Fibroblast mitochondria in idiopathic Parkinson's disease display morphological changes and enhanced resistance to depolarization.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). Here, we established screenable phenotypes of mitochondrial morphology and function in primary fibroblasts derived from patients with IPD. Upper arm punch skin biopsy was performed in 41 patients with mid-stage IPD and 21 age-matched healthy controls. At the single-cell level, the basal mitochondrial membrane potential (Ψm) was higher in patients with IPD than in controls. Similarly, under carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (FCCP) stress, the remaining Ψm was increased in patients with IPD. Analysis of mitochondrial morphometric parameters revealed significantly decreased mitochondrial connectivity in patients with IPD, with 9 of 14 morphometric mitochondrial parameters differing from those in controls. Significant morphometric mitochondrial changes included the node degree, mean volume, skeleton size, perimeter, form factor, node count, erosion body count, endpoints, and mitochondria count (all P-values < 0.05). These functional data reveal that resistance to depolarization was increased by treatment with the protonophore FCCP in patients with IPD, whereas morphometric data revealed decreased mitochondrial connectivity and increased mitochondrial fragmentation.

Symplasmic and apoplasmic transport inside feather moss stems of Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens.

Background and Aims: The ubiquitous feather mosses Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens form a thick, continuous boundary layer between the soil and the atmosphere, and play important roles in hydrology and nutrient cycling in tundra and boreal ecosystems. The water fluxes among these mosses and environmental factors controlling them are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether feather mosses are capable of internal transport and to provide a better understanding of species-specific morphological traits underlying this function. The impacts of environmental conditions on their internal transport rates were also investigated. Methods: Cells involved in water and food conduction in P. schreberi and H. splendens were identified by transmission electron microscopy. Symplasmic and apoplasmic fluorescent tracers were applied to the moss stems to determine the routes of internal short- and long-distance transport and the impact of air humidity on the transport rates. Key Results: Symplasmic transport over short distances occurs via food-conducting cells in both mosses. Pleurozium schreberi is also capable of apoplasmic internal long-distance transport via a central strand of hydroids. These are absent in H. splendens. Reduced air humidity significantly increased the internal transport of both species, and the increase was significantly faster for P. schreberi than for H. splendens. Conclusions: Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens are capable of internal transport but the pathway and conductivity differ due to differences in stem anatomy. These results help explain their varying desiccation tolerance and possibly their differing physiology and autecology and, ultimately, their impact on ecosystem functioning.

The influence of aripiprazole and olanzapine on neurotransmitters level in frontal cortex of prenatally stressed rats.

OBJECTIVES: The study aims to verify whether alterations in the level of neurotransmitters have occurred in prenatally stressed rats (animal model of schizophrenia), and whether aripiprazole (ARI) and olanzapine (OLA) modify this level. METHODS: The effects of ARI (1.5mg/kg) and OLA (0.5mg/kg) were studied by means of microdialysis in freely moving rats (observation time 120min). The level of neurotransmitters (DA, 5-HT, NA) and their metabolites (DOPAC, HVA, 5-HIAA) was analyzed by HPLC with coulochemical detection. RESULTS: Obtained results indicate that after a single administration of ARI and OLA in the prenatally stressed rats the increase of DA, DOPAC, and 5-HT was observed. In turn ARI administration increase the level of HVA and 5-HIAA and also decrease the level of NA. After OLA administration the level of NA and HVA increased and no significant change in 5-HIAA was observed. CONCLUSION: Alterations observed as a result of ARI and OLA administration may be pivotal in identifying animal models of mental disorders and in the analysis of neuroleptics effectiveness.

Auxin conjugated to fluorescent dyes--a tool for the analysis of auxin transport pathways.

