Immunohistochemical investigation of protein S-100 in neurons and glia of Helix pomatia

The location of brain-specific protein S-100 was investigated by the indirect Coons' method in neurons and glia ofHelix pomatia. This protein was found in the cytoplasm of neurons and glial cells, and in the nucleus and outer member of neurons.The antiserum was provided by Candidate of Biological Sciences S. M. Sviridov of the Laboratory of Genetic Bases of Ontogeny (Head, Professor L. I. Korochkin), Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, to whom the writers are grateful.Laboratory of Neurophysiological Mechanisms of Adaptation, Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Siberian Branch, Novosibirsk. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. P. Kaznacheev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 12, pp. 1501–1503, December, 1976.     

Preparation of paraffin sections for immunofluorescence analysis of antigens differing in their chemical nature

A technique is suggested for preparing paraffin sections from tissues fixed with acetone which can be used for the immunohistochemical detection of antigens which differ in their chemical nature, including -fetoprotein, antigens of mouse leukemia viruses, alcohol-soluble antigens of hepatocyte membranes, and certain phospholipids.Laboratory of Immunochemistry and Diagnosis of Tumors, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, N. N. Burdenko Institute of Neurosurgery, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR G. V. Vygodchikov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 8, pp. 1018–1020, August, 1976.     

Expression of viral antigens on the membrane of normal and leukemic thymocytes of AKR mice

Expression of antigenic determinants of structural proteins G-MuLV (p10, p12, p30, gp14, gp17) and R-MuLV (gp69/71, p15) on thymocytes of normal and leukemic AKR mice was studied by the membrane immunofluorescence method. A sharp difference was found with respect to this feature between normal and malignant thymocytes. The possible role of antigens of structural viral proteins MuLV, expressed on the membrane of leukemic cells, in antitumor immunity is discussed.Laboratory of Immunochemistry and Diagnosis of Tumors, Oncologic Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR L. M. Shabad.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 88, No. 11, pp. 583–585, November, 1979.     

Platelet antigens in dogs

Four antigens specific for platelets and unconnected with antigens of red and white blood cells, were distinguished in dogs by the thromboagglutination test. Inheritance of platelet antigens in dogs is Mendelian in type and is controlled by several recessive genes.Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, A. V. Vishnevskii Institute of Surgery, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. S. Savel'ev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 12, pp. 1455–1457, December, 1976.     

Some kinetic features of membrane-bound monoamine oxidase

Initial reaction-velocity versus substrate-concentration curves for serotonin oxidation catalyzed by monoamine oxidase (MAO) from fragments of rat liver or bovine brain mitochondrial membranes have a complex, nonhyperbolic shape; this is regarded as a kinetic manifestation of substrate cooperativeness for membrane-bound MAO. The possibility of interaction between different types of MAO based on conformational changes in the membrane itself is discussed.Scientific-Research Institute for Biological Trials of Chemical Compounds, Ministry of the Medical Industry of the USSR. Institute of Biological Medical Chemistry, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. All-Union Vitamin Scientific-Research Institute, Ministry of the Medical Industry of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. N. Orekhovich.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 3, pp. 288–289, March, 1977.     

Changes in intracellular ribonuclease activity in the rat liver during inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide

Injection of cycloheximide into rats was shown not to change the acid and alkaline ribonuclease (RNase) activity in the cytoplasm of liver cells. Meanwhile inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide led to a decrease in RNase activity of microsomes and membrane-bound polysomes. RNase activity of free polysomes in liver cells was considerably increased after administration of cycloheximide.Laboratory of Enzymology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. Oncologic Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR S. S. Debov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 89, No. 2, pp. 168–170, February, 1980.     

Response of the locus coeruleus to asphyxia

To discover the mechanisms of function of the locus coeruleus (LC), methods of light and electron microscopy were used to study the responses of neurons of this nucleus to experimental asphyxia. Besides specific neuronal effects (taking place either directly through axons of LC cells or indirectly through the brainstem reticular formation), LC was shown to have a humoral effect on the brain structures. Two possible mechanisms of transmission of catecholamines synthesized in the soma of the LC cells into the bloodstream are postulated: through the cell membrane and subsequently through the basement membrane of the capillary and cytoplasm of the endothelial cell, and with the participation of glial elements.P. K. Anokhin Institute of Normal Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR S. S. Debov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 7, pp. 106–109, July, 1977.     

The use of thermostable antigens of malignant rat tumors in serologic and cellular tests

High specificity of thermostable antigens of tumors of rat muscle tissue induced by dimethylbenzanthracene was demonstrated in the gel precipitation test. The use of thermostable tumor antigens increases the sensitivity and specificity of the macrophage adhesion inhibition test.Scientific-Research Laboratory of Experimental Immunobiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR N. N. Zhukov-Verezhnikov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 88, No. 8, pp. 199–202, August, 1979.     

