Myelin gene expression in glia treated with oligodendroglial trophic factor

Summary Oligodendroglia synthesize myelin in the CNS.in vitro, oligodendroglia may be identified by the binding of monoclonal antibodies against galactocerebroside, a myelin-specific galactolipid. Oligodendroglial trophic factor is a protein mitogen for cells of the oligodendroglial lineage. When oligodendroglia in cerebral white matter cultures are treated with oligodendroglial trophic factor, galactocerebroside-positive cells undergo mitosis but fail to express the myelin structural proteins, myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein. Oligodendroglia treated with oligodendroglial trophic factor, however, do express 2, 3-cyclic nucleotide 3-phosphodiesterase and myelin-associated glycoprotein in a manner similar to oligodendroglia treated with platelet-derived growth factor. Oligodendroglial trophic factor, therefore, generates a population of somewhat immature oligodendroglia, which are galactocerebroside, myelin-associated glycoprotein and 2, 3-cyclic nucleotide 3 phosphodiesterase positive but myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein negative.     

Two polymorphicAvaI andHhaI sites in a differentially methylated region of the human H19 gene

Summary The H19 gene is paternally imprinted both in the human and mouse (Bartolomeiet al., 1991; Zhang and Tycko, 1992), although its expression pattern seems somewhat different between the two species (Jinno,et al., 1995). DNA-methylation is a promising candidate for a parent-of-origin mark of the gene, and a paternal allele-specific methylation imprint was recently identified at the mouse H19 locus (Tremblayet al., 1995). We found a 50% methylated region in the human H19 gene (Jinno, unpublished data). A search for polymorphisms in this region revealed two novelAvaI andHhaI RFLPs, which contribute to the detection of allele-specific methylation at the human H19 locus.PCR primers for the AvaI-site PANL2 5-GAGCCTGCCAAGCAGAGCG-3 - PANR2 5-CACATAAGTAGGCGTGACTTGA-3 PCR primers for the HhaI-site ASMA 5-CAATGAGGTGTCCCAGTTCCA-3 - PANR2 5-CACATAAGTAGGCGTGACTTGA-3     

Cyclische Nucleotide als intracelluläre Überträgerstoffe bei Hormonwirkungen

Zusammenfassung Hormone dienen als extracelluläre Informationsüberträger zwischen ihrem Bildungsort, einer endokrinen Drüse, und den Zellen, deren Funktion sie regulieren. Durch die Reaktion des Hormons mit den an der Zellmembran gelegenen Receptoren wird die Aktivität der mit diesen eng verknüpften Adenyl-Cyclase beeinflußt. Die meisten Hormone erhöhen in ihrem Zielorgan die Aktivität dieses Enzyms und führen hierdurch zu einem raschen Anstieg der intracellulären Konzentration von Adenosin-3:5-monophosphat (Ado-3:5-P). Dieses cyclische Nucleotid wird durch eine spezifische Phosphodiesterase zu Adenosin-5-monophosphat abgebaut. Auch die Aktivität dieses Enzyms bestimmt die intracelluläre Ado-3:5-P-Konzentration, die im Vergleich zu der anderer Nucleotide sehr gering ist.Ado-3:5-P beeinflußt als zweiter, intracellulärer Überträgerstoff die Aktivität zahlreicher Schlüsselenzyme. Die Ado-3:5-P-Konzentration bestimmt hierdurch das Gleichgewicht verschiedener Stoffwechselwege zueinander und damit die Reaktion einer Zelle auf eine hormonale Stimulierung. An einer Reihe von Enzymen wird die durch Ado-3:5-P bedingte Aktivitäts-Änderung durch einen gleichartigen Mechanismus bewirkt. Das cyclische Nucleotid stimuliert Proteinkinasen, die eine Phosphatgruppe des ATP auf verschiedene Proteine übertragen und hierdurch deren Eigenschaften verändern können. So steigt bei Phosphorylierung durch eine Ado-3:5-P-stimulierbare Proteinkinase die Aktivität der Triglyceridlipase und der Glykogen-Phosphorylase-b-kinase an, dagegen nimmt die Aktivität der Glykogen-Synthetase ab; durch Phosphorylierung von Histonen kann deren Repressorcigenschaft vermindert und die Synthese von Enzymen gesteigert werden.In manchen tierischen Geweben wurde auch eine spezifisch durch Guanosin-3:5-monophosphat (Guo-3:5-P) stimulierbare Proteinkinase nachgewiesen. Dieses cyclische Nucleotid kommt wie Ado-3:5-P in allen Säugerorganen vor. Die Bildung von Guo-3:5-P aus GTP wird durch die Guanyl-Cyclase katalysiert, ein Ferment, das im Gegensatz zur Adenyl-Cyclase zum großen Teil nicht an die Zellmembranen gebunden ist. Die Konzentration von Guo-3:5-P in verschiedenen Geweben, im Blutplasma und im Urin wird durch Hormone beeinflußt. Es ist noch nicht bekannt, welche hormonalen Regulationen durch Guo-3:5-P vermittelt werden; dagegen ist bei vielen, rasch einsetzenden Hormonwirkungen die Beteiligung von Ado-3:5-P nachgewiesen worden.

