Extra Membranes Research Articles

Characteristics and Micromorphology of Designed Regenerative a Cellular Dermal Collagen Particles Derived from a Combined Procedure of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Fluids and Protease Treatments at Low Temperatures

A new regenerative collagen particle with extra-cellular matrix (ECM) was designed and prepared from porcine dermal. A specific tissue-cutting machine was designed to prepare extra thin tissue membranes, which could be used for preparing the regenerative collagen particles with ECM. Furthermore, a novel procedure combining supercritical carbon dioxide fluids technology and protease treatments at low temperatures was employed. Characteristics of the resulting regenerative collagen particles with ECM were observed by determining morphology, thermal property and mechanical property for clinic application of medical devices

Organotypic Brain Slice Cultures

Ex vivo cell culture models are of particular interest for neurobiologists, as these allow the study of brain cells in an isolated environment. Organotypic brain slice cultures allow growth of three-dimensional brain tissue that conserves the cellular architecture. This unit describes the preparation and culturing of organotypic brain slices from mice. In three basic protocols, the general procedure, the specific preparation of chopper slices, and slicing of whole-brain vibratome sections are described. Support protocols explain the use of postnatal or adult mice, the preparation of coronal or sagittal slices, the preparation of co-cultures, post-processing of slices, the use of extra filter membranes, and the re-use of membrane inserts. This unit provides an easy-to-understand methodological introduction to brain slice cultures. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Kingdom Chromista and its eight phyla: a new synthesis emphasising periplastid protein targeting, cytoskeletal and periplastid evolution, and ancient divergences

In 1981 I established kingdom Chromista, distinguished from Plantae because of its more complex chloroplast-associated membrane topology and rigid tubular multipartite ciliary hairs. Plantae originated by converting a cyanobacterium to chloroplasts with Toc/Tic translocons; most evolved cell walls early, thereby losing phagotrophy. Chromists originated by enslaving a phagocytosed red alga, surrounding plastids by two extra membranes, placing them within the endomembrane system, necessitating novel protein import machineries. Early chromists retained phagotrophy, remaining naked and repeatedly reverted to heterotrophy by losing chloroplasts. Therefore, Chromista include secondary phagoheterotrophs (notably ciliates, many dinoflagellates, Opalozoa, Rhizaria, heliozoans) or walled osmotrophs (Pseudofungi, Labyrinthulea), formerly considered protozoa or fungi respectively, plus endoparasites (e.g. Sporozoa) and all chromophyte algae (other dinoflagellates, chromeroids, ochrophytes, haptophytes, cryptophytes). I discuss their origin, evolutionary diversification, and reasons for making chromists one kingdom despite highly divergent cytoskeletons and trophic modes, including improved explanations for periplastid/chloroplast protein targeting, derlin evolution, and ciliary/cytoskeletal diversification. I conjecture that transit-peptide-receptor-mediated ‘endocytosis’ from periplastid membranes generates periplastid vesicles that fuse with the arguably derlin-translocon-containing periplastid reticulum (putative red algal trans-Golgi network homologue; present in all chromophytes except dinoflagellates). I explain chromist origin from ancestral corticates and neokaryotes, reappraising tertiary symbiogenesis; a chromist cytoskeletal synapomorphy, a bypassing microtubule band dextral to both centrioles, favoured multiple axopodial origins. I revise chromist higher classification by transferring rhizarian subphylum Endomyxa from Cercozoa to Retaria; establishing retarian subphylum Ectoreta for Foraminifera plus Radiozoa, apicomonad subclasses, new dinozoan classes Myzodinea (grouping Colpovora gen. n., Psammosa), Endodinea, Sulcodinea, and subclass Karlodinia; and ranking heterokont Gyrista as phylum not superphylum.

