Cytometric analysis of the DNA content of the thymus, spleen and liver in C57BL/6 mice

Flow cytometric analysis of cell DNA content in the mouse C 57 BL/6 shows better results with fine needle aspiration than with mechanical dissociation of the tissues. There is no difference fresh and deep frozen stored tissues. In the liver, it has been found two cell populations with different DNA content including diploid and tetraploid cell lines. In the spleen and the thymus, only diploid cells are encountered with different cell cycles belonging to the organ.     

Oryzalin,a dinitroaniline herbicide,binds to plant tubulin and inhibits microtubule polymerization in vitro

The effects of oryzalin, a dinitroaniline herbicide, on chromosome behavior and on cellular microtubules (MTs) were examined by light microscopy and immunogold staining, respectively, in endosperm cells from Haemanthus katherinae Bak. Brief treatments with 1.0·10^-8 M oryzalin reduced markedly the migration rate of anaphase chromosomes and 1.0·10^-7 M oryzalin stopped migration abruptly. Oryzalin (1.0·10^-7 M) depolymerized MTs and prevented the polymerization of new MTs at all stages of the mitotic cycle. The chromosome condensation cycle was unaffected by oryzalin. Endothelial cells from the heart of Xenopus leavis showed no chromosomal or microtubular rearrangements after oryzalin treatment. The inhibition by oryzalin of the polymerization of tubulin isolated from cultured cells of Rosa sp. cv. Paul's scarlet was examined in vitro by turbidimetry, electron microscopy and polymer sedimentation analysis. Oryzalin inhibited the rapid phase of taxol-induced polymerization of rose MTs at 24°C with an apparent inhibition constant (K _i ) of 2.59·10⁶ M. Shorter and fewer MTs were formed with increasing oryzalin concentrations, and maximum inhibition of taxol-induced polymerization occurred at approx. 1:1 molar ratios of oryzalin and tubulin. Oryzalin partially depolymerized taxol-stabilized rose MTs. Ligand-binding experiments with [¹⁴C]oryzalin demonstrated the formation of a tubulin-oryzalin complex that was time- and pH-dependent. The tubulin-oryzalin interaction (24°C, pH 7.1) had an apparent affinity constant (K _app) of 1.19·10⁵ M^-1. Oryzalin did not inhibit taxol-induced polymerization of bovinebrain MTs and no appreciable binding of oryzalin to brain tubulin or other proteins was detected. The results demonstrate pharmacological differences between plant and animal tubulins and indicate that the most sensitive mode of action of the dinitroaniline herbicides is the direct poisoning of MT dynamics in cells of higher plants.Abbreviations MT microtubule - SIB sucrose isolation buffer - TO tubulin-oryzalin complex     

Dynamics of breathing in the hypoxic awake lamb

Newborn mammals respond to hypoxia with an immediate hyperventilation that is rapidly dampened. Changes in mechanical properties of the respiratory system during hypoxia have been considered an important reason for this fall in minute ventilation (VE). We have studied the dynamic mechanical behavior of the respiratory system in eight unanesthetized intact newborn lambs (mean age 2 days) during normoxia and hypoxia (FIO2 = 0.08). Mouth pressure (P), airflow (V), and volume (V) were recorded while lambs were breathing through a leak-proof face mask and a pneumotachograph. Active compliance (C') and resistance (R') of the respiratory system were computed from P developed during an inspiratory effort against airway closure at end expiration and V and V of the preceding breaths. Tidal expiratory V-V curves were analyzed to estimate the elevation in functional residual capacity (FRC) over resting volume (Vr). After hypoxia, there was an immediate increase in VE in the first 2 min, from 0.49 to 1.13 l.kg-1.min-1, followed by a rapid decrease to 0.80. After 8 min of hypoxia, C' was unchanged. The inspiratory R' decreased during hypoxia, probably reflecting a drop in inspiratory laryngeal resistance. The expiratory V-V curves during hypoxia showed considerable braking, often with a double peak in expiratory V. This pattern was only occasionally seen during normoxia. In animals with a linear segment of the expiratory V-V curves the FRC-Vr difference could be calculated and averaged 1.93 ml/kg during normoxia and 3.47 during hypoxia. The recoil P of the respiratory system at end expiration was 0.75 cmH2O during normoxia vs. 1.63 cmH2O during hypoxia (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Direct measurement of static chest wall compliance in animal and human neonates

The measurement of pulmonary mechanics has been developed extensively for adults, and these techniques have been applied directly to neonates and infants. However, the compliant chest wall of the infant frequently predisposes to chest wall distortion, especially when there is a low dynamic lung compliance (CL,dyn). We describe a technique of directly measuring the static chest wall compliance (Cw,st), developed initially in the newborn lamb and subsequently applied to the premature neonate with chest wall distortion. The mean CL,dyn in seven intubated newborn lambs in normoxia was 2.45 +/- 0.41 ml.cmH2O-1.kg-1, whereas Cw,st was 11.81 +/- 0.25 ml.cmH2O-1.kg-1. These values did not change significantly in seven animals breathing through a tight-fitting face mask or with hypercapnia-induced tachypnea. For the eight premature infants the mean CL,dyn was 1.35 +/- 0.36 ml.cmH2O-1.kg-1, whereas the mean Cw,st was 3.16 +/- 1.01 ml.cmH2O-1.kg-1. This study shows that, under relaxed conditions when measurements of static compliance are performed, the chest wall is more compliant than the lung. The measurement of Cw,st may thus be used to determine the contribution of the respiratory musculature in stabilizing the chest wall.     

