Antisera Against the Indolealkylamines: Tryptophan, 5-Hydroxytryptophan, 5-Hydroxytryptamine, 5-Methoxytryptophan, and 5-Methoxytryptamine Tested by an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Method

Antisera were raised against tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-methoxytryptophan, and 5-methoxytryptamine, by conjugating each molecule to bovine serum albumin and to human serum albumin via glutaraldehyde, in such a way as to preserve the original part. Antibody specificity was tested with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The specificity of each anti-indolealkylamine-glutaraldehyde antibody was established with competition experiments by using an adsorbed immunogenic conjugate and indolealkylamines either free or conjugated with poly-L-lysine. The nonconjugated compounds were poorly recognized. In the same way, the nonreduced conjugates always appeared less immunoreactive than the reduced ones. Calculated from the specificity study of each antiserum, the cross-reactivity ratios were found to be smallest for the most immunoreactive conjugates. Thus, a specific immune response was defined for each compound belonging to the same metabolic pathway.     

Isoproterenol induces a ribosomal modification in the heart and the skeletal muscle of hamsters

The protein synthesis activity of heart, skeletal muscle and liver polysomes from isoprotenerol-treated and control hamsters has been compared in an in vitro non-inititating translation system. Heart and skeletal muscle polysomes from treated hamsters were less active than controls and required a higher magnesium concentration for optimal protein synthesis. These results suggest that there is a conformational modification in heart and skeletal muscle ribosomes from isoprotenerol-treated hamsters. No such change was observed with ribosomes from the liver of isoproterenol-treated hamsters.     

Phénolamides et induction florale de Cichorium intybus dans différentes conditions de culture en serre ou in vitro

Phenolamides and floral induction of Cichorium intybus in different conditions of culture in glass-room or in vitro. Three complexes between phenols and amines (phenolamides) have been found in Cichorium intybus L., a plant with an absolute requirement of vernalisation followed by long days for flowering. Upon hydrolysis, these complexes (A, B and C) liberate aromatic amines whose exact identification is in progress, but which are closely related to dopamine, tyramine and serotonin, respectively. In a first series of experiments, phenolamides were studied in the buds of plants grown in the greenhouse under varying conditions. Only buds from plants which flower in long days contained large amounts of these compounds. Much smaller amounts were found in buds at the end of vernalisation (at 2–4°C) before long-day treatment as well as in buds kept in the vegetative state after vernalisation by being grown in short days (8 h light) or in total darkness. In a second series of experiments, phenolamides were studied in bud-forming calli induced in vitro on explants of tuberised root. After sixteen days of culture in continuous light, large quantities of phenolamide were found in the buds and calli of the upper part of the explant, while the lower part which never produces buds contained much less. Buds formed under continuous light produce inflorescences in approximately one month. Various other culture conditions make it possible to maintain the explants in the vegetative state. This can be obtained by short-day conditions, or otherwise under continuous illumination by decreasing the sugar or increasing the NAA levels in the medium. After 13 days of culture, the phenolamide levels were much lower under all of these conditions, than under conditions favourable to floral induction. Compound C is absent or present in trace amounts in vegetative buds. The significance of the differences observed between floral and vegetative buds is supported by the sensitivity of the analytical techniques used. The accumulation of phenolamides in tissues of Cichorium intybus appears to be closely linked to floral induction. Under continuous light it begins very early in young buds and even in the calli that bear these buds.     

Anther and tissue culture-induced grain chalkiness and associated variants in rice

Rice, Oryza sativa, plants regenerated from anther culture with and without in vitro selection pressure were evaluated for chalky seed. Progeny evaluated included 21 spontaneously doubled haploids selfed 4 times, progeny from plants regenerated from S-aminoethylcysteine resistant callus selfed 4 times and backcrosses of both types to the parental type. All lines with in vitro histories had higher seed chalkiness than the controls both in the intensity of chalkiness and in the number of seeds expressing the character. The full range of intensity and amount of chalkiness was expressed in the progeny. The average intensity of anther/tissue culture-derived progeny was 4–5, based on a scale of 1 (translucent) to 10 (fully opaque), and the average amount of chalkiness within plants sampled was 50–75 percent. The chalky characteristic is transmitted from parent to offspring into a range of identifiable F₂ segregants. Disclaimer statement Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the USDA, and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.     

Evaluation of pig lungs following an experimental challenge with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 and 5 in pigs inoculated with either hemolysin protein and/or outer membrane proteins

Abstract Histopathological changes were compared in pigs challenged with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype l and serotype 5 after inoculation with subunit vaccines. The vaccines consisted of outer membrane protein and/or hemolysin protein isolated from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype l or both subunits combined. Twenty-seven cross-bred pigs were separated into six groups: Groups I and IV were vaccinated and boostered with 1500 μg outer membrane protein; Groups II and V were vaccinated and boostered with 250 μg hemolysin protein; Groups III and VI were vaccinated and boostered with a combination of 1500 μg outer membrane protein and 250 μg hemolysin protein. Groups I, II and III were challenged with A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1; and Groups IV, V and VI were challenged with A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 5. Groups III and VI demonstrated the least severe lung tissue damage, with significantly lower ( P < 0.05) lung involvement as compared to the other groups. Lesions were noted in all six groups. These results showed that complete protection against A. pleuropneumoniae infection was not feasible using a subunit vaccine consisting of just outer membrane protein and hemolysin protein, and that some cross-protection did occur.     

