The influence of inorganic silicon (Si) on pituitary-thyroid axis

The influence of silicon-treatment on the levels of TSH and thyroid hormones was studied in rats. Concentrations of thyrotropin (TSH), triiodothyronine (T₃), and thyroxine (T₄) were estimated in sera of rats receiving per os a soluble silicon compound—sodium metasilicate nonahydrate (Na₂SiO₃·9H₂O), dissolved in the animals' drinking water. An increase in the TSH level in the tested group was observed, without statistically significant differences in T₃ and T₄ concentrations between the two groups of animals. The results provide evidence for the influence of silicon on the endocrine balance. They could also prove that this chemical element is capable of modifying the rate of some hormones' synthesis.     

Filamentous algae in fish ponds of the Třeboň Biosphere Reserve-ecophysiological study

Filamentous algae in eutrophic carp ponds in South Bohemia (Central Europe) were studied from 1988 to 1990. High biomass (490 g DW m^-2) was attained by Cladophora fracta (O. F. Müll. ex Vahl) Kütz. after two months of growth. This marked growth depleted inorganic carbon in the water, but did not decrease the concentration of tissue nutrients. Laboratory measurements of final pH indicate that all the filamentous algae studied, except for Tribonema, are very efficient HCO₃ ^- users. An extremely high pH of 11.6 and oxygen concentration of 32 mg l^-1 were measured in the algal mats. High pH resulted in CaCO₃ precipitation, visible as white incrustations on algal filaments. The amount of precipitated CaCO₃ reached 134 kg ha^-1. After reaching peak biomass, 90% of the Cladophora decomposed over the next 95 days.The highest net photosynthetic rate in C. fracta was measured between pH range 8.5–10.0 and oxygen concentrations of 7–12 mg l^-1. Optimum temperature for photosynthesis was between 17–22°C.     

天然杀伤细胞在受照射小鼠中的造血调控作用

研究了天然杀伤（ＮＫ）细胞对受致死剂量γ线照射的同系小鼠的造血调控作用。ＡＭＳ／５小鼠经９Ｇｙγ线全身照射后立即经尾静脉注射ＮＫ细胞（５×１０５）,可明显提高受照小鼠３０ｄ活存率,照后８ｄ小鼠骨髓中ＣＦＵ－ＧＭ数量明显高于对照和脾细胞注射组,照射后３０ｄ,ＮＫ细胞注射组活存小鼠的骨髓有核细胞数和ＣＦＵ－ＧＭ数已恢复到正常的７６％─９６％。病理组织学观察显示,输注ＮＫ细胞可使小鼠骨髓、脾脏的组织损伤程度减轻,造血功能增强,表现为造血灶数增多,造血细胞功能活跃,核分裂相增多,且涉及红系、粒系、巨核细胞系造血。ＮＫ细胞可能通过直接与造血干细胞相互作用或改善造血微环境等促进“内源性”造血功能,从而发挥对造血的正调控作用。提示ＮＫ细胞在小鼠造血功能的平衡维持中起重要作用。     

Mouse oocyte maturation is affected by lithium via the polyphosphoinositide metabolism and the microtubule network

The incubation of mechanically denuded mouse oocytes in medium containing LiCl delayed both germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and polar body extrusion in a dose-dependent and reversible manner. When myo-inositol alone was added to the culture medium, we observed that it accelerated GVBD and increased the rate of polar body extrusion, whereas, when combined with LiCl, the normal timing of GVBD was recovered. In the same way, when inositol trisphosphate (InsP₃) was microinjected into the ooplasma, we observed an important improvement of the rate of GVBD, as compared to control oocytes, and prevention of lithium inhibition. However, neither myo-inositol nor InsP₃ were able to rescue totally the oocytes from the negative effect of lithium on polar body extrusion. Moreover, lithium induced some important changes in microtubule and chromosome organizations. Before extrusion of the first polar body, the reduction of the spindle size or the appearance of short individualized chromosomes dispersed around a large aster of microtubules were often observed, whereas, after polar body extrusion, the spindle appeared smaller and chromosomes were often trapped in the midbody. Thus lithium affects mouse oocyte maturation at two different levels: GVBD and polar body extrusion. Whereas the former seems to be affected via polyphosphoinositide turnover, the latter is InsP₃-independent and seems to be influenced negatively via underdevelopment of microtubular structures. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Clonal growth in woody plants: A review

