Effects of in vivo ethanol administration on Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase and ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake activity in synaptosomal membranes

1. Acute administration of ethanol (4 g/kg, i.p.) to mice inhibits the sequestration of calcium into endoplasmic reticulum-like organelles in synaptosomal membranes.
2. Ethanol administration inhibits both Ca²⁺-stimulated adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis and ATP-dependent calcium uptake in the vesicles at time of loss of righting reflex.
3. At recovery of righting reflex, the Ca²⁺-ATPase activity returns to normal levels, while the ATP-dependent uptake remains inhibited.
4. The effect of ethanol is specific for the sequestration (active transport) of calcium since calcium binding to synaptic membranes is not altered.
5. Alteration in mechanisms responsible for synaptosomal buffering of cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels by in vivo ethanol may contribute to altered transmitter release rates following ethanol adminstration.

     

Field studies on the variability of populations of Aster tripolium L. in relation to saltmarsh zonation

1. Aster tripolium is a very variable species of which a number of types have been described both on a morphological and ecological level.
2. In permanent plots along the height gradient in the salt marsh it appeared that differences in the A. tripolium subpopulations occur.
3. In the lowest zone of the marsh, dominated by Spartina anglica (Spartinion), the mean life expectancy of individual adult plants is relatively high but it is relatively low for seedlings.
4. In the higher zones of the marsh the mean life expectancy is relatively lower, but for the seedlings it is higher (Puccinellion maritimae).
5. In the Spartina-zone individual A. tripolium plants have about twice the number of shoots as the plants from the other zones.
6. The plants from the Spartina zone produce per individual more generative shoots (absolute) but these have less capitula than elsewhere in the marsh. The number of ripe seeds per head is almost constant everywhere in the marsh.

     

Retention of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen by Foliage and Twigs of Four Temperate Tree Species

Nitrogen (N) retention by tree canopies is believed to be an important process for tree nutrient uptake, and its quantification is a key issue in determining the impact of atmospheric N deposition on forest ecosystems. Due to dry deposition and retention by other canopy elements, the actual uptake and assimilation by the tree canopy is often obscured in throughfall studies. In this study, ¹⁵N-labeled solutions ( $ ^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ and $ ^{15} {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } $ ) were used to assess dissolved inorganic N retention by leaves/needles and twigs of European beech, pedunculate oak, silver birch, and Scots pine saplings. The effects of N form, tree species, leaf phenology, and applied $ {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } $ to $ {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ ratio on the N retention were assessed. Retention patterns were mainly determined by foliar uptake, except for Scots pine. In twigs, a small but significant ¹⁵N enrichment was detected for $ {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ , which was found to be mainly due to physicochemical adsorption to the woody plant surface. The mean $ {{^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } } {^{15} {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } }}} \right. \kern-0em} {^{15} {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } }} $ retention ratio varied considerably among species and phenological stadia, which indicates that the use of a fixed ratio in the canopy budget model could lead to an over- or underestimation of the total N retention. In addition, throughfall water under each branch was collected and analyzed for $ ^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ , $ ^{15} {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } $ , and all major ions. Net throughfall of $ ^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ was, on average, 20 times higher than the actual retention of $ ^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ by the plant material. This difference in $ ^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ retention could not be attributed to pools and fluxes measured in this study. The retention of $ ^{15} {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ was correlated with the net throughfall of K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and weak acids during leaf development and the fully leafed period, while no significant relationships were found for $ ^{15} {\text{NO}}_{3}^{ - } $ retention. This suggests that the main driving factors for $ {\text{NH}}_{4}^{ + } $ retention might be ion exchange processes during the start and middle of the growing season and passive diffusion at leaf senescence. Actual assimilation or abiotic uptake of N through leaves and twigs was small in this study, for example, 1–5% of the applied dissolved ¹⁵N, indicating that the impact of canopy N retention from wet deposition on forest productivity and carbon sequestration is likely limited.     

Growth of a floating aquatic weed,Salvinia under standard conditions

1. Growth of the floating aquatic weed, Salvinia, in sterile culture was exponential for at least 2 weeks under standardized conditions.
2. Increase in light intensity or in CO₂ resulted in increases in growth rate, but did not extend the exponential period of growth.
3. This aquatic plant, like many others, discriminates against calcium relative to strontium.
4. In culture Salvinia exhibited luxury consumption of N and P.
5. Because of high C/N ratios, Salvinia may not be a favorable source of animal food, but might be useful in nutrient removal schemes.
6. In sterile culture, S. molesta produced fewer leaves than S. minima, but maintained a significant increase in leaf area and dry weight. This may be correlated with the ability of the first species to rapidly spread over tropical waterways.

