Effect of epinephrine upon irreversible disposal and recycling of glucose in dogs

Summary Irreversible utilization and recycling of glucose during epinephrine-induced hyperglycemia were studied in adrenal-demedullated dogs exposed to neutral or cold ambient temperature. Whatever the ambient temperature, most of the extra glucose mobilized by epinephrine is recycled rather than irreversibly utilized by the peripheral tissues.This work was supported by a grant from Université Claude Bernard (U.E.R. Lyon Nord and U.E.R. Biologie Humaine).J. Schellhorn was on leave from the University of Chile. The authors thank D. Rougier and G. Dallevet for their excellent technical assistance.     

Dog behaviour as related to spinal cord temperature

Summary 3 dogs could behaviourally modify their own spinal cord temperature (T_{spin. cord}). In a hot environment, 2 dogs did not cool their spinal cord, 1 dog warmed it. The higher the environmental temperature, the higher the chosen T_{spin. cord}. These results seem to imply that this latter dog tended, in warm environment, to behaviourally reduce: T_s>T_{spin. cord} (T_s mean skin temperature). Data obtained previously support this explanation.This experiment has been supported by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (L.A. No. 181 C.N.R.S.) and by the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale I.N.S.E.R.M./A.T.P. No. 4-74-25).     

Presence of sodium transport inhibiting factor in dog plasma during volume expansion

Summary Plasma dialysates from volume-expanded dogs (E) were compared directly to dialysates from the same dogs when hydropenic. In a double-blind study, E caused relative inhibition of short-circuit current in toad urinary bladder. We therefore confirm the presence of a sodium transport inhibiting factor in plasma of volume-expanded dogs.Acknowledgments. This study was supported by the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Hospital (103.6M). We would like to thank the laboratory of Dr V. Buckalew at Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North-Carolina, for preparation of plasma dialysates; G. Huber and E. Fink for technical assistance and K. Conrad for secretarial assistance.     

Freeze tolerance in the frog,Rana sylvatica

Summary Wood frogs survive extracellular freezing at moderate subzero temperatures (–4°C) for at least 11 days. Freezing survival is aided by the accumulation of high concentrations of glucose as a cryoprotectant in blood and tissues. Glucose production was accompanied by a rapid decline in liver, but not muscle, glycogen levels suggesting that liver is the organ controlling cryoprotectant synthesis.Acknowledgments. This study was supported by grants to L.M.G. from the Kroc Foundation (Santa Ynez, California) and from the National Institute of Dental Research (Grant No. DE-03987). The authors wish to thank K. Yorko, M. Shakin, J. Finan and Mrs N. Manivannan for their technical and secretarial assistance.Acknowledgments. I thank Dr J. Ballantyne, Dr F. Schueler and I. McMurray for help with frog collections and Dr. W. Schmid, Dr J. Bogart and Dr F. Cook for helpful discussions. Supported by an N.S.E.R.C. operating grant and by a grant from the Atkinson Charitable Foundation.     

Myofibroblasts in hepatic schistosomal fibrosis

Summary Myofibroblasts were identified in liver portal spaces of patients with Symmers' fibrosis following infection by Schistosoma mansoni.Acknowledgments. This research was supported by a grant from U.E.R. (Human Biology) Claude Bernard University, Lyon (France), and by the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (Brazil). Thanks are due to Mrs Pavans de Ceccatty for her skillful technical assistance.     

Effect of 15(R)-15-methyl-prostaglandin E2 on iron absorption in the rat

Summary The administration of 15(R)-15-methyl prostaglandin E₂ (15(R)-15-M-PGE₂) in vivo significantly diminished the uptake of⁵⁹Fe into blood, spleen, liver, femur and dried intestine of rats, whereas acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) increased the counts significantly. This effect of ASA was counteracted by 15(R)-15-M-PGE₂. It is suggested that prostaglandins (PGs) might play an important role in inhibiting iron absorption at the intestinal level.This work was supported by grant No.6638 from CONICET (Argentina). The technical assistance of Mrs María E. Castro and Norma Rizzo is gratefully acknowleged.     

