Occurrence of Hyp3-bradykinin in methanol extracts of the skin of the South African leptodactylid frogHeleophryne purcelli

Summary Methanol extracts of the skin of the South African amphibians belonging to the genusHeleophryne (H. purcelli purcelli, H. purcelli depressa, H. purcelli orientalis, H. natalensis) contain large amounts (20–500 g/g fresh tissue) of Hyp³-bradykinin.Supported by grants from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy, and from the Ministry of Education, Japan.     

Complementary DNA for a novel human interleukin (BSF-2) that induces B lymphocytes to produce immunoglobulin

When stimulated with antigen, B cells are influenced by T cells to proliferate and differentiate into antibody-forming cells. Since it was reported that soluble factors could replace certain functions of helper T cells in the antibody response, several different kinds of lymphokines and monokines have been reported in B-cell growth and differentiation. Among these, human B-cell differentiation factor (BCDF or BSF-2) has been shown to induce the final maturation of B cells into immunoglobulin-secreting cells. BSF-2 was purified to homogeneity and its partial NH2-terminal amino-acid sequence was determined. These studies indicated that BSF-2 is functionally and structurally unlike other known proteins. Here, we report the molecular cloning, structural analysis and functional expression of the cDNA encoding human BSF-2. The primary sequence of BSF-2 deduced from the cDNA reveals that BSF-2 is a novel interleukin consisting of 184 amino acids.     

Pancreozymin/cholecystokinin a physiological mediator of gastric secretory inhibition of duodenal origin

Résumé La Pancréozymine-cholécystokinine (PZ) augmente la sécrétion de l'acide gastrique stimulée par la méthacholine, mais diminue la réponse acide à la gastrine pentapeptide. L'acidification de l'anse Thiry-Vella du duodénum fait augmenter pareillement la sécrétion acide de la poche d'Heidenhain stimulée par la méthacholine et la diminue quand le stimulant est de la gastrine pentopeptide. Il est bien connu que l'acidification du duodénum libère le PZ de la muqueuse duodénale. Nos résultats suggèrent que le PZ est l'agent médiateur d'abaissement de l'acidité gastrique après acidification du duodénum.

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Supported by the National Institutes of Health grant No. 2 Rol Am 10285-03.     

Xanthumin and 8-epi-xanthatin as insect development inhibitors from Xanthium canadense Mill.

Two insect development inhibitors against Drosophila melanogaster have been isolated from the leaves of X. canadense and identified as xanthumin and 8-epi-xanthatin.     

Potentiative effects of sulfhydryl compounds on carrageenin-induced oedema in rats and relationship to their potencies as inhibitors of angiostin-converting enzyme in vivo

Summary Carrageenin-induced oedema in rats was potentiated by oral administration of (4R)-3-[(2S)-3-mercapto-2-methylpropanoyl]-4-thiazolidinecarboxylic acid (SA291) and related sulfhydryl compounds, and the effect was closely correlated with their potencies as inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme in vivo.Acknowledgment. The authors wish to thank Prof. H. Fujimura, Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University School of Medicine, for his helpful advice.     

Two kinds of modification theory of light: Some new observations on the Newton-Hooke controversy of 1672 concerning the nature of light

It has not been sufficiently emphasized that there existed two kinds of modification theory of colours, Aristotle's modification theory and Descartes-Hook's modification theory. This seems to have caused some confusion in the interpretation of the optical controversy between Newton and Hooke in 1672. The aim of the present paper is to prove that these two kinds of modification theory really coexisted, and on that basis to present a new interpretation of the optical controversy of 1672. The characteristics and the historical role of each of these theories will be described. Newton's colour theory was formed under the influence of Aristotle's modification theory, which had been disseminated through the work of an English Gassendist, Walter Charleton. Newton's optical theories were created not only under the influence of Descartes, as we have been often told, but also under the conspicuous influence of corpuscular philosophers.