Role of cell-mediated immunity in the resistance to experimental sporotrichosis in mice

The in vitro activity of several new imidazoles, cloconazole, sulconazole, butoconazole, isoconazole and fenticonazole, were compared with those of amphothericin B, flucytosine, and three azoles: econazole, miconazole and ketoconazole against isolates of pathogenic Candida. A total of 186 clinical isolates of 10 species of the genus Candida and two culture collection strains were tested by an agar-dilution technique. Isoconazole was the most active azole, followed by butoconazole and sulconazole. Differences between some of the species in their susceptibility to the antifungal agents were noted. Sulconazole and cloconazole had the highest activity in vitro against 106 isolates of C. albicans. Butoconazole and isoconazole were also very active against isolates of C. albicans, and were the most active azole compounds against 80 isolates of Candida spp.     

Proximal and distal transformation during intercalary regeneration in the planarianDugesia(S)mediterranea

Summary Studies on intercalary regeneration in several organisms have shown that a regenerate is formed when surfaces of different positional value along the proximo-distal axis are opposed. One of the main problems posed by this phenomenon is to know which piece contributes to the building of the regenerate. In the present work we have studied this problem in planarians using chimaeras made between pieces of different body levels, irradiated or not, of the sexual and asexual races ofDugesia(S)mediterranea that differ in a chromosomal marker.The results found show very clearly that intercalary regenerates in planarians are formed by cells coming from both pieces (stumps), and that irradiated pieces keep the positional values and interact with non-irradiated pieces to restore the missing parts. This means that distal and proximal transformation do actually occur at the same time during intercalary regeneration in planarians. The implications of these results as regards to the origin of cells in the regenerate and to present models of intercalary regeneration are discussed.     

DETERMINATION OF GUSTATORY SUCROSE THRESHOLD IN WATER BY USE OF A LINEAR SUCROSE GRADIENT

A novel experimental method was developed which allows the determination of the threshold concentration of sucrose by use of a linear sucrose gradient in water. With this method a continuous tasting of the test-liquid is possible. A panel of 15 persons experienced in taste-testing was used. Three gradients of different steepness were applied: 0 to 1.5% (w/w) sucrose in 2 min (I), 3 min (II) and 4 min (III). The results of the new method were compared with those of the standard method (DIN). With gradients I and II we found values which were significantly higher than those of the standard method (I: 0.49% (w/w); II: 0.46% (w/w); DIN: 0.31% (w/w)), whereas with gradient III the same threshold value was found as with the DIN-Method (III: 0.32% (w/w)).     

Chromosomal localization of four human zinc finger cDNAs

cDNA clones encoding zinc finger motifs were isolated by screening human placenta and T-cell (Peer) cDNA libraries with zinc finger (ZNF) consensus sequences. Unique cDNA clones were mapped in the human genome by rodent-human somatic cell hybrid analysis and in some cases in situ chromosomal hybridization. ZNF 80 mapped to 3p12-3qter, ZNF 7 was previously mapped to 8q24 and is here shown by in situ hybridization and use of appropriate hybrids to map telomeric to the MYC locus. ZNF 79 mapped to 9q34 centromeric to the ABL gene and between a constitutional chromosomal translocation on the centromeric side and the CML specific ABL translocation on the telomeric side. ZNF77 mapped to 19p while ZNF 78L1 (pT3) mapped to 19q. Chromosome 19 carries many ZNF loci and other genes with zinc finger encoding motifs; the pT3 clone additionally detected a locus designated ZNF 78L2, which mapped to chromosome region 1p, most likely in the region 1p32 where the MYCL and JUN loci map.     

Effect of maternal fatty acid deficiency on lipid content and composition of rat liver during prenatal development

Two groups of female rats were fed a diet with high (5.9 cal % of linoleate + linolenate) or low (0.78 cal % of linoleate + linolenate) essential fatty acid (EFA) concentration. The effects of the EFA concentration during gestation on liver lipid and fatty acid composition were studied in the fetuses at 15 and 20 days of intrauterine life. Fetal and liver weights were identical in the two groups; at day 20 the contents of proteins, total cholesterol, phospholipids and glycolipids were significantly decreased (p less than 0.01) with the low EFA diet while at day 15 only total cholesterol was affected (p less than 0.05). At both gestational ages the triacylglycerol content was increased in the low EFA group (day 15 p less than 0.05, day 20 p less than 0.01). The maternal EFA deficiency resulted in higher levels of 16:1 n-7 in the phospholipid fractions and 16:1 n-7 and 18:1 n-7 in the neutral lipids. The increase in these monoenoic derivatives partially compensated the decrease of the polyunsaturated species 18:2 n-6 and 20:4 n-6. In conclusion the low EFA diet results in important modifications of the fetal hepatic lipids during intrauterine development.     

Opioid peptides in the nervous system ofAplysia: A combined biochemical,immunocytochemical, and electrophysiological study

Summary 1. We have used biochemical, immunocytochemical, and electrophysiological techniques to evaluate the role of opioid peptides in the central nervous system of the marine mollusc,Aplysia california.2. Binding studies using³H-d-Ala², met-enkephalinamide (³H-DAMA) showed a single class of high-affinity binding sites with aK _d of 1.3 nM and a binding density of 45 pmol/g.3. HPLC extracts of ganglia revealed multiple peaks with immunoreactivity for either leu (LEU-IR)- or met-enkephalin (MET-IR), but the amounts were not uniformly distributed in all ganglia.4. LEU-IR and MET-IR neurons were demonstrated immunocytochemically in all ganglia, but MET-IR neurons were more frequent and were concentrated in pedal and pleural ganglia. While absorption control studies abolished MET-IR, LEU-IR was only partially abolished in the neuropil.5. In electrophysiological studies, both depolarizing and hyperpolarizing responses were found tod-Ala²-leu-enkephalin (DALEU) andd-Ala²-met enkephalin (DAMET) on some and different neurons.6. HPLC fractions from regions with retention times corresponding to authentic leu- or met-enkephalin showed physiologic responses similar to those of DALEU and DAMET, respectively.7. These studies suggest that a variety of endogeneous opioid peptides play physiologically important roles in the nervous system ofAplysia, including but not necessarily limited to leu- and met-enkephalin.