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Abkürzungen Ado-3:5-P Adenosin-3:5-monophosphat - dAdo-3:5-P Desoxy-adenosin-3:5-monophosphat - Guo-3:5-P Guanosin-3 : 5-monophosphate - Nuc-3:5-P Nucleosid-3:5-monophosphat - NTP Nucleosidtriphosphat - NMP Nuclcosid-5-monophosphat - dATP Desoxyadenosintriphosphat - P_i anorganisches Phosphat - PP_i anorganisches Pyrophosphat - DNS Desoxyribonucleinsäure - RNS Ribonucleinsäure - r-RNS ribosomale RNS - m-RNS Boten-RNS - Glykogen-Synthetase UDP-Glucose--1,4-glucan--4-glucosyltransferase - ICSH interstitial-cell-stimulating hormone     

Effects of hydration and dehydration on cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate concentration in the rat kidney

Summary Renal 3,5-AMP concentration has been measured in two groups of rats, one of which was hydrated, the other one was dehydrated by withdrawal of drinking-water for a period of 4–5 days. The first group was assumed to have low, the latter to have high vasopressin (ADH) plasma concentrations.The 3,5-AMP concentration in the kidney of hydrated rats was 1.7 nmoles/g (w.w.). Studies on the distribution of 3,5-AMP between various regions of the kidney revealed that the 3,5-AMP content of the cortex was higher than in the outer medulla. 3,5-AMP concentration in the inner medulla was below the sensitivity of the method used for the determination of the nucleotide.Dehydration led to a doubling of renal 3,5-AMP concentration. The increment in the cortex was greater than in the outer medulla. In the inner medulla 3,5-AMP concentration remained below the sensitivity of the method used.Renal 3,5-AMP phosphodiesterase has been obtained from two subcellular fractions, one fraction bound to large particles, probably cell membranes, the other one soluble in the supernatant. Vasopressin did alter the activity of the enzyme in neither fractions. From this it has been concluded that the increase in 3,5-AMP concentration in the kidney of dehydrated rats results from stimulation of adenyl cyclase by ADH.This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.Deceased October 31, 1967.     

Translation enhancer in the 3′-untranslated region of rotavirus gene 6 mRNA promotes expression of the major capsid protein VP6

