An artificial osmotic cell: a model system for simulating osmotic processes and for studying phenomena of negative pressure in plants

Abstract An artificial osmotic cell has been constructed using reverse osmosis membranes. The cell consisted of a thin film of an osmotic solution (thickness: 100 to 200 μm) containing a non-permeating solute and was bounded between the membrane and the front plate of a pressure transducer which continuously recorded cell turgor. The membrane was supported by metal grids to withstand positive and negative pressures (P). At maximum, negative pressures of up to –0.7 MPa (absolute) could be created within the film on short-term and pressures of up to –0.3 MPa could be maintained without cavitation for several hours. As with living plant cells, the application of osmotic solutions of a non-permeating solute resulted in monophasic relaxations of turgor pressure from which the hydraulic conductivity of the membrane (Lp) and the elastic modulus of the cell (?) could be estimated. The application of solutions with permeating solutes resulted in biphasic pressure relaxation curves (as for living cells) from which the permeability (P_s) and reflection (σ_s) coefficients could be evaluated for the given membrane. Lp, P_s, and σ_s were independent of P and did not change upon transition from the positive to the negative range of pressure. It is concluded that the artificial cell could be used to simulate certain transport properties of living cells and to study phenomena of negative pressure as they occur in the xylem and, perhaps, also in living cells of higher plants.     

Effects of boundary layer conductance on substomatal pressures of carbon dioxide

Abstract. Gas exchange measurements were made on single leaves of three C₃ and one C₄ species at air speeds of 0.4 and 4.0 m s⁻¹ to determine if boundary layer conductance substantially affected the substomatal pressure of carbon dioxide. Boundary layer conductances to water vapour were 0.4 to 0.5 mol m⁻² s⁻¹ at the lower air speed, and 1.2 to 1.5 mol m⁻² s⁻¹ at the higher air speed. Substomatal carbon dioxide pressures were about 5 Pa lower at low boundary layer conductance in the C₃ species, and about 3 Pa lower in the C₄ species when measurements were made at high and moderate photosynthetic photon flux densities. No evidence of stomatal adjustment to altered boundary layer conductance was found. Photosynthetic rates at high photon flux densities were reduced by about 20% at the low air speed in the C₃ species. The commonly reported values of substomatal carbon dioxide pressure for C₃ and C₄ species were found to occur only when measurements were made at the higher air speed.     

Growth and activities of enzymes of primary metabolism in batch cultures of Catharanthus roseus cell suspension under different pCO2 conditions

In vitro enzyme activities of glycolysis, pentose-phosphate pathway and dark CO₂ fixation were assayed in batch cultures of heterotrophic Catharanthus roseus cells under various gassing rates and partial pressures of carbon dioxide. Detrimental effects of low pCO₂ culture conditions on the growth characteristics could be linked to marked changes in levels of enzymes of primary metabolism during growth. The enzyme levels observed during the early stages of growth were found to be more stable when a constant pCO₂ (20 mbar) was maintained and enabled exponential growth to be reached more rapidly.The importance of carbon dioxide as a conditioning factor of the culture medium is discussed.     

A case of diverticular disease of the colon in a Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata)

Diverticular disease of the colon was detected in a female Japanese monkey by X-ray examination. The monkey was 15 years old and had been kept under captive conditions for nine years. Lack of appetite and activity, and constipation were observed. The monkey was given fiber-rich vegetables and wild plants, and its appetite and activity then improved. Based on a consideration of various factors, it is suggested that one possible cause of the diverticulosis in this case was a low dietary fiber intake.     

Chromosomal location of genes conditioning low amylose content of endosperm starches in rice,Oryza sativa L.

Summary Eight dull mutants that lower the amylose content of rice endosperm as well as waxy mutant and a cultivar with common grains were crossed in a diallele manner. The amylose content of F₁ and F₂ seeds was determined on the basis of single grain analysis. It was concluded that the low amylose content of dull mutants is under monogenic recessive control. Alleles for low amylose content are located at five loci designated as du-1, du-2, du-3, du-4 and du-5. These loci are independent of wx locus located on chromosome 6. The five du loci have an additive effect in lowering the amylose content. Two loci, du-1 and du-4, were found to be located on chromosomes 7 and 4, respectively.     

+G_z暴露时,家兔心率和心水平动脉压关系的研究

在动物离心机上测定了7只轻度麻醉家免暴露于+G_Z时心、眼水平动脉压和心率的变化。+G_Z作用5-12s时、心水平动脉压(HABP)降至最低水平,然后开始代偿性回升。当+G_Z增大到一定值时,于加速度达峰值后,HABP降为0 mmHg、并在峰值后5.5±1.7s降到最大负值,继之代偿性升为正值,并常再度降为负值。我们称HABP的这种变化状态为“临界状态”。+G_Z暴露时,心率以两种型式发生改变:第一种,随着G值增大,心率发生不同程度增快,当加速度达某一G值时,心率突然减慢至2次/秒左右;第二种,当G值≥3时,在暴露过程中,心率逐渐减慢,并在某一G值,心率减慢到2次/秒左右。心率和HABP关系密切。当HABP达临界状态时,心率减慢至2次/秒左右并出现明显节律不整。以心率减慢到2次/秒左右作为家免+G_Z耐力终点是合适的,该指标规律性强,重复性好,实验方法对动物无损伤又易实施。按此标准,测得7只家免的+G_Z耐力为4.85±0.47G。     

去甲肾上腺素在大鼠缰核引起的心血管效应及其机制

在乌拉坦麻醉的大鼠,研究了去甲肾上腺素(NE)在缰核(Hb)引起的心血管效应及其机制。Hb内微量注射NE使平均动脉压和心率呈剂量依赖性增加。用α受体阻断剂酚妥拉明预处理Hb,可明显减弱NE在Hb引起的心血管效应,但β受体阻断剂心得安或生理盐水不引起任何影响。Hb内微量注射海人酸使平均动脉压和心率明显增加,但Hb内微量注射利多卡因则不能引起明显的心血管效应。上述结果表明,Hb内NE在调节心血管活动中起重要作用,而这种效应可能是通过激活α受体使Hb兴奋的结果。     

PVA和PEG预处理对大豆种子在低温吸胀过程中胚根线粒体发育和超微结构的影响

电镜观察发现,大豆种子在刚开始萌发时胚根细胞中未能见到线粒体,线粒体是在种子萌发过程中逐渐出现的,由原质体再分化发育而成。对照胚根细胞内原质体在低温吸张过程中明显膨胀,在回温后胚根细胞中原质体仍不能发育成线粒体,甚至网状膜结构破坏,呈空泡化;经聚乙烯醇(PVA)和聚乙二醇(PEG 6000)预处理的大豆种子在同样条件下线粒体能继续发育,在回温后预处理胚根细胞中线粒体发育良好,具有明显的双层膜和管状嵴的结构。这些结果表明,在低温吸胀过程中原质体能够继续再分化发育成线粒体是提高大豆种子活力和抗冷力的重要原因。     

Microfilaments in the preprophase band of freeze substituted tobacco root cells

Summary The organization and distribution of microfilaments (MFs) in the preprophase bands (PPBs) of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. var. Maryland Mammoth) root tip cells were studied with high pressure freezing and freeze-substitution methods. MFs were present predominantly as single filaments interspersed among microtubules (MTs) throughout the PPB. Some MFs appeared to be associated with MTs, whereas others were not. This is the first time that MFs have been demonstrated in the PPB at the electron microscope level.