A study of connective tissue macromolecules in skin of mice with goldthioglucose-induced obesity.

The effect of obesity on the connective tissue composition of skin was investigated in mice with goldthioglucose (GTG)-induced obesity. Four months after GTG treatment, the obese animals were sacrificed. Acid mucopolysaccharides, glycoproteins, collagen, and elastin were analyzed in the skin and compared to the controls. Total MPS in the skin from obese animals decreased, reflected mostly in hyaluronic acid. Chondroitin showed an increase over controls. The content of soluble glycoproteins varied; total carbohydrate and sialic acid of the glycoprotein tended to increase with obesity. Collagen and elastin both tended to decrease with obesity.     

Suppression of antibody synthesis to dinitrophenylated bovine gamma globulin in contact-sensitized guinea pigs.

The anti-DNP response to DNP-BGG is substantially suppressed in guinea pigs sensitized to DNCB. The degree of antibody suppression varies with the mode of skin sensitization and with the degree of conjugation of the challenging immunogen. Suppression of the anti-HSA response was also induced by the prior injection of CFA.     

A spectroscopic examination on intermolecular interaction of ergosterol with lecithin

The ergosterol and lecithin absorption IR-spectra were studied in a nonpolar anhydrous medium. The thermodynamical and spectral characteristics of dimeric associates and the enthalpy value for trimeric associates of this sterol are determined. Thermodynamical and spectral parameters of ergosterol intermolecular associates with lecithin in a nonpolar anhydrous medium are found. It is established that the intermolecular interaction of lecithin with ergosterol occurs according to the mechanism of hydrogen bond. A conclusion is drawn that the presence of binary bonds and methyl groups in the cyclic and aliphatic parts of the sterol molecule affects greatly the structure of the model membrane and its strength. It is shown that under conditions of the experiment the oxygen of the phosphate group contributes to formation of the molecular associates of lecithin with sterols and not that of the carbonyl group. The obtained experimental data may be at use when studying structural disturbances of native membranes in norm and with different pathologies.