THE METABOLISM OF CHYLOMICRON CHOLESTERYL ESTER IN RAT LIVER : A Combined Radioautographic-Electron Microscopic and Biochemical Study

Chylomicrons containing labeled cholesterol, mainly (70%) present as cholesteryl ester, were injected intravenously into intact rats, and samples of liver were obtained 27–210 min later. Most (58–75%) of the injected label was recovered in the liver after 27–75 min. Hepatic uptake occurred without hydrolysis of the labeled cholesteryl ester. In separate experiments, in vitro perfusion of livers of similarly treated rats for 30–35 min washed out only 3–9% of the labeled sterol. Samples of liver and small intestine were prepared for electron microscopy with Aquon as the dehydrating agent. Good retention (70% or more) of labeled cholesterol and satisfactory preservation of ultrastructure were obtained. After 30 min, the radioautographic reaction was localized mainly over the region of the cell boundary of the parenchymal liver cells, with fewer grains being present over intracellular organelles. At later time intervals, when considerable hydrolysis of the labeled cholesteryl ester had occurred, the radioautographic reaction was more evenly distributed. Phagocytosed labeled lipid was seen in Kupffer cells after the larger lipid load; phagocytosis by parenchymal cells was not seen. In other experiments, cholesteryl ester hydrolase activity was found in all subcellular fractions, the microsome and plasma membrane fractions showing the highest activity per mg protein. The mechanism of cholesteryl ester transport into the liver cell may involve: (1) hydrolysis at the cell surface; or (2) slow entry of intact molecules followed by intracellular hydrolysis of the ester bond.     

Der Turnover der Proteine in den Organen des Flußkrebses Orconectes limosus

Zusammenfassung Aus dem exponentiellen Abfall der spezifischen Aktivität nach einmaliger Injektion von L-Leucin-¹⁴C wurden die Halbwertszeiten der Gesamtproteine in den meisten Organen des Mußkrebses zu 8,5–19 Tagen bestimmt, in Leber und Niere der Maus zu 1,6–1,7 Tagen. Muskel- und Hämolymphproteine des Krebses zeigten weit längere Halbwertszeiten. Berücksichtigt man die Temperaturdifferenz von 25° unter Annahme eines Q ₁₀ von 2,0–2,5, so ergeben sich für Maus und Krebs etwa übereinstimmende Geschwindigkeiten des Proteinturnovers.

---

Protein turnover in the tissues of the crayfish, Orconectes limosus

Summary The exponential decay of protein radioactivity after injection of L-Leucin-¹⁴C was measured in the different tissues of the crayfish, and in liver and kidney of the mouse. The half life time of tissue proteins was calculated to be 8.5 to 19 days in most crayfish tissues, 1.6 to 1.7 days in the mouse liver and kidney. Proteins of muscle and hemolymph of crayfish had much longer half life values. Taking into consideration the temperature difference of 25° C and assuming a Q ₁₀ of 2.0 to 2.5, the speed of protein turnover corresponds in the mouse and the crayfish.

---

---

Mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Biological response of lactic streptococci and lactobacilli to catalase

Addition of catalase to milk cultures of lactic streptococci resulted in increased rates of acid production, although it had no effect on cultures of lactobacilli. Milk cultures of both streptococci and lactobacilli produced detectable amounts of peroxide, which reached a maximum level in the early period of acid production followed by a drastic decrease as the acid production increased. Pyruvate and reduced glutathione decreased the amount of peroxide formed, but had little effect on acid production by the streptococci. Ferrous sulfate prevented the accumulation of peroxide and stimulated the rate of acid production by the streptococci to a greater extent than did catalase.     

Preparation of concentrated lactic streptococcus starters

Single-strain cultures of Streptococcus cremoris were grown in a semisynthetic medium with automatic pH control. After centrifugation, the cells were resuspended in sterile nonfat milk (2% of the original volume). There was no significant difference in the maximum population attained when cultures were grown at pH values of 5.5, 6.0, or 6.5 with sodium hydroxide as the neutralizer. With ammonium hydroxide as the neutralizer, maximum populations obtained were increased about twofold. In most cases, the acid-producing ability of the culture concentrates was comparable to that of fresh-milk cultures. There was some variation among strains of S. cremoris with respect to the effects of different neutralizers and levels of pH control on the biological activity of the culture concentrates. The culture concentrates were stored in liquid nitrogen for as long as 231 days without significant loss in biological activity.     

Gesamtbestand an organischen Substanzen der Spinne Tegenaria atrica im Vergleich zu Protophormia terrae novae (Diptera) und Orconectes limosus (Crustacea,Decapoda)

Zusammenfassung Die Pulsationen der Lymphherzen von Normaltieren von Triturus vulgaris L. und T. alpestris Laur. sind unregelmäßig und verändern sich bei Erregung der Tiere. Die Lymphherzfrequenzen sind temperaturabhängig und folgen der R-G-T-Regel. Der Q ₁₀ beträgt bei T. vulgaris 2,5, bei T. alpestris 2,1. In Narkose oder bei Spinaltieren sinkt die Lymphherzfrequenz gegenüber der von Normaltieren ab, der Rhythmus wird regelmäßig. Bei Spinaltieren tritt homolaterale Synchronie auf. Jedes Lymphherz hat ein eigenes motorisches Zentrum im Rückenmark; die Impulse werden über Spinalnerven geleitet. Die Ergebnisse werden mit den von Anuren bekannten verglichen.

