Effect of glucocorticoids on alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase in cultured dog hepatocytes

Glucocorticoid(GC)-induced hepatopathy in the dog is characterized by abnormal liver morphology and increases in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and the liver alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme (LALP) and by the appearance of an unusual isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase known as the corticosteroid-induced alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme (CALP). It has not been shown whether the increases in serum ALT, GGT, and LALP are as a result of an increase in production of these enzymes or as a result of the GC-induced hepatocellular swelling and possible membrane alterations. Also, it has been assumed that the mechanism of production of CALP is via GC-induced gene derepression and de novo protein synthesis; however, this hypothesis has not been directly tested. Using isolated dog hepatocytes maintained in a confluent monolayer culture in the presence and absence of GC or cyclic AMP, no statistical increase in serum ALT, GGT, or LALP was observed. A combination of GC and cyclic AMP also caused no statistical increase in ALT and GGT; however, we demonstrate that these conditions clearly stimulated the de novo synthesis of LALP. These conditions do not induce the synthesis of CALP as determined by a sensitive immunoassay. The data obtained using this in vitro model suggest that the primary mechanism(s) of the in vivo increase of serum ALT and GGT in GC treated dogs may be other than that of de novo protein synthesis. Likewise, in vitro production of CALP may be a mechanism more complex than the conditions tested in this study.     

Isolation and structure elucidation of a novel 5-kDa peptide from neurohaemal lobes of the corpora cardiaca of Locusta migratoria (Insecta, Orthoptera)

Two predominant peptides have been isolated from neurohaemal lobes of corpora cardiaca of 8000 adults of Locusta migratoria. Both peptides have been unambiguously characterized by automated peptide microsequencing and liquid secondary-ion mass spectrometry as a 50-residue peptide (5K peptide) and a 48-residue isologue (5K' peptide). Computer search of sequence data banks did not reveal any significant similarity with other identified proteins. The 5K peptides are remarkably rich in alanine residues (25%) and contain a stretch of five consecutive alanines. This structure suggests that these molecules could correspond to spacer peptides. This assumption is corroborated in the accompanying paper [Lagueux et al. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 187, 249-254] on the molecular cloning of the precursor protein which attributes to the 5K peptides a role analogous to that of the C peptides of insulins.     

Mechanism of degradation of duplex DNA by the DNase induced by herpes simplex virus

Reaction intermediates formed during the degradation of linear PM2, T5, and λ DNA by herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNase have been examined by agarose gel electrophoresis. Digestion of T5 DNA by HSV type 2 (HSV-2) DNase in the presence of Mn²⁺ (endonuclease only) gave rise to 6 major and 12 minor fragments. Some of the fragments produced correspond to those observed after cleavage of T5 DNA by the single-strand-specific S1 nuclease, indicating that the HSV DNase rapidly cleaves opposite a nick or gap in a duplex DNA molecule. In contrast, HSV DNase did not produce distinct fragments upon digestion of linear PM2 or λ DNA, which do not contain nicks. In the presence of Mg²⁺, when both endonuclease and exonuclease activities of the HSV DNase occur, most of the same distinct fragments from digestion of T5 DNA were observed. However, these fragments were then further degraded preferentially from the ends, presumably by the action of the exonuclease activity. Unit-length λ DNA, EcoRI restriction fragments of λ DNA, and linear PM2 DNA were also degraded from the ends by HSV DNase in the same manner. Previous studies have suggested that the HSV exonuclease degrades in the 3′ → 5′ direction. If this is correct, and since only 5′-monophosphate nucleosides are produced, then HSV DNase should “activate” DNA for DNA polymerase. However, unlike pancreatic DNase I, neither HSV-1 nor HSV-2 DNase, in the presence of Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺, activated calf thymus DNA for HSV DNA polymerase. This suggests that HSV DNase degrades both strands of a linear double-stranded DNA molecule from the same end at about the same rate. That is, HSV DNase is apparently capable of degrading DNA strands in the 3′ → 5′ direction as well as in the 5′ → 3′ direction, yielding progressively smaller double-stranded molecules with flush ends. Except with minor differences, HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNases act in a similar manner.     

Effect of human leukocyte interferon on human lymphocytes in vitro: cytogenetic studies

Mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes from 8 healthy donors were exposed to interferon, and cytogenetic studies were preformed. The response of lymphocytes to the mitogens phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (con A) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) was inhibited by interferon, whereas an increased number of structural chromosomal aberrations was not detected. Further investigations of the cytogenetic effects of interferon are needed.     

