Phytoalexins of woody plants

Summary Phytoalexins accumulated in selected woody plants in response to microbial attack or stress are reviewed and listed with respect to their chemical structure and probable biogenetic origin. The host-pathogen systems from which they have been isolated are described. The review also considers the antimicrobial activity of the phytoalexins to the causal pathogens and other microorganisms.     

一个改进的下丘脑-垂体-甲状腺轴的数学模型

提出一个改进的下丘脑-垂体-甲状腺轴的数学模型.该模型既考虑了此分泌调节系统各激素之间的激活和反馈作用,也考虑了甲状腺激素与蛋白质结合的动力学过程.由该模型推导的结果与实验结果符合得很好.     

Nonlever action of the mandible

This study considers the current concept of the mandible as a lever of the third order. The concept requires a fulcrum, and this function has been ascribed to the condyle region, but it tends to be overlooked that the fulcrum of a third-order lever in this case would sometimes have to bear a considerable stress. Certain changes, attributed to stress, have been observed in anatomical components of the articulation, but they cannot be explained in terms of the lever concept. They are accounted for by the changing anatomical relations in the working and contralateral sides during mandibular function. They arise from minor stress, especially when dental conditions indicate a period of abnormal function.     

Microbial responses to salt-induced osmotic stress

Summary Soil columns were exposed to balanced (low Na⁺) or unbalanced (high Na⁺) high-salt solutions for a period of 7 days followed by 7 days of stress reflief. Total numbers of bacteria released into the perfusates rose under both types of stress, but the proportion of displaced bacteria that were viable fell significantly. Relief from both types of stress stimulated rapid increases in the number of viable micro-organisms released from soil. Examination of the soils at the end of the relief periods revealed that soils exposed to stress contained more viable bacteria than the non-stressed controls. However, high levels of balanced stress led to a significant decrease in species diversity within the microbial population, but a similar effect was not observed in soils exposed to unbalanced, high Na⁺ stress. These results suggest that, while salt stress may cause a significant reduction in the number of microorganisms in a soil, a large portion of the microbial population can rapidly adapt to marked changes in salinity.     

Principles and strategies in breeding for higher salt tolerance

Summary Salinity is an environmental component that usually reduces yield. Recent advances in the understanding of salt effects on plants have not revealed a reliable physiological or biochemical marker that can be used to rapidly screen for salt tolerance. The necessity of measuring salt tolerance based upon growth in saline relative to non-saline environments makes salt tolerance measurements and selection for tolerance difficult. Additionally, high variability in soil salinity and environmental interactions makes it questionable whether breeding should be conducted for tolerance or for high yield. Genetic techniques can be used to identify the components of variation attributable to genotype and environment, and the extent of genetic variation in saline and nonsaline environments can be used to estimate the potential for improving salt tolerance. Absolute salt tolerance can be improved best by increasing both absolute yield and relative salt tolerance.     

Effect of dopamine agonists or antagonists, TRH, stress and piglet removal on plasma prolactin concentrations in lactating gilts

The effect of dopamine agonists (ergocryptine), antagonists (chlorpromazine, haloperidol, reserpine, pimozide), thyrotropin releasing hormone or stress (restraint, piglet removal) on prolactin release was studied in primiparous lactating gilts. All animals were fitted with surgically implanted jugular catheters before farrowing. The only drug treatments which resulted in a significant change in PRL concentrations in blood were thyrotropin releasing hormone (increase) and ergocryptine (decrease). The results suggest that dopamine may not be the only regulator of prolactin in lactating pigs. Further studies are needed to identify drugs which would be useful in clinical situations for treatment of lactation failure due to low prolactin secretion. In the two stress-exposed groups, there was a gradual, steady decline in the plasma concentration of prolactin which resulted from loss of suckling contact with the piglets. Thus, snare restraint does not increase prolactin secretion in lactating sows confirming the results of other studies on pigs in different physiologic states.     

