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M Leventhal

Publications and source records attributed to M Leventhal.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Ligand-induced movement of lymphocyte membrane macromolecules. II. Mapping of surface moieties.

Anti-immunoglobulin (Ig) coupled to ferritin or hemocyanin was used to map the distribution of Ig molecules on lymphocytes derived from bone marrow (B lymphocytes) by freeze-etching. The labeled anti-Ig was distributed all over the membrane in the form of random interconnected patches forming a lacy, continuous network. This was the pattern of lymphocytes labeled at 4 degrees C with the anti-Ig. After warming at 37 degrees C, the labeled molecules concentrated into a single area of the cell (forming the cap) and were rapidly internalized in small vesicles Freeze-etching showed close packing of the labeled molecules in the cap area. There was evidence that in the cap area the Ig molecules were exfoliated from the plane of the membrane, suggesting that the Ig may be superficial to the bilipid layer, or weakly anchored to the membrane. Similar studies were made using antibodies to histocompatibility antigens. Thymocytes were labeled with anti-H-2 and ferritin anti-Ig at 4 degrees C. Freeze-etching showed large patches scattered over the membrane and separated from each other by several thousand angstroms. This distribution may, in part, explain why H-2 antigens do not readily form a cap; the large patches are beyond the reach of even a double ligand (sandwich) reaction. The antigens that reacted with heterologous anti-lymphocyte globulin (ALG) were found in small noninterconnected clusters a few hundred angstroms apart. Such clusters presumably cannot be linked by a single antibody but can by a sandwich (ligand to ligand-antigen) reaction. In previous studies it was found that ALG antigens form a cap only after a sandwich reaction. Finally, the receptors for concanavalin A (Con A) were found in a lacy, irregular interconnected, random network. The spatial distribution of these moieties on the membrane may, in great part, determine their movement after reaction with one or two ligands.

Animals↗

Search for Positronium Lyman alpha-Radiation from Positrons Stopped in Inert Gases.

An attempt to detect the positronium Lyman alpha-radiation at 2430 A is reported. Positrons from an intense (64)Cu source (20 Ci) were stopped in high purity A, Ne, and He at pressures ranging from 0.01 to 3.0 atm. Light from the stopping region was collected by a large solid-angle light pipe and directed to a photomultiplier. Spectra were obtained by inserting a series of optical interference filters in front of the photomultiplier. Identical spectra were obtained with an intense electron emitter replacing the (64)Cu source. These results indicate that any Lyman alpha-radiation present at the photomultiplier is masked by a large background continuum associated with gas excitation processes. The data were employed to set an upper limit of 1 in 2000 on those positrons stopping in the gas which result in Lyman alpha-radiation.

Journal Article↗

Endothelial contraction induced by histamine-type mediators: an electron microscopic study.

Previous work has shown that endogenous chemical mediators, of which histamine is the prototype, increase the permeability of blood vessels by causing gaps to appear between endothelial cells. In the present paper, morphologic and statistical evidence is presented, to suggest that endothelial cells contract under the influence of mediators, and that this contraction causes the formation of intercellular gaps. Histamine, serotonin, and bradykinin were injected subcutaneously into the scrotum of the rat, and the vessels of the underlying cremaster muscle were examined by electron microscopy. To eliminate the vascular collapse induced by routine fixation, in one series of animals (including controls) the root of the cremaster was constricted for 2-4 min prior to sacrifice, and the tissues were fixed under conditions of mild venous congestion. Electron micrographs were taken of 599 nuclei from the endothelium of small blood vessels representing the various experimental situations. Nuclear deformations were classified into four types of increasing tightness (notches, foldsl closing folds, and pinches. In the latter the apposed surfaces of the nuclear membrane are in contact). It was found that: (1) venous congestion tends to straighten the nuclei in al groups; (2) mediators cause a highly significant increase in the number of pinches (P < 0.001), also if the vessels are distended by venous congestion; (3) fixation without venous congestion causes vascular collapse. The degree of endothelial recoil, as measured by nuclear pinches, is very different from that caused by mediators (P < 0.001). (4) Pinched nuclei are more frequent in leaking vessels, and in cells adjacent to gaps (P < 0.001); (5) mediators also induce, in the endothelium, cytoplasmic changes suggestive of contraction, and similar to those of contracted smooth muscle; (6) there is no evidence of pericyte contraction under the conditions tested. Occasional pericytes appeared to receive fine nerve endings. Various hypotheses to explain nuclear pinching are discussed; the only satisfactory explanation is that which requires endothelial contraction.

Animals↗

Spouses' body image changes during and after pregnancy: a replication and extension.

This longitudinal study replicated and extended an investigation of the relation between spouses' strength of identification and similarities in their patterns of change in body image components during and after pregnancy. The sample included 54 married couples. The results did not duplicate previous study findings of similarity in spouses' patterns of change in perceived body space. There were statistically significant changes in wives' perceived body space scores from the third month of pregnancy to the second postpartal month, but no changes in the husbands' perceived body space scores. Results upheld previous study findings of no relationship between spouses' strength of identification and similarities in their patterns of change in perceived body space. No changes were detected in either wives' or husbands' global body attitude scores, nor was there evidence of a relationship between spouses' strength of identification and similarity in their patterns of change in global body attitude.

Adult↗