The distribution of glucose and [14C]glucose between erythrocytes and plasma in the rat

1. Of the glucose in rat blood 79.8+/-3.3% (s.d.) was in the plasma. The variance was mostly due to differences between rats. 2. The concentration of glucose in erythrocyte water was 51+/-8% (s.d.) of that in plasma water. 3. The ratio (specific radioactivity in plasma)/(specific radioactivity in whole blood), i.e. the P/B ratio, was estimated for glucose at intervals after intravenous injection of [U-(14)C]glucose and [U-(14)C]fructose. The ratio differed from unity by more than the standard error of a single determination of the specific radioactivity of blood or plasma glucose except from 10 to 17min. after injection of [(14)C]glucose and from 22 to 30min. after injection of [(14)C]fructose. At all other times specific radioactivities in blood had to be corrected to give specific radioactivities in plasma. How to do so is described. 4. The P/B ratios were accounted for by a turnover of glucose in erythrocytes of 0.14mumole/min./ml. of erythrocytes. 5. Metabolism of glucose in rat erythrocytes is unlikely to be a major source of lactate.     

Ultrastructural observations on the kinetosomes,and Golgi bodies during the asexual life cycle ofSaprolegnia

Summary At the onset of zoospore cleavage the centrioles ofSaprolegnia ferax reorientate, develop into kinetosomes and become associated with microtubular roots and a striate fibre. After cytoplasmic cleavage a flagellum, with a hitherto undescribed transition zone structure, develops from each kinetosome. Flagellum axonemes occur inside recently encysted primary spores. In vegetative hyphae and germinating cysts most recognizable Golgi bodies are characteristically associated with a cisternum of the endoplasmic reticulum and a mitochondrion but during sporogenesis they all lie adjacent to nuclei where they are apparently active in vesicle production. The structural details of these changes are described and their significance discussed. We wish to acknowledge the numerous helpful discussions with Dr. J. L. Gay. The senior author held a S.R.C. studentship during the course of this work, part of which was submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Ph. D. at the University of London.     

Compartmentation between glycolysis and gluconeogenesis in rat liver

1. The specific radioactivity-time relationships of glucose, glucose 6-phosphate, glycerol 1-phosphate and UDP-glucose were determined in rat liver after the intravenous injection of [U-(14)C]fructose, and a kinetic analysis was carried out. The glucose 6-phosphate pool was found to be compartmented into gluconeogenic and glycolytic components, and evidence was obtained that the triose phosphates were similarly compartmented. The glycolytic pathway was fed by glycogenolysis and glucose phosphorylation. There was no direct evidence that glycogenolysis fed only the glycolytic pathway, but this interpretation would make the liver resemble other organs in this respect. 2. UDP-glucose was not formed solely from gluconeogenic glucose 6-phosphate, as there was some dilution of label in the intervening glucose 1-phosphate pool, probably from glycogenolysis, though other pathways cannot be excluded. 3. The data cannot be explained by isotopic exchange.     

Endotheliochorial Placentation in a Pangolin,Manis tetradactyla

The placenta of a pangolin, Manis tetradactyla, was examined grossly and histologically. The placenta was arranged in longitudinal bands of 2–3 mm width. Microscopically there was a deep labyrinth and an underlying layer of distended endometrial glands. A narrow junctional zone was present containing syncytiotrophoblast. Thoughout the labyrinth cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast were observed in contact with maternal capillaries. The placentation was considered to be endotheliochorial in type.     

Effect of long-term hypophysectomy on ovarian follicle populations and gonadotrophin-induced adenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate output by follicles from Booroola ewes with or without the F gene

Long-term (i.e. approximately 70 days) hypophysectomy led to a significant (P less than 0.05) reduction in ovarian weight but no reduction in the total number of antral follicles (greater than 0.1 mm in diameter). In hypophysectomized ++ Booroola ewes (N = 8) follicles were always less than or equal to 3 mm and in hypophysectomized FF Booroola ewes (N = 6) follicles were always less than or equal to 2 mm in diameter; in ewes of both genotypes follicles reached diameters which were approximately 40% of their predicted final size at ovulation. Under in-vitro conditions, follicles from the FF and ++ hypophysectomized ewes produced significant increases in cAMP within 1 h of exposure to gonadotrophins (P less than 0.05) although no genotypic differences in cAMP production were noted. We conclude that ovarian follicles in FF and ++ ewes have absolute requirements for pituitary hormone on reaching diameters of 2 mm and 3 mm respectively and that appreciable numbers of antral follicles in ewes of both genotypes remain responsive to pituitary gonadotrophins despite prolonged deprivation of these hormones.     

Ca transport in membrane vesicles from pinto bean leaves and its alteration after ozone exposure

The influence of ozone on Ca²⁺ transport in plant membranes from pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var Pinto) leaves was investigated in vitro by means of a filtration method using purified vesicles. Two transport mechanisms located at the plasma membrane are involved in a response to ozone: (a) passive Ca²⁺ influx into the cell and (b) active Ca²⁺ efflux driven by an ATP-dependent system, which has two components: a primary Ca²⁺ transport directly linked to ATP which is partially activated by calmodulin and a H⁺/Ca²⁺ antiport coupled to activity of a H⁺-ATPase. The passive Ca²⁺ permeability is increased by ozone. A triangular pulse of ozone stimulates a higher influx of Ca²⁺ than does a square wave, even though the total dose was the same (0.6 microliter per liter × hour). Leaves exposed to a square wave did not exhibit visible injury and were still able to recover from oxidant stress by activation of calmodulin-dependent Ca²⁺ extrusion mechanisms. On the other hand, leaves exposed to a triangular wave of ozone, exhibit visible injury and lost the ability of extruding Ca²⁺ out of the cell.     

Evidence that actin reinforces the extensible hyphal apex of the oomyceteSaprolegnia ferax

Summary Filamentous actin in the apices of growing hyphae of the oomyceteSaprolegnia ferax is distributed such that it could compensate for weakness in the expanding apical cell wall and thus play a role in morphogenesis of the tip. The tapered extensible portion of the hyphal tip where the cell wall is plastic contains a cap of actin which differs in organization from the actin in subapical, inextensible regions of the hypha. Rapidly growing hyphae which are expected to have a longer plastic cell wall region contain longer actin caps. Furthermore, the weakest point in the hyphal apex, demonstrated by osmotic shock-induced bursting, was within the taper where the wall is plastic but never in the extreme apex where actin was most densely packed and presumably the strongest. Treatment of hyphae with cytochalasin E/dimethyl sulphoxide induced rapid changes in actin caps. Cap disruption was accompanied by transient growth rate increases, subsequent rounding and swelling of apices and a shift of osmotically induced burst points closer to the apex. These correlated changes are consistent with a role for the actin cap in tip morphogenesis. The association between regions of plasticity in the apical cell wall, the extent of the actin cap, the location of the weakest point in the apex and the effects of damage to the actin cap suggest that the cap functions to support the apex in regions where the cell wall is weak.Abbrevations CE cytochalasin E - DMSO dimethyl sulphoxide - RP rhodamine phalloidin Dedicated to the memory of Professor Oswald Kiermayer