Bulkiness, longevity and solidity of the body in woody plants enable the successive development of accessory shoots and adventitious roots in (1) both proximal and distal positions on organs, (2) both the above-ground and below-ground space, (3) both the aerial and soil environments. In monocotyledons, woody rhizomes play an essential role in the basic growth habit and architectural models. In dicotyledonous and a few gymnospermous trees, attached and successively disconnected ramets play a multilateral role in the pertinent life strategies. The majority of sprouts, coppice shoots and root suckers behave as opportunistic organs (a) serving as means of vegetative reproduction, (b) securing colonization of unoccupied ground, (c) increasing competitive power of the species within the community, (d) increasing survival rate of the stressed/disturbed genet in marginal habitats, (e) forming replacement for ageing or damaged organs, and (f) enabling reiteration of the genet's entire architectural model.     

Serum-stimulated cell cycle progression and stress protein synthesis in C3H10T1/2 fibroblasts treated with sodium arsenite

In this work, we demonstrate that a nonlethal dose of arsenite administered to quiescent C3H10T1/2 fibroblasts can enhance the mitogenic effect of suboptimal concentrations of serum. The mitogenic effect was dependent on the serum concentration and on the time interval between the administration of arsenite and that of serum. This suggests that mitogen sensitivity changes in time after arsenite treatment. It is shown that the concentrations of arsenite that enhance the mitogenic effect of serum also increase the mRNA levels of c-fos, HSP68, and HSP84 and induce the specific synthesis of Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs). The physiological significance of this phenomenon is most likely to counteract the long-term toxic effect of arsenite by early induction of compensation for cell loss. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Detection of Proteins in Normal and Alzheimer's Disease Cerebrospinal Fluid with a Sensitive Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Abstract— Alzheimer's disease is a progressive degenerative dementia characterized by the abundant presence of neurofibrillary tangles in neurons. This study was designed to test whether the microtubule-associated protein, a major component of neurofibrillary tangles, could be detected in CSF. Additionally, we investigated whether CSF levels were abnormal in Alzheimer's disease as compared with a large group of control patients. We developed a sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using AT120, a monoclonal antibody directed to human, as a capturing antibody. With this technique, the detection limit for was less than 5 pg/ml of CSF. Using ATS, which recognizes abnormally phosphorylated ser-ines 199–202 in, the detection limit was below 20 pg/ml of CSF. However, with AT8, we found no immunoreactiv-ity in CSF, suggesting that only a small fraction of CSF contains the abnormally phosphorylated AT8 epitope. Our results indicate that CSF levels are significantly increased in Alzheimer's disease. Also, CSF levels in a large group of patients with a diversity of neurological diseases showed overlap with CSF levels in Alzheimer's disease.     

Quantitative Determination of the Spatial Distribution of Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrobacter agilis Cells Immobilized in κ-Carrageenan Gel Beads by a Specific Fluorescent-Antibody Labelling Technique

A novel technique, combining labelling and stereological methods, for the determination of spatial distribution of two microorganisms in a biofilm is presented. Cells of Nitrosomonas europaea (ATCC 19718) and Nitrobacter agilis (ATCC 14123) were homogeneously distributed in a κ-carrageenan gel during immobilization and allowed to grow out to colonies. The gel beads were sliced in thin cross sections after fixation and embedding. A two-step labelling method resulted in green fluorescent colonies of either N. europaea or N. agilis in the respective cross sections. The positions and surface areas of the colonies of each species were determined, and from that a biomass volume distribution for N. europaea and N. agilis in κ-carrageenan gel beads was estimated. This technique will be useful for the validation of biofilm models, which predict such biomass distributions.     

Mobilization of a Recombinant IncQ Plasmid between Bacteria on Agar and in Soil via Cotransfer or Retrotransfer

Mobilization of a genetically engineered IncQ plasmid, pSKTG, was studied in vitro and in sterile and nonsterile soils. In biparental and triparental filter matings, the mobilization frequencies of pSKTG were identical, and the plasmid was mobilized only in the presence of self-transmissible plasmid RP4p. In sterile soil, mobilization was probably limited by reduced cell-to-cell contact, since the frequencies of mobilization were approximately 100-fold lower than the frequencies in the filter matings. The transfer frequency of pSKTG in sterile soil when RP4p was present in the same strain was about 100-fold higher than the transfer frequency when RP4p was present in a separate strain. In studies in natural soil, pSKTG was also found to be transferred to indigenous bacteria. However, natural mobilization by genetic elements present in the indigenous soil microflora could not be detected. In vitro studies of natural transfer suggested that such genetic elements occur in soil bacteria.