Phagocytosis in the retinal pigment epithelium of the RCS rat

The retinal pigment epithelium of RCS rats, previously thought not to phagocytize photoreceptor outer segments, exhibited a peak of phagocytosis in vivo when animals were kept under conditions of cyclic lighting (12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light). The peak occurred at 1 hour after the onset of light, with maximum and minimum levels of phagocytosis averaging about 5 percent of that found in the pigment epithelium of Osborn-Mendel rats used as a control. Eyecups that were obtained from Osborn-Mendel rats and maintained for up to 3 hours in organ culture demonstrated levels of phagocytosis that were sevenfold greater than those of unincubated controls. Likewise a tenfold increase occurred in incubated as opposed to unicubated RCS eyes, raising the possibility that phagocytosis could be experimentally stimulated in vivo.     

Light-evoked changes in the interphotoreceptor matrix

The normal function of vertebrate photoreceptor cells depends on multiple interactions and transfer of substances between the photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), but the mechanisms of these interactions are poorly understood. Many are thought to be mediated by the interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM), a complex extracellular matrix that surrounds the photoreceptors and lies between them and the RPE. Histochemical, immunocytochemical, and lectin probes for several IPM constituents revealed that components of the IPM in the rat undergo a major shift in distribution or molecular conformation after the transition between light and dark. In the light, various IPM constituents concentrated in bands at the apical and basal regions of the outer segment zone; in the dark, they distributed much more uniformly throughout the zone. The change in IPM distribution was triggered by the light-dark transition; it was not a circadian event, and it was not driven by a systemic factor. The light-evoked change in IPM distribution may facilitate the transfer of substances between the photoreceptors and the RPE.     

Irreversible effects on visible light on the retina: role of vitamin A

Diffuse retinal irradiation by visible light produces in the rat the death of visual cells and pigment epithelium. Typically, cage illumination of 1500 lux from fluorescent light through a green filter leads to severe damage when continued for 40 hours. Vitamin A deficiency protects against this damage but experiments show that retinol released by light from rhodopsin is probably not the toxic agent. Protection against light damage depends on a long-range state of cell adaptation to light itself. The normal diurnal cycle of light and dark seems to be the essential factor in controlling visual cell viability and susceptibility.     

Visual pigment renewal in the mature frog retina

It has been demonstrated by autoradiography that radioactive amino acids serve as precursors for proteins which are subsequently incorporated into retinal rod outer segment discs in mature animals. By the isolation and purification of visual pigment from retinas of adult frogs after injection of tritiated leucine and phenylalanine, it has been shown that at least part of this labeled protein consists of visual pigment (rhodopsin).     

Intracellular topography of rhodopsin bleaching

In a vertebrate eye, the photoreceptor cells are aligned so that most of the light passes through them lengthwise. At the light-transducing outer segment region of the photoreceptor, photons are absorbed in a time-varying, spatially dependent fashion. Because the transduction event is spatially localized around the site of photon absorption, the spatiotemporal patterns of light absorption in outer segments are an important receiver input characteristic. This aspect of receptor biophysics has now been measured; the results were consistent with a theoretical model proposed for bleaching of a pigment in an unstirred layer.     

棕色田鼠视网膜结构及其神经元特异性烯醇化酶分布研究

通过H-E.染色法和免疫组化方法,对棕色田鼠视网膜结构及神经元特异性烯醇化酶的分布特性进行研究.结果表明,棕色田鼠的视网膜结构呈典型的脊椎动物视网膜结构类型,由外向内分别为色素上皮、视锥视杆层、外核层、外网层、内核层、内网层、节细胞层、神经纤维层.视网膜中神经元特异性烯醇化酶阳性分布在内网层、内核层、靠近内核层的外网层区、节细胞层、神经纤维层,其中内网层阳性最强,有4个阳性亚层.视锥视杆层和外核层没有神经元特异性烯醇化酶分布,这可能与感光细胞的分泌有关.     

