An apparatus to measure in vivo biomechanical behavior of dorsi- and plantarflexors of mouse ankle.

We developed an apparatus to quantify the biomechanical behavior of the dorsi- and plantarflexor muscles of the ankle of an anesthetized mouse. When the dorsi- or plantarflexor muscle group is activated by electrical stimulation of either the peroneal or tibial nerve, the apparatus measures the moment developed about the ankle during isometric, isovelocity shortening, or isovelocity lengthening contractions. Displacements may be performed over the full 105 degrees range of ankle motion with an angular resolution of 0.09 degrees. Bidirectional isovelocity ramps in ankle angle up to 1,100 degrees/s are possible and are equivalent to maximum velocities of 2.3 fiber lengths/s (Lf/s) for the fibers in tibialis anterior muscle and 11.9 Lf/s for those in gastrocnemius muscle. During single contractions of the dorsi- and plantarflexor muscle groups at 37 degrees C and with both knee and ankle joint at 90 degrees neutral position, the isometric tetanic force developed was 1.4 and 3.3 N, power output at 2.2 Lf/s was 3.1 and 5.9 mW, and power absorption at 0.5 Lf/s was 4.9 and 9.0 mW, respectively. These values are in reasonable agreement with data from the same muscle groups tested in situ. We conclude that the apparatus provides valid measurements of force and power of the dorsi- and plantarflexor muscle groups.     

Human placental tissue stimulates bovine capillary endothelial cell growth,migration and protease production

A crude extract of human placenta has been demonstrated to stimulate growth, motility and the production of the proteases plasminogen activator and collagenase in cultured bovine capillary endothelial cells. These data are in keeping with the presence of an angiogenic factor(s) in human placenta.     

Initiation of the extrinsic pathway of coagulation. Association of factor VIIa with a cell line expressing tissue factor

We have examined initial assembly of the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation on cell surfaces with radiolabeled human factor VIIa and a human fetal lung cell line possessing abundant functional tissue factor activity. Binding of factor VIIa to these cells was observed and was time- and temperature-dependent. Binding of factor VIIa was quantitatively equivalent at 37 and 6 degrees C, although the kinetics of binding differed. The radiolabeled ligand bound by the cell was indistinguishable by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel analysis from the factor VIIa offered. Factor VIIa binding was influenced by calcium ions. The binding appears to involve at least two classes of calcium-dependent binding sites. Optimal binding occurred at 2 mM calcium for both classes of sites, and there was inhibition of binding to the high affinity sites at higher calcium. Association of factor VIIa was specific, saturable, had a Kd of 123 +/- 37 pm, and factor VIIa interacted with about 100,000 binding sites per cell. Once established, specific binding was rapidly reversible. Direct cellular binding of human factor X also was observed and was calcium, time- and temperature-dependent. Factor X binding was specific and saturable with half-maximal binding at 87.6 +/- 27.4 nM to 6.03 +/- 1.03 X 10(6) sites per cell. Specific high affinity binding of factor VIIa correlated with generation of factor Xa. A direct linear relationship was observed at low factor VIIa binding; however, at higher bound factor VIIa, the relationship was nonstoichiometric, i.e. less factor Xa was formed per mole of factor VIIa. Expression of specific binding sites for factors VIIa and X provides further substantiation for the molecular assembly hypothesized to initiate the extrinsic coagulation protease cascade on cells.     

Oxygen inhibition of nitrate uptake is a general regulatory mechanism in nitrate respiration

It has recently been demonstrated that oxygen inhibits nitrate uptake by denitrifying Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if this novel mechanism of regulation is universal for the regulation of nitrate respiration in other widely divergent species of bacteria. Nitrate transport by whole cell suspensions was completely and reversibly inhibited in 11 out of 12 species tested, whereas nitrate reduction by cell-free extracts was not affected by oxygen or was only partially inhibited in some cases. These results indicate that oxygen inhibition of nitrate uptake is a general regulatory phenomenon.     

Topology of Xer recombination on catenanes produced by lambda integrase.

Xer site-specific recombination at the psi site from plasmid pSC101 displays topological selectivity, such that recombination normally occurs only between directly repeated sites on the same circular DNA molecule. This intramolecular selectivity is important for the biological role of psi, and is imposed by accessory proteins PepA and ArcA acting at accessory DNA sequences adjacent to the core recombination site. Here we show that the selectivity for intramolecular recombination at psi can be bypassed in multiply interlinked catenanes. Xer site-specific recombination occurred relatively efficiently between antiparallel psi sites located on separate rings of right-handed torus catenanes containing six or more nodes. This recombination introduced one additional node into the catenanes. Antiparallel sites on four-noded right-handed catenanes, the normal product of Xer recombination at psi, were not recombined efficiently. Furthermore, parallel psi sites on right-handed torus catenanes were not substrates for Xer recombination. These findings support a model in which psi sites are plectonemically interwrapped, trapping a precise number of supercoils that are converted to four catenation nodes by Xer strand exchange.     

Small bowel and colon glucose absorption study in rats by an adaptation of Sols and Ponz method.

An adaptation of the Sols and Ponz method for the study of glucose intestinal absorption was developed by considering the special conditions of our line research. The glucose absorption was studied in proximal jejunum, distal ileum and distal colon in Wistar rat. The main adaptations in the method for successive absorptions with intestinal perfusions in vivo were the length of the intestinal segment and the change of the pumping system. The results are very similar to those obtained with the original method.     

Effect of nitroammofoska on the aldolase activity of the normal hemolymph in the mollusk Planorbarius banaticus and in trematode invasion

The infection of Planorbarius banaticus with sporocysts of Cotylurus cornutus is accompanied by an increase in aldolase activity of molluscs' haemolymph of 1.2 fold. In solutions of nitroammofoska (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/1) the activity of this ferment in infected individuals increases much higher than in non-infected ones. This results in fast carbohydrate expenditures by molluscs, intermediate hosts of trematodes, and their death from exhaustion.     

Cytogenetic analysis of mouse metaphase II oocytes following exposure to tritiated water

Female mice were given different dosages (0, 3.0, 7.5, 15.0, or 30 muCi/ml) of tritium in their drinking water continuously from 3 to 7 weeks of age to assess the effects on germ cell chromosomes. At 8-9 weeks of age, mice were superovulated and metaphase II oocytes were processed and C-banded for cytogenetic analyses. Chromatid acentric fragments were the only type of structural aberration detected, and their incidence was higher in controls than in any of the tritiated water (HTO) groups. Analysis of numerical chromosomal aberrations revealed that the incidence of hypoploid (N = 19) oocytes was higher in oocytes from mice who drank HTO as compared with controls. However, the effects of HTO upon aneuploidy induction was not definitive due to the increase the incidence of aberrations in mouse oocytes can be related to the low dose rate resulting from chronic HTO exposure and possibly death of tritium-damaged cells.