Gallbladder pressure, compliance, and hysteresis during cyclic volume change

The gallbladder has both storage and contractile properties, but is pressure-volume characteristics have not been fully described. We studied gallbladder pressure, compliance, stress relaxation, and the work performed during infusion-withdrawal of fixed volumes of bile at increments of base-line volume under halothane anesthesia in 13 dogs. Two cannulae were inserted in the gallbladder fundus: one for cyclic infusion-withdrawal of bile, and one for pressure monitoring. Following ligation of the cystic duct, the gallbladder was fully aspirated and then filled to successive predetermined base-line volumes (15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 mL). At each base-line volume, 5 mL of bile was infused and withdrawn at 2.47 mL/min. Studies were performed under basal conditions and with cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK) infusion (10 or 30 ng.kg-1.h-1iv). Pressure was measured at base-line, after infusion, and after withdrawal. Compliance during infusion (delta V/delta P) was calculated for each cycle. Stress relaxation was defined as the difference between base-line pressure and any reduction in pressure after withdrawal. Hysteresis, the difference between work of infusion and work of withdrawal, was calculated. The results were such that base-line, end-infusion, and end-withdrawal pressures; work of infusion, work of withdrawal, and hysteresis; and stress relaxation all increased significantly with increases in the predetermined base-line volumes (p less than 0.001). Compliance decreased significantly (p less than 0.001) with increasing base-line volume. CCK at 10 ng.kg-1.h-1iv had no effect, but infusion of CCK at 30 ng.kg-1.h-1 significantly (p less than 0.05) increased pressure and work, decreased compliance, and increased stress relaxation compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Crossovers in two German cystic fibrosis families determine probe order for MET, 7C22 and XV-2c/CS.7

Summary We have followed the segregation of the probes pJ3.11, 7C22, pB79a, and MET through cystic fibrosis families in the German Democratic Republic with two affected sibs. Two families with a crossover between MET and the CF phenotype were detected. In one of these families recombination was also observed between the DNA probe 7C22 and CF, and between the markers XV-2c and CF, which suggests that XV-2c, MET and 7C22 are all on the same side of CF. The other MET recombinant family is informative with XV-2c and does not recombine, which excludes the genetic order XC-2c-MET-CF if multiple recombinant events are disregarded. These two families together demonstrate that recombinations may occur in a very small genetic interval, which has important implications for prenatal diagnosis based on data from linked markers.     

Ecological analyses of nesting success in evening grosbeaks

Summary We studied the nesting success of Evening Grosbeaks (Coccothraustes vespertinus) inhabiting two areas of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado from 1983–1987. Sixty-four nests were followed during building, incubating, brooding, and fledging; 54.7% were successful (young fledged). The largest number of nests failed during incubation. Nests started later were more successful than nests begun earlier in the season. Failure was most likely due to severe weather, abandonment during building, or predation. Specific habitat characteristics of grosbeak nesting sites and where nests were placed in trees were consistently associated with nesting success. Successful nests, when compared with nests that failed, were: (1) built in more open areas characterized by dispersed vegetation and a higher minimum canopy, (2) oriented in more southerly directions, (3) built closer to the main trunk of the nest tree, and (4) built in larger trees. Current ideas about whether or not birds actually select nest-sites are briefly discussed. We conclude that some grosbeaks optimally select nest sites where the likelihood of producing fledglings is higher than in other areas.     

Ultrastructure of vegetative organization and cell division in the freshwater red algaCompsopogon

Summary Uniseriate filaments of the freshwater red algaCompsopogon coeruleus were examined by transmission electron microscopy for details of vegetative organization and cell division with the goal of providing useful taxonomic characters. Each cell's single, complex chloroplast contains a peripheral encircling thylakoid, and unlike the vast majority of red algae, the cis-regions of dictyosomes are not consistently juxtaposed with mitochondria. These subcellular features, which are present in all examined genera in theCompsopogonales, Erythropeltidales, andRhodochaetales, along with certain unique reproductive characteristics, unify these three orders. During mitosis in uncorticated axial cells, a small, ring-shaped nucleus associated organelle (NAO) is located at each division pole, an intranuclear spindle comes to a moderately acute focus at the flattened, fenestrated metaphase-anaphase division poles and perinuclear ER partially encloses dividing nuclei, including a well-developed interzonal midpiece. The cleavage furrow penetrates the large, central vacuolar region to separate daughter nuclei. These cell division features most closely resemble the pattern described for the orderCeramiales. Our observations of vegetative and dividing cells ofC. coeruleus supplement the growing volume of evidence in favour of uniting all red algae into a single class without subclass designations.Abbreviations ER endoplasmic reticulum - IZM interzonal midpiece - MT microtubule - MTOC microtubule organizing center - NAO nucleus associated organelle - NE nuclear envelope - PER perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum     

O dealkylation and aliphatic and aromatic hydroxylation of 3-methoxy-17 beta-estradiol by Aspergillus alliaceus

Aspergillus alliaceus UI 315 was examined for its ability to metabolize 3-methoxy-17 beta-estradiol. Preparative-scale incubations with this substrate afforded good yields of 6 beta-hydroxy-17 beta-estradiol, 4-hydroxy-17 beta-estradiol, and 4,6 beta-dihydroxy-17 beta-estradiol, which were identified by high-pressure liquid chromatography, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-resolution mass spectrometry.     

Lipid metabolism during the initiation of lactation in the rat. The effects of starvation and tumour growth.

