The effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus and Panax ginseng on steroidal hormone indices of stress and lymphocyte subset numbers in endurance athletes.

A clinical trial was undertaken to investigate the effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus (ES) and Panax ginseng (PG) on competitive club-level endurance athletes engaged in their normal in-season training. Participants were matched for training stress and received a 33% ethanolic extract (8 mL/day) containing either ES, PG (equivalent to 4 g and 2 g/day of dried root, respectively), or a placebo. A pre-test and post-test were used to evaluate the effects of six weeks of supplementation on cortisol, testosterone, and testosterone to cortisol ratio (TCR) as well as circulating numbers of total T-cells, T-helper cells (CD4), T-suppressor cells (CD8), CD4 to CD8 ratio, natural killer cells, and B lymphocytes. None of the immune system variables changed significantly nor showed any clear trend from pre to post test in any of the treatment groups. No significant change in testosterone, cortisol or TCR was observed in the PG group. In the ES group, however, TCR decreased by 28.7% from 0.0464 to 0.0331 (P=0.03). The main contribution to this decrease appeared to be a non-significant (P= 0.07) 31% trend towards increased cortisol rather than a very small non-significant (P = 0.36) 7% decrease in the calculated mean for testosterone. This result suggested that contrary to initial expectation, ES increased rather than decreased hormonal indices of stress, which may be consistent with animal research suggesting a threshold of stress below which ES increases the stress response and above which ES decreases the stress response.     

The tertiary structure of Aspergillus saitoi minor ribonuclease (Ms) predicted from the structure of RNase T1

Ribonuclease Ms from Aspergillus saitoi is a small acidic protein (11 714 Da) containing 106 amino acids of known sequence. Unlike other enzymes belonging to the RNase T₁ family this ribonuclease is base-unspecific. Using interactive computer graphics and energy minimisation we predicted the structure of RNase Ms on the basis of sequence homology to RNase T₁ of known structure. In this report the predicted structure of this protein is presented and characterised.     

Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an den Hüllen der Oozyten und Eier des Flussbarsches Perca fluviatilis

Zusammenfassung Die Hüllen von Oozyten und reifen Eiern des Fußbarsches wurden licht- und elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. In Oozyten vor der Bildung der Zona radiata sind die meisten der keulenförmigen Mikrovilli gerade auf die Follikelzellen ausgerichtet. Gelegentlich verlaufen Mikrovilli auch parallel zur Oozytenoberfläche. Die Zona radiata reiferer Eizellen besteht aus zwei Schichten, der elektronendichten Zona radiata externa und der weniger dichten Zona radiata interna. Während die erstere aus einem hochorganisierten Material besteht, ist die letztere aus einer Substanz von geringerer Dichte zusammengesetzt. In der Matrix der Zona radiata interna liegen unregelmäßig angeordnete flaschenbürstenähnliche Einschlüsse. Nach Kontrastierung mit l%iger Phosphorwolframsäure und 0,5% igem Uranylazetat sind feine Fibrillen in der Matrix nachweisbar. Die Zona radiata externa ist außen von einer Gallerthülle umgeben. Sie ist etwa fünfmal so stark wie die gesamte Zona, radiata. Diese Gallerthülle besteht aus homogenem Material von geringerer Dichte. Nach Anfärbung mit 0,2%-igem Rutheniumrot färbt sich diese Schicht intensiv rot. Daraus läßt sich auf das Vorhandensein von sauren Mukopolysacchariden schließen. In der Gallerthülle liegen elektronendichte Körnchen, in denen sich bei hoher Auflösung eine hochorganisierte, kristalloide Struktur nachweisen läßt. Die Gallerthülle wird von den zytoplasmatischen Fortsätzen der kegelförmigen Follikelzellen durchdrungen. Diese Fortsätze gehen in Ausläufer über, die in die Porenkanäle der Zona radiata eindringen. In einigen Fällen umhüllen die Ausläufer der Follikelzellen die Mikrovilli der Oozyte vollständig. Normalerweise liegen die Mikrovilli und die Ausläufer aber deutlich voneinander getrennt. Die Mikrovilli enden entweder direkt an der Zellmembran der Follikelzellen oder sie dringen tief in Membraneinstülpungen ein. Mikrovilli und die Ausläufer der Follikelzellen befinden sich in den Porenkanälen fast reifer Eier. Kurz vor der Ovulation werden sie wahrscheinlich zurückgezogen. Die Porenkanäle reifer Barscheier sind im äußeren Drittel der Zona radiata interna verschlossen.

