Blocking action of Nephila clavata spider toxin on ionic currents activated by glutamate and its agonists in isolated hippocampal neurons

The blocking action ofNephila clavata spider neurotoxin, or JSTX, on ionic currents activated by L-glutamate and its agonists when applied to the membrane of neurons isolated from the rat hippocampus was investigated using a concentration clamp technique. Crude JSTX venom was found to block L-glutamate-, quisqualate, and kainate-activated ionic currents induced by activating non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) membrane receptors. Following the effects of JSTX, ionic currents activated by L-glutamate and its agonists declined to 34–36% of their initial value with no recovery during JSTX washout. An active fraction of JSTX at concentrations of 10^–4–10^–5 produced almost total but partially reversible blockade of ionic currents. The action of JSTX became less effective during depolarization. The concentration dependence of JSTX-induced blockade of kainate-activated ionic currents was investigated and the velocity constants of interaction between the toxin and glutamate receptors obtained. It is postulated that JSTX interacts with chemically-operated non-NMDA ionic channels, blocking their transition into a number of their possible open states.A. A. Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 152–160, March–April, 1989.     

Effects of quisqualate,N-methyl-D-aspartate,and some amino acid antagonists on synaptic transmission in ampullae of Lorenzini

The effects of quisqualic acid (QA), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), and a number of NMDA and non-NMDA receptor antagonists on background and induced activity in afferent nerve fibers were investigated in skates by means of bath application to the basal membrane of electroreceptors (ampullae of Lorenzini). Perfusion with physiological saline containing QA or NMDA (minimum concentrations required: 10^–8 and 10^–5 M respectively) was found to exert an excitatory effect on afferent activity. Aminoadipate and aminophosphonobutyrate had no effect on synaptic transmission, which was blocked by aminophosphonovalerate, however. Raising magnesium ion concentration (of 30 mM) led to blockade of NMDA-induced response without changing that produced by QA. Aminophosphonovalerate blocked NMDA response and partially reduced the effects of L-aspartic acid. Glutamyl glycine produced blockade of synaptic transmission. The findings obtained would point to synaptic sensitivity to the action of amino acid agonists (QA and NMDA) in the ampullae of Lorenzini.Neurocybernetics Research Institute, Rostov-on-Don. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 160–167, March–April, 1989.     

Antigenic similarity between cytoplasmic tetrodotoxin-sensitive protein and neuronal membrane proteins

Membrane proteins with a molecular weight of 290, 180, and 55 kDa were isolated using immunosorbent attached to sepharose and rabbit antibodies to cytoplasmic tetrodotoxin-sensitive protein from beef brain gray matter. A technique used for research into voltage-dependent sodium channels was applied to reconstruction of these proteins and investigation of toxin-dependent sodium flows through the lipoprotein membrane. Findings are interpreted as evidence of the similarity between cytoplasmic tetrodotoxin-sensitive protein and that of sodium channels at the cell membrane.A. A. Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev; A. V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 485–489, July–August, 1989.     

Argiopine,argiopinines, and pseudoargiopinines as glutamate receptor blockers in hippocampal neurons

A homologous set of low-molecular weight compounds selectively blocking ionic currents were purified from venom from the spiderArgiope lobata with a selective blocking action on ionic currents activated by applying glutamate and its agonist kainic acid (KA) to the membrane of neurons isolated from the rat hippocampus. Three groups of these compounds — argiopine, argiopinines, and pseudoargiopinines, produced voltage-dependent glutamate- and KA-activated ionic currents at concentrations of 10^–6-10^–4 M, interacting primarily with agonist-activated ionic channels without affecting K_d values of the agonist. The blocking action could be partially reversed by argiopine application but only slightly when argiopinines and pseudoargiopinines were used. Kinetics of toxin effects on Ka-activated ionic currents showed at least two exponential components with different time constants. Simple and reversed rate constants of interaction between toxins and ionic channels were estimated from the plot of the kinetics of ionic current blockade and recovery against toxin concentration. Argiopine, argiopinines, and pseudoargiopinines lend themselves to further research into glutamate receptors of the mammalian CNS employing electrophysiological and biochemical techniques.A. A. Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev, M. M. Shemyakin Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 748–756, November–December, 1989.     

The effects of cervical dilation on plasma PGFM, progesterone and the duration of luteal function in diestrous mares

Transcervical diagnostic techniques may alter the length of the equine estrous cycle and affect subsequent luteal function. Therefore, nine mares were used to determine the effect of cervical dilation on plasma 13, 14-dihydro, 15-keto-prostaglandin F(2) (PGFM), progesterone (P(4)) and posttreatment duration of luteal function. Mares were given a daily score of 0 to 4 based on sexual receptivity. Five days following the end of receptivity, mares were randomly assigned to one of three, 3 x 3 latin squares. Control mares received no cervical dilation. Cervically stimulated mares recieved cervical dilation for 60 sec. Cervically stimulated plus inhibitor mares were dilated similarly to cervically stimulated mares, but received a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor 30 min prior to treatment. Each mare completed all three treatments in three consecutive estrous cycles. Plasma PGFM and P(4) were determined by RIA. Plasma PGFM was lower (P<0.05) in cervically stimulated plus inhibitor than control and cervically stimulated mares. In addition, plasma P(4) was lower (P<0.10) in cervically stimulated plus inhibitor than in control and cervically stimulated mares. Luteal function following treatments did not differ. These data indicate that neither plasma PGFM and P(4) nor the duration of luteal function were affected by cervical dilation. However, administration of a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor prior to cervical dilation decreased plasma PGFM and P(4) concentrations.     

