DIFFERENT RECOVERY RATES OF THE ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL, BIOCHEMICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN THE CHOLINERGIC SYNAPSES OF THE TORPEDO ELECTRIC ORGAN AFTER STIMULATION

—During stimulation there occurred a decay in electrical response, vesicular acetylcholine, ATP and nucleotide as well as a loss of vesicle number and a decrease in vesicle diameter in the electric organ of Torpedo. These alterations were re-established during a subsequent recovery period. The different parameters recovered at different rates. Firstly, electrical response to single pulses recovered to prestimulation values within about 5 h. Vesicle number and diameter as well as bouton size were found to be re-established fully after 24 h. The newly formed vesicles appeared to be empty as vesicular acetylcholine, ATP and total nucleotide recovered much more slowly and were back to control values after about three days. Acetylcholine reappeared more quickly in the vesicles than ATP. Only after recovery of the vesicular pool of transmitter and ATP did the electric organ regain full stability of the electric discharge pattern on restimulation.     

THE ISOLATION OF CHOLINERGIC SYNAPTIC VESICLES FROM BOVINE SUPERIOR CERVICAL GANGLION AND ESTIMATION OF THEIR ACETYLCHOLINE CONTENT

Abstract— A method is described for the isolation of relatively pure cholinergic synaptic vesicles by hypo-osmotic shock and density gradient centrifugation of a synaptosome fraction prepared from bovine superior cervical ganglia. Vesicles from this source were found to sediment to a density equivalent to 0·3–0·41 M-sucrose. The vesicle subfraction from the gradient had an acetylcholine (ACh) content of 4.4 nmol/mg of protein and were subject to leakage of ACh. By a 'tagging' technique, the vesicles were counted under the electron microscope and their numbers related to their ACh concentration. After correction for leakage, an ACh content of 1630 molecules/vesicle was estimated.     

EFFECT OF CHOLINE ON THE RATES OF SYNTHESIS and OF RELEASE OF ACETYLCHOLINE IN THE ELECTRIC ORGAN OF TORPEDO

Abstract— Slices of electric organ of Torpedo marmorata were chopped and incubated in a saline-urea-sucrose medium. This preparation of minced tissue exhibited a relative enrichment in ACh and nerve endings, which was attributed to a loss of electroplaque cytoplasm. Electron microscopic controls showed nerve endings of normal morphology, some of them forming 'chaplets' separated from electro-plaques. Miniature endplate potentials were recorded on sealed fragments also present in this preparation. ACh levels remained unchanged during incubation periods as long as 19 h. The time course of the incorporation of [1-¹⁴C]acetate of [2-¹⁴C]pyruvate into ACh pools was studied. These incorporations were similarly affected by the choline added to the medium. In the presence of increasing choline concentrations (up to 10^-4 m ), the incorporation of [¹⁴C]acetate or [¹⁴C]pyruvate into ACh increased. They both diminished when choline was added above 10^-4M. The ACh content of the tissue was not affected by added choline. From the constancy of ACh levels in the presence of various choline concentrations and from the steady state of our preparation, we can conclude that the release of transmitter varied in parallel to the incorporation rate of the precursor of the acetyl moiety of ACh. This fact was also found using the efflux of [¹⁴C]acetate as an evaluation of ACh release. The values of release calculated by this method were in good agreement with those determined from the incorporations of acetate and pyruvate into ACh. It is suggested that the primary action of choline is on its high affinity carrier system. This triggers a secondary action on the ACh release mechanisms.     

BREAKDOWN OF CREATINE PHOSPHATE AND ATP IN NERVE TERMINALS AND ELECTROPLAQUES OF THE TORPEDO ELECTRIC ORGAN: COMPARISON WITH THE ELECTRICAL ENERGY DISSIPATED

Abstract— The electrical work performed by the electric organ of Torpedo was compared with the energy provided by the net breakdown of ATP and creatine phosphate (CrP). The electrical work was calculated for single impulses and for repetitive stimulations. The content in CrP and ATP was measured at different times in the course of stimulation and during the period of recovery. The chemical expenditure due to activity of the nerve terminals was distinguished from the total expenditure by the use of curare which interrupts synaptic transmission but does not interfere to any great extent with the release of acetylcholine. In the presence of curare the breakdown of phosphagen started only after more than 1 min of stimulation; it represented the loss of about 20-25% of the initial store. In untreated tissue the breakdown of CrP and ATP occurred in two phases and continued within the first minute after the end of the stimulation; as much as 77% of the phosphagen content was utilized under these conditions. The recovery of ATP and CrP was completed only 3-5 h after stimulation, a long time after the restoration of the physical capabilities of the tissue. The electrical energy dissipated during activity was smaller than the chemical energy provided by the net breakdown of phosphagens. This suggests that only a fraction of the chemical energy is utilized directly to compensate for the physical work accomplished, i.e. for the restoration of the ionic electromotive force. The electric organ also requires chemical energy for other purposes, particularly in the nerve endings where the presynaptic machinery seems to utilize an important fraction of the high energy phosphates stored in the tissue.     

