Disturbance of delayed match-to-sample in macaques by tetanization of anterior commissure versus limbic system or basal ganglia

Summary Three pig-tailed macaques were trained to select (match) from a pair of colored images that which they had seen (sample) and responded to 5–15 s previously. The anterior commissure (AC) and/or its radiation, various loci in basal ganglia, hippocampal formation and control areas, (splenium of corpus callosum, precentral gyrus, insular cortex), totalling 40 loci, were each tetanized for 4 s during presentation of the sample image, during the delay period, or when the monkey was required to select the matching image. For several loci in the hippocampal formation tetanization at any phase of the task reduced matching to chance levels and gave evidence of electrical after-discharge; but other comparable hippocampal loci had little or no effect. Response to sample or match stimuli were absent during tetanization of basal ganglia or anterior commissure. When finally made, upon cessation of tetanization, responses were equally correct for basal ganglia and control sites, but for AC were at chance levels.     

Effects of sleep deprivation on the activity of selected metabolic enzymes in skeletal muscle

Summary The present study gives the results of a comparison of the recorded and true tibia-calcaneal angles in 17 normal subjects and in 14 patients with abnormally hypoextensible non contracting triceps. 1. For a minimal passive torque, the difference between true and recorded angles varied considerably from one individual to another. The means and ranges for the two groups were respectively: –8 (+7, –21) and –7 (+5, –20). 2. When the passive torque increased as a result of slow passive lengthening of the muscle, the true curve was steeper than the recorded one, owing to differences between the two angle measurements. For each of the two groups the differences in means and ranges were respectively: 6 (0, +13.5) and 8 (3, 12). 3. Subjects made isometric voluntary contractions of the triceps surae at fixed angles which corresponded to step by step muscle lengthening. The resulting true curve was much steeper than the recorded curve. The differences in means and ranges were: 7 (1.5, +15) in children of the two groups and respectively 3 (0, +9) and 12 (10, 14) in adults of the two groups. The present results show that this methodology was the only reliable way of correctly obtaining passive and active torque-angle curves, measuring differences between subjects, appreciating the effects of treatments and these by ascertaining whether or not trophic muscle regulation was defective.     

Identification and quantitation of cortisol metabolites in rat liver homogenate and -slices

Summary Cortisol-1, 2-H³ was incubated with rat liver homogenate and/or rat liver slices in the presence of a NADPH-generating system. The following metabolites could be identified in adult male rats: -cortol, allo--cortol, 3-allo--cortol, 20-hydroxy-cortisol, 11, 17, 20, 21-tetrahydroxy-5-pregnan-3-one, 3-allotetrahydrocortisol, tetrahydrocortisol, trace amounts of allotetrahydrocortisol and two highly polar metabolites only partly identified. In female rats only tetrahydrocortisol, allotetrahydrocortisol and allodihydrocortisol could be detected in significant amounts.The radioactive metabolites mentioned above were localized and quantitated on paper chromatograms by a 4-radiochromatogram scanner. A nearly perfect correlation was found between these results so obtained and those given by liquid-scintillation counting of each metabolite after its elution from the paper.Part of this work was supported by grant n° 695 of the National Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Geneeskundig Onderzoek.Stagiair of the Nationaal Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek.     

Morphological study of the hearts of rats carried on board biosatellites

The hearts of rats carried on board the biosatellites Kosmos-605 and Kosmos-782 were studied histologically and histochemically. A long space flight (up to 22 days) did not cause any significant structural or metabolic changes to develop in the heart. The absolute weight of the heart also was unchanged. A transient increase in phosphorylase activity in the myocardium of the rats 10–11 h after the end of the flight was due to stress resulting from exposure to the combination of extremal factors accompanying landing of the satellite.Institute of Medico-Biological Problems, Ministry of Health of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 4, pp. 485–486, April, 1977.     

