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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1985

[Hydrophobic acridine dyes for fluorescent staining of mitochondria in living cells. 3. Specific accumulation of the fluorescent dye NAO on the mitochondrial membranes in HeLa cells by hydrophobic interaction. Depression of respiratory activity, changes in the ultrastructure of mitochondria due to NAO. Increase of fluorescence in vital stained mitochondria in situ by irradiation].

The hydrophobic fluorescence dye 10-n-nonyl-acridinium-orange-chloride, NAO, stains specifically the mitochondria of living HeLa-cells. A dye concentration of 1 X 10(-8) M is sufficient for vital staining and at 5 X 10(-7) M an incubation time less than 1 min is enough to generate the bright green fluorescence of the mitochondria. The retention of NAO by the mitochondria is longer than 7 days. The dye accumulation is not affected by the ionophores valinomycin, nigericin, gramicidin, the uncoupling agents DNP, CCCP or by ouabain. In contrast to Rh 123 the trans-membrane potential is not the driving force of the NAO accumulation. We assume that NAO is bound to the hydrophobic lipids and proteins in the mitochondrial membranes by hydrophobic interaction. With valinomycin, 500 ng/ml, 10 min, the mitochondria in HeLa-cells swell. Now it is possible to observe some details in the enlarged mitochondria by light microscopy. After vital staining with NAO, 5 X 10(-7) M, 10 min, the periphery of the swollen mitochondria shows an intense green fluorescence, the inner part is dark. Obviously the dye is bound to the membranes. By electron microscopy it can be shown that the valinomycin treated and NAO stained mitochondria have outer and inner membranes and cristae. They differ from untreated mitochondria mainly in the size. After incubation of the HeLa-cells with relatively high NAO concentrations, 5 X 10(-6) M, 10 min, the mitochondria show a weak orange fluorescence. It is generated by the dimers D of NAO. Therefore the dye concentration in the mitochondrial membranes is locally very high and causes dye dimerisation. The weak orange fluorescence is instable and disappears within a few seconds. Instead we observe a green fluorescence with growing intensity that is generated by the monomers M of NAO. The intensity has its maximum value after a few seconds. Using low NAO concentrations for incubation, 1 X 10(-7) M, 10 min, we observe only the green fluorescence with increasing intensity. In this case the orange fluorescence is too weak for observation (concentration quenching). It can be shown by experiments and quantum mechanics that the orange fluorescence is assigned to an optical forbidden, the green fluorescence to an allowed electronic transition of D or M respectively. Our results indicate a dissoziation of D in 2 M by irradiation of the mitochondria under the fluorescence microscope.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aminoacridines↗
PubMed1990

Time-resolved fluorescence studies of flavodoxin. Fluorescence decay and fluorescence anisotropy decay of tryptophan in Desulfovibrio flavodoxins.

The time-resolved fluorescence characteristics of tryptophan in flavodoxin isolated from the sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio vulgaris and Desulfovibrio gigas have been examined. By comparing the results of protein preparations of normal and FMN-depleted flavodoxin, radiationless energy transfer from tryptophan to FMN has been demonstrated. Since the crystal structure of the D. vulgaris flavodoxin is known, transfer rate constants from the two excited states 1La and 1Lb can be calculated for both tryptophan residues (Trp 60 and Trp 140). Residue Trp 60, which is very close to the flavin, transfers energy very rapidly to FMN, whereas the rate of energy transfer from the remote Trp 140 to FMN is much smaller. Both tryptophan residues have the indole rings oriented in such a way that transfer will preferentially take place from the 1La excited state. The fluorescence decay of all protein preparations turned out to be complex, the parameter values being dependent on the emission wavelength. Several decay curves were analyzed globally using a model in which tryptophan is involved in some nanosecond relaxation process. A relaxation time of about 2 ns was found for both D. gigas apo- and holo-flavodoxin. The fluorescence anisotropy decay of both Desulfovibrio FMN-depleted flavodoxins is exponential, whereas that of the two holoproteins is clearly non-exponential. The anisotropy decay was analyzed using the same model as that applied for fluorescence decay. The tryptophan residues turned out to be immobilized in the protein. A time constant of a few nanoseconds results from energy transfer from tryptophan to flavin, at least for D. gigas flavodoxin. The single tryptophan residue in D. gigas flavodoxin occupies a position in the polypeptide chain remote from the flavin prosthetic group. Because of the close resemblance of steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence properties of tryptophan in both flavodoxins, the center to center distance between tryptophan and FMN in D. gigas flavodoxin is probably very similar to the distance between Trp 140 and FMN in D. vulgaris flavodoxin (i.e. 20 A).

