Screening survey of several plant species in search for ribosome-inactivating protein-like activities.

A screening survey of 41 plants revealed potent translational inhibitory activities in 19 plant species belonging to several different families, some of them hitherto unreported. Our results indicate that the active principles were ribosome-inactivating proteins. Additionally, human erythrocyte-agglutinating activity was found in 20 plants.

Patch clamp studies of single intact secretory granules.

The membrane of secretory granules is involved in the molecular events that cause exocytotic fusion. Several of the proteins that have been purified from the membrane of secretory granules form ion channels when they are reconstituted in lipid bilayers and, therefore, have been thought to form part of the molecular structure of the exocytotic fusion pore. We have used the patch clamp technique to study ion conductances in single isolated secretory granules from beige mouse mast cells.

Comparative effect of synthetic aminoestrogens with estradiol on platelet aggregation.

The in vitro effect upon platelet aggregation of estradiol and synthetic estrogens (prolame, buame, and proacame) is described. Prolame and buame produced a dose-dependent inhibition on platelet aggregation. Estradiol and proacame did not show anti-aggregating effects.

Effect of source and amount of protein on milk production in dairy cows.

Forty multiparous Alpine does (mean BW of 61.5 kg) were utilized in a 13-wk trial to investigate the effects of a TMR differing in CP amount (13 or 17%) and source (solvent-extracted soybean meal or heat-treated soybean meal with or without urea) on lactational performance. Protein supplements contributed 30% of the N in 13% CP diets and 50% of the N in 17% CP diets.

Technical note: physical evaluation of recent Kodak films for mammography.

Four Kodak films for mammography were evaluated for image quality and dose. Processing times and storage effects have also been evaluated.

GTP gamma S stimulates exocytosis in patch-clamped rat melanotrophs.

We investigated the molecular mechanisms regulating exocytosis in patch-clamped melanotrophs by measuring the membrane capacitance. Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis could be induced by membrane depolarization or by including solutions containing 2 microM free Ca2+ in the patch pipette. Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis was inhibited by GDP beta S, suggesting involvement of a GTP-binding protein.

Release of secretory products during transient vesicle fusion.

Patch-Camp experiments have shown that fusion of secretory granules with the plasma membrane does not always occur as an all-or-none event, but can develop slowly in a fluctuating manner or can be transient. These observations suggested that release could be detected during such incomplete fusion events. To test this hypothesis we have combined patch-clamp measurements of the activity of single exocytotic fusion pores in beige mouse mast cells with the electrochemical detection of serotonin released during the exocytotic events.

The localization of cholecystokinin mRNA in embryonic striatal tissue grafts: further evidence for the presence of non-striatal cells.

We have studied by in situ hybridization histochemistry the mRNA expression of preprocholecystokinin (CCK) in grafts of foetal striatal tissue neurones implanted into the ibotenic acid lesioned adult rat neostriatum. Animals were studied at 30 and 90 days after implantation. Using a 35S-labelled 'antisense' oligonucleotide (45-mer) probe complementary to the rat CCK cDNA we observed a dense hybridization signal for CCK mRNA in the striatal eminence in developing embryos and in all the striatal grafts examined; no CCK mRNA expressing cells were found in the normal neonatal or adult rat neostriatum.

The secretory granule matrix: a fast-acting smart polymer.

The secretory granule matrix is a miniature biopolymer that consists of a charged polymer network that traps peptides and transmitters when it condenses and releases them on exocytotic decondensation. Models of exocytotic fusion have treated this matrix as a short circuit and have neglected its electrical contributions. This matrix responded to negative voltages by swelling, which was accompanied by a large increase in conductance, and to positive voltages by condensing.

The expression of GAP-43 mRNA in developing embryonic striatal tissue grafts.

We have studied by quantitative in situ hybridization histochemistry the mRNA expression of the growth associated phosphoprotein (GAP-43) in grafts of foetal striatal neurones implanted into the ibotenic acid lesioned adult rat neostriatum. Animals were studied at 7, 15, 30 and 90 days after implantation. Using a 35S-labelled specific oligonucleotide probe we observed the highest levels of GAP-43 mRNA in 15-day-old grafts; levels were significantly reduced at 30 days and in 3-month-old grafts GAP-43 mRNA expression was not significantly different from the very low levels in the normal rat striatum.

