Effect of aldosterone and methylprednisolone on cardiac NaK-ATPase.

Aldosterone (15 microgram BID) and methylprednisolone (8 mg QD) administration to female guinea-pigs augmented both the total and the specific activity of NaK-ATPase but not the activity of adenylate cyclase in the cardiac sarcolemma. The rise in NaK-ATPase was due to increase in the number of enzyme molecules; catalytic activity and ouabain-sensitivity of individual molecules did not change.     

Regulation of rat renal (Na++K+)-adenosine triphosphatase mRNA levels by corticosterone

We investigated the mechanisms for glucocorticoid regulation of rat renal NaK-ATPase activity. Our findings suggest that the magnitudes of corticosterone-induced increases in ₁ mRNA and ₁ mRNA levels are similar in the kidney of the adult adrenalectomized rats. The results also suggest that corticosterone restores NaK-ATPase activity in adrenalectomized rats prior to any enhanced sodium delivery.     

Adrenal dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity: 24-hour rhythmicity and evidence for pineal control

Summary Adrenal medullary dopamine--hydroxylase activity was found in male rats to have a 24-hour rhythm, with an approximately 6-fold increase at about the time of the onset of darkness. This nocturnal rise in enzyme activity did not occur when lights were kept on, nor did it occur in animals that had been pinealectomized.Supported in part by grants from the Ford Foundation (No. 630-05050A), National Institutes of Health (No. HD-03352) and National Institute of Mental Health (No. MH-25019) USPHS.     

Cytogenetic effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9-THC) on hamster bone marrow

Summary Single s.c. injections of 10 or 1000 mg/kg of ⁹-THC did not induce discernable chromosomal damage but caused significant mitotic inhibition in the bone marrow of Syrian hamsters.Acknowledgments. The authors which to thank Mr R.H. Graham, Department of National Health and Welfare, Health Protection Branch, for the generous supply of ⁹-THC. This research was supported by a grant to Dr M.G. Joneja from the Department of National Health and Welfare.     

6-Geranyloxy-3-methyl-1,8-dihydroxyanthrone,a novel antileukemic agent fromPsorospermum febrifugum Sprach var.ferrugineum (Hook. fil)

Summary A systematic fractionation of the root extract ofPsorospermum febrifugum was carried out in an attempt to reisolate the antitumor xanthone psorospermin and related compounds for further structural work and testing. This activitydirected fractionation led to the isolation of 6-geranyloxy-3-methyl-1,8-dihydroxyanthrone (1). Compound (1) was characterized based on spectroscopic and chemical evidence and showed borderline but reproducible activity in the P-388 mouse leukemia system.The authors acknowledge the support from USDA for collection of the plant material and the National Cancer Institute for support of this work under contract No. NO1-CM-97296. This is paper 15 in the series Potential Antitumor Agents.Cytotoxicity was assayed under the auspices of contract No. NO1-CM-97296. The Division of Cancer Treatment, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland awarded support for this work.     

Insulin stimulates sodium-potassium activated ATPase from rat hippocampus

Summary It is suggested that insulin is capable of activating cerebral NaK-ATPase in a dose-dependent manner.Supported by grants from Ministerium für Hoch- und Fachschulwesen der DDR.     

Effect of cortisone or triiodothyronine administration to pregnant rats on lysosomal hydrolases in fetal forebrain and cerebellum

Summary Triiodothyronine injected daily to pregnant rats for the last week of gestation (50 g/100 g b.wt) increased the specific activities of 5 acid glycosidases in the fetal forebrain and cerebellum. Cortisone (50 mg/100 g b.wt) administered in the same period had no effect on cerebellum acid hydrolases, but decreased their activity in the forebrain.Supported by grant No. HD 08536 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.     

