[The influence of vagotomy on stomach endocrine cells in rat]

The effects of unilateral truncal vagotomy (UTV) and bilateral truncal vagotomy (BTV) on antrum EC cells, G cells and oxyntic gland area argyrophil cells were studied in rats by using immunohistochemistry processes, Grimelius argyrophil stain and microscopic image analysis technique.

RESULTS

(1) In UTV animals, two weeks postoperation, the sectional areas of EC cells were significantly smaller in denervated side than In the other side (17%, P less than 0.05). In the innervated side of antrum, the sectional areas of EC cells were larger than those in controls (13.5%, P less than 0.05). But, five weeks after UTV, the size of EC cells was not significantly different in all animals. These suggest that vagal denervation can inhibit relatively the functional activity in a short period, but this inhibition could be compensated later. (2) There were no morphological changes in G cells of UTV rats. In BTV animals, the quantity of G cells in antrum increased by 36.2% (P less than 0.05) and their sectional areas were larger than those in sham by 26.2% (P less than 0.05). These indicate that the function of G cells is more active in BTV animals and the functional change of G cells is related to the pH value of gastric juice. (3) In UTV rats, the oxyntic gland area argyrophil cells (ECL cells are dominant) were significantly reduced in two weeks (26.8%, P less than 0.01) and in five weeks (20.1%, P less than 0.05) in denervated side after UTV. The cells became smaller also. These suggest that vagus can influence the function, proliferation and growth of ECL cells.

Modified method of mammalian cell synchronization improves yield and degree of synchronization

A modified method to synchronize CHO and HeLa cells is developed based upon a combined shaking-off and chemical blockage. This method has effectively blocked quiescent cells, which is the main obstacle of high degree synchronization. Flow-cytometry data show the improvement on the degree of synchronization and yield compared to two previously used methods.

Changes in serum cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) activity in rats consuming a high-fat diet

Adult male rats were fed on a control diet containing (g/kg) carbohydrate 600, lipid 35 and protein 190, or on a high-fat diet containing carbohydrate 360, lipid 420 and protein 120. After 30 d, the high-fat diet provoked a decrease in serum cholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) activity which was reversed by feeding rats on the control diet. The observed decrease after 90 d on the high-fat diet was not seen if a simultaneous daily intraperitoneal injection of a lipotrophic agent containing (mg/kg) S-adenosyl-L-methionine 3, coenzyme A 0.1, UDP-glucose 30 and CDP-choline 1.5 was given to rats on the high-fat diet. The findings are discussed in relation to the apparent susceptibility of serum cholinesterase to dietary components and its possible role in lipid metabolism.

Structure of [Mg(HO3PCH(C6H5)2)2].8H2O, a layered phosphonate salt

Bis(hydrogen diphenylmethylphosphonato)-magnesium octahydrate, [Mg(C13H12O3P)2].8H2O. Mr = 662.85, triclinic, P1, a = 6.1051 (15), b = 8.8308(14), c = 15.312(3) A, alpha = 78.514(13), beta = 83.993(11), gamma = 75.772(15) degrees, V = 782.8(3) A3, Z = 1, Dx = 1.41 g cm-3 (163 K), Mo K alpha, lambda = 0.71069 A, mu = 2.171 cm-1, F(000) = 350, T = 163 K, R = 0.0351 for 3749 reflections [F0 greater than or equal to 4 sigma(F0)]. The structure consists of alternating polar and nonpolar layers stacked along the crystallographic c axis. The polar layers contain Mg(H2O)26+ ions, water of hydration and the phosphonate O atoms, and the nonpolar layers contain the benzhydryl groups. Two-dimensional hydrogen-bonding networks link Mg(H2O)26+ and the water of hydration to the phosphonate O atoms. The shortest hydrogen bonds in the structure, 1.68(2) A, connect the P-OH H atom and the water of hydration. Slightly longer contacts [1.79(2), 1.85(2), 1.91(2), 1.92(2) A] connect the phosphonate O atoms (O1 and O3) to the H atoms of the Mg(H2O)26+ group. The coordination environment of the Mg atom is a very nearly regular octahedron of water O atoms.