Hyperpolarizing potentials in guinea pig hippocampal CA3 neurons

There is a bewildering variety of hyperpolarizing potentials which control activity in hippocampal pyramidal cells. These include an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) with early and late components, voltage- and calcium-dependent potassium conductances, a voltage-dependent potassium conductance modulated by muscarinic agents (the M-current), and a complex and poorly understood afterhyperpolarization following epileptiform bursts. In hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cells, mossy fiber stimulation elicits an IPSP which is made up of two readily separable components. Using the in vitro slice preparation, we investigated the underlying ionic basis of these IPSP components and compared them to other hyperpolarizing potentials characteristic of the CA3 neurons. Intracellular recordings were obtained and then tissue was exposed to bathing medium low in chloride concentration or high in potassium concentration; the ion "blockers" EGTA (intracellular); tetraethylammonium (TEA) (intra- and extracellular), and barium and cobalt (extracellular); and the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)/chloride antagonists penicillin, bicuculline and picrotoxin.     

Nickel requirement in Chlorella emersonii

The dependence of growth on nickel supply was studied in Chlorella emersonii 211-8b. After transfer to Ni²⁺ deficient medium containing only 0.5±0.2 g/l of Ni²⁺, production of biomass or daughter cells dropped to 55±5% of the controls, and the cells became chlorotic. These symptoms of deficiency disappeared completely by supplying adequate amounts of nickel. They were, however, only partially reversible by cobalt. It is concluded that nickel is an essential micronutrient for C. emersonii, although this organism lacks the nickel enzyme, urease.Gratefully dedicated to Prof. Hans Adolf von Stosch on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

The effect of sugars on (pro)insulin biosynthesis

Rates of incorporation of [4,5-(3)H]leucine into insulin plus proinsulin, designated ;(pro)insulin', and total protein in rat pancreatic islets were measured. Glucose stimulates rates of total protein and (pro)insulin biosynthesis, but (pro)insulin biosynthesis is stimulated preferentially. Mannose and N-acetylglucosamine also stimulate (pro)insulin and total protein biosynthesis; inosine and dihydroxyacetone stimulate (pro)insulin biosynthesis specifically. Fructose does not stimulate (pro)insulin biosynthesis when tested alone, but does so in the presence of low concentrations of glucose, mannose or N-acetylglucosamine. Many glucose analogues do not stimulate (pro)insulin biosynthesis. Mannoheptulose inhibits synthesis of (pro)insulin and total protein stimulated by glucose or mannose but not by dihydroxyacetone, inosine or N-acetylglucosamine; phloretin (9mum) inhibits N-acetylglucosamine-stimulated (pro)insulin biosynthesis preferentially. The data are in agreement with the view that the same glucose-sensor mechanism may control both insulin release and biosynthesis, and ;substrate-site' model is suggested. The threshold for stimulation of biosynthesis of (pro)insulin and total protein is lower than that found for glucose-stimulated insulin release; moreover the biosynthetic response to an elevation of glucose concentration is slower than that found for insulin release. The physiological implication of these findings is discussed. Caffeine and isobutylmethylxanthine, at concentrations known to increase islet 3':5'-cyclic AMP and potentiate glucose-induced insulin release, were without effect on rates of glucose-stimulated (pro)insulin biosynthesis.     

Anencephaly in trisomy 18 associated with elevated alpha-1-fetoprotein in amniotic fluid

Summary Elevated levels of alpha-1-fetoprotein (AFP) were found in the amniotic fluid of a 36-year-old woman in the 15th week of gestation. Because of this and the results of repeated ultrasonography, abortion was induced. An anencephalic fetus with trisomy 18 was delivered. The possible correlation among neural-tube defects, chromosomal abnormalities, and level of AFP is discussed.     

Migration of leafhoppers (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha) into a new polder

Auchenorrhyncha of a new polder were sampled by different kinds of traps in four stations in new habitats, one station on the salt marsh and one just outside the polder. In the latter stations 20 species of Auchenorrhyncha were caught in numbers that declined during the four year study. The proportion of macropters of the common Streptanus sordidus was highest in the largest catches. In the polder proper 392 specimens of 13 species were caught, all had moved at least 1500 m, but some could be traced to origins at greater distances. The number of immigrants also declined during the study. The distribution of the leafhoppers over the trapping stations suggests that leafhoppers, although sometimes transported over great distances, as a rule quickly fall out once they are airborne. Probably only one species had founded a resident population in the new polder at the end of the study.     

