THE DISTRIBUTION OF GLYCINE, GABA, GLUTAMATE AND ASPARTATE IN RABBIT SPINAL CORD, CEREBELLUM AND HIPPOCAMPUS

The distribution of glycine, GABA, glutamate and aspartate was measured among about 60 subdivisions of rabbit spinal cord, and among the discrete layers of cerebellum, hippocampus and area dentata. A more detailed mapping for GABA was made within the tip of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Spinal ventral horn and dorsal root ganglion cell bodies were analyzed for the amino acids and for total lipid. The distribution of lipid and lipid-free dry weight per unit volume was also determined in spinal cord. Calculated on the basis of tissue water, glycine in the cord is highest in lateral and ventral white matter immediately adjacent to the ventral grey. The distribution of GABA is almost the inverse of that of glycine with highest level in the tip of dorsal horn. It is most highly concentrated in the central 75% of Rexed layers III and IV. Aspartate in the tip of ventral horn is 4-fold higher than in the tip of the dorsal horn and 3 times the average concentration in brain. Glutamate was much more evenly distributed and is relatively low in concentration with slightly higher levels in dorsal than in ventral grey matter. Large cell bodies in both ventral horn and dorsal root ganglion contained high levels of glycine. As reported by others, GABA was found to be high in cerebellar grey layers, area dentata, and regio inferior of hippocampus. Glycine was moderately high in cerebellar layers but moderate to low in hippocampus and area dentata.     

Androgenic control of hepatic mitochondrial metabolism in an apoda, Gegenophis carnosus (Beddome).

In vivo administration of testosterone significantly stimulated the activities of cytochrome oxidase, alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (alpha-GPDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and adenosine triphosphatase (Mg2+ ATPase), in mitochondria isolated from the liver of G. carnosus. Administration of dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione while significantly stimulated the activities of cytochrome oxidase and alpha-GPDH, did not change that of SDH and Mg2+ ATPase. Simultaneous injections of testosterone and actinomycin D or chloramphenicol prevented the testosterone-stimulated activities of all the oxidative enzymes studied. The results clearly document the important stimulatory role of androgens in the regulation of hepatic mitochondrial metabolism in G. carnosus.     

Role of thyroid hormone in intermediary metabolism of propranolol or alloxan-treated Calotes versicolor.

Administration of L-thyroxine (T4) to thyroidectomized Calotes versicolor significantly increased the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) (liver and kidney), the concentrations of blood glucose and total protein (liver and kidney), and decreased hepatic cholesterol when compared to thyroidectomized lizards. Propranolol injections in thyroidectomized lizards increased the cholesterol concentration and did not change the other parameters. The activity of G-6-Pase and blood glucose content was stimulated, whereas the total protein and cholesterol contents were decreased after alloxan treatment. Administration of T4 to thyroidectomized animals pretreated with propranolol or alloxan significantly elevated the activity of G-6-Pase, the concentrations of blood glucose, and total protein, and reduced hepatic cholesterol level when compared to drug-treated lizards. From the results, it is evident that thyroid hormone has an independent stimulatory influence on intermediary metabolism in C. versicolor irrespective of the involvement of adrenaline or insulin.     

Effects of nicotinamide on NAD and poly (ADP-ribose) metabolism in DNA-damaged human lymphocytes

The effect of nicotinamide on unscheduled DNA synthesis was studied in resting human lymphocytes. In cells treated with UV irradiation or with MNNG, nicotinamide caused a two-fold stimulation of unscheduled DNA synthesis and retarded the rate of NAD⁺ lowering caused by these treatments. Nicotinamide also reduced the burst of poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis caused by MNNG treat-ment. Thus under conditions that it enhances unscheduled DNA synthesis, nicotinamide causes marked effects on the metabolism of NAD⁺ and poly(ADP-ribose). The effect of nicotinamide on unscheduled DNA synthesis was shown to be independent of protein or polyamine synthesis.     

Picturing beach erosion and deposition trends using PSInSAR: an example from the non-barred southern west coast of India

Coastal dynamics can rapidly alter beach morphology. In some places, such as the non-barred southern west coast of India, studying changes to beach morphology is a relatively arduous task. Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSInSAR), a remote sensing technique that utilizes stacks of radar images for accurate long-term monitoring of ground features, allows for detailed observations of coastal morphodynamics. Twenty-two single look complex (SLC) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) Sentinel-1A images, acquired from 4 March 2016 to 3 June 2017, are used to monitor geomorphological processes such as coastal erosion and deposition. Ground deformation measurements from PSInSAR processing shows the coast stretching?~?70 km between Thaickal and Munambam is highly dynamic, characterized by phases of erosion and deposition. The highest negative displacement of ? 24.9 mm at Thaickal versus the?+?7.6 mm at Chellanam in the north show the co-existing milieus of erosion and deposition. PSInSAR results concur with corresponding Google Earth images. In addition, beach sediment texture and scanning electron microscope grain micro-texture in the beach segment further corroborate temporal phases of erosion and deposition. Two locations are identified as typical erosional sites, while one location typified deposition. Erosion and deposition or rebuilding of beaches, usually correspond respectively with the onset and offset of SW monsoon wave climate in the Arabian Sea. When zones of deposition are mainly located in the proximity of river and/or lake inlets, stretches characterized by erosion are distal to inlets. Linear regression analyses of displacement–time series plots were used to identify general erosion or depositional regimes along beach segments. Results from this study illustrate how PSInSAR is a capable and reliable processing tool for monitoring temporal phases of coastal morpho-dynamics.

     

A monoclonal antibody recognizes an epitope common to an avian-specific nuclear antigen and to cytokeratins

X3, a monoclonal antibody of unusual specificity, is described. This antibody reacts with one or more cytokeratin polypeptides and also reacts with an avian (chicken, quail) nuclear antigen that appears to be present in all cell types (chicken) tested, although with variable staining pattern and intensity. This antigen is distinct from the cytokeratins but does have an epitope in common with this class of proteins. It disappears from the nucleus during the early stages of cell division and reappears during anaphase as a granular cytoplasmic structure. In late telophase the antigen is relocated in the nucleus. This antigen, which we have designated as avian-specific nuclear antigen (AVNA), is not associated with chromatin or ribonucleoproteins. From immunoblotting experiments on chicken fibroblast nuclei, AVNA is probably a complex composed of one or several polypeptides, one of which has a molecular weight of approximately 60 kD. The proteins were identified as nuclear matrix proteins rather than pore complex-lamina proteins by immunoblotting experiments on the purified nuclear matrix of chicken erythrocytes. The major polypeptide had a molecular weight of 60 kD and the minor polypeptide a molecular weight of 69 kD.     

Effect of photic changes and olfactory impairment on reproduction in female south Indian gerbil

Effect of exposure to constant light (CL), blinding and olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) on reproduction of adult and weanling female Tatera indica cuvieri was investigated. In adult females, CL induced changes in estrus cyclicity. Weanlings subjected to CL showed reduced ovarian weight. Blinding did not bring about changes in estrus cyclicity and reproductive organ weight (ovary and uterus) of either adults or weanlings. Estrus cyclicity of both adults and weanlings were affected consequent to OBX. In weanlings, OBX lowered the ovarian and uterine weight.