Glutaraldehyde pretreatment blocks phospholipase A2 modulation of adrenergic receptors

Treatment of rat cerebral cortical membranes with phospholipase A2 affects, in a parallel fashion, beta-, alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic receptor binding, but not the affinity of these receptors for their respective ligands. Pretreatment of membranes with 0.1 percent glutaraldehyde blocks the effects of phospholipase A2 on adrenergic receptor binding. The results support the hypothesis that desensitization or "masking" of adrenergic receptors may involve changes in membrane lipid composition. Furthermore, glutaraldehyde may prove a useful tool in the investigation of the dynamic roles of lipids in receptor function and more specifically, their regulation and coupling to physiological events.     

Effects of caffeine on carotid sinus nerve chemosensory discharge in kittens and cats

Bairam, A., P. De Grandpré, C. Dauphin, and F. Marchal. Effects of caffeine on carotid sinus nervechemosensory discharge in kittens and cats. J. Appl.Physiol. 82(2): 413-418, 1997.Caffeine (C)decreases apneic episodes in premature infants and is thought tostimulate breathing mainly by a central mechanism. While the methylxanthines theophylline and aminophylline are known to alter thecarotid chemoreceptor activity, there are little data on C. The aim ofthe study was to examine the effects of C on the carotid sinus nervedischarge (CSND) in developing animals. Nine kittens 17-21 daysold and six adult cats that were anesthetized and artificially ventilated were studied. They received four consecutive doses of C,each of 10 mg/kg, administered at intervals of 20 min either asintravenous bolus injection (6 kittens, 3 cats) or continuous infusion(3 kittens, 3 cats). Bolus injections of C invariably induced a promptbut transient increase in the CSND from 4.1 ± 0.6 to 8.1 ± 1.0 (SE) impulses/s in kittens (P = 0.01)and from 3.9 ± 0.1 to 7.9 to 1.0 impulses/s in cats (after thefirst injection). This response was associated with a significantdecrease in arterial blood pressure. Continuous infusion of C did notinduce any early change in either CSND or blood pressure in kittens orcats. Fifteen minutes after C injection or infusion was begun, CSNDvalues in air, 8% O₂-balanceN₂, or 100%O₂ were not significantlydifferent from control. Haloperidol administered at theend of the experiment in four cats and four kittens significantlyincreased CSND and did not suppress the early response to C injection.It is concluded that caffeine administered by bolus in the kitteninduces a transient stimulation of the CSND that is associated with adecrease in the arterial blood pressure and is independent of thedopaminergic mechanisms in the carotid body. The lack of sustainedeffect implies the main mechanism to the ventilatory stimulation by Cmust be central.

     

Interleukin 2 deficiency is a common feature of autoimmune mice

IL 2 production was studied in autoimmune mice to assess the role of this lymphokine in the pathogenesis of murine lupus. Spleen and lymph node cells from autoimmune-susceptible mice show an age-dependent loss in the ability to produce functional IL 2. This defect correlates with disease expression and is most severe in MLR/Mp-Ipr/Ipr mice. MLR/Mp-Ipr/Ipr thymocytes gradually lose responsiveness to IL 2 with age. These results suggest that the immunoregulatory abnormalities of autoimmune mice may be due in part to IL 2 deficiency.     

Ribosomal proteins as biomarkers for bacterial identification by mass spectrometry in the clinical microbiology laboratory

Whole-cell matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a rapid method for identification of microorganisms that is increasingly used in microbiology laboratories. This identification is based on the comparison of the tested isolate mass spectrum with reference databases. Using Neisseria meningitidis as a model organism, we showed that in one of the available databases, the Andromas database, 10 of the 13 species-specific biomarkers correspond to ribosomal proteins. Remarkably, one biomarker, ribosomal protein L32, was subject to inter-strain variability. The analysis of the ribosomal protein patterns of 100 isolates for which whole genome sequences were available, confirmed the presence of inter-strain variability in the molecular weight of 29 ribosomal proteins, thus establishing a correlation between the sequence type (ST) and/or clonal complex (CC) of each strain and its ribosomal protein pattern. Since the molecular weight of three of the variable ribosomal proteins (L30, L31 and L32) was included in the spectral window observed by MALDI-TOF MS in clinical microbiology, i.e., 3640–12000 m/z, we were able by analyzing the molecular weight of these three ribosomal proteins to classify each strain in one of six subgroups, each of these subgroups corresponding to specific STs and/or CCs. Their detection by MALDI-TOF allows therefore a quick typing of N. meningitidis isolates.     

