Three dimensional organization of mammalian adrenal cortex

Summary The adrenal cortex of different mammals was studied by SEM in order to demonstrate its actual three-dimensional organization. In the rat, as well as in the cat and pig, the adrenal cortex appeared as a tunnelled continuum of polyhedral cells arranged in plate-like structures (laminae). This laminar arrangement was more evident in the inner fasciculate and reticular zones where the cortex revealed a striking similarity to liver tissue. The polyhedral cells of all cortical zones possessed regular facets populated by small pits, larger invaginations and numerous microvilli with the exception of very short and smooth areas probably corresponding to attachment zones and/or gap junctions. This cellular architecture produced a labyrinthic system of intercellular channels or lacunae in which the capillaries were suspended.The pericapillary areas of this labyrinth contained microvilli, amorphous material, a delicate net of fibrils and occasional cells. The intercellular compartment of this lacunar system was mainly bordered by numerous microvilli arising from endocrine cells.The luminal surface of the capillary wall showed not only irregularly protruding margins (interpretable as endothelial junctions) but also clearly overlapping and flattened endothelial extensions.In all the animals and areas of the adrenal cortex examined, the endothelial wall was provided with abundant clusters of small fenestrations (about 50 nm in diameter) generally arranged in sieve plates. Larger fenestrations were noted mainly in the fasciculate and reticular zones of the cat and pig and occasionally in the rat.A final point related to the nature and significance of sinusoidal fenestrations was the occurrence of irregularly shaped and intracapillary located cells mainly noted in the deeper zones of the fasciculate and reticular zones of the gland. These elements — possessing the surface characteristics of macrophages — were observed, with their irregular and slender evaginations, in close proximity to the large fenestrations in a manner reminiscent of Kupffer cells within the lumen of liver sinusoids.     

Phototaxis in Cryptomonas sp. under condition suppressing photosynthesis

Effects of 3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-l, 1-dimethylurea (DCMU)on photosynthetic oxygen evolution, respiratory oxygen uptake,phototactic response and swimming rate in Cryptomonas sp. weredetermined and compared. Photosynthetic oxygen evolution wascompletely inhibited in the presence of 10^–5 M DCMU. Thetreatment did not significantly affect the rates of respiratoryoxygen uptake, phototaxis, and swimming, indicating that directparticipation of photosynthesis in the phototaxis of this algacan be ruled out. Wavelength dependency of photosynthetic oxygen evolution wasalso determined in the range of 560 to 700 nm. The rate of photosyntheticoxygen evolution at 680 nm was as high as that at 560 nm, butno phototactic activity was seen at 680 nm although it was maximumat 560 nm. This is consistent with the above conclusion. (Received February 16, 1976; )     

Stereoselective synthesis of 5-O-carbamoylpolyoxamic acid (2-amino-5-O-carbamoyl-2-deoxy-l-xylonic acid

One of the constituents of polyoxin J, 2-amino-5-O-carbamoyl-2-deoxy-l-xylonic acid (3), has been synthesized stereoselectively from l-sorbopyranose. The amino acid function of 3 was formed in the final stage of the synthesis by reduction of the corresponding α-azido carboxylic acid.     

Arabinosylnucleoside 5'-triphosphate inhibits DNA primase of calf thymus

It has been shown that DNA primase activity is tightly associated with 10S DNA polymerase alpha from calf thymus and that the ribonucleotide-dependent DNA synthesis is more sensitive to araCTP than DNA-primed DNA synthesis (Yoshida, S., et al. (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 741, 348-357). Here we measured DNA primase activity using poly(dT) template or M13 bacteriophage single-stranded DNA template and primer RNA synthesis was coupled to the reaction by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I Klenow fragment. By this method, the primer RNA synthesis can be measured independently of the associating DNA polymerase alpha. Using poly(dT) template, it was found that arabinosyladenine 5'-triphosphate (araATP) strongly inhibited DNA primase in competition with rATP. The apparent Ki for araATP was 21 microM and the ratio of Ki/Km (for rATP) was as low as 0.015. With poly(dI, dT) or M13 DNA, it was shown that araCTP also inhibited DNA primase in the similar manner. Product analysis using [alpha-32P]rATP showed that araATP inhibited the elongation of primer RNA. However, it is not likely that arabinosylnucleotides act as chain-terminators, since incubation of primer RNA with araATP did not abolish its priming activity. From these results, it is suggested that arabinosylnucleotide inhibits the initiation as well as elongation of Okazaki fragments in mammalian cells.     

