(3H) spiroperidol binding decreases in brains of rats infected with Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus1

Summary After i.p. inoculation with the Guajira strain of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus a significant decrease in the density of (³H) spiroperidol binding sites in the striatum, midbrain and frontal cortex was observed. No changes in the affinity of the receptors could be demonstrated. This finding is compatible with neuronal degeneration caused by the viral infection.Acknowledgments. This work was partially supported by Condes-Luz and Fundacite-Zulia. Butaclamol isomers were a gift of Ayerst Laboratories, Montreal, Canada.     

Isomorphic sex-chromosomes in two venezuelan populations of the spiny rat,genusProechimys (Rodentia,Caviomorpha)

Resumen Un machoy una hembra deProechimys del Alto Orinoco (La Esmeralda) referidos aP. cherriei resultaron poseer cariotipos idénticos de 2n=26 cromosomas, sin que sea posible distinguir morfológicamente elX y elY en el macho. Un macho y 2 hembras deProechimys guyannensis guairae del Estado Aragua, proporcionaron un cariotipo de 2n=46 cromosomas, también sin par heteromórfico en el macho. Se discuten las implicaciones taxonómicas de estos hallazgos, que sugieren queP. guyannensis es una especie compleja.     

Suppression of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by vitamin A

Résumé L'encéphalomyélite allergique expérimentale n'apparaît pas chez les cobayes auxquels on a injecté de fortes doses de vitamine A.

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The authors are indebted toElisabeth Móre for technical assistance.     

Proteins and atherosclerosis

Résumé Les examens macroscopiques et microscopiques effectués sur l'aorte des lapins ont été mis en corrélation avec le degré de concentration de la protéine plasmique. Les résultats indiquent qu'une augmentation des protéines plasmiques correspond a un degré plus élevé d'athérosclérose.     

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in T-lymphocyte deficient rats

Summary Thymectomized, lethally irradiated rats reconstituted with syngeneic bone marrow were injected with rat brain in complete Freund adjuvant mixture. Both, they and sham-thymectomized, irradiated and bone marrow protected rats displayed a higher incidence of leg paralysis than normal non-irradiated animals. Thymectomy lowered the incidence of the disease.Supported by the Research Fund of Croatia (Zagreb).     

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in T-lymphocyte deficient rats.

Thymectomized, lethally irradiated rats reconstituted with syngeneic bone marrow were injected with rat brain in complete Freund adjuvant mixture. Both, they and sham-thymectomized, irradiated and bone marrow protected rats displayed a higher incidence of leg paralysis than normal non-irradiated animals. Thymectomy lowered the incidence of the disease.     

Low-molecular-weight enzyme inhibitors suppress the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

We tested the activity of low-molecular-weight enzyme inhibitors with immunomodifying actions on the suppression of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Of the agents tested the inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidase B and esterase gave significant protection against the clinical expression of EAE in guinea pigs.     

Biological Roles of Neural J Proteins

J proteins are chief regulators of the Hsp70 family, a highly conserved family of ATPases that mediate conformational changes in a broad range of proteins. The J protein family has been the central focus of numerous prokaryote and eukaryote biologists. Common questions that arise include: How does the J protein/Hsp70 machinery support protein folding? What role do J proteins play in protein misfolding and neurodegenerative disorders? Can the J protein/ Hsp70 machinery be harnessed to provide a rational basis for recombinant protein production? The current progress that has resulted from the convergence of biochemistry with Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetics has accelerated the pace at which these questions are being elucidated. We are beginning to gain some insights into the neuronal network of J proteins. Here, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of how select J proteins harness Hsp70 s for fundamentally important conformational work in neurons.     

Low-molecular-weight enzyme inhibitors suppress the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Summary We tested the activity of low-molecular-weight enzyme inhibitors with immunomodifying actions on the suppression of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Of the agents tested the inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidase B and esterase gave significant protection againts the clinical expression of EAE in guinea pigs.Acknowledgments. This work was partly supported by a grant-in-aid for New Drug Development Research from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan.     

Agglutinating antibrain antibodies in dogs with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Résumé Chez 19 chiens présentant des symptomes de EAE, on a trouvé des anticorps sériques anticerveaux pendant divers laps de temps.