Characterization of ATP-binding Cassette Transporter Genes in Silkworm, Bombyx Mori

<i>Background: </i>ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are transmembrane proteins that utilize the energy of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding and hydrolysis to transport various substrates across extra and intracellular membranes, including metabolic products, lipids and sterols, and drugs. They play important roles in various processes of life, especially in drug resistance, metabolism and development. <i>Objective: </i>Identify the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter gene family and their members in the genome of silkworm, Bombyx mori. Method: Bioinformatics and phylogenetic analysis were used in the study. <i>Results: </i>We identified 47 ABC proteins in the silkworm genome, which possesses members of all current ABC subfamilies A to H. ABC proteins of silkworm were compared to those from worm, fruit fly and human. A high conservation of silkworm ABC transporters were observed for proteins involved in fundamental cellular processes, including the half transporters of the ABCB subfamily, which function in iron metabolism and transport of Fe/S protein precursors, and the members of subfamilies ABCD, ABCE and ABCF, which have roles in very long chain fatty acid transport. Both ABCE and F gene products may be involved in an innate immune response to viral infections. As in the fly, ABCH proteins are inverse half-transporters showing the same domain architecture as the members of the ABCG subfamily, and ABCG transporters involve in transportation of ommochrome precursors and uric acid into pigment granules and urate granules. <i>Conclusion: </i>These results paved the way for further study on the function of the ABC transporters in silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Promotion of growth by Coenzyme Q10 is linked to gene expression in C. elegans

Coenzyme Q (CoQ, ubiquinone) is an essential component of the respiratory chain, a cofactor of pyrimidine biosynthesis and acts as an antioxidant in extra mitochondrial membranes. More recently CoQ has been identified as a modulator of apoptosis, inflammation and gene expression. CoQ deficient Caenorhabditis elegans clk-1 mutants show several phenotypes including a delayed postembryonic growth. Using wild type and two clk-1 mutants, here we established an experimental set-up to study the consequences of endogenous CoQ deficiency or exogenous CoQ supply on gene expression and growth. We found that a deficiency of endogenous CoQ synthesis down-regulates a cluster of genes that are important for growth (i.e., RNA polymerase II, eukaryotic initiation factor) and up-regulates oxidation reactions (i.e., cytochrome P450, superoxide dismutase) and protein interactions (i.e., F-Box proteins). Exogenous CoQ supply partially restores the expression of these genes as well as the growth retardation of CoQ deficient clk-1 mutants. On the other hand exogenous CoQ supply does not alter the expression of a further sub-set of genes. These genes are involved in metabolism (i.e., succinate dehydrogenase complex), cell signalling or synthesis of lectins. Thus, our work provides a comprehensive overview of genes which can be modulated in their expression by endogenous or exogenous CoQ. As growth retardation in CoQ deficiency is linked to the gene expression profile we suggest that CoQ promotes growth via gene expression.

Ubiquitin Interacts with the Tollip C2 and CUE Domains and Inhibits Binding of Tollip to Phosphoinositides

A large number of cellular signaling processes are directed through internalization, via endocytosis, of polyubiquitinated cargo proteins. Tollip is an adaptor protein that facilitates endosomal cargo sorting for lysosomal degradation. Tollip preferentially binds phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P) via its C2 domain, an association that may be required for endosomal membrane targeting. Here, we show that Tollip binds ubiquitin through its C2 and CUE domains and that its association with the C2 domain inhibits PtdIns(3)P binding. NMR analysis demonstrates that the C2 and CUE domains bind to overlapping sites on ubiquitin, suggesting that two ubiquitin molecules associate with Tollip simultaneously. Hydrodynamic studies reveal that ubiquitin forms heterodimers with the CUE domain, indicating that the association disrupts the dimeric state of the CUE domain. We propose that, in the absence of polyubiquitinated cargo, the dual binding of ubiquitin partitions Tollip into membrane-bound and membrane-free states, a function that contributes to the engagement of Tollip in both membrane trafficking and cytosolic pathways.