Phagocytosis of light- and dark-adapted rod outer segments by cultured pigment epithelium

Pigment epithelial cells in culture retain their ability to phagocytize rod outer segments. These cells phagocytize rod outer segments isolated from light-adapted rats, or from dark-adapted rats killed after the time at which the lights would normally be turned on. However, they phagocytize for fewer rod outer segments prepared in the dark from the retinas of rats killed before the onset of the normal light cycle. Phagocytosis of dark rod outer segments is variable, but that of light outer segments is reproducible. It is postulated that the effect of light is to synchronize the chemical events that occur at the surface of the rods to prepare them for phagocytosis. These processes also occur in the dark, but more slowly and irregularly than in the light.     

Anatomy of Vitis Berries During Their Coloring

During 1998-1999, the course of the berry coloring and the development of the pigment cells from veraison to ripeness were studied by freeze sectioning 43 accessions of 12 Vitis species (including 10 Chinese wild species). External observation showed that the berries of most species began coloring on the fruit top surface or on the sun-lit surface, and the berry surface color was evenly distributed when the berry was ripe.Internal observation revealed that the pigment cells in a few layers between cuticle and sub-cuticle colored first, the cuticle colored from inner layers to outer layers while the sub-cuticle from outer to inner, and the cuticle cells began coloring a little earlier than the sub-cuticle ones in most species. The pigment cells developed unevenly during the berry ripening. In the beginning of berry coloring, the cell pigment density among the layers or among the cells in the same layer was different. Both the numbers of the pigmented cells and the cell pigment density increased during the berry coloring, while the former lasted a short time; however, the latter kept increasing from veraison to ripeness, and they reached the deepest color when the berry was ripe.     

Autologous immune-complex pathogenesis of experimental allergic glomerulonephritis

A renal tubular epithelial antigen is deposited in association with gamma globulin and complement in glomeruli from rats with experimental allergic glomerulonephritis induced by immunization with renal tubular antigens. Apparently, in normal kidneys this antigen is concentrated in the distal segment of the proximal convoluted tubular epithelium, and the principal source of this antigen in the glomerular deposits is autologous. This form of glomerulonephritis provides an experimental prototype for what may be termed "autologous immunecomplex" diseases.     

大鼠子宫内膜异位症CD44的异常表达及意义

通过建立大鼠子宫内膜异位症模型,应用免疫组织化学方法及图像分析技术,比较黏附分子CD44在子宫内膜异位症大鼠在位、异位内膜及正常大鼠子宫内膜中的表达强度,以探讨CD44在子宫内膜异位症大鼠的表达模式。结果表明,大鼠子宫内膜异位症模型组在位内膜腺上皮CD44的表达与对照组子宫内膜无显著性差异。子宫内膜异位症模型组大鼠异位内膜腺上皮CD44的表达显著高于同组的在位内膜和对照组子宫内膜。由此可知,CD44在异位内膜的异常表达与内异症的发病密切相关。本试验结果为子宫内膜异位症的发病机制提供理论依据。     

Vitamin A deficiency effect on retina: dependence on light

The effects of vitamin A deficiency in the rat eye, as measured by the electroretinogram and changes in rhodopsin content, are critically dependent upon the levels of illumination to which the animals are exposed daily. Depleted animals kept in darkness maintained virtually normal electroretinogram function and rhodopsin content for 5 to 6 months while those kept in weak cyclic light lost rhodopsin continuously. A fraction of the retinol released from rhodopsin during illumination disappears presumably from the pigment epithelium into the blood and becomes unavailable for rhodopsin regeneration. A sequence of three first-order reactions was assumed to estimate the rate constant of this disappearance (0.03 per hour). Computer simulation supporting the experimental data illustrates the dependence of the retinal abnormalities on light.     