Summary. The eleven rotavirus mRNAs contain 5-cap structures and most end with the 3-consensus sequence 5-UGACC-3. The UGACC functions as a common translation enhancer (3-TE-con) that upregulates viral protein expression through a process mediated by the nonstructural protein NSP3. To address the possibility that gene-specific enhancers are also contained in the untranslated regions (UTRs) of the rotavirus mRNAs, we used rabbit reticulocyte lysates to investigate the translation efficiencies of analog RNAs containing viral-specific 5-and 3-UTRs and the open reading frame for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. These experiments combined with the analysis of full-length viral RNAs and RNAs containing 3-truncations showed that a highly active enhancer was present near the 5-end of the 139-nucleotide 3-UTR of the gene 6 mRNA (3-TEg6). The 3-TEg6 represents a functionally independent enhancer, as no other portion of the gene 6 mRNA was required for its activity. The 3-TEg6 differs significantly from the 3-TE-con in that the gene 6-specific enhancer does not require viral protein for activity and is formed by a sequence unique to only one of the eleven viral mRNAs. Together, our findings suggest that the 3-UTR of the gene 6 mRNA contains two TEs, one is gene-specific (3-TEg6) and the other is common to nearly all rotavirus genes (3-TE-con). The activity of the 3-TEg6 is likely important for directing the efficient translation of the gene 6 mRNA at levels sufficient to provide the 780 copies of VP6 necessary for the assembly of each progeny virion.     

DNA fingerprinting involving fluorescence-labeled termini of any enzymatically generated fragments of DNA

Summary We have developed a new fluorescence-based method for DNA fingerprinting that does not require a fluorescent linker or a synthetic oligonucleotide primer, both of which are normally used for labeling of DNA. Cosmid DNAs are digested with appropriate restriction enzymes and the 3 termini of DNA fragments are labeled with the corresponding, fluorescent dye-conjugated dideoxynucleotide triphosphate terminator (dye-ddNTP) by the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I fromEscherichia coli, which has 35 exonuclease and replacement activities as well as its main 53 polymerase activity. Samples are separated on a DNA-sequencing gel and data are analyzed by application of both the Version 0.3.8a mapper program (Applied Biosystem Inc., Foster City, CA) and our Overlap I program that facilitate rapid analysis of the frequency of overlapping of cosmid DNAs. Using this method we have determined the overlap frequency of DNA fragments of each cosmid clone from the mouse MHC class I gene cluster.     

The oligodendroglial reaction to brain stab wounds: An immunohistochemical study

Summary Myelin/oligodendrocyte specific protein was compared to glial fibrillary acidic protein and 23-cyclic nucleotide 3-phosphodiesterase expression in normal rat brains and following stab wounds to the cerebral cortex, corpus callosum and hippocampus. Animals with stab wounds were allowed to recover for 5,15,28, 45 and 70 days post-operation before fixation by perfusion. Sections were reacted with antibodies against myelin/oligodendrocyte specific protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein and 23-cyclic nucleotide 3-phosphodiesterase, and observed by light and electron microscopy. Normal cerebral cortex had very few myelin/oligodendrocyte specific protein-positive and 23-cyclic nucleotide 3-phosphodiesterasepositive cells, but some glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells. The myelinated fibres of the corpus callosum were heavily stained for myelin/oligodendrocyte specific protein but unstained by glial fibrillary acidic protein or 23-cyclic nucleotide 3-phosphodiesterase antibodies. Some immunopositive cells were present in the corpus callosum and hippocampus with all three antibodies. After stab wound myelin/oligodendrocyte specific protein-positive reactive cells had more and longer processes and stained more intensely than equivalent cells in normal brain. These cells were distributed along the wound track, including within the cerebral cortex. The numbers of these cells increased until 28 days post-operation and then decreased so that very few were found at 70 days post-operation except in the corpus callosum. Where demyelination occurred myelin/oligodendrocyte specific protein-staining was lost. Staining for 23-cyclic nucleotide 3-phosphodiesterase revealed a similar pattern. Glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive reactive cells, which were also more robust than the normal cells, were more widely distributed. They increased in number throughout the time periods studied and gliosis was evident on the contralateral side. The glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes were also different from the myelin/oligodendrocyte specific protein-positive and 23-cyclic nucleotide 3-phosphodiesterase-positive oligodendrocytes in terms of cell shape. With electron microscopy myelin/oligodendrocyte specific protein-positive cells showed features typical of immature oligodendrocytes. We conclude that the injury caused a numerical increase in oligodendrocytes and that myelin/ oligodendrocyte specific protein is a good marker for the oligodendroglial response and demyelination in pathological conditions.     

