Production of lactic acid from date juice extract with free cells of single and mixed cultures of Lactobacillus casei and Lactococcus lactis

The production of lactic acid from date juice by single and mixed cultures of Lactobacillus casei and Lactococcus lactis was investigated. In the present conditions, the highest concentration of lactic acid (60.3 g l⁻¹) was obtained in the mixed culture system while in single culture fermentations of Lactobacillus casei or Lactococcus lactis, the maximum concentration of lactic acid was 53 and 46 g l⁻¹, respectively. In the case of single Lactobacillus casei or Lactococcus lactis, the total percentage of glucose and fructose utilized were 82.2; 94.4% and 93.8; 60.3%, respectively, whereas in the case of mixed culture, the total percentage of glucose and fructose were 96 and 100%, respectively. These results showed that the mixed culture system gave better results than single cultures regarding lactic acid concentration, and sugar consumption.     

Supportive Role of Probiotic Strains in Protecting Rats from Ovariectomy-Induced Cortical Bone Loss

Osteoporosis is a major health problem that occurs as a result of an imbalance between bone formation and bone resorption. Different approaches have been established for treating osteoporosis. Recently, because of their health benefits and also low adverse reaction, probiotics have been receiving considerable attention. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of five probiotic strains, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bacillus coagulans, in protecting rats from ovariectomized (OVX)-induced bone loss. Forty-nine adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into seven groups as follows: group 1, control; group 2, OVX; group 3, OVX + Lactobacillus acidophilus; group 4, OVX + Lactobacillus casei; group 5, OVX + Bacillus coagulans; group 6, OVX + Bifidobacterium longum; and group 7, OVX + Lactobacillus reuteri. Probiotics were fed to OVX groups at the concentration of (1 × 10⁹ CFU/ml/day) for 4 weeks. Then, biochemical parameters, including vitamin D, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), were assessed. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans were used that assess bone mineral density (BMD), bone marrow concentration (BMC), and area of global, femur, spine, and tibia. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei significantly increased Ca and ALP and decreased P in treated groups. Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Bifidobacterium longum increased vitamin D significantly. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei indicated the most effects on BMD. In terms of BMC, and bone area, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Lactobacillus casei demonstrated the significant enhancement in OVX groups treated with. Among the probiotics used in this study, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei showed the most effects in terms of BMD, BMC, bone area, and biochemical parameters. It seems that probiotics effects on bone health are strain dependent, but further studies should be done to prove these findings.

     

Book Review

Salmon, M. V. Practical phase-contrast microscopy. The Microscope, 6, 177-88. 1947.

Evans, Titus C. Radioautographs in which the tissue is mounted directly on the photographic plate. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol, and Med, 64, 813-15. 1947.

Tolbert, B. M., and Branch, G. E. K. The spectra of the doubly charged positive ions of some p,p'-diaminotriphenylmethane dyes. J. Amer. Chem. Soc, 69, 1083-81. 1947.

Van Wyk, J. J., and Clark, W. M. The luminosity and chromaticity of indicators as a function of pH. J. Amer. Chern. Soc, 69, 1296-1301. 1947.

Hamre, Christopher J. Hematopoiesis in the bone marrow of rats recovering from nutritional anemia. J. Lab. & Clin. Med, 32, 756-76. 1947.

Limarzi, Louis R. Evaluation of bone marrow concentration techniques. A modified method for the simultaneous preparation and staining of blood and bone marrow films. J. lab. & Clin. Med, 32, 782-40. 1947.

Heath, O. V. S. Role of starch in light-induced stomatal movement, and a new reagent for staining stomatal starch. Nature, 159, 647-8. 1947.

Cohen, H. A. A new quick method for staining Treponema pallidum. Acta Med. Orientalia, 6, 99-100. 1947.

Henry, H., and Stacey, M. Histochemistry of the Gram-staining reaction for micro-organisms. Proc. Roy. Soc, Ser. B. Biol. Sci, 133, 891-406. 1946.

Para, M. Silver impregnation of spirochetes in tissue sections. Arch. Path, 42, 649. 1946.