UTILIZATION OF ACETATE AND PYRUVATE FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF'TOTAL','BOUND'AND'FREE'ACETYLCHOLINE IN THE ELECTRIC ORGAN OF TORPEDO

—Slices of tissue of the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata were incubated in vitro in a salineurea-sucrose solution containing a labelled precursor of the acetyl moiety of ACh ([1-¹⁴C]glucose, [2-¹⁴C]pyruvate, or [1-¹⁴C]acetate) either alone or in the presence of another unlabelled precursor. The incorporation of ¹⁴C from [1-¹⁴C]acetate into ACh was considerably higher than from the other two substrates. The specific radioactivities (SRA) of the‘total',‘bound’and‘free’ACh were compared in experiments with [2-¹⁴C]pyruvate and [1-¹⁴C]acetate. With both precursors, the SRA of the‘bound’ACh were lower than those of‘total’ACh; consequently, the‘free’ACh pool was more labelled than the‘bound’pool. After short incubations with [2-¹⁴C]pyruvate the SRA of'bound’ACh were closer to the SRA of‘total’ACh than with [1-¹⁴C]acetate. A simple method is described for the labelling of ACh and its separation from other labelled compounds in experiments with the electric organ using [¹⁴C]acetate as the labelled precursor.     

刺激家兔杏仁复合体对听皮层声反应影响的研究

实验在40只三碘季铵酚麻痹的家兔上进行。使用记录诱发电位以及单个神经元放电的方法,观察了刺激杏仁复合体对Woolsey AⅠ AⅡ以及嗅鼻沟后缘听区皮层声反应的影响。实验结果表明,刺激杏仁外侧核和基底核可以对皮层的声反应产生易化或抑制性影响。这种影响的潜伏期一般为10—25ms,时程为20—115ms,在1例动物上也观察到了2ms的最短潜伏期。这些结果表明杏仁核群对于听区皮层的抑制影响主要是经过多突触环路传递的,但也有可能经由单突触途径实现兴奋性影响。本文对杏仁复合体影响的意义作了讨论。     

THE EFFECT OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION ON THE TURNOVER OF PHOSPHATIDIC ACID IN SYNAPTOSOMES FROM GUINEA-PIG BRAIN

Synaptosomes prepared from guinea-pig cerebral cortex were suspended in a medium containing [³²P]orthophosphate and subjected to electrical stimulation. When the synaptosomal phospholipids were subsequently separated, the most highly labelled was phosphatidic acid and electrical stimulation over a 10 min period increased incorporation of ³²P₁ into this lipid. Stimulated synaptosomes were osmotically lysed and subsynaptosomal fractions isolated. The electrically stimulated increase in phosphatidic acid labelling was localized in a fraction enriched in synaptic vesicles. This phospholipid effect was not merely a reflection of an increased specific radioactivity of synaptosomal ATP, due to the electrically stimulated increase in respiration. The time course of the phosphatidic acid effect suggests that it is synchronous with release of transmitter.     

THE EFFECTS OF SOLUBILIZATION PROCEDURES ON THE RELEASE AND MOLECULAR STATE OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE FROM ELECTRIC ORGAN TISSUE

Abstract— A study was made of the effect of various solubilization procedures on the release of AChE from electric organ tissue of the electric eel and on the molecular state of the enzyme. The procedures employed included homogenization in different ionic media or in the presence of detergents, etuymic treatment and chemical modification. Studies were performed on intact electroplax, tissue homogenates and membrane fractions. The apparent AChE activity of intact cells, homogenates and membrane fractions was shown to be governed by diffusion-controlled substrate and hydrogen ion gradients, generated by AChE-catalyscd hydrolysis, leading to a lower substrate concentration and a lower pH in the vicinity of the particulate enzyme.
Treatment of homogenates with NaCl solutions or with NaCl solutions containing the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 causes release of the native'molecular forms of the enzyme (primarily the 18 S species) which aggregate at low ionic strength. For optimal extraction both high ionic strength (e.g. 1 M-NaCl) and the detergent are needed AChE is also solubilized by treatment of tissue homogenates with trypsin, bacterial protease or collagenase. The first two enzymes caused its release as an 11 S non-aggregating form, while collagenase also produces a minor non-aggregating - 16 S component. Treatment of tissue homogenates with maleic anhydride causes release of AChE as a non-aggregating 18 S species. On the basis of the solubilization experiments it is concluded that the interaction of AChE with the excitable membrane is primarily electrostatic. The possible orientation of the enzyme within the synaptic gap is discussed.     

