Social stimulation and the resumption of copulation in Rhesus (Macaca mulatto) and stumptail (Macaca arctoides) Macaques

Copulatory data derived from observations of social groups of rhesus and stumptail macaques were analyzed to test the hypothesis that pairs of animals would resume copulation significantly sooner if a second male copulated with the female shortly after the first male’s ejaculation. Data from both groups supported the hypothesis. These results, extending previous studies in Macaca nemestrina,suggest that the shortening of copulatory intervals by social stimuli occurs in several species, both in social groups and in experimentally created triads. These findings also are consistent with the hypothesis that socially mediated resumption of mating is related to intrasexual competition among males.     

Nucleotide sequences of transfer RNA genes in the Pisum sativum chloroplast DNA

Summary Eight transfer RNA (tRNA) genes which were previously mapped to five regions of the Pisum sativum (pea) chloroplast DNA (ctDNA) have been sequenced. They have been identified as tRNA^Val(GAC), tRNA^Asn(GUU), tRNA^Arg(ACG), tRNA^Leu(CAA), tRNA^Tyr(GUA), tRNA^Glu(UUC), tRNA^His(GUG), and tRNA^Arg(UCU) by their anticodons and by their similarity to other previously identified tRNA genes from the chloroplast DNAs of higher plants or from E. gracilis. In addition,two other tRNA genes, tRNA^Gly (UCC) and tRNA^Ile(GAU), have been partially sequenced. The tRNA genes are compared to other known chloroplast tRNA genes from higher plants and are found to be 90–100% homologous. In addition there are similarities in the overall arrangement of the individual genes between different plants. The 5 flanking regions and the internal sequences of tRNA genes have been studied for conserved regions and consensus sequences. Two unusual features have been found: there is an apparent intron in the D-loop of the tRNA^Gly(UCC), and the tRNA^Glu(UUC) contains GATTC in its T-loop.     

Noncyclic electron transport in chromatophores from photolithotrophically grown Rhodobacter sulfidophilus

Chromatophores isolated from the marine phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter sulfidophilus were found to photoreduce NAD with sulfide as the electron donor. The apparent K _m for sulfide was 370 M and the optimal pH was 7.0. The rate of NAD photoreduction in chromatophore suspensions with sulfide as the electron donor (about 7–12 M/h·mol Bchl) was approximately onetenth the rate of sulfide oxidation in whole cell suspensions. NAD photoreduction was inhibited by rotenone, carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone, and antimycin A. Sulfide reduced ubiquinone in the dark when added to anaerobic chromatophore suspensions. These results suggest that electron transport from sulfide to NAD involves an initial dark reduction of ubiquinone followed by reverse electron transport from ubiquinol to NAD mediated by NADH dehydrogenase.Abbreviations Bchl bacteriochlorophyll - CCCP carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone - MOPS 3(N-morpholino)-propane sulfonate - Uq ubiquinone     

Variations in the response of salt-stressed Rhizobium strains to betaines

A total of 15 rhizobial strains representing Rhizobium meliloti, Rhizobium japonicum, Rhizobium trifolii, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Rhizobium sp. (Sesbania rostrata) and Rhizobium sp. (Hedysarum coronarium), were studied with regard to growth rate under salt stress in defined liquid media. In the presence of inhibitory concentrations of NaCl, enhancement of growth resulting from added glycine betaine was observed for R. meliloti strains and Rhizobium sp. (Hedysarum coronarium) but not for other Rhizobium species. The concentration of glycine betaine required for maximal growth stimulation was very low (1 mM) in comparison with the osmolarity of the medium. The stimulation was shown to be independent of any specific solutes. Other related compounds like proline betaine, carnitine, choline, -butyrobetaine and pipecolate betaine were also effective compounds in restoring the growth rate of cells grown in medium of elevated osmolarity. High rate of glycine betaine uptake was demonstrated in R. meliloti cells grown in media of increased osmotic strength. The intracellular concentration of this solute was found to be 308 mM in 0.3 M NaCl-grown cells and 17 times lower in minimal medium-grown cells. Glycine betaine was used for growth under conditions of low osmolarity but could not serve as sole carbon or nitrogen source in medium of increased osmotic strength. Experiments with [¹⁴C]glycine betaine showed that this molecule was not metabolized by cells subjected to osmotic stress, whereas it was rapidly converted to dimethylglycine, sarcosine and glycine in minimal medium-grown cells.Abbreviations LAS lactate-aspartate-salts - LGS lactate-glutamate-salts - LS lactate-succinate - MSY mannitol-salts-yeast - YLS yeast-lactate-succinate     