The diagnosis of short penis as a cause of impotentia coeundi in bulls

Short penis condition was diagnosed as the cause of impotentia coeundi in 10 bulls, aged 2.5 to 5 yr. The diagnosis was based on observation of service attempts, measurement of the extended penis, and elimination of other causes of impotence. Measurements of the penis were made under general inhalation anesthesia or pudendal nerve block. These measurements were then compared with those of 10 control bulls, matched for age and breed and having no history of impotence; the latter measurements were likewise obtained under general anesthesia, pudendal nerve block or sedation. with propionyl promazine. Similar measurements were obtained from 10 yearling bulls under propionyl promazine sedation. Measurements obtained under general anesthesia or pudendal nerve block in the same bull were usually similar and repeatable, while phenothiazine tranquillization produced incomplete and variable relaxation of the retractor penis muscles. The dimension best correlated with impotence due to short penis was the distance from the tip of the extended penis to the preputial orifice in its resting position. In 10 bulls in which short penis was diagnosed, this distance was 10 to 22 cm, while in 10 control bulls with no history of impotence it was 25 to 42 cm. The distances from the tip of the extended penis to the preputial reflection (fornix) and to the neck of the scrotum were also shorter in affected than in control bulls. Although observation of service ability remains the cornerstone of diagnosis of short penis, a presumptive diagnosis can be made if penile protrusion of less than 25 cm can be obtained in an adult bull under general anesthesia or pudendal nerve block. Phenothiazine tranquillization is suitable for screening examinations but not for definitive diagnosis.     

Efficient ethanol production from glucose, lactose, and xylose by recombinant Escherichia coli

Lactose and all of the major sugars (glucose, xylose, arabinose, galactose, and mannose) present in cellulose and hemicellulose were converted to ethanol by recombinant Escherichia coli containing plasmid-borne genes encoding the enzymes for the ethanol pathway from Zymomonas mobilis. Environmental tolerances, plasmid stability, expression of Z. mobilis pyruvate decarboxylase, substrate range, and ethanol production (from glucose, lactose, and xylose) were compared among eight American Type Culture Collection strains. E. coli ATCC 9637(pLO1297), ATCC 11303(pLO1297), and ATCC 15224(pLO1297) were selected for further development on the basis of environmental hardiness and ethanol production. Volumetric ethanol productivities per hour in batch culture were 1.4 g/liter for glucose (12%), 1.3 g/liter for lactose (12%), and 0.64 g/liter for xylose (8%). Ethanol productivities per hour ranged from 2.1 g/g of cell dry weight with 12% glucose to 1.3 g/g of cell dry weight with 8% xylose. The ethanol yield per gram of xylose was higher for recombinant E. coli than commonly reported for Saccharomyces cerevisiae with glucose. Glucose (12%), lactose (12%), and xylose (8%) were converted to (by volume) 7.2% ethanol, 6.5% ethanol, and 5.2% ethanol, respectively.     

Differential expression in male and female mouse liver of very similar mRNAs specified by two group 1 major urinary protein genes.

The major urinary proteins of the mouse are encoded by a large multigene family composed of several distinct groups of genes distinguished by differences in sequence and expression characteristics. The genes in the largest group (group 1) show greater than 99% pairwise similarity in their exons. By hybridization between RNA and a specifically designed oligonucleotide, we confirmed that genes of this group are expressed mainly in the liver. By using additional gene-specific oligonucleotide probes, we have been able to distinguish between the species of mRNA corresponding to two of these genes and to measure their abundance in male and female liver. Both mRNAs are present in male liver at high but different levels. Both are also present in female liver, one at a much lower level than in the male and the second at a very low level indeed. Both are present at male levels in the livers of females induced with testosterone. These results show unequivocally that the expression of different group 1 Mup genes is differentially influenced by the hormonal status of the mouse.     

The 5'' noncoding region of the human leukemia-associated oncogene BCR/ABL is a potent inhibitor of in vitro translation.

The mRNA encoding the chimeric BCR/ABL oncogene, which is transcribed from the Philadelphia chromosome in human chronic myelogenous leukemia, has a 5' noncoding sequence greater than 500 bases in length which is highly GC rich and contains a short open reading frame. This untranslated sequence has a dramatic inhibitory effect upon translational efficiency in vitro. However, when BCR/ABL message is expressed in certain cell types such as the NIH 3T3 cell line, the 5' noncoding region has little inhibitory effect on translational efficiency.