ISOLATION OF COATED VESICLES, PLAIN SYNAPTIC VESICLES, AND FLOCCULENT MATERIAL FROM A CRUDE SYNAPTOSOME FRACTION OF GUINEA PIG WHOLE BRAIN

Two vesicular fractions and one nonvesicular fraction were prepared from crude synaptosomes by differential centrifugation and salting out with ammonium sulfate. Fraction 1 contained a mixture of coated vesicles, material thought to be derived from breakdown of the coats (shell fragments), and plain synaptic vesicles. Fraction 2 contained a mixture of plain synaptic vesicles and flocculent material. Fraction 3 contained flocculent material only. Fractions 1 and 3 were partially purified by passage through a Sephadex column. Fraction 3 contained no shell fragments but contained finer flocculent material which, it is suggested, is composed of unit particles either occurring singly or linked together into chainlike or amorphous aggregates. Each unit particle appears to have four subunits and is here referred to as a tetrasome. Tetrasomes sometimes appear to be attached to the surfaces of the plain synaptic vesicles. Also, it is possible that aggregates of tetrasomes form part of the structure of the presynaptic dense projections.     

电刺激与高渗盐水注入室旁核对血压的影响及其机制的初步探讨

本工作观察电刺激和微量高渗盐水注入室旁核(PVN)对蓝斑(LC)单位放电和血压的影响,以及阻断LC内精氨酸加压素(AVP)受体时PVN升压反应的变化,从而探讨PVN下行活动对LC单位放电的调制作用和LC在PVN调节血压过程中的地位。结果发现:(1)电刺激PVN使多数LC自发放电单位放电频率增高,并伴血压升高;(2)微量高渗盐水注入PVN也获得同样效果;(3)多数对电刺激PVN产生兴奋反应的LC单位,对高渗盐水注入PVN也表现为兴奋;(4)预先在LC注入AVP桔抗剂,可部分降低电刺激和高渗盐水注入PVN所引起的升压效应。上述结果提示:PVN调节血压的作用部分是通过PVN下行活动对LC功能影响实现的,PVN下行活动主要引起LC自发放电单位放电频率增加,并提示这一兴奋效应可能是由AVP介导的。     

AN INTEGRATED MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDY OF A PURIFIED PREPARATION OF THE SUCCINATE AND DPNH OXIDASE SYSTEM

Electron micrographs of a purified succinate and DPNH oxidase system prepared from heart muscle reveal that it has a vesicular appearance and is membranous in nature. In keeping with its vesicular appearance is the fact that light scattering by this preparation shows marked changes as the molarity of the suspending medium is altered. Treatment of this preparation with 0.5 per cent deoxycholate solutions removes a large part of the lipide material, which comprises almost half of the dry weight of the preparation. The residue, which still contains the "core" of the cytochrome electron transmitter system, as shown by spectroscopic and enzymatic experiments, is still structured and is membranous in morphological appearance. It is concluded that the enzyme preparation is largely composed of fragmented mitochondrial membranes, and some of the consequences of the localization of the succinate and DPNH oxidase systems in or on these membranes are discussed.     

电刺激延髓最后区对血浆肾素活性及肾交感神经活动的影响

实验在68只家兔上进行。乌拉坦麻醉。用RM-6000型多道仪同步记录呼吸(Respir)、血压(BP)、心率(HR)及肾神经放电(RSNA)。用放免法测定血浆肾素活性(PRA)。应用外径0.3mm的双芯同心电极置于延髓最后区(AP)处进行电刺激,每30s刺激4s。实验分为三组。第一组仅刺激AP观察到PRA增加了91％,RSNA出现以兴奋为主的三种放电形式,BP升高,HR减慢,呼吸无显著变化。第二组去除双侧肾神经后再刺激AP,PRA增加甚微,RSNA及血流动力学反应与第一组刺激前后的变化相似。第三组注射心得安后,刺激AP,这时除PRA明显抑制外,RSNA、BP、HR及呼吸亦与第一、第二组刺激前后的变化相似。上述结果表明电刺激兔AP能引起肾素释放增加,肾交感神经放电及血流动力学活动增强。     