Some properties of low-molecular-weight tetanus antitoxin

After intravenous injection of tetanus antitoxin obtained by tryptic digestion of Diaferm-3 horse immunoglobulin, purification, and concentration of the active fragments, the antitoxin was excreted by rabbits 3 times faster than after injection of the original Diaferm-3 antitoxin. After injection of the fragmented antitoxin its excretion continued until the 6th days, whereas after injection of Diaferm-3 antitoxin its excretion continued until the 19th day; in the first case much less antitoxin was excreted than in the second (2% and 3.5% respectively). In both cases the antitoxin excreted in the urine consisted of monovalent Fab' fragments which caused delay of precipitation in the cross reaction in agar gel between tetanus toxoid and antitetanus serum. The Fab' gragment obtained by this method possessed anaphylactogenic properties.L'vov Medical Institute. Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 81, No. 3, pp. 331–333, March, 1976.     

In situ expression of β1, β3 and β4 integrin subunits in non-neoplastic endothelium and vascular tumours

Endothelial cells play an important role in adhesive interactions between circulating cells and extracellular matrix proteins. In vitro studies have shown that many of these processes are mediated by a superfamily of heterodimeric transmembrane glycoproteins called integrins. The distribution patterns of 1, 3 and 4 integrin subunits in endothelial cells (EC) in situ were examined immunohistochemically on serial forzen sections of a wide range of non-neoplastic tissues and of vascular tumours, both benign and malignant. Expression of the 1 subunit was a constitutive feature of EC. Among the 1-associated subunits, 5 and 6 were broadly distributed in EC, irrespective of vessel size and microenvironment. The 3 subunit displayed intermediate levels of expression with a slight preference for small vessel EC. Presence of 1 was confined to EC of capillaries and venules/small veins. Expression of 2 in EC was inconsistent. With rare exceptions, the 4 chain was absent in EC. The 3 and v subunits were expressed in most EC, though not always concomitantly. In contrast to the 1 chain, however, these integrin subunits were absent in EC of glomerular capillaries and were expressed variably in sinusoidal EC. The 4 chain was evenly present in the great majority of EC, except for those of large vessels. In vascular tumours, the patterns of 1 and 1 to 6 subunit expression generally corresponded to those found in their non-neoplastic counterparts. Expression of 3, v and 4 chains, however, decreased in neoplasia, especially in angiosarcomas. These data show that EC dispose of broad and at the same time differential repertoires of integrin subunits that presumably reflect vessel-type associated functional differences among these cells. In vascular tumours, the orthologous distribution patterns of 1 and 1 to 6 chains are conserved in most instances while the amounts of 3, v and 4 subunits expressed in EC tend to decrease in the course of malignant transformation.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. med. Dres. h.c. Wilhelm Doerr on the occasion of his 80th birthday     

Recognition by peptide mapping of three different structural groups of outer membrane protein YOP-1 of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

The structural relation of YOP-1 of european and american Yersinia enterocolitica serotypes O3, O9, O5, 27, and O8 and O20, respectively, and Y. pseudotuberculosis serotypes I, II, and III was compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and peptide mapping using Staphylococcus aureus protease V8. Apparent molecular weights of YOP-1 ranged from 206,000 (O3) to approx. 180,000 (O8). According to their respective peptide maps YOP-1 of the european and american Y. enterocolitica serotypes and Y. pseudotuberculosis serotypes could be assigned to three different groups. Evaluation of several isolates of Y. enterocolitica serotypes O3, O9, and O8 by peptide mapping indicated that YOP-1 is conserved within a serotype. However, one serotype O8 isolate differed from the consensus peptide pattern of the other serotype O8 and O20 isolates. The similarity of the peptide patterns of Yersinia serotypes which predominate in certain geographical locations, i. e., european and american Y. enterocolitica serotypes, suggest common evolution of YOP-1 of these serotypes independent of the evolution of the other serotypes.     

The antigenetic properties of “human leukemic factor” cultivated on the chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo

Summary It was demonstrated with the aid of anaphylactic reaction with desensitization that the specific leukemic factor is present in the allantoic fluid of chik's embryos into which the blood of leukemic patients was injected. This factor is absent in the normal allantoic fluid. Human leukemic factor may be cultivated for a long time (up to 19 passages) on the chrion-allantoic membrane of developing chick's embryos.Presented by Active Member Acad. Med. Sci. USSR L.A. Zil'ber     

Synergistic effects of tumour necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ on feline haemopoietic progenitors

