Lipid peroxidation is a consequence of elicitor activity

Elicitor-active preparations from the fungal pathogen of bean Colletotrichum lindemuthianum stimulated the accumulation of products characteristic of lipid peroxidation in treated bean tissues. Bean suspension cells treated with crude and purified elicitors accumulated `lipofuscin-like pigment' (LEP) and malondialdehyde. The accumulation of LFP after about 6 h of treatment coincided with the onset of visible browning and production of the bean phytoalexins kievitone, phaseollin, and phaseollinisoflavan. The induction of phytoalexins and accumulation of LFP were also triggered by treatments with generators of activated oxygen species, xanthine:xanthine oxidase and Fe:ethylenediaminedi-o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. These data suggest that generation of active oxygen species may be involved in lipid peroxidation triggered by elicitors.     

Mouse Chromosome 7

Chair of Committee for Mouse Chromosome 7     

Different oligosaccharides accumulate in the brain and urine of a cat with α-mannosidosis: structure determination of five brain-derived and seventeen urinary oligosaccharides

Five brain-derived and 17 urinary oligomannose-type oligosaccharides were isolated by ion-exchange chromatography on Mono Q or Dowex, followed by HPLC on Lichrosorb-NH₂ from a Persian cat suffering from -mannosidosis. The structures ofthe carbohydrate chains were determined by 500- or 600-MHz¹H-NMR spectroscopy. Different oligosaccharide patterns were found in brain and urine. 99% of the urinary oligosaccharides possess an (1-6)-linked mannose residue attached to -mannose, whereas only 5% of the brain-derived oligosaccharides contain such a residue. Furthermore, of the urinary carbohydrate chains 71% end with Man1-4GlcNAc1-4GlcNAc and 29% end with Man1-4GlcNAc, whereas the corresponding amounts are 23% and 77%, respectively, for the brain-derived oligosaccharides.Abbreviations MLEV-17 composite pulse devised by M. Levitt - HOHAHA homonuclear Hartman-Hahn spectroscopy - TPPI time-proportional phase incrementation - 2D two dimensional - GlcNAc N-acetylglucosamine - Man mannose - Fuc fucose     

Modulation of the beta-adrenergic response in cultured rat heart cells

Incubation of rocker-cultured neonatal rat heart cells with 3 mM L(+)-lactate led to a sharp increase in the sensitivity of cardiomyocytes to the beta-adrenergic agonist isoprenaline, as measured by their chronotropic response. This effect was accompanied by a reduction in the arachidonic acid content of the total phospholipids. The phospholipase A₂-activator melittin as well as free arachidonic acid induced this supersensitivity to the same degree. On the other hand, the L(+)-lactate-evoked supersensitivity could be blocked by the phospholipase A₂ inhibitors mepacrine and n-bromophenacyl-bromide, suggesting an involvement of phospholipase A₂ in the process of beta-adrenergic sensitization. The sensitizing action of arachidonic acid was blocked by the lipoxygenase inhibitors esculetin and nordihydroguaiaretic acid, but not by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. Supersensitivity was likewise evoked by 15-S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-S-HETE), but not by 5-S-HPETE or 5-S-HETE. These findings suggest that the phospholipase A₂-15-lipoxygenase pathway plays a role in the induction of beta-adrenergic supersensitivity in the cultured cardiomyocytes and point to a new physiological role of the lipoxygenase product 15-S-HETE.Abbreviations NDGA nordihydroguaiaretic acid - HETE hydroeicosatetraenoic acid - HPETE hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid     

Differential response of Trifolium species to 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)butyric acid treatments

