The morphology and anatomy ofHydrastis (Ranunculales): Systematic reevaluation of the genus

Evidence from morphology and anatomy (including embryology), as well as from palynology, chemistry and cytology, indicates thatHydrastis is quite divergent from Ranunculaceae (in which the genus has been most often included) as well as from both Glaucidiaceae and Berberidaceae. Distinctive features ofHydrastis, which demarcate it from Ranunculaceae but which are sometimes shared by Berberidaceae, are: the unique mode of origin of the vascular supply to stamens and carpels; the micropyle being formed by both integuments; the xylem not V-shaped in cross section; scalariform vessel perforations present; haploid chromosome number 13; pollen tectum consisting of a compound layer of striae; leaf mesophyll not differentiated; the unique course of stem medullary bundles; D-galactose present. Its distinctive higher haploid chromosome number, as well as its many less-specialized character states (in floral structure, leaf anatomy, and xylem and vessel morphology), suggest thatHydrastis is a relictual primitive group which diverged early from a common ancestral stock of Ranunculaceae, Berberidaceae and probably of Circaeasteraceae; at least some of the features shared byHydrastis and one or another of the families concerned seem to be a heritage from their common ancestor. We propose a reestablishment of a monotypic family, Hydrastidaceae.     

The standardization of the candidate national standard anti-D blood-typing serum with the Groupamatic MG50 system

The utility of the Groupamatic MG50 system for quantitative expression of agglutination in terms of continuous response was studied. By use of the characteristics of the design of this system, in which the change in voltage reflects the degree of agglutination, a linear regression relationship between the log ratio of light flux obtained by transformation of the voltage and the log dilution factor of the serum was demonstrated. The availability of the parallel line assay method to the standardization of the blood grouping antisera was also described.     

Distribution of Leu 7 (HNK-1) antigen in human digestive organs: an immunohistochemical study with monoclonal antibody

Summary Leu 7 immunoreactivity was demonstrated with the indirect peroxidase-labelled antibody method on frozen and paraffin-embedded tissue sections of human digestive organs. Anti-Leu 7 monoclonal antibody, which allegedly detects mononuclear cells with natural killer or killer activity, recognized lymphoid cells among intestinal epithelial cells and in the germinal centres of solitary lymphoid follicles of small and large intestine, and a few in gallbladder, liver and the lamina propria of the intestine. In addition, peripheral nerve fibres, endocrine cells in the gut and pancreas and carcinoid and islet cell tumours were also positively stained. At the ultrastructural level, Leu 7 antigen was localized on the plasma membrane of granulated lymphoid cells in the gut mucosa and on the secretory granules of intestinal endocrine cells. In normal pancreas, Leu 7 immunoreactivity was demonstrated in most cells containing pancreatic polypeptide and in many cells containing somatostatin or glicentin. Insulin-containing cells, however, lacked Leu 7 immunoreactant. These findings were obtained in both frozen sections and paraffin-embedded sections. The possible cross-reactivities of monoclonal antibodies are discussed as they raise an important caveat in immunohistochemical studies using these antibodies.     

Isolation and characterization of rabbit H of the alternative complement pathway

Rabbit factor H, a control protein of the alternative complement pathway, was isolated from rabbit serum by polyethylene glycol precipitation, DEAE-Sephacel chromatography, and gel chromatography on Sephadex G200. The protein migrated as a single-chain polypeptide with a molecular weight of 160,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis with Laemmli's buffer system, but hardly migrated into the gel with Fairbanks' buffer system. Physical and chemical properties of rabbit H were similar to those of human H, except that fragments produced by limited tryptic digestion from rabbit H had different molecular sizes from those produced from human H. Significant species-specificity was observed in the functional activity of factor H; activation of the alternative complement pathway was inhibited more efficiently with homologous H than with heterologous H. In contrast, factor H inhibited the hemolysis of homologous erythrocytes less than that of heterologous erythrocytes.     

