The effects produced by prefixation treatments on cells in metaphase from 10-day mouse fetuses and from several embryonic stages of the frog were investigated. The technical value of some of these pretreatments is noted. Pretreatment with isotonic solutions (both ionic and non-ionic in the case of the mouse, ionic only in the frog) generally produced a similar effect, viz., chromosomal swelling...

Development of factor VIII (fVIII)-neutralizing antibodies, called inhibitors, is a challenging problem in the management of hemophilia A patients. We explored the possibility of pretreatment with apoptotic fVIII-expressing embryonic stem (ES) cells to prevent the development of fVIII inhibitors. Murine ES cells integrated with the human F8 gene were differentiated into embryoid bodies, dissoci...

Soil alkalization triggers ion toxicity and osmotic alkaline (high pH) stresses in plants, damaging their growth productivity. Therefore, we investigated whether priming with abscisic acid (ABA) increases the tolerance of alfalfa seedlings to stress, then examined underlying molecular mechanisms. Alfalfa were pretreated ABA (10 μM) for 16 h subjected stress using a 15 mM Na2CO3 solution (pH 10....

The effects of osmotic stress on chloride (CI-) currents in the human neuroblastoma cell line CHP-100 were evaluated. Following exposure to hypoosmotic solution, an increase in whole-cell CI- current was observed. This current was blocked by the CI- channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (NPPB). In cells loaded with the CI- permeability marker 125I, exposure to hypoosmotic...

We have previously shown that PGE(2) and PGI(2) induce recovery of transepithelial resistance (TER) in ischemia-injured porcine ileal mucosa, associated with initial increases in Cl(-) secretion. We believe that the latter generates an osmotic gradient that stimulates resealing of tight junctions. Because of evidence implicating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in regulating tight junction ...

The effects of chilling temperatures, in light or dark, on the isolated thylakoids and leaf discs of cucumber (Cucumis sativa L. "Marketer") and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. "Bloomsdale") were studied. The pretreatment of isolated thylakoids and leaf discs at 4 C in the dark did not affect the phenazine methosulfate-dependent phosphorylation, proton uptake, osmotic response to sucrose, Ca(2+)-...

Maize (Zes mays L.) embryos, isolated from the developing seed and incubated in dilute buffer, show reduced triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis, and accumulation stops after 24 h. Synthesis and accumulation can be maintained at high levels if the incubation medium contains abscisic acid (ABA) and/or a high osmotic concentration. Radiolabeled free fatty acids accumulate at higher levels in embryos t...

We examined the effects of treatment with rHuTNF on food consumption and body weight in C3H/HeJ mice. rHuTNF was administered intraperitoneally either by injections of 3, 12, or 24 micrograms twice a day or by implantation of osmotic pumps that released 0.75, 3, or 12 micrograms per day. Dose-dependent reductions in both food intake and weight were induced by rHuTNF. However, in spite of contin...

Amorphophallus paeoniifolius known as Elephant foot yam is a highly potential tropical tuber crop of Areace family. The tubers are rich in nutrients. It is a healthy low-fat food containing a good source of protein as well as starch. It is a natural product that is high in fiber, rich in potassium, calcium (50 mg g-1), phosphorus (34 mg g-1) vitamin A (260 IU g-1), vitamin B6, as well as with t...