The assay of acid phosphatase activity by means of a laser method

Summary A new method of quantification of the acid phosphatase activity assay by means of laser rays along with spectrography and photometry is described. Calculated S values, representing differences between densities of the spectral bands corresponding to Pb and Ag account for the amount of acP activity.The presented laser method enables a relative evaluation of the acP activity in a given region, yielding results which can be objectively expressed by figures.A special advantage of the presented method is, that it allows to compare the individual acP activities in different regions of the investigated organ, which may be of importance for the quantitative chemoarchitectonic of the brain.     

Patterns of sequence variation in the mitochondrial D-loop region of shrews

Direct sequencing of the mitochondrial displacement loop (D-loop) of shrews (genus Sorex) for the region between the tRNA(Pro) and the conserved sequence block-F revealed variable numbers of 79-bp tandem repeats. These repeats were found in all 19 individuals sequenced, representing three subspecies and one closely related species of the masked shrew group (Sorex cinereus cinereus, S. c. miscix, S. c. acadicus, and S. haydeni) and an outgroup, the pygmy shrew (S. hoyi). Each specimen also possessed an adjacent 76-bp imperfect copy of the tandem repeats. One individual was heteroplasmic for length variants consisting of five and seven copies of the 79-bp tandem repeat. The sequence of the repeats is conducive to the formation of secondary structure. A termination-associated sequence is present in each of the repeats and in a unique sequence region 5' to the tandem array as well. Mean genetic distance between the masked shrew taxa and the pygmy shrew was calculated separately for the unique sequence region, one of the tandem repeats, the imperfect repeat, and these three regions combined. The unique sequence region evolved more rapidly than the tandem repeats or the imperfect repeat. The small genetic distance between pairs of tandem repeats within an individual is consistent with a model of concerted evolution. Repeats are apparently duplicated and lost at a high rate, which tends to homogenize the tandem array. The rate of D- loop sequence divergence between the masked and pygmy shrews is estimated to be 15%-20%/Myr, the highest rate observed in D-loops of mammals. Rapid sequence evolution in shrews may be due either to their high metabolic rate and short generation time or to the presence of variable numbers of tandem repeats.      

大鼠胼胝体内神经肽Y免疫反应阳性纤维的发育

本实验用免疫组织化学ＡＢＣ法研究了大鼠胼胝体内神经肽Ｙ免疫反应阳性（ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ）纤维的生后发育。结果发现,许多ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ纤维在大鼠出生时便存在于胼胝体内。ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ胼胝体纤维的密度在生后１周内继续逐渐增高,在第２周内达到最高峰。之后,ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ胼胝体纤维的密度逐渐下降,至第３周末时接近成年时的水平,即仅有少量ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ纤维存在于胼胝体内。这些结果提示在大鼠早期生后发育过程中许多ＮＰＹ－ＩＲ胼胝体纤维是暂时性的,其作用可能与大脑皮质的机能发育有关。     

Laser-spectrographic study on the contents of metals in the brain of patients with arteriosclerotic dementia

The histotopography of metal contents was studied in brains from cases with arteriosclerotic dementia by means of laser spectrography, a technique which is both highly secific and sensitive. All the affected brains contained considerable amounts of calcium which was present in almost all brain regions. The quantitative evaluation showed twice as much calcium in the striatum relative to the cerebellar white matter.     

Histochemistry of oxidative enzymes in the neuroglia in course of myelination.

The histoenzymic pattern of oxidative enzymes (G-6-PDH, G-PDH, ICDH, SDH, HBDH, NADH-2:tetrazolium dehydrogenase) was investigated in the developing neuroglia of rabbit brains, with special regard to the period of myelinogenesis. The obtained results lead to following conclusions: (1) During the early period of postnatal development there is maximal oxidative enzyme activity in ependymal cells, somewhat less reactive are the undifferentiated matrix cells and the differentiating cells of the mantle layer. No distinction can be made between the response of spongio- and neuroblasts. (2) Distinctly increased oxidoreductase activity, as compared to the early period of postnatal development, is demonstrated by the differentiating cells of myelination gliosis, no prevalence being demonstrable for enzymes of the particular metabolic pathways (pentose shunt, glycolysis or Krebs cycle). (3) G-6-PDH, G-PDH and oxidoreductases acting within the citric acid cycle are demonstrable only in single cells of the interfascicular oligodendroglia of adult rabbit brains, while almost all cells exhibit appreciable activity of HBDH and NADH-2 tetrazolium dehydrogenase.     

The Administration of Semax and HLDF-6 Peptides to Rats Regulates Protein Synthesis Rhythm in Hepatocytes and Corrects Senescent Disturbances

Russian Journal of Developmental Biology - To clarify the organizing effect of Semax and HLDF-6 peptides on the kinetics of protein synthesis in hepatocytes, in addition to an in vitro study...     

Investigation of the Hydrolytic Stability of the HLDF-6-AA Antitumor Peptide by the Method of Accelerated Aging

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - The HLDF-6 hexapeptide corresponded to the 41–46 (TGENHR) fragment of the Human Leukemia Differentiation Factor (HLDF) and exhibited a wide spectrum...