THE FORMATION OF CDP-DIGLYCERIDE BY ISOLATED NEURONAL NUCLEI

—A population of neuronal nuclei isolated from the rabbit cerebral cortex actively incorporates cytidine-5′-triphosphate into an acid-insoluble product, the incorporation is stimulated by magnesium or manganese ions and appears to utilize CTP directly as substrate. Other nucleoside triphosphates stimulate CTP incorporation at low substrate concentrations, apparently by preventing CTP breakdown, while higher concentrations of nucleoside triphosphates strongly inhibit CTP incorporation at either low or saturating substrate concentrations. CTP incorporation appears to be unrelated to RNA synthesis in that it exhibits a different pH and divalent cation optimum, is unaffected by inhibitors of RNA synthesis, and is strongly inhibited by low concentrations of detergent but not by preincubation of nuclei at 37°C. The product of CTP incorporation is almost entirely soluble in acidified lipid solvents and is not sensitive to digestion by RNAase under conditions where the enzyme can digest newly synthesized RNA. CTP incorporation is markedly stimulated by phosphatidic acid, the stimulated incorporation showing the same characteristics as the unstimulated incorporation, and is inhibited by inositol. Alkaline hydrolysis of the product releases the great majority of radioactivity as 5′-CMP as judged by chromatography and by 5′-nucleotidase action. The product of CTP incorporation migrates with synthetic CDP-diglyceride in five solvent systems. It is concluded that under optimal conditions for CTP incorporation, less than 5% of the incorporated CTP can be included in a polynucleotide chain, this small proportion of the total incorporation could either represent residual RNA synthesis or the formation of poly (C) with an average chain length of less than 3 residues. Under optimal conditions the great majority of CTP incorporation by neuronal nuclei in the presence of either magnesium or manganese ions represents the formation of the unique liponucleotide CDP-diglyceride.     

SEROTONIN AND FREE AMINO ACID ANALYSIS OF GANGLIA AND ISOLATED NEURONES OF APLYSIA DACTYLOMELA

—The presence of serotonin and different amino acids was investigated in the ganglia and in isolated giant neurones of Aplysia dactylomela. With a few exceptions the pattern of substances was similar in all the ganglia. Of the many identified neurones studied only one giant neurone located in each cerebral ganglion was found to contain serotonin. GABA was detected in most extracts, including those of the serotonin-containing neurone, known cholinergic, and known neurosecretory neurones. Putrescine, recently detected in extracts of nervous tissue and isolated neurones of Helix, was not detected in Aplysia nervous tissue.     

RATE OF STEROL FORMATION BY RAT BRAIN GLIA AND NEURONS IN VITRO AND IN VIVO

The ability of 11-day-old rat glial and neuronal cells to biosynthesize sterol was studied as a function of time in vivo and in vitro. The in vitro experiments utilized [2-¹⁴C]mevalonic acid as precursor. Glial-enriched cell preparations demonstrated a greater ability to incorporate [2-¹⁴C]mevalonic acid into isoprenoid material than did neuronal-enriched preparations. Approximately 4 h were required for maximal uptake of labelled mevalonate by the glial preparations. Further metabolism of the isoprenoid material, involving squalene turnover and sterol demethylation, was still evident even after 15 h of incubation. In vivo, sterol biosynthesis was studied by intraperitoneal injection of sodium [2-¹⁴C]acetate and [U-¹⁴C]glucose, sacrifice of the animals at 2 or 24 h, subsequent isolation of glial- and neuronal-cell enriched fractions and analysis of labelled isoprenoid material. Glial-enriched fractions again contained the bulk of the labelled isoprenoid material.     

IDENTIFICATION OF SEROTONIN WITHIN VITAL-STAINED NEURONS FROM LEECH GANGLIA

Abstract— We have measured serotonin (5-HT) within large and small neurosomata which are vitally stained by Neutral Red dye. A micro-radioenzymatic technique which is sensitive to 50fmol of 5-HT was employed on intact ganglia, 75 μm Retzius Cells (RZ) and a 10 μm ventro-lateral cell (VL) taken from the leech Macrobdella decora. The stain does not affect the levels of 5-HT in either ganglia or RZ. The VL cell body contains 5-HT at concentrations of at least 100 m m . Microspectrofluorometry of all the ganglionic neurosomata which fluoresce following the Falck-Hillarp formaldehyde condensation reaction detected rapidly-fading emission peaks of 509–523 nanometers. We conclude that all seven fluorescent neurons in the leech ganglion very probably contain serotonin.     

DNA CONTENT OF PURIFIED PREPARATIONS OF MOUSE PURKINJE NEURONS ISOLATED BY A VELOCITY SEDIMENTATION TECHNIQUE

Abstract— The DNA content of mouse Purkinje neurons was investigated employing a biochemical approach. Material for the biochemical assay was provided by means of a sedimentation velocity separation technique which yields bulk quantities of well-preserved Purkinje perikarya in a high degree of purity. The same amount of DNA/cell was recorded for mixed cerebellar cell somata (7·6 ± 0±2 pg/cell), as for the Purkinje perikarya enriched fractions (7±2 & 0·2 pg/cell). No evidence could be found for the existence of a tetraploid DNA complement in mouse Purkinje neurons despite indications to the contrary from a parallel cytophotometric study.     

