The pancreatic islet system of the rock bass /|nby Edward Francis Squires. -- 260 St. Catharines, Ont. : [s. n.],

The endocrine pancreas of the rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) was examined by light and electron microscopy. Two cell types with staining properties similar to mammalian A and B cells, and a third, non-staining cell type were found in the spherical pancreatic islets that were surrounded by a connective tissue capsule and embedded in two small masses of exocrine tissue. From an analysis of the ultrastructure of the A and B cells, a secretory cycle for each of these cell types was proposed. The secretory cycle of the A cell consisted of three well defined stages: (1) A cell production stage: during which A granule formation occurred in the sacs of the Golgi apparatus and the cell was characterized by the presence of numerous secretory granules, some elements of lamellar endoplasmic reticulum, and a homogeneously granular nucleus. The cytoplasm contained few distended cisternae, variable numbers of free ribosomes, microtubules and small vesicles. (2) A cell release stage: during which the release of A granules occurred and the cell usually contained several large distended cisternae and variable numbers of secretory granules. Granule release mechanisms included exocytosis, by which individual granules were released into the extracellular space after their membranes fused with the plasmalemma, and emiocytosis, by which one or more granules were released into a large cisterna whose membrane fused with the plasmalemma and formed a pore through which the cisternal contents passed out of the cell. (3) A cell reorganization stage: during which the changeover from the release stage to the production stage occurred and the reorganization of organelles and membrane structures took place. The cell contained few secretory granules and numerous small endoplasmic reticular cisternae. The cytoplasm exhibited less electron density than either of the other two stages. The A granule after formation underwent a series of morphological changes which were described in four numerically identified phases. The secretory cycle of the B cell consisred of two stages: (1) B cell production stage: during which the B granule formation occurred in the sacs of the Go1gi apparatus. The cell was characterized by an irregular outline, the presence of numerous secretory granules, and an irregularly shaped nucleus which contained variable amounts of clumped chromatin. The cytoplasm contained moderate amounts of lamellar endoplasmic reticulum studded with ribosomes, several small vesicles, and an active Go1gi apparatus. (2) B cell release stage: during which the release of B granules occurred. The cell contained a rounded nucleus with dispersed chromatin, several distended endoplasmic reticular cisternae and a variable number of secretory granules. Granule release occu~ by emiocytosis and exocytosis similar to that found for the A cell.

Electrogenic proton/L-glutamate symport in isolated asparagus sprengeri mesophyll cell

Medium' alkaliniiation occurred -lipon the addition of L-Glu to mechanically isolated Asparagus sprenger-i mesophyll cells suspended in 1 mM CaS04. Alkalinization resulted from the coupled entry of H+ and L-Glu anion into the cells. This H+ IL-Glu symport did not stimulate K+ efflux. K+ efflux has been observed during H~ lamino acid symport in other systems. The stimulation of K+ efflux by proton coupled symport is regarded as an indicator of a plasma membrane depolarizing electrogenic symport process. H+ IL-Glu symport in Asparagus sprengerimesophyl1 cells was investigated to determine whether or not the process was electrogenic. The rate of uptake of 0.25 11M 3H-MTPP+ ( Methyltriphenylphosphonium, methyl-3H ) is a probe for monitoring changes in the membrane potential. 3HMTPP+ uptake was reduced by K+ or CCCP, agents known to depolarize the membrane potential. Uptake of 3H-MTPP+ was also inhibited by L-Glu but not by D-Glu. Conversely, 10 mM external MTPP+ inhibited the uptake of 14C-U-LGlu. Simultaneous measurements of the rates of 14C-U-L-Glu uptake and L-Glu dependent H+ influx showed that the molar stoichiometry of H+ IL-Glu symport was 2 to 1. K+ or Na+ stimulated H+ efflux was completely inhibited by DCCD, DES, oligomycin and antimycin reagents which inhibit ATP driven H+ efflux. The H+ efflux \Vas also stimulate.d by the weak acids, butyric acid and acetic acid, which are known fo-aCidify the cytoplasm. This weak acid stimulated H+ efflux was also completely inhibited by oligomycin. It was calculated that net L-Glu dependent H+ influx increased by 100% in the presence of oligomycin and that despite net medium alkalinization H+ IL-Glu symport stimulates ATP dependent H+ efflux. 11 The data presented in this study indicate that H+ IL-Glu symport is electrogenic. The data also show that ATP dependent Ht efflux rather than K+ efflux is the- process compensating for thi~ electrogenic H+ IL-Glu symport.

