Immobilisation of phosphorus by iron-coated roots of submerged macrophytes

Hydrobiologia - To observe effects on the phosphorus retention mechanisms of a lake after re-colonisation by macrophytes, Potamogeton crispus L. and Elodea canadensis Michx. were planted in lab...     

Topography of carpal bone - An experimental model for carpal tunnel syndrome

By preparing a new experimental model for the carpal tunnel syndrome, the authors evaluated the differences of the human and rabbit carpal tunnels using a comparative anatomical study. A nearly identical situation-regarding the osseous and connective tissue formations in the carpal channel--was found. Therefore, the carpal tunnel of the rabbit is recommended for a model of chronic nerve compression, which is now planned by the authors.     

Long-term effects of dietary isoflavones on uterine gene expression profiles

Isoflavones (ISOs) are bioactive food ingredients of the traditional East Asian diet and currently discussed as alternatives to classical hormone replacement therapies and for reducing the prevalence of hormone-dependent cancers. Although there are many studies on ISOs, not much is known about their long-term effects.Therefore, we performed an animal experiment analyzing the effects of three different diets: a phytoestrogen-free diet, a diet supplemented with genistein (700 μg/g diet) and an ISO-high diet (232 μg daidzein and 240 μg genistein/g) at two distinct time points, juvenile (21 days) and adult (97 days). Exposure started prior to mating of the parents and throughout the life of the offspring.We observed a stronger increase of uterine wet weights in juvenile offspring with genistein exposure (1018 ± 350 mg/kg BW) than with ISO-high diet (497 ± 133 mg/kg BW). Whereas the expression of proliferation related genes (PCNA; Ki67; IGF-1; IGF-1R), analyzed by real-time-qPCR and Western blot, were significantly down-regulated in juvenile animals exposed to genistein. Additionally, genistein exposure led to estrogenic responses, observed upon increase of complement C3 and decrease of estrogen receptors gene expressions, while the exposure to ISO-high diet did not show these effects.In conclusion, both the time point on which phytoestrogen exposure starts together with the composition of the ingested phytoestrogen containing diet are of great importance for the biological response of the offspring.     

Lebendbeobachtungen zur Struktur des Golgifeldes bei Zellen eines transplantablen Plasmocytoms in vitro

Zusammenfassung Zellen des aus unreifen Plasmoblasten bestehenden, transplantablen KG 13-Plasmocytoms des Goldhamsters zeigen bei phasenoptischer Lebendbeobachtung in vitro ein besonders großes, stark strukturiertes Golgifeld. Dieses wird von einem Saum heller Pinocytosetröpfchen gegen die Speichergranula abgesetzt. Die Form des Golgifeldes, die Gesetzmäßigkeit seiner Veränderungen, die Spezifität seiner Strukturen und seine Beziehung zum Zellkern werden beschrieben. Pinocytosebläschen wandern bei dieser Zellart im gesamten Verlauf sichtbar von der Zellmembran zwischen den Speichergranula hindurch zur Randzone des Golgifeldes und lösen sich dort auf. Die Granula des Cytoplasmas entstehen offenbar im Golgifeld und werden in seiner Randzone erstmalig als solche erkennbar, um ins Cytoplasma zu wandern.

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Summary The KG 13 plasmocytoma from the Syrian golden hamster consists of immature Plasmoblasts. Living cells of this plasmocytoma observed by phase contrast microscopy in the hanging drop in vitro have a particularly large Golgi field surrounded by a border of light pinocytose bubbles. The cytoplasma is filled with storage granules. The form and the modifications of the Golgi field are described as well as his structure and his relations to the nucleus. Pinocytose bubbles reach the border of the Golgi field after crossing granules and disappeare. The granules are evidently formed in the Golgi field and become visible in its periphery.

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Die Arbeit wurde mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft durchgeführt.     

Coaction of blue/ultraviolet-A light and light absorbed by phytochrome in controlling growth of pine (Pinus sylestris L.) seedlings

Photomorphogenesis is a conspicuous feature in conifers. In the case of the shade-intolerant Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), control of stem growth by light is well expressed at the seedling stage and can readily be studied. The present data show that hypocotyl growth is controlled by the far-red-absorbing form of phytochrome (Pfr). However, the Scots pine seedling requires blue or ultraviolet (UV-A) light to become fully responsive to Pfr. Blue/UV-A light has no direct effect on hypocotyl growth and its action appears to be limited to establishing the responsiveness of the seedling to Pfr. This type of coaction between phytochrome and blue/UV-A light has been observed previously in a number of angiosperm seedlings. With regard to the high irradiance reaction of phytochrome in long-term far-red light the pine seedling deviates totally from what has been observed in etiolated angiosperms since continuous far-red light has no effect on stem growth.Abbreviations B light of wavelength between 500 and 400 nm - FR standard far-red light - HIR high irradiance reaction of phytochrome - R high-fluence-rate red light (_R = 0.8) - RG9-light long-wavelength far-red light defined by the properties of the Schott RG9 glass filter (_RG₉<0.01) - = Pfr/Ptot wavelength-dependent photoequilibrium of the phytochrome system (far-red-absorbing form of phytochrome/total phytochrome) - UV-A near ultraviolet light of wavelength between 400 and 320 nm - W white light Research supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Schwerpunkt Physiologie der Bäume).     

Alveolar slope and dead space of He and SF6 in dogs: comparison of airway and venous loading

Series (Fowler) dead space (VD) and slope of the alveolar plateau of two inert gases (He and SF6) with similar blood-gas partition coefficients (approximately 0.01) but different diffusivities were analyzed in 10 anesthetized paralyzed mechanically ventilated dogs (mean body wt 20 kg). Single-breath constant-flow expirograms were simultaneously recorded in two conditions: 1) after equilibration of lung gas with the inert gases at tracer concentrations [airway loading (AL)] and 2) during steady-state elimination of the inert gases continuously introduced into venous blood by a membrane oxygenator and partial arteriovenous bypass [venous loading (VL)]. VD was consistently larger for SF6 than for He, but there was no difference between AL and VL. The relative alveolar slope, defined as increment of partial pressure per increment of expired volume and normalized to mixed expired-inspired partial pressure difference, was larger by a factor of two in VL than in AL for both He and SF6. The He-to-SF6 ratio of relative alveolar slope was generally smaller than unity in both VL and AL. Whereas unequal ventilation-volume distribution combined with sequential emptying of parallel lung regions appears to be responsible for the sloping alveolar plateau during AL, the steeper slope during VL is attributed to the combined effects of continuing gas exchange and ventilation-perfusion inequality coupled with sequential emptying. The differences between He and SF6 point at the contributing role of diffusion-dependent mechanisms in intrapulmonary gas mixing.