Secretion of alpha 1-antitrypsin by an established human hepatoma cell line and by human/mouse hybrids

The human hepatoma cell line SK-HEP-1 has been shown by radioimmunoelectrophoresis to synthesize and secrete a protein which coprecipitates with human alpha 1-antitrypsin. This protein was indistinguishable from serum alpha 1-antitrypsin in terms of electrophoretic mobility, apparent subunit molecular weight (47,000), and binding to concanavalin-A. The protein identified as alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1 AT) was secreted by seven clones derived from SK-HEP-1 and by twelve out of eighteen hybrid clones derived from the fusion of SK-HEP-1 with mouse RAG cells. There was no correlation between the expression of alpha 1 AT and that of human enzymes assigned to sixteen different autosomes. There was an imperfect correlation between the expression of alpha 1 AT and of the two chromosome 9 marker enzymes AK1 and AK3 (two discordant clones).     

Baroreflexes originated in vertebral artery zones upon peripheral vein tonus, systemic arterial blood pressure, and external respiration

The investigation was intended to study the role ofbaroreceptors ofhemodynamically isolated zone of vertebral arteries in regulation of peripheral veins tonus, arterial pressure and external respiration. Pressure decrease in this vascular reflexogenic zone led to reflex responses of increase in femoral vein tonus, elevation of blood pressure level and stimulation of external respiration. The opposite reflex responses of cardio-respiratory functional system to initial pressure activation of vertebral arteries baroreceptors are observed. Basing on generalization of our own findings and similar physiological and morphological researches of other authors, it is established that afferentation from the vertebral artery zone is a reflexogenic factor of somatic muscles' veins tonus regulation. These reflexes of capacity vessels tonic activity changes are part of cardio-respiratory responses of maintaining the tissue gaseous exchange.     

Kin groups in closely spaced capercaillie leks

We quantified the genetic structure among 58 capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) from three closely spaced leks in boreal Russia using ten microsatellite loci. We did not find significant structuring with respect to lek membership in an overall analysis. However, all but one individual could be strongly assigned to one of two genetic clusters, which we interpret as reflecting different local lineages or extended family groups. There was evidence for structuring among some clusters within leks, and one smaller lek consisted of nine out of ten males from one cluster, which could reflect kin biasing of lek membership. One cluster was apparently outperforming the other, since nine out of ten juveniles sampled belonged to it.     

Microbioluminescent study of the general toxicity and mutagenicity of pollutants

Bacterial bioluminescence was applied to detection of general toxicity (MIT test) and genotoxicity (SOS-lux test) of some chemicals, seawater, and fresh water. The SOS-induced luminescence of E. coli WP2s (cda::luxCDABE) cells was higher than in E. coli C 600 (cda::luxCDABE) at 37 degrees C and pH 6.5. The mutagenic effect of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), mitomycin C, and hydrogen peroxide determined from the induction of E. coli WP2s cell luminescence was detected at lower concentrations than in the assessment of reversion frequencies. General toxicity was demonstrated by using luminescence inhibition for hydrogen peroxide, Zn2+, and Cd2+ at low concentrations. Regions of the Krasnodar Krai where sea and fresh waters exerted toxic action on luminescence were determined by the microbioluminescent method.