The effects of hyperoxia on oxygen uptake during acute anemia

The effects of normobaric hyperoxia on the oxygen uptake (VO2) and cardiovascular responses of the whole body and hindlimb during anemia were investigated. Anesthetized, paralyzed dogs were ventilated for 20-min periods with room air (normoxia), 100% O2 (hyperoxia), and returned to room air. Anemia (hematocrit = 15%) was then induced by isovolemic dextran-for-blood exchange and the normoxia, hyperoxia, normoxia sequence was repeated. Whole body VO2 and cardiac output rose following anemia, and then fell (p less than 0.05) with hyperoxia during anemia. These responses were not abolished by beta-blockade with propranolol (1 mg/kg, iv) or bilateral vagotomy. The hindlimb data for blood flow and VO2 were similar in direction to those of the whole body but were more variable. Section of the sciatic and femoral nerves did not appear to have significant effect on the limb responses to hyperoxia. The decrease in whole body and hindlimb VO2 with hyperoxia during anemia may have resulted from a redistribution of capillary blood flow away from exchange vessels in response to the elevated PO2.     

Immunogenicity of a recombinant infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus glycoprotein produced in insect cells.

A recombinant infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) glycoprotein (G protein), produced in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells following infection with a baculovirus vector containing the full-length (1.6 kb) glycoprotein gene, provided very limited protection in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss challenged with IHNV. Fish were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with Sf9 cells grown at 20 degrees C (RecGlow) or 27 degrees C (RecGhigh) expressing the glycoprotein gene. Various antigen (Ag) preparations were administered to adult rainbow trout or rainbow trout fry. Sera collected from adult fish were evaluated for IHNV neutralization activity by a complement-dependent neutralization assay. Anti-IHNV neutralizing activity was observed in sera, but the percent of fish responding was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in comparison to fish immunized with a low virulence strain of IHNV (LV-IHNV). A small number of fish immunized with RecGlow or RecGhigh possessed IHNV G protein specific antibodies (Abs) in their serum. Cumulative mortality (CM) of rainbow trout fry (mean weight, 1 g) vaccinated by i.p. injection of freeze/thawed Sf9 cells producing RecGlow was 18% in initial trials following IHNV challenge. This level of protection was significant (p < 0.05) but was not long lasting, and neutralizing Abs were not detected in pooled serum samples. When trout fry (mean weight, 0.6 g) were vaccinated with supernatant collected from sonicated Sf9 cells, Sf9 cells producing RecGlow, or Sf9 cells producing RecGhigh, CM averaged 46%. Protection was enhanced over negative controls, but not the positive controls (2% CM), suggesting that in the first trial soluble cellular proteins may have provided some level of non-specific protection, regardless of recombinant protein expression. Although some immunity was elicited in fish, and RecGlow provided short-term protection from IHNV, Ab-mediated protection could not be demonstrated. The results suggest that recombinant G proteins produced in insect cells lack the immunogenicity associated with vaccination of fish with an attenuated strain of IHNV.     

Local tumor hyperthermia using a computer-controlled microwave system

A minicomputer-based system was designed to control the microwave (2.45-GHz) power to four local hyperthermia applicators. Errors in temperature measurement, due to electromagnetic field interactions with small thermocouple probes, are minimized by sampling the temperature only when the microwave power is off. The programmable controller can regulate the temperature in tumors in 0.1 °C increments from 30 to 60 °C. This technique reduces temperature differences throughout the tumor at steady state to less than 0.4 °C and prevents skin burns.     

A novel extended family of stromal thioredoxins

Thioredoxins play key regulatory roles in chloroplasts by linking photosynthetic light reactions to a series of plastid functions. In addition to the established groups of thioredoxins, f, m, x, and y, novel plant thioredoxins were also considered to include WCRKC motif proteins, CDSP32, the APR proteins, the lilium proteins and HCF164. Despite their important roles, the subcellular locations of many novel thioredoxins has remained unknown. Here, we report a study of their subcellular location using the cDNA clone resources of TAIR. In addition to filling all gaps in the subcellular map of the established chloroplast thioredoxins f, m, x and y, we show that the members of the WCRKC family are targeted to the stroma and provide evidence for a stromal location of the lilium proteins. The combined data from this and related studies indicate a consistent stromal location of the known Arabidopsis chloroplast thioredoxins except for thylakoid-bound HCF164.     

Superficial,suprahyoid, and infrahyoid neck musculature in naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber): Relative size and potential contributions to independent movement of the lower incisors

Naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) are fossorial, eusocial rodents that exhibit the unusual capability of moving their lower incisors independently in lateral and rostroventral directions. The evolution of this trait would presumably also involve concurrent alterations in neck musculature to support and control movements of the lower incisors. In order to assess morphological adaptations that might facilitate these movements, we performed detailed dissections of the neck musculature of adult naked mole-rats. In addition to characterizing attachment sites of superficial, suprahyoid, and infrahyoid musculature, we also quantified muscle mass and mandibular features thought to be associated with gape (condyle height, condyle length, and jaw length). Based on muscle attachment sites, the platysma myoides may contribute to lateral movement of the lower incisor and hemi-mandible in naked mole-rats. The large digastric muscle is likely to be a main contributor to rostroventral movement of each lower incisor. The geniohyoid and mylohyoid muscles also likely contribute to rostroventral movements of the lower incisors, and the mylohyoid may also produce lateral spreading of the hemi-mandibles. The transverse mandibular (intermandibularis) muscle likely serves to reposition the lower incisors back to a midline orientation following a movement.     

Regional O2 uptake during hypoxia and recovery in hypermetabolic dogs

The regional distribution of O2 deficit in muscle and nonmuscle tissues was measured in hypermetabolic dogs ventilated with a low inspired O2 fraction and was compared with excess O2 used in these regions during normoxic recovery. O2 uptake was stimulated by 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP). Arterial, mixed venous, and muscle venous blood samples were drawn before, during, and after severe hypoxia (9% O2-91% N2) for the calculation of hindlimb O2 uptake and cardiac output. The O2 deficit and excess O2 uptake in recovery were calculated as the cumulative differences between normoxic control and respective hypoxic and recovery O2 uptake values. The DNP data were compared with data previously obtained in our laboratory. A greater whole-body O2 deficit was incurred in the DNP group during hypoxia and was associated with a larger O2 use in recovery. The total O2 deficit was equally distributed between muscle and nonmuscle tissues, but more excess O2 use occurred in nonmuscle tissues. The greater excess O2 used by nonmuscle tissues may have been associated with the restoration of intracellular ion concentrations brought about by the increased activity of energy-using membrane pumps.