Lipid peroxidation in liver, plasma, and erythrocytes of rats chronically treated with ethanol

The effect of ingestion of water containing 20% ethanol for 1-2 months on lipid peroxide levels of liver, plasma, and erythrocyte was investigated in rats. Our results show that elevated plasma lipid peroxide levels and erythrocyte susceptibility to lipid peroxidation may reflect stimulated lipid peroxidation in rat liver following chronic ethanol ingestion.     

Total biodegradation of 4-chlorobiphenyl (4 CB) by a two-membered bacterial culture

Summary Several bacterial strains that can oxidize mono- and dichlorinated biphenyls with one unsubstituted ring have already been described. The major route for this biodegradation leads ultimately to the corresponding chlorobenzoic acid, but several other minor chlorinated metabolites that might possibly be of concern for the environment have also been described previously. Since none of the bacterial strains that are able to oxidize these chlorinated biphenyls in pure culture are known to degrade chlorobenzoic acid, the oxidation of these substrates by axenic cultures always generates chlorobenzoates plus several other metabolites. In the present study, we have estimated the biodegradation of 4-chlorobiphenyl (4CB) by a two-membered bacterial culture containing one strain able to grow on 4CB and to transform it into 4-chlorobenzoate (4CBA) and one strain able to degrade 4CBA. The results were encouraging, since it was shown that the degradation of 4CB was more rapid and complete with the double bacterial culture.     

An immunocytochemical study of the optic ganglia of the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus (Nordmann 1842) with antisera against biologically active peptides of vertebrates and invertebrates

Summary The peptidergic system in the optic ganglia of Astacus leptodactylus is characterized by the immunocytochemical application of 15 antisera raised against biologically active peptides of vertebrates and invertebrates. Positive reactions were found with anti-FMRFamide, antiMSH, anti-vasotocin, anti-gastrin, anti-CCK, anti-oxytocin, anti-secretin, anti-glucagon and anti-GIP. Based on immunochemical reaction and localization it is possible to distinguish 30 cell groups. Only part of these cell groups is found in the known classical neurosecretory cell regions. This observation demonstrates a more extensive peptidergic system than formerly recognized. The morphology of this peptidergic system suggests that one part is neurohormonal and the other part neurotransmitter-like or neuromodulatory.     

Isolation of specific antigens from Angiostrongylus cantonensis. 1. Preparative flatbed isoelectric focusing

Electrophoresis on SDS gel and analytical isoelectric focusing showed that a crude extract of Angiostrongylus cantonensis consisted of at least 40 protein components with molecular weights ranging from 13 000-70 000 and isoelectric points of pI values ranging from 3.7-10.0. Crossed-immunoelectrophoresis with a hyperimmune antiserum to A. cantonensis showed at least 40 different antigenic components in the crude worm extract which were cross-reactive with those of Ascaris suum, Metastrongylus apri and Toxocara canis. Using preparative isoelectric focusing, the somatic worm preparation was divided into 13 equal fractions, of which 3, 4 and 5, with pI values of 3.7, 4.0 and 4.45 respectively, were later shown by immunoelectrophoretic techniques and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to contain antigens specific to A. cantonensis.     

Serological survey of T-lymphocyte differentiation antigens in wild mice

Allelic distributions of Thy-1, Ly-l, and Ly-2 antigens in wild mice are characteristic of each Mus musculus subspecies. Eastern mice (M.m.molossinus, M.mmusculus, M.m.castaneus, M.m.bactrianus) express the Thy-1.1 antigen, whereas Western mice (M.m. domesticus, M.m.brevirostris) express the Thy-1.2. All mice from wild populations examined in this survey express the Ly-1.2. The Ly-2.1 is distributed in Eastern mice and some Western mice, and the Ly-2.2 is found in the remaining Western mice. Allelic distributions of these antigens were also examined in two other species, Mus spretus and Mus spicilegus. Allelic constitutions of Thy-1 and Ly-1 in these species are similar to those of Eastern mice. Some M.spicilegus, however, express the Ly-1.1 antigen. This antigenic type is not found in M.musculus. Some Eastern mice related to M.m.castaneus react weakly to Ly-1.2-specific and Ly-2.1-specific monoclonal antibodies in both the complement-mediated cytotoxicity test and the absorption test. These results suggest that M.m.castaneus has unique alleles in the Ly-1 and Ly-2 loci.     

