COUP-TF II/ARP-1 is an 'orphan' steroid receptor that inhibits basal transcription, and represses trans-activation by the vitamin D, thyroid hormone and retinoid receptors. The molecular basis of repression by COUP-TF II remains obscure. In this study we utilized the GAL4 hybrid system to demonstrate that COUP-TF II contains sequences within the C-terminal region that encode a dominant transcriptional repressor that inhibits the ability of the potent chimeric transactivator GAL4VP16 to induce transcription. Mammalian two hybrid analysis demonstrated that COUP-TF II did not efficiently interact with either interaction domains I or II from N-CoR and RIP13. However, COUP-TF II efficiently interacts with a region comprised of interaction domains I + II from the corepressor, RIP13delta1. Efficient interaction of the orphan receptor with the corepressor was critically dependent on a large region comprised of the C, D and E domains of COUP-TF II, which correlated with the domain that maximally represses transcription. This investigation suggested that the N-CoR variant, RIP13delta1 interacts with a region of COUP-TF II that functions as a dominant transcriptional repressor.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Thawing of fresh-frozen plasma with a new microwave oven.

In the Federal Republic of Germany fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) is still the most important therapeutic agent for acquired coagulation disorders. However, thawing by waterbath (WB) requires about 30 minutes, which is too slow in emergency situations and carries the risk of bacterial contamination of the FFP. There are conflicting data about the use of microwaves for thawing. Therefore, we examined a new microwave oven (MWO; 2450 +/- 50 MHz), which was developed with our cooperation and allows thawing of FFP in 5 minutes, heating FFP to a surface temperature of 21.5 degrees C. A shaking WB (30 min, 37 degrees C) was also used in parallel for comparison. We measured activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), nonactivated PTT (NaPTT), fibrinogen, factors VIII:C, X, and XI, fibrinopeptide A, beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG), thrombin-AT III-complexes, factor VIII-related antigen, C3c, C4, and the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in 84 units of FFP as paired samples from 42 double aphereses. Immediately after thawing there was no significant difference in the coagulation test results of FFP with low-cell contamination, regardless of the thawing procedure. Two hours later, after storage at room temperature, FFP thawed by MWO showed even less change than that thawed by WB (NaPTT, p less than 0.01; FX, p less than 0.01). The differences became more evident in comparison with FFP with higher cell contamination and could be observed immediately after thawing (FVIII:C p less than 0.001; FXI, p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Cells↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Automatic control and directed cell movement. Novel approach for understanding chemotaxis, galvanotaxis, galvanotropism.

It is shown that chemotaxis, galvanotaxis, galvanotropism, etc. are functions of cells having a goal-seeking system. Even when the involved physicochemical signals are unknown, the cellular system can be treated phenomenologically like an automatic controller having a closed-loop feedback system. The model is verified by means of galvanotaxis and chemotaxis data of human granulocytes. The galvanotaxis and chemotaxis coefficient quantifying the cellular sensibility can be predicted from the coefficient which characterizes the deterministic part of the signal transduction/response system of the cell divided by the coefficient which characterizes the noise strength in the cellular signal transduction/response system. The model is not restricted to directed movement of granulocytes. It is very general and can be applied to any cell type for directed phenomena like chemotaxis, galvanotaxis, phototaxis, magnetotaxis, directed growth, etc. The virus-disturbed directed migration of granulocytes is discussed and it is shown that the virus alters the deterministic part of the cellular controller.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Histochemical localization of acetylcholinesterase activity in the cochlear and vestibular ganglion cells.

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Acetylcholinesterase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Intercellular junctions in the organ of Corti as revealed by freeze fracturing.

The junctions between the cells of the organ of Corti have been investigated with the freeze-fracture method in the chinchilla inner ear. Numerous gap junctions have been found among all the supporting cells, particularly at the level of their basal part. This means that the supporting cells have their cytoplasm electrotonically and metabolically coupled. Gap junctions were not observed between supporting and sensory cells nor between sensory cells and nerve endings. At this level the transmission should be chemically mediated.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Freeze-fracture study of the cell junctions in the utricle and saccule.

The maculae sacculi and utriculi of the chinchilla vestibular labyrinth have been studied by freeze-fracture method. In the replicas extensive zonulae occludentes have been found between sensory and supporting cells at the endolymphatic surface. Gap junctions are located between the supporting cells. Some intramembranous specializations of the synaptic regions are described in both types of the sensory cells.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Trends in meniscus surgery].

Meniscus surgery underwent a change in methods by the development of arthroscopy. Nowadays it must be recommended to take off not more from the damaged meniscus than necessarily determined by pathological findings. The refixation of bucket handle tears close to the fibrous capsule is worthwhile, having a success rate of about 90%. After refixation we recommend no immobilization, but a functional treatment within a limited range of motion (20 degrees-50 degrees) and restriction of load for 8-12 weeks.

Arthroplasty↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Directed cell movement in pulsed electric fields.

Human granulocytes exposed to pulsed electric guiding fields were investigated. The trajectories were determined from digitized pictures (phase contrast). The basic results are: (i) No directed response was induced by pulsed electric guiding fields having a zero averaged field. (ii) A directed response was induced by pulsed electric guiding fields having a non-zero averaged field. (iii) The directed response was enhanced for pulse sequences having a repetition time of 8 s. (iv) The lag-time between signal recognition and cellular response was 8-10 s. The results are discussed in the framework of a self-ignition model.

Capillary Action↗