GABA accumulation and the hypersensitive response in isolated mesophyll cells treated with the G protein activator mastoparan

GABA (y-amino butyric acid) is a non-protein amino acid synthesized through the a-decarboxylation of L-glutamate. This reaction is catalyzed by L-glutamate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.15), a cytosolic Ca2+/calmodulin-stimulated enzyme. The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not GABA accumulation is associated with the hypersensitive response of isolated Asparagus sprengeri mesophyll cells. The addition of 25 J.lM mastoparan, a G protein activator, to suspensions of isolated asparagus mesophyll cells significantly increased GABA synthesis and cell death. Cell death was assessed using Evan's blue dye and fluorescein diacetate tests for cell viability. In addition, mastoparan stimulated pH-dependent alkalinization of the external medium, and a rapid and large 02 consumption followed by a loss of photosynthetic activity. The rate of 02 consumption and the net decrease in 02 in the dark was enhanced by light. The inactive mastoparan analogue Mas17 was ineffective in stimulating GABA accumulation, medium alkalinization, 02 uptake and cell death. Accumulation of H202 in response tomastoparan was not detected, however, mastoparan caused the cell-dependent degradation of added H202. The pH dependence of mastoparan-stimulated alkalinization suggests cellular electrolyte leakage, while the consumption of 02 corresponds to the oxidative burst in which 02 at the cell surface is reduced to form various active oxygen species. The results are indicative of the "hypersensitive response" of plants to pathogen attack, namely, the death of cells in the locality of pathogen invasion. The data are compatible with a model in which mastoparan triggers G protein activity, subsequent intracellular signal transduction pathway/s, and the hypersensitive response. It is postulated that the physiological elicitation of the hypersensitive response involves G protein signal transduction. The synthesis of GABA during the hypersensitive response has not been documented previously; however the role/s of GABA synthesis in the hypersensitive response, if any, remain unclear.

L-Glutamate uptake, decarboxylation to -aminobutyric acid and GABA efflux in isolated Asparagus sprengeri mesophyll cells

Addition of L-glutamate caused alkalinization of the medium surrounding Asparagus spreng.ri mesophyll cells. This suggests a H+/L-glutmate symport uptake system for L-glutamate. However stoichiometries of H+/L-glutamate symport into Asparagus cells were much higher than those in other plant systems. Medium alkalinization may also result from a metabolic decarboxylation process. Since L-glutmate is decarboxylated to r-amino butyric acid (SABA) in this system, the origin of medium alkalinization was reconsidered. Suspensions of mechanically isolated and photosyntheically competent Asparagus sprengeri mesophyll cells were used to investigate the H+/L-glutamate symport system, SABA production, GABA transport, and the origin of L-glutamate dependent medium alkalinization. The major results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. L-Glutamate and GABA were the second or third most abundant amino acids in these cells. Cellular concentrations of L-glutamate were 1.09 mM and 1.31 mM in the light and dark, respectively. Those of SABA were 1.23 mM and 1.17 mM in the light and dark, respectively. 2. Asparagine was the most abundant amino acid in xylem sap and comprised 54 to 68 1. of the amino acid pool on a molar basis. GABA was the second most abundant amino acid and represented 10 to 11 1. of the amino acid pool. L-Slutamate was a minor component. 3. A 10 minute incubation with 1 mM L-glutamate increased the production of GABA in the medium by 2,743 7. and 2,241 7. in the light and dark, respectively. 4. L-Glutamate entered the cells prior to decarboxylation. 5. There was no evidence for a H+/GABA symport process • 6. GABA was produced by loss of carbon-1 of L-glutamate. 7. The specific activity of newly synthesized labeled GABA suggests that it is not equilibrated with a storage pool of GABA. 8. The mechanism of GABA efflux appears to be a passive process. 9. The evidence indicates that the origin of L-glutamate dependent medium alkalinization is a H+/L-glutamate symport not an extracellular decarboxylation. The possible role of GABA production in regulating cytoplasmic pH and L-glutamate levels during rapid electrogenic H+/L-glutamate symport is discussed.

