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Biomedical subjects

B R Williams

Publications and source records attributed to B R Williams.

211 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Solid phase radioimmunoassay using labelled antibodies: a conceptual framework for designing assays.

A simple theoretical model for the antigen-antibody reaction is presented ans used to evaluate the optimum conditions for designing solid phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) using labelled antibodies. Both theoretical and experimental data are presented, using a wide variety of antigens and their corresponding antibodies. The types of RIA is described include the direct, the indirect, sandwich assays for detecting either antigen or antibody. The experimental results confirm in a semiquantitative manner that the greatest sensitivity of the RIA is achieved when the smallest amount of labelled antibody is used, that whenever possible the antigen/antibody ratio should be greater than unity (greater than 1), and that the formation of the antigen-antibody comples is dependent on the mass action effect.

Antibodies↗

Defects in the cartilaginous growth plates of brachymorphic mice.

Homozygous brachymorphic (bm/bm) mice are characterized by disproportionately short stature. Newborn bm/bm epiphyseal cartilages are shorter than normal although the cells in the different zones of growth are relatively well organized. The extracellular matrix reacts poorly with stains specific for sulfated glycosaminoglycans. The ultrastructural appearance of the cartilage matrix indicates normal collagen fibrils; however, proteoglycan aggregate granules are smaller than normal and are present in reduced numbers, particularly in the columnar and hypertrophic zones of the growth plate. In addition, a prominent network of fine filaments, which are extractable in 4 M guanidine hydrochloride, are present in the bm/bm cartilage matrix. These findings suggest that a defect affecting the proteoglycan component of cartilage occurs in bm/bm mice.

Animals↗

Detection of double-stranded RNA in Semliki Forest virus-infected cells by an indirect solid phase radioimmunoassay: an assay for interferon.

An indirect solid phase radioimmunoassay using rabbit antibodies to the synthetic double-stranded RNA poly rI-rC and 125I-labelled sheep anti-rabbit IgG could detect 1 ng of poly rI-rC. This assay could also detect the presence of double-stranded RNA in Semliki Forest virus-infected chick fibroblasts and can be used as an assay for interferon activity.

Animals↗

Alcian Blue staining of cartilage for electron microscopy. Application of the critical electrolyte concentation principle.

The critical electrolyte concentration principle was applied to the Alcian Blue staining of rat epiphyseal cartilage proteoglycans for electron microscopy. The distribution and structure of material in glutaraldehyde-fixed cartilage stained at pH 5.8 without MgCl2 and in the presence of 0.05, 0.4, 0.5, 0.9 and 1.0 M MgCl2 was compared with that produced by simultaneous staining and fixation at neutral pH. Both methods resulted in staining of intracellular material within vacuoles as well as staining of non-collagenous matrix material. The structure and distribution of Alcian Blue-positive matrix material consisted of rounded or polygonal granules which accumulated around cells in the proliferative and hypertrophied zones. A similar pattern of distribution was observed in samples stained in the presence of 0.4 or 0.5 M MgCl2. In these cases, however, the stained material exhibited a ribbon-like configuration and granules were few in number. Increasing the MgCl2 concentration to 1.0 M resulted in a marked reduction of Alcian Blue stained material. No ribbon-like structures were observed, and matrix granules were reduced in both number and size. The decreased staining associated with increased electrolyte concentration lends support to the concept that epiphyseal cartilage matrix granules are composed primarily of chondroitin sulphate, and suggest that this same material is present in vacuoles associated with the Golgi apparatus in chondrocytes of the proliferative and hypertrophying zones.

Alcian Blue↗