Direct visualization by confocal fluorescent microscopy of the permeation of myristoylated peptides through the cell membrane

To study the permeability through the cellular membrane of synthetic peptides containing an hydrophobic moiety, we used a 13-mer myristoylated peptide labeled with a N-terminal fluorescent probe. After 2 h of incubation, the subcellular distribution was analyzed in intact chromaffin cells by confocal fluorescent microscopy. Our results demonstrate that myristoylated peptides diffuse into intact cells, showing an heterogeneous distribution, but they do not reach the cellular nucleous, at least during the time range used.     

Hematologic, protein electrophoresis, biochemistry, and cholinesterase values of free-living black stork nestlings (Ciconia nigra)

Hematologic, protein electrophoresis, serum biochemistry, and cholinesterase values were determined in 36 free-living black stork nestlings (Ciconia nigra) between 25 and 53 days of age in order to establish normal reference values for this population. The following values were evaluated: white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, prealbumin, albumin, alpha-globulin, beta-globulin, gamma-globulin, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, calcium, phosphorus, iron, cholesterol, glucose, triglycerides, uric acid, urea, creatinine, total solids, bile acids, and butyrylcholinesterase. Sex-dependent differences were observed in hemoglobin, prealbumin, albumin, gamma-globulin, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, and triglycerides. Packed cell volume, butyrylcholinesterase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, and creatinine increased with age, whereas albumin, mean cell volume, calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol, and total solids decreased with age. These hematologic and serum biochemistry values can be used as reference ranges in free-living black stork nestlings.