Nuclear DNA content in differentiated tissues of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Summary Scanning cytophotometry following Feulgen-staining was used to determine nuclear DNA content in many differentiated tissues of nine cultivars, hybrids or selfed lines ofHelianthus annuus. Apart from such ephemeral tissues as endosperm and anther tapetum, it was found that tissue differentiation in sunflower occurs in the diploid condition, cells being arrested in the DNA presynthetic phase (G₁). In certain cases, however, the nuclear DNA content of differentiated G₁ cells does not exactly match the 2C DNA content found in meristematic cells, but may be either higher or lower. In endosperm and anther tapetum cells, nuclear DNA content may be as high as 24 C and 32 C, respectively. Cytological and autoradiographic analyses after³H-thymidine incorporation reveal that polyploidy in the tapetal cells is due to chromosome endoreduplication. No detectable difference between male-fertile and male-sterile plants exists as far as occurrence and level of cell polyploidy are concerned. The results are discussed in the context of previous investigations on the nuclear condition of differentiatedHelianthus annuus tissue.     

Epithelial differentiation at the edentulous alveolar ridge in man

Summary The epithelial lining of the mucosa of the edentulous, maxillary alveolar ridge was subjected to an ultrastructural and stereological analysis. Four biopsies collected from the non-inflamed crest, i.e., the center over former tooth sockets, in non-denture-wearing female patients 30 to 55 years of age were processed for light and electron microscopy. At the light-microscopic level, epithelial thickness was determined histometrically. Electron micrographs were sampled at two levels of magnification, from five strata in regions of epithelial ridges and from three strata over connective tissue papillae. Standardized stereological pointcounting techniques were employed to analyze a total of 990 electron micrographs. Observations and data revealed that at the alveolar ridge the oral epithelium is truly keratinizing and comprises four strata including a 40±5 m-thick stratum corneum, which displays the oral keratin pattern. The histoand cytodifferentiation were peculiar: (1) Compared to the neighbouring gingival and hard palate epithelium, that of the alveolar crest was markedly thicker, with elongated rete ridges indicating acanthosis. (2) The cytoarchitecture was identical neither to the gingival nor to the hard palate epithelium but revealed a mixture of features typical for either of these two epithelia. Reasons for this are explained on the basis of factors, possible genetic, inherent in epithelial cells that are possibly derived from both the gingival and the palatal environment.     

Effect of retinoic acid on the proliferation and tumorigenicity of mouse mastocytoma cells

Retinoic acid (RA) inhibited the in vitro growth of the mouse mast cell tumor line P₈₁₅ in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The inhibition was accompanied by an increase in the amount of neutral intracellular mucopolysaccharides. Study of cell cycle kinetics showed that exposure to retinoic acid led to a slowing-down of the cell-cycle progression possibly related to a more differentiated cell population disclosed by microscopy with a lower proliferative capacity. In vivo, delays in both tumor appearance and mouse mortality were observed after injecting RA into mice bearing mastocytomas. These results suggest that RA could be of interest in the treatment of human malignant systemic mastocytosis with proliferation of immature mast cells.     

Heparin-binding growth factors and their receptors

Heparin-binding growth factors modulate diverse biological activities including cellular proliferation, cellular differentiation, morphogenesis, and angiogenesis. Biochemical characterization for two members of the heparin-binding growth factor family, acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors, is extensive, while characterization of the remaining five members is forthcoming. Cell surface receptors have been identified for acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors, but little is known concerning their sites of action in vivo or the mechanisms involved in transducing the energy of growth factor binding to a biological response. An understanding of the biological basis for the diversity of the heparin binding growth factor family and the in vivo actions of these factors will prove a major challenge to future research efforts.     

