A Simple Histochemical Reaction for Aldehydes

A study has been made on the possibility of replacing leucofuchsin by colored basic fuchsin for the histochemical demonstration of aldehydes. Several tissues from mammals and various pertinent fixatives were used. Aldehydes were freed from carbohydrates by oxidation and from thymonucleic acid by hydrolysis.

It was found that the colored form and not necessarily the leucoform of basic fuchsin can be used histochemically in demonstrating aldehydes. The technic used is as follows: (1) Treat with 1.0-0.5% H₅IO₆ (or in 1% KIO₄ in M/1 H₂SO₄) for 5 to 10 min. and wash thoroughly. For thymonucleic acid hydrolize with N HCl 5 min. at room temperature, 10 min. at 60°C. and 5 min. at room temperature. (2) Stain for 2-3 min. with 0.05% basic fuchsin in 5% ethanol, 3% phenol. (3). Transfer immediately to 1 or 2 changes of 1% sodium bisulphite or potassium metabisulphite in 0.1-0.2 N H₂SO₄ for a total of 5 min. (4) Rinse with water and treat with M H₂SO₄ in 95% ethanol for 3-5 min. 6. Wash thoroughly in water and dehydrate, clear, and mount. For glycogen and mucin the following counterstaining solution is recommended: orange G, 0.25 g.; light green SFY, 0.10 g.; phosphotungstic acid 0.50 g.; 50% ethanol, 100 ml.; glacial acetic acid, 0.25 ml.     

Silicon and iron levels in tissues of animals treated with a “ferrimagnetic ceramic” with oncotherapeutic potential (anti-tumor) value

The stability in a biological environment of an injectable cement with oncotherapeutic potential — consisting of a glass powder of SiO₂ (35.6%), CaO (42.4%), P₂O₅ (17%), Na₂O (5%) and 30% of its weight of Fe₃O₄ dissolved in (NH₄)₂HPO₄ plus NH₄H₂PO₄ — was evaluated referring to the release of silicon and iron. The experimental model was the rat, and organs (liver, kidney, spleen, lung, heart, and brain) of the implanted and control animals were collected for quantification of these elements by electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry methods. In most of the analysed organs no significant difference in the contents of silicon and iron between the implanted and the control animals was found.     

The Presence of Lipids But Absence of Tannins in Elodea Idioblasts

The presence of tannins in the idioblasts of Elodea densa is conclusively disproved. Ten reagents for histochemical detection of tannin (K₂Cr₂O₇, K₃Fe(CN)₆, FeCl₃, (NH₄)₂MO₄, Nessler's reagent, Fehling's reagent, methylene blue, gelatin, iodine-KI and lead acetate) gave negative tests in Elodea idioblasts. Two reagents (1% aqueous caffeine and a saturated solution of Ca(OH)₂) gave apparently positive reactions that could be explained by the presence of lipids. Positive tests for lipids were obtained by direct microscopic examination of the removal of lipid materials from freeze-dried leaves, using a 1:1 ether-alcohol mixture. The lipid material was not removed when acetone was substituted for ether-alcohol. A lipoprotein complex was demonstrated by using Serra's method for masked lipids.     

Molecular structure and reactions of azobenzene complexes with iron-lithium compounds

Reactions of azobenzene have been studied with heteronuclear iron-lithium compounds formed in the reaction of FeCl₃ with LiPh, one of the dinitrogen reducing systems of the Vol'pin type: Ph₄FeLi₄(OEt₂)₄ (1) and (H₂)FePh₄Li₄(OEt₂)₄ (2). The structures of the azobenzene complexes formed, (N₂Ph₂)₃FeLi₃(OEt₂)₃ (3) and (N₂Ph₂)₃FeLi₂(THF)₂ (4), as well as an ether-containing analog of the latter, (N₂Ph₂)₃FeLi₂(OEt₂)₂ (5), were determined by X-ray analysis of single crystals. Coordination of azobenzene at FeLi₃ and FeLi₂ clusters was shown to result in a sigificant elongation of the NN bond; partial cleavage of this bond on protolysis of the complexes resulted in the formation of hydrazobenzene and aniline. Magnetic susceptibility measurements and theoretic analysis of a similar model complex leads to the conclusion that the iron oxidation state in 3 may be considered between iron (I) and iron(III) (close to iron(I)), whereas in 4 and 5 it is close to iron(II).     

Iron Release from Metmyoglobin, Methaemoglobin and Cytochrome C by A System Generating Hydrogen Peroxide

The reaction of H₂O₂ with resting metmyoglobin (MetMb), methaemoglobin (MetHb) and cytochrome-c (Cyt-c) was studied in the Soret and visible regions. The differences between the original and the final peak heights of the native haemproteins at 408 nm was found to be directly proportional to the loss of iron from the molecule. The release of iron from haemproteins was studied in a system generating H₂O₂ continuously at a low rate by an enzymic system, or by addition of large amounts of H₂O₂. Cytochrome-c, methaemoglobin and metmyoglobin during interaction with H₂O₂ at a concentration of 200 μM release 40%, 20% and 3%, respectively, of molecular iron after l0min. The inhibition of haem degradation and iron release by enzymatically-generated H₂O₂ was determined using several hydroxyl radical scavengers, reducing agents and antioxienzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and caeruloplasmin.     

In vitro nonenzymatic glycation enhances the role of myoglobin as a source of oxidative stress

Metmyoglobin (Mb) was glycated by glucose in a nonenzymatic in vitro reaction. Amount of iron release from the heme pocket of myoglobin was found to be directly related with the extent of glycation. After in vitro glycation, the unchanged Mb and glycated myoglobin (GMb) were separated by ion exchange (BioRex 70) chromatography, which eliminated free iron from the protein fractions. Separated fractions of Mb and GMb were converted to their oxy forms -MbO₂ and GMbO₂, respectively. H₂O₂-induced iron release was significantly higher from GMbO₂ than that from MbO₂. This free iron, acting as a Fenton reagent, might produce free radicals and degrade different cell constituents. To verify this possibility, degradation of different cell constituents catalyzed by these fractions in the presence of H₂O₂ was studied. GMbO₂ degraded arachidonic acid, deoxyribose and plasmid DNA more efficiently than MbO₂. Arachidonic acid peroxidation and deoxyribose degradation were significantly inhibited by desferrioxamine (DFO), mannitol and catalase. However, besides free iron-mediated free radical reactions, role of iron of higher oxidation states, formed during interaction of H₂O₂ with myoglobin might also be involved in oxidative degradation processes. Formation of carbonyl content, an index of oxidative stress, was higher by GMbO₂. Compared to MbO₂, GMbO₂ was rapidly auto-oxidized and co-oxidized with nitroblue tetrazolium, indicating increased rate of Mb and superoxide radical formation in GMbO₂. GMb exhibited more peroxidase activity than Mb, which was positively correlated with ferrylmyoglobin formation in the presence of H₂O₂. These findings correlate glycation-induced modification of myoglobin and a mechanism of increased formation of free radicals. Although myoglobin glycation is not significant within muscle cells, free myoglobin in circulation, if becomes glycated, may pose a serious threat by eliciting oxidative stress, particularly in diabetic patients.     

The coupling between catabolism and anabolism of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum in H2- and iron-limited continuous cultures

The aim of the present work was to investigate whether uncoupling of catabolism from anabolism, which was often observed in heterotrophic microorganisms under energy-sufficient growth conditions, also occurs in the autotrophic bacterium Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. For this purpose, M. thermoautotrophicum was cultivated in continuous cultures that were limited by the trace element iron. The influences of both dilution rate and iron supply rate on the coupling between anabolism and catabolism were investigated. As compared to continuous cultures of M. thermoautotrophicum limited by the energy substrate H₂, a 5-fold decrease in the biomass concentration and a 3-fold decrease in H₂, CO₂, and CH₄ conversion rates were observed in iron-limited cultures. However, the specific substrate and product conversion rates increased as compared to the values determined in energy-limited cultures. Thus, iron limitation provoked an uncoupling of catabolism from anabolism. At a dilution rate of 0.096 h⁻¹ and at an iron concentration of 17 μM in the feed, the specific H₂ consumption rate was 100% higher than the rate determined under H₂-limiting conditions, whereas at a dilution rate of 0.168 h⁻¹, the values differed only by 5%. Uncoupling of catabolism from anabolism also increased dramatically when the iron supply rate was lowered but the dilution rate was kept constant. Thus, the extent of uncoupling is a function of both the dilution rate and the iron supply rate. It was found that the specific consumption rate of H₂ increased in parallel with the partial pressure of H₂ in the culture medium. This suggested that the catabolic activity of M. thermoautotrophicum was not stringently controlled at the enzymatic level and can be considerably stimulated by the excess of H₂ in the medium. Hypotheses as to the fate of the excess energy derived from uncoupled catabolism are discussed, but the physiological reason for the partial uncoupling between catabolism and anabolism remains yet to be clarified.     

