The hypothalamus of Lacerta sicula R.

Summary An analysis of the preoptic area of the lizard, Lacerta sicula R., with the use of the Golgi method revealed that: 1)in principle, the dendritic pattern of its neurons is relatively simple; 2) the supraoptic nucleus contains large- to medium-sized bipolar or multipolar neurons together with small, usually multipolar nerve cells; 3) the preoptic periventricular gray and the paraventricular nucleus exhibit a varied neuronal typology, including large multipolar or bipolar elements, abundant CSF-contacting neurons, and some tufted elements; and 4) the lateral regions display some conspicuous multipolar neurons.With a financial contribution from Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione     

Antioxidant Activity of 5-Hydroxytryptophan, 5-Hydroxyindole, and Dopa Against Microsomal Lipid Peroxidation and Its Dependence on Vitamin E

The antioxidant capacity of 5-hydroxy-tryptophan. 5-hydroxy-indole. and DOPA (3,4-dihydroxy-phenyI-alanine) was tested in the Fe-induced lipid peroxidation of liver microsomes of normal- and vitamin E-deficient rats, using ascorbate as a reductant. Lipid peroxidation was monitored as low-level chemilu-minescence, indicative of generation of electronically-excited states arising from the recombination of secondary lipid peroxyl radicals.     

Comparison of ordinations and classifications of vegetation data

The methodology of comparing the results of multivariate community studies (resemblance matrices, ordinations, hierarchical and nonhierarchical classifications) is reviewed from two viewpoints: basic strategy and measure employed. The basic strategy is determined by 7 choices concerning the type of results, consensus methods or resemblance measures, hypothesis testing or exploratory analysis, lack or presence of reference basis, data set congruence or algorithmic effects, number of factors responsible for differences among results, and the number of properties considered in the comparison. Included is a brief summary of methods applicable to vegetation studies. Examples from a grassland survey demonstrate the utility of comparisons in evaluating the effects of plot size, data type, standardization, taxonomic level and number of species on classifications and ordinations.Abbreviations OUC = Operational Unit of Comparison - PCA = Principal Components Analysis - PCoA = Principal Coordinates Analysis - SSA = Incremental Sum of Squares Agglomeration     

Effects of serine protease inhibitors on oxyradical burst from phagocytizing neutrophils—analysis by chemiluminescence counting and its microscopic imaging

Reaction difference of oxyradical generation and luminol-dependent photoemission of zymosan- and phorbol ester-treated neutrophils were investigated using a conventional photomultiplier and ultrasensitive photonic imaging technique. Zymosan-treated cells released a concentrated photonic burst corresponding to the cellular distribution. In contrast, phorbol ester-treated cells produced a negligible level of photoemission, and the additional application of Ca²⁺ ionophore enhanced the photonic burst, which was gradually spread out into extracellular space. Serine protease inhibitors did not attenuate PMA-induced chemiluminescence but did attenuate zymosan-induced chemiluminescence. This suggests the involvement of serine protease in the respiratory burst of phagocytizing neutrophils.     

The use of a CCD imaging luminometer in the quantitation of luminogenic immunoassays

We describe the application of a CCD Imaging Luminometer (CCDIL) for the detection and quantitation of rapid, simultaneous, peroxidase-linked chemiluminescent immunoassays of multiple samples of human serum alphafetoprotein (AFP). Results from some analogous immunoassays (total IgE, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)) are included for comparison. Values for precision and antigen concentration obtained using the CCDIL and colorimetric versions of the immunoassays, on human serum samples, were in good agreement. The flexibility of the CCDIL is demonstrated; its ability to detect and quantitate antigen (particularly AFP) on a variety of solid phases is indicated. The work on the AFP immunoassays illustrates not only the flexibility of the CCDIL for sample presentation on a variety of solid phase systems, but also some relative merits of such systems.     