Association between genetic variants in the Coenzyme Q10 metabolism and Coenzyme Q10 status in humans

BackgroundCoenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is essential for mitochondrial energy production and serves as an antioxidants in extra mitochondrial membranes. The genetics of primary CoQ10 deficiency has been described in several studies, whereas the influence of common genetic variants on CoQ10 status is largely unknown. Here we tested for non-synonymous single-nucleotidepolymorphisms (SNP) in genes involved in the biosynthesis (CoQ3G272S , CoQ6M406V, CoQ7M103T), reduction (NQO1P187S, NQO2L47F) and metabolism (apoE3/4) of CoQ10 and their association with CoQ10 status. For this purpose, CoQ10 serum levels of 54 healthy male volunteers were determined before (T0) and after a 14 days supplementation (T14) with 150 mg/d of the reduced form of CoQ10.FindingsAt T0, the CoQ10 level of heterozygous NQO1P187S carriers were significantly lower than homozygous S/S carriers (0.93 ± 0.25 μM versus 1.34 ± 0.42 μM, p = 0.044). For this polymorphism a structure homology-based method (PolyPhen) revealed a possibly damaging effect on NQO1 protein activity. Furthermore, CoQ10 plasma levels were significantly increased in apoE4/E4 genotype after supplementation in comparison to apoE2/E3 genotype (5.93 ± 0.151 μM versus 4.38 ± 0.792 μM, p = 0.034). Likewise heterozygous CoQ3G272S carriers had higher CoQ10 plasma levels at T14 compared to G/G carriers but this difference did not reach significance (5.30 ± 0.96 μM versus 4.42 ± 1.67 μM, p = 0.082).ConclusionsIn conclusion, our pilot study provides evidence that NQO1P187S and apoE polymorphisms influence CoQ10 status in humans.

Regulation of Microtubule Dynamics through Phosphorylation on Stathmin by Epstein-Barr Virus Kinase BGLF4

Stathmin is an important microtubule (MT)-destabilizing protein, and its activity is differently attenuated by phosphorylation at one or more of its four phosphorylatable serine residues (Ser-16, Ser-25, Ser-38, and Ser-63). This phosphorylation of stathmin plays important roles in mitotic spindle formation. We observed increasing levels of phosphorylated stathmin in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-harboring lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines during the EBV lytic cycle. These suggest that EBV lytic products may be involved in the regulation of stathmin phosphorylation. BGLF4 is an EBV-encoded kinase and has similar kinase activity to cdc2, an important kinase that phosphorylates serine residues 25 and 38 of stathmin during mitosis. Using an siRNA approach, we demonstrated that BGLF4 contributes to the phosphorylation of stathmin in EBV-harboring NPC. Moreover, we confirmed that BGLF4 interacts with and phosphorylates stathmin using an in vitro kinase assay and an in vivo two-dimensional electrophoresis assay. Interestingly, unlike cdc2, BGLF4 was shown to phosphorylate non-proline directed serine residues of stathmin (Ser-16) and it mediated phosphorylation of stathmin predominantly at serines 16, 25, and 38, indicating that BGLF4 can down-regulate the activity of stathmin. Finally, we demonstrated that the pattern of MT organization was changed in BGLF4-expressing cells, possibly through phosphorylation of stathmin. In conclusion, we have shown that a viral Ser/Thr kinase can directly modulate the activity of stathmin and this contributes to alteration of cellular MT dynamics and then may modulate the associated cellular processes.

