Testing of rifampicin on possible genetic effects onDrosophila melanogaster and human leukocyte chromosomes in vitro

Zusammenfassung Mutagenitätsuntersuchungen von Rifampicin anDrosophila melanogas (X-chromosomale rezessive Letalmutationen) und an menschlichen Leukozytenchromosomen in vitro ergaben keine Anhaltspunkte für eine genetische Wirksamkeit dieser Substanz.

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We thank Mrs.R. Pieper for her carful technical assistance. We are also grateful to ProfessorR. Hess and Dr.J. Gelzer (Ciba-Geigy, Basel) for the supply of rifampicin.     

Subcellular distribution of catecholamines and enzymes in human neuroblastoma

Résumé Dans 18 cas de neuroblastome humain la noradrénaline (NA) et la dopamine--hydroxylase présentent des profils de distribution intracellulaire identiques, suggérant un stockage dans la même particule. Le contenu en NA de ces particules n'est pas inférieur à celui des particules du nerf splénique; on peut en conclure qu'un stockage défectueux de NA dans les cas de neuroblastome est peu probable.

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The authors are grateful to Prof.F. Derom (Surgical Clinic, University of Ghent Medical School), Prof.R. Eeckels and Prof.E. Eggermont (Paediatric Clinic, University of Leuven Medical School), Prof.A. Lacquet and Prof.J. Gruwez (Surgical Clinic, University of Leuven Medical School), Dr.G. Delalieux, Dr.F. Delange, Dr.P. De Mol, Dr.R. Denis, Dr.R. Maurus and Dr.J. Otten (Paediatric Clinic, University of Brussels Medical School) and Dr.W. Mattheiem (Surgical Clinic, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels) for making the tumors available to them.     

Paradoxical inhibition of the effects of bradykinin by some sulfhydryl reagents

Résumé Plusieurs dérivés thiol et deux antioxidants inhibent la bronchoconstriction chez le cobaye, une partie de l'hypotension chez le lapin et la libération de «rabbit aorta contracting substance» (RCS) dues à la bradykinine Il est proposé que les effets communs à la bradykinine, à la SRS-A, SRS-C et à l'acide arachidonique, qui sont bloqués par des antiinflammatoires, acides, et par les dérivés thiol, sont dus à la formation de RCS, constituée par des péroxydes cicliques analogues aux précurseurs instables des prostaglandines E 2 et F 2 alpha.

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We thank MrsB. Charpentier andC. Bellevrat for technical help, Prof.H. Clauser andJ. R. Vane and DrH. O. J. Collier for comments and DrS. H. Ferreira for advice concerning the superfusion technique and for BPP9. Squibb provided BPP5. This work is part of a thesis leading to the degree of Docteur-ès-Sciences, Orsay (B.B.V.).     

Eco-physiological studies onZornia diphylla pers. with reference to adaptive seed dormancy

Summary Seeds ofZornia diphylla possess a complex type of dormancy which is of great survival value for the species. Seeds show polymorphism. The optimum temperature for germination explains the cause of its distribution in the tropics. The grazing and scraping promotes the vegetative growth.The author is grateful to Dr.R. Sahai and Dr.R. S. Tripathi, Gorakhpur University, for guidance and to Dr.Y. B. Singh, Principal, and Dr.G. C. Srivastava, Head Dept. Botany, for encouragement and facilities. Thanks are due to my colleagues late SriP. N. Gupta, SriJ. Abraham, SriF. Abbasi, and Dr.A. B. Sinha for their cooperation.     

Inhibition of angiotensin I converting enzyme and kininase in rabbit plasma by bradykinin potentiating peptide B (Pyr-Gly-Leu-Pro-Arg-Pro-Lys-Ile-Pro-Pro)

Zusammenfassung Das Bradykinin-potenzierende Peptid B (Pyr-Gly-Leu-Pro-Pro-Arg-Pro-Lys-Ile-Pro-Pro) verhindert in vitro und in vivo die Aktivität der Plasmakininase und des «converting»-Enzyms.

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Acknowledgment. The authors wish to thank Dr. H.Kato of Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, for his kind supply of BPP. Thanks also Dr. S.Sakakibara of Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, for his kind supply of synthetic angiotensin I and bradykinin.     

Isolation of sodium-complexing polypeptides from mammalian blood and cardiac muscle

Summary Two distinct polypeptides have been isolated from rat heart and ox blood. They are both found to be effective in forming complexes with sodium ions, and it is suggested that they may have a function in stabilizing sodium ion activity.Acknowledgments. We are indebted to ProfessorG. A. Gilbert, F.R.S. and to Dr.C. J. Lote for helpful discussion, and to the Royal Society for a Grant-in-aid which in part supported the investigation.     

