Histophysiologic aspects of the remnant intestine of rats subjected to partial resection of the small intestine

The effect of small bowel resection on the morphology, mucous secretion and alkaline phosphatase activity of the remnant intestine was studied five months after surgical operation. Distal small bowel resection produced hyperplasia and infiltration of lymphocytes. The intestinal neutral and acid mucosubstances, and the alkaline phosphatase activity were increased in resected animals, whilst the sulphomucins content of goblet cells was unaltered. The serum alkaline phosphatase activity two and five months after resection was also increased.     

Influence of VIP on D-galactose transport across rabbit jejunum in vivo

D-galactose absorption during 1 min perfusion periods was not affected by the presence of 10(-7)-10(-8) M VIP in the sugar solution, but exposure of mucosa to VIP for 5 min inhibited sugar absorption in the subsequent periods of perfusion. This inhibition is reversed after washing with saline solution. The effect of VIP disappeared when 10(-6) M RMI 12330A was added to the incubation solution together with 10(-7) M VIP and 1 mM D-galactose solution. These results suggest the existence of VIP receptors on the brush border membrane. The action of VIP could be mediated through the cAMP system.     

A cytoplasmically inherited mutation in the fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus

Fourteen mutants of the fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus, showing high levels of resistance to copper, were isolated. In all the mutants, copper resistance behaved as a very variable and unstable trait. In the mutant strain MU102, the mutation was demonstrated to be cytoplasmically inherited. In addition, this mutant strain differed from the wild-type in growth, respiration rate, and shape and viability of spores.     

Isolation of the facA (acetyl-CoA synthetase) gene of Phycomyces blakesleeanus

A 5.6 kb DNA fragment from the fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus has been cloned and sequenced. The fragment contains a gene that probably codes for the enzyme acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase (facA). The amino acid sequence deduced for the P. blakesleeanns protein is highly homologous to those of acetyl-coA-synthetases from other organisms. When placed under the control of a constitutive promoter from Aspergillus nidulans, the cloned gene complemented a facA mutation of this organism. In P. blakesleeanns, the expression of facA is induced by acetate.