The beta-adrenergic receptor-regulated 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium channel receptor sites in coronary artery smooth muscle.

The cross-regulatory communication from beta-adrenergic receptors to 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) Ca2+ channel agonist and antagonist binding sites and cooperativity between DHP binding sites were studied in microsomal membranes of canine coronary artery (purified to a factor 2.9 for DHPs). The maximal number of binding sites (Bmax) identified in coronary artery microsomal membranes (CAM) with Ca2+ channel agonist (-)-S-(3H)BAY K 8644 was two times higher than Bmax of sites labelled with Ca2+ channel antagonist (+)-(3H)PN 200-110. The exposure of CAM to isoprenaline was accompanied with down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors and with increase in binding capacity for DHPs. The increase in Bmax was proportional in both groups of experiments and was related to increased affinity of DHPs. The 1,4-DHP binding sites identified in vascular smooth muscle showed characteristics typical for classification of specific 1,4-DHP receptor on Ca2+ channels. The binding was of high affinity, saturable and reversible, it showed stereoselectivity and it was positively modulated by beta-adrenergic stimulation and its showed cAMP and GTP sensitivity. The results support the hypothesis that beta-receptors also regulate the mode of Ca2+ channels in coronary artery smooth muscle.     

Hemopoiesis stimulating and radioprotective effects of carboxymethylglucan.

Carboxymethylglucan, a novel soluble derivative of beta-1,3-glucan, was found to enhance hemopoietic recovery in sublethally gamma-irradiated mice and to increase survival in lethally irradiated animals when given 24 hours prior to irradiation. Postirradiation treatment with carboxymethylglucan also induced favourable effects in terms of survival when used in combination with preirradiation cystamine administration.     

Renal amino acid excretion and aging

The urinary excretion and serum concentration of amino acids were studied in 62 healthy individuals aged 15 to 70 years. In elderly subjects (61-70 years), it was found that renal amino acid clearance per 100 ml GFR (fractional excretion, FE) rose significantly in the following amino acids: CYS, VAL, MET, ILE and LEU. Since the serum concentrations of these amino acids showed no significant changes, but the GFR was reduced, it can be concluded that the raised FE of these amino acids was due to a decrease in their effective tubular reabsorption. A significant correlation was found between FENa and FE of most amino acids including those mentioned above. The findings support the assumption that changes in tubular Na+ transport probably participate in the changes of tubular amino acid transport in elderly individuals.     

The effect of experimental hyperthyroidism on renal and adrenal weight increase in mice.

The mouse kidneys are enlarged after the administration of thyroxine and this influence is not mediated through androgens. The administration of thyroxine increased the weight of the adrenals and the level of plasma corticosterone. Besides the direct effect of the thyroid hormones on the kidney, our findings indicate that the excess of triiodothyronine and thyroxine stimulates the activity of adrenals indirectly and evokes hyperadrenocorticism which could be related to the action of adrenal steroids on kidney function and kidney growth. In accordance with the above mentioned hypothesis it has been shown that aminoglutethimide, a potent blocker of adrenal steroidogenesis, decreases the level of plasma corticosterone and inhibits the enlargement of the kidney in hyperthyroid mice in spite of the high serum thyroxine values.     

Production of fertile tobacco pollen from microspores in suspension culture and its storage for in situ pollination

Summary A simple procedure is described for the in vitro production of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) pollen from microspores isolated just before entering mitosis. During a 3-day culture period in a liquid medium containing pyrimidine nucleosides these microspores develop into young pollen grains to the stage of starch deposition. Pollen maturation and transition to dormancy is achieved during a further 2- to 3-day culture period in the same medium stepwise supplemented by a concentrated solution of sucrose and l-proline. Upon transfer of the pollen to a simple germination medium containing sucrose and boric acid, up to 40% of the grains were observed to produce relatively long tubes. The in vitro-matured pollen grains can be stored at-20° C either suspended in 1.17 M sucrose and 100 mM l-proline or separated from the medium on filter paper discs. The stored pollen germinated both in vitro and on the stigma, the pollen tubes grew through the style into the ovary and pollination produced up to 300 viable seeds per pod. The procedure is of interest for pollen developmental studies and various fields of pollen manipulation, such as in vitro pollen selection.     

Immunostaining of human spermatozoa with tubulin domain-specific monoclonal antibodies. Recognition of a unique beta-tubulin epitope in the sperm head

Summary Four monoclonal antibodies that discriminate between structural domains of alpha-(TU-01, TU-04) or beta-(TU-06, TU-12) tubulin and a polyclonal anti-tubulin antibody were used for immunostaining of human spermatozoa using immunofluorescence microscopy. Specificity of antibodies was confirmed by immunoblotting experiments. Antibodies TU-01 and TU-06 uniformly stained the whole tail and the neck, whereas antibodies TU-04, TU-12 showed differential distribution of corresponding epitopes in the stable arrays of flagellar microtubules. Of the monoclonal antibodies used, only TU-12 against the antigenic determinant on C-terminal domain of -tubulin showed strong reactivity with the equatorial segment of the head. The results document a differential exposure of tubulin epitopes at the single-cell level and suggest the existence of distinct tubulin populations in various structural compartments of the human spermatozoon.     

Genetic and developmental analyses of chaetae pattern formation in Drosophila tergites

Summary The role of the achaete-scute complex and extramacrochaetae, Notch, Delta, Enhancer of split and Hairless genes in chaeta patterning in Drosophila tergites was studied in genetic mosaics and in mutant combinations. The mutant phenotypes of different alleles of each gene can be ordered in characteristic topographical seriations. These seriations are related to the pattern of proliferation of histoblasts and the time of singularization of sensory organ mother cells from surrounding epidermal cells. Genetic mosaics of lethal alleles show that these genes are fundamentally involved in this singularization and subsequent differentiation. The study of mutant combinations of alleles of these genes reveals specific relationships of epistasis and synergism between them. The results suggest that spatial and temporal variations in achaete-scute complex functional products in cells, modulated by the activity of other genes involved in signal transduction, define the patterned differentiation of sensory organs in tergites. Offprint requests to: A. García-Bellido     

Oenanthe aquatica (L.)Poir.: Seed reproduction,population structure,habitat conditions and distribution in Czechoslovakia

The paper summarizes data concerning the biology and ecology ofOenanthe aquatica. The species is commonly distributed all over Czechoslovakia, from lowlands to the submontane belt, especially in fishpond and river basins.O. aquatica shows no special relationship to the chemical and physical soil properties, and is well adapted to habitats with a changing water level. The reproduction ofO. aquatica depends on emerging of the bottom. The most developed populations are formed by biennial plants and arise in the year following summer or autumn drainage.     

Quercus ilex browse utilization by Caprini in Sierra de Cazorla and Segura (Spain)

The impact of domestic and wild Caprini browsing on Quercus ilex has been examined in an area of the Sierra de Cazorla. Vegetation as a herbivore food supply, herbivore feeding regime and density in the study area during six sampling periods throughout two years, has been quantified. Wild Caprini show diets similar to the available vegetation, whereas domestic Caprini tend more towards the trophic specialities (browsing or grazing) of their genus. Nevertheless, this tendency was more pronounced in domestic goats than in sheep. A hypothetical estimate of Q. ilex intake by each species under the study conditions was carried out. It was found that domestic Caprini have a greater impact on the holm oak than wild Caprini, density and feeding-niche deviations being the main factors responsible for this situation.Abbreviations DM= dry matter