Desulfovibrio↗
PubMed1986

Enhancement of fluorescence development of end products by use of a fluorescence developer solution in a rapid and sensitive fluorescent spot test for specific detection of microbial beta-lactamases.

A fluorescent spot test method for specific detection of microbial beta-lactamases as previously published (K. C. S. Chen, J. S. Knapp, and K. K. Holmes, J. Clin. Microbiol. 19:818-825, 1984) was improved by the use of a fluorescence developer solution. The fluorescence developer solution used in this study consisted of 0.78 M sodium tartrate buffer containing 12% formaldehyde at a final pH of 4.5. An addition of 1 volume of fluorescence developer solution to 5 volumes of ampicillin or cephalex substrate solution incubated with beta-lactamase-producing organisms, followed by heating the mixture at 45 degrees C for 10 min resulted in enhancement of fluorescence of the end products of beta-lactamase activity. This provides a more sensitive assay for microbial beta-lactamases and offers the potential for direct detection of beta-lactamases in clinical specimens.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1988

Comparison of fluorescence characteristics of products of peroxidation of membrane phospholipids with those of products derived from reaction of malonaldehyde with glycine as a model of lipofuscin fluorescent substances.

The fluorescence characteristics of product (I), formed during the lipid peroxidation of rat liver phosphatidylcholine liposomes containing glycine, and fluorescent product (II), derived from the reaction of malonaldehyde with glycine, were examined to elucidate the mechanism of fluorescent chromophore formation. Fluorescent product (I) had a fluorescence emission maximum at 430 nm when excited at 360 nm; its fluorescence intensity decreases in alkaline medium, but is restored by readjustment of pH to neutrality. In contrast, fluorescent product (II) exhibited an emission maximum at 458 nm, and the fluorescence was quenched at acidic pH. The fluorescent substances formed during the lipid peroxidation of hemoglobin-free human erythrocyte ghost membranes had similar fluorescence characteristics to product (I). Gel filtration experiments showed that molecular size of fluorescent product (I) was larger than that of fluorescent product (II). The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances released from peroxidizing liposomal phospholipids had a larger molecular size than malonaldehyde, and produced little or no fluorescence with glycine. It is concluded that the precursor of the fluorescent product formed during the lipid peroxidation of membrane phospholipids differs from malonaldehyde. The mechanism of the formation of blue emitting fluorescent material, believed to be a component of lipofuscin, seems to involve peroxidized phospholipids of the membrane.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A CCD-OMA device for the measurement of complete chlorophyll fluorescence emission spectra of leaves during the fluorescence induction kinetics.