Iron prevents ascorbic acid (vitamin C) induced hydrogen peroxide accumulation in copper contaminated drinking water

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) induced hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) formation was measured in household drinking water and metal supplemented Milli-Q water by using the FOX assay. Here we show that ascorbic acid readily induces H₂O₂ formation in Cu(II) supplemented Milli-Q water and poorly buffered household drinking water. In contrast to Cu(II), iron was not capable to support ascorbic acid induced H₂O₂ formation during acidic conditions (pH: 3.5-5). In 12 out of the 48 drinking water samples incubated with 2 mM ascorbic acid, the H₂O₂ concentration exceeded 400 μM. However, when trace amounts of Fe(III) (0.2 mg/l) was present during incubation, the ascorbic acid/Cu(II)-induced H₂O₂ accumulation was totally blocked. Of the other common divalent or trivalent metal ions tested, that are normally present in drinking water (calcium, magnesium, zinc, cobalt, manganese or aluminum), only calcium and magnesium displayed a modest inhibitory activity on the ascorbic acid/Cu(II)-induced H₂O₂ formation. Oxalic acid, one of the degradation products from ascorbic acid, was confirmed to actively participate in the iron induced degradation of H₂O₂. Ascorbic acid/Cu(II)-induced H₂O₂ formation during acidic conditions, as demonstrated here in poorly buffered drinking water, could be of importance in host defense against bacterial infections. In addition, our findings might explain the mechanism for the protective effect of iron against vitamin C induced cell toxicity.     

Staining Whole Mounts of an Insect (Tribolium confusum) Reproductive System for Succinic Dehydrogenase and nonspecific esterase

The female reproductive system of Tribolium confusum was dissected in a salt solution containing NaC1, 9 gm; KC1, 0.42 gm; and CaC1₂, 0.25 gm per liter and fixed in 1% CaC1₂-10% formol, both at 0-4 C, or air dried. Staining was by standard histochemical procedures. Selective intensity of enzyme activity was as follows: dehydrogenase was predominant in the ovarioles; esterase, in the lateral oviducts. The use of iodoacetic acid and L600 as inhibitors suppressed the dehydrogenase and nonspecific esterase activity, respectively.     

Kinetics and mechanism of iron exchange in hydroxamate siderophores: Catalysis of the iron(III) transfer from ferrioxamine B to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

The oxalate catalyzed iron(III) transfer from a trihydroxamate siderophore ferrioxamine B, [Fe(Hdfb)⁺], to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (H₄edta) has been studied spectro-photometrically in weakly acidic aqueous solutions at 298 K and a constant 2.0 M ionic strength maintained by NaClO₄. The results reveal that oxalate is a more efficient catalyst than the so far studied synthetic monohydroxamic acids. Any role of reduction of Fe(Hdfb)⁺ by oxalate in the catalysis has been rejected by the experimentally observed preservation of the oxalate concentration during the reaction time. Therefore, catalysis has been proposed to be a substitution based process. Under our experimental conditions Fe(Hdfb)⁺ is hexacoordinated and addition of oxalate results in the formation of Fe(H₂dfb)(C₂O₄), Fe(H₃dfb)(C₂O₄)⁻₂ and Fe(C₂O₄)³⁻₃. Therefore, catalysis was proposed to be accomplished by the intermediate formation of the ternary and tris(oxalato) complexes. All three complexes react with H₂edta²⁻ to form thermodynamically stable Fe(edta)⁻ as a final reaction product. Whereas the formation of the ternary complexes is fast enough to feature a pre-equilibrium process to the iron exchange reaction, the formation of Fe(C₂O₄)³⁻₃ is slow and is directly involved in the rate determining step of the Fe(edta)⁻ formation. Nonlinear dependencies of the rate constant on the oxalate and the proton concentrations have been observed and a four parallel path mechanism is proposed for the exchange reaction. The rate and equilibrium constants for the various reaction paths were determined from the kinetic and equilibrium study involving the desferrioxamine B- (H₄dfb⁺), oxalate- and proton-concentration variations. The observed proton catalysis was attributed to the fast monoprotonation of ferrioxamine B as well as of the oxalate ligand. The observed catalysis of iron dissociation from the siderophore has been discussed in view of its significance with respect to in vivo microbial iron transport.     

