Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by mepivacaine

In the last years our researches on neurotropic drugs follow our hypothesis that the strong effects on nervous system have always hidden more widespread effects on all tissues and cells. It is often required to employ local anesthetics in practising dentistry and orthodontics, particularly when children have to be treated. We have assayed in vitro one of these dental anesthetics, mepivacaine, on liver rat mitochondria: it depresses the respiration coupled to phosphorylation in mitochondria having a good respiratory control; so respiratory control too is depressed, but P/O ratio is unaffected; also respiration uncoupled by 2.4-dinitrophenol is depressed. Depressing respiration cooperates with anesthesia; unchanging P/O is good for the health of the cells and tissues treated by the mepivacaine.     

Dolphin ceruloplasmin: the first proteolytically stable mammalian ceruloplasmin.

1. Ceruloplasmin, the blue protein of the plasma of vertebrates, was isolated from dolphin, a marine mammal. The protein showed overall physico-chemical parameters very similar to those of all other mammalian ceruloplasmins. The spectroscopic properties indicated a conservation of the copper binding sites. 2. Non-denaturing electrophoresis revealed a conformation similar to that of other mammalian ceruloplasmins. EPR spectroscopy and calorimetric analyses indicated a three-domain arrangement of the protein typical of "aged" ceruloplasmin. 3. Dolphin ceruloplasmin is the only mammalian ceruloplasmin insensitive to trypsin, plasmin or chymotrypsin. This property, however, does not result in a higher conformational stability of the molecule. Thus, susceptibility of ceruloplasmin to aging is not directly related to the lability to proteases, which is typical of all other mammalian ceruloplasmins so far studied.     

Antibacterial activity of rufloxacin in theStaphylococcus aureus rat granuloma pouch model

The protective effects of rufloxacin againstStaphylococcus aureus-induced infections were compared with those of ciprofloxacin in the granuloma pouch model in the rat. Two strains with different in vitro sensitivity to the drugs were studied. Rufloxacin concentrations persisted longer than ciprofloxacin in the exudate in the pouch cavity and were about eight times higher. Equal doses of rufloxacin and ciprofloxacin had similar antibacterial activities. However, rufloxacin inhibitedStaphylococcus aureus bacterial growth significantly longer than did ciprofloxacin.     

Age and growth of tarpon,Megalops atlanticus,larvae in the eastern Gulf of Mexico,with notes on relative abundance and probable spawning areas

Synopsis Leptocephali were collected in June 1981 and July 1989 over the continental shelf and slope of the Florida west coast. Tarpon larvae ranged 5.5–24.4 mm standard length (SL) and were the second most abundant leptocephalus species. Sagittae examined with compound microscopes and scanning electron microscopy had increments that were presumed to be formed daily. Increment counts made using the two microscopic techniques were not significantly different. Estimated ages ranged 2–25 days with a growth rate (± standard error) of 0.92 ± 0.04 mm d^–1 The least squares linear regression equation SL = 2.78 + 0.92 (age in days) best described the relationship between estimated age and length. Adult tarpon appear to undergo a substantial spawning migration from inshore areas frequented during spring and summer to offshore spawning grounds. Spawning occurs during May, June, and July, although the spawning season may be of greater duration.     

The picoplankton in Antarctic lakes of northern Victoria Land during summer 1989–1990

Summary Photoautotrophic picoplankton is reported from some lakes located near the Italian Antarctic station of Terra Nova. Observations, carried out by both flow cytometry on water samples and electron microscopy on micro-organisms in cultures from each lake, have confirmed the occurrence in all the environments studied of this fraction accounting, in several cases, for more than the 50% of the phytoplankton, measured as chlorophyll. Cultures of the picoplankton fraction from these waters contained known prokaryotic (Synechococcus) and eukaryotic (Chlorella) genera as well as two unidentified entities, possibly prochlorophytes.     