Eumelanin‐based colouration reflects local survival of juvenile feral pigeons in an urban pigeon house

Urbanisation introduces deep changes in habitats, eventually creating new urban ecosystems where ecological functions are driven by human activities. The higher frequency of some phenotypes in urban vs rural/wild areas has led to the assumption that directional selection in urban habitats occurs, which may thereby favour some behavioural and physiological traits in urban animal populations compared to rural ones. However, empirical evidence of directional selection on phenotypic traits in urban areas remains scarce. In this study we tested whether eumelanin‐based colouration could be linked to survival in two urban populations of the feral pigeon Columba livia. A number of studies in different cities pointed out a higher frequency of darker individuals in more urbanised areas compared to rural ones. To investigate whether directional selection through survival on this highly heritable trait could explain such patterns, we conducted mark–recapture studies on two populations of feral pigeons in highly urbanized areas. We predicted that darker coloured individuals would exhibit higher survival and/or philopatry (integrated into ‘local survival’) than paler coloured ones. No difference in local survival was found between adults of different colouration intensities. However, on one site, we found that darker juveniles had a higher local survival probability than light ones. Juvenile local survival on that site was also negatively correlated with the number of chicks born. This suggests the existence of colour‐ and/or density‐dependent selection processes acting on juvenile feral pigeons in urban environments, acting through differential mortality and/or dispersal.     

Pharmacomodulation of a sulfamide 5-HT6 receptor ligand

A series of N-omega-aminoalkyl- or N-omega-amidinoalkyl-2,4,6-triisopropyl benzenesulfonamides has been synthesized and their respective affinity indices on 5-HT6 receptor determined. This evaluation clearly showed that the compounds possessing an arylpiperazine moiety or an amidine function exhibited good affinity for the model.     

Soluble organic matrices of the calcitic prismatic shell layers of two Pteriomorphid bivalves. Pinna nobilis and Pinctada margaritifera

The calcitic prisms of the shells of two bivalves, Pinna and Pinctada, are considered simple prisms according to some morphological and mineralogical characteristics. Scanning electron microscopic and atomic force microscopic studies show that the microstructures and nanostructures of these two shells are different. Pinna prisms are monocrystalline, whereas Pinctada prisms are not. Moreover, intraprismatic membranes are present only in the Pinctada prisms. The soluble organic matrices extracted from these prisms are acidic, but their bulk compositions differ. Ultraviolet and infrared spectrometries, fluorescence, high pressure liquid chromatography, and electrophoresis show that the sugar-protein ratios and the molecular weights are different. Sulfur is mainly associated with acidic sulfated sugars, not with amino acids, and the role of acidic sulfated sugars is still underestimated. Thus, the simple prism concept is not a relevant model for the biomineralization processes in the calcitic prismatic layer of mollusk shells.     

Comparative studies of skeletal soluble matrices from some Scleractinian corals and Molluscs

The soluble organic matrices extracted from aragonitic skeletons of five Scleractinia and two Molluscs were analyzed using FTIR spectrometry, HPLC and 2-D gel electrophoresis. All these methods show that scleractinian and molluscan matrices are different. Both matrices are acidic with poorly separated molecular weights. The scleractinian matrices are highly glycosylated, whereas the molluscan matrices are not as shown by stains in 2D-electrophoresis. These results were in accordance with earlier data: high S contents in Scleractinia skeletons and low S contents in Mollusca shells. These results confirm the control of the morphology and the chemical composition of aragonite biocrystals in various taxa.     

Actin organization during eucalyptus root hair development and its response to fungal hypaphorine

The fungus Pisolithus microcarpus establishes an ectomycorrhiza with Eucalyptus globulus. This symbiosis involves a fungal synthesis and secretion of hypaphorine, an indolic compound. Previous studies have shown that hypaphorine induces an alteration in the actin cytoskeleton of elongating root hairs and inhibits hair elongation. Using an alternative approved method, we analyzed the effects of hypaphorine on the E. globulus root hair cyto-architecture and actin configuration in more detail and provide new results. One mM hypaphorine stops root hair elongation within 20 min, and changes the hair cyto-architecture. Semi-quantitative analysis of the actin cytoskeleton before and after treatment with hypaphorine shows that hypaphorine induces a shift from fine F-actin to F-actin bundles in the sub-apex of the hair, which occurs first in the mid-plane of the cell. This creates a sub-apical cell centre free of filamentous actin, an actin configuration that differs from that during developmental growth arrest. The mechanism of action of hypaphorine is discussed.