Layer-specific morphological and molecular differences in neocortical astrocytes and their dependence on neuronal layers

Non-pial neocortical astrocytes have historically been thought to comprise largely a nondiverse population of protoplasmic astrocytes. Here we show that astrocytes of the mouse somatosensory cortex manifest layer-specific morphological and molecular differences. Two- and three-dimensional observations revealed that astrocytes in the different layers possess distinct morphologies as reflected by differences in cell orientation, territorial volume, and arborization. The extent of ensheathment of synaptic clefts by astrocytes in layer II/III was greater than that by those in layer VI. Moreover, differences in gene expression were observed between upper-layer and deep-layer astrocytes. Importantly, layer-specific differences in astrocyte properties were abrogated in reeler and Dab1 conditional knockout mice, in which neuronal layers are disturbed, suggesting that neuronal layers are a prerequisite for the observed morphological and molecular differences of neocortical astrocytes. This study thus demonstrates the existence of layer-specific interactions between neurons and astrocytes, which may underlie their layer-specific functions

Preliminary studies on the quality and usability of wheat in early stages of kernel maturity

Anticipating the wide possibilities of different applications of immature cereal grain, the examination of the samples of winter wheat grain, collected in 6 stages from flowering to wax maturity was carried out in 1993. It was found that the degree of the kernel's fulfillment and its biochemical state (mainly the state of carbohydrate and protein complexes) in 30-40 days after flowering was the most suitable for utilisation of immature grain in various applications.Przewidując szerokie możliwości różnorodnego wykorzystania niedojrzałego ziarna zbóż, przeprowadzono badania próbek ziarna pszenicy ozimej pobranych w 1993 r. w sześciu terminach od kwitnienia do dojrzałości woskowej. Określono, że po 30-40 dniach od kwitnienia stopień wypełnienia ziarniaka i jego stan biochemiczny (głównie stan kompleksów węglowodanowego i białkowego) jest odpowiedni dla wykorzystania ziarna niedojrzałego do różnego rodzaju zastosowań