Osmotic Tension Research Articles

Radioactive isotope and other investigations in a case of haemorrhagic cyst of the mandible

In summary I feel it can be said that the experiments confirm the following: That this is a Solitary Bone Cyst causing clinical expansion of the mandible. No epithelial lining is present, but some small vessels and a little loose connective tissue lines the bony walls. The hydrostatic intra-cystic pressure was exceptionally low, and comparable with capillary pressure, and quite unlike other cysts of the jaws. The osmotic tension of the cyst fluid was greater than that of the patient's blood, and this must constitute a small but definite expansile pressure. The measured osmotic pressure difference was lower than capillary pressure, and so this would allow the presence of capillaries inside the cyst wall, without collapsing them. The wall of this cyst acted in vivo as a semipermeable membrane, in spite of the absence of epithelial lining. The radioactive substance was not cleared rapidly into the lymphatics or blood system, and compared with other experiments, this indicated that the cavity formed no part of the patient's general circulation. There was no lymphatic access to the cyst cavity. Finally, it can be said that while certain points suggest strongly that this cyst was increasing in size by reason of an overall osmotic imbalance, the findings do not militate against the possible origin in an unresolved medullary haemorrhage, which, in a confined intra-bony space, could conceivably cause pressure effects which could isolate an area from normal lymphatic access and so a self-perpetuating area of osmotic imbalance could be set up. It certainly seems that our own artificially produced haemorrhage, with some subsequent haemolysis, into a prepared cyst fluid caused, at least temporarily, a steep rise in cyst pressure. Pressure-atrophy of the thin cyst wall would continue to supply substances to the cyst fluid which would tend to maintain a slightly hypertonic state, and in the absence of an epithelial lining the erosion of capillaries with intermittent small haemorrhages might periodically cause variations in osmotic tensions, and this may possibly be shown by the laminated appearance of the bony wall in this case and by bony appearances reported by other writers suggesting very slow and intermittent expansion. The term ‘haemorrhagic’ cyst of the mandible might well be accepted. The possible dose of radiation to the body in these investigations, both in regard to local and general doses, were carefully worked out by the Isotope Panel of the Medical Research Council, and the procedures were authorised as being well within the safety limits under the conditions which might be encountered.

PREPARATION OF SPHEROPLASTS FROM VIBRIO COMMA.

Chatterjee, B. R. (Baylor University College of Medicine, Houston, Texas), and Robert P. Williams. Preparation of spheroplasts from Vibrio comma. J. Bacteriol. 85:838-841. 1963.-Spheroplasts were prepared from several strains of Vibrio comma by lysozyme treatment combined with freezing and thawing of the organisms. The optimal concentration of lysozyme was 50 mug/ml, although some spheroplasts formed at a concentration of 10 mug/ml. Higher concentrations (200 mug/ml) caused lysis of cells along with spheroplast formation. Treatment was carried out in broth cultures containing 15% sucrose, and if the osmotic tension was lowered the spheroplasts lysed. Some motile, spherical cells were present in every preparation. Addition of 3% glycine to broth cultures resulted in rapid transformation of the vibrios into large, spherical bodies. However, these were actively motile, and were not sensitive to a lower osmotic tension. Therefore, they could not be considered as spheroplasts.

Properties of Dermatophilus dermatonomus zoospores in relation to the transmission of mycotic dermatitis

Zoospores from cultures of Dermatophilus dermatonomus were examined with respect to properties considered relevant to their role as the infective agent of ovine mycotic dermatitis. An account is given of nutritional and gaseous requirements for motility, and of several factors which inhibit motility, including salts at relatively low concentrations, pH values outside the range from 6 to 8, osmotic tensions above 0.4 osmole, and the presence of other aerobic organisms. Froin these and other observations it is concluded that the zoospore is ill equipped for prolonged survival in the external environment. The viability of the zoospores is greatest in the first hours after their release from the mycelium. This quality is associated with a highly impermeable cell membrane, a complete independence of external nutrient sources, and a tendency to germinate rapidly even under conditions relatively unfavourable for growth. The zoospores exhibit a negative aerotaxis which seems likely to facilitate their attainment of the skin surface prior to invasion. It is suggested that the probability of a susceptible skin area becoming infected would be high when the sheep in an infected flock were wetted by rain, and even greater if some vector or mechanism were available to expedite the transfer of zoospores from sheep to sheep. The incidence of infection would then depend on the number and extent of the susceptible skin areas on individual sheep.

