Human sperm surface mapping with lectins.

Ten fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-linked lectins [Bauhimia purpurea, Concanavalin A, Dolichos biflorus (DBA), Griffonia simplicifolia I, Griffonia simplicifolia II, Maclura pomifera, Arachis hypogea (PNA), Glycine max, Ulex europaeus (UEA) and Triticum vulgaris agglutinin] have been used to study their binding features on the human ejaculate spermatozoa. Qualitative changes in the labeling pattern have been observed in unfixed and acetone-treated spermatozoa. Furthermore, ultrastructural localization of some of the colloidal gold-linked lectins, namely PNA, UEA and DBA, has been attempted to delineate the binding domains of the specific sugars on the sperm surface. It needs to be emphasized that flow-cytometric methods employed in our study, which provide quantitative slant to qualitative data, should be utilized to evaluate the functional status of the spermatozoa.     

Tumor necrosis factor-independent IL-6 production during murine listeriosis

We report that TNF, IL-6, and IFN-alpha/beta are produced by mice during either sublethal or lethal Listeria monocytogenes infections. The quantities of these cytokines in infected spleens increase and decrease in concordance with bacterial numbers in these organs. While all of these cytokines were present in Listeria-infected spleens, only IL-6 and IFN-alpha/beta were found in the peripheral circulation. Inasmuch as TNF has been reported to be responsible for the production of IL-6 in vivo following the inoculation of a lethal dose of the Gram-negative bacterium, Escherichia coli (Fong et al., 1989. J. Exp. Med. 170: 1627), experiments were undertaken to determine whether IL-6 production elicited by the Gram-positive bacterium, L. monocytogenes, was also TNF-dependent. It was found that the passive immunization of mice with neutralizing antibodies specific for TNF shortly before i.v. injection of a lethal or sublethal Listeria inoculum resulted in the complete neutralization of endogenously produced TNF, and in the progressive multiplication of bacteria in infected organs. It was also found that the anti-TNF IgG treatment resulted in a progressive increase in the amounts of Listeria-induced IL-6 present in spleen and blood, until the death of the host. These findings indicate that Listeria-induced IL-6 production in mice occurs primarily through a TNF-independent pathway, and correlates directly with the severity of the infection.     

Population genetics of glyoxalase I (GLO) polymorphism in India

Phenotype and gene frequency data are presented on the glyoxalase I (GLO) polymorphism in seven endogamous caste groups: Jat Sikh, Ramdasia Sikh, Ramgarhia Sikh, Khatri, Brahmin and Bania of Patiala district, and Jat Sikh of Faridkot district of Punjab, North-West India. Apparently, there is considerable heterogeneity in the frequency distribution of the GLO1 gene that varies from 0.168 in Bania to 0.287 in Brahmin. However, these differences are not statistically significant, and the overall GLO1 frequency in Punjab is well within the North Indian range.     

Bimodal oxygen uptake in a freshwater air-breathing fish,Notopterus chitala

Measurements of bimodal oxygen uptake have been made in a freshwater air-breathing fish,Notopterus chitala at 29.0±1(S.D.)°C. xhe mean oxygen uptake from continuously flowing water without any access to air, was found to be 3.58±0.37 (S.E.) ml O₂ · h^?1 and 56.84+4.29 (S.E.) ml O₂ · kg^?1 · h^?1 for a fish weighing 66.92 + 11.27 (S.E.) g body weight. In still water with access to air, the mean oxygen uptake through the gills were recorded to be 2.49 ± 0.31 (S.E.) ml O₂ · h^?1 and 38.78 ± 1.92 (S.E.) ml O₂ · kg^?1 · h^?1 and through the accessory respiratory organs (swim-bladder) 6.04±0.87 (S.E.) ml O₂ · h^?1 and 92.32±2.91 (S.E.) ml O₂ · kg^?1 · h^?1 for a fish averaging 66.92±11.27 (S.E.) g. Out of the total oxygen uptake (131.10 ml O₂ · kg^?1 · h^?1), about 70% was obtained through the aerial route and the remainder 30% through the gills.     

Lactic acid production from whey permeate by immobilized Lactobacillus casei

Two matrices have been assessed for their ability to immobilize Lactobacillus casei cells for lactic acid fermentation in whey permeate medium. Agar at 2% concentration was found to be a better gel than polyacrylamide in its effectiveness to entrap the bacterial cells to carry out batch fermentation up to three repeat runs. Of the various physiological parameters studied, temperature and pH were observed to have no significant influence on the fermentation ability of the immobilized organism. A temperature range of 40–50°C and a pH range of 4.5–6.0 rather than specific values, were found to be optimum when fermentation was carried out under stationary conditions. In batch fermentation ～90% conversion of the substrate (lactose) was achieved in 48 h using immobilized cell gel cubes of 4 × 2 × 2 mm size, containing 400 mg dry bacterial cells per flask and 4.5% w/v (initial) whey lactose content as substrate. However, further increase in substrate levels tested (>4.5% w/v) did not improve the process efficiency. Supplementation of Mg²⁺ (1 mM) and agricultural by-products (mustard oil cake, 6%) in the whey permeate medium further improved the acid production ability of the immobilized cells under study.     

Effects on pregnancy in mice of passive immunization against ovine LH and human chorionic gonadotrophin

Mice given daily i.p. injections of immunoglobulins against ovine LH on Days 3-7 of pregnancy were devoid of implantation sites on Day 8 whereas mice treated with antibodies to hCG had embryos of normal number and appearance on Day 8. These antibody treatments reduced the mean +/- s.d. serum progesterone concentrations from 65.4 +/- 15.3 ng/ml (control globulins) to 8.6 +/- 4.9 ng/ml (anti-LH) and 9.2 +/- 3.1 ng/ml (anti-hCG) on Day 8 and had no differential effect on serum oestrogen levels on Day 4. However, the mice treated with anti-hCG did not litter; resorption of the embryos took place between Days 10 and 14 of pregnancy. Indirect immunofluorescence and quantitative immunoenzymic assays showed the presence of anti-ovine LH and anti-hCG reacting antigens in the mouse feto-placental unit. On Day 6, the values of reacting antigens (mean +/- s.d. absorbance units/10 micron section of embryo) were 0.050 +/- 0.002 with control globulins, 0.059 +/- 0.002 with anti-hCG-Ig and 0.196 +/- 0.018 with anti-LH-Ig; the corresponding values on Day 12 were 0.075 +/- 0.009, 0.402 +/- 0.02 and 0.416 +/- 0.015. The quantitative disposition of the reacting antigens to the two types of anti-gonadotrophins seems to bear a temporal relationship to their respective antifertility action. The pregnancy terminating action of immunoglobulins to ovine LH (Days 6, 7 & 8) and hCG (Days 8, 9 & 10) was counteracted by administration of 2 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate on Days 6, 9 and 12, indicating the importance of progesterone in the maintenance of pregnancy in the mouse.     

Agar Plate Method for Detecting Microorganisms Which Produce Equilin and Other Estrogens from Various Steroids

The intense red color produced by a reagent specific for xi(7)-estrogens is used to directly detect microorganisms which produce these estrogens from various steroids.