Experientia最新文献

Insect-parasitic nematodes possess many of the attributes of ideal biological control agents, but intolerance to extreme temperatures can restrict their use. We examined whether heat-shock treatments could improve nematode survival and infectivity at temperatures that normally inhibit their activity (35 and 40 degrees C). Nematodes exposed to a sub-lethal temperature (35 degrees C) for 3 h with a latency period of 1-2 h at 25 degrees C killed insects at 35 and 40 degrees C. Correlative evidence was obtained between increased thermotolerance and the synthesis of 70-kDa heat-shock proteins (hsps). These results provide the first evidence of hsp synthesis in the development of thermotolerance and biological activity in the non-feeding, developmentally arrested, infective juvenile nematodes.

The branchial gland of the dibranchiate cephalopods is described as the site of haemocyanin synthesis. Because there is no equivalent to this organ in tetrabranchiate cephalopods the localization of haemocyanin synthesis remained unknown for a long time. In this study we could confirm the conclusions from preliminary investigations concerning the copper content of the midgut gland of Nautilus, which gave the first indications for a possible localization of haemocyanin synthesis in this organ. We developed a polyclonal antibody against Nautilus haemocyanin, tested its specificity, and used it on ultra-thin sections of the tissue of the midgut gland. It could be shown that there is a clear immunogold precipitation only on the triangular basal cells in the terminal alveoli. All the other types of cell in this organ were free of any immunoreactivity. It can be supposed that the triangular basal cells in the terminal alveoli of the midgut gland are the sites of haemocyanin synthesis in Nautilus.

The immunization of biungulate animals with killed foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) requires periodic vaccinations due to a low vaccine immunogenicity. Therefore, FMDV antigens need to be combined with adjuvants such as aluminium hydroxide, saponin or oil emulsions. Animal handling for periodic inoculations, and the repeated doses of vaccines that have to be administered increase the commercialization costs. Moreover, the use of adjuvants may induce adverse effects. In the present work we show that it is possible to increase the life span of neutralizing antibodies in serum when a single dose of cyclophosphamide (Cy) is administered four days before vaccination with aluminium hydroxidesaponin FMDV vaccine.

We studied the Na+/K+ pump, Na+/K+ ATPase activity, and oxygen consumption (QO2) in hepatocytes isolated from the periportal (PH) and pericentral (CH) regions of the liver lobule, to provide an insight into the functional properties of these cells. Na+/K+ pump activity was determined using 86Rb+ (a functional analog of K+) and ouabain, a specific inhibitor of this transport system. Our results indicate the the Na+/K+ pump and Na+/K+ ATPase activity are significantly lower in CH than in PH, although basal ouabain-sensitive (OS) QO2 was negligible in both of these cell preparations. However, OSQO2 was significantly lower in CH than in PH when the Na+/K+ pump was activated using the ionophore nystatin in a Na(+)-containing medium. These results indicate that the differences in membrane ion transport exist between hepatocytes from different locations of the liver lobule.

Cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration of epithelial cells from 14-day embryonic chick duodena decreased during 72 h of organ culture to a value 54% of that found at 17 days in vivo. The ability of cells to maintain a constant Ca2+ concentration when challenged with high extracellular calcium was also significantly reduced. Addition of 1 microM hydrocortisone during culture restored both parameters of Ca2+ homeostasis to that of 16-day uncultured duodena, and rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+ was significant within 4 h of hormone treatment. Thyroxine influenced epithelial Ca2+ similarly, but to a lesser degree and only after 48-72 h of culture. These data indicate that glucocorticoids, and possibly thyroid hormones, influence the development of calcium homeostasis in intestinal epithelium.