Discovery of a stable cell line antigen in human internal organs

A cell membrane antigen was found in stable cell lines of epithelial origin, identical to an antigen in homogenates of the human gastric mucosa. The antigen was detected by means of antiserum against extracted membrane antigens of HeP-2 cells, absorbed by a mixture of homogenates of human lung, liver, and papillomas of the human larynx and breast. The antigen described was found in some of the adenocarcinomas of the stomach that were tested. It differs from Gold's carcinoembryonic antigen and from the secretory component of IgA, it is not the structural antigen of the D-type primate oncornavirus produced by HeP-2 cells and, evidently, it is not coded by the genome of that virus.Department of Etiology and Diagnosis of Tumors, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR G. V. Vygodchikov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 12, pp. 690–693, December, 1977.     

Electrophoretic investigation of nuclear membrane ribonucleases of rat liver and hepatoma-27 cells

Preparations of the nuclear membranes were obtained from purified nuclei of rat liver and hepatoma-27 cells, and from them enzyme-containing extracts of acid-soluble proteins were then prepared. The protein extracts were subjected to disk electrophoresis in 15% polyacrylamide gel. Ribonucleases (RNases) which are constituents of the acid-soluble proteins of the nuclear membranes of normal liver were found to be present as several different components which differed in their electrophoretic mobility and in several physicochemical properties from crystalline bovine RNase and the RNase of nuclear chromatin.Institute of Problems in Oncology, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. N. K. Kol'tsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR R. E. Kavetskii.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 12, pp. 670–672, December, 1977.     

Differentiation of type D virus from transplantable human cells (Il'in-Bykovskii virus) and Mason-Pfizer monkey virus on the basis of virus envelope antigens

To differentiate between Il'in-Bykovskii virus (IBV) and Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) the method of neutralization of the viruses by antisera against virus envelope antigens was used. The viruses were cultured on the same human embryonic cells. The results of virus neutralization were determined by the presence or absence of gs antigen in the affected cells. Antiserum against IBV envelope antigens neutralized IBV but not MPMV. Antiserum against MPMV did not neutralize IBV. It is concluded that IBV and MPMV differ in their virus envelope antigens and must be regarded as different viruses.Laboratory of Sarcomoleukemic Viruses, Department of Etiology and Immunology of Tumors, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR O. V. Baroyan.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 8, pp. 208–210, August, 1977.     

Antibodies against common antigen of epithelial tissue of human thymus and skin epidermis in myasthenia gravis

Experiments by the indirect immunofluorescence method showed that the sera of patients with myasthenia gravis in a high percentage of cases react with cells of epithelial type of the human thymus. By absorption of the sera with suspensions of epidermal cells and tissue homogenates of several human organs it was shown that the antigen of the epithelial cells with which the sera of patients with myasthenia react belongs to the epidermal heteroorganic antigens of the thymus, i.e., it is common to the epithelium of the thymus and the epidermis of the human skin. The presence of antibodies against epithelial tissue cells of the thymus in the blood serum of patients with myasthenia gravis suggests that in this disease an immunopathological process takes place, aimed against thymus tissue antigens, including against the heteroorganic structures of its epithelium.Laboratory of Streptococcal Infections, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. Laboratory of Clinical Pathophysiology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR O. V. Baroyan.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 1, pp. 60–62, January, 1977.     

Ultracytochemical investigation of ATPase activity in mucosal parietal cells and in adenocarcinoma cells of the human stomach

An electron-histochemical investigation was made of ATPase in the partietal cells of the mucous membrane and in tumor cells of an adenocarcinoma of the human stomach, with similar ultrastructure. The reaction product for ATPase in the parietal cells was found on membranes of microvilli of the intracellular tubules, on membranes bounding the lateral intercellular spaces, on the basal plasmalemma, and in the nucleoli. No reaction product was found on membranes of the tubulovesicles or on the apical surface of the plasmalemma. The reaction product was observed in the tumor cells on membranes of the villi of the intracellular tubules, on the basal plasmalemma, and in the nucleoli. Comparison of ATPase activity in these cells showed that the part of the mechanism of hydrochloric acid secretion that is connected with H⁺ and Cl^– transport is preserved in the tumor cells. The permanent decrease in hydrochloric acid secretion by the gastric mucosa in the presence of cancer and by the cancer itself is probably attributable to other mechanisms.Laboratory of Histochemistry and Electron Microscopy, Department of Pathological Anatomy of Human Tumors, and Department of Endoscopy, Oncologic Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR N. A. Kraevskii.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 86, No. 7, pp. 58–61, July, 1977.     

