Reinforcement with naloxone of N-n-propylnorapomorphine (NPA) capability for stimulating male rat copulatory behavior

Summary Naloxone at a dose of 2 mg·kg^–1, which per se did not significantly alter the copulatory pattern of sexually active adult male rats, did significantly reduce the intromission frequency as well as latency to ejaculation when administered before a low and inactive dose of N-n-propylnorapomorphine (0.5 g·kg^–1).     

Nitric oxide-related pancreatic endocrine responses to hyperglycaemia in the conscious calf

Mean plasma insulin concentration was reduced and mean plasma glucose concentration increased following the administration of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 100 mol kg^–1 i.a.) in conscious calves given continuous infusions of exogenous glucose (30–60 mol min^–1 kg^–1 i.v.). It is concluded that the rise in plasma insulin concentration which occurs in these animals in response to glucose is mediated, at least in part, by a nitric oxide-related factor (NOx).     

α-Adrenoceptor blocking action of hymenin,a novel marine alkaloid

Summary In the rabbit isolated aorta, hymenin (10^–6 M) a novel marine alkaloid, caused a parallel rightward shift of the dose-response curve for norepinephrine without affecting that for histamine or KCl, suggesting that hymenin is a competitive antagonist of -adrenoceptors in vascular smooth muscles.Acknowledgments. We thank Ms A. Kajiwara and Ms M. Hamashima of this institute for their technical assistance, and Prof. Y. Hirata of Meijo University for his encouragement.     

Choleretic and cholestatic effects of infused bile salts in the rat

Summary In rats, at low infusion rates taurocholate (TC), taurochenodeoxycholate (TCDC) and taurodeoxycholate (TCD) each produced an increase in bile flow of 20–50%. However, at high infusion rates (5–20 moles min^–1 kg^–1) the cholestatic effects of the bile salts were revealed and the relative toxicity of the bile salts was seen to be TDC>TCDC>TC.     

Influence of environmental conditions on the amount of N2O released from activated sludge in a domestic waste water treatment plant

Waste water purification is characterized by intensive mineralization and nitrification processes. Because of the high O₂ demand, temporarily anaerobic conditions may be produced, and denitrification by nitrifying organisms as well as heterotropic denitrification may contribute to N₂O release. In situ measurements (1993–1994) suggest that N₂O is released from activated sludge in a domestic waste water treatment plant at an average rate of 1040 g m^–2h^–1 with a range between zero and 6198 g m^–2h^–1. The production of N₂O seems to be related to the concentration of NO ₂ ^– and NO ₃ ^– as well as to the pH. In the waste water about 75–200 g N₂O l^–1 is dissolved. This N₂O is released after discharge into the receiving waters. The N₂O is produced essentially by nitrification rather than by heterotropic denitrification. On a long-term scale the increasing use of mechanical-biological waste water purification plants world-wide may add increasingly to the anthropogenic production of N₂O, although the present amount of N₂O produced is negligible compared to its global terrestrial production.     

Captopril (SQ 14,225): In vitro and in vivo influence on the proliferative response of rat lymphocytes

Summary Captopril in vitro (50–500 g/ml) increased³H-TdR incorporation in unstimulated and mitogen-stimulated cultures of rat lymphocytes. Unseparated spleen and lymph node cells of rats orally treated with captopril (50 mg/kg/day×4) showed decreased basal and mitogen stimulated³H-TdR incorporation. The removal of macrophages abrogated this inhibitory effect. Leucine aminopeptidase activity of macrophages was reduced — in vivo and in vitro — by captopril.Acknowledgments. The authors thank the Squibb Institute for Medical Research for the gift of Captopril. The excellent technical assistance of Ms B. Hasselriis, Ms B. Rumler and Ms E. Greve Petersen is gratefully acknowledged.     

Suppression of natural killer cell activity in mouse spleen lymphocytes by several dopamine receptor antagonists

The effects of dopaminergic receptor inhibitors such as thiothixine (D₁/D₂), fluphenazine (D₁/D₂), trifluoperazine (D₁/D₂), pimozide (D₂), flupenthixol (D₁/D₂), (+/–)-SKF 83566 (D₁), and spiperone (D₂) on splenic natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxic activities were assessed in vitro using mouse spleen lymphocytes or enriched NK cells. Both the activities of the splenic NK cell cytotoxicity and the effector-target cell conjugation were suppressed by thiothixine, fluphenazine, and trifluoperazine at concentrations from 2.64 to 14.78 M. In addition, the augmentation of the cytolytic activity of NK cells induced by interferon- or interleukin-2 was antagonized by pretreatment with these neuroleptic compounds. However, neither the splenic NK cell cytotoxicity nor the effector-target cell conjugation were affected by treatment with other neuroleptic compounds such as pimozide, flupenthixol, (+/–)-SKF 83566, and spiperone. Thus, it appears that neuroleptic compounds such as thiothixine, fluphenazine, and trifluoperazine may act through the mechanisms other than a dopaminergic pathway to affect the NK cell-target cell interaction.     