葡萄浆果着色过程的解剖学研究

 １９９８～１９９９年．通过外观观察及利用冰冻切片解剖法对葡萄属植物的１２个种（其中１０个种是起源于中国的野生种）的４３个 株系浆果着色过程进行了研突：结果表明．供试材料中的大多数种的浆果从果买顶部或向阳一侧开始着色．熟时果面色译均匀一致。葡萄果实从表皮与下表皮相邻的几层细胞开始着色，表皮由内向外、下表皮由外向内的顺序着色：多数种的果实表皮细胞稍先于下表皮细胞开始着色。葡萄着色初期表现出不同层次色素细胞间及同一层不同部位的色素细胞间颜色深浅不一的不均衡性；葡萄果实着色过程体现为色素细胞数目不断增多及细胞内色素浓度不断增大的统一；色素细胞由个别出现色素到全体色素细胞都出现色素持续时间较短；就某一色素细胞而言．从其开始着色直到果实成熟色素浓度可能一直在增大．直到果实成熟时达最大。     

点带石斑鱼脑组织和视网膜中神经型一氧化氮合成酶的分布与定位

【目的】研究点带石斑鱼脑组织和视网膜中的一氧化氮（NO）含量及神经型一氧化氮合成酶（nNOS）分布与活性,为深入揭示NO在点带石斑鱼神经系统中的作用机制打下基础。【方法】采用NADPH-d组织化学染色法、免疫组织化学法、蛋白免疫印迹（Western blotting）及Griess试剂法,对点带石斑鱼脑组织和视网膜中nNOS的分布与活性及NO含量进行分析。【结果】经NADPH-d组织化学染色后,一氧化氮合成酶（NOS）阳性物质呈蓝色。在点带石斑鱼大脑中,NOS阳性物质位于神经元和神经纤维;在小脑中,NOS分布在颗粒层的颗粒细胞、分子层的神经纤维和浦肯野细胞层的浦肯野细胞;在视网膜中,NOS分布于色素上皮层、视锥视杆层、外核层、外网层、内核层、内网层、节细胞层和视神经纤维层。经免疫组织化学染色后,nNOS阳性物质呈深棕色。在大脑中,nNOS存在于神经元和神经纤维;在小脑中,nNOS分布在颗粒层、分子层和浦肯野细胞层;在视网膜中,nNOS分布在色素上皮层、视锥视杆层、外核层、外网层、内核层、内网层、节细胞层和视神经纤维层。Western blotting检测结果显示,点带石斑鱼脑组织和视网膜中的nNOS在显色后的硝酸纤维素膜上均出现3条免疫印迹条带,对应分子量分别为80、120和130kD。NO含量在点带石斑鱼脑组织和视网膜中分别为17.601±1.743和13.624±1.249μmol/L,nNOS活性在脑组织和视网膜中分别为38.070±3.047和23.748±2.860U/mg。【结论】在点带石斑鱼脑组织和视网膜中均存在nNOS,推测nNOS在点带石斑鱼脑神经及视神经系统生理活动中发挥重要作用。脑组织中的NO含量和nNOS活性均显著高于视网膜,是由于脑组织作为重要的中枢神经,对机体生理功能起重要调节作用。     

Target cells for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in intestinal tract, stomach, kidney, skin, pituitary, and parathyroid

After mature rats that had been fed on a vitamin D3-deficient diet were injected with tritium-labeled 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, radioactivity became concentrated in nuclei of luminal and cryptal epithelium of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon; in nuclei of the epithelium of kidney distal tubules including the macula densa, and in podocytes of glomeruli; in nuclei of the epidermis including outer hairshafts and sebaceous glands; and in nuclei of certain cells of the stomach, anterior and posterior pituitary, and parathyroid. These results reveal cell types that contain receptors for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or metabolites of this compound both in known or hypothesized target tissues and in tissues that were previously unknown to participate in vitamin D3 metabolism.     