Age-related change in plasma concentration of 7B2 (a novel pituitary polypeptide) in normal humans

Using a specific radioimmunoassay, we measured concentrations of plasma 7B2 (a novel pituitary polypeptide) immunoreactivity (7B2-IR) in normal human subjects, patients with chronic renal failure and those with liver cirrhosis. Mean (+/- SEM) values of plasma 7B2-IR in normal healthy men and women were 55.8 +/- 1.2 pg/ml (n = 266) and 56.1 +/- 0.9 pg/ml (n = 408), respectively. The elevation of plasma 7B2-IR showed a relationship with age of the subjects, in both men (r = 0.39, t = 6.86, p less than 0.001) and women (r = 0.35, t = 7.44, p less than 0.001). Plasma 7B2-IR concentrations were elevated in patients with chronic renal failure (536 +/- 45 pg/ml, Mean +/- SEM, n = 10) as well as those in liver cirrhosis (95 +/- 10 pg/ml, Mean +/- SEM, n = 15) compared to values in normal subjects, suggesting that 7B2 is mainly eliminated through the kidney and is partly metabolized in the liver.     

Environmental DNA analysis shows high potential as a tool for estimating intraspecific genetic diversity in a wild fish population

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has recently been used as a new tool for estimating intraspecific diversity. However, whether known haplotypes contained in a sample can be detected correctly using eDNA‐based methods has been examined only by an aquarium experiment. Here, we tested whether the haplotypes of Ayu fish (Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis) detected in a capture survey could also be detected from an eDNA sample derived from the field that contained various haplotypes with low concentrations and foreign substances. A water sample and Ayu specimens collected from a river on the same day were analysed by eDNA analysis and Sanger sequencing, respectively. The 10 L water sample was divided into 20 filters for each of which 15 PCR replications were performed. After high‐throughput sequencing, denoising was performed using two of the most widely used denoising packages, unoise3 and dada2 . Of the 42 haplotypes obtained from the Sanger sequencing of 96 specimens, 38 (unoise3 ) and 41 (dada2 ) haplotypes were detected by eDNA analysis. When dada2 was used, except for one haplotype, haplotypes owned by at least two specimens were detected from all the filter replications. Accordingly, although it is important to note that eDNA‐based method has some limitations and some risk of false positive and false negative, this study showed that the eDNA analysis for evaluating intraspecific genetic diversity provides comparable results for large‐scale capture‐based conventional methods. Our results suggest that eDNA‐based methods could become a more efficient survey method for investigating intraspecific genetic diversity in the field.     

Survival rate and environmental response of current-year seedlings of the temperate liana Wisteria floribunda across a heterogeneous environment

Journal of Plant Research - Lianas have a huge influence on forest structure and function. However, it is unclear how the surrounding environment affects the establishment of liana seedlings in...     

Genetic structure of Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) in southern Japan based on genome-wide RADseq analysis

Coral Reefs - Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) are known to be widely distributed, and previous studies (showing limited genetic structure) suggest that there are high...     

Proteomic Study to Understand Promotive Effects of Plant-Derived Smoke on Soybean (Glycine max L.) Root Growth Under Flooding Stress

Plant-derived smoke plays a key role in plant growth. Proteomic technique was used for underlying mechanisms of plant-derived smoke on the growth of soybean (Glycine max L.) under flooding stress. The length and weight of soybean root increased with 2000 parts per million plant-derived smoke under flooding stress within 4 days. Altered proteins by plant-derived smoke treatment under flooding stress were mainly related to protein metabolism, stress, and redox. Furthermore, proteins related to mitochondrial electron transport chain decreased by flooding stress; however, they increased by addition of plant-derived smoke under flooding stress. Based on the results of proteomic analysis, confirmation experiments were performed. ATPase abundance and ATP content increased with the treatment of plant-derived smoke under flooding stress. Furthermore, the ascorbate/glutathione cycle was activated with the treatment of plant-derived smoke under flooding stress. These results suggest that plant-derived smoke improves the root growth of soybean with energy production and reactive oxygen scavenging even if it is under flooding stress, which might positively regulate soybean tolerance towards flooding stress.