Further observations on the inhibitory effect of extracellular potassium ions on glycine uptake by mouse ascites-tumour cells

1. The initial rate of uptake of glycine by the tumour cells was measured as a function of the Na(+) and K(+) concentrations in the solution in which the cells were suspended. When [Gly] was 1mm or 12mm, the rate in the absence of Na(+) was independent of [K(+)] and about 3% or 10% respectively of the rate when [Na(+)] was 150m-equiv./l. 2. The Na(+)-dependent glycine entry rate, v, at a given value of [Na(+)] was successively lowered when [K(+)] was increased from 8 to 47 to 96m-equiv./l. A kinetic analysis indicated that K(+) competitively inhibited the action of Na(+). The results were in fair agreement with previous determinations of the kinetic parameters. 3. The presence of 2mm-sodium cyanide and 10mm-2-deoxyglucose lowered the cellular ATP content to less than 3% of the value in the respiring cells. Although v was then about 50% smaller, the relative effects of K(+) and Na(+) on the system were similar to those observed during respiration. 4. A theoretical analysis indicated that the variation of v with [K(+)] is not a reliable guide to the extent to which the K(+) gradient between the cells and their environment may contribute to the net transport of glycine.     

Effect of the air ion environment on influenza in the mouse

The effects of small air ions were observed on the course of influenza in specific pathogen-free mice challenged by intranasal instillation of measured doses of influenza virus and maintained in a controlled micro-environment. Unipolar low densities of positive or negative ions increased the death rate, while mid-range densities of either charge were without effect. High concentrations of negative ions or low concentrations of mixed ions with negative ions predominating reduced the death rate. Ion depleted air, a common product of urban living conditions, significantly increased the mortality rate.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Wirkung kleiner Luftionen auf den Verlauf der Influenza wurde in SPF Mäusen nach intranasaler Application von bekannten Mengen Influenzavirus unter kontrollierten Umweltbedingungen untersucht. Unipolare niedrige Konzentrationen positiver und negativer Ionen erhöhten die Mortalität, während mittlere Konzentration Ionen beider Ladungen ohne Wirkung blieben. Hohe Konzentrationen negativer Ionen oder niedrige Konzentrationen gemischter Ionen mit überwiegend negativen Ionen senkten die Mortalität. Luft ohne Ionen, wie unter städtischen Lebensbedingungen, steigerten die Mortalität signifikant.

---

Resume On a suivi l'effet de petits ions de l'air sur le développement de la grippe chez des souris libres d'agents pathogènes, infectées par instillation intransale au moyen de doses connues de virus et ensuite maintenues en atmosphère contrôllée. De faibles concentrations unipolaires d'ions positifs ou négatifs augmentent le taux de mortalité, alors que des concentrations moyennes de chacune des charges sont sans effet. Par contre, de fortes concentrations d'ions négatifs diminuent le taux de mortalité. Une atmosphère privée d'ions, telle qu'on en rencontre dans les villes, augmente le taux de mortalité de façon significative.

     

Further observations on the effect of calcium ionophores on ascites tumor cells

The effect of the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin on neoplastic thymocytes in comparison to its effect on normal thymus cells was studied. Ionomycin increases intracellular Ca2+ in normal lymphocytes but fails to increase Ca2+ in neoplastic thymocytes. In these cells the ionophore causes a transient increase in cytosolic free Ca2+. The lack of effect of ionomycin reproduces that of A23187, but it does not depend on reduced availability of intracellular Mg2+ to exchange with Ca2+; it appears to depend on the strong activity of the plasma membrane Ca2+-extruding pump that counteracts ionomycin permeabilization and that can be partly inhibited by the calmodulin inhibitor R24571 (calmidazolium). Neoplastic thymocytes show a high content of magnesium, the intracellular binding of which is efficiently regulated by endogenous ATP. The data show also an interesting correlation between the regulation of energy metabolism (aerobic glycolysis) and cation homeostasis in the neoplastic cells studied.     

The effect of air ions on liquid evaporation rates

The evaporation rates of water, heptane, ethyl alcohol and physiological saline were investigated as a function of atmospheric ion density.Ion concentrations up to about 10⁶ ions/cm³ were employed. In general evaporation rates decreased with increasing ion density (of either sign)to a minimum after which evaporation increased steadily. For water a reduction of about 15% occurred.The different liquids exhibited some deviations from this general pattern. The effects are specific to the type of gas ion, being exceptionally great for ionized oxygen. They also seem to be associated with the polar nature of the liquid molecules. The results are qualitatively explained on the basis of surface charging.The modification of evaporation may be a mechanism by which biological effects are produced by air ions.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Verdunstungsquoten von Wasser,Heptan,Äthylalkohol und physiologischer Kochsalzlösung wurden als Funktion der atmosphärischen Ionenkonzentration untersucht. Es wurden Ionenkonzentrationen oberhalb von etwa 10⁶ Ionen/cm³ benutzt. Im allgemeinen nahmen die Verdunstungsquoten mit steigender Ionenkonzentration (jeden Vorzeichens) bis zu einem Minimum ab,nach dem die Verdunstung wieder allmählich anstieg. Für Wasser ergab sich eine Abnahme um etwa 15%. Die verschiedenen Flüssigkeiten zeigten einige Abweichungen von diesem allgemeinen Trend. Die Wirkungen sind für Gasionen spezifisch und besonders gross für ionisierten Sauerstoff.Sie scheinen auch mit dem Vorzeichen der flüssigen Moleküle gekoppelt zu sein.Die Ergebnisse werden qualitativ mit der Oberflächenladung erklärt. Die Änderung der Verdunstung ist möglicherweise ein Mechanismus, durch den biologische Wirkungen durch Luftionen hervorgerufen werden.

---

Resume On a étudié le taux d'évaporation de l'eau, de l'heptane, de l'alcool éthylique et du sérum physiologique (solution acqueuse de sel de cuisine)en fonction de la densité des ions dans l'atmosphère. Pour ce faire, on a utilisé des concentrations en ions allant jusqu'à 10⁶ ions/cm³. En général, le taux d'évaporation diminue parallèlement à l'augmentation de la densité des ions (quel que soit leur signe) et cela jusqu'à un minimum au-delà duquel il augmente de nouveau. Pour l'eau,la réduction est d'environ 15%. Les différents liquides examinés présentent quelques variantes de cette tendance générale. L'effet constaté est spécifique pour les ions gazeux et spécialement important pour l'oxygène ionisé. Il paraît aussi lié à la polarité de la molécule liquide. Les résultats obtenus sont qualitativement explicables en tenant compte de la charge superficielle du liquide. La variation de l'évaporation est peut-être le mécanisme par le truchement duquel les ions de l'air exercent une influence biologique.