Differences in Ca2+ mobilization induced by alpha-adrenergic agonist and phosphatidic acid in cultured hepatocytes

In an attempt to elucidate the relationship between phosphatidylinositol breakdown and alpha-adrenergic responses, effects of phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol related metabolites on Ca²⁺ mobilization and glucose output in cultured hepatocytes were examined. Norepinephrine induced the net ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux from preloaded cells and stimulated glucose output via alpha-adrenergic receptor stimulation, whereas phosphatidic acid caused ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake to cells and did not stimulate glucose output. Myo-inositol-monophosphate, diglyceride and arachidonic acid, which are released by phosphatidylinositol breakdown, had no effect on ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux and glucose output in cells. These results suggest that phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol related metabolites can not mimic the alpha-adrenergic actions in cultured hepatocytes.     

Chromosomal location of the Escherichia coli cytochrome b556 gene, cybA

Summary The amounts of cytochrome b556 in the cytoplasmic membranes of several Escherichia coli K12 strains having F-prime factors and a lambda transducing phage were determined. The amount was amplified about two-fold in strains having F100-12 and F152, but not in strains having F100-11, F8 and psu ⁺ 2glnS ⁺. The strain TK3D11, which lacks the kdp-gltA region (deletion D-01) of the E. coli chromosome, did not synthesize cytochrome b556 at all. From these results, the gene cybA encoding cytochrome b556 was located in the kdp-gltA region.In the cytochrome b556-deficient mutant, a novel b type cytochrome, cytochrome b561 which is a product of the gene cybB, was identified. It seems to function as a physiological electron transferring cytochrome in place of cytochrome b556 in this mutant.Abbeviations HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - NADH reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide     

Establishment of a tumor-specific immunotherapy model utilizing TNP-reactive helper T cell activity and its application to the autochthonous tumor system

Preinduction of potent hapten-reactive helper T cell activity and subsequent immunization with hapten-coupled syngeneic tumor cells result in enhanced induction of tumor-specific immunity through T-T cell collaboration between anti-hapten helper T cells and tumor-specific effector T cells. On the basis of this augmenting mechanism, a tumor-specific immunotherapy protocol was established in which a growing tumor regresses by utilizing a potent trinitrophenyl (TNP)-helper T cell activity. C3H/He mice were allowed to generate the amplified (more potent) TNP-helper T cell activity by skin painting with trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB) after pretreatment with cyclophosphamide. Five weeks later, the mice were inoculated intradermally with syngeneic transplantable X5563 tumor cells. When TNCB was injected into X5563 tumor mass, an appreciable number of growing tumors, in the only group of C3H/He mice in which the amplified TNP-helper T cell activity had been generated were observed to regress (regressor mice). These regressor mice were shown to have acquired tumor-specific T cell-mediated immunity. Such immunity was more potent than that acquired in mice whose tumor was simply removed by surgical resection. These results indicate that in situ TNP haptenation of the tumor cells in TNP-primed mice can induce the enhanced tumor-specific immunity leading to the regression of a growing tumor. Most importantly, the present study further investigates the applicability of this TNP immunotherapy protocol to an autochthonous tumor system. The results demonstrate that an appreciable percent of growing methylcholanthrene-induced autochthonous tumors regressed by the above TNP immunotherapy protocol. Thus, the present model provides an effective maneuver for tumor-specific immunotherapy in syngeneic transplantable as well as autochthonous tumor systems.     

Respiration and avoidance reaction of a cyprinid fishPseudogobio esocinus under hypoxia

A cyprinid fish,Pseudogobio esocinus showed gradual bradycardia at oxygen saturation (%) of less than 29.7±4.6 (1.89±0.29 ml/l of oxygen concentration), surfacing at 14.7±1.3 (0.94±0.09ml/l), drastic decrease of oxygen consumption at less than 14.2±0.8 (0.91 ±0.06ml/l) and asphyxia at 9.7±1.4 (0.62±0.09ml/l). The fish avoided water having low oxygen saturation of less than 54.0± 5.4 (3.38±0.30ml/l), and markedly at less than 26.2±3.4 (1.62±0.16 ml/l).     

A variant in the restriction endonuclease cleavage pattern of mitochondrial DNA in the domestic fowl, Gallus gallus domesticus

The cleavage patterns of mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) were investigated from 15 lines of domestic fowls, Gallus gallus domesticus, using 11 restriction endonucleases. The cleavage patterns with 10 restriction endonucleases were identical in all the lines. A variant was found in a line of White Leghorn in the pattern with MspI digestions. Cleavage patterns of the red jungle fowl, Gallus gallus gallus, were identical to the common patterns shown by the 14 lines of domestic fowls.