---

Physiological investigations on the lymph hearts of urodelans

Summary The heart beats of normal individuals of Triturus vulgaris L. and T. alpestris Laur. are irregular and can be altered by excitation of the animal. The frequencies vary with alterations in temperature according to the rule of van t'Hoff. The Q ₁₀ was measured as 2.5 for T. vulgaris and 2.1 for T. alpestris. In anesthetized and in spinal animals the frequencies are strongly reduced and the pulsations become regular. Spinal animals show homolateral synchrony of the lymph heart beats. The motor centres, separated for each lymph heart, are situated in the spinal cord; the impulses are mediated by spinal nerves. The results are compared with those of the Anurans.

     

Die wirkung der β-(3-Pyridyl)-propion-und der β-(3-Pyridyl)-acrylsäure auf die Atmung der Wurzeln vonSinapis alba L.

V práci byly studovány rozdíly v ú?innosti kyseliny β-(3-pyridyl)-propionové (VIII) a β-(3-pyridyl)-akrylové (IX) v závislosti na stupni nenasycení pobo?ného ?etězce. Obě kyseliny inhibují r?st ko?ene i hypokotyluSinapis alba L. a zp?sobují inhibici sukcinátdehydrogenázového enzymového systému. Kyselina IX inhibuje zmíněný systém p?ibli?ně na dvojnásobek inhibice kyseliny VIII. Cytochromoxydázový systém z?stává témě? neovlivněn. Na základě experimen tálních výsledk? byla zp?esněna strukturní podmínka fytotoxické aktivity modelových slou?enin typu I v tom smyslu, ?e v?echny slou?eniny této struktury inhibují kromě r?stu také aktivitu sukcinátdehydrogenázového systému.     

Activation of Dry Starter Cultures in Milk

The revitalization of mixed strain dried starter cultures at 22 and 32 C in sterile skim milk was materially accelerated when the substrate was fortified with 0.2% pancreas-extract solids. At 22 C, all cultures grew up satisfactorily in 18 hr, and in unfortified milk none of the cultures reached comparable growth in this period. When the cultures were grown at 32 C, the dried cultures developed adequately in 7.5 hr, but required 9 to 10 hr in plain milk. Culture growth was enhanced in milk containing pancreas extract to the extent that the amount of dried culture required to produce adequate acidity in normal incubation times could be markedly reduced. At 32 C, certain cultures could be reduced to 12.5% of recommended amounts, and at 22 C certain ones could be reduced by 50%. Revitalization of the dried cultures in milk containing pancreas extract did not affect the growth of subcultures in plain milk. Also, when dried cultures initiated growth in fortified milk at 32 C their subsequent growth at 22 C in milk alone was not affected. The faster rate of culture growth in milk containing pancreas extract should permit, with more certainty, the establishment of active mother and bulk starters. Furthermore, economy of dried cultures, as well as of time, could be realized by the use of fortified milk.     

A comparative study of the chromosomes in the incipient species of the Drosophila paulistorum complex

Summary Drosophila paulistorum Dobzhansky et Pavan is a complex of six races or incipient species. The races are mostly allopatric, but they are reproductively isolated sufficiently to permit them to exist also sympatrically in some places. The gene arrangements in the chromosomes of the races have been compared by means of examination of the giant chromosomes in the larval salivary glands; 28 strains of all races, and about an equal number of interracial hybrids have been studied.Chromosomal inversion polymorphism has been discovered in all races, even in the Guianan race of which only a single strain is available. Inversion heterozygotes are found in every one of the five chromosomal strands which the species has. Interracial hybrids tend to be heterozygous for more inversions than are present in the strains of the parental races. The Transitional race has however much the same gene arrangements as the widespread Andean — South Brazilian race.With the exception of the Transitional race, and of three other possible exceptions, each race has a collection of its own race-specific inversion polymorphs, not found in the other races. This very striking finding is discussed in connection with the hypothesis which envisages the origin of new species from marginal colonies at the periphery of the geographic distribution area of the ancestral species.The work reported in this article has been carried under Contract No. AT-(30-1)-1151, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, mostly at the Department of Zoology, Columbia University, New York.     

Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis des Selektivitätsmechanismus von Pyrazon

Ve snaze identifikovat fyziologické pochody rozhodující o selektivní toxicitě pyrazonu (1-fenyl-4-amino-5-chorpyridazon-6) jsme sledovali jeho vliv na hlavní enzymové systémy ?ídící dýchání ko?en?. Zatímco jsme u ko?en? zeSinapis alba zjistili úplnou inaktivaci dehydrogenázy kyseliny jantarové—u ko?en? cukrovky je stejný enzym stimulován.     

Fluctuations in human serum lipoproteins during the normal menstrual cycle

1. Lipoproteins were measured in sera from 11 young women having a similar environment and diet. Sera were obtained at weekly intervals over a 12-week period. The values of the lipoproteins during periods in the normal ovulatory cycle were compared to assess their relation to reported hormone concentrations in blood. 2. Only the 4–0s_f (HDL₂) (d 1·125 sodium chloride) fraction changed significantly; it increased at ovulation in ten of the 11 subjects and fell as menstruation approached. 3. There was greater variability in most of the low-density rather than the high-density lipoproteins within individuals. The lipoprotein class most characteristic for an individual was the 4–0s_f or HDL₂ fraction.