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Summary The envelope of oocytes and mature eggs of the perch was examined by light and electron microscope. In oocytes before the formation of the zona radiata most of the clubshaped microvilli project straightly towards the follicular cells. Some, however, run parallel to the oocyte surface. The zona radiata of more mature oocytes consists of the electron dense zona radiata externa and the less electron dense zona radiata interna. While the former consists of a highly organized material, the latter is composed of a substance of low density, with the exception of a few brush-shaped inclusions which are scattered irregularely within the matrix of the zona radiata interna. After treatment with 1% phosphotungstic acid and 0.5% uranyl acetate tiny fibres become visible. External to the zona radiata externa the oocytes are enveloped by a jelly layer, about five times as thick as the zona radiata. The jelly layer appears to consist of a rather homogeneous material of low density. After treatment with a solution of 0,2% ruthenium red the jelly layer is stained intensely red, suggesting the presence of acidic mucopolysaccharides. Within the matrix of the jelly layer are embedded electron dense granules of unknown function. At high resolution they reveal a well organized, crystalloid structure. The jelly layer is penetrated by cytoplasmic processes of the cone-shaped follicular cells. These processes develop extensions which enter the pore canals of the zona radiata. In some cases these extensions envelope the microvilli of the oocytes completely. But normally the microvilli and the extensions are clearly separated. The microvilli make either direct contact with the membrane of the follicular processes or penetrate deeply into membrane interdigitations. Microvilli together with follicular extensions are present in the pore canals of almost mature eggs. They seem to be withdrawn just before ovulation. The pore canals of the zona radiata are partly closed in mature eggs.

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Ich verdanke die Anregung zu dieser Arbeit einer Diskussion, die ich mit Herrn Prof. Dr. E. A. Arndt, Rostock, anläßlich seines Vortrages am 21. Februar 1966 in Kiel führte.

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Untersuchungen mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Herrn Prof. Dr. O. Moritz, Institut für Pharmakognosie, danke ich für die Möglichkeit, das Elektronenmikroskop seines Institutes zu benutzen. Frau R. Bardenhewer, geb. Schmidtke, danke ich für die Hilfe bei der Präparation und für die Anfertigung der photographischen Vergrößerungen.     

Early ordovician reefs from Argentina: Stromatoporoid vs stromatolite origin

Summary Late Arenigian biohermal reef mounds and biostromes within the shallow-marine platform facies of the upper San Juan Formation of the Precordillera (Western Argentina) represent a new Early Ordovician reef type. The meter-sized reefs are dominated byZondarella communis n.g. n. sp. The new taxon is characterized by domical, bulbous and laminar morphotypes exhibiting growth layers and thin horizontal and vertical as well as intermingled skeletal elements included within different sets. The fossil maybe compared with stromatolites and stromatoporoids but an interpretation as primitive stromatoporoids is favoured.     

A ‘Problematic fossil’ revealed:Pycnoporidium ? eomesozoicum Flügel, 1972 (Late Triassic,Tethys)—not an enigmatic alga but a strophomenid brachiopod (Gosaukammerella n.g.)

Summary The microproblematicumPycnoporidium ? eomesozoicum Flügel, 1972, from Upper Triassic reefs of the Alpine-Mediterranean region, Turkey Oman and Iran (originally interpreted as possible alga) represents the type species of a new strophomenid brachiopod genus (Gosaukammerella n.g.). The genus is characterized by a very small, millimeter-sized plano-convex shell, whose ventral valve is attached to the substratum (mainly sponges) by symmetrically arranged outgrowths developing from a pseudopunctate, lamellose foliated shell wall and composed of densely spaced subparallel ‘tubes’ comparable with productide spines secreted by papillose extensions of the mantle.Gosaukammerella seems to be the only reliable candidate for the existence of post-Paleozoic strophomenid (productid ?) brachiopods. Gosaukammerella eomesozoica is restricted to possibly cryptic, shaded reef environments inhabited predominantly by sponges serving as substrates for micromorphic brachiopods.     

Drought signal transduction in plants

Water deficit is one of the most common environmental limitations of crop productivity by affecting growth through alterations in metabolism and gene expression. The mechanisms involved in drought perception and signal transduction pathways are poorly understood. The participation of the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) has been well established. ABA levels increase when there are changes in the environment that result in cellular dehydration. Different approaches have been taken to understanding the molecular responses to desiccation and how ABA regulates gene expression. Recent efforts have identified particular topics of importance in the dissection of the signal transduction pathway which are summarized as follows: physiological approaches: identification of signalling molecules. Genetic approaches: the use of mutants, and Molecular approaches: promoter analysis.     

Changes in the content and constituents of the cuticular wax of Picea abies (L.) Karst. in relation to needle ageing and tree decline in five European forest areas

Cuticular wax composition of healthy and and declining mature Norway spruce trees [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] was investigated in five European forest areas. The amount of extracted wax and the content of alkanes and secondary alcohols were analysed as a function of the factors sample area (five areas, detailed below), needle age (current year to 2 years) and decline class (Class O to Class 2). Using a GC-MS, alkanes from C₂₀ to C₃₁ and the following alcohols were quantified: 10-nonacosanol, 5,10-nonacosandiol, 4,10-nonacosandiol and the triterpenol 24-methylenecycloartanol. According to our results, the total wax content as well as the alkane and alcohol content of waxes show a large variation corresponding to sample area and needle age. Ageing caused a highly significant increase in alkane content and a highly significant decrease in total wax and alcohol content. The decline class significantly influenced only the content of the long chain alkane C₃₁ (increase), the secondary alcohol 10-nonacosanol (decrease), and the triterpenic alcohol (decrease). Total wax weight was not influenced by tree damage. Thus, according to our results, needle ageing and progressive tree damage are correlated to different changes in the examined parameters.