Synchrony of Long Duration in Suspension Cultures of Mammalian Cells

THE high-sulphur proteins of α-keratins, which constitute the non-filamentous matrix between the microfibrils, comprise several major groups of proteins, each group consisting of a number of closely related components. They are obtained in a soluble form by reduction of the disulphide bonds of wool and preferential extraction with alkaline thioglycollate at high ionic strength¹. The thiol groups are subsequently stabilized by alkylation with iodoacetic acid.     

Genetische Aspekte bei Spermatogenesestörungen

The cause for infertility which affects about 10–15% of all couples may be found in approximately half of the cases in the male partners who usually exhibit reduced sperm counts in the ejaculate (i.e. oligozoospermia or azoospermia). The clinically most relevant genetic causes of spermatogenic failure are chromosomal aberrations including Klinefelter’s syndrome and Y chromosomal microdeletions of the AZF loci. Aside from the full clinical picture of cystic fibrosis, mutations in the CFTR gene can cause an isolated obstructive azoospermia without spermatogenic impairment. Genetic investigations should depend on the results of andrological examinations. Chromosomal aberrations are detected more frequently with decreasing sperm counts, where autosomes (e.g. translocations) are predominantly involved in men with oligozoospermia whereas in 10–15% azoospermia is caused by Klinefelter’s syndrome. Classical AZF deletions are found only in men with severe oligospermia or azoospermia and have a prognostic value. In contrast to men with AZFc deletions, carriers of complete AZFa and AZFb deletions have virtually no chance for testicular sperm extraction and a testicular biopsy is not advised. Rare cases of male infertility may be caused by specific syndromes or sperm defects (e.g. globozoospermia and disorders of ciliary structure).     

Stabilization,solubilization, partial purification and some properties of cytochrome P-450 present in CaCl2-precipitated human placental microsomes

Two forms of a carbon monoxide-binding cytochrome were found to exist in CaCl₂-precipitated microsomal subfractions of human placental homogenates at term. These exhibited absorption maxima at wavelengths of 450 nm and 421–432 nm. Conversion of P-450 to the degradation product could be prevented by resuspension of the microsomes in buffered solutions containing 20% glycerol and 10^?4M dithiothreitol. Solubilization of such resuspended microsomes with sodium cholate could be effected with minimal degradation. The solubilized pigment then could be partially purified by differential fractionation with ammonium sulfate. The partially purified cytochromes did not appear to bind desmethylimpramine but did bind aniline and nicotinamide to yield atypical type II difference spectra with maxima at 435 nm and minima at 416 nm. A type I difference spectrum could be elicited with androstenedione and a spectral dissociation constant (K_S) of 4.7×10^?8M was obtained. Androstenedione also appeared to effectively prevent the binding of carbon monoxide to the cytochrome.     

Relationship between ornithine decarboxylase activity and hexamethylene bisacetamide-induced differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells

A transitory increase in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity is shown not to be a prerequisite for the differentiation induced by hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) in murine erythroleukemic (MEL) cells. On the contrary, conditions are described, where inhibition of the ODC activity with alpha-difluoromethyl ornithine (DFMO) stimulated the induced differentiation. Polyamine analysis demonstrated that a reduction in intracellular putrescine and spermidine occurred in MEL cells before commitment to erythrodifferentiation. The presence of DFMO increased the rapidity and the amplitude of these changes. No effect of dexamethasone on these changes in ODC activity or intracellular polyamines was observed.