Gold nanoparticles disturb nuclear chromatin decondensation in mouse sperm in vitro

The effect of gold nanoparticles on mouse epididymal sperm has been studied using the model system of nuclear chromatin decondensation in vitro. It is shown that the treatment of gametes, preliminary membrane-freed by sodium dodecyl sulfate, in the mediums containing gold nanoparticles (with diameter ∼2.5 nm) in concentrations 1.0 × 10¹⁵ or 0.5 × 10¹⁵ particles/ml and following incubation in dithiothreitol solution (DTT) resulted in failure of chromatin decondensation process and nucleus structure. We conclude that gold nanoparticles possess spermatotoxicity. The mechanism of cytotoxic effect of gold nanoparticles may be related with their interaction with molecules of double-helix DNA. The model system studied in this research is applicable for further investigations of cytotoxic effects of nanoparticles of different origin and made of different metals.     

Ecological studies on streptocephalus dichotomus baird

Summary Streptocephalus dichotomus occurs in a wide variety of shallow andThe maximum period during which these animals occur was 18Studies on both seasonal and day time variations of the physicoThe rate of increase in the population is more or less identical inThe length frequency distribution in the different ponds showsSex ratio does not appear to follow any definite pattern at anyFemales start to bear eggs when 1.7 cm long and the maximumTwo genera, Branchinella kugenumaensis and S. dichotomus were seenThis work formed a part of the thesis submitted for the award of the Degree of     

Feeding preference by the male blowfly Phormia regina for some natural foods and its relation to carbohydrate, amino acid, and alcohol content

The male blowfly, Phormia regina Meigen shows preference among a variety of natural and artificial foods. In a laboratory study preference was observed among sweet and fermenting juices as well as between liver and fish. The preferences between fresh and fermenting juices were based not only on component sugars, but also on other components, namely, amino acids, alcohol salts and presumably other chemical compounds. The preference between decaying liver and fish was probably based partly on the composition and concentration of amino acids in these foods. A variety of amino acids were found in foods and some of these amino acids were shown to be excitatory, some inhibitory and others neutral. Salts were also observed to be present in the juices; and in a laboratory study NaCl at lower concentrations acted synergestically with 0.1 M sucrose and at higher concentrations repulsive. It is suggested that feeding preference is based on several chemicals which behave either in an excitatory, additive, neutral, inhibitory or synergistic manner. The ratio of excitants to inhibitants is important in deciding the direction of preference.

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Résumé P. regina Meigen mâle préfere certains aliments naturels ou artificiels. Au laboratoire ses préférences parmi les jus sucrés sont les suivantes: orange > miel > pomme > sucrose 0.1 M; et parmi les aliments en décomposition: sucrose 0.1 M > foie > poisson. Les jus frais sont préférés aux jus fermentés. Les préférences ne dépendent pas seulement de la nature des sucres, mais aussi des acides aminés, de l'alcool, des sels et probablement d'autres substances chimiques. Le foie contient à la fois le plus grand nombre et la concentration la plus élevée en acides aminés, ce qui explique partiellement le goût pour le foie. Expérimentalement on peut classer les acides aminés en stimulants, inhibiteurs et neutres. Des sels ont été notés dans les jus, mais aucune analyse qualitative et quantitative n'en a été faite. Mélangé à du sucrose à 0.1 M, NaCl agit en synergie aux faibles concentrations, devient neutre à 0.175 M et à des concentrations supérieures le sucrose seul est préféré au mélange avec NaCl. Cependant, un mélange de NaCl à 0.25 M (bien qu'une telle concentration soit peu probable dans des jus végétaux) avec du sucrose à 0.1 M était préféré à l'eau. Il en est déduit que les préférences alimentaires. dans la nature sont orientées par plusieurs substances chimiques qui se comportent d'une façon stimulante, additive, neutre, inhibitrice ou synergique, et que les préférences alimentaires sont relatives. Le rapport de stimulants sur inhibiteurs est important dans la détermination du sens de la préférence.

     

Enzymhistochemische Befunde im subependymalen Glialager während der Entwicklung des Rattenhirns

Zusammenfassung Die prä- bzw. postnatale enzymtopochemische Differenzierung des subependymalen Glialagers in der lateralen Wand des Vorderhornes wurde bei der SpragueDawley-Ratte untersucht. Während der pränatalen Entwicklungsphase des Rattenhirns zeichnet sich die Subependymschicht, beim Nachweis der wichtigsten hydrolytischen und oxydativen Enzyme, im allgemeinen durch eine geringe enzymatische Aktivität aus. Die Ergänzung der enzymatischen Ausstattung dieser Zellschicht erfolgt erst während der postnatalen Hirnentwicklung und zwar in den ersten 2 Lebenswochen. Eine Ausnahme von dieser Regel wurde beim Nachweis der Phosphomonoesterase-I festgestellt, welche in der prä- bzw. perinatalen Entwicklungsphase die höchste Aktivität zeigte. Die erhobenen enzymtopochemischen Befunde deuten darauf hin, daß in der subependymalen Zellschicht eine vom übrigen Hirn vor allem zeitlich abweichende topochemische Differenzierung stattfindet, welche im wesentlichen während der ersten 2 Lebenswochen abgeschlossen ist.

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Enzyme topochemical findings of the subependymal cell layer in the developing rat brain

Summary The pre- and postnatal enzyme topochemical differentiation of the subependymal glial layer of the lateral ventricle was examined in the Sprague-Dawley rat. During the prenatal development phase of the subependymal layer, weak enzymatic activity of the most important hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes is demonstrated. The completion of the enzyme activity of this cell layer follows in the postnatal brain development period, and certainly within the first two weeks of life. An exception to this rule has been found in the case of phosphomonoesterase-I which showed the greatest activity in the pre- and perinatal development phases. The observed enzyme topochemical findings indicate that the subependymal cell layer, in contrast to other parts of the brain, shows temporally deviating topochemical differentiation, which is essentially completed in the first two weeks of life.

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Mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 51).     

Biosynthesis of immunoglobulin A (IgA). Secretion and addition of carbohydrate to monomer and polymer forms of a mouse myeloma protein

Cell suspensions of mouse plasma-cell tumour MOPC 315 secreting predominantly IgA (immunoglobulin A) monomer and dimer were incubated with radioactive leucine, mannose, galactose and fucose for various periods of time. The amounts of secreted and intracellular immunoglobulins were measured by co-precipitation with specific antibody, and the molecular species present were assessed by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels. Analysis of the secreted myeloma protein demonstrated that monomer and dimer IgA molecules are identical with respect to carbohydrate composition and rate of secretion. Within the cell, the myeloma protein is almost entirely accounted for by monomer units which either leave the cell as such or are polymerized with the addition of J chain close to the time of secretion. The results support the concept of a stepwise addition of carbohydrate residues to IgA immunoglobulin during the process of secretion. Similar patterns of carbohydrate assembly were found for the monomer or dimer molecules. Mannose residues are added at an early stage, whereas fucose is added close to the time of secretion. Galactose is also added early, but some may also be incorporated at a later stage. Control of IgA polymerization is considered unlikely to reflect regulation at the level of carbohydrate addition, and it is suggested that the critical controlling factor is the J chain.