THE EFFECTS OF IRON DEFICIENCY ON THE HEPATOCYTE: A BIOCHEMICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY

Effects of iron deficiency on the hepatocyte were studied quantitatively in the rat by combining ultrastructural and biochemical techniques. After 3–8 wk of an iron-deficient diet, the percentage of cytoplasm occupied by mitochondria increased progressively compared with complete diet values. The increment resulted primarily from an enlargement of individual mitochondria rather than from an increased mitochondrial number. Many mitochondria were completely divided by a double membrane, often at a point of constriction. After 2 days of iron administration, mitochondria were of heterogeneous size, shape, and electron opacity. After 5 days, essentially all mitochondria had become normal in configuration. The rate of reversal of the morphological abnormality was more rapid than would be anticipated if it coincided with known rates of renewal of mitochondrial DNA or protein. The concentrations of mitochondrial cytochromes were more rapidly depressed as a result of iron deprivation than those of microsomal cytochromes. Cytochromes c and a were decreased after 3 and 8 wk of exposure to the deficient regimen. Cytochrome P 450 was not decreased after a 3 wk exposure to the deficient diet and responded normally to phenobarbital treatment with a fourfold increase in total hepatic content; its concentration was depressed only after 8 wk of exposure to the deficient diet. There was no reduction in cytochrome b₅ concentration.     

饥饿对杂交鲟仔鱼摄食、生长和体成分的影响

仔鱼期是鱼类生活史中最脆弱,对环境条件最敏感的时期,饥饿是导致此阶段仔鱼死亡的主要原因之一,也是海洋鱼类补充量研究的焦点之一。殷名称曾指出采用饥饿研究的方法,可以确定仔鱼的初次摄食期和不可逆点(Point of no return),这对于鱼类苗种培育和人工养殖具有十分重要的意义。最近,王吉桥等、宋昭彬等开始将饥饿研究应用于多种淡水鱼类仔鱼。然而,有关鲟类仔鱼的饥饿研究至今未见报道。       

PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE STIMULATION OF THE PHOSPHOLIPASE A2-ACYLATION SYSTEM OF SYNAPTIC MEMBRANES OF BRAIN, BY NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND OTHER AGONISTS

Methacholine, nicotine and succinylcholine stimulated the phospholipase A2-acylation system of synaptic membranes isolated from the cerebral cortex of guinea pig. Stimulation by acetylcholine was partially blocked by atropine and by D-tuberocurarine respectively, indicating both muscarinic and nicotinic stimulation. Muscarinic stimulation by acetylcholine was greater than -isotinic stimulation, and stimulation by acetylcholine was completely blocked by a combip, or;. and n-tuberocurarine. The phospholipase A2-acylat tem was stimulated by phenylcphrine., id. Cqxoterenoi. Stimulation by noradrenaline was J-. tidlr, by phenoxybenzamine and pindalol i:spectively, indicating both 8-adrenergic and P-adrenergic ztimulation. n-Adrenergic stimulation by noradrenaline was greater than P-adrenergic-stimulation. 5 -mlation by noradrenaline was completely blocked by a combination of phenoxybenzamins and pindalol. Stimulation of both acylation and phospholipid hydrolysis, by 5-hydroxytryptamine and histamine were partially blocked by methysergide and diphenhydramine respectively. Stimulation by dopamine was blocked by halopcridol. Stimulation by y-aminobutyric acid was partially blocked by strychnine and by picrotoxin. Dichloroisoproterenol, atropine, methysergidr, diphenhydramine, strychnine, picrotoxin and eserine, at relatively high concentrations (1 mM), stimuhted the phospholipase A2-acylation system. Synergistic stimulations of both acylatior, and hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine, were observed by adenosine combined with noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, dopamine or yaminobutyric acid, respectively. In the presence of ATP-MgCI, synergistic stimulations of the hydrolysis of phosphatidyicholine were observed after 30 s by noradrenaline combined with 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, dopamine, aminobutyric acid or carbamoylcholine respectively. In the presence of GTP-MgC12 synergistic stimulations were obtained by cdrbamoylcholine combined with noradrenaline. 5-hydroxytryptamine. histamine, dopamine or y-aminobutyric acid, respectively. In the presence of ATP-MgC12 plus GTP-MgC12, stimulation by noradrenaline and one other agonist including 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, dopamine, y-aminobutyric acid or carbamoylcholine were close to additive.