Lack of relation between venous plasma total catecholamine concentrations and ventricular arrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction.

Electrocardiographic tracings were recorded continuously to monitor ventricular tachycardia and R-on-T and R-on-apex-T ventricular premature beats, and repeated estimations of venous plasma total catecholamine concentrations were carried out in 26 patients admitted to a coronary care unit with acute myocardial infarction. No relation existed between the increased catecholamine concentrations found in these patients and the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias occurring six to 48 hours after the onset of symptoms.     

Analysis of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid in a cariogenic strain of Streptococcus faecalis: an approach to identifying genetic determinants on cryptic plasmids.

Streptococcus faecalis strains ND539 and OG1 have been previously shown to be cariogenic in gnotobiotic animals. Deoxyribonucleic acid analyses have revealed the presence of a single 26-megadalton plasmid designated pAM539 in the former strain, whereas the latter strain was found to be plasmid-free. By gene transfer experiments, it was possible to construct isogenic pairs of strains that differed only with regard to the presence or absence of pAM539. Comparative studies of isogenic pairs showed that the presence of pAM539 conferred bacterial sensitivity to a bacteriocin produced by S. faecalis strain 5952.     

Subcellular localization of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in the rat hypothalamus.

Homogenates of male rat hypothalami were fractionated by means of differential centrifugation, and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) in the various fractions was quantified by radioimmunoassay. Of the total quantity of α-MSH in the homogenate, 36% was recovered in the 11,500 g pellet and 31% sedimented between 11,500 and 105,000 g. α-MSH was not detected in the 105,000 g supernatant fluid. When the 900 g supernatant fluid was fractionated on continuous sucrose density gradients at non-equilibrium conditions, two populations of particles containing α-MSH were observed. When fractionated at equilibrium conditions, the two populations were recovered in a single band. These sedimentation characteristics indicate that the particles that contain α-MSH differ in size but are similar in density. After hypo-osmotic shock, the large particles containing α-MSH were not demonstrable, whereas the small particles appeared to be resistant to such treatment. In their sedimentation, the particles containing α-MSH were indistinguishable from particles containing thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) but were separable from those that contained luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). It is suggested that the large particles containing α-MSH are synaptosomes.     

Diastereoisomers of cyclocymopol and cyclocymopol monomethyl ether from Cymopolia barbata

Optically active diastercoisomers of the brominated monoterpene quinols, cyclocymopol and cyclocymopol monomethyl ether, were isolated from the green marine alga Cymopolia barbata and charac- terized.     

Formation and fate of ethionine-induced cytoplasmic crystalloids in rat parotid acinar cells.

The formation and fate of cytoplasmic crystalloids in rat parotid acinar cells were investigated during ethionine intoxication and recovery. By day 3 of ethionine treatment, acinar cells had numerous autophagic vacuoles containing recognizable secretory granules and fragments of rough endoplasmic reticulum. By day 5, immature crystalloids were present in many of the autophagic vacuoles, and as the crystalloids matured, a 7-nm periodicity became apparent. Crystalloids were never observed in the Golgi saccules or in any other organelle associated with secretory granule formation. When ethionine treatment was stopped, the acinar cells rapidly returned to their normal morphology. The majority of the crystalloids and autophagic vacuoles were lost from the cells during the first two to three days of recovery. At this time annulate lamellae were present intracellularly, and macrophages, many containing crystalloids, were associated with the basal surface of the acinar cells. These results indicate that the cytoplasmic crystalloids are formed in autophagic vacuoles, and do not represent an abnormal secretory product. Additiontionally, during recovery crystalloids may be removed from the acinar cells by interaction with macrophages. The sequence of autophagic vacuole formation, development of crystalloids, macrophage infiltration and phagocytosis of acinar cell debris appears to be a non-specific response of the rat parotid gland to cellular injury occurring in a variety of experimental and pathological conditions.     

In Vitro Study of Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis during Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Excised Plant Storage Tissue

Mitochondrial biogenesis was induced in Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) tuber by aging tissue discs in distilled water for up to 26 hours. Changes in the purified mitochondrial fraction during aging included an increase in both protein content and specific respiratory activity. Using intact isolated mitochondria, conditions were optimized for incorporation of radioactive amino acid into protein. Incorporation was dependent upon the supply of an oxidizable substrate or an external ATP-generating system and showed characteristic sensitivity to inhibitors of protein synthesis. Aging of the tissue resulted in a 3-fold increase in the rate of in vitro incorporation of [³⁵S]methionine into mitochondrial protein. An analysis of the free amino acid pool in the mitochondrial fraction showed that the decrease in methionine level during aging of intact tissue was sufficient to account for the increased rate of protein labeling. The activation of mitochondrial biogenesis which occurs after slicing is not dependent on an increase in the capacity of mitochondria to synthesize protein as assayed in vitro.     