Determination of the 5′ and 3′ terminal noncoding sequences of the bi-segmented genome of the avibirnavirus infectious bursal disease virus

Summary Terminal sequences of the bi-segmented dsRNA genome of 3 different strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) were analyzed by the rapid amplification of cDNA 5 ends (5RACE) procedure. Both segments are 85% homologous in a 32-nucleotide sequence comprising the 5 end, whereas the 3 end has a conserved pentamer. Comparison to published terminal sequences of other IBDV strains revealed high conservation between the two segments but more serotype-specific nucleotide changes (5 on segment A and 3 on segment B) in the 5 noncoding region compared to the 3 noncoding region (none on segment A and 1 on segment B).     

Nucleotidstoffwechsel und Magensäuresekretion

Zusammenfassung Es wird die Frage geprüft, inwieweit Hormone und Pharmaka, die in verschiedenen Geweben die Konzentration von Adenosin-3,5-cyclischem-monophosphat (cyclischem AMP) verändern können, die Bildung von Magensäure beim Menschen während maximaler Säurestimulation beeinflussen. Durch intravenöse Injektion von Stoffen, die strukturgebunden in verschiedenen Geweben die Aktivität von Adenylcyclase oder von 3,5-AMP-Phosphodiesterase verändern, kann nur unter bestimmten Bedingungen eine Wirkung auf die Säuresekretion am stimulierten Magen erzielt werden. Vermutlich unterliegt der Abbau von cyclischem AMP nicht nur der Wirkung 3,5-AMP-Phosphodiesterase. Verschiedene experimentelle Befunde werden im Hinblick auf die mögliche Bedeutung von cyclischem AMP bei der Bildung und Sekretion von Magensäure diskutiert. Mit einer Ausnahme stehen direkte Messungen des Gewebsgehaltes von cyclischem AMP in der Magenschleimhaut unter den beschriebenen Versuchsbedingungen noch aus. Die Fragen, ob cyclisches AMP oder eines seiner Stoffwechselprodukte Mittlersubstanz bei der Bildung von Magensäure ist und ob cyclisches AMP letzter Effektor einiger durch Hormone oder Pharmaka induzierten Änderungen der Säuresekretion durch die stimulierte Magenschleimhaut sein kann, bleiben vorläufig ungelöst.

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Summary The possibility is reviewed in how far hormones and drugs which are known to change the intracellular level of adenosine-3,5-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) within various tissues may interfere with the formation of gastric acid in humans during maximal stimulation of gastric mucosa. Substances capable of activating or inactivating the enzymes adenyl cyclase and 3,5-AMP-phosphodiesterase in the responsive tissues may involve interference with the formation of gastric acid only in certain conditions. It is suggested that there may exist a second pathway for the metabolism of cyclic AMP except the degradation by 3,5-AMP-phosphodiesterase. Experimental findings are discussed with respect to the possibility that cyclic AMP participates on a molecular basis in the secretory mechanism of gastric acid. In defined conditions direct measurements of the content of cyclic AMP within the cells of gastric mucosa are lacking at present excepting stimulation by methylxanthines. The problem remains unsolved whether cyclic AMP or a metabolite of cyclic AMP is a mediator of gastric acid formation. It is not known whether cyclic AMP is the final effector of some hormone or drug-induced alterations of acid secretion by the stimulated gastric mucosa.

     

Differences in antigenic properties of Fc-binding activity during infection with herpes simplex virus type 1

Summary The antigenic properties of the Fc receptor induced by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were studied with anti-HSV F(ab)₂ and pFc from infected rabbits.It appeared that the HSV-induced Fc-binding receptor had different antigenic characteristics at different times after infection. The Fc receptor present early in the infection (0.5 hours), during the adsorption period, most probably is the result of a fusion event between the virus envelope and the infected cell. We found that this Fc receptor reacted with anti-HSV F(ab)₂ and thus showed HSV-antigenic properties in such a way that binding of anti-HSV F(ab)₂ prevented the binding of pFc fragments.Later on in the infection (5 hours), the Fc-binding activity present on the surface of the infected cell is the result of newly synthesized and in the plasma membrane integrated polypeptides. The Fc-binding activity present on the cell surface of 5 hours infected cells could not be inhibited by anti-HSV F(ab)₂ and did not interfere with the binding of pFc to the Fc receptor.With 1 Figure     

