Cortinarius sarcoflammeus sp. nov, a new species of subgenus Dermocybe (Agaricales) growing in Sphagnum bogs

 Cortinarius sarcoflammeus is proposed as a new species belonging to subgenus Dermocybe, on the basis of its morphological, chemical and ecological characters. The strong red-orange colour of the context and stipe base, large spores, sphagnicolous habitat and high dermorubin content are characteristic for the new species. Holotypes of C. huronensis and C. huronensis var. olivaceus have been examined for comparison, and their differences discussed. Photographs and line drawings of C. sarcoflammeus are added. Received February 13, 2001 Accepted March 23, 2001     

Nitric oxide decreases superoxide anion generation by microsomes from soybean embryonic axes

Experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of exposure to nitric oxide on the ability by NADPH‐dependent microsomal electron transfer to generate oxygen radicals. Such interactions could play a role in the potential antioxidant action of nitric oxide (NO). Isolated microsomes from soybean ( Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv. Hood) embryonic axes were exposed to an exogenously added source of nitric oxide (NO) (S‐nitrosoglutathione + dithiothreitol). The O₂⁻ generation rate by microsomes exposed to NO decreased significantly as compared to the rate measured in microsomes incubated in the absence of NO. The exposure of the microsomes to the NO donor did not alter the microsomal rate of hydroxyl radical generation. Preincubation of the microsomes with the NO donor affected neither iron reduction rate nor activity of cytochrome c reductase. However, cytochrome P₄₅₀ activity was significantly inhibited after exposure to NO. This inhibition was completely prevented by hemoglobin. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that NO exhibits a potential antioxidant role in the plant cell by decreasing the rate of generation of superoxide anion. Since endogenous NO was detected in homogenates of soybean embryonic axes by EPR studies, this interaction between NO and cytochrome P₄₅₀ in soybean embryonic axes could be a factor of relevance for the control of oxidative stress in vivo.     

Circadian rhythm of serum and tissue lipids in fed and fasted rats

The oscillations of the free fatty acid concentration in the serum and white (epididymal) adipose tissue, of triglycerides in the serum and liver, of total serum, liver and adrenal cholesterol and of serum phospholipids were studied at 3-hour intervals for a period of 24 hours in fed male Wistar rats and in animals fasted for 24 hours (both adapted to an illumination regimen of 12 hours' light and 12 hours' darkness. The rhythm--studied by means of the cosinor analysis--was present in most of the given parameters; it was not recorded in the liver triglycerides and serum phospholipids of fasted rats and in the adrenal cholesterol of fed animals. Apart from the circadian rhythm, many parameters distinctly displayed an ultradian rhythm, mainly an approximately 12-hour period. In general, one day's starvation did not significantly affect the course of the circadian oscillations of the given indicators of rat lipid metabolism.     

Ferritin in normal human peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subpopulations

Six peripheral blood lymphoid fractions (total lymphocytes, non-T, T, Tar (autologous rosette-forming T cells/precursor), T mu (helper), and T gamma (suppressor) lymphocytes) isolated through rosetting procedures were examined for the presence of ferritin by a direct immunofluorescence technique. Although ferritin was present in all lymphoid fractions studied, a significantly higher proportion of ferritin-containing cells were detected in the T-cell fraction than in the non-T-cell fraction, (mean +/- SD = 7.9 +/- 1.6% and 5.0 +/- 1.2%, respectively). T mu- and T gamma-cell fractions showed a twofold increase in the number of ferritin-positive cells (14.1 +/- 1.4% and 15.4 +/- 2.6%, respectively), as compared with Tar (7.0 +/- 0.9%)-and total lymphocyte (6.9 +/- 1.3%)-cell fractions. These results indicate that ferritin is preferentially distributed in T mu and T gamma lymphocytes and may constitute the basis for explaining some of the roles exercised by these cells in the control of other biological systems.