Variation in sensitivity of the cardiac glycoside receptor characteristics of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase to lipolysis and temperature.

1. The rate of binding of [3H]ouabain to untreated membrane preparations of [Na+ +K+]-ATPase is a timperature--dependent process displaying a thermal transition close to 25degreesC. The apparent energies of activation which can be calculated above and below this transition are similar to, but not identical with, those previously reported for activation of the enzyme by cations. 2. Treatment of the enzyme preparation with detergents or lipolysis with phospholipase A eliminates the thermal transition resulting in linear Arrhenius plots. 3. The number of sites available for [3H]ouabain binding is not temperature dependent as the amount of [3H]ouabain bound at equillbrium is not changed between 10 and 37 degrees C. 4. Treatment of the enzyme with phospholipase A results in time-dependent changes in the number of binding sites for [3H]ouabain at equilibrium. 5. Treatment of the membrane enzyme preparations with detergents reveals additional [3H]ouabain binding sites which are extremely sensitive to lipolysis with phospholipase A. 6. There are a number of [3H]ouabain binding sites which remain resistant to lipolysis by phospholipase A in either untreated or detergent-treated membrane preparations. 7. It is suggested that [3H]ouabain binding sites exist in the membrane in at least two different environments, one of which is resistant the other sensitive to attack by phopholipase A.     

A model of the spatial-temporal characteristics of the alpha rhythm

A linear spatially distributed model of a chain of neurons and interneurons was investigated in relation to the generation of propagated alpha rhythmic activity. It was assumed that the elements of the chain were interconnected by means of recurrent collaterals and inhibitory fibres in such a way that the connectivity functions were assumed to be homogeneous and their strength was an exponentially decreasing function of distance. It was found that such a neuronal chain shows propagation properties for frequencies in the alpha band. The results obtained with the model are in agreement with the phase velocities encountered experimentally. In this way, it was possible to estimate the length of the neural fibres responsible for the phenomenon of propagated activity. The estimates obtained are in good agreement with recent quantitative neuroanatomical data on the circuitry of the neocortex.     

Electrical activity in sympathetic fibres to hind limb muscles of the cat produced by hypothalamic stimulation

Electrical stimulation of the "Defence Area" of the hypothalamus in anaesthetized cats was accomplished by stereotaxic placement of bipolar stainless steel electrodes; the spinal cord was sectioned at L4. The muscle blood flow in one hind limb was recorded with an electromagnetic flowmeter. Increases of between 100% and 300% were observed during hypothalamic stimulation. Electroneurographic recordings from small nerve filaments supplying tibialis anterior muscle revealed two populations of neurones whose activity was abolished by lumbar sympathectomy. It appears that the increased blood flow in skeletal muscle during stimulation of the hypothalamic "Defence Area" is brought about by a simultaneous inhibition of vasoconstrictor activity and increase in cholinergic vasodilator discharge.     

Studies on the adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase of Blastocladiella emersonii

Using a combination of Chromatographic and sucrose density gradient techniques under carefully controlled conditions of pH and protease inhibitors, we demonstrate that there is only one form of adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase in the cytosol fraction of the Blastocladiella emersonii zoospore. If any of these conditions are omitted during extract preparation, one obtains what are apparently multiple forms of the enzyme, which are in reality artifacts due to extensive endogenous proteolytic activity. This endogenous protease is stimulated by alkaline pH and inhibited by antipain. The zoospore protein kinase is similar to type II protein kinase from mammalian cells in several aspects including Chromatographic behavior on DEAE-cellulose column, conditions for subunit dissociation and reassociation, as well as the molecular weight value of the regulatory subunit.     

Induction of ion transport in rat heart mitochondria by fluorescamine

This report describes experimental results which show that the fluorescent reagent fluorescamine induces mitochondrial energy-independent swelling when the incubation media contain the chloride salts of the cations Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+. The reaction depends on the concentration of the dye and is inhibited by Mg2+, and its extension is closely related to the amount of the primary amino groups titrated by fluorescamine. Analysis of the labeled inner membrane in polyacrylamide gel shows that the amount of aminofluorescamine complex is lower when mitochondria are in the presence of Mg2+.     

Growth and fermentation characteristics of new selected strains of Saccharomyces at high temperatures and high cell densities

Maintenance of high cell viability was the main characteristic of our new strains of thermotolerant Saccharomyces. Total sugar conversion to ethanol was observed for sugarcane juice fermentation at 38-40 degrees C in less than 10 h and without continuous aeration of the culture. Invertase activity differed among the selected strains and increased during fermentation but was not dependent on cell viability. Invertase activity of the cells and optimum temperature for growth, as well as velocity of ethanol formation, were dependent on medium composition and the type of strain used. At high sugarcane syrup concentrations, the best temperature for ethanol formation by strain 781 was 35 degrees C. Distinct differences among the velocities of ethanol production using selected strains were also observed in sugarcane syrup at 35-38 degrees C.     

Scanning electron microscopy of Setaria cervi adult male worms

Scanning electron microscopy studies of adult Setaria cervi male worms showed the presence of horn-like lateral appendages and characteristic striated bands on the ventral side of the tail. All other features were indistinguishable from other members of the genus Setaria.     

Effect of hydrogen sulfide on growth of sulfate reducing bacteria

A culture of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) growing on lactate and sulfate was incubated at different pH values in the range of 5.8-7.0. The effect of pH on growth rate was determined in this pH range; the highest growth rate was observed at pH 6.7. Hydrogen sulfide produced from sulfate reduction was found to have a direct and reversible toxicity effect on the SRB. A hydrogen sulfide Concentration of 547 mg/L (16.1 mM) completely inhibited the culture growth. Comparison between acetic acid and hydrogen sulfide inhibition is presented and the concomitant inhibition kinetics are mathematically described. (c) 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Immunocytochemical identification of neuroendocrine markers in human cardiac paraganglion — like structures

Summary Paraganglion-like structures (PLS) containing chromaffin-positive cells have been reported to be present in the adult human heart. The present work was initiated in order to evaluate the densitity of these structures in the interatrial septum and to study the presence of immunoreactivity of their cells to NSE and PGP 9,5 antibodies, two neuroendocrine markers. Six hundred 6-m paraffin serial sections were obtained from the upper third of the interatrial septum from six adult human hearts. From 2 to 12 paraganglia were found in each case, and their principal cells stained positively with NSE and PGP 9,5 antibodies. Depending on how these PLS related to other cardiac structures, four different types were identified: Type I — True paraganglia (located adjacent to ganglia or nerve fibers); Type II — Free paraganglia (immersed in the interatrial adipose tissue, without evident connection to other structures); Type III — Intraganglionic paraganglia (located within the nervous ganglia); Type IV — Intramyocardic paraganglia (small nests of immunoreactive cells closely related to myocardiocyte bundles). These cardiac paraganglia, which probably belong to the visceral-autonomic group, may have a role in the regulation of the cardiac function and in the adaptive mechanisms of the heart. Its is also possible that they originate functioning and non-functioning tumours.Work supported by grants from FINEP and CNPq (Brazil)