Studies on the frequency and associations of equine leucocyte antigens in sarcoid and summer dermatitis

The equine leucocyte antigen (ELA) types and the clinical diagnosis for equine sarcoid and summer dermatitis were evaluated in 2026 horses representing five breeds. Data were analysed in unrelated animals and in family material. In the case of equine sarcoid, a strong association was observed between the ELA class II DW13 antigen and its effect on Swiss (cP < 0·001), French (cP < 0·0001) and Irish (cP < 0·01) Warmblood horses. The class I antigen A3 occurred more frequently in sarcoid-affected French horses (cP < 0·001). These results confirm our earlier findings (Gerber et al. 1988). Among Freiberger horses, which lack the ELA DW13 and A3 specificities, a breed-specific class I antigen, ABe108, displayed an increased frequency (cP < 0·05) in the affected group. Among Arabian horses, a tendency for increased frequency of the A1 antigen was observed in the affected animals, but the number of affected horses is too small for statistical significance. The Mendelian segregation in diseased half-siblings by ELA DW13 heterozygous stallions showed a strong association (P < 0·0001) between the inherited DW13 antigen and susceptibility to the sarcoid effect. In the case of summer dermatitis, previously published data (Marti et al. 1992) have been extended. The ELA types in four multiple-case families, founded by the same stallion, were analysed for an association with the effect of sarcoid. Eight out of nine ELA-typed affected offspring inherited the paternal haplotype A15, DW23 in contrast to nonaffected offspring where three out of 12 displayed these antigens (P < 0·005). Moreover, the ELA haplotypes of 11 out of 12 informative affected half-siblings sired by another stallion inherited the paternal haplotype A3, W12, DW23 (P < 0·05). Our findings demonstrate statistically significant associations between certain ELA antigens and two equine diseases. It is still unknown if the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules themselves or another linked gene(s) play a role in the pathogenesis of these conditions.     

Urine selenium level in healthy adult population

The level of urine selenium in healthy adult population, 230 persons, was examined. Persons were selected regarding sex, ages, and smoking habits. No differences versus these observations have been found. For a total, group values are 16.96 Se nmol/creatinine mmol, SD=5.44. It is possible from a single-void specimen to express daily excretion of selenium.     

The temporal region and the supramastoid ridge in mesolithic skulls from Padina in the Iron Gate Gorge of the Danube

Studies of the morphological features of the temporal region of mesolithic skulls from Padina in the Iron Gate Gorge of the Danube revealed a very prominent and large supramastoid ridge which is the most striking feature in skulls of both sexes. Mastoid processes were larger in male skulls, but in 25% of the cases there was an overlap between the size of the processes in male and female specimens. The mastoid ridge was prominent in both sexes. The digastric fossa was always well defined in both sexes and in the two thirds of the skull specimens it was deep. The posterior root of the zygoma was prominent in all the skulls, but it was better developed in the male specimens. The parietotemporal suture in both sexes rises above the level of the pterion. There were no morphological or anthropometrical differences between the left and the right side of individual skulls outside the limits of natural asymmetry. All these morphological characteristics of the temporal region may help in racial and sexual diagnosis of the Mesolithic skulls from the Iron Gate Gorge.     

Two-color flow cytometric analysis of monocyte depleted human blood lymphocyte subsets

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal individuals were examined using 16 pairs of FITC and phycoerythrin (PE) directly conjugated monoclonal antibodies. Each pair of reagents was used to evaluate a conventional lymphocyte gate as well as open (non) gate of monocyte depleted PBMC. Parallel studies using the same panel of monoclonal antibodies were carried out on selected, nonmonocyte depleted samples. The major findings of this analysis were that 1,000-1,200 lymphocytes in a 10,000 cell analysis are found outside the lymphocyte gate and of these approximately 2/5 are CD16 positive LGL/NK cells, 2/5 are CD3 positive T cells, and 1/5 are CD19/CD20 positive B cells. Thus, it appears that 10-15% of the lymphoid cells fall outside of the conventional lymphocyte gate, and in certain settings monocyte depletion may be useful to perform more complete evaluation of the total lymphoid cell population obtained after ficoll-hypaque separation.     

