Dopaminergic neurones in various retinas and the postnatal development of tyrosine-hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the rabbit retina

Summary The localisation of tyrosine-hydroxylase immunoreactive neurones in retinas of a variety of animals were examined. Immunoreactivity was associated with specific populations of amacrine neurones in all species examined, viz; rabbit, guinea pig, monkey, cow, frog, pigeon and goldfish. Only in the goldfish was immunoreactivity also associated with processes situated in the outer plexiform layer showing that in this species catecholamine interplexiform cells exist.The development of tyrosine-hydroxylase immunoreactive neurones in the rabbit retina was also analysed. The first immunoreactive positive cells were observed by the third postnatal day. The immunoreactive positive neurones at this stage are weak and lack processes. The intensity of the immunoreactivity increases with development, but processes are lacking, until the 10th postnatal day. The immunoreactive neurones only appear fully developed by the 22nd to 28th postnatal day.Autoradiographical analysis of ³H-dopamine uptake strongly suggests that neurones containing tyrosine-hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the different retinas have the capacity to take up exogenous dopamine. It is therefore concluded that localisation of either ³H-dopamine uptake or tyrosine-hydroxylase provides a means of locating catecholamine neurones.     

Immunological comparison of desmosomal components from several bovine tissues

A panel of monoclonal antibodies and conventional antisera directed against desmosomal proteins from bovine muzzle epidermis was used to identify immunologically related proteins from two other bovine stratified squamous epithelia, cornea and esophagus. Desmosome-enriched tissue fractions were prepared from epidermis, cornea, and esophagus. These tissue extracts were electrophoresed on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels, blotted onto nitrocellulose paper, and labeled using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. Labeling with the conventional antisera demonstrates that each of the previously characterized epidermal desmosomal proteins or protein families has an immunologically cross-reacting counterpart in cornea and esophagus. However, chemical differences between homologous desmosomal proteins in these three tissues have also been detected. The corresponding proteins in the different tissues have similar but not always identical apparent molecular weights. Moreover, tissue-restricted antigenic determinants were detected in two of the desmosomal proteins families using four monoclonal antibodies, each of which recognizes a distinct antigenic determinant.     

Presence of Epstein-Barr virus receptors, but absence of virus penetration, in cells of an Epstein-Barr virus genome-negative human lymphoblastoid T line (Molt 4).

This paper reports a unique type of interaction of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with an EBV receptor-positive, genome-negative human lymphoid T cell line (Molt 4), which can be summarized as follows. Although Molt 4 cells express receptors for EBV, they appear to block the penetration of this virus. These observations are derived from combined studies with immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. It is possible that T cell lines bearing receptors for EBV may express such a control on virus penetration.     

Differential uptake of liposomes varying in size and lipid composition by parenchymal and kupffer cells of mouse liver

Using liposomes differing in size and lipid composition, we have studied the uptake characteristics of the liver parenchymal and Kupffer cells. Desferal labeled with iron-59 was chosen as a radiomarker for the liposomal content, because Desferal in its free form does not cross cellular membranes. At various time intervals after an intravenous injection of liposomes into mice, the liver was perfused with collagenase, and the cells were separated in a Percoll gradient. It was found that large multilamellar liposomes (diameter of about 0.5 μm) were mainly taken up by the Kupffer cells. For these large liposomes, the rate of uptake by Kupffer cells was rapid, with maximum uptake at around 2 hours after liposome injection. Unexpectedly, small unilamellar liposomes (diameter of about 0.08 μm) were less effectively taken up by Kupffer cells, and the rate of uptake was slow, with a maximum uptake at about 10 hours after liposome injection. In contrast, parenchymal cells were more effective in taking up small liposomes and the uptake of large liposomes was negligible. In addition, liposomes made with a galactolipid as part of the lipid constituents appeared to have higher affinity to parenchymal cells than liposomes made without the galactolipid. These findings should be of importance in designing suitable liposomes for drug targeting.     

Bullous pemphigoid antigen. II. Isolation from the urine of a patient.

