Developmental appearance of the Ca2+-binding proteins parvalbumin,calbindin D-28K,S-100 proteins and calmodulin during testicular development in the rat

Summary Calcium and intracellular Ca²⁺-binding proteins are possibly involved in hormone production and spermatogenesis in rat testis. Parvalbumin, calbindin D-28K, S-100 proteins and calmodulin were localized in the Leydig cells, which are sites of testosterone synthesis. Only the appearance of parvalbumin-immunoreactivity is closely correlated to testosterone production during development of the testes. Calbindin D-28K-immunoreactivity persisted in foetal-type Leydig cells and in adult-type Leydig cells at all stages of development. S-100-immunoreactivity was low during all foetal stages, absent between birth and puberty, and increased thereafter. Calmodulin staining is most prominent in the cytoplasm of developing spermatocytes and of maturing spermatids. All four proteins co-exist in the seminiferous tubules. The distinct localization and developmental appearance of these proteins suggests different regulatory roles in Leydig cell function and spermatogenesis.     

Sequence polymorphism of human complement factor H

Factor H is a major regulatory protein of the complement system. The complete cDNA coding sequence has been derived from overlapping clones, and a polymorphism at base 1277 has been characterized. In four clones there is a T at nucleotide 1277 and in two others there is a C. This T/C change represents a tyrosine/histidine polymorphism at position 384 in the derived amino acid sequence. Protein sequence studies on peptides generated by trypsin digestion of factor H, purified from pooled plasma from 12 donors, confirmed the presence of both tyrosine and histidine at this position. Tyrosine and histidine were observed in a ratio of 2 : 1, respectively, and therefore this polymorphism is likely to represent a sequence difference between the two most abundant charge variants, FH1 and FH2, of factor H.     

Social organization and ecology of proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) in mixed coastal forest in Sarawak

Data are presented from a 16-month study of proboscis monkeys in an area of mixed coastal forest in Sarawak. The population density, social organization, and feeding and ranging behavior are described in detail. Results are compared with those from other primates in an attempt to understand why females of certain species (including proboscis monkeys) transfer between social groups. The scarcity of available food and reasons for the limited habitat preferences of proboscis monkeys are also discussed.     

Optimisation of total urinary aldosterone estimation: comparison with other laboratory methods for assessment of mineralocorticoid status

We have demonstrated that conventional methods for measuring total urinary aldosterone (TUA) may markedly and inconsistently underestimate aldosterone output, since under the conditions usually employed (pH 1.0), the hydrolysis of aldosterone conjugates in urine is incomplete. The use of more acidic hydrolysis conditions (pH 0.2) overcomes this problem. However free aldosterone may be damaged at this pH. Therefore to accurately measure TUA output, it is necessary to isolate the undamaged aldosterone chromatographically and to correct for procedural losses based on the recovery of aldosterone tracer added to the urine prior to hydrolysis. We compared a number of laboratory estimates of aldosterone status (including urinary free aldosterone) with the 24-h urinary sodium output in normal subjects, since this provides a good bioassay of aldosterone. Sodium output correlated best with "optimised" 24 h TUA, i.e. hydrolysed at pH 0.2, (r = -0.589, P less than 0.001), and with plasma aldosterone (r = -0.504, P less than 0.005). Both aldosterone in random urine specimens and plasma renin activity correlated poorly with 24-h sodium output. Therefore, while the measurement of optimised TUA excretion provides the best index of aldosterone activity, assay of aldosterone in random specimens of plasma, which is more convenient for patient and laboratory, may be adequate for many clinical purposes.     

Conopy architecture of Larrea tridentata (DC.) Cov., a desert shrub: foliage orientation and direct beam radiation interception

Summary At sites in the United States, creosote bushes (Larrea tridentata (DC.) Cov.) orient foliage clusters predominantly toward the southeast. Foliage of bushes at the southernmost distribution extreme in Mexico shows no predominant orientation. Clusters at all sites are inclined between 33° and 71° from the horizontal. Inclinations are steeper in the drier and hotter Mojave Desert than in the Chihuahuan Desert. Individual leaflets, though not measured, appear more randomly oriented than foliage clusters. In several populations studied, branches were shorter in the southeastern sectors of the crown, reducing self-shading early in the morning. Measurements of direct beam radiation interception by detached branches, using digital image processing, indicated that foliage clusters oriented toward the southeast exhibited less self-shading during spring mornings than clusters oriented northeast. This effect was not apparent at the summer solstice. This type of canopy architecture may tend to minimize self-shading during the morning hours when conditions are more favorable for photosynthesis, resulting in an improved daily water use efficiency.     

