The cytomegalovirus enhancer: a pan-active control element in transgenic mice.

In an effort to identify widely active positive regulatory elements, we have examined the action of the cytomegalovirus enhancer-promoter in transgenic mice. These elements activated expression in 24 of 28 tissues tested. The greatest expression was observed in the heart, kidney, brain, and testis. Maximum expression further localized to specific cells within the heart and kidney.     

The first record of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus in Germany

Oriental weatherfish Misgurnus anguillicaudatus , from southern China, have been imported to Germany in large numbers for the garden pond trade. The first record of M. anguillicaudatus from Central Europe, a population that has been established for at least 14 years in a small nature reserve in Germany, is detailed.     

Microflora of nuclear research reactor pool water

In the course of research done it was concluded that circulation of pool water through the nuclear reactor core produces a bactericidal effect on microflora due to influence of radiation of various types. Contents of microbes returns to the initial level after 2-4 months after circulation was stopped. Microflora of pool water comprises big amount of coccus, G-positive rods and fungi and a lower content of G-negative rods if compared to water which had been used to fill reactor pool. There is an increased number of radioresistant forms with intensified production of catalase and nuclease. Supposedly, presence of these enzymes gives to the microbes certain advances to survive in high-radiation zones.     

THE ZOOSPORE OF CHLOROKYBUS ATMOPHYTICUS,A CHAROPHYTE WITH SARCINOID GROWTH HABIT

Chlorokybus atmophyticus has a sarcinoid growth habit and produces scale-covered zoospores. Flagella are laterally inserted and attached internally to a multilayered structure characteristic of the Charophyceae. There are two kinds of pyrenoid in each cell, a feature previously observed in only one scaly green flagellate. C. atmophyticus demonstrates that the sarcinoid growth habit arose independently at least twice in the green algae and cannot be used to define taxonomic groups unless combined with other criteria. It is further concluded that C. atmophyticus should be classified in a separate family Chlorokybaceae and a separate order Chloroky bales.     

Effect of IL-2 in vitro on CTL generation in spleen cells of young and old mice: asialo GM1+ cells are required for the apparent restoration of the CTL response

The role of asialo GM1+ (ASGM1+) cells and exogenous IL-2 in the age-related decline in allospecific CTL activity was evaluated. Primary CTL were generated in mixed leukocyte culture (MLC) [BALB/cANN (H-2d) anti C57BL/6N (H-2b)] and tested for allospecific lytic activity against the EL-4 (H-2b) cell culture line, and for non-MHC-restricted activity against WEHI-3 (H-2d) and YAC-1 (H-2a). Cultures included responder cell populations which had been treated with antibody to ASGM1 plus complement or complement alone, and irradiated stimulator cells, in the presence or absence of rIL-2 or crude IL-2-containing supernatants. The amount of rIL-2 used to accommodate the age-related decline in IL-2 production was determined empirically to be 500 U by assessing IL-2 production in MLCs containing responder cells from young versus old animals. rIL-2 appeared to restore the allospecific CTL activity generated by spleen cells of old mice to the level of that of young. However, treatment with anti-ASGM1 antibody revealed that this restoration was due to an effect of the IL-2 on ASGM1+ cells. The allospecific target cells, EL-4, were not sensitive to lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells induced by IL-2 alone under the conditions used. It is suggested that the apparent restoration was due to increased LAK-like (or MHC-nonrestricted) activity mediated by an ASGM1+ cell in the CTL precursor population.     

Retrovirus-mediated immunosuppression. II. FeLV-UV alters in vitro murine T lymphocyte behavior by reversibly impairing lymphokine secretion

Murine splenocytes and cloned murine T cells were used to study the in vitro immunosuppressive effects of UV-inactivated feline leukemia virus (FeLV-UV) on lymphokine secretion. FeLV-UV can significantly depress the accumulation of IL 2 in cultures of Con A-stimulated C57BL/6 splenocytes and in cultures containing the alloreactive helper T cell clone B6D/2-2m plus Con A. Inhibition of lymphokine accumulation in these cultures could not be attributed to absorption or inactivation of IL 2 by the FeLV-UV or to the FeLV-UV-induced production of substances which interfere with the IL 2 bioassay. Thus, FeLV-UV appears to block production and/or secretion of IL 2 by a direct inhibitory effect on IL 2-secreting murine T lymphocytes. Additional studies indicate that FeLV-UV impairs IL 2 production only if added very soon after lymphocyte contact with lymphokine-inducing agents and that IL 2 secretion resumes when FeLV-UV is removed from the culture. FeLV-UV also impairs accumulation of MAF (interferon-gamma?) in cultures of Con A-stimulated C57BL/6 splenocytes and in cultures containing the alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocyte clone B6D/2-7c plus Con A. The latter observation again suggests that FeLV-UV impairs lymphokine secretion by a direct effect on lymphokine-producing T lymphocytes. Furthermore, it suggests that FeLV-UV does not selectively impair production of IL 2 nor does it have selective inhibitory effects on helper T cells. Rather, FeLV-UV appears to have a general inhibitory effect on lymphokine production by T lymphocytes. Finally, concentrations of FeLV-UV which suppress MAF production by the CTL clone have little influence on the cytolysis mediated by the same cloned T cell population. Thus, the immunosuppressive influence of FeLV-UV is selective for phenomena associated with induction of new T lymphocyte functions, such as lymphokine secretion, and spares other immune functions already expressed by the same cells.     

Inhibitors of DNA synthesis (aphidicolin and araC/HU) prevent the recovery of RNA synthesis after UV-irradiation

UV-irradiation causes an immediate depression in the rate of RNA synthesis in human skin fibroblasts. RNA synthesis rates recover to greater than or equal to 90% of unirradiated levels within 90 min in normal cells. This recovery can be prevented by incubating the cells after irradiation with araC/HU or aphidicolin, potent inhibitors of DNA replication and excision repair. The effect of these inhibitors on the recovery of RNA synthesis can also be observed in non-dividing cells; it is thus independent of their effects on DNA replication.     

Correlation between the rate of ethanol elimination and the psychophysiological characteristics of rats

Ethanol elimination from the blood of rats with different psychophysiological features was studied using gas chromatographic head-space analysis in the general complex of tests aimed at determination of ethanol consumption. The selection of animals with different levels of the initial alcohol motivation was performed according to modified Porsolt's method. It was shown that the initial level of predisposition to depression-like states is in a dose-dependent correlation with the high rate of ethanol elimination. This is suggested to be one of the genetic indications which promotes the formation of the initial alcohol motivation and the development of experimental alcoholism.