Fluoride removal with extra low energy reverse osmosis membranes: three years of large scale field experience in Finland

Infiltration of surface water into the ground and a retention time of 50 days is a natural method to remove color, iron and manganese — which are typical for Nordic lake waters — and to produce a good quality drinking water. However, due to the geological situation in the Southern parts of Finland, the fluoride concentration increases after the soil passage from a typical value of 0.7 mg/L to values up to 1.8 mg/L. According to the drinking water directives of the European Union, the fluoride concentration shall be limited to 1.5 mg/L. In order to meet this standard, KLV, a public company which provides water to a number of municipalities, is operating a 6000 m 3/d reverse osmosis plant since September 2003. The RO permeate water with a fluoride concentration of <0.03 mg/L is blended with the artificial ground water to ensure a fluoride level below 1.3 mg/L in the drinking water. By treating only 30% of the water, the treatment goal could be achieved with the lowest capital costs. FILMTEC™ XLE reverse osmosis membranes are used to minimize the energy consumption and thus the operating costs. The system operated at a pressure of 6–11 bar at a temperature of 5–11°C, which was until recently possible with nanofiltration membranes only. The RO system operated at 80% recovery without addition of any scaling inhibitor. The concentrate was four times oversaturated with calcium fluoride. Regular flushing was employed to prevent the deposition of precipitates. Sacrificial elements were operated on the concentrate to detect the onset of scaling early enough to initiate cleaning. A first preventive cleaning was carried out after half a year. Substantial fouling with natural organic matter occurred after one and a half year. This could be controlled with harsh alkaline cleanings at pH > 12 at a temperature of >35°C. After more than three years of operation, the salt and fluoride rejection of the membrane was as high as in the beginning.

A Fast Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Method for Sensitive and Specific Detection of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae porA Pseudogene

Ever since the advent of molecular methods, the diagnostics of Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been troubled by false negative and false positive results compared with culture. Commensal Neisseria species and Neisseria meningitidis are closely related to N. gonorrhoeae and may cross-react when using molecular tests comprising too-low specificity. We have devised a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), including an internal amplification control, that targets the N. gonorrhoeae porA pseudogene. DNA was automatically isolated on a BioRobot M48. Our subsequent PCR method amplified all of the different N. gonorrhoeae international reference strains (n = 34) and N. gonorrhoeae clinical isolates (n = 176) but not isolates of the 13 different nongonococcal Neisseria species (n = 68) that we tested. Furthermore, a panel of gram-negative bacterial (n = 18), gram-positive bacterial (n = 23), fungal (n = 1), and viral (n = 4) as well as human DNA did not amplify. The limit of detection was determined to be less than 7.5 genome equivalents/PCR reaction. In conclusion, the N. gonorrhoeae porA pseudogene real-time PCR developed in the present study is highly sensitive, specific, robust, rapid and reproducible, making it suitable for diagnosis of N. gonorrhoeae infection.

Cell Migration and Signaling Specificity Is Determined by the Phosphatidylserine Recognition Motif of Rac1

The Rho guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) control cell shape and motility and are frequently overexpressed during malignant growth. These proteins act as molecular switches cycling between active GTP- and inactive GDP-bound forms. Despite being membrane anchored via their isoprenylated C termini, Rho GTPases rapidly translocate between membrane and cytosolic compartments. Here, we show that the Rho GTPase Rac1 preferentially interacts with phosphatidylserine (PS)-containing bilayers through its polybasic motif (PBM). Rac1 isoprenylation contributes to membrane avidity but is not critical for PS recognition. The similar protein Cdc42 (cell division cycle 42), however, only associates with PS when prenylated. Conversely, other Rho GTPases such as Rac2, Rac3, and RhoA do not bind to PS even when they are prenylated. Cell stimulation with PS induces translocation of Rac1 toward the plasma membrane and stimulates GTP loading, membrane ruffling, and filopodia formation. This stimulation also promotes Cdc42 activation and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase through Rac1/PS signaling. Consequently, the PBM specifically directs Rac1 to effect cytoskeletal rearrangement and cell migration by selective membrane phospholipid targeting.