A new device for the measurement of complete laser induced fluorescence emission spectra (maxima near 690 and 735 nm) of leaves during the induction of the chlorophyll fluorescence is described. In this the excitation light (cw He/Ne laser, 632.8 nm) is switched on by a fast electro-mechanical shutter which provides an opening time of 1 ms. The emitted fluorescence is imaged onto the entrance slit of a multichannel spectrograph through a red cut-off filter (greater than 645 nm). A charge coupled device (CCD) sensor with 2048 elements simultaneously detects the complete chlorophyll fluorescence emission spectrum in the 650-800 nm wavelength range. Scanning is accomplished electronically and the integration time for a complete fluorescence emission spectrum can be selected from 10 ms up to 260 ms. Shutter, detector system and data acquisition are controlled by an IBM-PC/AT compatible computer. A maximum of 32 spectra can be measured at selected times during the fluorescence induction kinetics with the shortest time resolution of 10 ms. The instrument permits the determination of various fluorescence parameters: a) the rise-time of the fluorescence to the maximum level fm, b) the changes in the shape of the fluorescence emission spectra during the induction kinetics, c) the induction kinetics in the fluorescence ratio F690/F735 as well as d) the fluorescence decrease ratio Rfd at any wavelength between 650 to 800 nm. These fluorescence parameters provide information about the functioning of photosynthesis. The ratio F690/F735 allows the non-destructive determination of the chlorophyll content of leaves. The application of this instrument in ecophysiological research and stress physiology of plants is outlined.

Chlorophyll↗
PubMed1986

Fusion of fluorescently labeled Sendai virus envelopes with living cultured cells as monitored by fluorescence dequenching.

Fluorescently labeled (bearing N-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole-phosphatidylethanolamine (N-NBD-PE)) reconstituted Sendai virus envelopes (RSVE) were used to study fusion between the viral envelopes and cultured living cells such as lymphoma, Friend erythroleukemia cells (FELC) and L cells. Incubation of fusogenic viruses with the above cell lines resulted in a relatively high degree (40-45%) of fluorescence dequenching. On the other hand, incubation of unfusogenic (trypsin or phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride (PMSF)-treated) RSVE with these cells led to very little (6-9%) fluorescence dequenching. The degree of fluorescence dequenching was linearly correlated to the surface density of the virus-inserted N-NBD-PE molecules. Fluorescence photobleaching recovery experiments showed that fusion of fluorescent RSVE with FELC resulted in an infinite dilution of the fluorescent molecules in the recipient cell membranes. The fluorescent probe 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (N-NBD-Cl) was covalently attached to envelopes of intact Sendai virions without significantly impairing their biological activity. Incubation of fluorescently labeled, intact Sendai virions with cultured cells resulted in about 20% fluorescence dequenching. The present data clearly indicate that fluorescently labeled Sendai virions can be used for a quantitative estimation of the degree of virus-membrane fusion.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. I. Modelling cell contact region fluorescence.

Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) is a powerful technique for visualizing focal and close contacts between the cell and the surface. Practical application of TIRF has been hampered by the lack of straightforward methods to calculate separation distances. The characteristic matrix theory of thin dielectric films was used to develop simple exponential approximations for the fluorescence excited in the cell-substratum contact region during a TIRF experiment. Two types of fluorescence were examined: fluorescently labeled cell membranes, and a fluorescent water-soluble dye. By neglecting the refractive index of the cell membrane, the fluorescence excited in the cell membrane was modelled by a single exponential function while the fluorescence in the membrane/substratum water gap followed a weighted sum of two exponentials. The error associated with neglecting the cell membrane for an incident angle of 70 degrees never exceeded 2.5%, regardless of the cell-substratum separation distance. Comparisons of approximated fluorescence intensities to more exact solutions of the fluorescence integrals for the three-phase model indicated that the approximations are accurate to about 1% for membrane/substratum gap thicknesses of less than 50 nm if the cytoplasmic and water gap refractive indices are known. The intrinsic error of this model in the determination of membrane/substratum separations was 10% as long as the uncertainties in the water gap and cytoplasmic refractive indices were less than 1%.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed1985

A cytoplasmic component of pyridine nucleotide fluorescence in rat diaphragm: evidence from comparisons with flavoprotein fluorescence.