Auxin is a small molecule involved in most processes related to plant growth and development. Its effect usually depends on the distribution in tissues and the formation of concentration gradients. Until now there has been no tool for the direct tracking of auxin transport at the cellular and tissue level; therefore the majority of studies have been based on various indirect methods. However, due to their various restrictions, relatively little is known about the relationship between various pathways of auxin transport and specific developmental processes. We present a new research tool: fluorescently labelled auxin in the form of a conjugate with two different fluorescent tracers, FITC and RITC, which allows direct observation of auxin transport in plant tissues. Chemical analysis and biological tests have shown that our conjugates have auxin-like biological activity and transport; therefore they can be used in all experimental systems as an alternative to IAA. In addition, the conjugates are a universal tool that can be applied in studies of all plant groups and species. The conjugation procedure presented in this paper can be adapted to other fluorescent dyes, which are constantly being improved. In our opinion, the conjugates greatly expand the possibilities of research concerning the role of auxin and its transport in different developmental processes in plants.

An efficient synthesis of 1α,25-dihydroxy-20-epi-vitamin D3.

The synthesis of 1α,25-dihydroxy-20-epi-vitamin D3 (1) by Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling between the boronate ester (2) and the enol triflate (3) is described. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Vitamin D Workshop'.

[Effect of platelet concentrate transfusions on the thrombopoietic activity in rats]. / Wplyw przetaczan koncentratów plytkowych na aktywnosc trombocytopoetyczna u szczurów.

Rats were given selected doses of rabbit antiplatelet serum (APS) inducing after 6 hours thrombocytopenia at the level of 14% of the initial platelet count followed by a gradual rise in this count (after 12, 24 and 48 hours). Eight hours after APS administration the rats were given transfusion of a concentrate containing 1-2 X 10(9) fresh allogenic platelets (group A) or the same number of previously frozen platelets (group B). Rats receiving no concentrate after APS administration (group C) and rats receiving neither APS nor concentrate (group D) served as controls. Using a bioassay on mice the serum thrombocytopoietic activity (ATS) was determined in the rats and the platelet count was measured by the direct method. These determinations were done before and 24 and 48 hours after the experiment. It was shown that after 24 hours the values of the platelets (p less than 0.1) and ATS (p less than 0.001) were lower in group B than in the remaining groups. This suggests an inhibitory effect of the frozen concentrate on the ATS. After 24 hours the platelet count was highest in group A, and after 48 hours in group C, which suggests that transfusion of fresh concentrate has an immediate effect but in a later phase it inhibits spontaneous mechanisms effacing the thrombocytopenic effect.

[Effect of splenectomy on blood serum thrombopoietic activity (ATS) in patients with hematopoietic diseases]. / WPlyw splenektomii u chorych z chorobami ukladu krwiotwórczego na aktywnosc trombocytopoetyczna surowic (ATS).

Thrombocytopoietic activity (ATS) was determined in tests on mice on the day before and on the 1st, 7th, and 14th days after splenectomy in 18 patients (13 with idiopathic thrombocytopenia, 5 with haemolytic anaemia). It was found that in patients with ITP and high-grade splenic destruction of platelets ATS increased on the first days after splenectomy. On the other hand, in ITP patients with low-grade splenic platelet destruction splenectomy decreased the value of ATS immediately after the operation. Splenectomy performed in cases with normal platelet count caused no greater changes in ATS in the first week. These observations suggest that in patients with increased splenic destruction of platelets ATS may be inhibited and this inhibition may be removed after splenectomy. Absent correlation between ATS and platelet count may indicate that the value of ATS is not of decisive importance in thrombocytopenia regression following splenectomy.

[Effect of gelatin and dextran infusion on the reticuloendothelial system]. / Wplyw przetaczania preparatu zelatyny i dekstranu na uklad siateczkowo-sródblonkowy.

The purpose of this study was evaluation of the phagocytic ability of peripheral blood leucocytes and reticuloendothelial system of the lungs, liver and spleen after one infusion of plasma-substituting preparations: Fluigel and dextran 70 in volumes of 20 ml/kg of body weight. The experiments were done in rabbits. The response of the reticuloendothelial system was assessed on the basis of its ability of eliminating foreign erythrocytes labelled with 51Cr from the circulating blood and radioactivity accumulation in the liver and spleen. It was found that infusion of Fluigel and dextran produced transient changes in the function of the reticuloendothelial system with increased number of granulocytes and a fall of their radioactivity 3 and 6 hours after infusion, reduced ability of pulmonary 51Cr accumulation and increased storage in the spleen observed 24 hours after infusion.