1. The effects of starvation post partum (24 h) and tumour growth pre partum on the initiation of lactation in the rat were studied. 2. Tumour growth decreased food intake at 24 h, but not at 2 days post partum. 3. Pup growth rate increased with hyperphagia; starvation and tumour burden decreased pup growth, and starvation decreased maternal body weight. 4. Starvation decreased gastrointestinal-tract mass; tumour growth decreased gastrointestinal-tract and mammary-gland mass. 5. Mammary-gland DNA-synthesis rate was high immediately post partum, but decreased by day 3 of lactation; starvation and tumour burden decreased this rate, and also decreased gastrointestinal-tract DNA-synthesis rate. 6. Arteriovenous differences for glucose and lactate across the mammary gland did not change with time, nor were they affected by the tumour. Starvation decreased arterial glucose and lactate, and the gland extracted less glucose but produced lactate. 7. Mammary-gland lipogenesis was sensitive to starvation and to tumour growth. 8. In contrast with the gradual development of mammary-gland lipogenic enzyme activities, lipoprotein lipase activity was high in the gland by 2 days post partum; starvation or tumour burden decreased the activity. 9. The mammary gland is sensitive post partum to decreased food intake, and to tumour presence. The effects of the latter are apparently independent of hypophagia.     

Comparative effects of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (cachectin), interleukin-1-beta and tumour growth on amino acid metabolism in the rat in vivo. Absorption and tissue uptake of alpha-amino[1-14C]isobutyrate.

Incubation of a membrane preparation enriched in Photosystem Two (PSII) at alkaline pH inhibited the water-splitting reactions in two distinct steps. Up to pH 8.5 the inhibition was reversible, whereas at higher alkalinities it was irreversible. It was shown that the reversible phase correlated with loss and rebinding of the 23 kDa extrinsic polypeptide. However, after mild alkaline treatments a partial recovery was possible without the binding of the 23 kDa polypeptide when the assay was at the optimal pH of 6.5 and in a medium containing excess Cl-. The irreversible phase was found to be closely linked with the removal of the 33 kDa extrinsic protein of PSII. Treatments with pH values above 8.5 not only caused the 33 kDa protein to be displaced from the PSII-enriched membranes, but also resulted in an irreversible modification of the binding sites such that the extrinsic 33 kDa protein could not reassociate with PSII when the pH was lowered to 6.5. The results obtained with these more extreme alkaline pH treatments support the notion that the 23 kDa protein cannot bind to PSII unless the 33 kDa protein is already bound. The differential effect of pH on the removal of the 23 kDa and 33 kDa proteins contrasted with the data of Kuwabara & Murata [(1983) Plant Cell Physiol. 24, 741-747], but this discrepancy was accounted for by the use of glycerol in the incubation media.     

Dietary fat influences electric membrane properties of neurons in cell culture

1. SJL/J mice were maintained on semipurified diets which differed in the ratio of polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid content (P/S). Exposure was from conception and was maintained for periods ranging from 6 to 34 weeks. 2. Neural cell cultures were prepared from dorsal root ganglia (DRG). After 6 and 20 days of culture, neuronal electric membrane properties were determined quantitatively by intracellular recording. 3. A number of significant differences were observed for the two dietary conditions. DRG from mice on the low-P/s diet had an increase in the rate of fall of both phases of repolarization which, in conjunction with the reduced action potential overshoot, led to a reduced action potential duration. This shift to shorter-duration action potentials was accompanied by a shift to more monophasic falling phases. The low-P/S neurons also exhibited a decreased afterhyperpolarization, decreased specific membrane resistance, and decreased membrane electrical time constant compared to high-P/S neurons. 4. It was concluded that the P/S ratio in the diet can have a significant effect on the electric properties of neurons. The high-P/S neurons tended to have action potentials with biphasic repolarizations and longer durations. In contrast, the low-P/S neurons tended to have action potentials with monophasic repolarizations and shorter durations. Moreover, the known ionic dependence of these two types of action potentials suggested that the low-P/S diet resulted in action potentials with a more exclusive Na dependence, while the high-P/S diet resulted in action potentials with both Na and Ca dependence.     

Re-examination of the putative roles of insulin and prolactin in the regulation of lipid deposition and lipogenesis in vivo in mammary gland and white and brown adipose tissue of lactating rats and litter-removed rats.

1. The effects of various treatments to alter either plasma prolactin (bromocryptine administration or removal of litter) or the metabolic activity of the mammary gland (unilateral or complete teat sealing) on the disposal of oral [14C]lipid between 14CO2 production and [14C]lipid accumulation in tissues of lactating rats were studied. In addition, the rates of lipogenesis in vivo were measured in mammary gland, brown and white adipose tissue and liver. 2. Bromocryptine administration lowered plasma prolactin, but did not alter [14C]lipid accumulation in mammary gland or in white and brown adipose tissue. 3. In contrast, complete sealing of teats results in no change in plasma prolactin, but a 90% decrease in [14C]lipid accumulation in mammary gland and a 4-fold increase in white and brown adipose tissue. The rate of lipogenesis in mammary gland was decreased by 95%, but there was no change in the rate in white and brown adipose tissue. Unilateral sealing of teats resulted in a decrease in [14C]lipid accumulation in white adipose tissue. 4. Removal of the litter for 24 h (low prolactin) produced a similar pattern to complete teat sealing, except that there was a 6-fold increase in lipogenesis in white adipose tissue. Re-suckling for 5 h increased plasma prolactin, but did not alter the response seen in litter-removed lactating rats. 5. Changes in lipoprotein lipase activity and in plasma insulin paralleled the reciprocal changes in [14C]lipid accumulation in white and brown adipose tissue and in mammary gland. 6. It is concluded that the plasma insulin is more important than prolactin in regulating lipid deposition in adipose tissue during lactation, and that any effects of prolactin must be indirect.