Pyridine nucleotide (PN) and flavoprotein (Fp) fluorescence were monitored in the isolated intact rat diaphragm. A substantial increase in PN fluorescence occurred when N2 replaced O2 in glucose medium. This response was much reduced in pyruvate medium and/or by pretreatment with iodoacetic acid (IAA). The anaerobic levels of Fp fluorescence were less affected by substrate and IAA. Substitution of glucose by pyruvate did not alter the PN fluorescence of the resting aerobic tissue, but increased Fp fluorescence. After a tetanus with glucose present the PN of the anaerobic muscle, but not the Fp underwent a substantial transient oxidation. This oxidation was absent in pyruvate medium. It is concluded that a cytoplasmic component of the PN fluorescence is present in skeletal muscle. The levels of Fp fluorescence in the resting and contracting aerobic tissue supplied with pyruvate suggest that the resting tissue respiration was ADP limited. On this basis the level of PN fluorescence in the aerobic resting state was less than expected; the source of the PN fluorescence was both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1992

Donor-acceptor tetrahydrochrysenes, inherently fluorescent, high-affinity ligands for the estrogen receptor: binding and fluorescence characteristics and fluorometric assay of receptor.

We have examined the binding behavior and fluorescence characteristics of a series of novel ligands for the estrogen receptor (ER). These ligands are derivatives of 5,6,11,12-tetrahydrochrysene (THC), a structure that embodies a stilbene chromophore, found in many nonsteroidal estrogens, within a rigid tetracyclic system where it cannot easily be distorted from planarity, thus providing the conjugation and rigidity required for efficient fluorescence. Additional steric bulk, as trans-disposed ethyl substituents at the internal C-5 and C-11 positions, is required for the highest relative binding affinity (RBA), and the trans-5,11-diethyl-2,8-dihydroxy-THC derivative binds to ER with an affinity greater than that of estradiol. The replacement of one of the phenolic hydroxyl groups of this THC derivative with an electron-withdrawing group (COMe, COOMe, CONH2, CN, or NO2) yields unsymmetrical THCs with binding affinities 15-40% that of estradiol (E2). The fluorescence emission shifts from about 380 nm for the dihydroxy THC to 475-688 nm for the donor-acceptor THCs. The emission of these donor-acceptor THCs is highly solvatochromic and shifts to longer wavelengths as the solvent polarity increases. In ethanol, the fluorescence quantum yield of the first four of these compounds is high (phi f = 0.43-0.69), but the fifth compound, the nitro-THC, is almost nonemissive in protic solvents. When they are incubated with protein solutions containing ER (approximately 10(-9) M), the emission from the donor-acceptor THCs bound specifically to ER is in the 500-570-nm range, whereas fluorescence from non-receptor-bound fluorophores is in the 425-460-nm range. Thus, fluorescence from these probes bound specifically to ER could be measured under equilibrium conditions as well as after the removal of free and non-receptor-bound material by treatment with charcoal-dextran. This is one of the first demonstrations of ligands whose fluorescence is distinctly different when free, when bound to ER, or when bound to non-receptor proteins. It is also the first demonstration of ER assay by fluorescence under equilibrium conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A comparative study of fluorescence in malignant melanoma and nevocellular nevus using a fluorescence microscope and formalin-fixed specimens.

