Increased sensitivity to MHC-nonrestricted lysis of BL6 melanoma cells by transfection with class I H-2Kb gene

An H-2Kb- negative clone of BL6 melanoma (BL6-8) was transfected with neor, H-2Kb, or H-2IAk genes. In an 18-h cytotoxicity assay clones with high levels of H-2Kb Ag expression were found more sensitive to lysis by spleen cells of syngenic and allogeneic mice than H-2Kb low clones. NK cells were involved in the lysis of H-2Kb+ BL6 melanoma clones, with spleen cell cytotoxicity of mice increased after poly I:C stimulation or decreased after pretreatment with anti-asialo GM1 serum or NK1.1 mAb. Anti-TNF Ab were also able to reduce the cytotoxicity of normal spleen cells and completely abolished the cytotoxicity of the NK-depleted spleen cells suggesting involvement of NC cells in lysis of H-2Kb+ BL6 melanoma clones. Increase in sensitivity of H-2Kb+ BL6 cells to natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity was associated with the appearance of NK recognizable determinants as assessed by the cold target inhibition assay. All BL6 clones, irrespective of sensitivity to natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity, showed high sensitivity to lysis by LGL-derived granules. In contrast, all H-2Kb low BL6 clones were resistant and all H-2Kb highly positive clones were sensitive to lysis by TNF-alpha. When an H-2Kb highly positive clone was selected in vitro for resistance to TNF, it concomitantly showed increased resistance to cytotoxicity by spleen cells, confirming the importance of TNF in spleen cell cytotoxicity against H-2Kb+ melanoma cells. Taken together, the data indicate that class I H-2Kb but not class II H-2IAk gene product could increase the sensitivity of BL6 cells to lysis by NK and natural cytotoxic cells as well as TNF. We hypothesize that these effects could be due to pleiotropic effects of H-2Kb gene products on various biologic properties of BL6 melanoma cells some of which may be more directly involved in regulation of tumor cell sensitivity to lysis by NK and/or natural cytotoxic cells.     

After-Ripening in Festuca idahoensis Seeds: Adaptive Dormancy and Implications for Restoration

Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue) was a common native perennial bunchgrass in the sagebrush steppe of the western United States until the introductions of domestic livestock and alien plants. Restoration of Idaho fescue to degraded sites will likely involve reseeding, and one of the factors affecting reseeding success is germinability of the seeds employed. We investigated effects of after-ripening and storage temperature on germinability of Idaho fescue seeds collected from a central Oregon site. Six months of after-ripening were required before maximum germination was obtained. Storage of dry seeds at either room temperature (20°C) or at cooler, alternating temperatures (5/15°C) did not alter the rate at which dormancy was lost. Storage at the warmer temperature promoted rapid germination in seeds that had broken dormancy. Seed longevity varied greatly from year to year. Seeds produced in a very dry year had poorer germination and shorter longevity than seeds produced during a year with near normal precipitation. Because seed dispersal occurs in late July and early August for Idaho fescue in central Oregon, a six-month after-ripening requirement ensures that the greatest potential germination coincides with the spring period most likely to provide sufficient moisture for seedling establishment.     

The biogeochemistry of a north-temperate grassland with native ungulates: Nitrogen dynamics in Yellowstone National Park

Nutrient dynamics of large grassland ecosystems possessing abundant migratory grazers are poorly understood. We examined N cycling on the northern winter range of Yellowstone National Park, home for large herds of free-roaming elk (Cervus elaphus) and bison (Bison bison). Plant and soil N, net N mineralization, and the deposition of ungulate fecal-N were measured at five sites, a ridgetop, mid-slope bench, steep slope, valley-bottom bench, and riparian area, within a watershed from May, 1991 to April, 1992.Results indicated similarities between biogeochemical properties of Yellowstone grassland and other grassland ecosystems: (1) landscape position and soil water affected nutrient dynamics, (2) annual mineralization was positively related to soil N content, and (3) the proportion of soil N mineralized during the year was negatively related to soil C/N.Grazers were a particularly important component of the N budget of this grassland. Estimated rates of N flow from ungulates to the soil ranged from 8.1 to 45.6 kg/ha/yr at the sites (average = 27.0 kg/ha/yr), approximately 4.5 times the amount of N in senescent plants. Rates of nitrogen mineralization for Yellowstone northern range grassland were higher than those measured in other temperate grassland ecosystems, possibly due to grazers promoting N cycling in Yellowstone.     

Superoxide dismutase,catalase, and U78517F attenuate neuronal damage in gerbils with repeated brief ischemic insults

Repeated ischemic insults at one hour intervals result in more severe neuronal damage than a single similar duration insult. The mechanism for the more severe damage with repetitive ischemia is not fully understood. We hypothesized that the prolonged reperfusion periods between the relatively short ischemic insults may result in a pronounced generation of oxygen free radicals (OFRs). In this study, we tested the protective effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (alone or in combination), and U78517F in a gerbil model of repetitive ischemia. Three episodes (two min each) of bilateral carotid occlusion were used at one hour intervals to produce repetitive ischemia. Superoxide dismutase and catalase were infused via osmotic pumps into the lateral ventricles. Two doses of U78517F were given three times per animal, one half hour prior to each occlusion. Neuronal damage was assessed 7 days later in several brain regions using the silver staining technique. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical comparison. Superoxide dismutase showed significant protection in the hippocampus (CA4), striatum, thalamus and the medial geniculate nucleus (MGN). Catalase showed significant protection in the striatum, hippocampus, thalamus, and MGN and the substantia nigra reticulata. Combination of the two resulted in additional protection in the cerebral cortex. Compared to the controls, there was little protection with a dose of 3 mg/kg of U78517F. There was significant protection with a dose of 10 mg/kg in the hippocampus (CA4), striatum, thalamus, medial geniculate nucleus and the substantia nigra reticulata. The significant protection noted with SOD, catalase or U78517F with repeated ischemia supports, the hypothesis that OFRs may play a role in neuronal damage in repeated cerebral ischemia.     