Vanillic acid, a metabolite of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid in man

Abstract: 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol (HMPG) labelled with ¹⁴C was used to study the metabolic fate of HMPG in six healthy volunteers. Besides conjugation and oxidation to 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid (HMMA, VMA) a minor portion, 8.4 ± 1.1% (mean ± SEM) was excreted as ¹⁴C-labelled vantllic acid (VA). To study if VA was formed from HMPG or HMMA (VMA), deuterium-labelled HMPG ([²H₃]HMPG) and HMMA ([²H₆]HMMA) were simultaneously injected intravenously to seven healthy volunteers. The recovery of [²H₃]VA from [²H₃]HMPG was 8.3 ± 2.1% and the recovery of [²H₆]VA from [²H₆]HMMA was 9.0 ± 2.1%. The ²H-labelled VAs were probably formed by a decar boxylation reaction, in the case of HMPG after previous oxidation to HMMA.     

The effect of in utero hypoxia on fetal heart and brain trace metals.

This study determined the effect of in utero hypoxia on fetal heart and brain pro- and antioxidant trace metals. Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs (50–60 days gestation) were exposed to 1 h hypoxia (7% O₂/93% N₂) followed by 4 h reoxygenation in room air. Fetal hearts and brains were harvested and analyzed for copper, iron, magnesium and zinc. Fetal brain iron was significantly increased 28% after hypoxia and 35% by 1 h posthypoxia. Fetal brain magnesium demonstrated progressive decreases of 18% by 4 h posthypoxia. No significant effects of hypoxia were observed on heart trace metals. These results indicate that prooxidant metals may be increased and antioxidant metals may be decreased in posthypoxic fetal brain during a time when these tissues may be vulnerable to oxidative injury.     

保水剂与有机肥配施对铁尾矿理化性质的改良作用

为了分析保水剂与有机肥配合施加对铁尾矿理化性质的影响,确定适宜尾矿改良的保水剂与有机肥最优配比,在迁安首钢所辖的铁尾矿区内,布设保水剂与有机肥2因素4水平的野外小区试验,并测定试验小区铁尾矿容重、孔隙度及持水量和pH、有机质、氮、磷、钾含量等理化性质,分析有机肥和保水剂对尾矿改良的作用;同时在小区内播种紫苜蓿和紫穗槐两种植物,测其生物量,验证改良效果.保水剂水平为(L·m^-3):0(B₀)、10(B₁)、50(B₂)、100(B₃);有机肥水平为(kg·m^-2):0(N₀)、2.25(N₁)、11.24(N₂)、22.49(N₃).结果表明:不同配比处理对尾矿理化性质的改良作用主要体现在0～20 cm表层尾矿,各指标均在0～20 cm层与对照(CK)差异显著.有机肥对尾矿理化性质的改良作用优于保水剂.在0～20 cm层,保水剂单因素的所有处理尾矿容重、非毛管孔隙度、有机质、速效磷和速效钾含量均与CK无显著差异,而单独施加有机肥B₀N₂、B₀N₃处理的上述指标均与CK差异显著.保水剂与有机肥二者配合施加优于保水剂或有机肥单独添加的改良效果.0～20 cm层各项指标均在配施处理B₃N₃下达到最佳,且均与CK达到显著差异.综合考虑,B₃N₃可以作为尾矿改良的保水剂与有机肥最优配比.     