Use of cation-exchange membranes for simultaneous recovery of lead and EDTA during electrokinetic extraction

Electrokinetic extraction was tested to remove lead from an Algerian contaminated soil ([Pb] = 4432 ± 275 μg·g −1) located near a battery plant. The enhancement of pollutant removal was achieved by introducing a chelating reagent (disodium salt of ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA 0.1 M) in the catholyte. In order to avoid ligand loss, the cell was also modified by adding extra compartments and inserting cation-exchange membranes. Results of contaminant distribution across the soil column showed efficient transport of lead toward the anode, despite a large amount of calcite (25%) and a high acid/base buffer capacity of the sample. Simultaneous recovery of EDTA and lead from their chelated solutions was made possible using the same set-up and by monitoring pH in the circulating fluids.

A Novel Polymorphic Cytochrome P450 Formed by Splicing of CYP3A7 and the Pseudogene CYP3AP1

The cytochrome P450 3A7 (CYP3A7) is the most abundant CYP in human liver during fetal development and first months of postnatal age, playing an important role in the metabolism of endogenous hormones, drugs, differentiation factors, and potentially toxic and teratogenic substrates. Here we describe and characterize a novel enzyme, CYP3A7.1L, encompassing the CYP3A7.1 protein with the last four carboxyl-terminal amino acids replaced by a unique sequence of 36 amino acids, generated by splicing of CYP3A7 with CYP3AP1 RNA. The corresponding CYP3A7-3AP1 mRNA had a significant expression in liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract, and its presence was found to be tissue-specific and dependent on the developmental stage. Heterologous expression in yeast revealed that CYP3A7.1L was a functional enzyme with a specific activity similar to that of CYP3A7.1 and, in some conditions, a different hydroxylation specificity than CYP3A7.1 using dehydroepiandrosterone as a substrate. CYP3A7.1L was found to be polymorphic due to a mutation at position -6 of the first splicing site of CYP3AP1 (CYP3A7_39256T-->A), which abrogates the pseudogene splicing. This polymorphism had pronounced interethnic differences and was in linkage disequilibrium with other functional polymorphisms described in the CYP3A locus: CYP3A7*2 and CYP3A5*1. Therefore, the resulting CYP3A haplotypes express different sets of enzymes within the population. In conclusion, a novel mechanism, consisting of the splicing of the pseudogene CYP3AP1 to CYP3A7, causes the formation of the novel CYP3A7.1L having a different tissue distribution and functional properties than the parent CYP3A7 enzyme, with possible developmental, physiological, and toxicological consequences.

Removal of Pb from a calcareous soil during EDTA-enhanced electrokinetic extraction

Electrokinetic extraction has been tested to remove lead from an Algerian contaminated soil ([Pb]=4.432±0.275 mg g −1) sited near a battery plant. The effect of EDTA at various concentrations (0.05–0.20 M) on the enhancement of lead transport has been studied by applying a constant voltage corresponding to a nominal electric field strength of 1 V cm −1 (duration: 240 h). Results of contaminant distribution across the experimental cell have shown efficient transport of lead toward the anode despite the presence of calcite (25%) and the high acid/base buffer capacity of the soil. To avoid ligand loss, which would be anodically oxidized, the cell was modified by adding extra compartments and inserting cation exchange membranes (Neosepta CMX). Thus, simultaneous recovery of EDTA and lead from their chelated solutions has been made possible using the same set-up and by controlling fluids chemistry.

Substitution rate calibration of small subunit ribosomal RNA identifies chlorarachniophyte endosymbionts as remnants of green algae.

Chlorarachniophytes are amoeboid algae with chlorophyll a and b containing plastids that are surrounded by four membranes instead of two as in plants and green algae. These extra membranes form important support for the hypothesis that chlorarachniophytes have acquired their plastids by the ingestion of another eukaryotic plastid-containing alga. Chlorarachniophytes also contain a small nucleus-like structure called the nucleomorph situated between the two inner and the two outer membranes surrounding the plastid. This nucleomorph is a remnant of the endosymbiont's nucleus and encodes, among other molecules, small subunit ribosomal RNA. Previous phylogenetic analyses on the basis of this molecule provided unexpected and contradictory evidence for the origin of the chlorarachniophyte endosymbiont. We developed a new method for measuring the substitution rates of the individual nucleotides of small subunit ribosomal RNA. From the resulting substitution rate distribution, we derived an equation that gives a more realistic relationship between sequence dissimilarity and evolutionary distance than equations previously available. Phylogenetic trees constructed on the basis of evolutionary distances computed by this new method clearly situate the chlorarachniophyte nucleomorphs among the green algae. Moreover, this relationship is confirmed by transversion analysis of the Chlorarachnion plastid small subunit ribosomal RNA.