松辽盆地阿尔必期微体浮游植物新属种

该文描述了松辽盆地中白垩世阿尔必期泉头组三段的微体浮游植物化石1新属7新种,隶属于微咸水沟鞭藻类2属5新种(含4新亚种),淡水绿藻1属1种和疑源类1新属1新种。并对沟鞭藻 Ngktericysta Bint,1986进行了修订。     

寄生云杉树蜂的枝跗瘿蜂一新种(膜翅目:瘿蜂总科:枝跗瘿蜂科)

枝跗瘿蜂科(Ibahidae)是个小科,所有种类均寄生蛀干害虫树蜂科(Siricidae)的幼虫。我国大陆的本科种类由杨忠岐1991年首次作了报道。现记述采自祁连山林区的另1新种。该种寄生于为害青海云杉(Picea crassifolia Kom.)的黄肩长尾树蜂(Xeris spec-trum spectrum)等树蜂的幼虫。新种的模式标本保存于西北林学院天敌昆虫研究室。至此,我国大陆共有本科种类3种,加上台湾的1个种,我国共有4种:     

Attachment of DNA to nucleolar and nuclear skeletal structures as visualized by Kleinschmidt molecular spreading

Co-isolated residual nuclear shells and residual nucleoli from membrane-depleted rat liver nuclei were spread according to Kleinschmidt's method. Comparison of the spread residual structures isolated from nuclear shells and spread pore complex-lamina isolated from nuclear envelopes showed that these residual structures are morphologically identical. Furthermore, our nuclear shell isolation procedure allowed visualization of DNA strands bound to a granular component of the lamina. The fragmentation of nuclear shells allowed us to obtain well-spread nucleolar remnants, in which we observed DNA strands anchored on a residual nucleolar network attached to the lamina. The different molecular features revealed by the spreading of residual nucleolar structures suggest that both non-transcribing nucleolar DNA and active ribosomal genes are linked to the nucleolar network. Although the exact nature of this network remains to be defined, the results of the present study strongly suggest that the DNA molecules of the chromosomes bearing ribosomal genes have many sites of attachment to a non-chromatin nucleolar network which can be referred to as a nucleolar skeletal complex.     

Hypoxia-induced periodic breathing in newborn lambs

This study was designed to elucidate the effect of hypoxia on the breathing rhythmicity and the effect of hypoxia on periodic breathing (PB) in two groups of newborn lambs (less than 2 days and 10 days of age). Lambs undergoing a hypoxic ventilatory test [0.08 inspired O2 fraction (FIo2) for 13 min] experienced no apnea or PB in hypoxia, but all developed PB during the 1-min period immediately after their abrupt return to 0.21 FIo2. This PB occurred when alternation of arterial PO2 and PCO2 in mild hypoxic and hypocapnic conditions induced an overshoot-undershoot response of the chemical drive to breathe. The magnitude of PB was found to be greater in the animals with a higher peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity to hypoxia but ceased altogether when the hypoxic-hypocapnic conditions were resolved. When these conditions were removed more quickly, that is, when the animals were returned either to 0.50 FIo2 or to 0.03 FIco2, no PB was observed. To clarify the role of hypoxia as a central depressant on the genesis of PB, we tested to determine whether additional central tissue hypoxia, using carboxyhemoglobin (30%), would worsen the episodes of PB. No effect on breathing rhythmicity was observed. These findings suggest not only that, in newborn animals and adults, the mechanisms of post-hypoxia-induced PB are identical but that the PB elicited in mild hypoxic conditions is a peripheral chemoreflex-mediated event rather than a centrally mediated one.     

中三叠世多板类在我国的首次发现

报道我国首次发现的三叠纪多板纲(Polyplacophora)鳞肋目(Lepidopleurina)鳞肋科(Lepidopleuridae)的—新属——中国石鳖(Sinochiton).新属保存较完整,贝体中等大,椭圆形,长宽比为1.44∶1;中间板宽远大于壳长,长方形,半圆形拱凸,壳顶不突出,后缘近直,中心区十分宽大,侧区很窄,或不明显,缝合片及嵌插板不发育;贝体具圆形环带.新属与菊石 Balatonites 共生,时代属 Anisian 期.新属与北美下二叠统的 Ochmazochiton Hoare, 1984 及宾夕法尼亚系的 Pedanochiton Debrock, Hoare et al 近似,它们之间可能存在着亲缘关系.