Effects of dietary deficiency of selective amino acids on the function of the cornea and lens in rats

Summary.  Effects of dietary deficiencies of tryptophan and methionin on the transparency of cornea and lens were investigated in young rats (Brown-Norway, BN; Sprague-Dawley, SD) over 3 months. Transparency of the cornea and lens were evaluated in weekly intervals using a photo-slitlamp microscope. After sacrifice and lens fresh weight determination the lenses were prepared for histopathology. Methionin deficiency had no effect on the parameters investigated. Tryptophan deficiency caused severe loss of body weight in both strains, with additional loss of hair in SD rats. These developed corneal neovascularisations and cataracts. BN rats showed an enhanced zone of discontinuity in the lens. Diet intermission arrested the pathological processes in the eye which restarted when feeding the diet again. This observation is supported by lens fresh weight data. DNA staining evidenced that tryptophan deficiency arrested lens fiber maturation in both strains but stimulated corneal neovascularisation only in SD rats. Received June 29, 2001 Accepted August 6, 2001 Published online July 31, 2002     

Attention to surfaces modulates motion processing in extrastriate area MT

In the visual system, early atomized representations are grouped into higher-level entities through processes of perceptual organization. Here we present neurophysiological evidence that a representation of a simple object, a surface defined by color and motion, can be the unit of attentional selection at an early stage of visual processing. Monkeys were cued by the color of a fixation spot to attend to one of two transparent random-dot surfaces, one red and one green, which occupied the same region of space. Motion of the attended surface drove neurons in the middle temporal (MT) visual area more strongly than physically identical motion of the non-attended surface, even though both occurred within the spotlight of attention. Surface-based effects of attention persisted even without differential surface coloring, but attentional modulation was stronger with color. These results show that attention can select surface representations to modulate visual processing as early as cortical area MT.     

Ultrastructural investigation on the cell membranes of the vomeronasal organ in the rat: A freeze-etching study

Summary The free surfaces and cell contacts in the epithelia of the vomeronasal organ of the rat were investigated by freeze-etching. The microvilli of receptor cells show a lower density of intramembranous particles (IMP) than the microvilli in the receptor-free epithelium. The ratio between the IMP on P and E-face is approximately 111 in the receptor terminals, and 3.51 in the cilia and microvilli of the receptor-free epithelium. Although atypical in length and only poorly equipped with rootlet fibers, the cilia of the receptor-free epithelium are furnished with typical ciliary necklace structures of up to 10 rows of membrane particles. Differences in the density of IMP on the P-faces of different cilia are probably due to continual ciliogenesis and also due to the different age of cilia in the receptor-free epithelium. Zonulae occludentes show different configurations in the neuroepithelium and in the receptor-free epithelium. In the former, they show a tendency to cross-link and form facet-like patterns, reflecting a constant morphology and relative stability for this apical region. In the receptor-free epithelium the junctional rows of zonulae occludentes display only loosely interconnected networks and a tendency to orient parallel to each other and to the free surface. In addition to zonulae occludentes, typical square aggregations of IMP are observed in the receptor-free epithelium. They are not exclusively restricted to the zone of intensive cell contacts by means of fine interdigitating cell processes, and their function has yet to be identified experimentally.This paper is dedicated to Dr. David G. MoultonPortions of this work are from a thesis in preparation by F.M. Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 114)     

Ontogeny of the mouse motor cortex. The polymorph layer or layer VI. A Golgi and electronmicroscopical study