[Studies of the thrombocytopoietic factor. III. Modification of the method of determination of serum thrombocytopoietic activity]. / Badania nad czynnikiem plytkotwórczym. III. Modyfikacja metody oznaczania aktywnosci trombocytopoetycznej surowic.

A medification of the previously described method of thrombocytopoietic activity (ATS) determination is reported using mouse instead of rats as laboratory animals. This makes possible to reduce significantly the volume of blood necessary for ATS determination. The error of the method was 8.6--11.6% when the results were calculated in impulses per 1 mg of platelet protein (imp/mg BP) and 5.5--9.2% when presented as a percentage of total activity adsorbed to the platelets.

Serum thrombocytopoietic activity in thrombocytopenias.

By means of a bioassay performed in rats utilizing 75Se-selenomethionine as a platelet marker in vivo, serum thrombocytopoietic activity (STA) was determined in 9 healthy volunteers and in 82 patients with thrombocytopenia, viz. 27 cases of ITP (9 acute and 18 chronic), 19 of aplastic anaemia, 19 of acute leukaemia and 17 of chronic proliferative disorders. STA was the highest in the ITP group (p less than 0.01), particularly in the cases of short duration (p less than 0.001). In acute leukaemia, the STA was remarkably elevated (p less than 0.02) and a negative correlation between STA and blood platelet count could be demonstrated. A negative correlation between STA and the duration of thrombocytopenia was also found in the patients with ITP. No significant increase of STA was observed in patients with ITP after corticosteroid administration. In 5 out of 7 cases who responded satisfactorily to splenectomy a significant fall of STA was demonstrated after surgery. A slight, but statistically significant, rise of the STA value was found in patients with aplastic anaemia (p less than 0.05). No STA elevation was observed in the cases of chronic proliferative disorders with thrombocytopenia.

[Studies on the thrombocytopoietic factor. I. Elaboration of investigative methods]. / Badania nad czynnikiem plytkotwórczym. I. Opracowanie metodyki badan

The authors present a method of determination of the activity of the thrombocytopoietic factor (AT) by means of biological test on rats using 75-Se-selenomethionine for in vivo labelling of platelets. For suppression of endogenous thrombocytopoiesis the rats received antiplatelet rabbit serum which was used for investigations in the period of reactive hyperthrombocytosis. The thrombocytopoietic activity was expressed in radioactivity impulses per 1 mg of platelet protein of rats which permitted to eliminate the error-fraught determination of platelet count. A statistically significant rise in the thrombocytopoietic activity was demonstrated in rabbits with experimental thrombocytopenia as compared with the AT in healthy rabbits. The error of the method was 9.6-9.8 percent (P less than 0.05).

[Studies on the thrombocytopoietic factor. II. Determination of thrombocytopoietic activity in patients with hematological syndromes (preliminary study)]. / Badania nad czynnikiem plytkotwórczym II. Oznaczanie aktywnosci trombocytopoetycznej u chorych z zespolami hematologicznymi (doniesienie wstepne)

Using the biological test on rats the thrombocytopoietic activity (AT) was determined in sera of 13 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenia (ITP), 5 patients with pancytopenia and bone marrow hypoplasia, 18 with thrombocytopenia developing during proliferative diseases of the haemopoietic system, and 4 patients with erythremia vera. A high mean thrombocytopoietic activity was demonstrated in ITP and this high activity was accounted for by significantly raised AT in acute thrombocytopenia. Increased AT was observed also in myeloproliferative syndromes associated with thrombocytopenia, while in pancytopenia with bone marrow hypoplasia and in erythremia vera AT seemed not increased independently of the stage of the disease. Greater number of cases will be necessary for drawing reliable conclusions.

[Case of postpregnancy diencephalosis with manifestations of psudotumor cerebri]. / Przypadek zespolu podwzgórzycy pociazowej z objawami rzekomego guza mózgu

The authors report a female patient with postpregnancy diencephalosis in whom in close correlation with premenstrual tension syndrome acute cerebral oedema developed repeatedly with signs of tentorial herniation. Owing to treatment with substitutive cyclopeptide hormones stimulating secondarily the failing hypophysis complete disappearance of these signs was obtained.