     

Release of non-exchangeable {}^{{{\text{15}}}}{\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} from subgrade, decomposed granite substrates and uptake by non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal California native annual grass, Vulpia microstachys

Release rates of recently fixed $ {\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} $ from non-exchangeable interlayer sites in 2:1 silicate minerals were determined for decomposed granite (DG) saprolites from three locations in California, USA. Recently-fixed $ {\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} $ release from the DG substrate was quantified by extracting diffused $ {\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} $ with H-resin, as well as a native, annual grass Vulpia microstachys. The $ {\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} $ release data varied with via the method of extraction, which included H-resin pre-treatments (Na⁺ or H⁺) and V. microstachys uptake (mycorrhizal inoculated or uninoculated). After 6 weeks (1008 h), more $ {\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} $ was recovered from fixed interlayer positions by the H-resins as compared to uptake by V. microstachys. The H⁺ treated H-resins recovered more released $ {\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} $ (≈94 mg ${\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} - {\text{N}}\;{\text{kg}}^{1} $ or (12%) of total fixed $ {\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} $ ) in two of the three DG samples as compared to the Na⁺ treated resins, (which recovered ≈70–78 mg ${\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} - {\text{N}}\;{\text{kg}}^{{{\text{ - 1}}}} $ (or 9–10%) of the total fixed $ {\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} $ ). The V. microstachys assimilated 8–9% of the total fixed $ {\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} $ with mycorrhizal inoculum as compared to only 2% without a mycorrhizal inoculum, over the same time period. The fixed $ {\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} $ release kinetics from the H-resin experiments were most accurately described by first order and power function models, and can be characterized as biphasic using a heterogeneous diffusion model. Uptake of both the ¹⁵N and ambient, unlabelled N from the soils was closely related to plant biomass. There was no significant difference in percent of N per unit of biomass between the control and mycorrhizal treatments. The findings presented here indicate that observed, long-term $ {\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} $ release rates from DG in studies utilizing resins, may overestimate the levels of fixed $ {\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} $ made available to plants and microorganisms. Additionally, the study suggested that mycorrhizae facilitate the acquisition and plant uptake of fixed $ {\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}} $ , resulting in markedly increased plant biomass production.     

Flocculation phenomenon of Candida albicans by lysozyme

Young colonies of Sabouraud's glucose agar room temperature culture ofCandida species from human isolation were suspended in distilled water. The suspension was mixed with a solution of lysozyme and incubated in a 37° C water bath. Within 3–5 hours, various species ofCandida cells showed flocculation to varying degrees which occurred at varying periods of onset. Among sevenCandida species,Candida albicans andCandida stellatoidea showed the strongest flocculation, earliest onset and most solution clarity than did any other species.Candida stellatoidea was indistinguishable fromCandida albicans in its degree of flocculation, and in the clarity of solution.Candida species may be arranged in the following order according to their decreasing positivity in flocculation:

1. Candida albicans
2. Candida stellatoidea
3. Candida tropicalis
4. Candida krusei
5. Candida pseudotropicalis
6. Candida parapsilosis
7. Candida guilliermondii
8. Saccharomyces species may be placed afterCandida guilliermondii.

It seems possible to separate theCandida species into 3 groups by the rate of flocculation, and clarity of solution. Group I.Candida albicans andCandida stellatoidea. Group II.Candida tropicalis, C. krusei andCandida pseudotropicalis. Group III.Candida parapsilosis andCandida guilliermondii. Saccharomyces specimens (S. cerevisiae and others) were placed after group III.     

Studies on the origin of the tip potential of glass microelectrode

1. Tip potential (TP) of glass microelectrodes filled with 3 M KCl increased remarkably with the increase in the storage period in 3 M KCl solution at 37? C, while the electrode resistances decreased gradually.
2. The electrical conductivity through the thin glass wall near the tip was found to increase in parallel with the TP increase.
3. The e.m.f. across the thin glass wall in the tip region was directly measured. This seems to contribute to the TP generation of the microelectrode when the conductivity of the glass wall is significantly high in the tip region.
4. Effects of the acid treatment of glass employed and the acidification of fillant electrolyte solution suggested that fixed negative charges on the glass wall play a fundamental role in the TP formation.
5. Based on these experimental results, it was concluded that not only the diffusion potential through the tip pore but also the interfacial potential through the thin glass wall near the tip contributes to the TP generation, and the contribution of the latter increases with a long exposure period of the electrodes to electrolyte solution.
6. In this connection, technical problems related to reduction of the tip potential were also discussed.