Ethylene formation by germinating,Drechslera graminea — Infected barley (Hordeum sativum) grains: A simple test for fungicides

Grains of barley (Hordeum sativum L.); infected with the parasitic, systemic fungus Drechslera graminea, produce more ethylen than uninfected controls. Treatment of infected grains with mercury-free fungicides yields a differentiated suppression of the ethylene evolution 7 d after the beginning of germination. Suppression of visible symptoms (chlorotic stripes on leaves) appearing six to eight weeks after germination of infected, untreated seeds correlates with the decrease in ethylene formation after treatment with fungicides. The gaschromatographic ethylene determination thus allows for an early and reliable (significance higher than 99.9%) differentiation of fungicidal activities against the barley stripe disease.Abbreviations ACC I-aminocyclopropane-1-carbonic acid - CD critical difference     

Selfcompatibility in microspore-derived doubled-haploid rye lines and single grain selection for alkylresorcinol content

Summary From a total of 138 green androgenetic rye lines, 25 were fertilized and examined in field tests: 7 were heterozygous and 18 were homozygous. Of the homozygotes, 4 turned out to be selfincompatible, while 14 set seed after selfing. Four characters were analyzed in detail: 100 kernel weight, plant height, ear length, and alkylresorcinol content. Here we present the first approach in prescreening selfcompatible androgenetic doubled-haploid rye plants with the single grain procedure. The usefulness of this method was confirmed by quantitative resorcinol determination in the following generation. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that all the homologues of the alkylresorcinol were equally reduced. For all characters the means of the different anther derived lines exceeded the means of the controls in both directions, to the positive as well as to the negative side. The incorporation of such a haploid breeding step into breeding programs is discussed.Dedicated to Professor Dr. G. Melchers, on the occasion of his 75th birthday, who initiated this work by forming the project-groups Haploide in der Pflanzenzüchtung     

Phagocytosis of inert particles in Locusta migratoria and Galleria mellonella: Study of ultrastructure and clearance

Inert particles (iron saccharate or latex beads) injected in the haemocoel of Locusta migratoria, are taken up by pericardial cells (iron saccharate only), reticular cells of the haemopoietic tissue and certain haemocytes: plasmatocytes and coagulocytes; these two haemocyte types are also the main phagocytic blood cells in Galleria mellonella.Necrosis of phagocytic haemocytes, following injection of an overdose of iron saccharate, explains the profound modifications of the haemogram observed during the first 24 hr following injection; the macrophagic evolution of reticular cells slows down the haemopoietic differentiation of these cells and explains the long term disturbances of the blood picture.Clearance of latex beads injected in larvae of Locusta complies to an exponential function of time; we can determine a granulopectic index which will permit comparisons to be made between clearance of inert and of ‘antigenic-like’ particles.     

Effect of wind-borne pollens on the population dynamics ofAmblyseius hibisci [Acarina: Phytoseiidae]

Populations ofAmblyseius hibisci (Chant), an important predator of citrus red mite,Panonychus citri (McGregor) exhibited varying responses to field applications of cat-tail,Typha latifolia L., pollen in San Joaquin Valley citrus groves. Predator densities increased to significantly higher levels after pollen treatments during the fall months, and to a limited extent after late winter treatments, but not after early spring treatments. The amount of response appeared to be inversely related to the levels of natural foods present during the various seasons. Results of the wind-borne pollen monitoring studies indicated that population growth inA. hibisci was correlated with the seasonal pattern of pollen fallout. Population growth was slowest in years when pollen catches were low during the late winter and early spring, and fastest in years when peak pollen catches occurred in late winter or early spring. Population growth inA. hibisci did not appear to be markedly responsive toP. citri populations although suppression of prey densities was indicated in ca. 50% of the cases. In laboratory tests,A. hibisci reproduced through 3 generations on 11 of 23 pollens tested.     

Validation of density–elasticity relationships for finite element modeling of human pelvic bone by modal analysis

In total hip arthroplasty and particularly in revision surgery, computer assisted pre-operative prediction of the best possible anchorage strategy for implant fixation would be a great help to the surgeon. Computer simulation relies on validated numerical models. In the current study, three density–elasticity relationships (No. 1–3) from the literature for inhomogeneous material parameter assignment from CT data in automated finite element (FE) modeling of long bones were evaluated for their suitability for FE modeling of human pelvic bone. Numerical modal analysis was conducted on 10 FE models of hemipelvic bone specimens and compared to the gold standard provided by experimental modal analysis results from a previous in-vitro study on the same specimens. Overall, calculated resonance frequencies came out lower than measured values. Magnitude of mean relative deviation of numerical resonance frequencies with regard to measured values is lowest for the density–elasticity relationship No. 3 (−15.9%) and considerably higher for both density–elasticity relationships No. 1 (−41.1%) and No. 2 (−45.0%). Mean MAC values over all specimens amount to 77.8% (No. 1), 78.5% (No. 2), and 83.0% (No. 3). MAC results show, that mode shapes are only slightly influenced by material distribution. Calculated resonance frequencies are generally lower than measured values, which indicates, that numerical models lack stiffness. Even when using the best suited (No. 3) out of three investigated density–elasticity relationships, in FE modeling of pelvic bone a considerable underestimation of model stiffness has to be taken into account.