We studied the cytochemical localization of particulate guanylate cyclase (GC) in rat adrenal gland after stimulation with porcine brain natriuretic peptide (pBNP) by electron microscopy. In the adrenal cortex, GC activity, as demonstrated by the presence of reaction product, was prevalently localized to the zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata, while the zona reticularis showed little GC reaction product. In the adrenal medulla, GC reaction product was present only in adrenalin-containing cells. All GC positivity was associated with intracellular membranes. No GC reaction product was detected in specimens incubated in media devoid of pBNP. In parallel samples incubated in the presence of rat atrial natriuretic factor (rANF), the distribution of rANF-stimulated GC activity was similar to that of pBNP-stimulated GC activity.

The “International Clean Energy System Technology Utilizing Hydrogen (World Energy Network)”: WE-NET is a research program directed at the development of the technologies needed build a hydrogen-based energy conversion system. It proposes to set up a world energy network to convert renewable energy, such as hydropower and solar energy, into a secondary and transportable form to supply the demand centers, and to make possible the utilization of existing power generation, transportation, town gas, etc. Within the framework of this program Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Hitachi and Westinghouse Power Corporation are working to develop an hydrogen-fueled combustion turbine system designed to meet the goals set by the WE-NET Program. The hydrogen–fueled power generation cycle will be able to satisfy the requirements of an efficiency based on the lower heating value higher than 70% and of reliability, availability and maintainability equivalent to current base-loaded natural gas-fired combined cycle. The use of hydrogen will eliminate emissions of CO2 and SOx and significantly reduce those of NOx. This paper presents a thermodynamic analysis of some concepts of hydrogen fuelled cycles which have been studied in the WE-NET program and makes a comparison of their performance