PREPARATION OF PLASMA MEMBRANE FROM ISOLATED NEURONS

A bulk fraction enriched with respect to neuronal cell bodies was used as starting material for the isolation of neuronal plasma membrane The cells were gently homogenized in isotonic sucrose and a crude membrane containing fraction sedimented at 3000 g. Subsequently, the membrane fraction was purified on a discontinuous sucrose density gradient between 35% and 25 5% sucrose (w/w). Enzymatic analyses showed a 4–5-fold enrichment in plasma membrane markers, and a 10–15% contamination of mitochondrial and microsomal material. Electron micrographs of the membrane fraction confirmed the enzymatic data Fragmented membranes were found, mainly in vesicular form No ribosomes, but a few mitochondria and some multilamellar membranes were seen     

FINE STRUCTURE OF NERVE FIBERS AND GROWTH CONES OF ISOLATED SYMPATHETIC NEURONS IN CULTURE

The leading tips of elongating nerve fibers are enlarged into "growth cones" which are seen in tissue culture to continually undergo changes in conformation and to foster numerous transitory slender extensions (filopodia) and/or a veillike ruffling sheet. After explantation of 1-day-old rat superior cervical ganglia (as pieces or as individual neurons), nerve fibers and tips were photographed during growth and through the initial stages of aldehyde fixation and then relocated after embedding in plastic. Electron microscopy of serially sectioned tips revealed the following. The moving parts of the cone, the peripheral flange and filopodia, contained a distinctive apparently filamentous feltwork from which all organelles except membranous structures were excluded; microtubules were notably absent from these areas. The cone interior contained varied forms of agranular endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles, vesicles, coated vesicles, mitochondria, microtubules, and occasional neurofilaments and polysomes. Dense-cored vesicles and lysosomal structures were also present and appeared to be formed locally, at least in part from reticulum. The possible roles of the various forms of agranular membranous components are discussed and it is suggested that structures involved in both the assembly and degradation of membrane are present in the cone. The content of these growing tips resembles that in sensory neuron growth cones studied by others.     

STORAGE OF SEROTONIN AND SEROTONIN BINDING PROTEIN IN SYNAPTIC VESICLES

We have used the newly introduced method of De Lorenzo & Freedman (1978) for isolating synaptic vesicles to determine if such vesicles contain both serotonin (5-HT) and serotonin binding protein (SBP). Two fractions were obtained. A 55, 000 g fraction was morphologically heterogeneous and contained coated vesicles. A 135, 0000 vesicle (dia. 51.3 nm) fraction was homogeneous in ultra-structure and contained no coated vesicles. The specific activity of SBP in this fraction was much higher than that in the supernatant. Unlike SBP, very little lactic dehydrogenase activity appeared in the 135, 000 g fraction. Qualitative and quantitative differences were observed between the polypeptide profiles of soluble proteins extracted from the vesicles and supernatant proteins on SDS gels. Therefore, entrapment of cytosol in the vesicles of the 135, 000 g fraction was minimal. The 5-HT concentration of the 135, 000 g vesicles was 5.5 ng/mg protein and in the supernatant, 11.3 ng/mg protein. The ATP concentration in the 135, 000 g vesicle fraction was only 0.8 ng/mg Pr. Rabbit spinal cords were transected in order to determine if SBP is moved proximo-distally in axons by rapid axonal transport as would be predicted for a constituent of synaptic vesicles. SBP accumulated above the cut at a rate consistent with fast transport (78 mm/day). SBP activity fell caudal to the point of transection and there was no evidence, such as an accumulation below the lesion, that might indicate retrograde transport of SBP. These experiments indicate that SBP is probably synthesized in the cell bodies of serotonergic neurons and some is rapidly transported down axons to be stored in terminals in vesicles.     

KINETICS OF THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN NEURONS AND GLIAL CELLS ISOLATED FROM RAT BRAIN CORTEX

—³²P incorporation into different rat-brain cortex neuronal and glial phospholipids was investigated. The half life of each compound was measured. Neuronal phospholipids had a faster turnover than glial phospholipids. Phosphatidyl-inositol and choline plasmalogen had the fastest, diphosphatidylglycerol the lowest turnover in both cell-types. Phosphatidylcholine, ethanolamine phospholipids and serine phospholipids had turnover intermediate with that of the previously described compounds. Turnover of neuronal sphingomyelin was similar to that of phosphatidylcholine, whereas in glial cells it was much lower.     

