Allometric analysis of the morphometric pulmonary diffusing capacity in dogs

The lung volume, the morphometrically determined alveolar and capillary surface area, and the capillary volume of 27 dogs (weight 2.65–57 kg) all were linearly correlated with body weight. The thickness of the air-blood barrier increased only slightly with increasing body size. The structural diffusing capacity, containing these parameters, was used to estimate the gas exchange capabilities of the lung and was also found to scale in direct proportion to body size. This coincides with reports on physiologically estimated diffusing capacity but is obviously different from the interspecies slope for metabolism which scales to the 3/4 power of body weight.     

Oat mesophyll protoplasts: their response to various feeder cultures

Oat (Avena sativa L.) mesophyll protoplasts were recently demonstrated to be capable of dedifferentiation, repeated divisions, and colony formation. Since the development of oat mesophyll protoplasts is decisively influenced by the nature of the used feeder culture (species, variety and concentration), we conducted a systematic study of this parameter. Generally, graminaceous feeders promoted protoplast proliferation, while dicot species repressed protoplast divisions. The beneficial effect of those feeders that promote divisions was counterbalanced by a factor that causes necrosis. The correct balance between promotion of divisions or necrosis depended on the nature of the feeder and its plating density.     

Transpiration measurements on apple trees with an improved stem heat balance method

Since the late eighties a handy and user-friendly sap flow meter (Dynagage®) is on the market which can quantify 0205 the sap flow through intact plant stems, based on the stem heat balance method. The documentation about its accuracy and reliability, however, is still too limited to use it as a standard method in field experiments with apple trees. We therefore tested this commercial system on potted apple trees (Malus domestica L.; cv. Red Elstar and Jonagold; on rootstock M9 vf) with stem diameters of 1.8 to 4 cm. The measured sap flow was compared with mass loss measured by an automated balance, supposing the total mass loss of the trees was equal to the water loss by transpiration. The results revealed three major problems:

Biological safety considerations in the production of health care products from recombinant organisms

Safety considerations in the field of recombinant technology and rDNA production of health care products have been under discussion since the beginning of this technology in 1973 and will certainly go on. However no adverse effects, which could have been attributed to rDNA technology have been observed. On the other hand many life-saving and life-improving drugs have been on the market for many years to the benefit of many patients. New technologies and products thereof often provoke uncertainties about their impact on the environment or society. This article discusses some potential risks in the application of rDNA technology to drugs as well as some benefits for patients, society and environment.     

Biosafety investigations in an r-DNA production plant

Employees of a biotechnological production plant for recombinant interferon-2a have been participating in a 1-year study on occupational hygiene and the resulting biosafety aspects. Most of the employees have been employed in the plant for more than 6 years. Weekly stool samples were analysed for tetracycline (used as selection marker)-resistant coliforms as well as for rDNA (IFN gene) (interferon gene) and for the production organism. Various analytical methods, including the polymerase chain reaction, were applied to show that neither rDNA nor the production organism could be found in any of the stool samples and that there was no change or trend in the gut flora with respect to tetracycline resistance. In addition it could be shown that the tetracycline-resistance gene, as well as the rDNA, are completely inactivated in the course of the production process and thus no further recombination can take place. Blood samples were taken to show that none of the employees had anti-product antibodies. Correspondence to: E. K. Weibel     

Integrated stereological and biochemical studies of hepatocytic membranes. I. Membrane recoveries in subcellular fractions

Previous attempts to relate the structure and function of hepatocytic membranes have compared biochemical data of fractions to morphological data derived from either intact tissue or fractions. The effects of the original homogenization aside, biochemical recoveries comparing membrane marker enzymes of the homogenate to subsequent fractions suggest a general conservation of activity. A sterological study was undertaken to estimate membrane surface areas in the intact tissue, homogenate, and fractions of the same livers and then to test the comparability of these data with membrane marker enzymes by calculating both morphological and biochemical recoveries. The sterological data were corrected for errors due to section thickness and compression. The average total membrane sufrace area per 1 g of liver was 9.3 m2 in the intact tissue (T), 7.8 m2 in the homogenate (H), and 7.4 m2 in the fractions (F); recoveries for the membrane surface areas thus averaged 96% for the (F/H) and 81% for the (F/T) comparisons. In homogenate and fractions, the differentiability of membranes by morphological criteria was limited to rough- and smooth- surfaced membranes, as well as outer and inner mitochondrial membranes. The recoveries of rough-surfaced membranes were 101% for F/H and 92% for F/T; those of smooth-surface membranes were 89% for F/H and 107% for F/T. For mitochondrial membranes, a recovery of 100% for F/H was obtained, whereas it amounted to only 54% for F/T. With respect to F/H, the membrane recoveries compare well with the marker enzyme recoveries obtained biochemically. The extension of recovery calculations to the intact tissue (F/T) revealed satisfactory conservation of the procedures of homogenization and fractionation; it indicates, however, that a shift of a substantial part of mitochondrial membranes to the pool of unidentifiable smooth membranes may occur on homogenization.