Seasonal coupling between phyto- and bacterioplankton in a sand pit lake (Créteil lake,France)

Phyto- and bacterioplankton biomass and activity were simultaneously measured during the course of one year in the shallow Créteil Lake (France).Phytoplankton was dominated, during the whole year, by small-sized organisms (10 to 25 µm). Bacteria were in a majority small coccoids (<0.3 µm). Phyto -and bacterioplankton abundances averaged respectively 3.3 × 10⁶ cells l^–1 and 6 × 10⁹ cells l^–1.The phasing of the activity and biomass periods suggest a close coupling between phyto- and bacterioplankton. There were two distinct periods of high activity and biomass. Maximal values were observed in summer but an early increase occurred also in winter. Low or undetectable phytoplankton excretion rates, when heterotrophic activity was maximum, indicated a bacterial uptake of up to 100% of the released algal products during the incubation period. Heterotrophic uptake measurements with both glucose and amino acids revealed a seasonal change of the substrates in the lake, glucose uptake being associated more with the maximum activity of the algae, while the amino acids uptake was relatively higher during their decline.The maximal photosynthetic rate averaged 21.5 mgC m^–3 h^–1 and mean Vmax values were 0.056 and 0.050 mgC m^–3 h^–1 respectively for glucose and amino acids uptake.     

Biogeochemical mass-balances (C, N, P, Si) in three large reservoirs of the Seine Basin (France)

Three major reservoirs (Marne, Seine and Aube), situated in the upstream basin of the river Seine represent a storage capacity of 800 10⁶ m³. In order to quantify the possible role of these reservoirs as a sink or source of nutrients and organic matter for the river system, an input/output mass-balance of suspended matter, organic carbon, inorganic nitrogen forms, phosphorus and reactive silica was established, providing reliable estimates of their retention/elimination and export. The study was carried out over 3 years (1993, 1994 and 1995) in differing hydrological conditions. The retention times varied from 0.3 to 0.8 year, depending on the reservoir and the year, but was longer in 1993 that was a drier year than 1994 and 1995, hydrologically quite similar.Regarding retention (or elimination) and export, the behaviour of the three studied reservoirs was similar. A clear loss or retention of nitrogen, phosphorus and silica was observed in the reservoirs and represented about 40% of the incoming flux of nitrate, 50% of silica, and 60% of phosphate. The retention was lower for total phosphorus than for phosphate. The reservoirs are also sites of suspended matter deposition except during the decennial drawdown, when suspended matter is exported. For inorganic nitrogen, the average amount of nitrate retained in the Seine basin reservoirs upstream from Paris is 5000 tonnes y^–1 that is almost equal to the estimated retention by deposition or denitrification in river channel sediments for the whole drainage network. The retention in the reservoirs represents about 12% of the total flux of nitrate at the outlet of the basin upstream from Paris, and 5% at the mouth of the Seine River.We also calculated inlake C, N, P, Si budgets on the basis of direct process measurements. Measurements of planktonic primary and bacterial activity production led to annual net production of 4200 and 580 tonnes of carbon, respectively. A reasonable value (450 tonnes of carbon) of grazing was calculated. Corresponding N, P, Si fluxes were drawn from appropriate C:N:P:Si ratios. Benthic fluxes were measured with bell jars. The retention of P and Si represents a small fraction of important internal fluxes of phytoplanktonic uptake and recycling, while inorganic nitrogen retention depends mostly on benthic denitrification. The behaviour of P and Si differs in that P is mainly recycled in the water column, while Si dissolution occurs at the sediment interface. Nitrogen is recycled in both the planktonic and the benthic phase.     

Regulation of neuropeptide expression in the brain by neurotrophins

Neurotrophins, which are structurally related to nerve growth factor, have been shown to promote survival of various neurons. Recently, we found a novel activity of a neurotrophin in the brain: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) enhances expression of various neuropeptides. The neuropeptide differentiation activity was then compared among neurotrophins both in vivo and in vitro. In cultured neocortical neurons, BDNF and neurotrophin-5 (NT-5) remarkably increased levels of neuropeptide Y and somatostatin, and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) also increased these peptides but required higher concentrations. At elevating substance P, however, NT-3 was as potent as BDNF. In contrast, NGF had negligible or no effect. Neurotrophins administered into neonatal brain exhibited slightly different potencies for increasing these neuropeptides: The most marked increase in neuropeptide Y levels was obtained in the neocortex by NT-5, whereas in the striatum and hippocampus by BDNF, although all three neurotrophins increased somatostatin similarly in all the brain regions examined. Overall spatial patterns of the neuropeptide induction were similar among the neurotrophins. Neurons in adult rat brain can also react with the neurotrophins and alter neuropeptide expression in a slightly different fashion. Excitatory neuronal activity and hormones are known to change expression of neurotrophins. Therefore, neurotrophins, neuronal activity, and hormones influence each other and all regulate neurotransmitter/peptide expression in developing and mature brain. Physiological implication of the neurotransmitter/peptide differentiation activities is also discussed.     

Polyphenols des feuilles de cotonniers et influence sur leur composition d'un choc hydrique ou nutritionnel

A range of phenolic compounds were found in leaves of three cotton species. Water and nutrient stress (sulfur deficiency) both caused a significant decrease in phenolic content. Possible interpretations of the observed phenomena are given.