Role of protein kinase C in regulating smooth muscle electrical and contractile activity: the effect of phorbol ester

The effects of protein kinase C activation by 12-O-tetra-decanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on the functions of guinea-pig smooth muscle taenia coli have been studied, using double-sucrose-gap method. A 15-20-min treatment of the muscle with 2 X 10(-8) M TPA caused a progressing inhibition of spontaneous electrical activity and mechanical tension, suppression of post-hyperpolarizing electrical and contractile "off-responses", a decrease in the number of action potentials during superthreshold membrane depolarization, depression of electrical and mechanical responses induced by acetylcholine, histamine, bradykinin mediators. The treatment of pre-depolarized (140 mM kappa+) muscle with 2.10(-8) TPA has led to a considerable reduction in contractile responses induced by the above mediators. The results obtained indicate that protein kinase C is capable of regulating both voltage-sensitive and receptor-operated ionic channels in smooth muscle cells.     

The study of the growth of tylosin producer using differential centrifugation of mycelium in a sucrose density gradient

The mycelium of Streptomyces fradiae was fractionated by differential centrifugation in a sucrose density gradient (SDG) using various samples of the inoculation material and aliquots of the cultural broth taken in the course of tylosin production. The mode of mycelium distribution in SDG made it possible to select the most active inoculation material. The mycelium was redistributed from sucrose layers with a high density to those with a lower density in the course of fermentation. The fractions differed in the antibiotic activity but none of them had an activity higher than in the control centrifuged in 30% sucrose and washed off just like the fractions. Therefore, mycelium fractionation in SDG would not elevate its antibiotic activity. The paper presents the cytological characteristics of different fractions changing in the course of fermentation.     

Sensitivity of Escherichia coli cell membranes to various classes of detergents

The mechanisms of interaction between non-ionic or cationic surfactants with Escherichia coli K-12 cell membranes were studied using an approach based on the registration of changes in the membrane permeability to ethidium bromide, a fluorescent dye for nucleic acids. Triton X-100, a non-ionic detergent, was shown to exert no effect on the permeability of intact cell membranes. Triton X-100 interacted with the bacteria only after treatment with EDTA, a complexing agent for bivalent cations. Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide increased the permeability to ethidium bromide and the action of this cationic detergent did not require the pretreatment with the complexing agent. SDS, an anionic detergent, damaged E. coli K-12 and this could be registered by the lowering of intensity of light scattering by the bacterial suspension. The surface charge of E. coli K-12 cells was shown to influence the interaction of ionic detergents with bacterial cell membranes. Its variation by changing the pH of the incubation medium did not make E. coli K-12 sensitive to Triton X-100.     

Cycling of nutrients from dying roots to living plants,including the role of mycorrhizas

This paper presents information about the release of nitrogen and phosphorus from dying grass roots and the capture of phosphorus by other, living plants. We have paid particular attention to the part played by mycorrhizas in this phosphorus capture, and the possible importance of mycorrhizal links between dying and living roots.WhenLolium perenne plants were grown with ample nutrients and their roots then detached and buried in soil, about half the nitrogen and two-thirds of the phosphorus was lost in three weeks, but only one-fifth of the dry weight. The C:N and C:P ratios suggest that microbial growth in the roots would at first be C-limited but would become N- and P-limited within three weeks.Rapid transfer of³²P can occur from dying roots to those of a living plant if the two root systems are intermingled. The amount transferred was substantially increased in two species-combinations that are known to form mycorrhizal links between their root systems. In contrast, in a species-combination where only the living (receiver) plant could become mycorrhizal no significant increase of³²P transfer occurred. This evidence, although far from conclusive, suggests that mycorrhizal links between dying and living roots can contribute to nutrient cycling. This research indicates a major difference in nutrient cycling processes between perennial and annual crops.     

Results of combined therapy in patients with nonseminomatous testicular tumors

The results of multidrug therapy of 44 male patients with non-seminomatous testicular tumours are discussed. The diagnosed tumours were of all stages of the clinical advances and were treated with combined chemotherapy (surgery and PVP regimen). Thirty two patients (73%) are followed up between 7 and 103 months and survived, complete remission is noted in 29 patients (66%) including 6 patients who survived over 5 years. Symptoms of the tumour are found in 3 patients. Twelve patients (27%) died. The treatment did not produce life-threatening complications. The obtained results have been compared with those reported by other authors.     

