Mechanism of inhibition caused by long-chain fatty acids in anaerobic digestion process

The inhibitory effect of long-chain fatty acids on the anaerobic digestion process was examined in batch experiments using synthetic substrates. The addition of long-chain fatty acids caused the appearance of the appearance of the lag period in the methane production from acetate and in the degradation of both long-chain fatty acids and n-butyrate. Methane production from hydrogen proceeded without lag period although its rate was lowered. Fermentation of glucose was not inhibited. Neutral fat in the whole milk was easily hydrolyzed to long-chain fatty acids, which brought about the inhibition. The addition of calcium chloride reduced the inhibitory effect of long-chain fatty but it did not do so after the culture had been exposed to long-chain fatty acids for more than several hours. The addition of calcium carbonate could not reduce the inhibition because of its insolubility.     

Significance of exercise and bed rest in pregnancy--study on the lying postures of gravidas during sleep (2)

For the purpose of determining the most reasonable lying posture for pregnant women, we investigated the lying positions of both 247 non-pregnant women and 302 pregnant women during sleep. As for the rate of each position during the entire period of observation, 33.2% of the non-pregnant women were in the supine position, 41.2% in the lateral position, 18.4% in Sims' position and 7.1% in the prone position. In the pregnant group, the rate of supine position, simple lateral position and Sims' position was 34.2%, 52.2% and 12.7%, respectively, but the rate of the prone position was limited to 0.8%. All of the gravidas assuming the prone position were at less than 16 weeks of gestation. Non-pregnant women could sleep in a variety of positions, but pregnant women could assume the prone position during sleep only in the stage when the abdomen is not yet prominent or distended. Pregnant women were restricted significantly, either consciously or unconsciously, with progress in gestation.     

Immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry of atrial natriuretic polypeptide in porcine heart

Summary Specific granules in porcine hearts were observed in atrial cardiocytes, Purkinje fibers, and transitional cells of the ventricle. These granule-containing cells were immunohistochemically stained by applying the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method using an antiserum against -human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP). Immunoelectron microscopy of sections stained using the immunogold method indicated that these specific granules are storage sites of ANP. Furthermore, an impulse-conducting system consisting of immunoreactive cells was clearly distinguishable from nonimmunoreactive ventricular cardiocytes. We conclude that specific-granule-containing cells, i.e., ANP-producing cells, are located in both the atrial walls and the ventricular impulse-conducting system. The presence of ANP may be correlated with impulse conduction.     

An antibody and anti-idiotypic antibody against the extra signal peptide of pre-aspartate aminotransferase

A peptide (extra signal peptide) comprising amino acids 1-29 of pig liver pre-mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (p-mAAT) was synthesized chemically. The peptide was found to block the import of rat liver p-mAAT into rat liver mitochondria. An antibody raised against the peptide immunoprecipitated rat liver p-mAAT synthesized in a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free translation system. These results suggested that the extra signal peptide sequence of p-mAAT is essential for import of p-mAAT into the mitochondria and that there is structural homology between the extra signal peptides of pig and rat liver p-mAAT. An anti-idiotypic antibody against the peptide was also prepared and purified by affinity chromatography on an Affi-Gel 10 anti-peptide IgG column and was then characterized.     

Effect of alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide on anterior pituitary function in men

In order to examine the effects of alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-hANP) on the basal plasma concentrations of GH, TSH, LH, FSH and PRL in humans, synthetic alpha-hANP was infused into 10 normotensive, euvolemic, healthy volunteers. There were observed marked hypotensive, diuretic and natriuretic effects during the alpha-hANP infusion. The basal plasma concentrations of GH, TSH, LH and FSH, showed no significant change following the alpha-hANP infusion. However, significant suppression of the plasma PRL concentration was observed with the alpha-hANP administration. The mean plasma PRL concentration tended to be decreased during 20 min of alpha-hANP infusion, however, there the differences were not statistically significant. A significant reduction in the mean plasma PRL concentration (-20%, P less than 0.5) was observed 10 min after the end of infusion, following the reversion to the preinfusion level at 70 min after the end of infusion. Such a significant and delayed suppression was not seen in the case of placebo infusion. The data suggest that the circulating hANP may reduce the release of PRL.