The interaction between walker tumour cells and mucosa cells in the lamina propria of gastric mucosa in rats

One series of 12 rats was exposed to X-irradiation (1500 R) of the stomach 19 days before implantation of Walker tumour cells in the gastric mucosa, and the frequency of tumour take and the extent of tumour growth after 10 days were compared with a second series with the same tumour implantation, but without X-ray exposure. In a third series simple gastric ulcers without tumour were produced by clamping the gastric wall with a heated (80 degrees) surgical needle holder, and the animals were killed 5-7 day later. All the rats were given injections of vinblastine sulfate 3 hours and of 3H-TDR 1 hour before sacrifice. In viewfields with diameter 180 mu the vinblastine-arrested mitoses and labelled cells on the tumour side of the tumour/mucosa border were calculated as percentages of all tumour cells. In the mucosa the total number of proliferating cells was counted at various distances from the border of the tumour or ulcer. No clear differences in the frequency of tumour take and the extent of tumour growth were found between the X-irradiated and the normal rat stomachs, and it is concluded that the X-ray exposure 3 weeks prior to tumour implantation did not reduce the normal mucosal resistance to tumour growth. The percentage of arrested mitoses and labelled cells in the tumour decreased one view field away from the mucosal border, and the number of proliferating cells in the mucosa bordering on the tumours showed a gradual fall with increasing distance up to 0.8-1.0 mm from the tumour border; within these distances, however, the numbers were much higher than at corresponding distances from edges of the ulcers. The Walker tumour thus seems to stimulate cell proliferation in mucosa to a much greater extent than a simple ulcer does. The causes of this phenomenon and the possible roles of "chalones" or "anti-chalones" are discussed.     

The dermatoglyphics of American Negroes

Digital and palmar dermatoglyphics of 184 male and 224 female normal American Negroes were evaluated for digital patterns, digital ridge counts, palmar patterns, palmar main line terminations, accessory triradii and palmar creases. All subjects were seven year olds examined and found free of chronic or other genetic diseases. The results were presented for the left and right hand for the most part comparable to those of the African and other American Negro groups reported earlier. The distributions of the various dermatoglyphic features among the Negroes taken as a group were compared to those of the other racial groups and their differences were discussed.     

Assessment of tibial stiffness by vibration testing in situ--I. Identification of mode shapes in different supporting conditions

Vibrational methods to monitor fracture healing, the BRA and the IFR, are compared under different supporting conditions, excitation technique and signal processing. Mode shapes are identified by modal analysis. A wet excised human tibia and an amputation specimen are investigated. Excitation technique and signal processing caused only minor differences in the resonance frequencies. The supporting conditions had an important influence on the single bending modes changing both mode-shapes and frequencies. Thus the BRA-splint imposed a node at the malleolus. Modal analysis revealed the following modes in the two supporting conditions: BRA-splint: A 'rigid body' mode of 165 Hz in the sagittal plane. A single bending mode of 315 Hz close to the sagittal plane. IFR-hanging leg: A 'rigid-body' mode of 167 Hz close to the sagittal plane. Two single bending modes ('free-free'), a mode of 303 Hz close to the frontal plane and a mode of 470 Hz in the sagittal plane.     

Characteristics of the menstrual cycle in nonhuman primates. II. Ovulation and optimal mating times in macaques.

An analysis of the results of 1,259 limited-duration matings was conducted on colonies of Macaca arctoides and M. fascicularis. Maximum conception occurred at a day of breeding/cycle length (DB/CL) ratio of 0.40--0.41 with a range of DB/CL ratios for successful matings from 0.39 to 0.44. These values are compared with published values for various endocrine parameters equated to cycle length.     

Ancient Cytokines,the Role of Astakines as Hematopoietic Growth Factors

Hematopoiesis is the process by which hemocytes mature and subsequently enter the circulation. Vertebrate prokineticins (PKs) are known to take part in this process, as are the invertebrate prokineticin domain proteins, astakines. In Pacifastacus leniusculus, astakine 1 is essential for the release of new hemocytes into the open circulatory system of these animals. In addition to astakine 1, we have now cloned a homologue of astakine 1 with an insert of 13 amino acids, named as astakine 2. Both crustacean astakines lack the N-terminal AVIT motif, which is present in vertebrate PKs, and hence receptor binding differs from that of vertebrate PKs. We have found astakine-like sequences in 19 different invertebrate species, and the sequences show that some motifs are conserved among invertebrate groups. Previously we showed that astakine 1 is directly involved in hematopoiesis, and now we show that astakine 1 and astakine 2 have different roles in hemocyte lineage differentiation. Astakine 1 can stimulate proliferation of hematopoietic tissue (Hpt) cells (precursor of hemocytes) as well as specifically induce differentiation of Hpt cells along the semigranular cell lineage, whereas astakine 2 plays a role in granular cell differentiation. Moreover, we discuss the impact of the putative structures of different astakines in comparison with the vertebrate prokineticins.     

Feinstruktur der Protonephridien von Paromalostomum proceracauda (Plathelminthes,Macrostomida)

Zusammenfassung Die Protonephridien von Paromalostomum proceracauda bestehen aus je einem Terminalkomplex und einem ausleitenden Kanal. Jeder Terminalkomplex setzt sich aus drei multiciliären Terminalzellen mit jeweils separatem Filtrationsapparat zusammen; die Zellen sind gestaffelt hintereinander angeordnet und bilden ein gemeinsames Reusenlumen. Der Nephridialkanal, der nicht an der Ultrafiltration, sondern nur an Resorptionsvorgängen beteiligt ist, besteht aus mindestens zwei röhrenförmigen, hintereinander liegenden ciliären Zellen. Die jeweils letzte Kanalzelle bildet auch den Nephridialporus. Proximal sind die Protonephridien bis zur Basis der Epidermis vollständig von einer interzellulären Matrix umhüllt.

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Fine structure of the protonephridia of Paromalostomum proceracauda (Plathelminthes, Macrostomida)

Summary The protonephridia of Paromalostomum proceracaud consist, respectively, of a terminal complex and a draining canal. Each terminal complex is composed of three multiciliary terminal cells with separate filtration apparatuses; the cells are staggered, forming a joint basket lumen. The nephridial canal consists of two or more tube-shaped ciliary cells, which are arranged in series; these cells do not participate in ultrafiltration but in resorption processes. The last canal cell also forms the nephroporus. Up to the epidermis, the protonephridia are proximally surrounded by an intercellular matrix.

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Abkürzungen cw Cilienwurzel - ep Epidermiszelle - i Interzellularsubstanz - k Kanalzelle - kl Kanallumen - l Leptotrichien - m Muskulatur des Hautmuskelschlauches - n Kern einer Terminaloder Kanalzelle - r Reusenapparat - rl Reusenlumen - rs Reusenstab - t1, 2, 3 Terminalzelle 1, 2, 3 - v Vakuole