Variations de la différence de potentiel électrochimique des chlorures chezNitella en présence de benzène sulphonate

Summary The chloride electrochemical potential difference between the inside of cells ofNitella translucens and some external solutions, where Cl has been progressively replaced by benzenesulphonate, has been measured by means of Ag-AgCl electrodes. It appears that benzenesulphonate moves into the cell by an electrogenic pump and that the uptake of Cl byNitella is not in contradiction with a carrier hypothesis.

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This work was supported by grants from the F.N.R.S. and was carried out in the Biophysics Section of the Edinburgh University. We are indebted to Dr. E. J.Williams and Dr.Hogg for having sponsored this research and kindly provided the material.     

Deficiency in renomedullary prostaglandin synthesis related to the evolution of essential hypertension

Summary Continued PG synthesis in the early stages of essential hypertension might reflect an activation of the renal antihypertensive function in respect to neurogenic and/or hormonal pression stimuli, subsequently a deficiency of renal PG synthesis related to irreversible changes with the kidney would lead to the prepoderance of a pressure mechanism, resulting to a further increase of blood pressure.We thank Dr.J. R. Pike of the Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo Michigan, who kindly provided PGs. This work was supported by a grant from INSERM (ATP 17 No. of contract73547917) to Dr.Papanicolaou.     

Telocentric chromosomes in pearl millet,Pennisetum typhoides

Summary InPennisetum typhoides S. and H., a new karyotype was found with 13 normal chromosomes and 2 stable telocentric chromosomes, which represent 1 arm each of a submetacentric chromosome.The authors are thankful to Dr.J. V. Pantulu, Professor of Cytogenetics, for guidance and encouragement and to Dr.V. Manga, for helpful discussion. They express their thanks to the U. G. C. (PSRLNR) and to the C. S. I. R. (MVSR and INR) for the award of Junior Research Fellowships.     

Gastric mucus effusion elicited by oral copper compounds: Potential anti-ulcer activity

Summary In rats, both Cu(I) and Cu(II) show an irritancy profile not shared with Cu^o or Zn(II) or Ni(II). The gastric response to Cu(II), i.e. copius fluid and mucus secretion, can protect the stomach from the acute ulcerative effects of aspirin or physical stress administered subsequently.to whom all enquiries should be addressed, Supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (Austr.) and University of Tasmania Research Commitee.Acknowledgments: ProfessorsW. R. Walker (Newcastle, Austr.) andL. Field (Nashville, Tenn.) for gifts of Cu(I) and Zn complexes;Dr. J. R. J. Sorenson (Cincinnatti, Ohio) for illuminating discussion; Drs.D. D. Perrin (Canberra) andR. P. Agarwal (Washington D. C.) for providing stability constants and much helpful advice.     

Occurence of diploid drones in a neotropical bumblebee

Zusammenfassung Mutter-Sohn-Kreuzung bei der südamerikanischen HummelBombus atratus Franklin ergab diploide Männchen mit normalen Arbeiterinnen im Verhältnis von 3 zu 1. Tur Interpretation des genetischen Mechanismus wurden 2 geschlechtsgebundene Loci angenommen, als bisher angenommen wurde, was für einen älteren Mechanismus bei Apiden spricht.

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This study was made possible by a grant of the State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

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Acknowledgment. I would like to thank Dr.W. E. Kerr, Dr.R. Zucchi and Dr.S. F. Sakagami for their excellent assistance during the course of this investigation as well during the translation. I also would like to thank Dr.R. H. Crozier for his suggestions and comments and I extend my thankfulness to professorsJ. Chaud Netto andZ. Silveira.     

Establishment of normal diploid and malignant heteroploid cell lines from non-treated and benzo(a)pyrene treated hamster embryo cell cultures

Summary Two normal diploid control cell lines and a heteroploid malignant transformed cell line from B(a) P treated hamster embryo cell cultures were established. The 14-month-old B(a)P transformed cell line grew 8-times faster than the 20-month-old control cell line. The control cell line showed normal diploid chromosome complement in 93% cells and heteroploidy in 7% cells while B(a)P treated line showed 83% heteroploid cells and only 17% diploid cells. This is the first report on the establishment of diploid hamster cell cultures grown for extended period. Acknowledgments. This work was supported by the French Ministry of Quality of Life, by the Institut National de la Santé et Recherche Médicale, by the S.E.I.T.A. and by Contract No. 12-14-7001-297 of the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Administered by the Athens, Georgia Area, Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center, Athens, Georgia 30604, USA. We thank Mr.B. R. Sharma, Mr.E. J. Radin, Dr.R. Hakim and Dr.Ved Brat for their help during this work.     

