Serum Enzyme Activity of Newborn Calves,Pigs, and Lambs

Serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT = GOT), alanine aminotransferase (AlAT = GPT), and total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) have been investigated in newborn calves, pigs, and lambs. In the two latter species the LDH isoenzyme distribution in serum was also studied. Blood samples were taken at frequent intervals from birth to 48–72 hrs. post partum. Calves and pigs were born with very low serum enzyme values, whereas lambs showed a picture more similar to what has been reported in human infants. In all species a marked temporary enzyme increase occurred during the first 24–48 hrs. This elevation was found not to be due to colostrum feeding, since a parallel increase was found in starved animals. Possible regulating mechanisms are discussed. The LDH isoenzyme pattern proved to be more stable than total LDH in the early post-natal period. The percentage isoenzyme distribution, however, showed characteristic differences from that found in adult animals of the same species.     

Carotenoids of Thiorhodaceae

Summary The isolation, morphology and growth chracteristics of pure cultures of a Thiothece, Lamprocystis and Thiodictyon strain are described.Their carotenoid composition is reported. The Thiothece strain produced in addition to okenone (1), several related ketocarotenoids, among which a demethylated okenone (6) was identified by a small scale total synthesis. Thiodictyon and Lamprocystis produced carotenoids of the rhodopinal (previously warmingone) series, the latter organism contained as major carotenoids a lycopenol (4), not previously found in Nature, and a cross-conjugated lycopenal (2), previously called anhydro-warmingone.Part 7. Acta chem. scand. 21, 2185 (1967).     

The Light Requirement for Different Steps in the Development of Chloroplasts in Excised Wheat Roots

For the formation of chloroplasts in excised wheat roots blue light is necessary, but red light enhances the blue light effect. Intensity-response relationships and action spectra have been determined for the specific blue light effect as well as for the effect of red light when given before or after blue light. The longest wave length giving a blue light effect is about 500 nm. The spectrum shows a peak at about 450 nm, and a considerable effect extends down to 368 nm, the shortest wave length tested. The photoreceptor mechanism for the “blue reaction” is thought to be related to that of certain phototropisms and chloroplast movements, and to that involved in carotenoid synthesis in certain fungi. The active pigment is thought to be either a carotenoid or a flavoprotein, probably the latter. The effect of red light shows similar action spectra whether the red light is given before or after the blue, and they are consistent with protochlorophyll absorption. However, much less light is needed to produce a detectable response when the red light is given before the blue light than after. Because of the similarity of the spectra phytochrome may also be involved in the response to red light when given before blue. Far-red reversal has not been tested. The results are discussed in relation to the development of chloroplasts in leaves.     

THE OCCURRENCE AND STRUCTURE OF MICROBODIES : A Comparative Study

Livers from chickens, rats, mongrel dogs, Dalmatian dogs, and man have been examined in the electron microscope in order to compare the microbodies with the known content of uricase. It is concluded that microbodies with inclusion are present in rats, mongrel dogs, and, although the inclusion generally is smaller, in Dalmatian dogs. The inclusion has a characteristic structural appearance. These species (rat, dog) have uricase. Chickens and man lack both the enzyme uricase and the microbody inclusion. This evidence and that from previously published electron micrographs in the literature on microbodies support the notion of a positive correlation between uricase and microbodies with an inclusion. It is recommended that the term "uricosome" be used for such microbodies that have an inclusion of the appearance here described.     

Sandwich Embedding of Monolayers of Cells in Epoxy Resin for Ultrathin Sectioning

In this procedure for embedding monolayers of cells, the usual glass slides are replaced by plates of resin 1-1.5 mm thick. Unlike the open-face embedding technique, the present procedure uses only a few drops of unpolymerized resin, which are applied to the fixed and dehydrated cells. During polymerization this small amount of liquid resin spreads across a relative large area, leaves the cells covered by a very thin layer, and permits phase contrast observations through it. Ultrathin sections of a particular cell encircled by a rotary scriber can be obtained by sectioning the resin slide, which has been trimmed and mounted directly in the specimen holder of the ultramicrotome.     

Photoadaptation in marine Arctic diatoms

Summary Photoadaptation in some marine Arctic diatoms has been studied. Thalassiosira antarctica, Nitzschia delicatissima and Chaetoceros furcellatus were grown at-0.5°C and various irradiances and continuous light. Growth and cellular chlorophyll were followed during transitional phase after the algae had been transferred from one irradiance to another. Adaptation time for cellular chlorophyll was linearly related to the gradient in irradiance, and adaptation to transfer from high to low light was faster than from low to high light. Adaptation time was found to be species dependent, and Arctic diatoms growing at low temperature seemed to adapt as fast as temperate species.Contribution No. 243 from Trondhjem Biological Station     

Plasminogen activator inhibitor (type-1) in rat adrenal medulla

Summary Plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) was identified in extracts of rat adrenal medulla, and its immunohistochemical localization was studied together with that of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). By staining of adjacent sections and by doublestaining of the same section we demonstrate that the same cells of the adrenal medulla contain both PAI-1 and t-PA immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm. In addition a few ganglion cells of the adrenal medulla were found to contain PAI-1 but not t-PA. Neither of the components were found in the adrenal cortex. Analysis of extracts from isolated adrenal medulla using reverse zymography showed the presence of a plasminogen activator inhibitor with M _r46000. The inhibitory activity disappeared when the extract was passed through a column with sepharose-coupled anti-PAI-1 IgG, while the run-through from a similar column coupled with preimmune IgG still contained the inhibitor. The present findings suggest that PAI-1 could play a role in the regulation of t-PA activity in the rat adrenal gland medullary cells.