Selectivity of the Seed Coat of Alfalfa during Germination under Osmotic Tension1

Crop ScienceVolume 1, Issue 6 cropsci1961.0011183X000100060025x p. 461-462 Brief Articles Selectivity of the Seed Coat of Alfalfa during Germination under Osmotic Tension1 M. D. Rumbaugh, M. D. Rumbaugh Assistant Agronomist. South Dakota State College, Brookings.Search for more papers by this author M. D. Rumbaugh, M. D. Rumbaugh Assistant Agronomist. South Dakota State College, Brookings.Search for more papers by this author First published: 01 November 1961 https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1961.0011183X000100060025x 1 Approved for publication by the Director of the South Dakota Agr. Exp. Sta. as Journal Series No. 508. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume1, Issue6November–December 1961Pages 461-462 RelatedInformation

The Electron Microscopy of the Response of Follicular Epithelium Cells of Rat Thyroid to Autolysis, Ligation, and Irradiation by Iodine-131

Electron and light microscopy were used to study intracellular changes in follicular epithelium cells of rat thyroid after autolysis, in which a lobe was left in a dead animal for a specified time; ligation, in which the inferior thyroid artery supplying the left lobe was tied off and the isthnaus severed; and irradiation with intraperitoneally injected radioiodine. Visible responses of follicular cells to autolysis, ligation, and treatment with I/sup 131/ were essentially the same and consisted in alteration of endoplasmic reticulum to spherical vesicles; swelling of mitochondria and their apparent subsequent degradation to lipidlike granules; and the presence of membranelike structures in cell cytoplasm and the follicular lumen. Endoplasmic reticulum of I/sup 131/ treated cells responded before other cytoplasmic components showed any change, however. Autolyzed nuclei were optically lighter after staining than normal nuclei and less electron-dense than nuclei of follicular cells of normal, irradiated, and ligated thyroids. Estimated dosage, time, and effect relationships are given for I/sup 131/ experiments. Treatment with radioiodine resulted in rounding of endoplasmic reticulum in some cells at 24 hours. Two days after such treatment profound intracellular changes were evident. It is suggested that rounding of endoplasmic reticulum and swelling of mitochondria might be attributedmore » to osmotic and surface tension changes within the cytoplasmic environments of these organelles. Mechanisms for the reduction of the endoplasmic reticulum to small spherical vesicles are postulated. It is also suggested that bizarre membranelike structures appearing in a severely injured cells and in the colloid lumen might be the result of flxation and sectioning through unusual liquid interfaces; these interfaces are considered to arise from changes in colloidal systems after destruction of organelles and the presence of debris. (auth)« less

Electrolyte Composition and Freezing Point Depression of Turkey Seminal Fluid

ARTIFICIAL insemination of turkeys has become an accepted practice. However, there are still many problems which must be answered before this practice can be as successful as that attained by the dairy industry.No reports have been found concerning the electrolyte composition and osmotic tension of turkey seminal fluid. Since such information is fundamental for the formulation of a satisfactory diluent, the study reported is an attempt to supply this information.MATERIALS AND METHODSTen males of each of three varieties of turkey (Bronze, Large Whites, and Small Whites) were selected for source of semen. All males were ejaculated at one month intervals from January through April. Immediately after collection of a pooled sample the sperm were centrifuged down and the seminal fluid decanted. Dilutions for sodium and potassium analysis were made immediately. The remaining seminal fluid was frozen and held until freezing point determinations could be made.Each pooled …