     

Uptake of radionuclides by some aquatic macrophytes of Ismailia Canal,Egypt

1. Uptake of the radionuclides Co-60, Cs-134, Sr-89 and P-32 by different aquatic plants present in Ismailia Canal was found to increase at increasing initial concentrations of the radionuclides in the water.
2. Maximum uptake was reached by most of the aquatic plants after different periods of contamination, ranging from 1 to 4 days.
3. Ceratophyllum was found to be the most favourable biological indicator for strontium radioisotopes in concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 10 µCi/1 and for contamination periods up to 16 days.
4. Elodea was found to serve as a biological indicator for either strontium or phosphorus radioisotopes for limited contamination periods of 2 to 16 days for Sr and to 2 days for P isotopes.
5. Potamogeton was also found to serve as a biological indicator for limited contamination periods for strontium, phosphorus and cesium radioisotopes: 0 to 2 days for Sr, 2 to 16 days for P. and 0 to 2 days for Cs isotopes.

     

The reproductive cycle in a typical estuarine mollusc Nausitora hedleyi Schepman based on a study of the Gonad Index

1. Previous work on the methods employed for the determination of the breeding season of shipworms is briefly reviewed.
2. The method adopted for studying the reproductive cycle by using the “gonad index” is described.
3. The reproductive cycle of Nausitora hedleyi is described in detail based on a study of the gonad index of different sexes collected at monthly intervals from the estuarine environment of Cochin harbour.
4. The fact that breeding is restricted as marked by seasonal activity is shown from the size and activity of the gonad during the different months of the year.
5. The environment, and the hydrographic conditions prevailing in the habitat of N. hedleyi in the Cochin harbour are described.

     

The chemical identification of root promoters extracted from avocado tissues

From the Avocado Rooting Promoter (ARP) 4 compounds were isolated and identified as:

1. 1 acetoxy - 2,4 dihydroxy-n-heptadeca-16-en;
2. 1 acetoxy - 2,4 dihydroxy-n-heptadeca-16-yn;
3. 1,2,4 trihydroxy-n-heptadeca-16-en;
4. 1,2,4 trihydroxy-n-heptadeca-16-yn.

The rooting activity of the pure compounds was verified using the mung bean rooting bioassay. Compound 2II is the most active.     

Different oxidative pathways of isonicotinic acid hydrazide and its meta-isomer,nicotinic acid hydrazide

• 1.1. Superoxide was generated during the auto-oxidation of the antituberculous drug, isonicotinic acid hydrazide (INH), but not with its meta-isomer, nicotinic acid hydrazide (NH). During Fe²⁺-stimulated oxidation of INH and NH, aromatic hydroxylation occurred which was inhibited by the chelating agent, phytic acid.
• 2.2. A mixture of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and a hydrazide induced formation of compound III (oxyperoxidase) and aromatic hydroxylation which was stimulated by phytic acid. INH was considerably more potent than NH.
• 3.3. Co-oxidation of a hydrazide and thyroxine (T₄) in the MPO system resulted in the formation of a pink-coloured product (maximum absorbance at 504 nm) which was more stable with NH than with INH.
• 4.4. The hydrazides and Cl⁻ acted synergistically on MPO haem modification when co-oxidised in the MPO-H₂O₂ system. INH was more destructive than NH.
• 5.5. The different oxidative pathways of the hydrazides are consistent with the fact that an acyl intermediate of INH, unlike that of NH, is resonance stabilized.

     

A study on the rate of water transport of the clam katelysia opima in relation to environmental conditions

1. The neutral red technique was employed to study the rate of filtration in Katelysia opima.
2. The weight specific water filtration was found to be greater for younger clams compared to the older ones.
3. The rate of water filtration increased with decreasing salinity.
4. Water filtration was found to increase as temperature increased, reaching a maximum at 35°C. but then sharply decreasing at 39°C.
5. Light had no significant effect on the rate of filtration.
6. Suspended matter was found to affect the rate of water filtration.
7. The rate of filtration was low at high pH and high in low pH.
8. The rate of water filtration was found to be faster during high tide than during low tide.
9. The presence of the parasitic crab, Pennotheris sp., in the mantle cavity of clams had a marked effect on the particle filtration.
10. Accidental cut of the siphon tips had no effect on the rate of filtration.