The differential response of white clover ( Trifolium repens L. cv. Regal Ladino) and berseem clover ( Trifolium alexandrinum L. cv. Mississippi ecotype) was investigated by treating greenhouse cultured plants with 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)butyric acid (2,4-DB). Berseem clover plants were significantly injured by a treatment concentration of 0.6 kg ha^-1 of 2,4-DB, whereas white clover plants were not injured by treatment levels below 2.4 kg ha^-1. The metabolism of 2,4-DB in cell suspension cultures of white clover and berseem clover was investigated using [ring-¹⁴C]-2,4-DB and non-labeled 2,4-DB. White clover cell cultures metabolized ca 4-fold more 2,4-DB than berseem cultures over a 44-h treatment period. The decrease in berseem cell population was 4-fold greater than the decrease in white clover cell population in response to the 8 μ M 2,4-DB treatment. The herbicide and its [ring-¹⁴C]-labeled metabolites were isolated from treated cells and medium after 44 h by partition and thin-layer chromatography. White clover cells metabolized 90% of the [¹⁴C]-2,4-DB and berseem clover cells metabolized 22% of the herbicide. The major portion of the radiolabel was in the glycoside fractions from extracts of both species. The differential response of Trifolium species to 2,4-DB is implied to be due to the differential rate of 2,4-DB metabolism to a glycoside by the clover plants.     

Comparative bioenergetics of permanent and temporary pond populations of the freshwater clam,Musculium partumeium (Say)

The population energetics of a temporary and a permanent pond population of Musculium partumeium in Southwest Ohio were studied. In the permanent pond (surface area = 396 m², maximum depth = 0.7 m) the population was bivoltine and iteroparous whereas in the temporary pond (surface area = 1042 m², maximum depth = 0.9 m) the population was usually univoltine and semelparous.Growth and biomass were assessed as total organic carbon and total nitrogen to provide estimates of productivity and seasonal changes in C:N for each generation. Productivity (non-respired assimilation = growth + reproduction; N-R.A. = G + R) was 6939 mgC·m^–2·a^–1 (3858 and 3353 mgC·m^–2·a^–1 for each generation) and 1661 mgC·m^–2·a^–1 for the permanent and temporary pond populations respectively. The average standing crop biomass (B) was 606.8 mgC·m^–2 (357.5 and 249.3 mgC·m^–2 for each generation) and 231.9 mgC·m^–2 with overall productivity: biomass ratios of 11.4 and 7.2 for the permanent pond and temporary pond populations respectively.Respiration rates were converted to carbon equivalents (respired assimilation = R.A.) and used to evaluate the components of total assimilation (T.A. = R.A. + N-R.A.) and the efficiency of partitioning this energy to N-R.A. for G and R. When expressed as a percentage, the production efficiencies (100 × N-R.A.:T.A.) were 50.4 and 62%, and the reproductive efficiencies (100 × R:N-R.A.) were 26.4 and 18% for the permanent and temporary pond populations respectively. The reproductive efficiencies for populations of these viviparous clams are greater than those for most oviparous molluscs.The comparative information on the energetics of these populations does not completely fit any theoretical consideration of reproductive effort or life-history strategy. These data are discussed in relation to selection for population success in temporary ponds.Funded in part by grants to Albert J. Burky from the Ohio Biological Survey and the University of Dayton Research CouncilFunded in part by grants to Albert J. Burky from the Ohio Biological Survey and the University of Dayton Research Council     

Effects of particle concentration and season on the filtration rates of the freshwater clam,Sphaerium striatinum Lamarck (Bivalvia: Pisidiidae)

The effects of particle concentration and season on the filtration rates of the freshwater clamSphaerium striatinum Lamarck were assessed by measuring clearance rates of small (2.02 μm) latex beads from dilute suspensions. Filtration rates decreased as particle concentration increased over a range of 2–64 mg 1⁻¹, with rates decreasing in similar proportion for clams of all sizes. For a 1-mg clam, rates decreased from approximately 8.4 to 0.57 ml clam⁻¹ h⁻¹. Seasonal filtration rates for adult clams peaked during periods of greatest reproduction. The patterns for smaller clams are similar, though proportional changes in filtration rates differ for various sizes of clams. It is estimated that clams occupying 1 m² of stream substrate removed about 3.67 gCa⁻¹. This is equivalent to 0.0004% of the carbon that flows past them annually. Filter-feeding provided only 24% of the calculated energy needs of the population, suggesting that another mode of feeding (e.g. deposit-feeding) may provide an important energy source for these forms. Funded in part by a grant-in-aid to D. J. Hornbach from Sigma-Xi, The Research Society. Funded in part by a grant-in-aid to D. J. Hornbach from Sigma-Xi, The Research Society.     

