Pathways of lymphocyte migration within the periarterial lymphoid sheath of rat spleen

Summary Male Wistar rats were injected intravenously with 5-(³H)uridine-labeled lymphocytes isolated from lymph nodes of syngeneic donors and enriched in T cells. After short periods of time (3 to 120 min after injection), labeled lymphocytes were localized in spleen compartments using autoradiography to identify routes of lymphocyte movement from blood into splenic parenchyma and to follow migration pathways of recirculating lymphocytes within the periarterial lymphoid sheath (PALS). Topographical analysis of labeled lymphocytes was performed in specific planes of PALS characterized by the diameter of the arterial vessel and termed PALS large, PALS medium, and PALS small (PALS L, PALS M, PALS S, respectively). Attention was also paid to accumulations of labeled lymphocytes close to the arterial vessel wall. Initially, labeled lymphocytes were localized in PALS S and PALS M near the terminal branching of arterial vessels and in the marginal zone (MZ). We conclude that lymphocytes emigrate from blood into splenic parenchyma within two white pulp compartments: in MZ, and directly within PALS through the wall of capillary vessels. The sequential accumulation of labeled cells near arterial vessels of increasing diameter suggests that the recirculating pool of lymphocytes migrates into the central part of PALS L by two routes: from MZ, and along arterial vessels from PALS S and PALS M.R.B. was a fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung, on leave from the Department of Histology and Embryology, Institut of Biostructure, Academy of Medicine, ul. Swiecickiego 6, PL-60-781 Pozna, Poland.     

Polarity and competition between megaspores in the ovule ofOenothera hybrids

New data on the development of polarity in the ovules during megasporogenesis and early stages of embryo sac development inOenothera-hybrids are presented. It is confirmed that allOe. hookeri-hybrids show a strong tendency to form heteropolar tetrads, with the micropylar megaspore developing into an embryo sac. This preference is seen in the delay of the second meiotic division on the chalazal side, the absence of callose in the lateral wall of the micropylar megaspore, and the accumulation of starch in this megaspore. However, homopolar tetrads, chalazal preference, and ovules with two developing embryo sacs are also observed with considerable frequency. Quantitative data on the frequency of the different developmental types are compared with earlier genetic results about competition in the haplophase. There is sufficiently good agreement to support the hypothesis ofRenner that there is a correlation between the developmental processes in the megaspore tetrad and the genetic phenomena of competition in the haplophase.     

Choline-containing bacteriophage receptors in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Choline-containing teichoic acid seems to be essential for the adsorption of bacteriophage Dp-1 to pneumococci. This conclusion is based on the following observations: In contrast to pneumococci grown in choline-containing medium, cells grown in medium containing ethanolamine or other submethylated aminoalcohols instead of choline were found to be resistant to infection by Dp-1. Live choline-grown bacteria and heat- or UV-inactivated cells and purified cell walls prepared from these cells were capable of adsorbing phage Dp-1; ethanolamine-grown pneumococci or cell wall preparations were unable to do so. Adsorption of Dp-1 to choline-containing cell walls was competitively inhibited by phosphorylcholine and by several choline-containing soluble cell surface components, such as the Forssman antigen and the teichoic acid-glycan complexes formed by autolytic cell wall degradation. Cell walls prepared from pneumococci grown in ethanolamine or phosphorylethanolamine were inactive. Electron microscopic studies with pneumococci that had segments of choline-containing cell wall material amid ethanolamine-containing regions indicated that the Dp-1 phage particles adsorbed exclusively to the choline-containing surface areas. We suggest that the choline residues of the pneumococcal teichoic acid are essential components of the Dp-1 phage receptors in this bacterium.     

Interaction of cadmium and zinc during prenatal development in the rat

Cadmium chloride, zinc chloride, or a mixture of the two, labeled with 115m-Cd or 65-Zn was administered intraperitoneally to Wistar rats on day 9 of gestation. On day 20 fetuses of Cd-treated rats exhibited malformations, but those of rats given zinc or zinc plus cadmium did not. No radioactive cadmium was recovered in the fetuses or fetal membranes, although some was found in the placentas. Simultaneous administration of zinc did not alter the distribution of cadmium, but cadmium significantly increased the amount of zinc in the fetus and placenta. In a second experiment, cadmium or cadmium plus zinc was administered on day 9 of gestation and embryonic units were removed on days 10, 11, and 12. On day 10 cadmium was found in the embryonic unit and maternal uterus, and cadmium in both was significantly reduced by simultaneous administration of zinc. The cadmium concentration in uterus and embryonic units decreased sharply on day 11 and 12 and by day 12 did not differ in animals treated with cadmium or with cadmium plus zinc. It is concluded that cadmium reaches the placenta or embryo at an organogenetically sensitive time, and that zinc may protect the embryo by decreasing the exposure to cadmium this time.     