Morphological and cytochemical alterations of the Golgi apparatus and GERL in rat parotid acinar cells during ethionine intoxication and recovery

The present electron microscopic cytochemical investigation was undertaken to characterize the alterations in the golgi apparatus and GERL of rat parotid acinar cells during ethionine intoxication and recovery. Although the Golgi apparatus and GERL were reduced in size, and some broadening of the Golgi saccules occurred as the result of ethionine treatment, the relative localization of thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPPase) activity in the Golgi saccules, and acid phosphatase activity (AcPase) in GERL, remained unchanged. Shortly after ethionine treatment was stopped, a dramatic redistribution of enzyme activities was noted. Within the first 24 hours of recovery, the Golgi apparatus began to enlarge, and the content of secretory granules increased. By day 3 of recovery, cisternae morphologically identifiable as GERL and forming secretory granules possessed TPPase activity, while AcPase activity was virtually undetectable. After seven days of recovery, the Golgi apparatus and GERL appeared both morphologically and cytochemically normal. The enzyme modulation observed during recovery may be correlated with increased secretory granule production. Furthermore, the presence of TPPase activity in GERL and forming secretory granules lends support to the suggestion that GERL may be derived from the trans Golgi saccule.     

Investigations on the polymorphism of sperm diaphorase in man

Summary The polymorphism of sperm diaphorase (SD) was investigated in 141 unrelated persons from Hessen, Germany, by high voltage thin-layer agarose gel electrophoresis (Age) and thin-layer isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel (Pagif). In addition to the three known common phenotypes SD 1, 2-1, and 2, two further phenotypes with the preliminary designation SD 3-1 and SD 3-2 were discovered. This polymorphism can thus be explained in terms of three alleles, SD¹, SD², and SD³ segregating at an autosomal locus. The allele frequencies calculated from the five different phenotypes SD 1, 2, 2-1, 3-1, and 3-2 are: SD¹=0.7553, SD²=0.2234, and SD³=0.0213. As we also found SD activity in female reproductive tract tissues (ovaries, oviducts, uterus), the term gonadal diaphorase (GD) appears to be applicable.     

Genetic studies of the Macushi and Wapishana Indians

Summary Blood samples from 509 Macushi and 623 Wapishana Amerindians of Northern Brazil and Southern Guyana have been analyzed with reference to the occurrence of rare variants and genetic polymorphisms of the following 25 systems: (i) Erythrocyte enzymes: acid phosphatase-1, adenosine deaminase, adenylate kinase-k, carbonic anhydrase-1, carbonic anhydrase-2, esterase A_1,2,3, esterase D, galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, nucleoside phosphorylase, peptidase A, peptidase B, phosphoglucomutase 1, phosphoglucomutase 2, phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, phosphohexoseisomerase, triosephosphate isomerase and (ii) Serum proteins: albumin, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, hemoglobin A, hemoglobin A₂ and transferrin. Fifteen different rare variants were detected, involving 11 of these systems. In addition, a previously undescribed variant of ESA_1,2,3 which achieves polymorphic proportions in both these tribes is described. Excluding this variant, the frequency of rare variants is 1.1/1000 in 12510 determinations in the Macushi and 4.7/1000 in 15 396 determinations in the Wapishana. The ESA_1,2,3, polymorphism was not observed in 382 Makiritare, 232 Yanomama, 146 Piaroa, 404 Cayapo, 190 Kraho and 112 Moro. Irregularities in the intratribal distribution of this polymorphism in the Macushi and Wapishana render a decision as to the tribe of origin impossible at present. Gene frequencies are also given for previosly described polymorphisms of 5 systems: haptoglobin, phosphoglucomutase 1, erythrocyte acid phosphatase, esterase D, and galactose-1-phosphate-uridyl-transferase.Research supported by the National Science Foundation and the Energy Research and Development Administration.     

Metabolic regulation of glycolate synthesis, photorespiration, and net photosynthesis in tobacco by L-glutamate

Experiments were undertaken to identify and characterize control mechanisms in tobacco leaf tissue which decrease the relative contribution of photorespiratory CO₂ release and thereby increase net photosynthetic CO₂ fixation. A number of metabolites were supplied to illuminated leaf discs and their effect on the inhibition of glycolate synthesis was measured. Glycolate accumulation, in the presence of α-hydroxy-2-pyridinemethanesulfonic acid, was inhibited in leaf discs previously floated on 30 mM solutions of either L-glutamate, L-aspartate, phospho-enolpyruvate, or glyoxylate. The effect of glutamate on glycolate synthesis, which was investigated in detail, was concentration- and time-dependent. Glycolate synthesis was inhibited about 40% by treating leaf discs with 30 mM glutamate, and the inhibition continued for more than 4 hours after the glutamate solution was removed.