Pathogenic mechanisms that underlie feline leukaemia virus subgroup-C (FeLV-C) induced erythroid aplasia are unknown. FeLV-C infection is associated with higher serum levels of interferon- (IFN-) and tumour necrosis factor- (TNF-), which may act synergistically to cause haemopoietic suppression. In the present studies, the synergistic effects of TNF- and IFN- on feline bone marrow progenitors in vitro were evaluated. Bone marrow mononuclear cells from specific-pathogen-free cats were exposed to TNF- (100 and 200 pg/ml) and IFN- (100 or 200 units/ml), alone or in combination, for 2 h before plating for clonal assays of colony forming units. Our results show that TNF- and IFN- in combination caused marked suppression of feline colony forming units-erythroid (CFU-E), burst forming units-erythroid (BFU-E), and colony forming units-fibroblasts (CFU-F), whereas colony forming units-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM) were minimally affected. The same concentrations of TNF- and IFN- alone had minimal effects on CFU-E, BFU-E and CFU-F. These results suggest that TNF- and IFN- may play a significant role in regulating haemopoiesis in cats and may be involved in the pathogenesis of erythroid aplasia in cats infected with feline leukaemia virus.     

Mapping thyrotropin β subunit gene in man and mouse

Thyrotropin (TSH) is composed of two subunits: and . Previously, we have mapped the TSH gene to human chromosome 6 and mouse chromosome 4. In this study we have located the human TSH gene on chromosome 1 and the mouse TSH gene to chromosome 3. These data suggest that the TSH gene lies in a conserved linkage group with the genes for amylase 1 and 2, nerve growth factor, and the protooncogene Nras.     

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.     

Bicarbonate permeability of epithelial chloride channels

To investigate the relation of arachidonate metabolism to the induction of fever by interleukin-1, indomethacin was administered in either an intracerebro-ventricular (icv) or a subcutaneous (sc) route in conscious rabbits. Fever induced by icv administration of recombinant human interleukin-1 (rhIL-1) was depressed by either icv or sc pretreatment with indomethacin. Fever induced by intravenous (iv) administration of rhIL-1 was significantly inhibited, though initial small increase in colonic temperature still remained, and was completely depressed by combination of icv and sc pretreatment with indomethacin. Intracerebroventricularly administered recombinant rabbit IL-1 (rrIL-1) induced dose-dependent increases in colonic temperature, which was depressed by sc pretreatment with indomethacin. There is little species specificity between human and rabbit IL-1, in terms of the pyrogenic potency and the inhibitory effect of sc indomethacin on fever induced by icv IL-1. Further, fever caused by icv administration of sodium arachidonate was significantly depressed by sc pretreatment with indomethacin. These results show that the inhibitory effect of indomethacin, administered either icv or sc, on IL-1-induced fever is similar to that of IL-1-induced fever reported previously [11]. This suggests that the site of arachidonate metabolism significantly involved in the mechanism of fever induction by IL-1 is easily accessible to the brain from the blood.     

Eine neue Bestimmung der Neutralfette im Blutserum und Gewebe

Zusammenfassung Die Neutralfette im Blutserum und Gewebe lassen sich über Glycerin exakt ermitteln. Freies und nach alkoholischer Verseifung nachweisbares Gesamt-Glycerin werden mit Glycerokinase in einer dreistufigen enzymatischen Nachweisreaktion im Mikroverfahren bestimmt. Die Differenz wird als Glycerid-Glycerin angesprochen. Reaktionsprinzip, Durchführung der Methode und Berechungsweise werden ausführlich besprochen.Für freies Glycerin werden 0,2 ml Serum, für Gesamtglycerin etwa 0,007–0,015 ml Serum äquivalente Hydrolysatmengen in den Test eingesetzt. Bei einer Empfindlichkeit von 0,0008 µMol (wenn bei 340 nm, bzw. 0,0015 µMol Glycerin, wenn bei 366 nm gemessen wird), können noch 1/20 bis 1/10 des im Normalserum vorhandenen freien bzw. Gesamtglycerins mit den Standardansätzen erfaßt werden. Die obere Nachweisgrenze reicht dann bis 0,15 bzw. 0,3 µMol Glycerin, das entspricht der 8- bzw. 15fachen Normalmenge für freies und Gesamtglycerin. In den angegebenen Grenzen liegen die über Glyceridglycerin nachweisbaren Triglyceridkonzentrationen. Empfindlichkeit und obere Nachweisgrenze können durch andere Serum- bzw. Hydrolysatmengen in weiten Grenzen variiert und der jeweiligen Fragestellung angepaßt werden.