Cytochrome b-245 of neutrophils is also present in human monocytes, macrophages and eosinophils.

A cytochrome b with a midpoint oxidation-reduction potential of -245mV (cytochrome b-245) that is a major component of the microbicidal oxidase system of human neutrophil leucocytes has been identified in human eosinophils, monocytes and macrophages at concentrations similar to that found in human neutrophils. It was absent from a variety of other cells. This cytochrome is present in phagocytic leucocytes and probably plays an important part in the specialized activities of these cells.     

CROSS-SECTIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN VEGETATIVE AORTIC VALVE ENDOCARDITIS

M-mode echocardiograms of two patients with bacterial endocarditis of approximately 4 months' duration showed dense echoes in the area of the aortic valve. In one patient, who had no prior abnormal cardiac findings, the echoes were clearly suggestive of valvular vegetations. The second patient, however, was known to have had aortic valve disease and a systolic murmur for more than a decade; therefore, dense echoes arising from the aortic valve also could have resulted from valvular calcification. In both patients, cross-sectional echocardiography provided important information. In the first patient, retrograde cardiac catheterization was prevented by large and highly mobile masses attached to the aortic cusps that prolapsed into the left ventricular outflow tract during diastole. Aortic valve replacement without further hemodynamic evaluation was recommended. In the second patient, whose blood cultures remained negative after the acute phase of his illness had been treated, cross-sectional echocardiography showed large vegetations on the aortic valve. Intraoperative findings confirmed the echocardiographic interpretation in each case.     

ACOUSTIC CHANGES IN NORMALLY FUNCTIONING MITRAL VALVE PROSTHESES: ECHO-PHONOCARDIOGRAPHIC OBSERVATIONS

This study confirms previous findings of variability in the intensity of the closing click (CC) as a consequence of premature valve closure. Such alterations have been described as a normal phenomenon in several prosthetic valve models. Combined echo-phonocardiography is of particular value in evaluating prosthetic valve function in patients with unusual and confusing auscultatory changes.     

IDENTIFICATION OF LARGE LEFT ATRIAL THROMBUS BY CROSS-SECTIONAL AND M-MODE ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

In addition to a typical pattern indicative of mitral stenosis, the M-mode echo-cardiogram of a patient with mitral valve disease revealed a broad band of dense echoes within an enlarged left atrial cavity that was suggestive of an intraatrial thrombus. Subsequent cross-sectional echocardiography demonstrated a globular cluster of echoes inside the left atrial cavity, thus corroborating our interpretation of the M-mode recording. When open mitral commissurotomy was performed, a large, partially calcified thrombus was found protruding from the posterior wall and left atrial appendage into the atrial cavity. Postoperative M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography did not show the previously noted abnormal echoes within the left atrium.     

Effect in vivo of beta-adrenergic stimulation, angiotensin II, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, and theophylline on tonin concentration in rat saliva and submaxillary gland.

Tonin (an enzyme present in rat submaxillary gland and saliva) has previously been shown to be able, unlike renin and reninlike substances, to release angiotensin II either directly by acting on an appropriate substrate or from angiotensin I. The administration of a beta-adrenergic drug, isoproterenol, produces a rise of tonin concentration in saliva without affecting its concentration in the submaxillary gland. Prior administration of a beta blocker, propranolol, partially prevents this effect. The administration of theophylline increases the tonin concentration in both saliva and the submaxillary gland, whereas dibutyryl cyclic AMP increases tonin concentration in the former. These results suggest that beta-adrenergic stimulation enhances both tonin release into the saliva and tonin synthesis in the submaxillary gland, and that these effects might be mediated by cyclic AMP. Infusion of angiotensin II blocked the stimulatory effect of isoproterenol on salivary tonin. 1Sar-8Ile-angiotensin II is both a weak antagonist of angiotensin II in this respect and a strong agonist in terms of blocking the effect of isoproterenol another role mirrored in other physiological mechanisms of derivatives of angiotensin II.