Immunohistochemical colocalization of glucagon,serotonin, and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase in islet A cells of chicken pancreas

Summary The identity of monoamine-emitted, formaldehyde-induced fluorescence in some pancreatic islet cells was studied in pancreatic tissue of male chickens by fluorescence and immunohistochemistry either on the same tissue section or on serial tissue sections. Pancreatic islet cells emitting intense formaldehyde-induced fluorescence also react immunohistochemically with antisera directed against glucagon, serotonin and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. These results show that chicken pancreatic islet A cells contain glucagon, serotonin, and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, an enzyme involved in the synthesis of serotonin. The islet B cells identified with anti-insulin immunoreactivity, which displayed a very weak formaldehyde-induced fluorescence, did not react with anti-serotonin serum.     

Detection of point mutation in the tyrosinase gene of a Japanese albino patient by a direct sequencing of amplified DNA

Summary Enzymatic DNA amplification and direct DNA sequencing were used to detect a mutation in the tyrosinase gene of an albino patient. Single-base change could be detected by direct sequencing. This base change (G to A) is thought to result in an amino acid change (Arg to Gln) in tyrosinase of the patient.     

Amino acid content in several brain regions of the active and hibernating frog, Rana esculenta

1. Total free amino acid contents in the optic lobe and diencephalon increased significantly during hibernation. 2. Free glutamate + glutamine showed significant increases in the cerebral hemisphere, optic lobe, medulla oblongata and diencephalon. 3. Free aspartate + asparagine showed significant increases in the cerebral hemisphere, optic lobe, diencephalon and olfactory lobe. 4. GABA showed a significant change only in the medulla oblongata. 5. Total protein amino acid level in the cerebellum and olfactory lobe decreased significantly during hibernation and most of the amino acids decreased significantly in these regions. 6. The amino acid metabolism during amphibian hibernation differs from that of the mammal.     

Anomalous secondary vascular tissue inHelminthostachys zeylanica (Ophioglossaceae)

The vascular anatomy ofHelminthostachys zeylanica was examined with special reference to anomalous secondary tissue. Primary xylem development gradually takes place centrifugally. In branched rhizomes with destroyed apices, the vascular cylinder apical to the insertion of branch traces is generally composed of primary xylem, accessory xylem, inner parenchyma of radially arranged cells, outer parenchyma of irregularly arranged cells, and partly crushed phloem, listed in order going outwards. The accessory xylem as well as the inner parenchyma ofHelminthostachys zeylanica is probably secondarily produced, partly to contribute to the branch traces, in a position corresponding to that of secondary vascular tissue developed from a normal cambium inBotrychium sensu lato. It is suggested that although a cambium is lacking inHelminthostachys zeylanica, the secondary vascular tissues are comparable between the genera. The phylogenetic implication of this tissue is discussed.     

Gender, age and circadian blood pressure variation of apparently healthy rural vs metropolitan Japanese

Interim chronobiologic cardiovascular reference data have been described; 353 clinically healthy Japanese subjects were monitored every 15 min for 24h on 2 occasions. Special attention was paid to the difference between metropolitan and rural areas. Not only the MESORs of SBP and DBP, but also the circadian amplitudes, were higher in the Tokyo than in a rural area (Komaki, Aichi Prefecture). Age-related alterations in the circadian profile of cardiovascular variables were noted for women but not for men. The average MESOR remained similar for SBP in men, whereas in women the average MESOR increased with advancing age in both urban and rural areas. The average circadian amplitude of SBP also increased with age in women, but not in men. No significant deviations of acrophase with age were found for SBP and DBP in men, whereas in rural women the acrophase tended to occur earlier with increasing age.     

Experimental and clinical chronocardiology

Recent advances of the chronobiologic approach to experimental and clinical cardiology was reviewed. First, the maximum entropy method (MEM) was introduced as one of the statistical methods analyzing the circadian periodicity. The MEM power spectrum showed a remarkable resolution property. It will play an important role in chronocardiology in cooperation with the cosinor method. Secondly, recent investigations of the relationship between sleep states and cardiac arrhythmias were mentioned from the viewpoints of both experimental and clinical chronocardiology. Next, recent remarkable advance on myocardial ischemia was reviewed. A marked circadian rhythm in the frequency of myocardial infarction onset and sudden cardiac death has been observed. Lastly, a reference has been made to the recent development of ambulatory BP monitoring. A chronobiologic approach to the analysis of time-series data in cardiology will lead to many advantages in clinical practice.     

Rates of assembly and degradation of bacterial ice nuclei

The kinetics of ice-nucleus assembly from newly synthesized nucleation protein were observed following induction of nucleation gene expression in the heterologous host Escherichia coli. Assembly was significantly slower for the small proportion of ice nuclei active above -4.4 degrees C; this was consistent with the belief that these nuclei comprise the largest aggregates of nucleation protein. The kinetics of nucleus degradation were followed after inhibiting protein synthesis. Nucleation activity and protein showed a concerted decay, indicating that most of the functional ice nuclei are in equilibrium with a single cellular pool of nucleation protein. A minority of the ice nuclei decayed much more slowly than the majority; presumably their nucleation protein was distinct either by virtue of different structure or different subcellular compartmentalization, or because of its presence in a metabolically distinct subpopulation of cells.