Spontaneous Mutations Modifying the Activity of Alcohol Dehydrogenase (Adh) in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

In a marked-inversion balanced lethal system of the second chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster, mutations were accumulated under minimum pressure of natural selection in 1000 individual lines that originated essentially from two individuals. After about 300 generations, the specific activities of alcohol dehydrogenase of 69 randomly selected individual lines were measured with replications using four replicated vials (on 2 days—two replications per day) by observing the reduction of NAD⁺ to NADH at 340 nm. Total soluble protein as the basis of standardization of enzyme activity was measured by the Lowry method for each vial. A control experiment was made immediately after the establishment of 20 individual lines from a single genotype. A significant increase in genetic variance was observed among the mutation-accumulating lines but was not detected in the control experiment. The statistical analysis of the data on the basis of the one-band/one-gene hypothesis suggests that many mutations controlling the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase occurred in regions different from the alcohol dehydrogenase locus itself, mainly in the noncoding DNA. Furthermore, it is suggested that transposon-like elements are related to the induction of these changes in alcohol dehydrogenase specific activities. Additional experimental evidence supporting this conclusion is also given.     

Ovarian and fat body protein concentrations in Ips sexdentatus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) parasitized by nematodes

The protein concentrations of fat body and ovaries in Ips sexdentatus either uninfected or infected by Parasitaphelenchus sp., P. sexdentati, or Contortylenchus diplogaster were measured at various stages of insect development, from preswarming maturation to the first oviposition (24 hr after mating). Weight variations of the fat body and ovaries in insects infected by C. diplogaster show the same evolution as those observed in uninfected insects, but at a much lower level. Fat body proteins in uninfected insects reach their minimum level during swarming, but they remain fairly constant throughout the maturation of the first egg. After dropping shortly after swarming, the ovarian protein level in such insects increases in two stages during ovarian maturation. The first stage, which corresponds to a slow protein incorporation, takes place during the first 12 hr after mating. During the second stage, i.e., beyond 12 hr, a significant level of proteins is rapidly incorporated into the ovaries. In insects infected by Parasitaphelenchus fat body proteins are reduced and protein incorporation into the ovaries is reduced; Parasitaphelenchus would thus affect at least some proteins required for ovarian maturation in their host. Fat body protein levels are even more affected by C. diplogaster than by Parasitaphelenchus, while incorporation into ovaries seems to be less affected in spite of slower ovarian growth. C. diplogaster might thus essentially act both upon proteins which are not required for the ovarian maturation of their host and upon nonproteinaceous substances that are required for such maturation. Results are discussed in relation to the possible mode of action of parasitic nematodes.     

Characterization of newly isolated monoclonal antibodies against MHC of a Japanese wild mouse

We have already developed nine B10.MOL congenic strains carrying H-2 haplotypes derived from Japanese wild mice, Mus musculus molossinus, with the C57BL/10 genetic background. To obtain monoclonal antibodies against the H-2 antigen of the Japanese wild mouse, we carried out cell fusion using spleen cells from the animal immunized with one of the B10.MOL strains, B10.MOL-SGR (H-2 ^wm7). As a result, 19 hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies were produced. Analysis with the intro-H-2 recombinants derived from B10.MOL-SGR indicated that 8 of them reacted with the class I and II with the class II molecule. The class I antibodies were tested for their cross -reactivities on wild mice and on the panels of standard inbred and B10.MOL strains. Most of the antibodies reacted with both the Japanese wild mice and the other subspecies, including standard inbred, while two antibodies highly specific for the donor H-2K region reacted with only three wild-derived mice, two M. m. molossinus from Anj o and Shizuoka, Japan, and one M. m. domesticus from Pigeon, Canada. In addition, all of the other four antibodies reactive with the K antigen of B10.MOL-SGR also reacted with the same three wild mice. The wild mice belonging to different subspecies might share very similar H-2K antigenic determinants in spite of their genetic and geographical remoteness.