Nucleotide sequence of the coat protein genes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alstroemeria mosaic virus</Emphasis> and Amazon lily mosaic virus,a tentative species of genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potyvirus</Emphasis>

Summary. The nucleotide sequences of the 3 terminal region of the genomes of Alstroemeria mosaic virus (AlsMV) and the Amazon lily mosaic virus (ALiMV) have been determined. These sequences contain the complete coding region of the viral coat protein (CP) gene followed by a 3-untranslated region (3-UTR). AlsMV and ALiMV share 74.9% identity in the amino acid sequence of the CP, and 55.6% identity in the nucleotide sequence of the 3-UTR. Phylogenetic analysis of these CP genes and 3-UTRs in relation to those of 79 potyvirus species revealed that AlsMV and ALiMV should be assigned to the Potato virus Y (PVY) subgroup. AlsMV and ALiMV were concluded to have arisen independently within the PVY subgroup.     

Studien über den Mechanismus der Immunhämolyse: Der Bindungsmodus der vierten Komplementkomponente

Zusammenfassung Die Bindung der vierten Komplementkomponente (C₄) an sensibilisierte Hammelblutzellen (EA) ist von der vorhergehenden Bindung der ersten Komplementkomponente abhängig. Das Präparat EAC₁ kann, wenn ihm C₄ in geeigneter Form angeboten wird, in den Komplex EAC_1,4 überführt werden. Hierbei verschwindet der titrierbare Gehalt der flüssigen Phase an C₄; gleichzeitig acquirieren die Zellen die Fähigkeit, mit R₄ zu lysieren. Der zeitliche Ablauf dieser Veränderung wird untersucht. Die Eeaktion zwischen EAC₁ und C₄ verläuft äußerst schnell, und ihre Geschwindigkeit wird durch die Reaktionstemperatur nicht beeinflußt. Während die Bindung von C₁ an EA nur in Gegenwart von Ca⁺⁺ erfolgt, läuft die Bindung von C₄ an EAC₄ auch in Abwesenheit von zweiwertigen Metallionen ab. Die vonLevine u.Mayer als ein Ganzes betrachtete Ca⁺⁺-abhängige Überführung von EA in EAC_1,4 besteht mithin aus zwei aufeinanderfolgenden Teilreaktionen, von denen die erste (C₁-Bindung) calciumabhängig und die zweite (C₄-Bindung) von zweiwertigen Ionen unabhängig ist.Mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft sowie der Gesellschaft der Freunde und Förderer der Medizinischen Akademie Düsseldorf.     

Die seltenen Rh-Phänotypen rhy rh und rh′ rh′ in einer deutschen Familie

Zusammenfassung Nach einer Literaturübersicht wird das Vorkommen der seltenen Rh-Genotypen rr und rr in 2 Generationen einer deutschen Familie beschrieben.     

On the secretagogue effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP in the rat exocrine pancreas