Chemotherapeutic effects of 4-isothiocyanato-4′-nitrodiphenylamine (C9333-Go/CGP 4540) on infections withNematospiroides dubius,Hymenolepis diminuta,Hymenolepis nana andSpirometra mansonoides

Summary 4-Isothiocyanato-4-nitrodiphenylamine possessed anthelmintic activity againstNippostrongylus dubius andHymenolepis nana in mice andH. diminuta in rats as determined by both egg counts and recovery of parasites at autopsy. No activity was detected against the cestode,Spirometra mansonoides, in cats.This investigation was supported in part by grants AI-10512 and AI-09483 from the National Institutes of Health. The authors are indebted to Dr P.P. Weinstein for providing animals infected withSpirometra mansonoides.     

Metabolic energy requirements during teleost melanophore adaptations

Summary Inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation by 2,4-dinitrophenol or sodium cyanide promotes complete melanosome aggregation in teleost melanophores. This aggregation is not promoted via the -sympathetic receptor sites because it occurs in the presence of tolazoline hydrochloride, an -receptor blocking agent. Interpretation of these results suggests metabolic energy release is required in the centrifugal direction only.This work was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (5 T01 EY00090) and from Bell Telephone Laboratories.     

Riboflavin enhancement of bilirubin photocatabolism in vivo

Zusammenfassung Intravenös verabreichtes Riboflavin-5-Monosodium-Phosphat-Salz (FMN) bewrikt eine beschleunigte Senkung des Plasma-Bilirubin-Spiegels bei Gunn-Ratten, wenn diese vorher fluoreszierendem Tageslicht (300 Kerzen) ausgesetzt waren. FMN beschleunigt ausserdem den Photozerfall in vitro. Die Bilirubin-Phototherapie durch Injektion eines geeigneten Katalysators wird diskutiert.

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Albino Gunn rat breeding stock was obtained through the courtesy of Dr.Lois Johnson, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and hooded Gunn rat breeding stock through the courtesy ofMr. Richard L. Pierson, Rodent and Rabbit Production Section, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. This investigation was supported in part by research grant HD 05745-01 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.     

Comparison of lysine and tryptophan catabolizing enzymes in rat and bovine tissues

Summary Earlier studies indicate that -aminoadipate aminotransferase (AadAT) and kynurenine aminotransferase (KAT) activities from rat tissues are associated with a single protein. However, our recent studies indicate that AadAT activity from bovine liver and kidney is not associated with KAT activity. To test whether the lysine and tryptophan catabolism in bovine tissues differ from that in rat tissues, we compared the activities of enzymes involved in lysine and tryptophan pathways in rat and bovine tissues. The activities of lysine catabolizing enzymes such as AadAT, lysine -ketoglutarate reductase and saccharopine dehydrogenase in the bovine tissues were significantly lower than those found in rat tissues. The activities of tryptophan catabolizing enzymes such as KAT and kynurenine hydroxylase in the bovine tissues were negligible as compared to those in rat tissues. The results suggest that lysine is degraded via the saccharopine pathway in the livers and kidneys of both species but the metabolism of tryptophan in bovine tissues may be different from that in rat tissues.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by a grant from the Children's Hospital of Michigan and by a Research Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health to D. R. Deshmukh.     

Chromatographic evidence for murein from the bacteroid symbiotes ofPeriplaneta americana (L)

Zusammenfassung Papierchromatographisch wurde Murein in symbiontischen Bakteroiden derPeriplaneta americana nachgewiesen. Die Murein-Komponente Glukosamin und der Murein-Anzeiger Muramic-Säure wurden mittels Bakteroid-Hydrolysaten identifiziert. Das Vorhandensein von --Diaminopimelic-Säure jedoch konnte nicht einwandfrei festgestellt werden.

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This is paper No. 6175, Scientific Journal Series, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, St. Paul (Minnesota, USA). The work was supported by U.S. Public Health Service Research Grant No. AI 00961, from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health.     