Cholinergic innervation of the retrosplenial cortex via the fornix pathway as determined by high affinity choline uptake,choline acetyltransferase activity,and muscarinic receptor binding in the rat

The cholinergic projections from basal forebrain nuclei to the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) have previously been studied using a variety of histological approaches. Studies using acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunocytochemistry have demonstrated that this projection travels via the cingulum on route to the RSC. Preliminary studies from our laboratory, however, have shown that the fornix may also be involved in this projection. The present study uses the combination of pathway lesions, and the analysis of cholinergic neurochemical markers in the RSC to determine the role of the fornix in the cholinergic projection to the RSC. High affinity choline uptake (HACU) and ChAT activity were measured in the RSC of control rats, animals with cingulate lesions, and animals with fornix plus cingulate lesions. Fornix plus cingulate lesions resulted in significant deceases in HACU and ChAT activity in comparison to cingulate lesions alone. Muscarinic receptor binding was also evaluated in combination with the various lesions, and a significant increase in retrosplenial receptor binding was noted following fornix lesions. Together, these results support the concept of a fornix-mediated cholinergic pathway to the RSC.     

Magnesium-deficiency potentiates free radical production associated with postischemic injury to rat hearts: Vitamin E affords protection

Preexisting magnesium deficiency may alter the susceptibility of rat hearts to postischemic oxidative injury (free radicals). This was examined in rats maintained for 3 weeks on a magnesium-deficient (Mg-D) diet with or without concurrent vitamin E treatment (1.2 mg/day, SC). Magnesium-sufficient (Mg-S) rats received the same diet supplemented with 100 mmol Mg/kg feed. Following sacrifice, isolated working hearts were subjected to 30-, 40-, or 60-min global ischemia and 30-min reperfusion. Postischemic production of free radicals was monitored using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and spin trapping with -phenyl-N-tert butylnitrone (PBN, 3 mM final); preischemic and postischemic effluent samples were collected and then extracted with toluene. PBN/alkoxyl adduct(s) (PBN/RO·; _H = 1.93 G,_N = 13.63 G) were the dominant signals detected in untreated Mg-S and Mg-D postischemic hearts, with comparably higher signal intensities observed for the Mg-D group following any ischemic duration. Time courses of postischemic PBN/RO· detection were biphasic for both groups (maxima: 2–4 and 8.5–12.5 min), and linear relationships between the extent of PBN/RO· production and the severity of both mechanical dysfunction and tissue injury were determined. Following each duration of ischemia, Mg-D hearts displayed greater levels of total PBN adduct production (1.7 –2.0 times higher) and lower recovery of cardiac function (42–48% less) than Mg-S hearts. Pretreating Mg-D rats with vitamin E prior to imposing 40-min ischemia/reperfusion, led to a 49% reduction in total PBN/RO· production, a 55% lower LDH release and a 2.2-fold improvement in functional recovery, compared to untreated Mg-D hearts. These data suggest that magnesium deficiency predisposes postischemic hearts to enhanced oxidative injury and functional loss, and that antioxidants may offer significant protection against pro-oxidant influence(s) of magnesium deficiency.     

Clutch size, offspring performance, and intergenerational fitness

It is now generally recognized that clutch size affects morethan offspring number. In particular, clutch size affects asuite of traits associated with offspring reproductive performance.Optimal clutch size is therefore determined not by the numericallymost productive clutch but by the clutch that maximizes collectiveoffspring reproductive success. Calculation of optimal clutchsize thus requires a consideration of ecological factors operatingduring an intergenerational time frame, spanning the lifetimeof the egglaying adult and the lifetimes of her offspring. Theoptimal clutch cannot define reproductive values in advance,but instead requires that the strategy chosen is the best responseto the set of reproductive values that it itself generates.In this article, we introduce methods for solving this problem,based on an iterative solution of the equation characterizingexpected lifetime reproductive success. We begin by consideringa semelparous organism, in which case lifetime reproductivesuccess is a function only of the state of the organism. Foran iteroparous organism, lifetime reproductive success dependsupon both state and time, so that our methods extend the usualstochastic dynamic programming approach to the evaluation oflifetime reproductive success. The methods are intuitive andeasily used. We consider both semelparous and iteroparous organisms,stable and varying environments, and describe how our methodscan be employed empirically.     

Synthesis,characterization, and electrocatalytic behaviour of hydrothermally grown nanostructured La2O3 and La2O3/K-complex

Rare earth metals play a conspicuous role in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting cancerous cells. The alkali metal potassium is a neurotransmitter in the sodium–potassium pump in biomedical sciences. This unique property of rare earth metals and potassium drew our attention to carry forward this study. Therefore, in this work, previously synthesized potassium (K) complexes formed by the reflux of 4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzoic acid (DBA) and potassium hydroxide in methanol, and named [(μ2–4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzoate-κO)(μ2–4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzoic acid-κO)(4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzoic acid-κO) potassium(I) coordination polymer)] were treated hydrothermally with La₂O₃ nanomaterials to obtain a nanohybrid La₂O₃/K-complex. After that, the K-complex was analyzed using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. In addition, the structural and morphological properties of the as-prepared nanostructured La₂O₃/K-complex were also characterized, which involved an investigation using X-ray diffraction (XRD)spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, atomic force spectroscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. After this, the electrochemical redox behaviour of the synthesized nanohybrid material was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Therefore, the results from these studies revealed that the as-prepared material was a La₂O₃/K-complex that has a promising future role in sensing various analytes, as it showed effective electrocatalytic behaviour.