Summary DbcAMP0.1 mM induces the discharge of exportable enzymes from rat pancreas fragments incubated in vitro. This effect is qualitatively similar to the action of physiological secretagogues acting via hormone receptors: 1) it is accompanied by the appearance of exocytotic images at the acinar cell apex; 2) it is energy dependent but energy supply is low while that required for the carbamylcholine or caerulein response is high and can only be afforded by oxidative phosphorylation; 3) it is calcium dependent, but no alteration of inward or outward calcium movement can be observed; 4) it is altered by agents known to disrupt the microfilamentous microtubular system [41]. However, the secretory response to DbcAMP is quantitatively less than that obtained with hormonal stimuli. A damaging effect of DbcAMP on pancreatic acinar cells is ruled out on histological and biochemical grounds: there is no significant leakage of LDH; protein synthesis, 2-deoxy-d-glucose andl-leucine uptake are unaltered. The secretagogue effect of DbcAMP is reversible, dose-related and specific. It is not mediated by neuro-transmitter release or by interaction with their receptors. The evidence presented points to a direct interaction of DbcAMP on the pancreatic acinar cell and suggests the last step of the secretory cycle as the most probable site of action of the nucleotide derivative.Abbreviations cAMP Adenosine-3,5-monophosphate - cyclic DbcAMP: N⁶-2-O-Dibutyryl-adenosine-3,5-monophosphate, cyclic - DbcGMP N²-2-O-Dibutyryl-guanosine-3,5-monophosphate, cyclic - 5-AMP Adenosine-5-monophosphate - TCA Trichloracetic acid - ATP Adenosine triphosphate - NADH Nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide - Tris Tris-(hydroxy-methyl) amino-methane - EGTA Ethylene glycol-bis ( aminoethylether)-NN-tetraacetic acid - LDH Lactic dehydrogenase Part of this work has been presented in abstract from at the VIIIth Symposium of the European Pancreatic Club, Toulouse, France, October, 1975, 23rd–25th and at the Biochemical Society of Belgium [40]This work was partially carried out under contracts from the Ministère de la Politique Scientifique within the framework of the Association Euratom—University of Brussels—University of Pisa, and the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (France)     

Inverse Correlation Between IgG-Antihinge Region and Antierythrocyte Autoantibody in Chronic Benign and Malignant Cold Agglutination

Previous reports provided evidence of an immunosuppressive role of natural anti-F(ab)₂ antibodies. If suppressive anti-F(ab)₂ antibodies also regulated the autoantibody production in cold agglutination, one would expect high titers of anti-F(ab)₂ to be associated with low titers of cold agglutinins. Indeed, our previous studies revealed an inverse correlation between IgG-anti-F(ab)₂ and cold agglutinins. Many previous experiments focused on anti-F(ab)₂ of an antiidiotypic nature. Recent epitope mapping showed that anti-F(ab)₂ of healthy persons is not an antiidiotype but recognizes a hinge region sequence. We attempted to answer the question whether this IgG-antihinge antibody is responsible for the previously described association between anti-F(ab)₂ and cold agglutinins. IgG-antihinge and IgG-anti-F(ab)₂ antibody was determined and statistically analyzed in the serum of 334 patients with cold agglutination. Our experiments revealed a strong correlation between the concentrations of antihinge and the previously described anti-F(ab)₂ antibody. The anti-F(ab)₂ activity was competitively inhibited by a synthetic hinge peptide. Moreover, patients with high antihinge titers had low cold agglutinin titers, and vice versa. A stratification according to cold agglutinin specificity and disease etiology showed that the inverse correlation is present only in anti-I and anti-i patients suffering from monoclonal B-lymphocyte proliferation. In conclusion, our results confirm the correlation previously described for anti-F(ab)₂ antibody and antierythrocyte autoantibody and define for the first time an association between an idiotype-independent anti-IgG autoantibody and cold agglutinin.     

Effects of membrane potential changes on electrical cell-to-cell coupling in proximal tubule

Single proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) of Necturus kidney were impaled with three microelectrodes in the sequence M1, M2, M3. M1 was used for injecting short DC current pulses, M2 for recording peritubular membrane potential, V, and M3 for injecting longer DC current steps and thereby shifting V to a new baseline potential, V. We define the p.d. changes at M2 due to M1-induced pulses as V and V (for baselines V and V, respectively). Our objective was to test whether V was equal to V. The main finding is that when V depolarized by 10 to 80 mV V/V remained close to 1.00. Care was taken to ensure that this apparent stability of the pulse ratio was not due (i) to opposite changes of apical and basolateral membrane conductances (g(A) and g(B) respectively), (ii) to changes of the sum g(A)+g(B) compensated for by changes of the cell-to-cell junctional conductance, g(j), or (iii) to a distortion of the V/V ratio as a function of interelectrode distance, masking voltage-dependent changes of cell membrane conductances. Hyperpolarization of V produced gradual electrical uncoupling between cells as V became increasingly negative, by a mechanism yet to be determined.Supported by GRECO 24 (CNRS).     