The complete amino acid sequence of the A-chain of human plasma alpha 2HS-glycoprotein

Normal human plasma alpha 2HS-glycoprotein has earlier been shown to be comprised of two polypeptide chains. Recently, the amino acid and carbohydrate sequences of the short chain were elucidated (Gejyo, F., Chang, J.-L., Bürgi, W., Schmid, K., Offner, G. D., Troxler, R.F., van Halbeck, H., Dorland, L., Gerwig, G. J., and Vliegenthart, J.F.G. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 4966-4971). In the present study, the amino acid sequence of the long chain of this protein, designated A-chain, was determined and found to consist of 282 amino acid residues. Twenty-four amino acid doublets were found; the most abundant of these are Pro-Pro and Ala-Ala which each occur five times. Of particular interest is the presence of three Gly-X-Pro and one Gly-Pro-X sequences that are characteristic of the repeating sequences of collagens. Chou-Fasman evaluation of the secondary structure suggested that the A-chain contains 29% alpha-helix, 24% beta-pleated sheet, and 26% reverse turns and, thus, approximately 80% of the polypeptide chain may display ordered structure. Four glycosylation sites were identified. The two N-glycosidic oligosaccharides were found in the center region (residues 138 and 158), whereas the two O-glycosidic heterosaccharides, both linked to threonine (residues 238 and 252), occur within the carboxyl-terminal region. The N-glycans are linked to Asn residues in beta-turns, while the O-glycans are located in short random segments. Comparison of the sequence of the amino- and carboxyl-terminal 30 residues with protein sequences in a data bank demonstrated that the A-chain is not significantly related to any known proteins. However, the proline-rich carboxyl-terminal region of the A-chain displays some sequence similarity to collagens and the collagen-like domains of complement subcomponent C1q.     

Sex differences in the response of rats to drugs affecting GABAergic transmission

The administration of diazepam 1.0 mg/kg decreased the level of plasma corticosterone in female but not in male Wistar rats. Picrotoxin, another drug affecting GABAergic transmission, also brought about an increase of plasma corticosterone in both sexes. However, in order to achieve a plasma corticosterone increase of similar magnitude (more than 500%) a threefold higher dose of picrotoxin had to be given to males. When the convulsive properties of picrotoxin were tested, it became evident that the dose of picrotoxin (2.5 mg/kg) which was subconvulsive in male was almost 100% convulsive in female rats. The existing sex differences in the response of rats to drugs affecting GABAergic transmission might have possible implications in the treatment of GABA system dysfunction.     

Association between coated vesicles and microtubules

In this study, a possible functional association between microtubules and coated vesicles is described. We have found that our preparations of microtubules contained coated vesicles in quantities of usually above 10%. These coated vesicles were identified both by immunological methods using anticoat antibodies and by electron microscopy of negatively stained specimens. In the immune replica, two components of coated vesicles, i.e., heavy (clathrin) and light chains, were recognized as constituents of the preparations. In the electron microscope, it was found that coated vesicles were attached predominantly along the length of microtubules. Furthermore, projections from the microtubules to the triskelion centers of the clathrin lattice were identified and thus seem to serve as linkers between the cytoskeletal structure of the organelle. A similar type of association was detected in tissue culture cells; bridges between coated vesicles and microtubules were clearly identified by electron microscopy of thin sections.     

Regression analysis of the spontaneous spike activity of neurons in snail ganglia

Regression analysis of the spontaneous spike activity of neurons in Helix pomatia was carried out with the aim to establish the statistical parameters of this activity under constant experimental conditions and during longer time intervals. The activity of 38 randomly chosen neurons in visceral and parietal ganglia, penetrated by microelectrodes and activated either endogenously by pacemaker potentials or by synaptic inputs, was recorded during time intervals lasting from 20 min to 3 h. The main results of the statistical analyses are presented in the table where the parameters of both cell types are listed. The validity of the regression analysis applied here is discussed from the point of the possibility it offers for carrying on the data processing quickly and without applying complex calculating means. The results are also considered regarding the current interest of our research group.