This report concerns the isolation of bullous pemphigoid antigen from the nondialyzable urinary components of a patient with the disease. The isolation was accomplished by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Pemphigoid antigen was found to be a basic glycoprotein that on SDS gel electrophoresis showed two major bands, one in the 18,000 m. w. region and the second with a m. w. of 74,000. Between these two bands, two additional bands appeared; one of 35,000 daltons and the other of 68,000 daltons. The 18,000 m. w. band was eluted from the gel and rerun on SDS gels. These gels showed the 18,000 m.w. band and also the appearance of the 35,000 and 74,000 m.w. bands. This finding indicates that urinary pemphigoid antigen may exist both as a single monomeric form and in polymeric aggregates.     

A convenient synthesis of phosphatidylcholines: acylation of sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine with fatty acid anhydride and 4-pyrrolidinopyridine.

A high-yield synthesis of saturated, unsaturated, and short chain phosphatidylcholines from sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine is described. The procedure offers advantages over other reported procedures for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine in that the large-scale synthesis and purification can be achieved in a minimum time. The procedure utilizes 4-pyrrolidinopyridine as a catalyst and moderate amounts of fatty acid anhydride (2 mol eq. of fatty acid anhydride per mol of OH) in a 1:1 mixture of benzene-dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at 40 degrees--42 degrees C (oilbath) for 2--5 hr. At the end of the reaction, the phosphatidylcholine can be purified in the usual manner or by using a Waters Prep LC/500 with a radially compressed silica gel column eluted with chloroform-methanol-water 60:30:4. At a flow rate of 200 ml/min, the phospholipid elutes in 10--15 min, depending on the chain length and unsaturation.     

The binding of [3H]adenosine to synaptosomal and other preparations from the mammalian brain.

1. A high-affinity adenosine-binding site with Kd(adenosine) 0.5-1.3 microM was demonstrated in particulate and synaptosomal fractions isolated from the cerebral cortex of guinea pig, rat and ox. 2. Binding of [3H]adenosine to this site was inhibited by theophylline and by 2-chloroadenosine, but not by four other adenosine analogues. 3. Endogenous adenosine, found to be present in some preparations at approx. 1 pmol/mg of protein, diminished the binding capacity of the preparations for [3H]adenosine. 4. Addition of the adenosine deaminase inhibitor erythro-9-[1-(1-hydroxyethyl)heptyl]-adenine revealed the presence of a second lower affinity binding site with Kd (adenosine) 5-9 microM and a higher maximal adenosine-binding capacity. The inhibitor partially blocked binding to the high-affinity site in preparations from which adenosine deaminase had been removed by washing. 5. To preparations of particulate fractions maintained under iso-osmotic conditions, adenosine attachment was non-saturable and temperature-dependent, indicating the existence of an active uptake process. 6. The location and binding constant of the high-affinity adenosine-binding site suggest that it corresponds to the receptor site for adenosine-activated adenylate cyclase.     

Formation of ribonucleotide 2'',3''-cyclic carbonates during conversion of ribonucleoside 5''-phosphates to diphosphates and triphosphates by the phosphorimidazolidate procedure.

Ribo- and 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 5'-di- or triphosphates are commonly synthesized by reaction of inorganic phosphate or pyrophosphate with phosphorimidazolidates obtained by reaction of nucleoside 5'-phosphates with 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole. The latter reaction, however, converted UMP, CMP, IMP, GMP, and AMP in high yield to the 2',3'-cyclic carbonate derivatives of their phosphorimidazolidates. Acidic treatment of the product from AMP gave AMP 2',3'-cyclic carbonate dihydrate; this was characterized by its uv, ir, and pmr spectra and by its conversion to adenosine 2',3'-cyclic carbonate by acid phosphatase and to AMP by basic hydrolysis. ADP or ATP synthesized by the phosphorimidazolidate method contained equal or greater amounts of their respective 2',3'-cyclic carbonates. The latter could be quantitatively converted to ADP and ATP, respectively, by 4-hr hydrolysis at pH 10.5, 22 degrees. ADP or ATP can be synthesized without concomitant 2',3'-cyclic carbonate formation by reaction of AMP with phosphorimidazolidates of inorganic phosphate or pyrophosphate.