The cytochemical localization of adenyl cyclase activity in rat sublingual gland

Adenyl cyclase activity in mucous acinar cells and serous demilune cells of the rat sublingual gland was localized cytochemically. After incubation with adenylyl-imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP) as substrate, deposits of reaction product are found along the cell membranes bordering the secretory surfaces of serous demilune cells. These are the membranes which participate directly in secretion by fusing with the granule membranes. The granule membranes of the demilune cells do not reveal reaction product, but the membranes of the granules which are fused with and become part of the cell membrane do show deposits. Thus, it appears that the cell membranes which fuse with granule membranes during secretion are associated with a high level of adenyl cyclase activity. In support of this, the luminal membranes of the mucous acinar cells which do not fuse with granule membranes during secretion are not associated with detectable amounts of adenyl cyclase activity.

Effects of 5-fluorouracil on exocrine glands. III. Fine structure of Brunner's glands of rats

Effects of a pyrimidine analogue, 5-fluorouracil (Fur), have been studied by electron microscopy and by electron microscopic cytochemical techniques. Previous studies have demonstrated that rats show serious gastrointestinal disturbances 5 days after 3 daily injections of FUR (50 mg/kg). The present investigation demonstrates that Brunner's glands under the same conditions suffer certain cytological changes involving the Golgi apparatus, where a notable reduction in the number of Golgi stacks is observed. The vacuolar components in the Golgi complex appear empty. Cytochemical localizations of uridine diphosphatase and thiamine pyrophosphatase activities, however, are normal. The reaction products are localized in the distal two or three lamellae of the Golgi stack and within the secretory granules nearby. In addition reaction products are present along the apical plasma membrane on the luminal side, suggesting a possible movement of these membranes from the Golgi stack, via secretory granules, to the apical plasma membrane.

Secretory protein synthesis in the stimulated rat parotid gland. Temporal dissociation of the maximal response from secretion

Administration of the beta-adrenergic drug, isoproterenol (IPR), affects the release of 98% of stored amylase from rat parotid gland acinar cells. A period of 6 h elapses from the onset of secretion to the maximum [(14)C]phenylalanine (Phe) incorporation into total protein and amylase. 10 h after IPR administration the rate of [(14)C]Phe incorporation into total protein was no longer elevated above that of control. Incorporation into amylase, however, remained elevated above the control by 2.3 times. This latent period may reflect: (a) reduced amounts of available ATP which occurs as a result of the process of secretion as well as (b) the time required for reorganization of cellular organelles and membranes after secretion. The latent period after IPR-induced secretion appears similar to the latent period which has recently been reported to occur after physiologic release of amylase from the parotid gland during the diurnal feeding cycle of the rat. These observations support the existence of a positive feedback system operant in the parotid acinar cell linking the release of secretory proteins with their synthesis. The period of greatest protein synthesis is, however, temporally dissociated from the secretory process.

Studies on hypoxia. II. Autoradiographic quantitation of proline-3H incorporation by connective tissue cells of the neonatal hamster

Quantitative evaluation of autoradiographic grains from anoxia-treated and control neonatal hamster indicated that anoxia impairs collagen synthesis and significantly suppresses the incorporation of proline-sH in the odontoblast, fibroblast, and osteoblast by 24 hours after the insult. However, the rapid and apparently total recovery of the dental and paradental connective tissue cells suggests that anomalies of dentition, heretofore attributed to brief spells of anoxia at birth, may not be due to such a hypoxic insult during the perinatal period.