The spatial arrangement of germ line cells in ovarian follicles of the mutantdicephalic inDrosophila melanogaster

Summary The pattern of intercellular connections between germ line cells has been studied in follicles of the mutantdicephalic (dic), which possess nurse cell clusters at both poles. Staining of follicles with a fluorescent rhodamine conjugate of phalloidin reveals ring canals and cell membranes and thus allows us to reconstruct the spatial organization of the follicle. Each germ line cell can be identified by the pattern of cell-cell connections which reflect the mitotic history of individual cells in the 16-cell cluster. The results indicate that in both wild-type anddicephalic cystocyte clusters one of the two cells with four ring canals normally becomes the pro-oocyte. However, in some follicles (dicephalic and wild-type) oocytes were found with fewer or more than four ring canals. Indic follicles, one or several nurse cells may become disconnected from the other cells during oocyte growth at stage 9–10. Such disconnected cells cannot later on empty their cytoplasm into the oocyte. This, in turn, might be of consequence for the determination of axial polarity of the embryo.     

Glucose transport in human red cell membranes. Dependence of age, ATP, and insulin

Glucose self-exchange flux (Jex) and net efflux (Jnet) in human red cells and ghosts were studied at 25 degrees C and pH 7.2 by means of the combined use of the Millipore-Swinnex filtering method and the continuous flow tube method to show the dependence of time of storage after aspiration, ATP and insulin. In fresh cells (RBC), ghosts (G), ghosts with 2 mM ATP (G +), and cells stored at 4 degrees C greater than 60 days (OC) both Jex and Jnet follow simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics where J = Jmax X Ci X (K1/2 + Ci)-1. Jmaxex and Jmaxnet (nmol X cm-2 X s-1), respectively, was: (RBC) 0.27 and 0.19, (G) 0.24 and 0.27, (G +) 0.23 and 0.24, (OC) 0.23 and 0.20. K1/2,ex and K1/2,net (mM), respectively, was: (RBC) 7.5 and 1.3, (G) 4.8 and 14.2, (G +) 11.6 and 6.8, (OC) 3.8 and 9.0. In ghosts, the ATP-dependent fraction of the permeability shows a hyperbolic dependence on glucose concentrations lower than 80 mM. Insulin up to 1 microM had effect on neither Jex nor Jnet in RBC. Based on reported values of cytochalasin B binding sites the turnover rate per site in RBC appears to be as high as in maximally insulin-stimulated fat cells. Our results suggest that the number of transport sites remains constant, independent of age, ATP and insulin.     

Essential function of linoleic acid esterified in acylglucosylceramide and acylceramide in maintaining the epidermal water permeability barrier. Evidence from feeding studies with oleate, linoleate, arachidonate, columbinate and alpha-linolenate

Essential fatty acid-deficient rats were supplemented with 300 mg per day of pure fatty acid esters: oleate (O), linoleate (L), arachidonate (A), and columbinate (C) for 10 days. During this period, the rats in groups L, A, and C all showed a decrease in their initially high trans-epidermal water loss, a classical essential fatty acid-deficiency symptom, to a level seen in non-deficient rats (group N). The trans-epidermal water loss in rats of group O was unaffected by the supplementation. Fatty acid composition of two epidermal sphingolipids, acylglucosylceramide and acylceramide, from the skin were determined. The results indicate that re-establishment of a low trans-epidermal water loss was associated with incorporation of linolenate into the two epidermal sphingolipids. Supplementation with columbinate resulted in relatively high amounts of this fatty acid in the investigated epidermal sphingolipids. Analysis of pooled skin specimens from a previous study in which weanling rats were fed a fat-free diet and supplemented orally with pure alpha-linolenate for 13 weeks (Hansen, H.S. and Jensen, B. (1983) Lipids 18, 682-690) revealed very little polyunsaturated fatty acid in the two sphingolipids. These rats showed increased evaporation which was comparable to that of essential fatty acid-deficient rats. We interpret these results as strong evidence for a very specific and essential function of linoleic acid in maintaining the integrity of the epidermal water permeability barrier. This function of linoleate is independent of its role as precursor for arachidonate and icosanoids.     

Iridoid glucosides in fouquieriaceae

From three Fouquieria sp. 12 iridoid glucosides were isolated and identified. Eight of these were structurally related to galioside (monotropein methylester), while four were hydroxy substitution products of deoxyloganin. In three cases the glucoside occurred together with the corresponding 10-O-acetate.     

Inhalation of an Ethanol-Based Zileuton Formulation Provides a Reduction of Pulmonary Adenomas in the A/J Mouse Model

Potential efficacy of zileuton, a 5-LOX inhibitor, was evaluated for the reduction of pulmonary adenomas in the A/J murine model when administered via nose-only inhalation. Development of pulmonary adenomas was induced with benzo(a)pyrene. Animals were treated with a zileuton solution (5 mg/mL in 85:15 ethanol/water) either twice weekly or five times a week via nose-only inhalation; The placebo solution (85:15 EtOH/H₂O, no active) was also evaluated. Dose delivered was calculated to be 1.2 mg/kg per exposure for each zileuton group. After 20 weeks of treatment, surface tumors were enumerated and histologically assessed. A significant reduction in tumor count was noted for both the twice weekly administration (40%) and the five times a week administration (59%). The data also showed a significant reduction for the group, which received the placebo (approximately 58%). The treatment groups were also found to have an impact on the histological stages of adenoma development.     

Relationship between postabsorptive respiratory exchange ratio and plasma free fatty acid concentrations

The relationship between overnight postabsorptive (fasting) respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and plasma FFA concentrations was addressed using data from three separate protocols, each of which involved careful control of the antecedent diet. Protocol 1 examined the relationship between fasting RER and the previous daytime RER. In Protocol 2 fasting, RER and plasma palmitate concentrations were measured in 29 women and 31 men (body mass index <30 kg·m⁻²). Protocol 3 analyzed data from Nielsen et al. (Nielsen, S., Z. K. Guo, J. B. Albu, S. Klein, P. C. O''Brien, M. D. Jensen. 2003. Energy expenditure, sex and endogenous fuel availability in humans. J. Clin. Invest. 111: 981-988.) to understand how fasting RER and palmitate concentrations relate within individuals during four consecutive measurements. The results were as follows: 1) Fasting RER was correlated (r = 0.74, P < 0.001) with the previous day''s average RER, and less so with RER variability. 2) Fasting RER was correlated (r = −0.39, P = 0.007) with fasting plasma palmitate concentrations. 3) The pattern of the RER/palmitate relationship was similar within individuals and between individuals; a negative slope was observed significantly more often than a positive slope (χ² test; P < 0.001). Our findings suggest that, despite a fixed food quotient, the slight departures from energy equilibrium in a controlled General Clinical Research Center environment can effect plasma FFA concentrations. We suggest that including indirect calorimetry as part of FFA metabolism studies may aid in data interpretation.     

Neurotransmitters in the intestine of the Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua

The effects of the putative neurotransmitters acetylcholine, adrenaline, adenosine, ATP, bombesin, 5-hydroxytryptamine, met-enkephalin, neurotensin, somatostatin, substance P and VIP have been investigated in the perfused intestine of the cod, Gadus morhua. The presence and distribution of the different types of nerves was investigated with immunohistochemistry and Falck-Hillarp fluorescence histochemistry. A spontaneous rhythmic activity of the perfused preparations usually occurred within a few minutes from the start of the experiment. This activity was diminished or abolished by addition of atropine, methysergide or tetrodotoxin to the perfusion fluid. Acetylcholine, 5-hydroxytryptamine or substance P caused a contraction of the intestinal wall. The response to acetylcholine was blocked by atropine but not by tetrodotoxin, while the response to 5-hydroxytryptamine was blocked by methysergide and usually also by tetrodotoxin. This indicates that the effect of acetylcholine is direct on the muscle cells, while the effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine may be at least partly via a second neuron. All adrenergic agonists (adrenaline, isoprenaline and phenylephrine) had a dominating inhibitory effect on the intestine. Experiments with antagonists showed that the inhibition is due to stimulation of both alpha-adrenoceptors and beta-adrenoceptors. ATP, adenosine and somatostatin also caused a relaxation of the intestinal wall, often followed by a contraction. Met-enkephalin produced variable responses, either a relaxation, a contraction or both. Bombesin caused a weak inhibition, if anything. Neurotensin and VIP did not visibly affect the intestinal motility. 5-HT-, substance P- and VIP-like immunoreactivity and catecholamine fluorescence were observed in the myenteric plexus, submucosa and muscle layers in all parts of the intestine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Induction of autocrine epidermal growth factor receptor ligands in human keratinocytes by insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1

Autocrine activation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor on keratinocytes has been recognized as an important growth regulatory mechanism involved in epithelial homeostasis, and, possibly, hyperproliferative diseases. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and insulin have been shown to be paracrine keratinocyte mitogens that bind to the type I IGF receptor which is expressed on actively proliferating keratinocytes in situ. In this report, we demonstrate that IGF-1/insulin induced production of keratinocyte-derived autocrine growth factors that bind to the EGF receptor. Increased steady-state mRNA levels for transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) and for amphiregulin (AR) were observed upon incubation of keratinocytes with mitogenic concentrations of IGF-1. IGF-1 also induced production and secretion of TGF-α and AR proteins as detected by immunoassays. An EGF receptor antagonistic monoclonal antibody abolished the mitogenic effect of IGF-1 on cultured keratinocytes. These results suggest that stimulation of keratinocyte growth by IGF-1 requires activation of an EGF receptor-mediated autocrine loop. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.