A Perfusion Apparatus for Maintenance and Observation of Schistosomes In vitro

A rising interest in techniques for maintenance in vitro of many species of endoparasites has produced reports of successful cultivation of certain intestinal nematodes (Weinstein, 1953, 1956), partial development of liver trematodes (Yokagawa et al, 1955) and of human blood flukes (Senft and Weller, 1956). In the field of schistosome research, a number of attempts at prolonged maintenance in a specially constructed apparatus have been reported (Newsome and Robinson, 1954). It appeared that development of techniques whereby adult helminths could be watched and photographed under conditions closely simulating the natural host environment would be helpful. In the case of the schistosomes, exact definition of nutritional requirements for growth and reproduction has yet to be realized, even though the worms can be induced to grow, develop, and mate in various salt-serum media. In addition, little has yet been done to assess the significance of the physical aspects of a blood stream environment. Among these would be the effect of dissolved gases, pressure, temperature, flow of fluid, and osmotic tensions on these blood parasites. We have addressed ourselves to some of these problems by designing a perfusion apparatus, in which the flukes may be observed under conditions approximating those found in the portal system. In order to provide the basic environment of such a portal system, the worms were confined in shallow plastic channels, through which sterile, warm medium was forced. Experiments to date have shown no improvement in survival times, when contrasted to the test-tube techniques reported previously. Schistosomna mansoni has been kept alive and active for 6 to 7 days in a pulsating, flowing system, and for 16 days in a static system, through which fresh fluid was flushed every day. It is anticipated that with additional experience with the apparatus, and with improved media, periods of survival will be extended considerably. Preliminary findings indicate that schistosomes which are maintained in the perfusion apparatus require maintenance fluids of much higher serum proportions that those kept in test tubes in an incubator. Data concerning this and other physiological observations will be presented in a subsequent communication.

Effects of Anisotonicity in the Cisterna Magna and Fourth Ventricle of Cats

Following the observation that distilled water, when introduced into the cisterna magna of a cat, produced marked disturbances of autonomic function, a series of experiments was carried out to determine the effect of altering the tonicity of the cerebral spinal fluid. Observations were made on 20 cats under general anesthesia. Precautions were taken to eliminate undesirable effects from raised intracranial pressure. An increase in osmotic tension was found consistently to stimulate respiration and cause marked changes in the electrocardiogram. Reduction of the osmotic tension depressed respiratory function and could cause death. Evidence obtained from a) recording electrical activity in different parts of the brain, b) applying distilled water and hypertonic sodium chloride directly to various parts of the central nervous system, and c) interruption of neural pathways, suggests that an area of special sensitivity to alterations of tonicity in the cerebral spinal fluid exists, and that it is located in the floor of the fourth ventricle.

Osmotic Tonicity of the Cells of the Gastric Mucous Membrane

Summary 1.Osmotic tension of the cells of the gastric mucous membrane of rats and guinea pigs has been determined by the technique described by Opie. The tension has been found to be higher than that of the extracellular fluid. 2.The implication of this finding has been discussed.

The Use of Human Plasma in Spinal Anesthesia

During the relatively short history of spinal anesthesia, attention has been focused on two problems in designing technic for placing drugs into the subarachnoid space. The first of these has been to produce the desired extent of anesthesia in a manner predictable and with minimal dangers; the second, to secure the required duration of anesthesia with doses of the agent that provide a wide margin of safety. The latter problem has been approached in several ways. Recently, nupercaine and pontocaine, drugs more toxic but more potent than procaine, have been given in relatively smaller amounts and act for longer periods of time. Retarding the absorption of anesthetic drugs has been attempted by dissolving them in various foreign substances of higher osmotic tension than spinal fluid. Finally, prolonged spinal anesthesia is being accomplished by the repeated administration of relatively small doses of the drug. The problem of obtaining predictable levels of