Lectins from four marine algal species were examined for interaction with human platelets. The lectin designated hypnin A, from the red alga Hypnea japonica, inhibited adenosine diphosphate (ADP)- or collagen-induced human platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. Complete inhibition was observed at concentrations of 100 and 5 micrograms/ml of the lectin with ADP (2 microM) and collagen (0.2 microgram/ml)-induced platelet aggregation, respectively. At the inhibitory concentration of 0.5 to 100 micrograms/ml, the lectin did not induce aggregation of resting platelets. Lectins from the other three algal species also inhibited ADP-induced human platelet aggregation. These results indicate that the algal lectins are a new group of inhibitors and may be useful to study glycoconjugates on platelet membranes and to design novel platelet aggregation inhibitors.

This paper reports the effect of acclimatization on the evening fall in core temperature under the influence of two different types of clothing. Two groups of subjects dressed in either knee-length skirts or full trousers during the daytime for the three months from April to June. To compare the circadian rhythm of core temperature, the experiments were carried out before and after the three month program of acclimatization. It was found that the subjects who had worn knee-length skirts showed lower rectal temperatures during the nighttime and a bigger amplitude of circadian rhythm in July than in March.

Energy expenditure was investigated in 15 patients with liver cirrhosis and 20 healthy controls by three methods: indirect calorimetry, anthropometry using the Harris-Benedict equation and bioelectrical impedance analysis. The energy expenditure was expressed in kcal/day, kcal/kg BW/day (BW - body weight), kcal/kg LBM/day (LBM - lean body mass, derived by bioelectrical impedance analysis) or in kcal/m2/day. We did not find statistical differences between values of resting energy expenditure obtained in patients with cirrhosis of the liver and healthy controls whichever method we used. We also did not find statistical differences between values obtained by indirect calorimetry, anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis. There was a significant correlation between indirect calorimetry and anthropometry in both groups. We found significant correlations between indirect calorimetry and anthropometry, and between indirect calorimetry and bioelectrical impedance analysis, in the control group only. We can conclude that (1) resting energy expenditure of patients with cirrhosis of the liver is not changed when compared with healthy controls, and (2) bioelectrical impedance is a useful method to calculate body composition from which energy expenditure is derived; however, it gives an appropriate result only in healthy people, and only approximate values in patients with cirrhosis.

Using a prokaryote (Escherichia coli) and a metazoa-resembling eukaryote (Ochromonas danica), we surveyed antioxidants which might overcome redox stress imposed by menadione sodium bisulphite (MD) and buthionine sulphoximine (BSO). BSO oxidant stress was evident only in O. danica; MD oxidant stress was evident in both organisms. Glutathione, its precursors, e.g. cysteine, homocysteine, and 2-oxo-4-thiazolidine carboxylic acid, and red blood cells, emerged as prime antioxidants for relieving BSO and MD oxidant stress. BSO and MD oxidant activity and antioxidant-annulling effect in O. danica were judged comparable to those found in animal cells whereas the results E. coli were not entirely equivalent. The O. danica system emerged as a practical, rapid, and useful system for pinpointing oxidant stressors and antioxidants, and shows promise for studies with mammalian systems.

The mechanism by which a new naphthoquinone derivative, the 2-hydroxy-N-(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-1, 4-naphthoquinone-4-imine (INQI-E) has antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus was studied. The interaction of INQI-E with the bacteria was followed by absorption spectroscopy at 323 and 490 nm. The absorption band of INQI-E at 490 nm undergoes a hypochromic shift with a decrease of intensity. This effect was found to be reversible by oxygenation during the first hours of incubation. The participation of an oxidation-reduction process related to the respiratory chain was demonstrated by oxygen consumption. An increase in O2 uptake and inhibition of S. aureus growth was observed. Experiments with three inhibitors of the respiratory chain demonstrated that the pathway induced by INQI-E was antimycin-resistant and KCN- and salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM)-sensitive, which suggests that INQI-E is capable of diverting the normal electron flow to an alternate superoxide-producing route. On the other hand, experiments with Tiron, a specific scavenger of superoxide, hindered the effect of INQI-E against S. aureus, indicating that the inhibitory growth effect of this quinone-imine is mainly due to the production of the cytotoxic superoxide radical.