Evidence for the presence of virus in clonal insulin-producing RINm5F cells

The ultrastructural morphology of the clonal insulin-producing cell line, RINm5F, was investigated. Virus-like particles, probably C type viruses, were identified both intra- and extracellularly. Because these particles could not be found in the original transplantable tumor, it is probable that viruses were induced at some later stage in the development of the RINm5F cell line. All investigators using the RINm5F cells should be aware of the fact that these cells may contain one or several types of viruses, and of the possibility that these particles may interfere with a variety of cellular functions.     

Phospholipase C activation via a GTP-binding protein in tumoral islet cells stimulated by carbamylcholine

Summary Carbamylcholine and GTP act synergistically in stimulating the production of [³H]inositol-1-phosphate by digitonized tumoral islet cells (RINm5F line) prelabeled with myo-[2-³H(N)]inositol. The response to these two agents is similar to that evoked by GTPS. These findings suggest that a GTP-binding regulatory protein couples the occupancy of muscarinic receptors to activation of phospholipase C in pancreatic islet cells.This work was supported by grants from the Belgian Foundation for Scientific Medical Research.     

Induction of alloxan diabetes in obese-hyperglycemic mice (genotype obob)

Zusammenfassung Nachweis, dass fettsüchtige, hyperglykämische Mäuse nach Alloxan-Injektion einen erhöhten Blutzuckerspiegel und herabgesetzte Insulinkonzentrationen im Vergleich mit den unbehandelten Kontrolltieren zeigen. B-Zellen der Langerhansschen Inseln zeigen nach Alloxan nekrotische Veränderungen.

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This work was supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council, the Swedish Diabetes Association and the Nordic Insulin Foundation.     

Somatostatin content and release of isolated pancreatic islets from obese-hyperglycemic mice

Summary The somatostatin content in pancreatic islets of obese-hyperglycemic mice was much lower than in the islets of normal mice. Also the release of somatostatin was decreased from the islets obtained from the obese-hyperglycemic mice. Tissue culture for 1 week changed neither the content of, nor the amount of somatostatin released from, the pancreatic islets.This work was supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council, Nordic Insulin Foundation, Swedish Diabetes Association, the Bergwalls stiftelse and the Anders Swärds stiftelse.     

Labelling of ribosomal RNA peaks in the liver of rats after administration of tritiated fluorouracil

Zusammenfassung Nach i.p. Injektion von 5-Fluorouracil-³H wurde bei Ratten zu verschiedenen Zeiten die RNS-Neubildung der Leber bestimmt. Die Resultate sprechen dafür, dass Fluorouracil in die ribosomale RNA der Leber eingebaut wird.

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This work was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (Project No. K68-12X-623-04), the Swedish Cancer Society (Project No. 95-K68-02X), the Faculty of Medicine, University of Uppsala, Sweden, and the Swedish Society for Medical Research.     

Isolation of 2-S-cysteinyldopa and 2,5-S,S-dicysteinyldopa from the urine of patients with melanoma

Summary Urine from patients with melanoma metastases is shown to contain, in addition to the previously described 5-S-cysteinyldopa (I), 2 closely related metabolites which have been isolated and identified as 2-S-cysteinyldopa (II) and 2, 5-S, S-dicysteinyldopa (III).Supported by grants from the Swedish Cancer Society (No. 626-B76-05XB and 869-B75-01P), the Swedish Medical Research Council (No. B76-04X-00056-12), and the Walter, Ellen and Lennart Hesselman Foundation for Scientific Research. Professor Prota was a visiting scientist of the Swedish Cancer Society (No. 626-B75-04V). The authors are indebted to Dr Soshuke Ito for samples of 2-S-cysteinyldopa and 2,5-S,S-dicysteinyldopa.     

Occurrence of trichochromes in the urine of a melanoma patient

Summary The presence of two phaeomelanic pigments, trichochrome B and C, was demonstrated in the urine of a patient with malignant melanoma metastases.Supported by grants from the Swedish Cancer Society (No. 626-B75-04XA), 869-B75-01P, the Swedish Medical Research Council (No. B76-04X-00056-12), and the Walter, Ellen and Lennart Hesselman Foundation for Scientific Research. ProfessorProta was a visiting scientist of the Swedish Cancer Society (No. 626-B75-04U).     

