Cytophotometric Evidence of Non-S-Phase Extra-Dna In Human Neuronal Nuclei

After Feulgen staining with acriflavine-Schiff, the DNA content of glial and neuronal nuclei from various sites of the human CNS (pre- and post-central gyrus, cerebellar cortex and spinal cord) were determined by fluorescence cytophotometry. the specimens were obtained from twelve adult human autopsy cases. Glial cell nuclei always revealed a biomodal DNA distribution pattern with a large 2c and a smaller 4c peak. the 4c peak was most prominent in the cerebellum. A few 8c glial nuclei were found. Neuronal cell nuclei disclosed unimodal DNA histograms with hyperdiploid means in the range 2.2–2.5c (1.8–2.9c for the individual populations). Tetraploid 4c DNA values were not observed, neither in Purkinje cells, nor in pyramidal cells. In eleven out of a total of forty-four slides the higher DNA means of neuronal nuclei were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05) when compared with a population of 2c hepatocytes on the same slide. The results indicate the existence of some ‘extra DNA’ in human neuronal cell nuclei, the biological significance of which has still to be elucidated. It is however, suggested that it may play an important role in the functional activity of the CNS.     

Estrus and ovulation in gilts fed a synthetic progestogen

A synthetic progestogen, allyl trenbolone (AT), was fed to sexually mature gilts to determine the effective doses for the control of estrus and ovulation. Gilts were assigned to a control group and 5 treatment groups receiving 10.0, 12.5, 15.0, 17.5 or 20.0 mg of AT mixed in .45 kg of feed/head/day for 18 consecutive days. Ovarian morphology was determined by laparotomy following estrus or at 10 days post-treatment. AT suppressed estrus in all gilts during treatment. Estrus was effectively synchronized in treated gilts. The average interval from withdrawal of progestogen treatment to estrus was 4.5 days for 48 of 50 treated gilts that were in estrus within 10 days after treatment. The average ovulation rate in treated gilts was similar to control gilts. No detrimental side effects, due to treatment, were observed with the possible exception of a slight increase in the incidence of cystic follicles.     

Stimulation by calmodulin of Ca2+ uptake and (Ca2+-Mg2+) ATPase activity in membrane fractions from ox neurohypophyses

Calmodulin stimulated ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake into a plasma membrane enriched fraction from ox neurohypophysial nerve endings and into a microsome fraction. The ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake and the (Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺) ATPase activity in the plasma membrane fraction exhibited similar pCa and calmodulin sensitivities, suggesting that the enzyme activity is the biochemical expression of a high affinity Ca²⁺ pump. Calmodulin thus seems to play a role in regulation of the intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration in the neurohypophysis.     

Molecular complexes of amino acids with porphyrins as possible precursors of pigment-protein systems

The present communication gives experimental results of the studies of catalytic and photochemical properties of peptide-like compounds containing metalloporphyrins (hemoproteinoids and molecular complexes obtained through adsorption of porphyrins and amino acids on volcanic ash). The data suggest that molecular complexes of amino acids with porphyrins could have evolved in the course of chemical evolution and were intermediated between abiogenically synthesized molecules of amino acids and porphyrins and pigment-protein systems of living organisms.     

Comparative stabilization of biological photosystems by several immobilization procedures

Summary Lettuce thylakoids were immobilized by various methods selected to provide the chloroplast membrane with different environments. These included proteins (albumin and gelatin), polysaccharides (carrageenan and alginate gels) and synthetic polymers (photocrosslinkable resins and polyurethans). Large variations were observed in the activity yield after immobilization (ranging from 3% to 70%), in the storage stability (at 4°C in absence of light) and in the functional stability (continuous work at 20°C under illumination).     

The release of monovalent counterions by addition of divalent countemons to aqueous solutions of maleic acid copolymer

Divalent cation binding and the release of monovalent cations accompanying the cation binding were experimentally studied by ion-selective electrode methods in aqueous solutions of copolymer of maleic acid and ethyl vinyl ether. It was found that in the process of Ca2+ addition, all the Ca2+ added was bound to polyions and the initially condensed Na+ was released in proportion to the concentration of the added Ca2+ up to the critical concentration of added Ca2+ at which the condensation of Ca2+ ceases. Values of the structural charge density parameter xi(s), were determined from the end-points of condensation of Ca2+. The process of Na+ release by adding Ca2+ was analyzed on the basis of the counterion condensation theory by using these xi(s) values. In addition, the relationship between the activity coefficient gamma-- of Ca2+ and degree of neutralization alpha in salt-free solutions was obtained from the Manning theory. Agreement between the calculated and experimental values was excellent in both cases.     

Scanning electron microscopic study of spermatozoa from gossypol-treated rats

Summary Spermatozoa from the cauda epididymidis of gossypol-treated rats exhibit distinctive departures from the morphology of spermatozoa from control rats: wrinkled and disorganized cell membrane in the head and tail regions, cell membrane missing from segments of the tail midpiece and principal piece regions, malformed heads, decapitate spermatozoa, retention of a cytoplasmic droplet at variable loci along tail midpieces, and looped tails. The observations suggest that gossypol exerts its contraceptive effect during spermatocytogenesis and spermiogenesis, including the posttesticular development and maturation of spermatozoa in the epididymis.