Ruiz, Merino, J. A method of staining capsules. Rev. Sanidad e Hig. Publ (Madrid), 20, 1112. 1946.     

Effect of lactic acid on diacetyl and acetoin production byLactobacillus casei subsp.rhamnosus ATCC 7469

Lactic acid or its acidity apparently play an important role in the regulation of the biosynthesis of flavor compounds inLactobacillus casei subsp.rhamnosus ATCC 7469. In pyruvate-containing media,L. casei produces lactic acid, acetoin, and diacetyl. A specific pH-dependent system is necessary for both the use of pyruvate and the induction of acetoin and diacetyl production. In cell extracts ofL. casei, lactic acid inhibits the enzymatic activity of acetolactate decarboxylase (ALD) and acetolactate synthetase (ALS); this effect does not occur in whole cells under standard physiological conditions. Lactic acid prevents the use of pyruvate, and the induction of acetoin and diacetyl production. When pyruvate-containing media are used, the pH must be kept close to 6.0 in order to obtain the best production of acetoin and diacetyl.     

A potentiometric method for the determination of the iodine-binding capacity of glycogen

The experimental conditions in the potentiometric method for the determination of the iodine-binding capacity (Ib) of starch and amylose [R. L. Bates, D. French, and R. E. Rundle (1943) J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 65, 142-148] were not suitable for glycogen because of the much lower affinity for iodine of the latter. This difficulty was overcome by titration of small volume with both the iodine and glycogen at high concentration. Using the concentration cell circuit Pt electrode-blank-bridge-glycogen-Pt electrode, small increments of standard iodine solution were added to the blank solution and each was titrated to null by adding iodine to the glucogen solution [G. A. Gilbert and J. V. R. Marriott (1948) Trans. Faraday Soc. 44, 84-93]. Glycogen was determined by an anthrone-sulfuric acid method [F. W. Fales (1951) J. Biol. Chem. 193, 113-124]. Glycogens with Ib's ranging from 1.8 to 5.3% were observed.     

Evidence for plasmid-associated lactose metabolism inLactobacillus casei subsp.casei

Lac variants ofLactobacillus casei subsp.casei DR1002 (formerly 64H) have been produced using acriflavin, ethidium bromide, mitomycin C, or combinations of these agents. Two successive transfers in the presence of acriflavin and mitomycin C or ethidium bromide and mitomycin C resulted in nearly a 100% loss of lactose fermentation. Cesium chloride-ethidium bromide isopycnic gradient ultracentrifugal analysis of purified lysates demonstrated that the 23-mdal plasmid (pDR101) found inL. casei DR1002 was consistently absent in Lac⁻ clones. We concluded that, as in lactic streptococci, lactose metablism is a plasmid-mediated train inL. casei DR1002.     

The amino acid sequence of hemoglobin II from the symbiont-harboring clamLucina pectinata

The cytoplasmic hemoglobin II from the gill of the clamLucina pectinata consists of 150 amino acid residues, has a calculatedM _m of 17,476, including heme and an acetylated N-terminal residue. It retains the invariant residues Phe 44 at position CD1 and His 65 at the proximal position F8, as well as the highly conserved Trp 15 at position A12 and Pro 38 at position C2. The most likely candidate for the distal residue at position E7, based on the alignment with other globins, is Gln 65. However, optical and EPR spectroscopic studies of the ferri Hb II (Kraus, D. W., Wittenberg, J. B., Lu, J. F., and Peisach, J.,J. Biol. Chem. 265, 16054–16059, 1990) have implicated a tyrosinate oxygen as the distal ligand. Modeling of theLucina Hb II sequence, using the crystal structure of sperm whale aquometmyoglobin, showed that Tyr 30 substituting for the Leu located at position B10 can place its oxygen within 2.8 Å of the water molecule occupying the distal ligand position. This structural alteration is facilitated by the coordinate mutation of the residue at position CD4, from Phe 46 in the sperm whale myoglobin sequence to Leu 47 inLucina Hb II.