Relationship of thyrotropin-releasing hormone-induced spike and plateau phases in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations to hormone secretion. Selective blockade using ionomycin and nifedipine

In clonal rat pituitary cells (GH cells), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) induced a pattern of changes in cytosolic free calcium concentrations [( Ca2+]i) composed of two phases: an acute spike phase to micromolar levels which decayed (t1/2 = 8 s) to a near-basal concentration and then rose to a prolonged plateau phase of elevated [Ca2+]i (as measured using Quin 2). Closely following these changes in [Ca2+]i, TRH stimulated a rapid "spike phase" of pronounced, but brief, enhancement of the rate of prolactin and growth-hormone secretion and then a "plateau phase" of prolonged enhancement. These two phases were dissociated using two classes of pharmacologic agents: the ionophore ionomycin, and a calcium channel antagonist nifedipine. Ionomycin (100 nM) specifically blocked (less than 90%) the spike phase of TRH action by rapidly emptying the TRH-regulated reservoir of cellular Ca2+ to generate a TRH-like spike in [Ca2+]i; nifedipine inhibited (less than 50%) the plateau phase of TRH-induced changes in [Ca2+]i and hormone secretion by preventing Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. These agents demonstrated that the TRH-induced spike in [Ca2+]i in GH cells is caused by release of an ionomycin-sensitive pool of cellular Ca2+ with a small component (10%) due to influx of extracellular Ca2+. The TRH-induced plateau in [Ca2+]i is due to influx of extracellular Ca2+, about half of which enters through voltage-dependent calcium channels and half of which enters via nifedipine/verapamil-insensitive influx. The TRH-induced spike in [Ca2+]i led to a burst in hormone secretion, and the plateau in [Ca2+]i produced a prolonged enhancement of secretion; the spike and plateau phases were generated independently by TRH. A spike in [Ca2+]i is necessary, but not sufficient, to induce burst release of hormone, while the prolonged rate of hormone secretion is intimately related to the steady-state [Ca2+]i.     

Continuity of arterial and venous extra-alveolar interstitium in excised rabbit lungs

We studied the interdependence of arterial and venous extra-alveolar vessel (EAV) leakage on the rate of pulmonary vascular fluid filtration (measured as the change in lung weight over time). Edema was produced in continually weighed, excised rabbit lungs kept in zone 1 (alveolar pressure = 25 cmH2O) by increasing pulmonary arterial (Ppa) and/or venous (Ppv) pressure from 5 to 20 cmH2O (relative to the lung base) and continuing this hydrostatic stress for 3-5 h. Raising Ppa and Ppv simultaneously produced a lower filtration rate than the sum of the filtration rates obtained when Ppa and Ppv were raised separately, while the lung gained from 20 to 95% of its initial weight. When vascular pressure was elevated in either EAV segment, fluid filtration always decreased rapidly as the lung gained up to 30-45% of its initial weight. Filtration then decreased more slowly. The lungs became isogravimetric at 60 and 85% weight gain when the Ppa or Ppv was elevated, respectively; when Ppa and Ppv were raised simultaneously substantial fluid filtration continued even after 140% weight gain. We conclude that the arterial and venous EAV's share a common interstitium in the zone 1 condition, this interstitium cannot be represented as a single compartment with a fixed resistance and compliance, and arterial and venous EAV leakage influences leakage from the other segment.