Chemical mediators in the oviposition behaviour of the house longhorn beetleHylotrupes bajulus

Summary Oviposition behaviour in the timber pestHylotrupes bajulus is mediated by pheromones ((–)-verbenone and p-cymen-8-ol) produced in the frass of the wood-boring larvae of the species.Acknowledgment. We thank the S. R. C. for a studentship (MDH) and N. E. R. C. for research support and technical assistance.     

Exocytosis of secretory granules — a probable mechanism for the release of neuromodulators in invertebrate neuropiles

Summary Presynaptic terminals typically contain secretory granules, usually 100–200 nm in diameter, in addition to the smaller synaptic vesicles. Evidence is presented that granule exocytosis is a widespread phenomenon in invertebrate neuropiles. Such secretory release is apparently associated with morphologically unspecialized regions of the plasmalemma, rather than synaptic thickenings.Acknowledgments. The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Mr R. M. Hewit and Mrs. S. Al-Yousuf. Supported by research grant GR/A88743 from the S.E.R.C., U.K., to D.W. Golding.     

Reduction in bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) infectivity vis-a-vis crude leaf extract of some higher plants

Summary Crude leaf extracts of 17 plants were tested for their antiviral activity against BCMV. An extract ofAzadirachta indica A. Juss. was found to be most potent in reducing the infectivity of the virus.Authors are thankful to Dr R. D. Joshi for his valuable guidance and Prof. S. N. Mathur for providing lab facilities. Financial assistance by U. G. C. and C. S. I. R. is gratefully acknowledged.     

Délimiation des voies ascendantes responsables de l'activités ponto-géniculo-occipitale chez le chat

Summary A ponto-geniculate system responsible for the PGO activity induced by Reserpine follows closely the topography of the intermediate catecholaminergic pathway which crosses the midlinie in the supra-optic decussation.

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Ce travail a bénéficié de l'aide de la D.R.M.E (No. 71.009), de l'I.N.S.E.R.M. (No. U52) et du C.N.R.S. (No. LA 162)     

Does prolactin control the blood progesterone level on early dioestrus in rats?

Summary Bromocriptine treatment on either prooestrus or oestrus in female rats did not affect luteal function on the day of dioestrus 1.This investigation was partially financed by the C.N.R.S. (E.R.A. No. 566).Acknowledgments. We are thankful to Mrs C. Lazarus for her excellent technical assistance, to Mr R. Dujol for the figures. We wish to express our gratitude to Dr A.F. Parlow for providing reagents for prolactin RIA and to Sandoz Laboratories for bromocriptine. Reprint request should be addressed to Cl.A.     

Evoked release of 5-HT and NEFA from the hypothalamus of the conscious monkey during thermorégulation

Zusammenfassung Unterkühlungsexperimente mit Affen zeigen einen Anstieg des 5-HT-Gehaltes in der Durchströmungsflüssigkeit des vorderen Hypothalamus. Erwärmung der Tiere ergab 2–4fachen Anstieg eines NEFA-ähnlichen Stoffes.

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Supported in part by U.S. Office of Naval Research Contract No. N00014-67-A-0226-0003, Grant No. GB 7906 from the National Science Foundation and a grant from the Wallace Laboratories. The authors are indebted to P.Cuezon, J. E.Evans and R. B.Holman for their valuable assistance.     

Interaction of platinum compounds with bacterial DNA

Summary The cis and trans isomer of PtCl₂(NH₃)₂, cis-Pt(cpa)₂Cl₂ and 2 platinum pyrimidine blues have been used in a number of bacterial tests indicative of their interaction with bacterial DNA.This investigation was supported by a grant from C.N.R., Rome. We thank Mrs S. Saincich for skilful technical assistance.     

Starvation-induced adaptation of rat liver tyrosine transaminase and serine dehydrase

Résumé Les activités de la tyrosine transaminase et de la sérine déhydrase sont augmentées dans le foie de rats normaux ou surrénalectomisés soumis au jeûne. Ces augmentations, qui sont supprimées par la puromycine ou le glucose, ne sont dues ni à une sécrétion d'hormones surrénaliennes ni à une accumulation des substrats des enzymes.

