Calcium dobesilate (Doxium) as a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor in pregnant human myometrium in vitro

Summary This comparative study on the effect of calcium dobesilate and indomethacin on prostaglandin biosynthesis was performed on microsomal fractions of pregnant human myometrium. Both drugs inhibited prostaglandin synthesis, indomethacin being more potent. Calcium dobesilate inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, the synthesis of 6-oxo-PGF₁, PGF₂, PGE₂ and TXB₂. Its inhibitory action is comparable to that of etamsylate.     

Etamsylate as inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis in pregnant human myometrium in vitro

Summary The effects of etamsylate on prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis in microsomes of pregnant human myometrium in vitro have been determined, and compared with those of indomethacin. Both drugs inhibited PG biosynthesis, indomethacin being the more potent inhibitor of the two. Etamsylate inhibited synthesis of 6-oxo-PGF₁, PGF₂, PGE₂, and thromboxane B₂; increasing the concentration of etamsylate increased the inhibition of synthesis. It is suggested that etamsylate has no anti-cyclo-oxygenase activity, but acts by inhibiting the activity of prostacyclin synthetase, endoperoxide reductase, endoperoxide isomerase, and thromboxane synthetase.     

Morphine as inhibitor of prostaglandin E1 in the isolated guinea-pig intestine

Zusammenfassung Es wird gezeigt, dass Analgetika vom Morphintypus die am isolierten Meerschweinchen-dünndarm nach Zugabe von Prostaglandin E₁ erfolgenden Kontraktionen ähnlich wie die durch Arachidonsäure (-peroxid) erzeugten Kontraktionen in spezifischer Weise zu antagonisieren vermögen.     

Spermine as a new growth-promoting substance forHelianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem Artichoke) in vitro

Riassunto È stato per la prima volta dimostrata che la spermina (10^–4 M) ha un effetto di crescita simile a quello dell'acido indolacetico sugli esplanti diHelianthus tubarous in vitro.     

Purification from human plasma of endogenous dodium transport inhibitor(s)

Summary Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase inhibitors extracted from plasma of healthy human subjects displaced³H-ouabain binding to human erythrocytes and inhibited the Na⁺ efflux catalyzed by the Na⁺, K⁺-pump and unexpectedly the Na⁺, K⁺-cotransport system without alteration of the Na⁺, Na⁺-exchange or the Na⁺ passive permeability. This suggests the presence in healthy human plasma of endogenous factors with ouabain-like and furosemide-like activities.Acknowledgments. We are indebted to Dr M. A. Devynck for her advice on chemical measurements and to Dr R. P. Garay for his help with flux measurements     

Purification from human plasma of endogenous sodium transport inhibitor(s)

Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitors extracted from plasma of healthy human subjects displaced 3H-ouabain binding to human erythrocytes and inhibited the Na+ efflux catalyzed by the Na+,K+-pump and unexpectedly the Na+,K+-cotransport system without alteration of the Na+,Na+-exchange or the Na+ passive permeability. This suggests the presence in healthy human plasma of endogenous factors with ouabain-like and furosemide-like activities.     

Effect of the calmodulin inhibitor R24571 (calmidazolium) on rat embryos cultured in vitro

Summary The possible effects of inhibition of the calcium-binding protein, calmodulin, on mammalian morphogenesis have been investigated by culturing rat embryos in vitro from 9 1/2 to 11 1/2 days of development in the presence of R24571 (calmidazolium), a specific inhibitor of calmoldulin. Embryos cultured in 10^–2 mM R24571 for 48 h show inhibited development and exhibit a range of morphogenetic abnormalities including assymetry and neural tube defects. Embryos exposed to R24571 for the first 24 h of a 48 h culture are more severely affected than embryos exposed to R24571 for the last 24 h.Acknowledgments. We wish to thank Mr C. Veltkamp and Mr B. lewis for their expert help with the scanning electron microscopy and photography.     

Calcium and phosphate levels in bats (Myotis lucifugus) as function of season and activity

Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen an Laboratoriums-FledermäusenMyotis lucifugus während aller Phasen der Winterschlaflethargie zeigen, dass Unbeweglichkeit der Tiere entscheidend auf den Verlust an Knochenmineralien wirkt. Die Vermehrung an Osteoklasten sowie die Hyperkalzemie und die Hypophosphatemie bei winterschlafenden Fledermäusen weisen ebenfalls in Richtung der Resorptionsvorgänge im Knochen.     

Immunofluorescent localization of the acid-stable proteinase inhibitor (antileukoprotease) of human cervical mucus

Summary Localization of the acid-stable proteinase inhibitor of human cervical mucus within the epithelium of the upper cervix was possible by indirect immunofluorescence.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Schi 86/5) and WHO, Geneva (Grants No. 76357) and No. 75080). Immunization of rabbit with HUSI-I was kindly performed by Dr N. Heimburger, Behring Werke AG, Marbuerg (Federal Republic of Germany). The skilful technical assistance of Miss I. Estelmann is acknowledged.     

1,2 Benzisothiazol-3-ylacetic acid as a growth promoting substance forHelianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke) in vitro

Riassunto L'acido 1,2 benzisotiazol-3-ilacetico (BIA) ha mostrato una forte azione sulla proliferazione cellulare di espianti di tuberi dormienti diHelianthus tuberosus, sostanzialmente simile a quella indotta dall'acido indol-3-acetico.     

Immunofluorescent localization of the acid-stable proteinase inhibitor (antileukoprotease) of human cervical mucus.

Localization of the acid-stable proteinase inhibitor of human cervical mucus within the epithelium of the upper cervix was possible by indirect immunofluorescence.     

Granulocyte colony formation in vitro: Enhancement by human placental (umbilical cord) serum

Summary Addition of human placental umbilical cord serum to bone marrow cultures reproducibly increased the number of granulocyte colonies in vitro. This stimulatory effect was significantly greater than that of fetal calf serum which was seen in cultures of human bone marrow under the conditions described.This work was financed by grant FOR. No. 004.AK.71 (1) from the Swiss Cancer League.The authors wish to express their gratitute to colleagues from Maternity Ward, Frauenspital, Bern, and Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Inselspital, Bern, through whose kind assistance samples of umbilical blood and fragments of ribs removed at thotacotomies were obtained. MissJ. Blom provided excellent technical assistance.     

Aliphatic amines and a growth-factor of coconut milk as stimulating cellular proliferation ofHelianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke) in vitro

Riassunto Putrescina, cadaverina e spermidina, amine alifatiche strettamente collegate alla spermina, agiscono come fattori di crescita su espianti diHelianthus tuberosus in vitro. L'azione della putrescina è particolarmente interessante essendo stata trovata per la prima volta nel latte di cocco.