Summary The development of neurons and their synapses of the mouse motor cortex has been studied from the first postnatal day up to an age of three weeks both electronmicroscopically and with the Golgi method. Special attention has been paid to the maturation of the different cell types in the sixth cortical layer and their dendritic organization within this layer.The polymorph layer is subdivided into two zones: an internal (VIb) and an external one (VIa). In these zones six different cell types can be identified both electronmicroscopically and with the Golgi method: large, small and inverted pyramidal cells in VIa; horizontal cells, star cells and small pyramidal cells in VIb.Spines of apical dendrites of large pyramidal cells in sublayer VIa can be detected as early as the 6th postnatal day. About the ninth day the basal dendrites as well show emerging spines. Somatic spines are found only on the large pyramidal cells and disappear slowly towards the end of the 3rd postnatal week.The small pyramidal cells show developing spines on their apical dendrite in the first half of the second postnatal week. The final density and distribution of spines is reached by the stem dendrites towards the end of the second week, by the basal dendrites during the third week. The maturation process of the improperly orientated neurons occurs in time in between the large and the small pyramidal cells.The axo-somatic synapses appear in general at a later date than the axo-dendritic ones. In the horizontal cells axo-somatic synapses are visible already at the seventh postnatal day.At the end of the first week especially in layer VIb many immature neurons with an ovoid or round nucleus are present having little if any endoplasmic reticulum organised as ergastoplasm.Towards the end of the second week however most neurons in the polymorph layer have a well developed endoplasmic reticulum.Electronmicroscopical pictures reveal in outgrowing dendrites many enlargements filled with vesicles, these correspond to the varicosities seen in Golgi pictures. At nine days postnatally the first myelinated fibres appear.Aided by grant (R-209-67) from the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational Foundation, New York.     

Die Differenzierung isolierter Nerven- und Gliazellen aus trypsiniertem Rückenmark von Hühnerembryonen in Gewebekulturen

Zusammenfassung Cervikales und thorakales Rückenmark 6 und 7 Tage alter Hühnerembryonen wurde trypsiniert. Die isolierten Rückenmarkszellen wurden kultiviert und anschließend licht- und elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht.Unmittelbar nach der Isolierung kann man die Zellen morphologisch nicht unterscheiden. Nach wenigen Stunden der Inkubation beobachtet man ein erstes Auswachsen feiner Portsätze. Nach ca. 12stündiger Kulturzeit beginnt eine Zusammenlagerung der Zellen in Zellklumpen und lockeren Zellverbänden immer deutlicher zu werden, ohne daß eine aktive Zellbewegung sichtbar wird. Die Zusammenlagerung der Zellen geht mit einer feinstrukturell verfolgbaren Ausreifung einher.Am Ende der 1. Woche findet man neben einigen astrocytären Gliazellen auch zahlreiche andere polymorphe Formen, die sich weder als Astroglia- noch als Oligodendroglia-Zellen typisieren lassen. Letztere konnten während der kurzen Inkubationsdauer weder licht- noch elektronenmikroskopisch identifiziert werden.Die Nervenzellen zeigen eine Zunahme ihrer Organellen und eine Zusammenlagerung ihres endoplasmatischen Retikulums zu Ergastoplasmaformationen. Axone und Dendriten sind bereits nach 3tägiger Inkubation erkennbar.Ein eindeutiges Kriterium der Nervenzellausreifung stellt die Bildung von Synapsen dar, die nach dem 5. Tag der Inkubation deutlich wird. Es bilden sich axo-dendritische, axosomatische und axo-axonale Synapsen.Die mögliche physiologische Bedeutung der Synapsen auf Grund ihrer Ultrastruktur und die Bedeutung der 'membrane junctions wird diskutiert.

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On the differentiation of isolated nerve and glia cells from trypsinized spinal cord of chicken embryos cultivated in vitroA light- and electronmicroscopical investigation

Summary Cervical and thoracic segments of the spinal cord of six and seven days old chicken embryos were trypsinized. The isolated cells have been cultivated in vitro and studied both light- and electronmicroscopically.Immediately after isolation, neurons or glial cells can not be distinguished by morphological criteria. After a few hours in vitro, however, the first sprouting of fibres is visible. About 12 hours later an aggregation of cells in bulks or loosely woven nets becomes more and more prominent, without an active cellmovement visible. The aggregational process of the previously dissociated cells is combined with ultrastructural differentiation.At the end of the first week in vitro one could recognize besides some astrocytes a great number of those cells which were neither astroglia-nor oligodendroglia-cells. The latter were not detectable during our short periods of cultivation.Those cells showing an enhancement of organelles and their endoplasmic reticulum formed an ergastoplasm after five to seven days in vitro are definitely nerve cells, whose axons and dendrites appear after three days of incubation.The most convincing criteria of nerve cell maturation is the appearance of synapses, which increase in number from the fifth day of incubation onwards.Axo-dendritic, axo-somatic and axo-axonal synapses are present.A possible physiological significance of the synapses in relation to their ultrastructural features and the importance of the membrane junctions has been discussed.

