Alkaline phosphatase activity in mouse liver blocks, cooled by an ice-bath, decreased by 50% in 5 min of microwave irradiation (280 W). This loss of protein tertiary structure has been mirrored by ultrastructural changes in the same tissue. Microwave irradiation did not produce cleavage or polymerization of lysozyme or haemoglobin. Protein formaldehyde reaction mixtures produced protein polymers between 0 degree and 40 degrees C which could be separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Microwave irradiation of lysozyme or haemoglobin plus formaldehyde on ice-bath up to 30 min produced a similar electrophoretic pattern. When lysozyme or haemoglobin plus formaldehyde was heated to 60 degrees C for 30 min, the protein polymers migrated faster on electrophoresis, suggesting a smaller hydrodynamic volume than expected due to intramolecular crosslink formation, not opened up under the conditions of electrophoresis.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A comparison of microwaves and heat alone in the preparation of tissue for electron microscopy.

Microwaves have been used to stabilize tissues from the gastrointestinal tract for scanning electron microscopy. The temperature reached is important. Above 55-60 degrees C, epithelial cell sheets begin to lift revealing the underlying basement membrane. These cells may be recovered from the supernatant by micropore filtration or the celloidin sock technique. At higher temperatures, produced either by microwave irradiation or in a water bath, more enterocytes are released. The epithelial cells are larger with increasing temperatures, less with microwaves than with heat alone or in the presence of formaldehyde. At 70 degrees C and above, some proteins are lost and there is false localization of RNA. Some immunoperoxidase reactions are still positive after exposure of the tissue to 60 degrees C. Tissues fixed in boiling formaldehyde retain a surprisingly good morphology.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of colchicine on the gallbladder of the mouse.

The effects of colchicine on the mouse gallbladder followed a course depending on the dosage given (0.4-4 mg/100 g body weight). Following 0.5 mg/100 g, by 16 h there was a marked cholestasis with dilatation of the gallbladder and steatosis. There were progressive alterations in the Golgi apparatus and accumulation of vesicles. The apical mucous droplets decreased in number and became pleomorphic and dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. Lipid droplets appeared in numbers on the epithelial cytoplasm. By 48 h the tissues had reverted to normal appearances. When cholecystokinin, pilocarpine or ceruletide were given to animals which had received colchicine 18 h previously, the excess bile from the dilated gallbladder was discharged into the duodenum, remaining apical mucous droplets secreted and electron dense material accumulated in the lateral intercellular space. This formed a quasi-regular array between the epithelial bases and the basement membrane. Biochemically there was a significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity and a significant increase in acid phosphatase activity.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An immunocytochemical study of the carbonic anhydrase I isoenzyme in human oral Merkel cells.

Merkel cells in human buccal mucosa and hard palate possess the carbonic anhydrase I isoenzyme (CAI). CAI colocalized immunocytochemically with a range of Merkel cell cytokeratins, namely CK 7, 8, 18, 19 and 20. No other cells in the oral epithelium were immunoreactive for the CAI antibody. The presence of the enzyme may be related to the function of sensory receptors that produce a sustained response to a maintained mechanical stimulus.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Semi-permeable microcapsules for cell culture: ultra-structural characterization.

Microcapsules made from alginate-poly(L-lysine)-alginate membranes have been studied as vehicles for cell culture in a number of laboratories. We have examined their permeability, robustness and ultrastructure in detail. Permeability to globular proteins could be controlled by using poly-lysine of different mean MW in their construction. However, this parameter also affected the degree to which microencapsulated living cells leaked out of the capsules during and after preparation. Poly-lysine of low MW produced a relatively permeable and robust membrane whereas a high MW produced capsules with the reverse characteristics. A MW of 22,000 appears to be optimal in forming robust capsules which are relatively impermeable to high MW species such as immunoglobulins. The structure of the semipermeable membrane was investigated by electron microscopy and found to be complex but entirely consistent with the data on protein permeability and cell leakage. Microcapsules were not disrupted by gentle treatment with trypsin or chelating agents but dissolved with the addition of heparin, sodium dodecyl sulphate or sodium hydroxide. Empty microcapsules implanted into the peritoneal cavity of rats elicited a host cellular reaction but remained intact for at least three months.

Alginates↗