Phenotypic variation during micropropagation of the chimeralRhododendron ‘President Roosevelt’

The putative periclinal chimeraRhododendron xlimbatum President Roosevelt was used to study the origin of shoots in vitro. Genotypic segregation readily occurred in vitro. Numerous phenotypes were observed, although most shoots were either entirely green or maintained the original variegation pattern. Derivatives of the third apical layer were rarely involved in shoot formation. A reversed chimeral form was isolated. Adventitious shoots were usually miniaturized and rapidly proliferating, but axillary shoots had thicker stems, larger leaves and proliferated more slowly. Corolla tissue produced stunted, leafy shoots; no variegated shoots were produced from floret explants. In shoot tip cultures the addition of 40M 2iP without IBA resulted in the greatest number of shoots. Explant choice was the most critical factor for maintenance of foliar variegation.     

A POPULATION MEMETICS APPROACH TO CULTURAL EVOLUTION IN CHAFFINCH SONG: DIFFERENTIATION AMONG POPULATIONS

We investigated cultural evolution in populations of common chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) in the Atlantic islands (Azores, Madeira, and Canaries) and neighboring continental regions (Morocco and Iberia) by employing a population-memetic approach. To quantify differentiation, we used the concept of a song meme, defined as a single syllable or a series of linked syllables capable of being transmitted. The levels of cultural differentiation are higher among the Canaries populations than among the Azorean ones, even though the islands are on average closer to each other geographically. This is likely the result of reduced levels of migration, lower population sizes, and bottlenecks (possibly during the colonization of these populations) in the Canaries; all these factors produce a smaller effective population size and therefore accentuate the effects of differentiation by random drift. Significant levels of among-population differentiation in the Azores, in spite of substantial levels of migration, attest to the differentiating effects of high mutation rates of memes, which allow the accumulation of new mutants in different populations before migration can disperse them throughout the entire region.     

Efficient generation of chimaeric mice using embryonic stem cells after long-term culture in the presence of ciliary neurotrophic factor

The aim of our study was to evaluate whether ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) can substitute for leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in maintaining pluripotential embryonic stem (ES) cells in culture. Two subclones of D3 ES cells were used to assess cell proliferation and differentiation in the presence of CNTF, LIF or Buffalo rat liver (BRL) cell-conditioned medium, or in the absence of exogenous differentiation inhibiting factors. ES cells maintained in medium supplemented with CNTF for up to four weeks were injected into blastocysts to investigate theirin vivo pluripotency in terms of chimaera formation. CNTF inhibited ES cell differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. The most effective concentration was 10 ng CNTF per ml of medium. The effects of CNTF on ES cell differentiation and proliferation were comparable to those of LIF at the same concentration. BRL cell-conditioned medium was less effective at preventing ES cell differentiation but induced their proliferation very markedly. Both ES cell clones efficiently formed chimaeras after long-term culture with CNTF as the only differentiation inhibiting agent. The ability of these ES cells to colonize the germ-line is the ultimate proof that CNTF can preserve the pluripotency of ES cells.     

Temperature-dependent sex determination in reptiles: Proximate mechanisms,ultimate outcomes,and practical applications

In many egg-laying reptiles, the incubation temperature of the egg determines the sex of the offspring, a process known as temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). In TSD sex determination is an “all or none” process and intersexes are rarely formed. How is the external signal of temperature transduced into a genetic signal that determines gonadal sex and channels sexual development? Studies with the red-eared slider turtle have focused on the physiological, biochemical, and molecular cascades initiated by the temperature signal. Both male and female development are active processes—rather than the crganized/default system characteristic of vertebrates with genotypic sex determination—that require simultaneous activation and suppression of testis- and ovary-determining cascades for normal sex determination. It appears that temperature accomplishes this end by acting on genes encoaing for steroidogenic enzymes and steroid hormone receptors and modifying the endocrine microenvironment in the embryo. The temperature experienced in development also has long-term functional outcomes in addition to sex determination. Research with the leopard gecko indicates that incubation temperature as well as steroid hormones serve as organizers in shaping the adult phenotype, with temperature modulating sex hormone action in sexual differentiation. Finally, practical applications of this research have emerged for the conservation and restoration of endangered egg-laying reptiles as well as the embryonic development of reptiles as biomarkers to monitor the estrogenic effects of common environmental contaminants. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.