Fluorescence in malignant melanoma cells was investigated. The specimens from 18 cases of malignant melanoma and 26 cases of nevocellular nevus, which were fixed with formalin and embedded in paraffin wax, were studied by the fluorescence microscopic method. On the fluorescence microscope, the malignant melanoma cells emitted intense fluorescence from the cytoplasm. The nevus cells with large amounts of melanin granules showed moderate fluorescence. The tumor cells of melanoma in situ and nevus cells with few melanin granules emitted little fluorescence. Not only malignant melanoma cells but also nevus cells in the formalin fixed specimens had various degrees of fluorescence. Many cases of malignant melanoma emitted intense fluorescence, but this was rarely found in nevocellular nevus. This method is also useful in differentiating melanoma from nevocellular nevus.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Intracellular compartmentalization of fura-2 dye demonstrated by laser-excitation fluorescence microscopy: a problem in measuring cytosolic free calcium concentration using fura-2 fluorescence in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Recently, we have developed a novel laser-excitation fluorescence microscope system to study intracellular calcium (Ca2+) in individual cultured vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells using fluorescent indicators for (Ca2+). In the course of our study, it was shown that the subcellular fluorescence distribution of fura-2 was not homogeneous in VSM cells incubated with the acetoxy-methyl ester form of fura-2, fura-2/AM. The fluorescence appeared spotty or filamentous and resembled in shapes the intracellular organelles, suggesting that there was fura-2 dye compartmentalization in the organelles. To clarify the nature of the subcellular fluorescence, the soluble fraction of cells loaded with the dye was analyzed through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We also examined the excitation spectra of fluorescence in the soluble fraction, which was compared with that in the cell suspension. Using HPLC, it has been shown that no other than fura-2 was found in the soluble fraction, whereas analyses of excitation spectra have indicated that the membrane fraction contained fura-2/AM or its lipophilic metabolite. On the other hand, indo-1 dye fluorescence showed a diffuse intracellular distribution, but the nuclear region had higher or sometimes lower fluorescence levels than the cytoplasm. The present results suggest that it may be necessary to assess subcellular fura-2 compartmentalization and possible interference by fura-2 AM or its lipophilic metabolite for the accurate measurement of intracellular Ca2+ concentration in VSM cells. It is also suggested that indo-1 may be more suitable for estimating Ca2+ concentration than fura-2 in individual VSM cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Fluorescence topography in biology. III: Characteristic deviations of tryptophan fluorescence in sera of patients with gynecological tumors.

The near-ultraviolet region of the total fluorescence (excitation-emission matrix) of human serum reflects essentially the fluorescence of protein-bound tryptophan. We examined topographically the tryptophan fluorescence of human serum. In comparison with fluorescence topograms from sera of healthy donors, sera of patients with gynecological malignancies showed significantly different patterns of tryptophan fluorescence, the major deviations being at 325 and 365 nm. In healthy donors, the tryptophan fluorescence intensity at 365 nm, expressed as percent of the maximum fluorescence intensity (i.e., at 337 nm) varied little, but was markedly lower for sera from patients with malignancies. We found no clear correlation between the extent of the fluorescence deviations and the relative concentration of the protein fractions as determined by electrophoresis. Furthermore, we could rule out inflammation in tumor patients as an explanation for this effect.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1976

Specific fluorescent derivatives of macromolecules. A fluorescence study of some specifically modified derivatives of chymotrypsin, trypsin and subtilisin.