     

Growth of Nitrobacter in the presence of organic matter

1. Culture filtrates of heterotrophic bacteria were tested for their stimulatory effect on nitrification of three strains of Nitrobacter.
2. Yeast extract-peptone solution, in which Pseudomonas fluorescens had grown, after removal of the cells was added to autotrophically growing cultures of Nitrobacter agilis; it caused a stimulated nitrite oxidation and growth of Nitrobacter agilis.
3. The degree of stimulation depended on: a) the proportion of the culture filtrate to the autotrophic medium; b) the composition of the complex medium in which Pseudomonas fluorescens had been grown; c) the time the heterotrophic bacterium had been grown in the complex medium.
4. The stimulatory effect was highest with Nitrobacter agilis, less with Nitrobacter winogradskyi and negligible with Nitrobacter K ₄.
5. It was possible to adapt nitrifying cells of Nitrobacter agilis to higher concentrations of yeast extract and peptone. After the nitrite had been completely oxidized the cell-N still increased up to 30% before growth stopped.

     

Habitability of the early earth: Clues from the physiology of nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis

In the absence of direct evidence concerning the nature of the early Earth environments, it is acceptable under the uniformitarian principle to attempt to define primitive habitats from modern procaryotic physiology. Combining the rock and fossil record with present phylogenetic reconstuctions, application of this paleoecological approach to the evolutionary biochemistry and physiology of nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis leads to several inferences about the nature of Archean environments:

1. To stimulate nitrogenase evolution and avoid its repression, the activity of the NH ₄ ⁺ ion was less than 10^?3, and probably lower.
2. To be consistent with a moderately protective ozone screen, while not also repressing nitrogenase activity, incursions of abiotic dissolved oxygen at levels in the range 10^?1.2?10^?3.5 PAL would have been acceptable.
3. To induce the formation and activity of RuBP carboxylase, the pCO₂ was less than 100 PAL.
4. To support Photosystem I activity, sulfide concentrations of at least 10^?4 M were present in the photic zone.
5. To avoid a too-rapid oxidation of sulfide, the pH was probably between 6–7, where H₂S exceeds HS^?.

Evolutionary ‘pressure’ to stimulate the later development of oxygenic photosynthesis (Photosystem II), would require several subsequent habitat modifications:

1. Lowering the sulfide to < 10^?4 M to inhibit Photosystem I.
2. Raising the pH above neutral (HS^? > H₂S), to mediate more rapid oxidation of HS^?.
3. Maintaining either an illumination below 300–400 lux (to avoid photosynthetic O₂ self-repression of nitrogen fixation), or an adequate local source of combined nitrogen (aNH ₄ ⁺ > 10^?4) to repress nitrogen fixation entirely.

     

The use of toxicokinetics for the safety assessment of drugs acting in the brain

Pharmacological and toxicological studies undertaken on drugs that affect the brain are frequently performed in disparate species under various experimental conditions, at doses often greatly in excess of those expected to be administered to humans, and the findings are extrapolated implicitly or explicitly with scant regard to differences in the biodisposition of the drugs. Such considerations are necessary since:

1. Species;
2. Strain;
3. Gender;
4. Route;
5. Dose;
6. Frequency and time of administration;
7. Temperature;
8. Coadministration of drugs; and
9. Surgical manipulation

are but some of the factors that have been shown to influence the kinetics and metabolism of drugs. This article, using MDMA and other phenylethylamines as examples, provides evidence for the need to measure the exoosure of the drugs and their active metabolites in blood and brain (toxicokinetics) in order that conclusions based only on dynamic, biochemical, or histological evidence are more pertinent. Further, the combined use of toxicokinetic-dynamic modeling can lead to a better appreciation of the mechanisms involved and a more useful approach to the calculation of safety margins.     

The use of a continuous assay system to show the stimulation of phosphoenolpyruvate production in intact mitochondria by valinomycin and by Mn2+

1. A method for the direct recording of the PEP efflux from isolated mitochondria is described.
2. This method has been used to show the stimulation of PEP efflux by externally added Mn⁺⁺ ions.
3. Valinomycin, uncoupler and oleate were also shown to stimulate PEP efflux.
4. Valinomycin caused an increase in the internal concentration of both PEP and citrate.
5. The results indicate that the major pathway of PEP synthesis in isolated mitochondria is via PEP carboxykinase and the results do not call for an unknown pathway of metabolism.
6. Two interactions between PEP and citrate are described; competition for the mitochondrial interior and the stimulation of PEP production by citrate.