The isolation and structure of 13,18-dehydroglaucarubinone,a new antineoplastic quassinoid fromSimarouba amara

Summary An investigation of the Guyana plantSimarouba amara Aubl. (Simaroubaceae) for antineoplastic quassinoids led to isolation and structural determination of the new quassinoids 2-acetylglaucarubine (1a) and 13,18-dehydroglaucarubinone (2). The previously known 2-acetylglaucarubinone (3a) and glaucarubinone (3b) were also obtained. The new quassinoid2 was found significantly to inhibit growth of the murine lymphocytic leukemia P388.Antineoplastic agents 59. For part 58 refer to M. T. Edgar, G.R. Pettit and T.H. Smith, J. org. Chem., in preparation.Acknowledgments. We wish to thank Mr B. Septe for providing the¹³C-NMR-data. Dr Jean H. Schmidt and Miss Linda M. Lange for assistance with biological studies.—G.R. Pettit is grateful to the National Cancer Institute (performed pursuant to contract No. N01-67048 with the Division of Cancer Treatment, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare), Public Health Services Research grant No. CA 16049-03 from the National Cancer Institute, the Fannie E. Rippel Foundation, Talley Industries, and the Phoenix Coca-Cola Bottling Co., for partial support of this investigation.     

Preparation of isolated single cardiac cells from adult frog atrial tissue

Summary Isolated cardiac cells from bullforg atrial tissue can be readily prepared by digestion of intact fragments of atrial tissue with trypsin and collagenase. These isolated cells have dimensions of about 5 m in width and range in length from 300 m to over 500 m. Such isolated cells may prove useful for the investigation of contractile activity of cardiac muscle at the single cell level and at the sarcomere level within the single cell.This investigation was supported by U.S. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health Grant No. HL 12426 and a Kansas Heart Association Grant-in-Aid.We wish to thank Dr.J. Sommers of Duke University Medical Center for doing electron microscopy of the isolated cells to confirm the single cell nature of the preparations.     

Mutagenicity testing of 3 hallucinogens: LSD,psilocybin and‡ 9-THC using the micronucleus test

Summary Using the micronucleus test as a screening method for mutagenic activity, no significant increase in the number of micronuclei was found when LSD, psilocybin or ⁹-THC were administered in 3 logarithmically increasing doses to mice. Azathioprine (Imuran^®), given as a positive control, caused a statistically significant increase in micronucleated cells.Acknowledgment. The expert technical assistance of Mr Joop Branger is greatfully acknowledged. We thank Prof. Dr C. A. Salemink, University of Utrecht, for the supply of the THC, and Dr J. Fokkens, National Institute of Public Health, for preparing the solutions.     

The antifertility action of α-chlorohydrin: metabolism by rat and boar sperm

Summary The male antifertility agent -chlorohydrin (I) is metabolized by rat and boar sperm to -chloroactaldehyde (III), -chlorolactate (IV) and Cl^– and not to the proposed active metabolite, -chlorohydrin-1-phosphate (III). It is proposed that -chlorolactaldehyde is produced intracellularly by a specific enzyme and that this is the metabolite responsible for the species-specific antifertility activity of -chlorohydrin.This work was supported by The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.     

Involvement of circadian system in photoperiodic control of pubertal development in female deer mice,Peromyscus maniculatus

Summary Pubertal development in female deer mice,Peromyscus maniculatus, was stimulated by exposure to light cycles of LD 168, LD 630 or LD 654, but not by exposure to cycles of LD 618 or LD 642. These results support the hypothesis that female deer mice use a circadian rhythm of responsiveness to light to measure photoperiodic time.This investigation was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant PCM 8116880 and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant CR809428010. H.U. is the recipient of Research Ca-reer Development Award 5 KO4 HD00276-02 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.     

Beziehungen zwischen phagozytierenden,virusinfizierten Myeloblasten des Huhnes in vitro und den «gray bodies»

Summary The so-called gray bodies in chicken myeloblasts infected with the myeloblastose virus are phagocytized cell debris. Some difficultues concerning this virus-cell-system are pointed out.

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Die Arbeit wurde unterstützt durch Research grant No. C-4572 an die Duke University von National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, durch Grant No. E-84A von der American Cancer Society, Inc. und durch den Dorothy Beard Research Fund.