THE USE OF HUMAN PLASMA IN SPINAL ANESTHESIA

During the relatively short history of spinal anesthesia, attention has been focused on two problems in designing technic for placing drugs into the subarachnoid space. The first of these has been to produce the desired extent of anesthesia in a manner predictable and with minimal dangers; the second, to secure the required duration of anesthesia with doses of the agent that provide a wide margin of safety. The latter problem has been approached in several ways. Recently, nupercaine and pontocaine, drugs more toxic but more potent than procaine, have been given in relatively smaller amounts and act for longer periods of time. Retarding the absorption of anesthetic drugs has been attempted by dissolving them in various foreign substances of higher osmotic tension than spinal fluid. Finally, prolonged spinal anesthesia is being accomplished by the repeated administration of relatively small doses of the drug. The problem of obtaining predictable levels of

CAUSE OF DEATH RESULTING FROM MASSIVE INFUSIONS OF ISOTONIC SOLUTIONS

The therapeutic status of intravenous has undergone an important revision in the last few years. Just as the discovery of blood groups and their interrelations early in the present century made possible the extensive use of blood transfusions, so, more recently, has the discovery of the so-called pyrogenic factor in the causation of infusion reactions and of methods for its elimination made feasible the extensive use of intravenous infusions. Prior to about ten years ago it was commonly held by well informed practicing physicians that intravenous injections were essentially dangerous because they always involved the risk of disrupting such compensatory mechanisms as those which maintain the acid-base balance, the osmotic tension and the viscosity of the blood. These mechanisms were conceived to be delicately balanced and easily upset. Accordingly, solutions for intravenous use were carefully compounded from triple-distilled water and if they were to be given in any considerable

The effect of osmotic changes in the small intestine upon gastric emptying in man

For the same reasons that we concluded the pyloric action was motivated locally through duodenal stimulation by chemical action, we conclude that this same mechanism is influenced by physical stimuli as represented by changes in osmotic pressure away from isotonicity. Gastric emptying time alone cannot be used as an index of pyloric function when considering osmotic tension of agents given by mouth because of the migration of fluid which takes place through the stomach wall when the test meals are not isotonic.

"FORCED DRAINAGE OF THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID"

To the Editor: —InThe Journal, July 29, an article by Drs. Kubie and Retan describes with meticulous detail the newest procedure for dealing with infections of the central nervous system. This in principle and effect is lavage of the perivascular and perineuronal spaces of the cerebrospinal parenchyma, which is induced by the introduction of large amounts of hypotonic salt solution into the circulation, and, as the result of differences in osmotic tension thus created, a large amount of this fluid ultimately finds its way into the ventriculosubarachnoid spaces of the brain and cord. It is then drained off through a lumbar interspace, with a lumbar puncture needle. The conception and execution of the therapeutic procedures is, as far as I am aware, original with the authors, and they deserve commendation for this notable contribution to the therapy of infections of the central nervous system. I have had the opportunity

TREATMENT OF EDEMA

To the Editor: —My interest in the metabolism of calcium has stimulated the following comment on an excellent article by O'Donnell and Levin (The Treatment of Edema: Effect of Calcium Gluconate on Edema in Children,The Journal, March 14, p. 837), in which the authors call attention to the favorable results obtained in the treatment of nephrosis edema by injections of calcium gluconate. Edema is largely a problem in osmosis, and the osmotic tension of the plasma in a large measure is dependent on the mineral base balance, in turn largely influenced by the sodium (144): calcium (2.5) ratio. The figures represent millimols per liter in normal plasma, and the principles involved have been clearly laid down by Jacques Loeb (Calcium in Permeability and Irritability, J. Biol. Chem. 23 :423, 1915). The sodium: calcium ratio may be said to have a one-sided reciprocal relationship in that, if the plasma calcium

The Therapeutic Use of Potassium in Certain Cardiac Arrhythmias.