Immunohistochemical localization of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) in the brain of the larval instar of the hoverfly,Eristalis aenus (Diptera)

Summary 2 pancreatic polypeptide (PP) immunoreactive cells were observed in each half of the protocerebrum of the last (5th), larval instar of the hoverfly,Eristalis aenus. No PP immunoreactive nerve fibers could be detected in the brain.Support by a grant from the Swedish Medical Research Council (project No. 12X-102) and by a Swedish Institute scholarship.     

The identification of dehydroretinol (vitamin A2) in human skin

Summary Vitamin A₂ has for the first time been identified in a human tissue and, in contrast to vitamin A₁, its concentration in the epidermis is markedly increased in a hyperkeratotic condition (Psoriasis vulgaris).Acknowledgments. The valuable discussions with Prof. I. Björk, Drs A. de Belder, C. Lindberg and J.B. Lee are gratefully acknowledged. Purified retinoids were generously supplied by F. Hoffmann-LaRoche Co. AG, Basle. This project was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (B78-03x-05174), the Welander Foundation and the Tore Nilsson Fund.     

Depletion and repletion of noradrenaline in adrenergic nerves of the rat after decaborane treatment

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe der Fluoreszenz-Technik werden die Veränderungen in sympathischen Fasern der Ratteniris nach Noradrenalin-Depletion durch Boron-Hydrid Decarboran (Dopa-Dekarboxylase-Hemmer) analysiert.

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This work has been supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council under project No. B70-14x-97-06B, B70-14x-711-05B and Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.     

Red blood cell glycolysis and potassium type in sheep

Summary Based on the observations made on human and dog red blood cells, it was recently proposed that the response of red cell glycolysis to variations in the levels of specific cations is an evolutionary adaptation in response to a specific cellular environment. We have now examined the effect of K⁺ and Na⁺ on the activity of pyruvate kinase (PK) in the red blood cells from 2 genetically different types of sheep high potassium (HK) and low potassium (LK). The results indicate that K⁺ stimulate glucose consumption and the activity of PK in both types of sheep. It thus appears that red cell PK from LK sheep does not fit into the concept of cellular environment and PK activity.This work was supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti New South Wales Foundation and the Helena Rubenstein Foundation, Inc.     

Enantiomeric cannabinoids: stereospecificity of psychotropic activity

Summary The 1,1-dimethylheptyl homolog of (–)-(3R,4R)-7-hydroxy-delta-6-tetrahydrocannabinol (compoundII) is highly psychotropic in mice, rats and pigeons. The (+)-(3S,4S) enantiomer (III) was found to be psychotropically inactive at doses up to several thousand times those of the ED₅₀ of (II).We thank Dr A. Breuer and Mrs H. Amsalem for help with the syntheses. The research reported above was supported in Tucson by NIH grant NS 15441; in Uppsala by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (5757) and the Swedish Council for the Planning and Coordination of Research (84/2082); in Jerusalem by the Szold Foundation.Presented in part at a meeting at the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, Washington, D.C., October 1986, see NIDA Research Monographs79 (1987) 15.     

Familial association in serum IgE levels

Summary The serum IgE levels measured by RIST correlated closely with those obtained by the single radioimmunodiffusion method. Values for husband and wife were closely related as were those between father and daughter but in contrast to previous observations no significant relationship existed between IgE levels for mother and son.Acknowledgments. The Busselton population studies, of which this paper forms part, have been supported by the University of Western Australia the Arnold Yeldham and Mary Raine Foundation, the National Heart Foundation of Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, State Health Laboratories (Western Australia), the National Health and Medical Research Council, Princess Margaret Children's Medical Research Foundation, various private donors, numerous volunteer workers, and the people of Busselton. The authors wish to personally acknowledge support from the Arnold Yeldham and Mary Raine Foundation, the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Asthma Foundation of Western Australia. We are indebted to Drs.K. J. Cullen andR. C. Godfrey for making available valuable material from the Busselton population survey.     

Malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in the pancreatic islets of obese-hyperglycemic mice

Zusammenfassung Mit der Polyacrylamidgel-Elektrophorese lassen sich aus Langerhansschen Inseln fettsüchtig-hyperglykämischer Mäuse 2 Fraktionen von Malatdehydrogenase isolieren. Die rascher wandernde Franktion scheint eine grössere Aktivität gegen Malat zu besitzen, während in der Aktivität gegen Oxalacetat kein Unterschied besteht.

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This work was supported by grants from the U.S. Public Health Service (No. AM-05759-06), the Medical Faculty in Umea, Therese and Johan Anderssons Stiftelse, the Swedish Medical Research Council (No. K67-12x-562-03) and the Swedish Diabetes Association.     

Reserpine-induced depletion of gastric vitamin B12-binding proteins in the rat

Zusammenfassung Reserpin mobilisiert Histamin und den «Intrinsic factor» aus dem Rattenmagen. Eine trunkuläre Vagotomie hebt diese Wirkung von Reserpin auf. Reserpin hat keinen Effekt auf den «Intrinsic factor» des Magens von Maus, Hamster, Meerschweinchen und Kaninchen.

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Supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (No. B71-14X-1007-05C and No. B71-19X-766-05C), the Medical Faculty of Lund, and Albert Pahlson's Foundation.     

The activation of rat stomach histidine decarboxylase is independent of the histamine level

Zusammenfassung Nach wiederholter Pentagastrin-Injektion wurde ein progressiver Anstieg der gastrischen Histidin-Decarboxylase-Aktivität in nüchternen Ratten gefunden. Nach anfänglicher Abnhame steigt der gastrische Histaminspiegel und erreicht nach 12 stündiger Behandlung Normalwerte, was beweist, dass die pentagastrininduzierte Aktivierung der Enzymaktivität vom Histaminspiegel unabhängig ist.

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Grant support from the Swedish Medical Research Council No. B71-14X-1007-06C, the Medical Faculty of Lund and the Albert Påhlsson Foundation.     

The effect of kidney-bean leucoagglutinin on homograft rejection in mice

Zusammenfassung Nach der Wirkung auf die Überlebenszeit von Transplantaten bei Mäusen zu schliessen, besitzt Leucoagglutinin ausPhaseolus vulgaris extrahiert, eine nur schwache immunosuppressive Aktivität. Sie ist nicht deutlich mit der lymphozytenstimulierenden oder agglutinierenden Aktivität verknüpft. Eine starke akute Toxizität von Leukoagglutinin wurde festgestellt.

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Supported by grants from the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, the Finnish Medical Research Council, the Åhlén Foundation and the Swedish Cancer Society.     

Effect of deglycyrrhizinized liquorice on gastric acid secretion,histidine decarboxylase activity and serum gastrin level in the rat

Zusammenfassung Nachweis, dass die Behandlung mit einem deglycyrrhizinierten Lakrizpräparat die basale Säurereaktion bei Ratten hemmt. Erhöhtes antrales pH führt zu vermehrter Freisetzung von antralem Gastrin mit bedeutender Aktivierung der Histidindecarboxylase in der Magenschleimhaut.

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Acknowledgments: This study was supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council No. B73-04x-1007-08 and by the Albert Påhlsson Foundation.     

Phaeomelanic pigments from a human melanoma

Summary The pigments in melanomas from 2 patients were studied with regard to solubility and chemical composition. Melanoma pigment from a patient with red-blonde hair was alkali-soluble and contained 9 or 10% sulfur and was thus of phaeomelanic type. Melanoma pigment from a patient with red-brown hair was insoluble in 0.2N NaOH. Its sulfur content was 6%. This pigment was eumelanic with regard to solubility characteristics but the sulfur content was higher than previously observed for eumelanin.Supported by grants from the Swedish Cancer Society (No. 626-B75-04XA), the Swedish Medical Research Council (No. B76-04X-00056-12), and the Walter, Ellen, and Lennart Hesselman Foundation for Scientific Research. ProfessorProta was a visiting scientist of the Swedish Cancer Society (No. 626-B75-04U).     

14-3-2 protein in rat brain synapses

Summary The distribution of the 14-3-2 protein in rat brain synapses was studied by immuno electron microscopy. The protein was localized to the postsynaptic web and to the postsynaptic membrane, but was also prominent both in the presynaptic membrane and in the presynaptic densities. No significant activity was observed in the synaptic vesicles.Acknowledgments. Our sincere thanks to Mrs Ulla Svedin, Eng., for skilled technical assistance. This work was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council, the Medical Faculty of Göteborg, Tore Nilson's Foundation for Medical Research and by the Swedish-Italian Group of Neurobiology. A. G. received financial support from Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR, ROME).