Altered levels of tissue and urinary prostacyclin in rats subjected to pancreas transplantation

Significant increases of TXB2 and PGE2 are reported to occur in pancreas transplantation. These increases are prevented with scavengers of oxygen-free radicals. In this communication, we report on changes of prostacyclin metabolites such as tissue 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha and urinary 2,3-dinor 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha in rats subjected to pancreas transplantation after different periods of organ cold preservation ischemia as well as the effect of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on these changes. For this purpose, male Lewis rats were classified as follows: Group I, Control; Group II, syngenic pancreas transplantation after 15 min of organ preservation in Collins solution at 4 degrees C; Group III, same as II but with 12 hours of organ preservation; Group IV, same as III, but with SOD pretreatment. Results have shown significant posttransplantation increases of both tissue 6-keto PGF1 alpha and urinary 2, 3 dinor 6-keto PGF1 alpha, the latter being a useful marker to evaluate systemic prostacyclin (PGI2) production by rat pancreas. This effect was prevented when the organ had been exposed to SOD during the period of cold preservation ischemia. These results confirm the implication of oxygen-free radicals (OFR) in the ischemia-reperfusion process associated to rat pancreas transplantation leading to enhanced arachidonic acid metabolism.     

The Ultrastructure of the Gastrodermal Gland Cells in the Freshwater Planarian Dugesia gonocephala s.l.

Light and transmission electron microscopy have been used to study the gastrodermal gland cells of the triclad Dugesia gonocephala s.l. The events involved in the ultrastructural transformation and the secretion process in these cells were followed at four different stages in both fasted and fed animals. During the feeding stage their secretory granules are directly discharged into the intestinal lumen by means of a secretion process of the holocrine type that is described in this paper. It is suggested that such secretions contribute to extracellular digestion and that disintegration of the gland cells is accompanied by a differentiation of neoblasts into new gland cells, reflecting a turnover of gland cells during the triclad digestive stages.     

Physiology of a choline-requiring strain of Torulopsis pintolopesii

Summary A choline-requiring strain of Torulopsis pintolopesii when growing on choline-methyl-¹⁴C or choline-methyl-³H excretes the radioactivity incorporated in the first 24–48 h of incubation up to ca. 85–95% of the radioactivity added at the beginning of the incubation. The addition of non-radioactive methionine did not interfere with the uptake and excretion of radioactivity from choline-Me-¹⁴C. Radioactive methyl group of methionine previously incorporated by growing cells of T. pintolopesii on varying concentrations of choline was not excreted in appreciable amounts. No evidence was obtained for the oxidation of choline to betaine, degradation to trimethylamine, or net incorporation of labelled choline into lecithin. The occurrence of a new pathway for the utilization of choline in yeasts is suggested. The requirement of choline by T. pintolopesii is explained tentatively by the formation and excretion of a compound containing the carbon and hydrogen atoms from the methyl groups of choline and whose chemical structure still under study, may comprise a heteroside containing mannitol as the polyhydroxylated moiety.     

Contribution of unusual Arginine-Arginine short-range interactions to stabilization and recognition in proteins

Although the majority of the ion pairs found in proteins consists of two charges of opposite sign, the observation of some unusual arrangements of two arginines led us to a search of such occurrences in the Brookhaven Protein Data Bank. We have found 41 Arginine-Arginine interactions with a C...C distance less than 5 å. Computer graphics analysis of these structures shows that most of the Arg-Arg pairs are found in the vicinity of the surface of the proteins, in an easily hydrated region. In order to determine which factors could stabilize such arrangements of species of similar charge, we have carried out AM1 semi-empirical calculations on a model of two guanidinium ions surrounded by several water molecules. The results show the existence of stable clusters with six or more water molecules, with distances between C atoms around 3 å. The bridging role of the water molecules is an important structural and energetic feature and we find bridges of two and three molecules between the guanidinium ions. These results are in good agreement with the structures found in our search of the experimental data. Enhancement of the electrostatic potential around these clusters, when compared to one of the guanidinium ions alone, is also demonstrated.     

Hydraulic properties of sphagnum peat moss and tuff (scoria) and their potential effects on water availability

The importance of macrostructure to root growth of ryegrass (L. perenne) seedlings sown on the soil surface was studied in two soils in which the macrostructure had resulted mainly from root growth and macro-faunal activity. Sets of paired soil cores were used, one of each pair undisturbed and the other ground and repacked to the field bulk density. Undisturbed and repacked soils were first compared at equal water potentials in the range −1.9 to −300 kPa. At equal water potential, the undisturbed soil always had the greater strength (penetration resistance), and root growth was always greater in the repacked soil with no macrostructure than it was in the soil with macrostructure intact. At equal high strength (low water potentials) it appeared that root growth was better when soils were structured. When strength was low (high water potentials), root growth was better in the unstructured soil. Soils were then compared during drying cycles over 21 days. The average rate at which roots grew to a depth of 60 mm, and also the final percentage of plants with a root reaching 60 mm depth, was greatest in repacked soils without macrostructure. The species of vegetation growing in the soil before the experiment affected root growth in undisturbed soil; growth was slower where annual grasses and white clover had grown compared with soil which had supported a perennial grass. It appears that relatively few roots locate and grow in the macrostructure. Other roots grow in the matrix, if it is soft enough to be deformed by roots. Roots in the matrix of a structured soil grow more slowly than roots in structureless soil of equal bulk density and water potential. The development of macrostructure in an otherwise structureless soil, of the type studied, is of no advantage to most roots. However, once a macrostructure has developed, the few roots locating suitable macropores are able to grow at low water potential when soil strength is high. The importance of macrostructure to establishing seedlings in the field lies in rapid penetration of at least a few roots to a depth that escapes surface drying during seasonal drought. ei]{gnB E}{fnClothier}