Prostaglandin E and mitogenic stimulation of human lymphocytes in serum-free medium

Sera used in cell cultures contain significant amount of prostaglandins (PGs). In order to vaoid any effects of contaminating PGs, the present study employed a serum-free culture medium and confirmed the inhibitory effect of prostaglandin E (PGE) on the human lymphocyte activation which had been observed previously employing a serum-containing medium. PGE₁ displayed a significantly stronger inhibitory effect on the cells than previously shown. Furthermore, reported enhancement of PGE synthesis by mitogen-activated lymphocytes could not be reproduced.     

The identification of membrane glycocomponents in polyacrylamide gels: A rapid method using I-labeled lectins

A rapid method is described for the identification of lectin binding membrane glycocomponents in polyacrylamide gels. The method requires only small quantities of membrane material and is applicable to a wide variety of lectins. Solubilized membrane components are electrophoretically separated according to molecular weight in a SDS-polyacrylamide gel. The gel is then incubated in a solution containing the ¹²⁵I-lectin. After elution of unbound ¹²⁵I-lectin, the gel is dried down and those bands which have bound the ¹²⁵I-lectin are identified by radioautography. The amount of bound ¹²⁵I-lectin can be quantified by either densitometric scanning of the radioautogram or by liquid scintillation counting of the dried gel.     

Phospholipid composition and external labeling of aminophospholipids of human En(a−) erythrocyte membranes which lack the major sialoglycoprotein (glycophorin a)

Erythrocytes of the rare human blood group En(a?) lack the major sialoglycoprotein, glycophorin A, and the cell population heterozygous for the En(a) antigen contain half the normal amount of glycophorin A. With such cells we have studied whether glycophorin A influences the phospholipid composition and the availability of aminophospholipids to external labeling reagents. We here demonstrate that the amounts of all phospholipids are closely similar in normal and variant membranes. However, using the amino-reactive reagent trinitrobenzenesulfonate, we show that phosphatidylethanolamine is more easily labeled in intact En(a?) cells as compared to normal cells, whereas phosphatidylethanolamine shows an intermediate labeling in En(a) heterozygous cells.     

Molecular distribution of zinc in biliary and pancreatic secretions

Rat bile and pancreatic fluid were examined for the presence of low molecular weight zinc complexes. Fluids were collected separately by cannulation, and zinc distribution in collected samples was analyzed by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50. Most of the zinc in bile was associated with low molecular weight zinc complexes; only a small amount of zinc was present in the high molecular weight fraction. In contrast, pancreatic secretions did not contain low molecular weight zinc complexes, but there were considerable amounts of zinc bound to high molecular weight compounds. The addition of zinc to bile resulted in an increased amount of zinc in the low molecular weight fraction, while the addition of zinc to pancreatic fluid resulted primarily in an increase in zinc bound to the high molecular weight components. Like pancreatic fluid, homogenates of pancreatic tissue had no low molecular weight zinc complex. In rats whose bile and pancreatic fluid were removed and not returned into the intestine, the amount of zinc bound to low molecular weight complexes in intestinal homogenates was reduced. This alteration of the molecular distribution of zinc in intestinal homogenates by removal of bile and pancreatic fluid suggests the potential importance of low molecular weight zinc complexes for zinc homeostasis.     

Superoxide dismutase isoenzymes in bovine and human milk

The presence of superoxide dismutase in bovine and human milk was investigated by ultrafiltration, gel filtration, and isoelectric focusing. Conclusive evidence for the presence of this enzyme in both milks is presented. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 to be 30,000, which is consistent with reported values for the copper, zinc form of superoxide dismutase. In addition, enzyme activity was inhibited by cyanide, thus eliminating the possibility that the enzyme was present in the manganese form. Several isoenzymes were detected by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel, and the isoenzyme pattern in bovine milk was the same as that found for bovine plasma, suggesting that milk superoxide dismutase originates from plasma. It may be that the presence of copper, zinc superoxide dismutase in milk is important for the maintenance of its oxidative stability.