Chemiluminescent assay of various enzyme activites and its application to enzyme immunoassays

A highly sensitive chemiluminescent assay for NAD(P)H have been developed. The principle of the method is as follows; NAD(P)H reduces molecular oxygen to superoxide anion (O) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the presence of 1-methoxy-5-methylphenazinium methyl sulphate (1-MPMS) as electron mediator. The produced O and H₂O₂ can be measured by chemiluminescent reaction using isoluminol (IL) and microperoxidase (m-POD). A linear relationship between chemiluminescence intensity and NAD(P)H concentration (log/log) was obtained ranged from 10^?9 mol/I to 10^?5 mol/I. This chemiluminescent reaction has been coupled to the assay of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), β-D -galactosidase (β-Gal) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The detection limits of G6PDH, β-Gal and ALP were 10^?18 mol, 10^?20 mol and 10^?18 mol per assay, respectively. The chemiluminescent assay of these enzymes applied to chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay for 17α-hydroxy-progesterone and DNA hybridization assay using these enzymes as label.     

Comparison of serum free thyroxine measurements by chemiluminescence and equilibrium dialysis

A study of 239 patients compared free thyroxine (FT4) measurements made by equilibrium dialysis (ED) with measurements made using the Magic Lite FT4 chemiluminescence (Cl) immunoassay (Ciba Corning Immunodiagnostics). Patient groups: 41 normals; 27 hyperthyroid; 29 hypothyroid; 37 sick euthyroid; 10 chronic renal failure (CRF) and 25 pregnant patients; 13 oestrogen; 10 heparin; 12 salicylate; and 9 dilantin-treated patients; 3 lipaemic; 5 haemolysed; 6 hyperbilirubinaemic patients; 6 low thyroid binding protein (TBP) and 6 high TBP level patients. The two assays gave comparable results in most groups. Both assays tended to give elevated values in heparinized patients but FT4–ED results were more obviously affected. Pregnant patients and women on oral oestrogen had higher mean values with FT4–ED. In both assays the sick euthyroid and CRF patients had mean FT4 values similar to healthy euthyroid patients; the range of values in sick euthyroid and CRF patients was similar in both assays but wider than in healthy euthyroid patients. A supplemental study of 81 unselected acutely ill patients using FT4–Cl alone confirmed the wider range of values to be anticipated in sick euthyroid patients.     

鱼类染色体G—显带的Brd U—BSG方法及白鲢G—带模式图的初步建立

本文报道了一种显示鱼类染色体G-带的BrdU-BsG方法。采用肾细胞短期培养,收获前12小时加入BrdU,使终浓度为10μg/ml。制片经HCl、Ba(OH)_2处理,4×SSC温育。Giemsa染色,显示出白鲢的G-带。其带纹细致清晰,一个细胞的单倍染色体上显示带纹达200条以上,是目前已报道的鱼类多重带中带纹最多的,且反差明显,带纹有特征性,结果较稳定。根据实验结果初步建立了白鲢的G-带模式图。     

A stereological method for estimating fish fecundity

This paper describes the application and evaluation of a stereological method for counting fish oocytes. The method has been applied to herring, Clupea harengus L., Dover sole, Solea solea L., and mackerel, Scomber scombrus L., and compared with existing volumetric and/or automated particle counter methods. The stereological method has been shown to given similar results and to have a number of distinct advantages over the other methods.     

Response of no-till and conventionally planted grain sorghum to weed control method and row spacing

Grain sorghum can substitute for corn as a full season crop and replace soybeans in double cropping systems with wheat in the southeastern United States. Relatively few studies have been conducted to measure the response of grain sorghum to tillage, weed control method, and row spacing. These experiments were designed to determine the effects of weed control method and row spacing on no-till planted grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench G1516-BR) after wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Coker 68–15) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L. Bigbee) grown for winter forage in comparison to sorghum planted on a conventionally prepared seedbed. The experiment included 45, 60, and 90 cm row spacings and three weed control regimes: none, mechanical, and chemical. Grain sorghum planted no-till in crimson clover or wheat sod yielded considerably more grain than conventionally planted sorghum. Grain sorghum produced significantly higher yields in 45-cm rows than in 60-and 90-cm row spacings with all three planting methods. Effects of chemical weed control on weed population with all tillage methods and on grain yield with conventional tillage were significant. There were no significant differences in grain protein content due to row spacing or weed control method.