Surgical treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) occurs in a variety of ocular conditions and often results in severe central vision loss. Laser photocoagulation has been the accepted treatment for well-defined extra and juxtafoveal choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVM), but provides minimal benefits in the treatment of subfoveal CNVMs. Recently, surgical membrane extraction has been considered as a possible alternative treatment for subfoveal CNVMs. Results of this treatment have been mixed, with significantly better visual recovery in eyes with presumed ocular histoplasmosis than in eyes with age-related macular degeneration. This paper discusses the surgical procedures, visual outcomes, prognostic factors for visual improvement and ocular complications of subfoveal CNVM excision.

Chimeric conundra: are nucleomorphs and chromists monophyletic or polyphyletic?

All algae with chloroplasts located not freely in the cytosol, but inside two extra membranes, probably arose chimerically by the permanent fusion of two different eukaryote cells: a protozoan host and a eukaryotic algal symbiont. Two such groups, cryptomonads (phylum Cryptista) and Chlorarachniophyta, still retain a DNA-containing relic of the nucleus of the algal endosymbiont, known as the nucleomorph, as well as the host nucleus. These two phyla were traditionally assumed to have obtained their chloroplasts separately by two independent symbioses. We have sequenced the nuclear and the nucleomorph 18S rRNA genes of the nonphotosynthetic cryptomonad Chilomonas paramecium. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that cryptomonad and chlorarachniophyte nucleomorphs may be related to each other and raises the possibility that both phyla may have diverged from a common ancestral chimeric cell that originated by a single endosymbiosis involving an algal endosymbiont related to the ancestor of red algae. But, because of the instability of the molecular trees when different taxa are added, there is insufficient evidence to overturn the traditional view that Chlorarachnion nucleomorphs evolved separately from a relative of green algae. The four phyla that contain chromophyte algae (those with chlorophyll c--i.e., Cryptista, Heterokonta, Haptophyta, Dinozoa) are distantly related to each other and to Chlorarachniophyta on our trees. However, all of the photosynthetic taxa within each of these four phyla radiate from each other very substantially after the radiation of the four phyla themselves. This favors the view that the common ancestor of these four phyla was not photosynthetic and that chloroplasts were implanted separately into each much more recently. This probable polyphyly of the chromophyte algae, if confirmed, would make it desirable to treat Cryptista, Heterokonta, and Haptophyta as separate kingdoms, rather than to group them together in the single kingdom Chromista.

Evidence that an amoeba acquired a chloroplast by retaining part of an engulfed eukaryotic alga.

Chlorarachniophytes are amoeboid algae with unusual chloroplasts. Instead of the usual two membranes that surround the chloroplasts of plants, green algae, and red algae, the chloroplasts of chlorarachniophytes have four bounding membranes. The extra membranes may reflect an unusual origin of chlorarachniophyte chloroplasts. Rather than inheriting the organelle directly from their ancestors, chlorarachniophytes may have adopted the chloroplast of an algal cell ingested as prey. Parts of the algal cell are postulated to remain within the amoeba as a reduced eukaryotic endosymbiont [Hibberd, D. J. & Norris, R. E. (1984) J. Phycol. 20, 310-330]. A small nucleus-like structure, proposed to be a vestige of the endosymbiont's nucleus, is located in a space between the second and third chloroplast membranes. We cloned and sequenced nuclear-type rRNA genes from chlorarachniophytes and found two highly divergent genes. In situ hybridization shows that one gene is expressed by the amoebal (host) nucleus and the other is expressed by the putative endosymbiont nucleus, suggesting that the latter is indeed a foreign genome. Transcripts from the endosymbiont gene accumulate in the small cytoplasmic compartment between the second and third chloroplast membranes, which we believe to be the remnant cytoplasm of the endosymbiont. Using the endosymbiont gene as a probe, we identified three small chromosomes belonging to the endosymbiont nucleus. This knowledge should allow a detailed molecular analysis of the role of the endosymbiont's genome and cytoplasm in the partnership.

