Queen retrieval in the Argentine ant

Queen retrieval recruitment in ants is the recruitment of workers towards queens which are outside the nest, using chemical trails. The odour trails enable the queens to orient rapidly and return to the nest. This behaviour, reported for the first time in the Argentine antIridomyrmex humilis, is briefly discussed with regard to its possible adaptative significance.     

Defective ristocetin and bovine factor VIII-induced platelet aggregation in normal rats

Riassunto Le piastrine di 3 diversi ceppi di ratti, contrariamente alle piastrine umane e di cavia, non sono aggregate (sia in vitro che in vivo) nè dalla ristocetine nè dal fattore von Willebrand bovino, porcino o umano, quest'ultimo reso aggregante previo trattamento enzimatico. Tale insensibilità, di cui si è potuta escludere l'origine plasmatica, potrebbe derivare dall'assenza, sulle piastrine di ratto, di un recettore per il fattore von Willebrand (acido sialico?); potrebbe essere cosi spiegata anche la mancata risposta delle piastrine alla ristocetina. Questi risultati suggeriscono che le piastrine di ratto possono essere un utile modello sperimentale per lo studio della sindrome di Bernard-Soulier nell'uomo.

---

---

This work was supported by Contract No. 73-00400-04 of the C.N.R., Roma, Italy. The skilful technical assistance of MissAnnalisa Cavenaghi is appreciated.     

An actin-destabilizing factor is present in human plasma

Summary Plasma and serum of humans or experimental animals contain a factor which destabilizes F-actin. The factor has no DNAse or thrombin activity and after incubation with F-actin does not modify the position of the actin band on a SDS polyacrylamide gel. Hence it probably depolymerizes F-actin.Acknowledgment. This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, grant No.3.692-0.76. We thank Drs M. Crippa and C.A. Bouvier for measuring the DNAse and thrombin activities. The technical help of Mrs M. Redard and A. De Almeida and the photographic work of Mr J.-C. Rumbeli and Mr E. Denkinger are gratefully acknowledged.     

The release of platelet factor 4 during platelet aggregation and the possible significance of this reaction in hemostasis

Résumé Nous avons constaté que le facteur plaquettaire 4 est libéré au début de l'aggrégation des plaquettes par l'ADP et l'adrénaline. Ce phénomène a pu être mis en évidence en étudiant l'activité antihéparinique et l'activité paracoagulante (coagulation non enzymatique de complexes solubles de monomères de fibrine) du facteur plaquettaire 4.     

An actin-destabilizing factor is present in human plasma.

Plasma and serum of humans or experimental animals contain a factor which destabilizes F-actin. The factor has no DNAse or thrombin activity and after incubation with F-actin does not modify the position of the actin band on a SDS polyacrylamide gel. Hence it probably depolymerizes F-actin.     

Platelet aggregation following electrical stimulation

Summary It was demonstrated that the previous in vitro electrical stimulation of human and rat platelet-rich plasma does not modify the subsequent response of platelets to the aggregating activity of ADP, thrombin, thrombofax or adrenaline. This is interesting in view of the fact that the electrical stimulation can induce clot retraction.Acknowledgments. We thank Mr Renzo Ferronato for his technical assistance and Miss Maria Tommasini for her secretarial aid.     

Platelet aggregation following electrical stimulation

It was demonstrated that the previous in vitro electrical stimulation of human and rat platelet-rich plasma does not modify the subsequent response of platelets to the aggregating activity of ADP, thrombin, thrombofax or adrenaline. This is interesting in view of the fact that the electrical stimulation can induce clot retraction.     

Platelet aggregation is inhibited by phycolectins

Lectins from four marine algal species were examined for interaction with human platelets. The lectin designated hypnin A, from the red algaHypnea japonica, inhibited adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-or collagen-induced human platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. Complete inhibition was observed at concentrations of 100 and 5 g/ml of the lectin with, ADP (2 M) and collagen (0.2 g/ml)-induced platelet aggregation, respectively. At the inhibitory concentration of 0.5 to 100 g/ml, the lectin did not induce aggregation of resting platelets. Lectins from the other three algal species also inhibited ADP-induced human platelet aggregation. These results indicate that the algal lectins are a new group of inhibitors and may be useful to study glycoconjugates on platelet membranes and to design novel platelet aggregation inhibitors.     

An alkali resistant factor with B12 activity for protozoa and man

Résumé Un facteur, résistant à l'alcali et thermostable, peut être extrait du sérum de l'homme, du foie de buf et des bactéries thermophiles. Ce facteur ressemble à la vitamine B₁₂ par son activité chez le protozaire et l'homme. Il peut résister 30 min à la temp. de 118–121°C en autoclave, dans un milieu contenant l'alcali, pH 11.5–12. Ce facteur caractéristique est distinct de la vitamine B₁₂, de l'hydroxycobalamine, de la coenzyme B₁₂, de l'acide folique, de l'acide folinique, et de l'érythropoïétine.

---

---

These studies were supported by NIH Grants A-4437 (C1); C-4956 (C2); H-4530 (C2); and Clinical Research Center Grant OG-17R1; and a Grant from the National Vitamin Foundation.     

The effect of piroxicam on platelet aggregation

Summary Piroxicam inhibited aggregation of human and dog platelets caused by collagen, but not by adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Release of platelet ADP was inhibited by piroxicam.     

An antiviral factor fromMelia azedarach L. prevents Tacaribe virus encephalitis in mice

Summary Treatment of neonatal mice with an antiviral factor, (AVF), obtained from the leaves ofMelia azederach L. protected them against lethal encephalitis caused by Tacaribe virus inoculation. The degree of protection obtained varied from 66% to 100% depending on the virus dose. Similarly, administration of AVF to nursing mothers protected their offspring from developing virus encephalitis. AVF does not directly inactivate Tacaribe virus; it inhibits an early step (s) in the replication process in cell cultures.Dedicated to Prof. Luis Leloir on his 80th birthday.Acknowledgment. This study was supported by Grant 9353/84 from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina.