Rate of tryptophan hydroxylation in vivo in brain nuclei of genetically hypertensive rats of the Lyon strain

Summary The rate of tryptophan hydroxylation in vivo is unaltered in brain areas of 5, 9 and 21 week-old Lyon genetically Hypertensive (LH) rats as compared to both Lyon Normotensive (LN) and Low Blood Pressure (LL) rats, except for a decrease in the C1 area of the medulla oblongata in 9 week-old animals.Acknowledgment. The authors wish to thank Dr M.F. Belin, Dr J.F. Pujol and Mrs J. Sacquet for their help during this study. This work was supported by the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale Française and the C.N.R.S.     

Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in a new strain of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Summary The serum dopamine--hydroxylase (DBH) activity is higher in 5-week-old rats of the Lyon Hypertensive strain than in rats of the Lyon Normotensive strain. This difference disappears in older animals when the hypertension is developed, while the DBH activity decreases in the both strains.This work was supported by grants from DGRST (77.7.1930), CNRS (RCP 080.469, ATP A651-3358), INSERM (15.75.38) and the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale Française.     

Myofibroblasts in hepatic schistosomal fibrosis

Summary Myofibroblasts were identified in liver portal spaces of patients with Symmers' fibrosis following infection by Schistosoma mansoni.Acknowledgments. This research was supported by a grant from U.E.R. (Human Biology) Claude Bernard University, Lyon (France), and by the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (Brazil). Thanks are due to Mrs Pavans de Ceccatty for her skillful technical assistance.     

An inbreeding sensitivity gene inDrosophila melanogaster

Summary Experiments are reported which tend to support the hypothesis that a single gene or gene complex may be responsible for inbreeding depression. The gene is located on the third chromosome.I thank R. Grantham and J.M. Legay (Lyon, France), C. Krimbas (Athens, Greece), D. Mohler (USA) and especially R. Milkman (USA) for helpful criticism and suggestions. The Laboratoire de Biométrie is associated with CNRS Laboratory No. 243.     

Beta-adrenergic receptors in rat myocardium: direct detection by a new fluorescent beta-blocker.

A new fluorescent beta-blocker, 9-amino-acridin propranolol (9-AAP), was administered i.v. to rats. Multiple fluorescent 9-AAP binding sites were observed on cardiac muscle cells in frozen sections. Intensity and density of cardiac 9-AAP fluorescence were markedly reduced following pretreatment with (+/-)- and (-)-propranolol but not with (+)-propranolol. Our findings suggest that 9-AAP may label beta-adrenergic receptor sites in rat myocardium.     

Effect of epinephrine upon irreversible disposal and recycling of glucose in dogs

Summary Irreversible utilization and recycling of glucose during epinephrine-induced hyperglycemia were studied in adrenal-demedullated dogs exposed to neutral or cold ambient temperature. Whatever the ambient temperature, most of the extra glucose mobilized by epinephrine is recycled rather than irreversibly utilized by the peripheral tissues.This work was supported by a grant from Université Claude Bernard (U.E.R. Lyon Nord and U.E.R. Biologie Humaine).J. Schellhorn was on leave from the University of Chile. The authors thank D. Rougier and G. Dallevet for their excellent technical assistance.     

Tolerance to cold and glucose homeostasis in adrenal demedullated dogs

Summary The rise in O₂ consumption and in glucose turnover, induced by acute cold exposure is not suppressed by adrenal demedullation in dogs. However, both at neutral and cold ambient temperature, the mean plasma glucose concentrations are higher in normal (N) than in adrenal-demedullated dogs (ADMX). In the cold, the fall in rectal temperature is larger in ADMX than in N dogs.This work was supported by a grant from Université Claude Bernard (U.E.R. Lyon Nord and U.E.R. Biologie Humaine).The authors thank D. Rougier and G. Dallevet for their excellent technical assistance and A. Brillant for secreterial assistance.     

Zur Biosynthese von Biopterin in Säugetieren

Summary Biosynthesis of biopterin in mice and rats was studied. After vascular injection of¹⁴C-GTP (U) in mice and rats, radioactive biopterin was isolated from the urine. The specific radioactivity of 6-carboxypterin obtained by oxidation of biopterin was proved to be 7/9 that of biopterin. The result definitely shows that biopterin is biosynthesized from GTP in mice and rats, and the sidechain of biopterin is derived directly from the ribose moiety of GTP.     

Hyperprolactinemia and estrogen-induced rhythms in LH and prolactin release in the ovariectomized rat

Short-term (9 days) hyperprolactinemia induced by pituitary grafts reduced basal plasma LH levels in ovariectomized rats whereas long-term (31 days) grafts increased basal LH levels. Although long-term grafts inhibited estradiol-induced prolactin surges, hyperprolactinemia had no effect on the LH surge. It is concluded that the estrogen-treated ovariectomized rat is not suitable for studying the effects of hyperprolactinemia on LH release.     

Effect of pretreatment with acetylsalicylate on surgical bleeding and peroperative mortality in rats undergoing kidney transplantation.

42 rats were pretreated with L-ASA before kidney transplantation, 43 rats acted as controls. 9 rats with L-ASA, but no control rats, died with i.p. haemorrhage. However, in animals surviving the operation, the intraoperative blood loss did not differ significantly between the 2 groups.     

Hyperprolactinemia and estrogen-induced rhythms in LH and prolactin release in the ovariectomized rat

Summary Short-term (9 days) hyperprolactinemia induced by pituitary grafts reduced basal plasma LH levels in ovariectomized rats whereas long-term (31 days) grafts increased basal LH levels. Although long-term grafts inhibited estradiol-induced prolactin surges, hyperprolactinemia had no effect on the LH surge. It is concluded that the estrogen-treated ovariectomized rat is not suitable for studying the effects of hyperprolactinemia on LH release.     

Galactose and leucine transport in the developing rat small intestine

Summary Jejunal transport of galactose and leucine was studied in 9-45-day-old rats by means of the everted sac technique. Maximum transport was observed in 9-10-day-old rats, but then decreased until the 22nd day, and remained unchanged from then on. There were no remarkable differences in the pattern of galactose and leucine transport over this period.     

Effect of pretreatment with acetylsalicylate on surgical bleeding and peroperative mortality in rats undergoing kidney transplantation

Summary 42 rats were pretreated with L-ASA before kidney transplantation, 43 rats acted as controls. 9 rats with L-ASA. but no control rats, died with i.p. haemorrhage. However, in animals surviving the operation, the intraoperative blood loss did not differ significantly between the 2 groups.     

Cell surface protease activity of human lymphocytes; its inhibition by α 1-antitrypsin

Summary Using isotopically-labelled casein as substrate, a surface-associated protease activity was demonstrated on human peripheral blood and tonsil lymphocytes. It was greater in T-depleted than in T-enriched suspensions. It could be inhibited by 1-antitrypsin purified from human serum.This work was supported by the University Lyon I (Unité de Biologie Humaine).     

Place de la prolyl hydroxylase dans la synthèse du collagène de cellules KB

Summary KB cells, which synthetized collagen at a low rate, shown a prolyl hydroxylase activity at the same rate that fibroblast. The relationship between collagen synthesis and prolyl hydroxylase activity in these cells was discussed.

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Ce travail a bénéficié d'une aide du CNRS (AI n^o 031218 et RCP n^o 08533) et de l'U.E.R. de Biologie Humaine de l'Université de Lyon.     

益气化瘀化痰法对肺纤维化大鼠肺组织结构及血清MMP-9、TIMP-1的影响

目的 观察益气化瘀化痰法(YHH)对肺纤维化大鼠肺组织结构、血清基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMPO)和金属蛋白酶组织抑制物-1(TIMP-1)水平的影响,探讨其防治肺纤维化的可能机制.方法 健康SD大鼠采用博来霉素建立肺纤维化模型,随机分成7组:正常对照组(Z组)、模型组(M组)、氢化可的松组(QK组)、益气组(YQ组)、化瘀组(HY组)、化痰组(HT组)、益气化瘀化痰组(YHH组).HE、Masson染色光镜观察肺组织病理形态变化;电镜观察肺组织超微结构变化;酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测血清MMP-9、TIMP-1含量.结果 1)与M组比较,各治疗组均能减少肺间质胶原沉积,减轻肺纤维化程度,尤以YHH组较为明显2)与Z组比较,M组血清MMP-9水平有所升高,TIMP-1水平显著升高,MMP-9/TIMP-1比值降低(P＜0.05);与M组比较,各治疗组均能升高血清MMP-9水平,降低TIMP-1水平,升高MMP-9/TIMP-1比值,以YHH组作用更显著(P＜0.05).结论 益气化瘀化痰法可能在一定程度上通过调整MMP-9/TIMP-1的比值,使其趋于平衡,从而延缓肺纤维化的进程.     

Ovarian HCG-binding in hemicastrated immature female rats

Summary Hemigonadectomy in 9-day-old female rats results in a drastic increase in the weight and the number of HCG-binding sites of the remaining ovary during further development. However, on a per mg basis of ovarian weight, the number of HCG-receptors is identical in hemicastrated and control rats.     

Suramin stimulates renal growth in the rat

Summary Suramin given to rats in a single high dose (20 mg/100 g i.v.) stimulated renal growth. Maximum changes are taking place after 6–9 days of treatment.Suramin (Bayer 205) was generously provided by bayer (Leverkusen, Federal Republic of Germany).The authors thank Miss J. Telegdy and Mrs I. Harmos for technical assistance and Mrs M. Herczeg for the preparation of the sections.     

Beta-adrenergic receptors in rat myocardium: Direct detection by a new fluorescent beta-blocker

Summary A new fluorescent -blocker, 9-amino-acridin propranolol (9-AAP), was administered i.v. to rats. Multiple fluorescent 9-AAP binding sites were observed on cardiac muscle cells in frozen sections. Intensity and density of cardiac 9-AAP fluorescence were markedly reduced following pretreatment with (±)- and (–)-propranolol but not with (+)-propranolol. Our findings suggest that 9-AAP may label -adrenergic receptor sites in rat myocardium.D. A. is supported by a fellowship from the Lady Davis Fellowship Trust and by a Research Grant from the Bat-Sheva de Rothschild Fund for The Advancement of Science and Technology. The technical assistance ofA. Itzhak is gratefully acknowledged.     

The mutual influence of aircraft aerodynamics and ship hydrodynamics in theory and experiment

As early as 1784, sharp-eyed engineers and scientists noted striking similarities between the dynamics of seagoing vessels and aerial vehicles. By the early twentieth century, naval engineers and scientists were developing and designing airplanes and dirigibles using empirical principles derived from naval architecture. Several key researchers in aerodynamics began their career as naval architects (David A. Taylor, William F. Durand and Jerome C. Hunsaker) and carried out their experiments in ship testing facilities. By the 1930s, however, the transfer of knowledge was irrevocably reversed as empiricism gave way to more fundamental, physics-based research. The rapid evolution of complex aircraft systems and flight envelopes led to new theoretical developments in aerodynamics and maneuvering, which quickly found their way into naval ship design. The theoretical and experimental results for airfoils, rigid airships and fixed-wing aircraft developed by Ludwig Prandtl, Theodore von Kármán, Max M. Munk and Hilda M. Lyon were employed in the hydrodynamic development of surface ships and submarines. This paper examines how the ideas, concepts and data from one discipline influenced the other and explores the processes by which that knowledge was transferred between disciplines.