Patterns of protein synthesis during the germination of pea axes,and the effects of an interrupting desiccation period

As germination of axes of Pisum sativum L. seeds progressed, profound quantitative and qualitative changes occurred in the patterns of protein synthesis. This was shown by fluorography of gels following two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis separation of [³⁵S]methioninelabelled proteins. The effects of desiccation during germination on these in-vivo protein-synthesis patterns were followed. Desiccation differentially affected the synthesis of proteins. Usually, however, upon rehydration following desiccation the types of proteins being synthesized were recognizable as those synthesized earlier during imbibition of control, once-imbibed axes: seeds imbibed for 8 h, and then dried, did not recommence synthesis of proteins typical of 8-h-imbibed control seeds, but rather of 4-h-imbibed control seeds. Seeds imbibed for 12 h, and then dried and rehydrated, synthesized proteins typical of 4-h-and 8-h-control seeds. Thus drying of germinating pea axes caused the proteinsynthesizing mechanism to revert to producing proteins typical of earlier stages of imbibition. Drying during germination never caused the seed to revert to the metabolic status of the initial mature dry state, however.Abbreviation DR dried and rehydrated     

Stress-Induced Alterations in Metabolism of Γ-Aminobutyric Acid in Rat Brain

The effect of a stressful manipulation on the metabolism of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the rat brain was studied. Application of an immobilized stress to animals induced a significant increase in the striatal and hypothalamic GABA contents without affecting those in other central structures examined. It was also found that the increase in striatal GABA level preceded that in the hypothalamus. This increase in steady-state levels of GABA in the striatum and hypothalamus disappeared at 12 h after the termination of the application of stress for 3 h, which exhibited a maximal stimulatory action on the GABA contents in both central areas. The activity of L-glutamic acid decarboxylase was found to be significantly elevated in the striatum and hypothalamus following the stress application with a concomitant decrease in the content of L-glutamic acid, which is converted to GABA by the catalytic action of the latter enzyme. The in vivo turnover of GABA in the brain was estimated by taking advantages of the postmortem accumulation of GABA following decapitation and of the selective inhibitory action of a low dose of aminooxyacetic acid on the GABA degrading system, respectively. Analysis using these two different methods revealed that the cerebral turnover of GABA in vivo was not significantly altered under stressful situations despite of the increase in its steady-state level. These results suggest that central GABA system may respond to the input of painful stimuli resulting from the application of a severe physical and psychological stressor, in addition to the well-known functional alterations in catecholamine neurons. The functional significance of these alterations in the central GABA neurons is also discussed.     

The ACTH-interrenal axis in the freshwater stickleback,Gasterosteus aculeatus form leiurus

Summary The ACTH-interrenal axis of the freshwater stickleback has been examined with the fish in a variety of physiological conditions. A morphometric analysis of ACTH cell ultrastructure in spring animals revealed that the only change from the winter condition was a significant decrease in the amount of perinuclear RER. The interrenal gland responded to metopirone treatment by an increase in both nuclear and cell size, although only a high dose of metopirone could degranulate the ACTH cells. Morphometry of the ACTH cells from metopirone-treated animals showed a significant increase in the amount of RER and a significant decrease in the number of free ribosomes and secretory granules, compared with control animals maintained in freshwater. Such ultrastructural changes may be expected of a cell that is stimulated to increase its secretion of polypeptide hormone. The ACTH-interrenal axis also responded to 70% seawater, as this treatment increased the interrenal cell and nuclear sizes.     

70-Kilodalton Heat Shock Protein Induction in Cerebellar Astrocytes and Cerebellar Granule Cells In Vitro: Comparison with Immunocytochemical Localization After Hyperthermia In Vivo

Induction of the 70-kDa heat shock protein, hsp70, was evaluated in cultured cerebellar astrocytes and granule cell neurons subjected to a hyperthermic stress, using a monoclonal antibody and an oligonucleotide probe that selectively recognize stress-inducible species of hsp70-related proteins and RNAs, respectively. Immunoblots of cultures enriched in either granule cells or astrocytes, and immunocytochemical localization studies in cocultures of these cell types, demonstrated that hsp70 induction was restricted to the astrocyte population. Amino acid incorporation experiments showed little difference in the loss and recovery of overall protein synthesis activity in these two cell types following transient hyperthermic stress. RNA blot hybridizations confirmed the preferential glial induction of hsp70. In vivo immunocytochemical studies in brains of adult rats following hyperthermia were consistent with earlier observations that suggested a primarily glial and vascular localization of the heat shock response in most brain regions, although the intense immunoreactivity in the cerebellar granule cell layer suggests that there is induction of hsp70 in these neurons under in vivo conditions. These results suggest the potential value of such defined cell cultures in identifying mechanisms responsible for differences in the heat shock response of various cell types in vitro, and in revealing factors that may account for the apparent absence of the stress response in cultured cerebellar granule cell neurons.