Die Verff. danken Fräulein R. Dietrich und Frau M. C. Weinrichter für technische Assistenz.     

Inhibition of HIV-1 protease by short peptides derived from the terminal segments of the protease.

The active HIV-1 protease is a homodimeric enzyme. A beta-sheet consisting of N- and C-terminal segments provides the main driving force for dimerization of the inactive protomers. Several short peptides with sequences derived from the N- and C-termini of the protease were tested for inhibition of protease activity and for inhibition of HIV-1 replication in lymphocytes. Medium inhibitory activity was found with each of the peptides in the enzyme test and no inhibition of the lymphocytes was found up to 200 micrograms/ml. The enzyme tests indicate that HIV-1 protease is the target of the inhibitory action. Synergistic action could not be found with pairs of the peptides derived from the two different termini. Prolonged incubation with one of the peptides increased inhibition indicating a slow dissociation of the protease dimers. No cytotoxic effect of the inhibitors could be found below 200 micrograms/ml.     

Facile SPS of peptides having C-terminal Asn and Gln

Attachment of Fmoc-asparagine or glutamine to p-alkoxybenzyl alcohol type resins has always been difficult and not very effective. A very simple and effective method for the preparation of peptides terminating in asparagine or glutamine is described. The method involves quantitative attachment of Fmoc-Asp-OtBu or Fmoc-Glu-OtBu via their side-chain carboxyl group to a resin functionalized with our TMBPA linker for peptide amides. Peptide synthesis is performed using our standard Fmoc chemistry, and treatment with acid, e.g. TFA/DCM/scavenger mixtures, releases the Asn or Gln peptides.     

Face Patch Resting State Networks Link Face Processing to Social Cognition

Faces transmit a wealth of social information. How this information is exchanged between face-processing centers and brain areas supporting social cognition remains largely unclear. Here we identify these routes using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging in macaque monkeys. We find that face areas functionally connect to specific regions within frontal, temporal, and parietal cortices, as well as subcortical structures supporting emotive, mnemonic, and cognitive functions. This establishes the existence of an extended face-recognition system in the macaque. Furthermore, the face patch resting state networks and the default mode network in monkeys show a pattern of overlap akin to that between the social brain and the default mode network in humans: this overlap specifically includes the posterior superior temporal sulcus, medial parietal, and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, areas supporting high-level social cognition in humans. Together, these results reveal the embedding of face areas into larger brain networks and suggest that the resting state networks of the face patch system offer a new, easily accessible venue into the functional organization of the social brain and into the evolution of possibly uniquely human social skills.     

The many facets of facial interactions in mammals

Facial interactions are prominent behaviors in primates. Primate facial signaling, which includes the expression of emotions, mimicking of facial movements, and gaze interactions, is visually dominated. Correspondingly, in primate brains an elaborate network of face processing areas exists within visual cortex. But other mammals also communicate through facial interactions using additional sensory modalities. In rodents, multisensory facial interactions are involved in aggressive behaviors and social transmission of food preferences. The eusocial naked mole-rat, whose face is dominated by prominent incisors, uses facial aggression to enforce reproductive suppression. In burrow-living mammals like the naked mole-rat in particular, and in rodents in general, somatosensory face representations in cortex are enlarged. Diversity of sensory domains mediating facial communication might belie underlying common mechanisms. As a case in point, neurogenetics has revealed strongly heritable traits in face processing and identified gene defects that disrupt facial interactions both in humans and rodents.