A Consistent Phosphotungstic Acid Hematoxylin Stain for Glial Fibers

After deceration, celloidinization and hydration, oxidize 10 micron paraffin sections for 15 min in a solution containing 0.3 g KMnO₄, and 0.1 ml conc. H₂SO₂, per 100 ml distilled water. Wash in water and reduce in 5% oxalic acid until the sections are colorless. Wash thoroughly in water and place in 4% iron alum solution for two hours. Wash briefly in water and stain for two hours in phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin. Rinse briefly in 95% ethanol and dehydrate in n-butyl alcohol or absolute ethanol for 4 min with two changes, clear and mount. Glial fibers, myofibrils, red blood cells, etc. are stained blue while astrocyte cell bodies, collagen, etc. are stained red. This stain has proven highly consistent in a wide variety of astrocytic derangements. Despite the intensity of this PTAH modification, false positive staining was not observed.     

Mordant Blue 3: a Readily Availablx Substitute for Hematoxylin in the Routine Hematoxylin and Eosin Stain

Mordant blue 3 may be used as a suhstitute for hematoxylin in hematoxylin and eosin stains. The staining solution consists of 0.25 g dye, 40 ml of 10% iron dam, 5 ml of cone H₂SO₄, and 955 ml of dirtilled H₂O. Staining the is 5 minutes, followed by differentiation in acid water or acid alcohol. After blueing, the seaions are counterstained with emin. Results closely resemble the hematoxylin and eosin stain.     

Acceleration of Mallory's Phosphotungstic Acid-Hematoxylin Staining for Skeletal Muscle Fixed in Formalin

The staining time for mammalian skeletal muscle fixed in neutral phosphate-buffered formalin was shortened from 12-24 hr to 10-30 min. The permanganate-oxalate sequence was omitted although oxidation by periodic acid or with iodine was found to be necessary. The material was embedded in paraffin and cut 6 μ or less. Deparaffinized sections were treated with 1% alcoholic iodine for 10 rain followed by 5% Na₂S₂O₃ for 2 min and placed in an oven at 60 C for 10-30 min to stain in a preheated mixture of 50 ml of ripened Mallory's phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin and 1 ml of 2% phosphomolybdic acid. Experiments with fixation showed that the staining procedure followed Zenker's fluid successfully but not Bouin's fluid. Oxidation by KMnO₄ was effective only after Zenker fixation; oxidation by CrO₃ was unsuccessful.     

Photosynthetic carbon assimilation in the blue-green alga Coccochloris peniocystis

Abstract. Cells of the blue-green alga Coccochloris peniocystis , grown at air levels of CO₂, were exposed to [^l4C]bicarbonate in the light for periods of 0.5 to 2.0 s followed by exposure to unlabelled bicarbonate for longer periods of time in the light. The kinetics of tracer movement during these pulse-chase experiments demonstrate that the principal mechanism of CO₂ fixation in this alga is the C₃-pathway although an appreciable amount of the C₄ acid aspartate is found as one of the initial products of photosynthesis. Degradation of the labelled aspartate revealed that after 20 s of illumination, over 95% of the radioactivity was located in the β-carboxyl of this C₄ acid. This alga possesses little, if any, capacity for either the enzymatic decarboxylation of C₄ acids or the regeneration of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) from pyruvate mediated by the enzyme pyruvate, P_i dikinase. These data further demonstrate the lack of a functional C₄-pathway in this alga.     

Elicitation of H2O2 production in cucumber hypocotyl segments by oligo-1,4-α-D-galacturonides and an oligo-β-glucan preparation from cell walls of Phythophthora megasperma f. sp. glycinea