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Summary Triglycerides in blood serum and tissue can be identified exactly by means of glyceride-glycerol. Free and total glycerol, measurable after alcoholic saponification, are determined by glycerolkinase in a three-step enzymatic proof-reaction by means of micro-methods. The difference between total and free glycerol is called glycerideglycerol. Reaction principles, working instructions and the calculation will be discussed in detail.The sensitivity of the standard test runs to 0,0008 respeccively 0,0015 µMol glycerol or 1/20 resp. 1/10 of the normal contentrations. The upper proof limit is at 0,15 respectively 0,3 µMol glycerol per test. This is equal to 8–15 times more than the normal of free and total glycerol. Sensitivity and upper proof limit can easily by varied and adapted to the formulation of the question.

     

The Involvement of Dopamine in Strengthening Cortical Signals Activating NMDA Receptors in the Striatum (a hypothetical mechanism)

A possible mechanism is proposed for the enhancement/weakening of those cortical signals in the cortex-basal ganglia-thalamus-cortex neural network which induce/do not induce opening of NMDA channels in the spiny neurons of the striatum and which can be regarded as strong/weak in terms of this measure. The mechanism is based on the modulatory influences of dopamine on changes in the efficiency of corticostriatal inputs. In the absence of dopamine, relative increases in the intensity of strong (weak) cortical signals can lead to the induction of long-term potentiation (depression) of corticostriatal synapses. In this case, because of the differently directed influences on thalamic cells of signals passing via strionigral and striopallidal cells, strong signals at the output of the thalamus are weakened, while weak signals are strengthened. Activation of dopamine D₁ (D₂) receptors on strionigral (striopallidal) neurons may facilitate increases in the extent of long-term potentiation/depression (decreases in the extent of long-term potentiation/depression or induction of long-term potentiation/depression). The consequence of this is that strong signals at the output of the thalamus can be strengthened synergistically, while weak signals cab be weakened synergistically. Background cortical signals evoking tonic release of dopamine in the striatum can decrease strengthening because of weakening of the modulatory influence of dopamine on the modification of corticostriatal synapses.     

Effects of inhibitors and ion substitutions on oscillations of cell membrane potential in cells expressing the RAS oncogene

Previous studies revealed that in NIH fibroblasts expressing the ras oncogene but not in other NIH fibroblasts, bradykinin leads to sustained, calcium dependent oscillations of cell membrane potential by repetitive activation of calcium-sensitive K⁺ channels. The present study has been performed to test for ion and inhibitor sensitivity of these oscillations. Both, Lys-bradykinin (kallidin) and bradykinin, but not any shorter peptide tested, maintained the oscillations. The oscillations are abolished in the presence of the K⁺ channel blocker barium (10 nmol/l). The amplitude but not the frequency of the oscillations is dependent on the extracellular potassium concentration. The oscillations are not dependent on the presence of extracellular sodium, bicarbonate or chloride. The oscillations are abolished in the absence of extracellular calcium and their frequency is significantly decreased at reduced extracellular calcium (to 0.2 mmol/l). The oscillations are not inhibited by acute administration of ouabain (0.1 mmol/l), by dimethylamiloride (100 mol/l), furosemide (1 mmol/l) and hydrochlorothiazide (100 mol/l), by cobalt (100 mol/l), zinc (100 mol/l), gadolinium (100 mol/l), verapamil (10 mol/l) and diltiazem (10 mol/l), but are abolished in the presence of 100 mol/l lanthanum, 1 mmol/l cadmium, 10 mol/l nifedipine, 25 mol/l SK & F 96365 and 200 mol/l TMB-8. Stimulation of calcium entry by 10 mol/l ionomycin is frequently followed by oscillations of cell membrane potential even in the absence of bradykinin. In conclusion, in cells expressing the ras oncogene bradykinin leads to sustained activation of calcium channels at the cell membrane, which cause oscillations of the cell membrane potential by triggering intracellular calcium release.     