The primary structure and oxygen-binding properties of the single haemoglobin of the high-Antarctic fish Aethotaxis mitopteryx DeWitt

Summary The complete amino acid sequence of the single haemoglobin of the Antarctic fish Aethotaxis mitopteryx DeWitt has been established by automated repetitive Edman degradation on the intact and cleaved (enzymatically and chemically) and chains. A very high sequence identity with other Antarctic fish haemoglobins has been detected. The haemoglobin has a moderate Bohr effect and no Root effect. Organic phosphates and chloride also regulate oxygen binding only to a moderate extent. The lack of Root effect is consistent with the substitution His — Val at the HC3 C-terminal position of the chain. The low overall heat of oxygenation suggests that in this species oxygen transport is an energy-saving process, presumably related to cold adaptation. The comparative analysis of the haemoglobins of Antarctic fishes emphasises some unique features of the oxygen-transport system of A. mitopteryx, which are likely to be related to its also rather unique mode of life.Data presented here were collected during the European Polarstern Study (EPOS) sponsored by the European Science Foundation     

Permeable collagen-glycosaminoglycan cross-linked copolymers for the study of biological responses of coculturede Sertoli and spermatogenic cells

A novel collagen-glycosaminoglycan (C-GAG) substrate was developed to overcome the optical opacity of a HATF nitrocellulose substrate and to provide a more physiological permeable substrate for cocultured Sertoli and spermatogenic cells. Cocultures were prepared on optically transparent C-GAG discs attached to a polyester mesh to facilitate handling. Sertoli cells displayed a cuboidal-to-columnar shape; a large number of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes connected by intercellular bridges were associated with basolateral and apical surfaces of Sertoli cells up to 12 days after plating. Rat Sertoli-spermatogenic cell cocultures have been used for testing the effect of toxicants on rat spermatogenesis in vitro. In our initial studies, we tested the effects of the toxicant gossypol on spermatogenic cells cocultured with Sertoli cells on nonpermeable (plastic) and permeable substrates (HATF nitrocellulose) under both standard culture conditions and during perifusion after achieving a continuous electrical-resistant cell monolayer. A selective mitochondrial structural damage was observed in spermatogenic cells (spermatogonia and spermatocytes) but not in the coexisting Sertoli cells. This damage was time- (15–60 min) and dose-dependent (0.1–10µM) and developed more rapidly under perifusion conditions. Similar mitochondrial damage was reported in the intact animal but required higher concentrations (mg) and longer administration time (months) for detection. Studies are in progress to evaluate the effect of additional toxic chemical agents on functional properties of Sertoli and spermatogenic cells in cocultures prepared on various classes of C-GAG substrates.Abbreviations C-GAG, collagen type I-glycosaminoglycans - C-C6S, collagen type I-chondroitin-6-sulfate - C-H, collagen type I-heparin     

An interspecific linkage map of mouse chromosome 15 positioned with respect to the centromere

We have used an interspecific backcross between C57BL/6J and Mus spretus to derive a molecular genetic linkage map of chromosome 15 that includes 25 molecular markers and spans 93% of the estimated length of chromosome 15. Using a second interspecific backcross that was analyzed with a centromere-specific marker, we were also able to position our map with respect to the chromosome 15 centromere. This map provides molecular access to many discrete regions on chromosome 15, thus providing a framework for establishing relationships between cloned DNA markers and known mouse mutations and for identifying homologous genes in mice and humans that may be involved in disease.     

Role of vasopressin in the modifications of renal function during aging]

In the course of aging, the renal concentrating ability is markedly reduced. This defect may result from an inappropriate synthesis of antidiuretic hormone in the central nervous system or may be due to an impaired renal response to vasopressin. The two hypotheses have been studied in vivo in rats and in vitro in mice. The results of these studies indicated that: 1) dehydration induces a comparable release of vasopressin along the hypothalamo-hypophysial axis in 10, 20 and 30 month-old rats; 2) there is no change with age of the number of nephrons, single nephron filtration rate or transport capacity of Henle's loop of cortical nephrons which could account for an impaired renal response to vasopressin; 3) the reduced concentrating ability of the kidney appears to be linked to a decreased response of the medullary thick ascending limb of Henle's loop which in part is responsible for the cortico-papillary gradient of solutes within the kidney.