The ultrastructure of the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus of the genetically epilepsy-prone rat

The inferior colliculus of the genetically epilepsy-prone rat (GEPR) was examined at the ultrastructural level to determine if any abnormalities exist in the inferior colliculus of the GEPR as compared to the non-epileptic Sprague-Dawley rat. Both routine electron microscopic preparations and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and GABA immunocytochemical preparations were examined in the GEPR and compared to previous studies from this laboratory that described the normal ultrastructure of the Sprague-Dawley rat. Cell counts from 2μm semi-thin sections confirmed our previous observations that showed a large, significant increase in the number of neurons in the inferior colliculus of the GEPR as compared to the Sprague-Dawley rat. Many of the small neurons in the inferior colliculus of the GEPR were found to be smaller than those in the inferior colliculus of the Sprague-Dawley rat. Moreover, the small neurons in the GEPR were frequently clumped in clusters of 3–5. Several ultrastructural abnormalities present in the inferior colliculus of the GEPR have been observed at epileptic foci or in brain regions along the pathway of seizure spread in other experimental models of epilepsy. These changes included the presence of dendrites which are almost completely devoid of organelles, hypertrophy of glial processes, and terminals that contain either swollen vesicles or very few vesicles. Other features that were frequently observed in the GEPR but were rarely found in preparations of Sprague-Dawley rats included an abundance of extra membranes, whorl bodies and multivesicular bodies within somata, dendrites and axons. Symmetric and asymmetric axosomatic synapses were counted in the inferior colliculus of both the GEPR and Sprague-Dawley rats, and the results indicated that the number of these synapses for each of the various cell types was not significantly different between the Sprague-Dawley rat and the GEPR. Many of the abnormally small neurons in the GEPR were shown to be GABAergic in the immunocytochemical preparations. Apart from this aspect, the morphology of the GABAergic neurons and axon terminals in the inferior colliculus of the GEPR appeared similar to those in the inferior colliculus of the Sprague-Dawley rat.

Tumour-associated antigens reacting with cytotoxic antibodies in serum of hepatoma-bearing rats.

3M-KCl extracts of the hepatoma D23 contain antigens that inhibit the complement-dependent cytotoxicity for D23 hepatoma cells of serum from D23 tumour-bearing rats (D23 TBS). Inhibition was not due to a general anticomplementary activity of the extracts. Although a minor part (25%) of the protein of D23-KCl extract was insoluble in PBS, this part contained most of the inhibitory activity. Fractionation of the PBS-soluble material of the extract on Concanavalin A-Sepharose showed that the inhibitory activity did not bind to the lectin. Analysis of D23-KCl extracts on a Sepharose CL-4B column showed that the antigens involved in the cytotoxicity were heterogeneously distributed in the high-mol. wt region (greater than 200,000). Precipitation with 10% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) of D23 KCl extracts revealed that most of the antigenicity was insoluble in TCA. Heating of D23 KCl extracts at 100 degrees C did not affect the antigenicity. Enzyme treatment of D23 extra nuclear membranes (D23 ENP) revealed that the inhibitory activity was not sensitive to proteolytic digestion, while treatment with phospholipase A2, C or D abrogated partly the inhibitory activity. The lipid nature of the antigenicity was indicated by its solubility in organic solvents as chloroform or n-butanol.