Ecology of microalgae in a high rate pond for piggery effluent purification in Singapore

Summary An integrated system for the collection, treatment and utilisation of piggery wastewater has been developed in Singapore which uses the cultivation of microalgae in high rate ponds to achieve reduction of BOD₅ and COD₅ of the effluent as well as producing single cell protein. A wide range of algal flora occurs in the ponds;Oocystis, Micratinium, Scenedesmus, Ankistrodesmus, Chlorella andOscillatoria spp were identified. Total algal counts, recorded from 1979 to 1981, ranged up to 10⁷ per ml of pond water. There were considerable variations in the algal population and in the predominating species. No discernible pattern was evident. Consequently pond operations were frequently disturbed by these fluctuations in population which in turn was attributed to the heterogeneous composition of the piggery waste, to variable weather conditions and to predation by larger organisms particularlyMoina. After passing through the ponds, the total suspended solids were removed by a novel dissolved air flotation method which gave a clear effluent showing an 87% reduction in BOD₅ value.

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Resumen En Singapur se ha desrrollado un sistema integrado para le recogida, tratamiento y utilización de aguas residuales de pocilgas. Este sistema usa el cultivo de microalgas en estanques, de caudal rápido afin de reducir las DBO₅ y DCO₅ del efluencte produciendo asimismo proteínas celulares. La flora de algas producida en estos estanques es amplia y variada, habiendose identificado:Oocystis, Micratinium, Scenesdemus, Ankistrodesmus, Chlorella y Oscillatoria. Los recuentos totales de algas tomados desde 1979 a 1981 llegaron a alcanzar 10;⁷ por ml de agua del estanque. Se observaron variaciones considerables tanto en la población total de algas como en las especies predominantes sin que se pudiese, determinar un patrón de variación característico. Estas fluctuaciones en la población, causantes de frecuentes alteraciones en el funcionamiento del estanque, se atribuyeron a la composición heterogenea de los resuduos, a las variaciones climáticas y la predación por otros organismos particularmenteMoina Después de su paso por los estanque los solidos suspendidos totales se eliminaron mediante un nuevo método de flotación con aire disuelto, obteniendose un efluente limpio con una reducción de la DBO₅ del 87%.

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Résumé Un système intégré pour la collecte, le traitement et l'utilisation d'eaux résiduaires de porcherie a été développé à Singapoure. Il utilise la culture de micro-algues tant pour la réduction accélérée en lagune de la DBO₅ et de la DCO de l'effluent que pour la production de protéines uni-cellulaires. On trouve une large gamme de flore algale dans les lagunes; des espèces d'-Oocystis, deMicratinium, deScenedesmus, Ankistrodesmus, deChlorella etd'Oscillatoria out été identifiées. Les comptages totaux d'algues, enregistrées de 1979 à 1981, ont donné jusqu' à 10⁷ cellules par ml d'eau de la lagune. On a observé des variations considérables de population algale tant quantitatives que qualitatives. On ne discernait pas de spectres évidents. En conséquence, les opérations lagunaires ont été fréquemment perturbées par ces fermentations en population, qui, à leur tour, ont été attribuées à la composition hétérogène de l'effluent de porcherie, aux conditions atmosphériques et climatiques variables et à la prédation par des organismes plus conséquents, plus particulièrement desMoina. Après passage par les lagunes, les solides totaux en suspension ont été enlevés par une méthode nouvelle de flottation à l'air dissous, qui a donné un effluent limpide, présentant une réduction de DBO₅ de 87%.

     

Inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase synthesis by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides

Oligodeoxynucleotides 18 nucleotides in length having sequences complementary to regions spanning the initiation codon regions of ornithine decarboyxlase or S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase mRNAs were tested for their ability to inhibit translation of these mRNAs. In reticulocyte lysates, a strong and dose dependent reduction of ornithine decarboyxlase synthesis in response to mRNA from D-R L1210 cells was brought about by 5-AAAGCT GCTCATGGTTCT-3 which is complementary to the sequence from - 6 to + 12 of the mRNA sequence but there was no inhibition by 5-TGCAGCTTCCATCACCGT-3. Conversely, the latter oligodeoxynucleotide which is complementary to the sequence from – 6 to + 12 of the mRNA of S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase was a strong inhibitor of the synthesis of this enzyme in response to rat prostate mRNA and the antisense sequence from ornithine decarboxylase had no effect. The translation of ornithine decarboxylase mRNA in a wheat germ system was inhibited by the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide at much lower concentration than those needed in the reticulocyte lysate suggesting that degradation of the hybrid by ribonuclease H may be an important factor in this inhibition. These results indicate that such oligonucleotides may be useful to regulate cellular polyamine levels and as probes to study control of mRNA translation.Abbreviations ODC ornithine decarboxylase - AdoMetDC S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase - DFMO difluoromethylornithine