Tigogenin and ursolic acid fromCestrum diurnum Linn.

Zusammenfassung AusCestrum diurnum Linn. wurden Ursolsäure und Tigonin, [] _D ²³ –48° (Pyridine) und aus Tigonin Tigogenin durch Hydrolyse isoliert bzw. erhalten.     

Simple integrated rate equations for reversible bimolecular reactions

Summary If the complete rate equations for reversible, one-step, bimolecular reactions are written withP _e–P as the concentration variable (whereP _e is the equilibrium, andP is the instantaneous, product concentration), the 3 possible stoichiometries can be reduced to a single straightforward differential equation. This can be solved very economically. For each stoichiometry, weret is time,k ₁ is the forward rate constant,K _e is the equilibrium constant, and P isP–P _o. The termsP _c–P _o andD+P _c–P _o are the physically possible and physically impossible roots of the quadratic equation forP _e–P _o in terms of the initial concentrations andK _c.D is the discriminant in this equation. All 3 quantities can be calculated if the equilibrium constant is known. A plot oft against ln{[1–P/(D+P _c–P _o)]/[1–P/(P _c–P _o)]} should be a straight line for any second order reaction. For each stoichiometry,P _c–P _o approachesA _o, the initial concentration of the first reactant, as the equilibrium constant increases. When a second reactant is present,D+P _e–P _o approachesB _o. The limiting equation is then that of an irreversible bimolecular reaction. For AP+Q,D approaches –K _e as the equilibrium constant becomes large, and the value of the second logarithmic term in the integrated equation approaches zero. The limiting equation is that of an irreversible, unimolecular reaction.Acknowledgments. I thank Dr. Athel Cornish-Bowden for many helpful discussions. This work was partially supported by a grant from Utah State University.     

Comparison of the effects of different isomers of bicuculline infused in the preoptic area on male rat sexual behavior

Summary Intracerebral infusion of (+) bicuculline methiodide, but not of its (–) isomer, in the preoptic area, stimulated masculine sexual behavior in rat as evidenced by a decrease in the number of intromissions preceding ejaculation and a shortening of the ejaculation latency and postejaculatory interval. Data suggest a role of the GABAergic system in mediating masculine sexual behavior.Acknowledgments. Authors wish to thank Ms Elisabeth Wallin for excellent technical assistance and Ms Madelene Kröning for preparing the figures.     

Studies on hydrogen,halides and thiocyanate ions in dioxane-water mixtures at various temperatures

Summary The free enrgies of transfer (G _t ⁰ ) of H⁺, Cl^–, Br^–, I^– and SCN^– ions from water to 10, 20, 30 and 40% dioxanewater mixtures have been studied from potentiometric measurements. For anions the G _t ⁰ values are in the order Cl^–>Br^–>SCN^–>I^–.     

Methyllycaconitine,a naturally occurring insecticide with a high affinity for the insect cholinergic receptor

Summary Studies of extracts ofDelphinium seeds, long known to be insecticidal, revealed that a principal insecticidal toxin was methyllycaconitine, which is shown to be a potent inhibitor of -bungarotoxin binding to housefly heads (K_inh=2.5×10^–10±0.5×10^–10M).Calgary for gifts of MLA, citrate and lycoctonine, and Dr W. Bowers of the University of Arizona for the original extract ofDelphinium seeds. We would also like to acknowledge the able technical support of Ms C. Dushin, Mr E.L. Bowman, Dr C. C. Gagne, Mr R. F. Borysewicz and Dr P. Mowery for his assistance in obtaining and interpreting the carbon-13 NMR spectra.     

Soybean photosynthesis: simultaneous14CO2 and O2 estimates

Summary A method of estimating the photosynthetic rate of soybean leaves using an oxygen electrode is presented. The procedure is rapid, requires small samples and compares favourably with estimates by other techniques. Light saturation occurs at 1200 E·m^–2·sec^–1. The apparent K_m for HCO ₃ ^– is 3.2 mM at pH 7.6.     

Cl−/HCO 3 − exchanger is operative in isolated enterocytes from rat jejunum

Enterocytes isolated from rat jejunum were tested for the existence of a Cl^–/HCO ₃ ^– exchange, previously evidenced in basolateral membrane vesicles but not in brush border. Cells were found to retain functional integrity and transport capabilities long enough to allow Cl^– fluxes to be measured. Both efflux and uptake experiments indicate that a Cl^–/HCO ₃ ^– antiport, inhibited by 4,4-diisothiocyanostilbene-2-2-disulfonic acid (DIDS), is functional under resting conditions.     

Experimental data on the energetic flux during glycolytic oscillations in yeast extracts

Calorimetric experiments were performed on yeast extracts in which glycolytic oscillations were occurring. High metabolic fluxes coincided with low amplitudes and with high frequencies in a temperature range from 283 to 303 K, yielding an activation energy ofE _a=76.8 kJ mol^–1 and a mean Q₁₀ value of 2.5±0.4. The calorimetrically determined reaction enthalpy _fH^0, of the glycolytic catabolism of glucose revealed two distinct groups of extract preparations, with no intermediate values. The values were –107.5±28.7 kJ mol^–1 and –30.8±5.7 kJmol^–1, respectively, while –100.0 kJ mol^–1 was predicted from theoretical calculations. Kreuzberg and Betz⁶ predicted rate limiting effects of GAPDH in oscillating extracts. However, when possible effects of GAPDH on frequency, number of oscillations or total heat production were examined, no influence of increasing or reducing the initial GAPDH concentration could be found. The results are discussed with reference to existing models of glycolytic oscillations.     

Prostaglandin E1 induced salivary secretion

Summary PGE₁ but not PGF₂ at 500–1000 g/kg induced a slow and sparse flow from the parotid and no flow at all from submaxillary glands. Composition of PGE₁-induced parotid saliva was quite different from that evoked by any autonomic agonists. The present study suggests that PGE₁ might act directly on parotid acinar cells.Acknowledgment. This work was supported by NIDR grant DE05633. The authors wish to thank Ms Sonya Wynn for her technical assistance.     

Effects of selective dopamine D1 and D2 antagonists on male rat sexual behavior

The effects of selective dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 antagonists on male rat sexual behavior were investigated. The D1 antagonist (+)SCH-23390, 25-100 micrograms kg-1 s.c. -20 min, and the D2 antagonist raclopride, 0.1-1.6 mg kg-1 s.c., -20 min, decreased both the number of mounts and intromissions preceding ejaculation. No statistically significant effects in the time up to ejaculation or in the time up to the first intromission were noted, whereas both compounds produced a statistically significant increase in the post-ejaculatory interval. The effect can generally be characterized as psychomotor inhibition, and no evidence was obtained for a specific role of DA D1 or D2 receptors in the mediation of male rat sexual behavior.     

Role of adenosine A1 and A2 receptors in the regulation of aldosterone production in rat adrenal glands

Summary To investigate the roles of adenosine A₁ and A₂ receptors in the regulation of aldosterone production, we examined the effects of adenosine and adenosine agonists (N⁶-cyclohexyl adenosine; selective adenosine A₁ receptor agonist and 5-N-ethylcarboxamine adenosine; selective adenosine A₂ receptor agonist) on aldosterone and cyclic AMP production in rat adrenal capsular cells. Neither adenosine nor 5-N-ethylcarboxamine adenosine caused significant effects on basal aldosterone or cyclic AMP production. Also, adenosine (10^–3M) showed no consistent effects on aldosterone and cyclic AMP production induced by ACTH. On the other hand, N⁶-cyclohexyl adenosine exhibited a significant inhibition of basal aldosterone and cyclic AMP production at doses of 10^–4 M and 10^–3 M; furthermore, 10^–3 M N⁶-cyclohexyl adenosine inhibited aldosterone and cyclic AMP production stimulated by ACTH. These results suggest that adenosine A₁ receptors are coupled to and inhibit adenylate cyclase and may be involved in the inhibition of aldosterone production.     

Role of phospholipids in the binding activity of vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors

Summary Phospholipase digestion of rat intestinal epithelial cell membranes was performed in order to study the influence of membrane phospholipids on the binding activity of VIP receptors. Phospholipases A₂ and C strougly (ED₅₀4×10^–2 and 4×10^–1 g/ml, respectively) and rapidly reduced¹²⁵I-VIP binding to membranes whereas phospholipase D was ineffective. This suggests an important role of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups of phospholipids on VIP receptor binding activity.This work was supported by INSERM (CRL 827017) and the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale Française.     

Negative adsorption of anions by suspensions of bentonites

Résumé Nous avons étudié l'adsorption négative des anions I*O ₃ ^– et Cr*O ₄ ^–– à différents bentonites en fonction d'électrolytes additionnés. Pour les électrolytes NaCl et Na₂SO₄ les résultats sont en bon accord avec ceux deSchofield etMattson; nous avons étudié aussi l'effet de l'addition de solutions de CaCl₂; celles-ci produisent le même effet à des dilutions 20 fois plus grandes que les solutions de NaCl. Comme ceci ne peut pas être expliqué sur la base de la théorie deDebye-Hückel, nous avons appliqué la théorie exacte de la couche double; le facteur 20 mentionné plus haut mène à une valeur de=–75 mV. En introduisant cette valeur de, une représentation graphiques–1/c pour les résultats des expériences au Na-bentonite + solutions de NaCl, donne une surface spécifique de 1110 m²/g.