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This work was supported by a grant (AM 07 249 02) from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Technical assistance of MmeYveline Van Heijenoort and MileCristiane Portemer (C.N.R.S.) is gratefully acknowledged.     

Effects of anaesthesia and chronic catheterization on circulating levels of prostaglandins (PGE2 and PGF2a in dogs

Summary Chronic catheterization of aorta and inferior vena cava in dogs did not significantly affect circulating levels of prostaglandins (PGE₂ and PGF_2a ). Pentobarbital (30 mg/kg i.v.) anaesthesia produced a significant decrease in PGF_2a .This work was supported by INSERM (grant No. 76.5.183.5).We wish to thank Miss Laure Eloy and Mrs Annick Soubrier for their technical assistance.     

Nerve-mediated action of forskolin on guinea pig ileal mucosa

Summary The effects of forskolin on myenteric neuronal activity and mucosal function were examined in guinea pig ileum. Forskolin increased the excitability of myenteric neurons, and increased mucosal chloride secretion by stimulating enteric neurons as well as by acting directly on enterocytes.Acknowledgment. The authors thank E. Martens, S. Bowen for technical assistance and N. Schaad for secretarial assistance. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants, F32-AM07301, K-104-AM1004, RO1-AM29699, RO1-AM26742 and an Eloise Gerry Fellowship.     

Abnormal organization of ovarian follicles in the mutantl(1)su(f) mad-ts ofDrosophila melanogaster

Summary The morphology of ovarian follicles in the temperature-sensitive female-sterile mutantl(1)su(f) ^mad-ts has been studied by means of light and electron microscopy. As the follicle cells gradually degenerate at the restrictive temperature (29°C) the follicles become increasingly disorganized with respect to shape and polarity.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 46). We wish to thank Mrs R. Koppa for excellent technical assistance and Mrs G. Mahlke for photographic work. We are also indebted to Dr D. Zissler, Dr E. Gateff and Prof. K. Sander for many helpful suggestions.     

Purification and properties of ornithine aminotransferase from rat brain

Summary Ornithine aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.13) from rat brain was purified 100-fold by ammonium sulphate fractionation, DEAE cellulose chromatography, calcium phosphate gel and alumina C gel. Pyridoxal phosphate was essential for maximum activity of the enzyme. The brain enzyme did not differ from liver and kidney enzymes in properties such as pH optimum, K_m, substrate specificity and the inhibition by branched chain amino acids. Unlike rat liver enzyme, brain ornithine aminotransferase was able to catalyze the reaction between L-lysine and 2-oxoglutarate. Spermidine and spermine inhibited brain ornithine aminotransferase activity.Acknowledgments. D.R.D. is thankful to U.G.C., India, for the award of a fellowship under the special assistance programme. Present address: Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, F2815, Box 066, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.     

Effect of ambient cold on urine concentration by the intact and denervated dog kidney

Summary In dogs transferred from room temperature to a low temperature of 1±(SD) 3.5°C, the plasma norepinephrine (NE) level increased significantly. Urine concentration decreased in the cold, in the intact and similarly in the chronically denervated kidney. After return to a warm environment urine concentration improved in both kidneys while plasma NE remained elevated. The data speak against an essential role of the renal nerves in the adaptation of renal function to ambient cold.Acknowledgments. We are greatly indebted to Dr J. Kurkus and Dr R. Gellert who performed the operations of surgical bladder division, and to Mrs W. Radziszewska for determination of plasma norepinephrine. The study was supported within the national research problem No. 10.4.     

Independence of circulating insulin levels of the increased glucose turnover in shivering dogs

Summary In dogs, selective insulin deficiency induced by simultaneous somatostatin and glucagon infusion does not alter the high rate of glucose utilization provoked by acute cold exposure. However, both in resting and in shivering dogs, lowering of plasma insulin decreases plasma glucose metabolic clearance significantly.