The x-ray microanalysis of the mucosa of the rat small intestine

A rat small intestine mucosa is shown to accumulate significant amount of potassium and chloride. There was found a correlation between the content of these chemical elements and glycoprotein compartmentalization in goblet cell secret, brush border of enterocytes and a mucus layer. In this connection a role of mucus glycoproteins in membrane digestion is discussed. For preparation of samples the cryotechniques of electron microscopy are used.     

Theoretical study of the acidic strength of amino acid side chains

The acidic strengths in gas phase of three groups (NH₄⁺, H₂S, and HCOOH) that mimic the most common amino acid side chains of enzymes are studied by means of quantum mechanical methods. The results demonstrate that in gas phase the acidities of such groups change drastically with respect to those reported in aqueous phase. Moreover, the dependence between the energetics of the proton-transfer process and the distance separating the acid and base groups is stated. The biological implications of these results are discussed.     

Dynamics of orientational tuning of feling visual cortex neurons under the effects of sombrevine

Dynamics of orientational tuning in 59 primary visual cortex neurons were investigated before and after sombrevine-induced anesthesia during acute experiments on immobilized cats using temporal slice techniques. A dynamic shift in preferred orientation of a flashing light strip, during which peak amplitude of spike discharges was noted (at an angle of between 22 and 157°) occurred as response developed in two-thirds of the cells. We had previously named this effect "scanning the orientational range" [9]. Scanning declined significantly in 45% of the sample, culminating in complete disappearance of this effect in some cells following sombrevine action. Scanning intensified in 30%, while dynamics of tuning remained unchanged in 25% of units. Sombrevine administration induced change in the preferred stimulus orientation of 60% of the neurons (referred to as "unstable" cells) and remained constant in "stable" cells (= 40%). Dynamic changes in preferred stimulus orientation were 2.5 times as high as those of stable cells in the waking state. The scanning effect declined significantly in 60% of "unstable" neurons under the action of anesthesia and remained unchanged in not more than 6%. At the same time, orientational tuning did not alter in the "stable" cell group in 46% of units, either declining (25%) or increasing (29%) in the remaining scanning ranges.Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 107–113, January–February, 1990.     

Intracytoplasmic neuronal inclusions in woodchuck brain stem

Homogenous eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were found within the large reticular neurons of the brain stems of 57 captive woodchucks (Marmota monax). Light microscopy was consistent with a proteinaceous nature, while electron microscopy suggested a non-viral origin. The woodchucks with inclusions were older than the general population that was studied. It is hypothesized that the neuronal inclusions in the brain stem are indicative of nonspecific ageing changes.     

Effects of "non-quantal" acetylcholine on miniature endplate currents in mice

The possibility of postsynaptic potentiation (PSP) and desensitization developing due to nonquantal acetylcholine (ACh) secretion was investigated in mouse diaphragm with reference to time-amplitude relationships of miniature endplate currents (MEPC). The H effect (which characterizes nonquantal secretion (NS) of ACh) fell to zero over 3 h under the action of armine-induced inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) at a temperature of 20°C. A decline in the decay time constant () of MEPC unaccompanied by observable alteration in MEPC amplitude occurred at the same time. This accelerated decay of MEPC was not observed in the absence of NS (the early stages of denervation). Start of NS did not show any effect on maximum retardation of MEPC decay due to AChE inhibition, indicating that no PSP sets in under the effects of non-quantal secretion. The effect of decline in accelerated with a rise in temperature; it could be reproduced with neostigmine replacing armine, while remained unchanged in the time spells investigated with AChE in its active state. Non-quantal ACh is not thought to produce substantial retardation of MEPC decay, although it does bring about desensitization, signs of which may be partially masked owing to concurrent onset of PSP.S. V. Kurashov Medical Institute, Kazan'. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 507–513, July–August, 1990.     

Spectral analysis and mathematical modeling of electrical cerebral activity in rats with genetically determined predisposition to seizure and in controls

Spectral signs of genetically determined predisposition to seizure characteristic of Krushinskii-Molodkina (KM) strain rats were found when studying summated cerebral potentials, namely increased power of low (1–3 Hz) frequencies in spectra of motor and visual cortex potentials together with an abrupt increase and a reduction respectively in the power of hippocampal and caudate nucleus potentials. Comparative spectra of summated electrical activity within neuronal networks [10] and those of experimentally obtained potentials as determined by modeled parameters simulating neuronal networks were found (an inverse problem of modeling). It was found that spectral signs of predisposition to seizure could reflect changes in the physiological properties of neuronal networks belonging to the rat brain structures investigated. It might be suggested on the basis of the calculations performed that genetic predisposition to seizure in KM strain rats is determined by attenuation of the inhibitory function of the caudate nucleus and by heightened excitability (reactivity) in neurons of the paleo- and neocortex.Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 184–193, March–April, 1990.     

Protein phosphorylation in response to stress in Clostridium acetobutylicum

The possible involvement of protein phosphorylation in the clostridial stress response was investigated by radioactively labeling growing cells of Clostridium acetobutylicum with 32Pi or cell extracts with [gamma-32P]ATP. Several phosphoproteins were identified; these were not affected by the growth stage of the culture. Although the extent of protein phosphorylation was increased by heat stress, the phosphoproteins did not correspond to known stress proteins seen in one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Purified clostridial DnaK, a stress protein, acted as a kinase catalyzing the phosphorylation of a 50-kilodalton protein. The phosphorylation of this protein was enhanced in extracts prepared from heat-stressed cells. Diadenosine-5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate had no influence on protein phosphorylation.     

Highly selective labeling of the E. coli RNA-polymerase promoter complex with reactive derivatives of oligonucleotide primers of various specificity

A technique of highly selective affinity labelling, which includes covalent modification of the enzyme-T7A2 promoter complex with reactive oligonucleotide derivatives and subsequent elongation of the attached oligonucleotide residue with a radioactive substrate was used to study the product-binding site of E. coli RNA polymerase. Different oligonucleotides complementary to the T7A2 promoter (with lengths ranging from 2 to 8 residues) containing 5'-terminal phosphorylating, alkylating or aldehyde groups were used for the labelling. The procedure resulted in labelling DNA and beta-, beta'- or sigma-subunits of the enzyme, which are therefore believed to contact with growing RNA in the course of initiation. Consideration of the labelling patterns as a functions of the oligonucleotide's length as well as of the structure and chemical specificity of the reactive groups led to a tentative topographic scheme of the RNA polymerase product-binding region.