cAMP levels in monocytes of heroin addicts

Summary Intravenous heroin addicts have a high intracellular cAMP level in relation to control monocytes. Incubation in vitro with ascorbic acid normalizes the cellular content of cAMP. We discuss the role of cAMP in the pathogenesis of defective monocyte chemotaxis in intravenous heroin addicts.Abbreviations cAMP adenosine 3:5-cyclic monophosphate - IDAs intravenous drug abusers - PBS phosphate buffered saline - EDTA ethyldiaminotetraacetic - cGMP guanosine 3-5-cyclic monophosphate - CNS central Nervous System     

Experimentelle Pyelonephritis

Zusammenfassung Gesamtlytische Serumkomplement (C)-Aktivität sowie Antikörper(Ak)-Titer wurden zu verschiedenen Zeiten bei experimenteller nichtobstruktiver Enterokokken-Pyelonephritis untersucht. In der akuten Infektionsperiode ergibt sich nach anfänglichem C-Titerabfall ein ausgeprägter Anstieg der antibakteriellen Serumantikörper mit dann entgegengesetztem Verhalten der C-Titerkurve. Bei fortgeschrittener chronischer Pyelonephritis sind bei weiterhin erhöhten Ak-Titern unauffällige C-Titer nachzuweisen.Die C-Titerhöhe ergibt damit keine diagnostischen oder prognostischen Hinweise für das entzündliche Geschehen einer chronischen Pyelonephritis.

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Summary Total lytic C activity and antibody titer in experimental non-obstructive enterococcal pyelonephritis was measured at different times. In the period of acute infection an initial C-titer decrease with a definite rise of antibacterial serum antibodies is found with a subsequent increase to near normal levels of the C-titer curve. In progressive chronic pyelonephritis increased bacterial antibody titers with normal C-titers are found. — The height of the C-titer level therefore does not give any diagnostic or prognostic leads about the inflammatory state of a chronic pyelonephritis.

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Die vorliegenden Untersuchungen wurden mit Hilfe der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft durchgeführt.

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Herrn Prof. Dr.R. Brühl, Trier, zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Direction of DNA sequences within chromatids determined using strand-specific FISH

The 5 to 3 direction of DNA strands within chromatids of metaphase chromosomes can be determined by using simultaneous hybridization of a single strand of the telomere probe and a single strand of a repetitive sequence to slides pretreated for strand-specific hybridization. The telomere probe identifies the direction of the DNA helical strand remaining in each chromatid of the metaphase chromosomes. The direction of the repetitive sequence is then determined from the direction of the strand to which it hybridizes. This method was used to determine the 5 to 3 direction of three repetitive DNA sequences, each for a different human repeat family.     

Secretin and VIP-stimulated adenylate cyclase from rat heart

Cardiac adenylate cyclase activity was normal in 3 weeks-old spontaneously hypertensive rats of the Wistar-Okamoto substrain. The hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity was reduced in 10 weeks-old or older animals, and secretin- and VIP-activations were definitely more impaired (by 64% and 69%, respectively) than isoproterenol- and glucagonactivation (17% and 22%, respectively). By contrast, the fluoride- and p[NH]ppG-stimulations of the enzyme were unaffected. These alterations in the adenylate cyclase system coupled to secretin and VIP appeared specific to the heart as the isolated pancreatic acinar cells from spontaneously hypertensive animals responded normally to secretin, as a liver particulate fraction responded normally to secretin and VIP, and both brain synaptic membranes and a particulate fraction of anterior pituitary to VIP.Abbreviations VIP vasoactive intestinal peptide - cyclic AMP cyclic adenosine 35-monophosphate - p[NH]ppG guanosine 5-(, -imido)triphosphate - EGTA ethylene-glycol-bis-(2-amino-ether)-N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid - IBMX 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine