Localisation of potassium pumps in Drosophila ovarian follicles

It has been shown previously that, in Drosophila oogenesis, potassium ions are important for bioelectric phenomena as well as for other physiological and developmental processes. In the present study we determined the spatial distribution and activity of the Na+,K+)-pump and of ouabain-insensitive K+ pumps in plasma membranes of vitellogenic ovarian follicles (stage 10). We used the light microscopic anthroylouabain method as well as the cytochemical lead and cerium precipitation methods in combination with electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). (Na+,K+)-ATPase activity was predominantly observed on the oolemma as well as on the membranes of the columnar follicle cells covering the oocyte, whereas on the membranes of the nurse cells and of the squamous follicle cells covering the nurse cells the activity was very low. The highest activity of the (Na+,K+)-pump was found at the anterior and posterior ends of the oocyte, and this on the oolemma as well as on the membranes of the follicle cells located here. Strong activity of the ouabain-insensitive K+-pumps was observed on most of the oolemma (except at the anterior of the oocyte) and on the membranes of some nurse cells located next to the oocyte, whereas less activity was found on the other nurse cell membranes and on the membranes of all follicle cells. The suitability of the different methods used for determining the localisation as well as the activity of K+-pumps is discussed. We further discuss the nature of the ouabain-insensitive K+ pumps and the relevance of the observed distribution of K+-pumps for K+ uptake, extrafollicular ionic current flow, intercellular signalling and other developmental processes in Drosophila oogenesis.     

Gradient reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled on-line to receptor-affinity detection based on the urokinase receptor

A postcolumn receptor-affinity detection (RAD) was developed for the detection of urokinase and cross-reactive compounds. The analytical method consisted of gradient reversed-phase HPLC coupled on-line to a RAD system based on fluorescein-labelled urokinase receptor (fluorescein-uPAR) as reagent. Fluorescein-uPAR was added continuously to the HPLC effluent to react with analytes eluting from the LC column. Unreacted fluorescein-uPAR was removed by a short affinity column packed with an immobilised urokinase support. The analyte-bound fluorescein-uPAR fraction passes the affinity column unretained and was detected downstream by means of a fluorescence detector. An absolute detection limit of 40 fmol urokinase was obtained in the flow injection mode. In the gradient HPLC-RAD system a detection limit of 40 nM (20-microl injection, absolute amount, 800 fmol) was obtained. The present method allowed the identification of active breakdown products of urokinase both in standard samples and biological matrices.     

The cholinergic system in rat testis is of non-neuronal origin

The cholinergic system consists of acetylcholine (ACh), its synthesising enzyme, choline acetyltransferase (CHAT), transporters such as the high-affinity choline transporter (SLC5A7; also known as ChT1), vesicular ACh transporter (SLC18A3; also known as VAChT), organic cation transporters (SLC22s; also known as OCTs), the nicotinic ACh receptors (CHRN; also known as nAChR) and muscarinic ACh receptors. The cholinergic system is not restricted to neurons but plays an important role in the structure and function of non-neuronal tissues such as epithelia and the immune system. Using molecular and immunohistochemical techniques, we show in this study that non-neuronal cells in the parenchyma of rat testis express mRNAs for Chat, Slc18a3, Slc5a7 and Slc22a2 as well as for the CHRN subunits in locations completely lacking any form of innervation, as demonstrated by the absence of protein gene product 9.5 labelling. We found differentially expressed mRNAs for eight α and three β subunits of CHRN in testis. Expression of the α7-subunit of CHRN was widespread in spermatogonia, spermatocytes within seminiferous tubules as well as within Sertoli cells. Spermatogonia and spermatocytes also expressed the α4-subunit of CHRN. The presence of ACh in testicular parenchyma (TP), capsule and isolated germ cells could be demonstrated by HPLC. Taken together, our results reveal the presence of a non-neuronal cholinergic system in rat TP suggesting a potentially important role for non-neuronal ACh and its receptors in germ cell differentiation.     

On the Principles of Printing Sub‐micrometer 3D Structures from Dielectric‐Liquid‐Based Colloids

Dielectrophoresis‐assisted (DEP) on‐demand printing of dielectric‐liquid‐based colloidal gold under room conditions is demonstrated and employed to print 2D and 3D structures with sub‐micrometer feature sizes. The focus of the work is primarily on explaining the physics of the printing process, based on the formation of a controlled sequence of sub‐micrometer drops. The physics of 3D structure formation on the substrate is explained through the visualization and analysis of various time‐scales relevant to the printing process and the pinning of the contact line of the printed colloids. A parametric variation of the related variables, namely the applied voltage and the pulse length, is used to investigate the morphology and topography of a host of basic, printable 2D and 3D features. It is established that it is possible to obtain uniform particle deposits in 2D by filling up an initial coffee‐ring‐type non‐uniform deposit with a series of subsequently formed drops, all obtained during a single electric pulse. Finally, on‐demand production of multilayered, sub‐micrometer gold tracks is demonstrated, where the annealed tracks exhibit exceptionally low electrical resistivity for their sizes, only two times higher than that of bulk gold.