Active isolated stretching : an investigation of the mechanical mechanisms

The Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) technique proposes that by contracting a muscle (agonist) the opposite muscle (antagonist) will relax through reciprocal inhibition and lengthen without increasing muscle tension (Mattes, 2000). The clinical effectiveness of AIS has been reported but its mechanism of action has not been investigated at the tissue level. Proposed mechanisms for increased range of motion (ROM) include mechanical or neural changes, or an increased stretch tolerance. The purpose of the study was to investigate changes in mechanical properties, i.e. stiffness, of skeletal muscle in response to acute and long-term AIS stretching for the hamstring muscle group. Recreationally active university-aged students (female n=8, male n=2) classified as having tight hamstrings, by a knee extension test, volunteered for the study. All stretch procedures were performed on the right leg, with the left leg serving as a control. Each subject was assessed twice: at an initial session and after completing a 6-week AIS hamstring stretch training program. For both test sessions active knee extension (ROM) to a position of "light irritation", passive resisted torque and stiffness were determined before and after completion of the AIS technique (2x10 reps). Data were collected using a Biodex System 3 Pro (Biodex Medical Systems, NY, USA) isokinetic dynamometer. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to monitor vastus lateralis (VL) and hamstring muscle activity during the stretching movements. Between test sessions, 2x10 reps of the AIS bent knee hamstring stretch were performed daily for 6-weeks.

Higher PLIN5 but not PLIN3 content in isolated skeletal muscle mitochondria following acute in vivo contraction in rat hindlimb

Contraction-mediated lipolysis increases the association of lipid droplets and mitochondria, indicating an important role in the passage of fatty acids from lipid droplets to mitochondria in skeletal muscle. PLIN3 and PLIN5 are of particular interest to the lipid droplet–mitochondria interaction because PLIN3 is able to move about within cells and PLIN5 associates with skeletal muscle mitochondria. This study primarily investigated: 1) if PLIN3 is detected in skeletal muscle mitochondrial fraction; and 2) if mitochondrial protein content of PLIN3 and/or PLIN5 changes following stimulated contraction. A secondary aim was to determine if PLIN3 and PLIN5 associate and whether this changes following contraction. Male Long Evans rats (n = 21;age, 52 days; weight = 317 6 g) underwent 30 min of hindlimb stimulation (10 msec impulses, 100 Hz/3 sec at 10–20 V; train duration 100 msec). Contraction induced a ~50% reduction in intramuscular lipid content measured by oil red-O staining of red gastrocnemius muscle. Mitochondria were isolated from red gastrocnemius muscle by differential centrifugation and proteins were detected by western blotting. Mitochondrial PLIN5 content was ~1.6-fold higher following 30 min of contraction and PLIN3 content was detected in the mitochondrial fraction, and unchanged following contraction. An association between PLIN3 and PLIN5 was observed and remained unaltered following contraction. PLIN5 may play a role in mitochondria during lipolysis, which is consistent with a role in facilitating/regulating mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. PLIN3 and PLIN5 may be working together on the lipid droplet and mitochondria during contraction-induced lipolysis.