     

Role of silicon in diatom metabolism

1. In silicic acid-starved cells of the diatom Nitzschia alba, ⁶⁸Ge(OH)₄ is transported against a concentration gradient, leading to intracellular concentrations of germanic acid up to 3500 times greater than the exogenous concentrations. The accumulated substrate is osmotically active, as determined by its efflux into germanic acid-free medium.
2. Metabolic energy is required for Ge(OH)₄ transport, since uptake is completely inhibited by 1 mM DNP, 5×10^-2 M sodium azide or 1 mM iodacetamide, and is strongly inhibited by CCCP and antimycin A. Inhibition of protein synthesis with 20 μg/ml cycloheximide does not affect the initial velocity of transport, but strongly reduces the steady state intracellular concentration.
3. A double reciprocal plot of uptake velocity versus substrate concentration yields a biphasic curve. The kinetic data are consistent with the interpretation that N. alba has two transport systems for germanic acid; a high affinity-low capacity (K _s=0.36 μM; V _max 1.2 μmoles/10⁸ cells/min) system and a low affinity-high capacity (K _s=5 μM; V _max 6.2 μmoles/10⁸ cells/min) system.
4. The implications of these findings for silicic acid transport and metabolism in N. alba are discussed.

     

Seasonal variation in the biochemical composition of Mytilus viridis at Ratnagiri on the West Coast of India

1. The seasonal variation in the water, protein, fat and glycogen contents of the mussel, Mytilus viridis has been studied for the year March, 1974 to March, 1975.
2. The water level increased during the monsoon season and decreased in summer.
3. The level of protein, fat and glycogen showed correlation with the reproductive cycle of the mussel.
4. The protein level was high when the mussels were mature and dropped during the breeding period.
5. During sex change from male to female in May the protein level remained high whereas during sex change from female to male in October and November it was low.
6. The fat level was high in mature mussels and declined on spawning.
7. The glycogen level was at its peak in immature mussels and low in mature.

     

The role of touch,pressure and nociceptive mechanoreceptors of the leech in unrestrained behaviour

1. The maximum force exerted against an isometric force transducer by 6 leeches weighing 2.6–3.7 g, as they squeezed through apertures of different widths varied inversely with aperture width.
2. T cells in the leech skin code for velocity of indentation, not pressure or displacement. The frequency with which T cells fire is best described by two log functions, one for low, another for fast indentations. T cells responded to indentation velocities down to 10 μms^?1.
3. The average threshold pressure for 5 P cells was 150 kPa and for 5 N cells was 521 kPa.
4. We conclude from these data that when leeches explore their mechanical environment and initiate contact with external objects, the threshold pressure for N cells is rarely crossed. Of the three classes of mechanoreceptor, T cells are the main modality through which leeches obtain contact information, though P cells may occasionally be recruited for local pressure peaks.

     

Increased muscle glucose uptake in response to chronic glyburide treatment is not related to changes in glucose transporter (GLUT4) protein

• 1.1. The mechanism of action of glyburide (a sulfonylurea) on muscle has been investigated by measuring glucose uptake and glucose transporter (GLUT4) protein levels after chronic glyburide treatment.
• 2.2. A dietary induced insulin resistant rat model (4 wk of high-fat, high-sucrose feeding) was given glyburide (2mg/kg/day) for 10 days and glucose uptake was measured in a perfused hindquarter preparation.
• 3.3. Protein levels of the GLUT4 glucose transporter were determined by Western analysis.
• 4.4. After 7 days of treatment, rats fed glyburide had lower blood glucose concentrations 2 hr (72 ± 5 vs 103 ± 12 mg/dl) and 24 hr (97 ± 7 vs 123 ± 7 mg/dl) after glyburide administration with no difference in serum insulin levels compared to vehicle treated animals.
• 5.5. Glucose uptake was approx doubled in basal state (0 insulin) in response to glyburide (2.8 + 0.4 vs 1.7 ± 0.2μ mol/g per hr).
• 6.6. Maximal insulin (100 nM) stimulated glucose uptake tended to be higher in the glyburide treated group, but did not reach statistical significance (8.0 ± 0.7 vs 7.0 ± 0.6 μmol/g per hr).
• 7.7. Western analysis revealed no significant effect of glyburide on the GLUT4 protein level in skeletal muscle.
• 8.8. These results suggest that glyburide alters glucose uptake through some mechanism other than alterations in the level of the GLUT4 glucose transporter protein.