Ultrastructure of the mitotic nuclei in Leishmania mexicana ssp. Tridimensional reconstruction of the mitotic spindle and dense plaques

The ultrastructure of mitotic nuclei of the promastigote Leishmania mexicana ssp. was studied by serial thin sections and three-dimensional reconstructions of each divisional stage. At the beginning of nuclear division (equatorial stage), a set of six dense plaques located about the equatorial region of the nucleus and a microtubular spindle develops in the two opposing poles of the nucleus (two sets of polar microtubules). The microtubular mitotic spindle is entirely intranuclear with the nuclear membrane persisting through mitosis. The polar spindle consists of a discrete bundle of about 50 microtubules and the equatorial spindle is formed by about 100 microtubules. The spindle may contain several continuous microtubules, but no microtubular organizing centres were observed in association with the spindle. The plaques and hemiplaques are associated with microtubular bundles; some of the spindle microtubules converge on kinetochore-like plaques. It is suggested that the spindle has a special significance in the physiology of mitosis. The two sets of hemiplaques may guide the separation of the daughter genomes. At the beginning of the elongational stage the mitotic plaques split into halves and each set of half-plaques migrates to one pole. It is concluded that the dense plaques play a kinetochore-like role and thus Leishmania mexicana ssp. may have six chromosomal units. Mitotic events of this species are essentially similar to those of Trypanosoma cruzi.     

Early changes in the biosynthesis of proteins in the thymocytes of mice following exposure to lympholytic agents

The method of two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to study protein biosynthesis in cytoplasm, nuclei and nuclear matrix of mouse thymocytes 15-75 min after exposure to ionizing radiation and hydrocortisone. Irradiation was shown to inhibit some cytoplasm proteins and to induce synthesis of a few polypeptides within the total nuclear proteins and nuclear matrix. Hydrocortisone promotes synthesis of some new proteins in all the fractions leading to the formation of new polypeptides. At least one common peptide is found within the total nuclear proteins and nuclear matrix after the effect of both factors.     

Endocytosis and intracellular transport of epidermal growth factor after destruction of the actin cytoskeleton by cytochalasin B

Endocytosis of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) was investigated in three cell lines--A431, 3T6 and Swiss 3T3--after their incubation with cytochalasin B (CB). CB was introduced into culture medium (10 mkg/ml) 1.5-2 hours before addition of 125I-EGF (20-40 ng/ml). The label uptake rate was measured after a 35-40 minutes incubation of cells with 125I-EGF. It appeared that disorganization of microfilamentous network caused by CB exerted no influence on the binding of EGF to the surface membrane receptors and its internalization. Nevertheless, the experiments performed on A431 cells using a fluorescent label--rhodamine--bound to EGF (EGF-R) indicate that CB, though not influencing the initial steps of endocytosis, inhibits the next step--the intracellular transport of EGF-receptor complexes from the trans-Golgi region to lysosomes. As was shown elsewhere (Barkan, Nikol'sky, 1986), CB inhibits the mitogenic effect of EGF on resting Swiss 3T3 cells. So, the process of EGF-receptor uptake and delivery to the trans-Golgi region is evidently not enough to stimulate the cell proliferation; next steps of transport and degradation of ligand-receptor complexes are presumably needed.     

Thyroliberin and its analog lacking hormonal properties stimulate respiratory center activity in the frog Rana temporaria

It has been shown that thyroliberin and its synthetic analogue PR-546 injected into the lymphatic sacs (4.10(-7)-4.10(-9) g/kg) or applied to the medulla oblongata in the bulbar frogs (4.10(-10)-4.10(-12) g/kg) significantly increase the rate of motor respiratory volleys in the hypoglossal nerve. In preparations with the irregular level of the activity of the respiratory center, these drugs enhanced stabilization of the initial level of the rhythm of motor respiratory discharges.     

The enzyme activity of carbohydrate metabolism in the liver of swine during the transition from prenatal to postnatal development

Studies have ben been made on the activity of hexokinase, glucokinase, phosphofructokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, as well as NADP-dependent dehydrogenases (malate and citrate) in the liver of foetuses and newborn piglets in relation to their age, fasting and reaction to injection of adaptive hormones (insulin and cortisol). It was shown that postpartum adaptation of carbohydrate metabolism in porcine liver is associated with activation of the glycolysis and with the increase in the activity of NADPH-generating dehydrogenases. In fasting newborn piglets the rate of carbohydrate catabolism increases. The effects of the investigated factors are different in the liver of 1-day piglets (sensitive to fasting) and 5-day animals (less sensitive). In is suggested that low ability of newborn piglets to maintain physiological level of glucose in the blood is associated with active glycolysis in the liver and ineffectiveness of the hormone-substrate mechanisms which control tissue glycaemia.     

Platelet-activating factor antagonists increase vascular reactivity in perfused rat lungs

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) administered to the pulmonary circulation in low dose (nanogram) has vasodilatory properties. Therefore, we investigated whether endogenous PAF plays a role in the control of tone in the pulmonary circulation. The PAF receptor antagonists, SRI 63-441 (2.6 X 10(-4) M) and L659,989 (1 X 10(-5) M), were the major investigative tools. In isolated perfused rat lungs, both agents caused a persistent increase in base-line perfusion pressure (Ppa), potentiated angiotensin II (ANG II) vasoconstriction, and potentiated hypoxic vasoconstriction (HPV). This potentiation of ANG II and HPV was found to be independent of circulating blood elements. Vasodilation in the presence of PAF blockade was also impaired. The combination of cyclooxygenase inhibition and PAF receptor blockade had an additive effect on ANG II vasoconstriction but did not cause more potentiation of HPV than achieved with PAF antagonism alone. In vivo, SRI 63-441 (10 mg/kg) caused only a transient increase in base-line Ppa without altering ANG II and hypoxic vasoconstriction. These findings support a vasodilatory role for endogenous PAF in the pulmonary circulation.     

Myosin isoforms of the developing skeletal muscles in the loach

Changes in the myosin isozyme spectrum were studied in the loach developing skeletal muscle. It was shown using disk-electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel and peptide mapping that light and heavy myosin chains from the larval muscles, as well as from the red and white muscle of adult fish differ from each other. Forms of myosin light and heavy chains were found which were characteristic of the larval muscle only.     

Cytophotometric and biochemical research on the amount of DNA in the nuclei of loach embryos injected with low-molecular RNA

The cell cycle structure in the cells of loach embryos at the early blastula stage (5 h of development at 21 degrees) is markedly altered under the influence of injection of homologous low molecular weight nuclear RNA and, as a result, the number of cells in G2-phase. The DNA amount in the embryo increases by 20%. At the midblastula stage (7 h) no increase in the number of cells in G2-phase was found.     

Unusual cases of the inheritance of Down's syndrome

Three unusual cases of Down's syndrome inheritance are presented which permit supposing that microstructural chromosome aberrations in parents may induce not only a structural imbalance of chromosomal material in progeny, but also a numerical imbalance.     

Use of the spin label method for studying the structure of the brain membranes in cats with streptomycin poisoning

The structural changes in cat brain membranes under the injections of intramuscular streptomycin which is ototoxic antibiotic have been studied. The increase of membrane microviscosity in brain areas which are the direct projection of the auditory way has been revealed using fat acidic spin probe on the basis of stearic acid. The changes in membranes of other brain areas have not been found that exhibits a specific streptomycin influence on the auditory analyzer. The EPR spectra of the hydrocarbon spin label C12H25 localizing in near membrane region don't change in brain membranes of experimental animals compared with the normal ones.