Sex-related Resistance in Hamsters to Adenovirus-12 Oncogenesis II. Influence of Virus Dose

A significantly higher proportion of female hamsters developed tumors than did males given the same dose of adenovirus-12 (Huie) at birth over a dose range from 10(5.0) to 10(7.0)tcd(50) for human embryonic kidney cells. The 50% tumor dose (td(50)) was calculated to be 10(5.90)tcd(50) for females and 10(6.27) for males. Tumor response patterns induced with approximate td(50) inocula, 10(6.0) for females and 10(6.3) for males, were quite similar. The greater susceptibility of females was not found to be characteristic of a single strain of hamsters; nor was it attributable to a single lot of virus, to a single type of human cell used to produce the virus, nor to the degree of purification of the virus inoculum. The inoculation route did not appear to be of importance. Inasmuch as the foregoing extrinsic factors were of little influence, it was concluded that the mechanism is host-mediated, presumably hormonally controlled. The possibility that female cells, independent of host control, are more susceptible to adenovirus-12 oncogenesis than male cells has not been explored. Tumor regression occurred in 20% of the 211 tumors in males and in 15% of the 355 tumors in females. Adenovirus-12 T-antibody was detected in all but six of 473 sera tested from tumor-bearing hamsters and in 50% of 94 sera tested from non-tumor-bearing animals given virus at birth. Antibodies in the latter group were detected almost exclusively by indirect immunofluorescence. This technique appears to be extremely sensitive for detection of low levels of adeno-12 T-antibodies. The implications of T-antibody in nontumor-bearing virus-injected hamsters are discussed. Sera from normal hamsters were free of T-antibody.     

Genetic polymorphism of the human sex hormone-binding globulin: evidence of an isoelectric focusing variant with normal androgen-binding affinities

Human sex hormone-binding globulin (hSHBG) is a plasma glycoprotein composed of two identical subunits. The protein, which has high affinity for testosterone and estradiol has been purified to homogeneity. In this study we have investigated, on neuraminidase-treated serum samples, the presence of genetic variations of hSHBG by polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing (IEF). Based on IEF analyses of 110 serum samples from adult Mexican individuals we have identified two distinct IEF-patterns. The most frequent phenotype (95.45%) was characterized by two IEF-bands with pIs of 6.50 and 6.63, respectively. In five serum samples, a different 4-band pattern with pIs of 6.50, 6.63, 6.70 and 6.76 was identified. Family studies showed that this pattern was genetically determined. The frequency of this variant was 4.55%, and the observed phenotypes were consistent with the expression of an autosomal genetic system. The estimated gene frequencies for both alleles were shown to be in genetic equilibrium. Affinity constants, binding kinetics and serum concentrations of hSHBG from individuals having a 4-band pattern were similar to those obtained in individuals with a 2-band pattern, thus suggesting that the mechanism responsible for the generation of polymorphic variants of hSHBG reported herein did not involve the steroid binding site of the molecule. These findings may be of broad interest, as other serum binding proteins express genetic variants, which may permit their further structural and functional subclassification.     

Genetic structure of Glycine canescens,a perennial relative of soybean

Summary Allozyme variation as detected by starch gel electrophoresis was used to assess the extent and spatial organization of genetic variation across the entire range of Glycine canescens sensu lato. Eleven enzyme systems were assayed in 116 accessions of this taxon and 102 alleles were detected at a total of 31 loci. Eighty-one percent of loci were polymorphic. Most of this variation occurred between and very little within accessions. Three major groupings were detected. These groupings (groups 1, 2, and 3) also differed with respect to mean seed size and their geographic distribution. A further ten accessions stood out from these distinct groups. These accessions were most closely related to group 3 but were variable among themselves. In general, they were collected from highly dissected terrain, often in the remote interior of the continent. A final group of 18 problematic accessions (group X), originally tentatively identified as G. canescens on morphological grounds, was shown to be isozymically distinct from this species and was reclassified as one form of the polytypic species G. clandestina.     

Plant community structure in an oligohaline tidal marsh

An oligohaline tidal marsh on the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, LA was characterized with respect to the distributions and abundances of plant species over spatial and temporal gradients using Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA). In addition, the species distributions were correlated to several physical environmental factors using Detrended Canonical Correspondence Analysis (DCCA). The distributions of species were best correlated with distance from Lake Pontchartrain, and to a lesser extent with elevation and substrate organic matter. They were least correlated with mean soil salinity (referred to here as background salinity). Of the three mid-seasonal dominant species, the perennial grass, Spartina patens, is the most salt tolerant and was found closest to the lake. Further inland the dominant perennial was Sagittaria lancifolia, which has a salt tolerance less than that of Spartina patens. The perennial sedge, Cladium jamaicense, which is the least salt tolerant of the three, was dominant furthest inland. Background salinity levels were generally low (<5 ppt.) and did not explain species distributions. We hypothesize that the distribution of species is regulated by occasional storm-generated salt pulses that generate strong, short-lived salinity gradients as a function of distance from the lake. Biotic interactions likely also play a role in structuring the plant community. The distributions of several annuals depended on the size and life history of the mid-seasonal dominant perennials. Most of the annuals frequently co-occurred with Sagittaria lancifolia, which was the shortest in stature and had the least persistent canopy of the three mid-seasonal dominant perennials.Abbreviations DCA Detrended Correspondence Analysis - DCCA Detrended Canonical Correspondence Analysis     

A leaf disc method for measuring cuticular conductance

This paper describes a new method for the measurement of cuticularconductance (g_o;) using a leaf disc sealed in a specially-designedenvelope. Conductances for astomatous (adaxial) and stomatous(abaxial) surfaces of beech {Fagus sylvatica L.) were determinedfrom measurements of water flux. Leaf discs were punched outfrom attached leaves and placed inside individual envelopesthat provided a water supply. Water flux from an exposed epidermalsurface of the leaf discs was measured gravimetrically. Allmeasurements were made under darkness. Conductance of the adaxialsurface was referred to as g_c, whereas conductance of the abaxialsurface was considered as a minimum leaf surface conductance()- The main advantage of this method is that it enables measurement of g_c and from leaf samples with intact cuticles and a highrelative water content [RWC) for periods of up to 12 d. Conductancesof leaf discs in envelopes were compared with those of wholeleaves and leaf discs without envelopes. Data demonstratinga strong positive relationship between conductance and RWC ispresented. Key words: Cuticular conductance, leaf disc, relative water content