The production of H₂O₂ by cucumber hypocotyl segments ( Cucumis sativus L. cv. Wisconsin SMR 58) in response to α-1,4-linked oligomers of galacturonic acid and oligo-β-glucans from the cell walls of Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. glycinea was studied. Oligogalacturonides with degrees of polymerization of 9 to 13 elicited H₂O₂ production, the most effective being the deca-, undeca- and dodecamers. A similar relationship between size and effect was previously obtained when oligogalacturonides were tested for their ability to elicit lignification in cucumber hypocotyls. The oligogalacturonide-induced increase in H₂O₂ concentration was detected after 4 h, reaching a maximum after 10 h of incubation. The glucan elicitor induced lignification at a 100-fold lower concentration than the oligogalacturonides, but yielded only 10% of the maximum H₂O₂ accumulation seen with oligogalacturonides. The glucan elicitor-induced H₂O₂ production was detectable after 2 h, and reached a maximum after 4 to 6 h. Catalase abolished the elicitation of both phenol red oxidation and lignification in cucumber hypocotyls. At least part of the oligogalacturonide-induced H₂O₂ production appeared to be dependent upon de novo protein synthesis.     

不同黄腐酸用量对‘红将军’苹果产量、品质和15N-尿素去向的影响

以15年生红将军/八棱海棠为试材,运用¹⁵N同位素示踪技术,设置单施尿素(CK)及尿素配施不同用量黄腐酸处理(黄腐酸用量分别为75、150、300和450 kg·hm^-2,分别以NF₁、NF₂、NF₃和NF₄表示),研究不同黄腐酸用量对苹果植株¹⁵N-尿素吸收、利用、残留、损失及果实产量和品质的影响.结果表明: 至果实成熟期,苹果根系、一年生枝和叶片的Ndff值(植株器官从肥料中吸收分配到的¹⁵N量对该器官全氮量的贡献率)均为NF₃>NF₄>NF₂>NF₁>CK,且各处理间差异显著.植株全氮量和¹⁵N吸收量均以NF₃处理最大,其次为NF₄处理,CK处理最低.与CK处理相比,NF₁、NF₂、NF₃和NF₄处理¹⁵N利用率分别提高了14.2%、33.5%、64.2%和50.0%,而¹⁵N损失率分别降低了9.1%、18.5%、37.1%和28.7%.不同处理土壤¹⁵N残留量不同.配施黄腐酸处理0～60 cm土层¹⁵N残留量显著高于CK处理,其中以NF₃处理最多,而在60～100 cm土层显著低于CK处理.NF₃处理单株产量和纯收益较CK处理增幅最大,分别为15.8%和20.2%,其次为NF₄处理,同时,NF₃处理果实硬度、可溶性固形物含量和糖酸比均达到最高水平.通过对果实产量和氮素利用率与黄腐酸施用量进行拟合分析,得出本试验条件下适宜的黄腐酸用量为326.41～350.61 kg·hm^-2.     

不同黄腐酸用量对‘红将军’苹果产量、品质和15N-尿素去向的影响

以15年生红将军/八棱海棠为试材,运用¹⁵N同位素示踪技术,设置单施尿素(CK)及尿素配施不同用量黄腐酸处理(黄腐酸用量分别为75、150、300和450 kg·hm^-2,分别以NF₁、NF₂、NF₃和NF₄表示),研究不同黄腐酸用量对苹果植株¹⁵N-尿素吸收、利用、残留、损失及果实产量和品质的影响.结果表明: 至果实成熟期,苹果根系、一年生枝和叶片的Ndff值(植株器官从肥料中吸收分配到的¹⁵N量对该器官全氮量的贡献率)均为NF₃>NF₄>NF₂>NF₁>CK,且各处理间差异显著.植株全氮量和¹⁵N吸收量均以NF₃处理最大,其次为NF₄处理,CK处理最低.与CK处理相比,NF₁、NF₂、NF₃和NF₄处理¹⁵N利用率分别提高了14.2%、33.5%、64.2%和50.0%,而¹⁵N损失率分别降低了9.1%、18.5%、37.1%和28.7%.不同处理土壤¹⁵N残留量不同.配施黄腐酸处理0～60 cm土层¹⁵N残留量显著高于CK处理,其中以NF₃处理最多,而在60～100 cm土层显著低于CK处理.NF₃处理单株产量和纯收益较CK处理增幅最大,分别为15.8%和20.2%,其次为NF₄处理,同时,NF₃处理果实硬度、可溶性固形物含量和糖酸比均达到最高水平.通过对果实产量和氮素利用率与黄腐酸施用量进行拟合分析,得出本试验条件下适宜的黄腐酸用量为326.41～350.61 kg·hm^-2.