Retina: pathology of neodymium and ruby laser burns

Chorioretinal lesions hiave been prodluced in monkeys during experitments with ruby and neodlymium lasers. Most of the energy from the ruby laser (wavelength 6943 angstroms) is absorbed by the pigment epithelium, where the greatest damage appears. With the neodymium laser (10,600 angstroms) the neural portions of the retina absorb more of damage than the pigment epithelium and adjacent tissues.     

Antibody to Rat Kidney: In vivo Effects of Univalent and Divalent Fragments

Whereas intact antibody to rat kidney (7S) produced immediate and sustained proteinuria in rats, univalent fragments (papain digests) of the antibody did not, and divalent fragments (pepsin digests) produced only transitory proteinuria. The antibody fragments differed from the intact antibody in fixing little, if any, complement in vivo which may explain why they did not cause serious renal damage.     

Identification of specific transducin alpha subunits in retinal rod and cone photoreceptors

Transducin is a guanyl nucleotide-binding protein that couples rhodopsin photolysis to hydrolysis of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate in rod photoreceptor cells of vertebrate retinas. Several complementary DNA clones encoding transducin subunits have recently been characterized. One clone, isolated from a bovine retina complementary DNA library, encodes a previously unidentified polypeptide with an amino acid sequence 78% identical to the sequence of the alpha subunit of bovine rod outer segment transducin. Antibodies to a synthetic peptide with amino acid sequence derived specifically from this novel polypeptide recognize a 41-kilodalton polypeptide in homogenates of bovine retina. Localization of this polypeptide in bovine retina by indirect immunofluorescence demonstrates that it is expressed only in cone outer segments. Antibodies to specific sequences found only in the rod transducin alpha subunit recognize a polypeptide localized only in the rod outer segment. Therefore, bovine rod and cone cells each express structurally related yet significantly different forms of transducin.     

Transfer of bilirubin uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase to enzyme-deficient rats

Cells from a clonal strain (MH(1)C(1)) of rat hepatoma were transplanted subcutaneously into two homozygous Gunn rats, which are jaundiced because the enzyme bilirubin uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase is absent from the liver. Because of the enzyme activity present in the transplanted cells, the recipient rats developed the capacity to conjugate bilirubin and reverted in large part to a normal pattern of bilirubin excretion.     

Identification of DNA sequence responsible for 5-bromodeoxyuridine-induced gene amplification

Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) treatment of the prolactin nonproducing subclone of GH cells (rat pituitary tumor cells) induces amplification of a 20-kilobase DNA fragment including all of the prolactin gene coding sequences. This amplified DNA segment, which is flanked by two unamplified regions, thus designates a unit of BrdUrd-induced amplified sequence. Cloned DNA segments, 10.3 kilobases long, from the 5' end of the rat prolactin gene of BrdUrd-responsive and -nonresponsive cells, were ligated to the thymidine kinase gene of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1TK), and the hybrid DNA was transferred to thymidine kinase-deficient mouse fibroblast cells by transfection. The HSV1TK gene and the rat prolactin gene were amplified together in drug-treated transfectants carrying the hybrid DNA HSV1TK gene and rat prolactin gene of BrdUrd-responsive GH cells. These results suggest that the 10.3-kilobase DNA segment at the 5' end of the rat prolactin gene of BrdUrd-responsive GH cells carries the information for drug-induced gene amplification (amplicon) and that another gene, such as the HSV1TK gene, is also amplified when the latter is placed adjacent to this segment.     

黄颡鱼胸腺显微结构的观察

描述了黄颡鱼胸腺的显微结构。黄颡鱼胸腺位于鳃腔背上角,紧贴在鳃腔上皮层之下,上耳咽匙肌之上。其组织结构可明显分为外区、中区和内区。外区主要由网状上皮细胞、柱状上皮细胞、黏液细胞组成;中区以大量深染致密的淋巴细胞为特征。在中区和内区均可见由2个或2个以上的内皮细胞围绕一个空腔或肥大细胞所构成的哈塞尔囊结构,Ⅱ龄鱼开始出现明显的脂肪退化。