The investigation of the action of potassium salts on the heart dates from the time of Ringer,1 whose classical experiments on the frog heart are well known. Irrespective of osmotic tension, the necessity of sodium, potassium and calcium ions in a balanced solution was proved. Hering2 stopped paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation in the dog, and many investigators including Rothberger and Winterberg,3 Anrep,4 and Wiggers5 have similarly obtained immediate cessation of both auricular and ventricular ectopic rhythms by intravenous or intracardiac injections of solutions of potassium chloride. Wiggers5 suggested the possibility of its therapeutic use in ventricular fibrillation of accidental electrocution. It thus seemed reasonable to attempt to disturb the calcium-potassium ratio in favor of potassium for certain other therapeutic reasons. Scherf6 and others have demonstrated a reversal of the customary actions of potassium and calcium when used intravenously on ventricular ectopic...

LEAD STUDIES

The physiological changes following the reaction of lead upon red blood cells are numerous and show the marked effects of a change in the cell surface. In experiments here reported 0.01 to 0.05 mg. of lead acting upon 5 billion red cells caused such marked variations from normal as: 1. Partial loss of the normal stickiness of red corpuscles, which is demonstrated by their falling from a clean glass surface. 2. Loss of the agglutination reaction which normally follows mixture with serum of a different isoagglutinating group. 3. Decrease in volume even in isotonic solutions. 4. Loss of normal elasticity and, therefore, reduced changes in volume upon exposure to marked variations in osmotic tension. 5. Increase in resistance to large changes in external osmotic pressure because of this inelasticity, and therefore decreased hemolysis in hypotonic salt solution (Part 1). 6. Increase in the speed of disintegration in spite of this increased resistance to external osmotic pressure. "Leaded" cells break up more readily upon standing than do normal cells, and are easily fractured by rotation or shaking (Part 1). All these phenomena seem to be associated largely with surface changes in the corpuscles. Evidence is cited that there is no chemical reaction between lead and hemoglobin. The gas exchange is identical in normal and "leaded" cells. The function of the interior of the red cells, therefore, appears to be unaffected by lead. The effects of lead upon red blood cells are thus manifested by shrinkage, inability to expand, increased brittleness, and loss of the normal consistency which makes their surface sticky. After exposure to lead, red blood corpuscles are more like hard inelastic brittle rubber balls, than like the soft, elastic, resilient cells characteristic of normal blood.

SURFACE TENSION OF SERUM

1. The equilibrium of the serum corresponding to its normal minimal surface tension is as stable and difficult to break, under ordinary conditions, as the osmotic tension equilibrium. The addition of a strong surface-active substance (sodium oleate, glycocholate, or taurocholate), will not lower it definitely, unless the substance is present in large amounts and in solution. After the first rapid drop has occurred, a process of recovery takes place, which brings back the normal surface tension in a short time (from 2 to 6 minutes in the case of pure serum). As a drop in the surface tension of the serum of animals may be very injurious to the red cells, this process of recovery is a normal one of defense in all cases in which surface-active substances (bile) are set free in the blood. 2. When diluted, the serum shows the same phenomenon to a smaller extent; the time of recovery is very much longer and the final surface tension is always lower than the original value. At a dilution of 1/10,000, no recovery takes place, the dilution being too high to overcome the lowering action of 1/10,000 of sodium oleate. 3. The recovery is stronger when the surface-active substance is added powdered or in a highly concentrated solution, and not stirred. 4. The recovery does not seem to be inversely proportional to the concentration of sodium oleate, when added superficially. Doubling the concentration at 1/2,000, for example, gives the same curve of recovery. This happens under certain conditions; namely, when the liquid is not stirred after the addition of sodium oleate. 5. This recovery is due to a purely physical phenomenon, namely adsorption, and is not specific for the serum. Other colloidal solutions, such as gum arabic, egg albumin, gelatin, and silver and gold sols, show it, only to a smaller degree. The process of recovery follows a logarithmic law in all cases, expressed by an equation of the form See PDF for Equation 6. Temperature affects this phenomenon. At first it enhances it, but finally decreases it. This would seem to connect the loss of the property of the serum known as complement in a serum with a modification of the physical properties of this serum. This phenomenon is being investigated further.

