Secretion of IgM antibodies by glass-adherent fraction of immune mouse spleen cells. II. Characteristics of glass-adherent plaque-forming cells.

Further studies have been carried out on the nature and the behaviour of the anti-SRC plaque-forming cells from the adherent fraction of mouse spleen cells. In this fraction many phagocytic, acid phosphatase-positive cells were observed in the center of the plaques. The glass-adherent PFC were found to be highly radioresistant in vitro, compared to the nonadherent fraction. In both primary and secondary immune responses, only the direct PFC showed the tendency to adhere to glass. The phenomenon of the glass adherence of a fraction of direct PFC is also apparent in mouse spleen cells stimulated in vitro with SRC.     

Effects of palmitate on astrocyte amino acid contents

The effects of palmitate on intracellular and extracellular amino acid concentrations of cultured astrocytes was studied. Exposure of astrocytes to either 0.72 mM or 0.36 mM palmitate was associated with a significant reduction in the intracellular pool of glutamine and taurine. In contrast, the intracellular concentration of histidine, glycine, citrulline, isoleucine and leucine were increased in the presence of 0.72 mM palmitate. Comparable changes in the extracellular amino acid pool were not observed. The data suggest that palmitic acid, which accumulates in the brain during periods of anoxia, alters the metabolism of several amino acids in cultured astrocytes. These changes may be of significance in terms of the pathophysiology of a stress such as anoxia.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Elling Kvamme