DEGENERATION OF CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL NORADRENALINE NEURONS PRODUCED BY 6-HYDROXY-DOPA

—The effects of systemically administered 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine (6-OH-DOPA) on endogenous noradrenaline, [³H]amine uptake and fluorescence morphology has been investigated in mouse brain, heart and iris. 6-OH-DOPA in a dose of 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally caused practically no changes in these parameters. Pretreatment with a potent monoamine oxidase inhibitor (nialamide) led to a pronounced long-lasting 6-OH-DOPA induced reduction in endogenous noradrenaline, [ ³ H]amine uptake and nerve density of noradrenaline nerve terminals both in the central and peripheral nervous system. Histochemically accumulations of noradrenaline were observed in non-terminal axons. These results strongly support the view that 6-OH-DOPA can produce degeneration of both central and peripheral noradrenaline neurons. The degeneration is mediated by decarboxylation of 6-OH-DOPA to 6-OH-DA, since the effects could be abolished by decarboxylase inhibition. The effect of 6-OH-DOPA was selective on noradrenaline neurons in the brain, since neither 5-hydroxytryptamine nor dopamine neurons were affected, opening up new possibilities for studies on central noradrenaline transmitter mechanisms. In the brain there were pronounced accumulations of noradrenaline in the ascending noradrenaline axons making 6-OH-DOPA a powerful tool in the mapping of central noradrenaline pathways.     

5—羟色胺对大鼠下丘脑脑薄片室旁核神经元自发电活动的作用

在20个下丘脑脑片上,用玻璃微电极细胞外记录了46个室旁核神经元的自发放电单位,观察了5-羟色胺对它们的作用。当薄片用含5-羟色胺(10~(-6)mol/L)的人工脑脊液灌流后,有16个单位放电频率明显增加,反应的潜伏期为1.21±1.21 min。这种反应可被5-羟色胺的阻断剂噻庚啶所阻断。3个单位放电频率明显减少,27个单位无明显反应。实验结果表明约1/3的下丘脑室旁核神经元能被5-羟色胺所激活。     

CHLOROPHYLL FORMATION IN ISOLATED PUMPKIN COTYLEDONS IN THE PRESENCE OF KINETIN AND CHLORAMPHENICOL

Investigations have been made on the changes in the levels ofprotochlorophyll, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in relationto the kinetin induced expansion of isolated pumpkin cotyledonsin the presence and absence of chloramphenicol. It has been shown that rise in pigment level keeps pace withexpansion growth of the cotyledons. Kinetin markedly promotes the synthesis of protochlorphyll withoutmuch affecting the rate of its photoreduction to chlorophyll. Chloramphenicol strongly inhibits the development of both chlorophylla and b. The inhibition seems to be due to its interferenceboth with the synthesis of protochlorophyll and its subsequentconversion to chlorophyll. The inhibitory effect of chloramphenicol on the formation ofchlorophyll a is greater than on that of chlorophyll b, suggestingthereby the probability of divergent pathways for the formationof the two chlorophylls. (Received December 21, 1966; )     

PINEAL SEROTONIN N-ACETYLTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY: PROTECTION OF STIMULATED ACTIVITY BY ACETYL-CoA AND RELATED COMPOUNDS

—Rat pineal serotonin N—acetyltransferase activity increases 30–70-fold at night in the dark and then decreases rapidly when animals are exposed to light. Activity of the enzyme is also stimulated by l -norepinephrine in organ culture. When homogenates of glands stimulated by dark in vivo or NE in vitro are incubated at 37°C, enzyme activity will also rapidly decrease. This decrease can be prevented by one of the cosubstrates of the enzyme, acetyl–CoA. Protection can also be conferred by cysteamine (β-mercaptoethylamine, HS–CH₂–CH₂–NH₂) which is the terminal portion of the CoA molecule. This protection mechanism could be involved in the physiological control of enzyme activity.     

LIGHT-INDUCED FORMATION OF ASCORBIC ACID IN ISOLATED CHLOROPLASTS

Investigations were made to determine the nature of a reducingsubstance which was formed on illuminating a reaction systemconsisting of chloroplast and cytoplasmic fraction of spinachleaves. From the results of spectrophotometric examinationsit was concluded that the photoproduct in question, or at leastits major portion, was ascorbic acid. The precursor of ascorbicacid, which was found to be heat unstable, was contained inthe cytoplasmic fraction. (Received October 12, 1960; )     

大鼠新鲜分离DRG神经元胞体膜谷氨酸受体亚型及其分布

本文目的是研究ＤＲＧ神经元膜谷氨酸受体亚型的分布及其共存情况。实验在ＤＲＧ分离细胞上应用膜片带技术记录ＮＭＤＡ－,ＫＡ－和ＱＡ／ＡＭＰＡ－激活电流。在受检的３７个细胞中７０．３％的细胞对ＮＭＤＡ敏感;１８．９％的细胞对ＫＡ敏感;５６．８％的细胞对ＱＡ敏感。其分布的情况是：单独存在一种受体的细胞为１５个;二种受体共存的细胞为１３个;三种受体共存的细胞为４个．另外有４个细胞三种受体均无。