Cytochemical localization of calcium in renal sac nephrocytes of Helix aspersa

In renal sac nephrocytes of Helix aspersa, intracellular calcium has been localized using the oxalate-pyroantimonate (OPA) and phosphate-pyroantimonate (PPA) methods. Pyroantimonate precipitates are preferentially localized in the excretory spherule and in vesicles located in the basal and lateral regions of the nephrocyte. Such vesicles appear to release their content into the excretory vacuole. Calcium may interact with diverse types of molecules present in the excretory vacuole, thus favouring stabilization and packaging of the excretory spherule.     

A standardized x-ray examination of mandibular fractures

Proceeding from an x-ray examination of 143 patients with mandibular fractures, the most informative methods and projections as well as the order of their use with account of the site of a fracture, were determined. The most informative method in all fracture sites was orthopantomography; panoramic roentgenography was indicated only in fractures of the frontal part. If panoramic tomography cannot be done, roentgenography or electroroentgenography in the frontal-nasal projection is recommended. If panoramic roentgenography cannot be done, extraoral roentgenography is indicated in the diagnosis of fractures of the frontal part of the mandible.     

A decrease in the level of unscheduled DNA synthesis in preparations of irradiated rat hepatocyte nuclei under the effect of polyamines

The results obtained show the possibility of polyamine (spermine and spermidine) utilization to stabilize the nuclear chromatin and to protect it against nuclease degradation in the course of isolation of liver cell nuclei. Besides, the inhibition of the unscheduled DNA synthesis induced by nuclease incision and by gamma- or UV-radiation was demonstrated in the presence of polyamines.     

New lines of spontaneously transformed cells obtained from "precrisis" cultures of embryonic rat cells

A new approach to selection of lines of spontaneously transformed cells from the rat embryo "precrisis" cultures is described and their phenotypes at the initial and advanced stages during a long-term cultivation are characterized. The new selective system, referred to as 2T7, differs from the well known 3T3, 2T6 and 3T12 systems (Todaro, Green, 1963; Aaronson, Todaro, 1968). It is based on the maintenance of cultures under maximum cell densities. Such an approach facilitated and accelerated the start of the "crisis" stage (up to 3-8 passages) with the following gradual death of almost the whole normal senescent cell population, the colony formation resulting from the proliferation of single clonogenic cells. The frequency of clonogenic cells was about 6 x 10(-6). Six lines of spontaneously transformed cells from embryos of noninbred white rats (LRec-1--LRec-6) and one line from the Wistar embryos (LRec-7) were established. All the lines are characterized as diploid or near-tetraploid, with 1-4 different marker chromosomes formed from chromosome 7, as was reported elsewhere (Artsybasheva et al., 1988). The values of saturation densities and the time of population doubling for all the 7 lines differed from those for the rat embryo primary cultures cells. LRec-1--LRec-6 cells were unable to form the colonies in soft agar, while LRec-7 cells were able to grow in agar. The lines LRec became oncogenic for 1-2 day old rats after different periods of cultivation in vitro--from 3 to 7 months. The line LRec-7 Wistar appeared to be highly oncogenic from the very beginning after its selection. The histological analysis revealed that the LRec-1 tumors could be classified as polymorphocellular sarcoma. Up to 20 passages the LRec-1 line had numerous clonogenic cells (50-60%) in sparse cultures independently on the serum content in the media. By a 3-step selection of LRec-1 cells, on cultivation in media with lower serum contents (1-0.1-0%), a semisuspension of LRec-1sf subline (serum free) was established. This line was highly oncogenic for 1-2 day old rats, was easily cryopreserved and proliferated in the serum-free media for unlimited time, forming small colonies in agar. Thus, the new approach allows to establish with high effectiveness spontaneous lines of rat embryo cells with differently transformed phenotypes, i.e. preneoplastic and oncogenic ones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)