Structural studies of the capsular antigen of haemophilus infuenzae type c

The structure of the capsular antigen from Haemophilus influenza type c has been investigated, n.m.r. spectroscopy being the principal method used. It is concluded that the antigen is composed of repeating-units having the following structure:

O-Acetyl groups are present in ～90% of the repeating-units.     

Genetic control of effector cell characteristics: con A-induced suppressor cells carry H-2 I region encoded determinants.

Activation of splenic lymphocytes with Con A leads to the formation of suppressor cells capable of interfering with the activity of several polyclonal B-cell-activating substances. Thus, these suppressor cells, or their products, most probably act directly on B cells. Suppressor cells could be recovered from the effluent cell population of nylon wool columns, and they were absent from the spleens of athymic nude mice. Furthermore, they were absent from the thymus of normal as well as cortison-treated mice. Cortisone treatment did not abolish the formation of Con A-induced suppressor cells in the spleen. Treatment of activated suppressor cells with antisera specific for distinct products of the H-2 I region revealed that they carried I-J cell surface antigens. We conclude that the suppressor cells in our test system, which unlike other Con A-induced suppressor cell populations have a direct effect on B cells, had antigenic characteristics similar to those previously described for I-J carrying suppressor cells.     

“Cytogenetic” studies of spermatids of mice carrying Cattanach's translocation by flow cytometry

The DNA content of spermatids of mice carrying Cattanach's translocation has been measured with high precision by flow cytometry. The observation that the two peaks of DNA content in the haploid region of the DNA histograms represent X-and Y-bearing spermatids was tested and confirmed. Using flow cytometry, the difference in DNA content between the X and Y chromosomes in these mice was measured to be 5.2±0.1% of the total haploid genome as compared to 3.4±0.1% in normal mice. These results demonstrated the precision of flow cytometry for cytogenetic studies. Additional information on spermatogenesis in mice bearing Cattanach's translocation was obtained and showed a gradual loss of cells during spermatogenesis in those bearing the balanced form of the translocation.     

An indirect method for studying the fine control of citric acid formation byAspergillus niger

Summary During the main period of citric acid fermentation byAspernillus niger product formation is easily determinable from oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide output rates. This was applied in a study on the response of citrate formation to shifts of some environmental parameters of known importance during fermentation.     

The mechanism of epithelial shedding after ischemic damage to the small intestinal mucosa

The intestinal mucosa of the rat was examined by light and electron microscopy 15, 30, 60 and 120 min after complete ligation of the vessel arcades of the proximal jejunum. The characteristic sign of ischemic damage to the small intestinal mucosa and the reason for epithelial shedding is the appearance of membrane enclosed cytoplasmic blebs which arise at the cell base of the enterocytes and detach the epithelium from the basement membrane. This process begins at the tip of the villi before the enterocytes display signs of irreversible damage and progress to the base of the villi with continuation of the ischemia.     

Computer analysis of Feulgen hydrolysis kinetics

Summary A least squares fit of Feulgen hydrolysis time curves to the Bateman function is performed using an especially adapted parameter transformation together with a standard conjugate gradients iteration procedure. The method has been applied to a large number of measured data, and the use and limits of the computer evaluation are discussed.