Alterations in high-affinity binding characteristics and levels of opioids in invertebrate ganglia during aging: Evidence for an opioid compensatory mechanism

In Mytilus and Leucophaea the high-affinity binding site density is significantly lower in old animals than in young animals, whereas the low-affinity site density remains unchanged. In Mytilus the estimated met-enkephalin and met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 levels are significantly higher in old than in young animals. In Leucophaea only the met-enkephalin level can be determined, and it is also higher in old animals. The decrease in the high-affinity binding site density and the corresponding increase in endogenous enkephalin levels suggest the existence of an opioid compensatory mechanism associated with the aging process. In Mytilus there is a demonstrated decrease with age in intraganglionic dopamine levels in response to applied opiates. In addition, the inhibition of dopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by opiates also decreases in older animals. In Leucophaea the sex difference in opioid binding densities diminishes with age.     

Germinal and non-germinal lines in the ovotestis of Helix aspersa: a survey

Summary The study of gonadal organogenesis and differentiation by means of light and electron microscopy suggested the following in Helix aspersa: (1) the distal parts of the acini have components of mesodermal origin, whereas the neck and efferent duct comprise ectodermal elements; (2) a segregation of a germinal line occurs early, during the embryonic life; (3) in juvenile and adult animals, male and female cells arise from a germinal ring located at the base of the acinar neck. Apart from developing oocytes, the epithelium lining the distal region of the acini consists of somatic cells (Sertoli and follicle cells).     

Mouse Chromosome 7

Chair of Committee for Mouse Chromosome 7     

Comparison of different cationic probes for electron microscopic visualization of bacterial polyanionic capsular material

We have isolated from the ovine rumen eight bacterial strains belonging to the speciesButyrivibrio fibrisolvens. DNA hybridization studies showed that the eight strains could be divided into four homology groups, of which none was closely related to the type strain ATCC 19171. Measurement of cross-hybridization between selected pairs of bacterial strains showed that DNA types which produced low, but significant, cross-hybridization on dot-blots were able to form heteroduplexes with between 8.4% and 32.9% of the efficiency of homoduplex formation. Thermal denaturation of the same heteroduplexes resulted in Tm values 6.4–7.5°C lower than those of the homologous duplexes formed under the same conditions. In some cases, hybridization between strains was below the level of reliable measurement. Similar experiments with ten recently isolated strains ofBacteroides ruminicola sub-sp.brevis revealed a similar degree of genetic divergence between isolates.     

Operant conditioning of scratching in lemurs

An adult femaleLemur catta and an adult femaleEulemur fulvus were given edible rewards for scratching. Both subjects learned to scratch in order to obtain the rewards, showed diminished rates of scratching during periods of extinction, and learned to scratch preferentially with one foot when required. TheLemur catta subject was more responsive to the changing experimental conditions than theEulemur fulvus. The conditionability of scratching in primates does not appear to be directly related to the widespread occurrence of scratching in simian social contexts.     

Synthesis and fungicidal activity of 2,2′-bipyridine derivatives

A series of substituted 2,2′-bipyridine derivatives was prepared using the Kröhnke reaction and alkylation of 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine. These compounds were screened for fungicidal activity against 9 plant diseases. 5-Phenyl-2,2′-bipyridine exhibited strong preventative and curative fungicidal activity against wheat powdery mildew (Erisyphe graminis) and wheat leaf rust (Puccinia recondita).     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of camptothecin derivatives bearing five-membered heterocycle containing 10-substituents

A series of new camptothecin derivatives bearing five-membered ring heterocycle containing substituents in the 10-position were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity. Camptothecin derivatives bearing a pyrrole or a thiophene ring were significantly more potent than camptothecin, however those bearing furan were less potent than camptothecin.     

Development of a pollen-mediated transformation method forNicotiana glutinosa

The development is described of a new procedure to genetically transform plant species using the male gametophyte as a natural transformation vector. Our system avoids the need for complicated regeneration procedures thus making it broadly applicable. Naked plasmid DNA encoding kanamycin resistance and GUS activity was introduced by particle gun bombardment into mature pollen grains ofNicotiana glutinosa. Bombarded pollen was used for pollinations and the resulting seeds were selected for kanamycin resistance. Two different kanamycin-resistant plants, designated VIP A and VIP B, were obtained in two independent experiments. In VIP A, TR2-driven GUS activity was observed in vascular bundles, trichomes and in a small number of pollen grains. DNA gel blot analysis indicated that the introduced DNA was integrated independently into the genome of VIP A and VIP B. It was shown that male and female gametophyte development and seed set were highly aberrant in both VIP A and VIP B and that the offspring of self- and cross-pollinations did not contain the transgenes. This might be caused by a recombination event during the integration of the naked DNA resulting in a deletion of part of the target chromosome. After meiosis such a deletion is lethal for the gametes. Our observation that the transgenes were detected in DNA isolated from sporophytic tissues but not in DNA from VIP A and VIP B pollen grains is in line with this explanation. Future experiments designed to increase the frequency of transformation and to transfer the transgenes to the offspring are discussed.     

Comparative aspects of hydroxamic acid production by thiamine-dependent enzymes

The reactions of 4-chloronitrosobenzene with pyruvate decarboxylase and transketolase were investigated by use of a new high-pressure liquid chromatography method to determine any differences between these two enzymes with respect to hydroxamic acid production. In addition to the previously established difference in the type of hydroxamic acid produced by the two enzymes, several new and interesting differences in their reaction with nitrosoaromatics were discovered. Most notable was the finding that pyruvate decarboxylase gave 4-chlorophenylhydroxylamine as the major product from 4-chloronitrosobenzene, while transketolase did not produce any detectable hydroxylamine. A redox mechanism was proposed to account for arylhydroxylamine production by pyruvate decarboxylase. This redox mechanism can also explain hydroxamic acid production by pyruvate decarboxylase; however, a previously proposed nucleophilic reaction mechanism occurring simultaneously could not be totally disproven. Either of the two mechanisms is equally likely for transktolase action in view of the present evidence. Another major difference between these enzymes is that the rate of 4-chloronitrosobenzene conversion was found to be much faster for pyruvate decarboxylase than for transketolase when each enzyme was subjected to its own optimal reaction conditions. Transketolase displayed typical enzyme saturation kinetics with 4-chloronitrosobenzene with a K_m of 0.31 mM and V_max of 0.033 μmol ml^?1 min^?1 unit^?1 relative to 5 mMd-fructose 6-phosphate as sugar substrate. On the other hand, the reaction with pyruvate decarboxylase was first order in 4-chloronitrosobenzene with a combined rate constant of 2.0 min^?1 unit^?1 ml.