Normal and pathologic antigens in human carcinoma

Summary Comparative studies of antigenic properties of cancerous tissues and of normal organs in one and the same subject demonstrated special cancer antigens in cancerous tissues, specific for these pathologically altered tissues.Presented by Prof. V. D. Timakov Active Member of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences     

Evidence for a direct relationship between mitochondrial genome organization and regeneration ability in hexaploid wheat somatic tissue cultures

Summary Embryogenic and non-embryogenic long-term callus cultures of hexaploid wheat exhibit differences in the organization of their mitochondrial genome. Embryogenic and non-embryogenic fractions of callus cultures initiated from immature embryos of the wheat cultivar Chinese Spring have been isolated and subsequently subcultured. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments using labelled cloned wheat mitochondrial DNA fragments have shown that the mitochondrial DNA organization of embryogenic subcultures derived from embryogenic parts of Chinese Spring calli is closely related to that of the initial Chinese Spring calli, while non-embryogenic subcultures derived from non-embryogenic fragments of Chinese Spring calli exhibit a mitochondrial DNA organization similar to that found in non-embryogenic calli derived from cultivar Aquila. In addition, somatic tissue cultures initiated from three other non-embryogenic wheat cultivars (Talent, Thésée and Capitole) display mitochondrial DNA arrangements similar to those found in cultivar Aquila. These results strongly suggest that, in wheat callus cultures, a particular mitochondrial genome organization is correlated with the ability of cultured cells to regenerate whole plants.Abbreviations mtDNA mitochondrial DNA - ctDNA chloroplast DNA - rRNA ribosomal RNA - kb kilobase pair - cv cultivar - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Summation and adaptation in stimulation of the motor cortex in adult and newborn animals

Summary In rabbits and their progeny an investigation was made of summation and adaptation of the neurones of the motor cortex; unipolar stimulation was used, and the muscular response recorded. Two types of summation curves were found: exponential and Y-shaped,, and were related to the direct and indirect summation of stimulation. In adults, Y-shaped summation curves were more frequent, whereas in rabbits aged 24 h exponential curves preponderted. We found very little capacity for adaptation at any age.(Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR A. F. Turom) Translated from Byulleten Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Medisiny, Vol. 55, No. 6, pp. 3–7, June, 1963     

Influence of changes in the effectiveness of blockade of the benzodiazepine-GABA ionophore complex on the reproduction of the amnestic memory trace in mice after preliminary administration of diazepam

A comparative analysis was carried out in experiments on mice, using the methodology of the conditioned passive avoidance reaction, of the effectiveness of the blockade of the BD-GABA ionophore complex and its individual components in the recovery of a memory trace following psychogenic amnesia developing against the background of preliminary activation of BD-receptors by diazepam. It was shown that an improvement in the reproduction of the conditioned reaction was observed on the second day under conditions of neurochemical tuning only with the blockade of the GABA _A receptor by bicuculline. Flumazepil and picrotoxin did not elicit an improvement in the reproduction of the reaction. A similar relationship of the effectiveness of the pharmacological actions was observed on the 21st day after training and psychogenic amnesia. The facts presented permit the hypothesis that the development of psychogenic amnesia is determined by the functional state, which governs the possibility of retrieving the memory trace, of the mediator systems of the brain during learning and the amnestic influence.Translated from Zhurnal Vysshei Nervnoi Deyatel'nosti imeni I. P. Pavlova, Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 499–505, May–June, 1989.     

Trennung der intestinalen β-Galactosidasen beim lactose-toleranten Erwachsenen durch Ultrazentrifugation im Dichtegradienten

Zusammenfassung Die intestinalen-Galactosidasen von 4 lactose-toleranten, erwachsenen Mitteleuropäern wurden im Saugbiopsie-Gewebe nach Solubilisierung mit Triton X-100 in einem linearen Mannitol-Gradienten (5–20%) auf der Ultrazentrifuge bei 4°C und 44000 U/min getrennt. Bei 12stündiger Zentrifugation fanden sich 3 Fraktionen, von denen die beiden schneller sedimenticrenden Lactose spalten. Alle 3 Fraktionen hydrolysieren p-Nitrophenyl--Galactosid. Die 3 isolierten-Galactosidasen entsprechen wahrscheinlich der neutralen Bürstensaum-Lactase, der sauren lysosomalen Lactase und einer cytoplasmatischen Hetero--Galactosidase.