The 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl group was specifically introduced into the active site region of the serine proteinases: alpha-chymotrypsin, trypsin and subtilisin Carlsberg by the method of affinity-labeling. The resulting fluorescent derivatives were studied by a variety of fluorescence techniques and the results were correlated with structural data available on these enzymes from X-ray analysis. As model compounds for the Dns-proteinases, the absorption and fluorescence properties of Dns-amide and Dns-ethyl ester were studied in ethanol/water and p-dioxane/water mixtures. The fluorescence emission transtion energies and quantum yields were related to four commonly employed solvent-polarity scales. Best correlations for different solvents were obatined with the empirical "Z" and "Y" scales. From inspection of the fluorescence emission transition energies of the Dns group in the Dns-proteinases and comparision with the model compound studies it was possible to assign "Z" values for the apparent microenvironment polarities of the Dns group in the Dns-proteinases. The apparent polarities of the microenvironments of the Dns group in Dns-Ser 195-chymotrypsin (Dns-chymotrypsin (I)); (Dns-Phe-CH2)-His 57-chymotrypsin; (Dns-Lys-CH2)-His 46-trypsin; and Dns-Ser 221--subtilisin Carlsberg (Dns-subtilisin (I)) are in the range of 89.5-92.5 on the "Z" scale. The apparent microenvironment polarity of the Dns group in Dns-Ser 183-trypsin (Dns-trypsin (I)) appears to be below 76.7 on the "Z" scale. The Dns group in Dns-chymotrypsin (I) and (Dns-Phe-CH2)-His 57-chymotrypsin appears to be rigidly bound as evaluated by fluorescence polarization studies. The effect of 2H2O on the fluorescence emission quantum yields of Dns-amide and Dns-ethyl ester was examined. In both cases the ratios of quantum yields in 2H2O:ethanol (8:2) to quantum yields in H2O:ethanol (8:2) was about 1.8. The 2H2O effect upon the fluorescence emission quantum yields of the Dns group has been used to investigate solvent accessibility of this chromophore in the Dns-proteinases. Acessibility studies using 2H2O are very promising and have some definite advantages over other existing methods. Energy transfer between the Trp residues and the bound Dns group was investigated in the Dns-proteinases. The mean transfer distance calculated from the observed transfer efficiencies are 18.1 A, 19.7 A and 18.4 A for (Dns-Phe-CH2)-His 57-chymotrypsin, Dns-chymotrypsin (I) and (Dns-Lys-CH2)-His 46-trypsin, respectivly. From models built using X-ray crystallographic coordinates for the protein atoms, the mean distance of separation between the Trp residues and the bound Dns group for the same set of conjugates ar 18.6 A, 17.5 A and 17.5 A, respectively. Considering the inherent difficulties in energy transfer studies, the results are in excellent agreement with the X-ray data.

Chymotrypsin↗
PubMed1979

Effect of phosphate ions on the fluorescence of tryptophan derivatives. Implications in fluorescence investigation of protein-nucleic acid complexes.

In order to test the ability of phosphate groups to quench the fluorescence of tryptophan in protein-nucleic acid complexes we have studied the effect of various phosphate ions on the fluorescence of tryptophan derivatives. Unsubstituted and monoalkyl monoanions (H2PO4- and CH3OPO3H-) quench the fluorescence of all investigated indole derivatives while the dimethyl anion (CH3O)2 PO2- does not. This suggests that quenching of tryptophan fluorescence by phosphate monoanions requires the presence of an acidic OH group and could be due to a proton transfer from the phosphate ion to the indole chromophore. Trianions (PO4 3-4) which are strong proton acceptors quench the fluorescence of all tryptophan derivatives except N(1)methyl tryptophan. This result strongly supports our proposal that quenching of tryptophan fluorescence by phosphate trianions occurs through deprotonation of the NH indole group. Bianions (HPO '4(7), and CH3O PO3 2-3) quench the fluorescence of several indole derivatives including N-acetyl tryptophanamide but have no effect on tryptophan or N(1)-methyl tryptophan. From our results we conclude that phosphate groups of nucleic acids are not able to quench the fluorescence of tryptophyl residues in protein-nucleic acid complexes except if an accessible residue is located near a phosphorylated polynucleotide chain end.

Nucleic Acids↗
PubMed1986

Time-resolved fluorescence and 1H NMR studies of tyrosine and tyrosine analogues: correlation of NMR-determined rotamer populations and fluorescence kinetics.

The time-resolved fluorescence properties of phenol and straight-chained phenol derivatives and tyrosine and simple tyrosine derivatives are reported for the pH range below neutrality. Phenol and straight-chained phenol derivatives exhibit single exponential fluorescence decay kinetics in this pH range unless they have a titratable carboxyl group. If a carboxyl group is present, the data follow a two-state, ground-state, Henderson-Hasselbalch relationship. Tyrosine and its derivatives with a free carboxyl group display complex fluorescence decay behavior as a function of pH. The complex kinetics cannot be fully explained by titration of a carboxyl group; other ground-state processes are evident, especially since tyrosine analogues with a blocked carboxyl group are also multiexponential. The fluorescence kinetics can be explained by a ground-state rotamer model. Comparison of the preexponential weighting factors (amplitudes) of the fluorescence decay constants with the 1H NMR determined phenol side-chain rotamer populations shows that tyrosine derivatives with a blocked or protonated carboxyl group have at least one rotamer exchanging more slowly than the radiative and nonradiative rates, and the fluorescence data are consistent with a slow-exchange model for all three rotamers, the shortest fluorescence decay constant is associated with a rotamer where the carbonyl group can contact the phenol ring, and in the tyrosine zwitterion, either rotamer interconversion is fast and an average lifetime is seen or rotamer interconversion is slow and the individual fluorescence decay constants are similar.