Interaction between bradykinin,morphine, and naloxone at the sensomotor cortical unit level

The effects of bradykinin, morphine, and naloxone applied by microiontophoresis on sensomotor cortical neurons were studied in waking rabbits. Bradykinin increased the discharge frequency of most neurons. Morphine inhibited unit activity. Against the background of morphine, bradykinin had no activating action. Naloxone abolished the depriming effect of morphine and restored the response of the neurons to bradykinin. It is concluded that bradykinin interacts with opiate receptors in the brain.Laboratory of Molecular Neurophysiology and Biochemistry, P. K. Anokhin Institute of Normal Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Laboratory of Pharmacology of the Nervous System, Institute of Pharmacology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. V. Zakusov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 88, No. 12, pp. 683–685, December, 1979.     

Enzyme thermosensitivity of leukocytes with trisomy for chromosome 21

The thermosensitivity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and myeloperoxidase was studied in lysates of leukocytes from patients with Down's syndrome. A statistically significant increase in temperature sensitivity of these two enzymes was discovered in leukocytes trisomic for chromosome 21 compared with the control. The differences observed may be based on an increased frequency of mutation injuries in the aberrant cells and also of abnormal post-translation modification of the protein molecules.Academic Group of Corresponding Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR Professor E. F. Davidenkova, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Laboratory of Human Cytogenetics, Institute of Medical Genetics, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 87, No. 1, pp. 41–44, January, 1979.     

Study of the chemical receptor for diphtheria toxin in cell membranes

Adsorption of diphtheria toxin on immobilized preparations of cell membranes was studies in the presence of gangliosides. A mixture of gangliosides completely suppresses adsorption of the toxin on membranes of cells both sensitive (HeLa cells, macrophages) and resistant (L cells) to its action. Gangliosides treated with neuraminidase are less effective. Immobilized gangliosides effectively adsorb diphtheria toxin in the presence of protective colloid and of the detergent Triton X-100. On the basis of these results gangliosides can be regarded as the receptors of diphtheria toxin.N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR O. V. Baroyan.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 5, pp. 549–551, May, 1978.     

Action of heparin and heparin-precipitated fraction of human blood plasma on antibody-producing cells in vitro

The effect of heparin and heparin-precipitated fraction of human blood plasma (HPF) on the ability of spleen cells of mice immunized with sheep's red blood cells to form plaques in vitro was studied. Heparin and HPF were found to inhibit plaque formation as a result of interaction with lymphocytes. It is postulated that the possible point of application of the action of heparin and HPF may be surface cell membranes of the antibody-forming cells.Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Siberian Branch, Novosibirsk. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. P. Kaznacheev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 81, No. 1, pp. 57–59, January, 1976.     

Effect of parathormone and thyrocalcitonin on Na,K-ATPase in cell membranes of rat brain and kidney

The effect of parathormone (PH) and thyrocalcitonin (TCT) on ATPase enzyme systems of membrane preparations from the cerebral cortex and renal cortex of rabbits was studied in vitro and in vivo. Both in vitro and in vivo PH was found to increase the activity of transport Na,K-ATPase and Ca-activated ATPase in the cell membranes of the kidneys and brain. TCT produced similar, but much less marked changes in these ATPases only in experiments in vivo. Both hormones were virtually without effect on Mg-ATPase activity of the brain and kidney membranes. It is suggested that PH acts directly on membranous structures possessing Na,K-ATPase activity, whereas TCT acts indirectly on them.Kalinin Medical Institute. Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR S. E. Severin.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 12, pp. 1434–1436, December, 1976.     

Permeability of lysosomal membranes of skin macrophages in hypersensitivity of delayed type to streptococcal antigens

Acid phosphatase was determined in lysosomes of skin macrophages of animals with hypersensitivity of delayed type (HDT) to group A streptococcal antigens or tuberculoproteins. Acid phosphatase was determined in skin sections by a histochemical method without preliminary fixation of the tissues. Intradermal injection of the specific antigen in HDT was shown to increase the permeability of the lysosomal membranes of the skin macrophages. These results confirm the hypothesis that lysosomal enzymes of macrophages may act as factors inducing tissue destruction in HDT.Laboratory of Streptococcal Infections, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR O. V. Baroyan.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 7, pp. 81–84, July, 1977.     

Effect of soluble H-2 antigens on the cytotoxic effect and adsorption of immune lymphocytes

Serologically active preparations of soluble H-2 antigens were obtained by extraction with 3 M KCl from ascites cells of leukemia L1210 (H-2^d) and sarcoma MCh-11 (H-2^b). These preparations had no specific effect on the cytotoxic action of immune lymphocytes on target cells in vitro and did not inhibit adsorption of lymphocytes on a monolayer of the corresponding target cells.Laboratory of Immunochemistry and Diagnosis of Tumors, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Central Research Laboratory, Saratov Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR P. A. Vershilova.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 9, pp. 333–336, September, 1977.