The Effect of Distilled Water upon the Fiddler Crab

1. The fiddler crabs of the genus Uca are able to endure abrupt and profound changes in the osmotic density of the water which they enter, passing from sea water into ordinary fresh water with impunity.2. They are able to spend long periods out of the water by the aid of a mechanism by means of which they store up a quantity of water above the gills and aerate it directly by contact with the air.3. Their gill membranes are only relatively not absolutely impermeable. In the presence of pure distilled water they both lose salts (as indicated by the titratable chlorine) and also gain weight through the absorption of water.4. They will live a much longer time in small quantities of distilled water than in larger quantities. This is probably due to the fact that the salts diffused out from the tissues although small in amount are sufficient, in a small quantity of water, to raise the osmotic tension of the latter sufficiently to inhibit its solvent action on the gill membranes and thus to retard the further ...

ON THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL REGULATION OF THE GROWTH OF TISSUES

It may be concluded that the degree of dilution of the culture medium has a marked influence on the rate of growth of splenic tissue. The maximum acceleration was obtained in a medium composed of three volumes of normal plasma and two volumes of distilled water. The growth in this hypotonic plasma was very much larger than in normal plasma. On the contrary, the growth of the spleen in hypertonic plasma was always less than in normal plasma. In other experiments, we found that in diluted plasma there was also an acceleration of the growth of the skin, the heart, and the liver of chickens. The skin of adult frogs also grew more actively in this plasma. The optimum degree of dilution varied according to the nature of the tissues and to the species of the animals. While the plasma containing two fifths distilled water produced the largest growth of splenic tissue, a slightly less diluted medium was more favorable for the liver and the heart, and generally for the skin also. The action of hypertonic plasma varied also in a large measure. While the spleen did not grow at all in the medium containing 0.0124 and 0.0144 sodium chlorid, the skin, on the other hand, could stand a high concentration of the sodium chlorid. Even its growth was activated in media containing 0.0094 and 0.0124 sodium chlorid and was greater than with normal plasma. The spleen of kittens was very easily affected by the changes of the dilution of the plasma, while the skin of the frog presented its best growth in plasma containing one half distilled water. Marked variations in the sensitiveness of tissues to hypertonic and hypotonic media will probably be observed in animals of different species. From these experiments, three conclusions can be drawn: namely, that certain laws of growth, discovered by Loeb, in lower organisms are true also for higher organisms; that normal plasma is not the optimum medium for the growth of tissue; and that each tissue has probably its optimum medium. The growth of the spleen is, without doubt, considerably modified by the variations of the dilution and perhaps of the osmotic tension of the plasma. It is possible then that the influence of osmotic tension, discovered by Loeb, in the growth of certain organisms, is a general law applicable as well to higher forms of life- frogs, cats, and chickens-as to lower organisms-tubularia and sea-urchins. In placing tubularia in different dilutions of sea-water and distilled water, Loeb found that the greatest rate of regeneration was observed when two volumes of distilled water were added to three volumes of sea-water. But fertilized eggs of sea-urchins were more sensitive to the action of hypertonic plasma, and they all died in a dilution of sea-water with two fifths distilled water. If only one fifth distilled water was added to the sea-water they developed normally. We found that the cells of certain tissues of the chicken follow a similar rule, since the maximal growth of the spleen is obtained in plasma containing two fifths distilled water, while other tissues grow better in a less hypotonic medium. Normal plasma is certainly not the ideal medium for the growth of tissues, since slight modifications of the tension, the alkalinity, or the addition of certain inorganic salts to normal plasma, increase the rate of the growth of tissues.