When is the optimum time to harvest peripheral blood stem cells in children following standard dose chemotherapy?

The optimal time for peripheral stem cell harvest may be predicted by recovery of blood count following priming doses of chemotherapy. Bone marrow growth factors have also been used to enhance yield. Both these manoeuvres may necessitate alterations to standard treatment programmes.

Exocytotic fusion is activated by Rab3a peptides.

Studies of intracellular traffic in yeast and mammalian systems have implicated members of the Rab family of small GTP-binding proteins as regulators of membrane fusion. We have used the patch clamp technique to measure exocytotic fusion events directly and investigate the role of GTP-binding proteins in regulating exocytosis in mast cells. Intracellular perfusion of mast cells with GTP-gamma S is sufficient to trigger complete exocytotic degranulation in the absence of other intracellular messengers.

Presence of single-chain ribosome-inactivating protein-like activities in several plant species.

The present screening work was devoted to the search for new ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) in 21 plant species. Eight plants proved to be very active, inhibiting protein synthesis in eukaryotic in vitro systems (rat liver, Vicia sativa and wheat germ). They fulfil the major requirements for consideration as type 1 RIPs.

Effect of intraperitoneal administration of lysine and methionine on mohair yield and quality in Angora goats.

Eight mature Angora wethers (average BW 47.2 kg) were used in a 4 x 4 replicated Latin square design to evaluate responses to intraperitoneal (IP) administration of amino acids. The IP treatments consisted of saline (Control), methionine 1 g/d (Met), lysine 2 g/d (Lys), and methionine + lysine (Met + Lys).

The exocytotic fusion pore modeled as a lipidic pore.

Freeze-fracture electron micrographs from degranulating cells show that the lumen of the secretory granule is connected to the extracellular compartment via large (20 to 150 nm diameter) aqueous pores. These exocytotic fusion pores appear to be made up of a highly curved bilayer that spans the plasma and granule membranes. Conductance measurements, using the patch-clamp technique, have been used to study the fusion pore from the instant it conducts ions.

[Nuclear syndrome of the oculomotor nerve caused by a mesencephalic infarction confirmed by MRI].

The nuclear syndrome of the third nerve was first described in 1981. It has the very characteristic disturbance of an ophthalmoplegia with complete ipsilateral third nerve palsy associated with paresis of elevation in contralateral eye. This particularly presentation is due to the innervation of the superior rectus which comes mainly from the contralateral oculomotor nucleus.

Production performance and physiological responses of Angora goat kids fed acidified milk replacer.

Angora kids were blocked by birth weight and sex and assigned randomly to goat milk or acidified milk replacer. Daily milk intake, weekly BW, and heart girth measurements, and blood parameters (packed cell volume, total protein, glucose, and NEFA) were monitored at 3 d (initial) and at 4, 6, 8, and 9 wk of age. Both groups were fed their respective milks for ad libitum intake for 6 wk and then reduced to 75, 50, 25, and 0% of wk-6 intake during wk 7, 8, 9, and 10, respectively.

Physico-chemical properties, analytical determinations and stability of sertaconazole nitrate.

Sertaconazole nitrate, the nitrate salt of 7-chloro-3-[1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethoxy-methyl] benzo[b]thiophene (sertaconazole, FI-7045, CAS 99592-32-2), is a new azole antifungal, which has proved to have a wide spectrum and high activity. This paper describes its physico-chemical properties, structural identification including polymorphism, detection of impurities, determination of related compounds, separation, quantification and purity assays using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and quantitative assays specially elemental and functional analysis. Stability of sertaconazole nitrate in solid form under accelerated (light, humidity and temperature) and real time conditions and in suspension form at different pH values (acid and basic) was also studied.

Dietary protein level and ruminal degradability for mohair production in Angora goats.

Twenty-eight Angora goat doelings (average BW 22.1 kg) were used in a 150-d study to examine the effects of dietary CP level and degradability on mohair fiber production. A 2 x 2 factorial arrangement was instituted using conventional, solvent-extracted soybean meal (high degradability) or expelled, heat-treated soybean meal (low degradability) incorporated into low- (12%) or high- (19%) CP diets.