Kinetic and Physical Studies of Cell Death Induced By Chemotherapeutic Agents Or Hyperthermia

The kinetics of three physical parameters: cell density, relative cytoplasmic viscosity and DNA stability to denaturation have been measured during the period preceding cell death induced by hyperthermia, methylprednisolone and a series of cancer chemotherapeutic agents. This series of measurements employed cultured human lymphoblastoid cells as an experimental system to establish the changes that can be observed in the early stages of cell death, prior to applying such measurements to tissue biopsies from solid human tumours. Cell death, induced by hyperthermia up to 43°C, methylprednisolone, vincristine, 5-fluorouracil, BCNU and melphalan, showed essentially identical and reproducible changes corresponding to those which characterize programmed cell death (apoptosis). Such changes could also be observed following hyperthermia above 43°C, but reproducibility was poor and increasing damage to the cell membranes was evident. In cells treated with adriamycin or methotrexate, cell sub-populations showing an increase in cell density were not detected. Measurements of DNA stability were readily performed by flow cytofluorometry thus allowing rapid quantitation of the fraction of cells in the early stages of cell death. Modified flow cytometric instrumentation would further allow measurement of cytoplastic viscosity as an additional parameter to indicate entry into programmed cell death. This suggests that these measurements could readily be applied to cell suspensions derived from tumour tissue biopsies for a more accurate assessment of tumour growth rate, and to allow monitoring of response to therapy in sequential tumour biopsies.     

Genetic Analysis of Murine Arylsulfatase C and Steroid Sulfatase

SWR/J mice possess two- to threefold higher 4-methylumbelliferyl sulfate (4MUS), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and estrone sulfate (E1S) sulfatase activities in liver and kidney extracts than do A/J mice. These interstrain activity differences are maintained throughout the 6- to 45-day postnatal period. Characteristics of the hepatic activities of SWR/J mice suggest that all three activities reside in the same enzyme. Biochemical properties of the SWR/J and A/J enzyme were not significantly different. Expression of hepatic enzyme activity is subject to regulation by an autosomal locus possessing two alleles with additive effects. Postnuclear E1S- and DHEAS-sulfatase activities are primarily microsomal. Although postnuclear hepatic 4MUS-sulfatase activity is predominantly microsomal, renal activity is primarily nonmicrosomal. Only that portion of 4MUS-sulfatase occurring in cell membranes appears capable of hydrolyzing E1S and DHEAS. The hepatic- and renal-specific subcellular distributions of 4MUS-sulfatase activity may reflect tissue differences in enzyme processing. Renal 4MUS-sulfatase activity is also controlled by an autosomal gene with two alleles having additive effects. Positive correlation between hepatic and renal 4MUS-sulfatase activities indicates that both activities are most likely influenced by the same gene.     

Susceptibilities of Algae and Legionella pneumophila to Cooling Tower Biocides

Nine algal strains and nine Legionella pneumophila strains were tested in laboratory culture for their susceptibility to inhibition by a variety of commercially available microbiocides. The responses ranged from ineffective to effective at 1/100 the manufacturers' recommended pulse doses. Tests were also performed to determine whether the action of the microbiocide was bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal.     

