A peculiar mode of formation of the surface lining layer in the lungs of Salamandra salamandra

The pneumocytes of the larva of Salamandra salamandra contain numerous lamellar bodies and their precursors: electron-dense bodies at various stages of development. Both lamellar bodies and electron-dense bodies occur inside the fluid-filled lung. The former are spherical or bell-shaped and possess concentrically arranged smooth membranes, 8 nm thick; the latter have paracrystalline cores composed of alternately oriented clear and dark striations (3.6–3.9 nm and 2.6–3.6 nm, respectively). On all sides such cores separate membranes, which assume a concentric orientation. No tubular myelin was observed in any phase of the transformation of lamellar bodies and electron-dense bodies into the surface lining layer. Fixation of the lungs of adult individuals with tannic acid-containing fixative visualized the surface lining layer, but not tubular myelin.     

Immunological and cytochemical indices of white blood cells in old age

The group of aged subjects being 66 to 97 years old was compared with the middle-age group with regard to various immunological and cytochemical indices related to lymphocytes and neutrophils. The aged showed a lowered count and percentage of T cells, increased count and percentage of "non-B, non-T" lymphocytes, increased percentage of B cells. These alterations in the composition of lymphocyte subpopulation were associated with characteristic patterns of damage affecting the enzyme-positive lysosomal apparatus of lymphocytes with regard to acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase. There was a hundredfold smaller number of cells having intact enzyme-positive lysosomes in the aged than in the group of comparison. The changes mentioned above were also associated with the intracellular accumulation of glycogen in lymphocytes, decreased concentration of IgG and IgM in the serum and various changes in IgA concentration. Neutrophils of the aged were fewer in the blood of the aged than in younger subjects. However, an increased activity of myeloperoxidase, alkaline phosphatase, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, and an increased content of glycogen and lipids could be found in these cells. NBT-positive neutrophil numbers in the aged were lowered if the stimulated test was used and if there were no changes of the spontaneous test.     

Studies on dehydro-l-ascorbic acid 2-arylhydrazone 3-oximes: Conversion into substituted triazoles and isoxazolines

l-threo-2,3-Hexodiulosono-1,4-lactone 2-(arylhydrazones) (2) were prepared by condensation of dehydro-l-ascorbic acid with various arylhydrazines. Reaction of 2 with hydroxylamine gave the 2-(arylhydrazone) 3-oximes (3). On boiling with acetic anhydride, 3 gave 2-aryl-4-(2,3-di-O-acetyl-l-threo-glycerol-l-yl)-1,2,3-triazole-5-carboxylic acid 5,4¹-lactones (4). On treatment of 4 with liquid ammonia, 2-aryl-4-(l-threo-glycerol-l-yl)-1,2,3-triazole-5-carboxamides (5) were obtained. Acetylation of 5 with acetic anhydride-pyridine gave the triacetates, and vigorous acetylation with boiling acetic anhydride gave the tetraacetyl derivatives. Periodate oxidation of 5 gave the 2-aryl-4-formyl-1,2,3-triazole-5-carboxamides (8), and, on reduction, 8 gave the 2-aryl-4-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,3-triazole-5-carboxamides, characterized as the monoacetates and diacetates. Controlled reaction of 2 with sodium hydroxide, followed by neutralization, gave 3-(l-threo-glycerol-l-yl)-4,5-isoxazolinedione 4-(arylhydrazones), characterized by their triacetates. Reaction of 2 with HBr-HOAc gave 5-O-acetyl-6-bromo-6-deoxy-l-threo-2,3-hexodiulosono-1,4-lactone 2-(arylhydrazones); these were converted into 4-(2-O-acetyl-3-bromo-3-deoxy-l-threo-glycerol-l-yl)-2-aryl-1,2,3-triazole-5-carboxylic acid 5,4¹-lactones on treatment with acetic anhydride-pyridine.