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Biomedical subjects

B E Banks

Publications and source records attributed to B E Banks.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

The effects of postganglionic axotomy and nerve growth factor on the superior cervical ganglia of developing mice.

Sectioning of the two major outflows from the superior cervical ganglia in two week mice results in a marked drop in the number of neurons within one week of operation and a smaller drop over the following two weeks. In animals receiving daily injections of nerve growth factor (NGF), the effect of axotomy is modified. One week after axotomy, the number of neurons in the axotomized ganglia is approximately the same in NGF treated animals as in the control, sham operated ganglia. Over the next two weeks, however, the cell death that results from axotomy is no longer prevented by treatment with NGF. The normal, hyperplastic response to NGF appears to occur independently of the cell reaction caused by axotomy.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

A program to compute the sizes and numbers of spherical bodies from observations made on tissue sections.

A computer program, written in standard Fortran, is given to facilitate the computation of the sizes and correct distribution of spheres from the number and size of the circular profiles observed in tissue sections. The method is particularly valuable in cases where it is necessary to determine absolute numbers of cells or subcellular fragments where the objects of interest are not of uniform size. The method gives true cell numbers and the distribution of the spherical diameters.

Biometry↗
PubMed1976

An assessment of some of the methods available for the determination of molecular weights of proteins as applied to aspartate aminotransferase from pig heart.

The isopotential specific volume of cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase from pig heart was found to be 0.763 ml g-1 whereas the value of the apparent specific volume obtained by summation of contributions from each type of amino acid in the protein is 0.735 ml g-1. Use of the experimentally determined isopotential specific volume largely abolishes the discrepancy between a previously reported value of the molecular weight of the native (dimeric) enzyme and that of the enzyme subunit obtained from its primary structure (46300). A new non-empirical method based on quantitative N-terminal analysis involving radioisotope dilution is described for the determination of subunit molecular weight of proteins. The method is capable of considerable accuracy and sensitivity. Some of the methods available for the determination of molecular weights ans subunit compositions of proteins are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1976

Immunological properties of nerve growth factors.

Antisera were raised against nerve growth factors isolated from mouse salivary gland and five venoms representative of the three main families of poisonous snakes. Immunochemical cross-reactivity was assessed from the ability of the antisera to inhibit the biological activities of the heterologous antigens. The high and low molecular weight forms of the salivary gland factors were found to be immunologically identical but distinct from the snake venom factors. The snake venom factors, on the other hand, were immunologically closely related to each other but not identical.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

The primary structure of a major polypeptide component from the venom of Naja melanoleuca.

The venom of the forest cobra, Naja melanoleuca, contains a number of homologous polypeptides containing between 60 and 71 amino acid resides. The primary structure of a major component (approx. 10% by weight of the crude venom) has been determined unambiguously. The molecule contians 61 amino acid residues and four disulphide bridges. It has not effect on neuromuscular transmission or the excitatory or inhibitory responses to acetylcholine of molluscan neurons. The molecule is similar to, but not identical with, the so-called cytotoxins VII2 and VII3 isolated, by others, from the same venom but reported to be minor components.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1975

Effects of nerve growth factors from mouse salivary glands and snake venom on the sympathetic ganglia of neonatal and developing mice.

1. Quantitative histological analysis has been made of the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) from mouse submaxillary gland and from the venom of Vipera russelli on superior cervical ganglia of neonatal mice. 2. The hypertrophic and hyperplastic effects reported by other workers have been confirmed. 3. The hypertrophic effect arises from an increase in the rate at which the sympathetic neurones attain their mature size. The size at maturity is never exceeded. 4. The hyperplastic effect arises from an increase in the rate of production of neurones from less differentiated cells. In the developmental period, the number of neurones can exceed that found at maturity. If injection of NGF is discontinued the excess neurones disappear. 5. If injection of NGF is continued to maturity, the excess number of neurones is maintained.

Animals↗
PubMed1973

Protein fractions from mouse salivary glands affecting epithelial cells in organ culture.

1. Extracts of male mouse submaxillary gland have been fractionated on G 150 Sephadex and DEAE cellulose.2. A number of the protein fractions obtained appear to cause proliferation of epithelial cells in organ cultures of rat tissues.3. All fractions active in organ culture possess proteolytic enzyme activity.4. The proteolytic enzymes trypsin, pronase and collagenase produce epithelial disorganization in organ culture.5. The organ culture effect is reduced in the presence of proteolytic enzyme inhibitors and abolished by pretreatment of proteins with diisopropylfluorophosphonate.6. The presence of mitotic inhibitors does not reduce the organ culture effect.7. The effect is not associated with an increase in the DNA content of tissue explants.8. No evidence has been found for the existence, in mouse salivary glands, of a specific growth factor acting on epithelial cells.

Animals↗