Anti-striated muscle antibody activity produced by Trypanosoma cruzi

We have previously shown that Trypanosoma cruzi shares antigenic determinants with preparations of the calcium-sequestering adenosine triphosphatase of sarcoplasmic reticulum. The cross-reacting antigen (SRA) is also apparently present on the sarcolemma of cardiac myofibers. Using highly specific reference antisera to either the small membranes of T. cruzi or to a tryptic fragment of striated muscle SRA, it was shown that SRA is present in the striated muscle of animals representative of the evolutionary scale ranging from nonhuman primate to fish. The small membranes of nine different T. cruzi strains isolated from widely divergent areas of the American continents also reacted with the reference antisera. This indicates that SRA is present in these T. cruzi strains and may be prevalent among all T. cruzi strains. The shared T. cruzi-striated muscle antigen, SRA, may be a heteroantigen present in all T. cruzi strains and in the striated muscle of all classes of animals. Immunization of rabbits (three of five) or chickens (five pairs of five pairs) with striated muscle membrane preparations of different classes of animals, particularly those of nonhuman primate, chicken, and turtle, gave rise to IgG anti-allogeneic striated muscle antibody activity. Immunization of rabbits (four of nine) and chickens (five pairs of six pairs) with the small membranes of different T. cruzi strains also produced IgG anti-allogeneic striated muscle. These data indicate that T. cruzi shares cross-immunogenicity with striated muscle SRA. Since SRA is apparently present on the sarcolemma of cardiac myofibers, it may be implicated in the immunopathogenesis of Chagas' disease.     

Long-acting contraceptive agents: norethisterone esters of monoalkenyl and monoalkynyl acids

The synthesis of nine new esters of norethisterone (17 alpha-ethynyl-17 beta-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one) is described, with the esterifying acids bearing an acetylenic or olefinic function in a chain of eight or nine carbon atoms, for evaluation as long-acting contraceptive agents.     

Physiological changes in, and phosphate uptake by potato plants during development of, and recovery from phosphate deficiency

The development of phosphate deficiency (P-stress) was observed in rooted sprouts of Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Desiree growing in solutions without phosphate. Shoot growth was inhibited by P-stress within 3 to 5 days of terminating the phosphate supply, while significant effects on root growth were not recorded until 7 to 9 days. Thus, the shoot:root dry weight ratio decreased from 4.3 to 2.6 over a 10-day period. Growth in the absence of an exogenous phosphate supply progressively diluted the phosphorus in the plant. The proportional decrease in concentration was similar in roots and shoots over a 7-day period, even though the former were growing more quickly. The potential for phosphate uptake per unit weight of root increased rapidly during the first 3 days of P-stress. When the plants were provided subsequently with a labelled, 1 mol m^?3 phosphate solution, the absorption rate was 3 to 4-fold greater than that of control plants which had received a continuous phosphate supply. The increased rate of uptake by P-stressed plants was accounted for by an increase (3-fold) in the V_max of system 1 for phosphate transport and by a marked increase in the affinity of the system for phosphate (decrease in K_m). In the early stages of P-stress, before marked changes in growth were measured, the proportion of labelled phosphate translocated to the shoots increased slightly relative to the controls when a phosphate supply was restored. In the later stages of stress a greater proportion was retained in the root system of P-stressed plants than in that of controls. In plants with roots divided between solutions containing or lacking a phosphate supply, the increased absorption rate was determined by the general demand for phosphate in the plant and not by the P-status of the particular root where uptake was measured. By contrast, the poportion translocated was strongly dependent on the P-status of the root. The restoration of a phosphate supply to P-stressed plants was marked by a rapid increase in the P concentration in snoots and roots which returned to levels similar to unstressed controls within 24 h. The enhanced uptake rate persisted for at least 5 days, resulting in supra-normal concentrations of P in both shoots and roots, and in the formation of extensive necrotic areas between the veins of mature leaves. Autoradiographs showed accumulations of ³²P in these lesions and at the points where guttation droplets formed on leaves.