Hydrogen-Ion Concentration↗
PubMed1985

Evidence for plasma membrane impermeability to small ions in acrosome-intact mouse spermatozoa bound to mouse zonae pellucidae, using an aminoacridine fluorescent pH probe: time course of the zona-induced acrosome reaction monitored by both chlortetracycline and pH probe fluorescence.

Previous studies have shown that capacitated mouse spermatozoa bind to zonae pellucidae of mouse eggs with acrosomes apparently intact. The question addressed in this study was the following: are the membrane permeability barriers of the apparently acrosome-intact sperm still retained or is there a preliminary stage of the acrosome reaction in which these barriers are lost and the intracellular space becomes accessible to extracellular substrates? The experimental approach was to use the fluorescent pH probe 9-amino-3-chloro-7-methoxyacridine, which accumulates in intracellular spaces of lower pH than the suspending medium with the result that the cells become fluorescent. Freshly capacitated mouse spermatozoa bound to isolated zonae showed uniform fluorescence over the head and midpiece with this fluorescent probe at early times of binding. The fluorescence was abolished by NH4+ and nigericin, agents that equilibrate H+ across cell membranes. At these early times of binding, the acrosomes were fully intact as judged by chlortetracycline fluorescence pattern, which itself was unaffected by either N4+ or nigericin. The time course of the loss of this chlortetracycline pattern characteristic of acrosome-intactness was closely paralleled by loss of fluorescence of 9-amino-3-chloro-6-methoxyacridine over the first 90 min; thereafter, loss of the chlortetracycline pattern was somewhat more rapid. This result shows that acrosome-intact sperm bound to zonae pellucidae retain the permeability barriers of the plasma membrane to small cations; no evidence was found for an early stage of membrane "leakiness" preceding the acrosome reaction. The ionophore A23187 induced a very rapid acrosome reaction in sperm bound to isolated zonae, as judged with both fluorescence probes. This rapid reaction was partially inhibited by 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate, which, in the absence of ionophore, completely blocks the occurrence of the acrosome reaction in sperm bound to zonae. This suggests involvement of a specific calcium entry mechanism in the acrosome reaction of mouse sperm induced by mouse zonae pellucidae.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1979

Simultaneous use of retrograde fluorescent tracers and fluorescence histochemistry for convenient and precise mapping of monoaminergic projections and collateral arrangements in the CNS.

A procedure is described for the use of fluorescent retrograde tracers in conjunction with monamine fluorescence histochemistry for single or double labeling studies of the projections of identified catecholamine or indoleamine neurons in the CNS. A number of fluorescent tracers, including Evans Blue, bisbenzimide, DAPI, 'True Blue', 'Granular Blue' and propidium iodide, have been tested and characterized microspectrofluorometrically. Of these, 'True Blue', propidium iodide and Evans Blue were found to have the most suitable properties to be studied concomitant with the monoamine fluorphores. A combination of two of these tracers--'True Blue' fluorescing blue and propidium iodide or Evans Blue fluorescing orange to red--and the catecholamines and indoleamines fluorescing yellow-green and yellow to brownish yellow, respectively, makes possible simultaneous use of four different fluorescent markers in one and the same section. The present procedure has great practical advantages over available HRP techniques and should in modified form also be applicable to other types of transmitter-specific neuronal tracing based on immunocytochemistry or enzyme histochemistry.

Animals↗