Reflexine,a new indole alkaloid ofRauwolfia reflexa

Summary Reflexine, a new indole alkaloid, has been isolated from the leaves ofRauwolfia reflexa Teijsm. and Binn. From spectral studies, chemical reactions and correlation with seredamine, reflexine is shown to be its C-17 epimer (IV).Grateful thanks are accorded to ProfessorR. H. Thomson, Dr.R. T. Brown, Dr.Nitya Nand and Dr.S. C. Pakrashi for spectral measurements. Financial assistance from CCRIMH, New Delhi, and UGC, New Delhi, are also thankfully acknowledged.     

Fluoride and calcium levels in the aorta

Zusammenfassung Fluor- und Kalziumwerte in verkalktem Aortengewebe wurden mit denen von makroskopisch normal erscheinendem Aortengewebe verglichen. Der Fluorgehalt der Aorta verschiedener Personen zeigte grosse individuelle Schwankungen, die unabhängig vom Kalziumgehalt waren. Eine direkte Korrelation des Aortenfluors mit dem Lebensalter wurde festgestellt. Die statistische Auswertung der Untersuchungen vonCall et al.² ergab, dass der Fluorgehalt der Aorta unabhängig von demjenigen des Skelettes ist.

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I appreciate the cooperation of Drs. E.Booth and J. R.Mc-Donald, pathologists at Hutzel and Harper Hospitals respectively, for furnishing the aorta specimens; D. L. J.Savage and Mr. J. M.Lucas of the Department of Statistics at Yale University for their statistical interpretation of my data; Dr. R. A.Kemp Harper, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, England, and Dr. G.Nalbone, Department of Industrial Medicine, University of Palermo, Italy, for furnishing the illustrations in Figures 1 and 2.     

Electron microscope and optical diffraction studies on glycerol-extracted insect flight muscle fibres relaxed by pyrophosphate

Zusammenfassung Elektronenmikroskopische Aufnahmen von einfacher Filament-Lagen Mg-Pyrophosphaterschlaffter Fasern der dorsolongitudinalen Flugmuskulatur vonLethocerus spec. gleichen weitgehend dem Bild ATP-erschlaffter Muskeln. Optische Transformationen scheinen dagegen die Charakteristika von ATP-erschlafften Fasern und solchen, die sich im Rigor mortis befinden, zu kombinieren. Die Überführung der Fasern aus einer Mg-Pyrophosphat- in eine Rigor-Lösung stellte das Rigor-Muster wieder her.

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Supported by a short term fellowship of the EMBO to one of us (G.B.).

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Acknowledgment. We are greatly indebted to Dr.Louise N. Johnson, P. Eagle andL. J. Stumpp, Oxford, Dept. of Zoology, for their help with the optical diffraction measurements, to Mrs.Hiltrud Gülker for her expert technical assistance and to Prof.Pringle and Dr.R. T. Tregear for their hospitality and many helpful discussions and criticism.     

Pre- and post-partum plasma amine oxidase differences in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta)

Summary Plasma amine oxidase activity increased from 23.4 nmol/ml/h during pregnancy to 49.5 nmol/ml/h during an extended post partum period in 10 rhesus monkeys. Comparison with non-pregnant control monkeys sampled at similar times indicated that the significant differences were in the extended post partum period.We thank Dr.C. H. Conaway and Dr.J. D. Loy of the Caribbean Primate Research Center andJ. G. Vandenbergh andW. Post of the North Carolina Department of Mental Health for the use of their facilities and animals. We also acknowledge the technical assistance ofC. H. Donnelly andMs. Suzanne Baulu. This work was supported by a grant from Dr.H. C. Robinson, Jr., through Yale University Medical School and by NIH Contract No. 71-2003.     

Hypodiploidy of bone marrow in hypertransfused mice stimulated with erythropoietin

Zusammenfassung Bei Mäusen führte eine Hypertransfusion zur Abnahme hypodiploider Zellen im Knochenmark. Nach Verabreichung von Erythropoietin wurden höhere Fraktionen der hypodiploiden Zellen als bei unbehandelten Kontrollen gefunden.

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We are indebted to Dr.J. Müller for his interest in this work and for his valuable comments and criticism. The crythropoetin (of urinary origin) used in this work had been supplied by the courtesy of Dr.Takaku from the Tokyo University.     

Selective blockade by mephentermine of reserpine-induced serotonin depletion

Zusammenfassung Die kombinierte i.v. Verabreichung von Reserpin (1 mg/kg) und Mephentermin (1 mg/kg) bewirkte Erregung in Kaninchen. Diese Erregung ist verbunden mit einem Verlust an Noradrenalin (NE) im Gehirn, nicht jedoch mit einem Verlust an Serotonin (5-HT). Aus den Ergebnissen lässt sich schliessen, dass die beobachtete Erregung von einem momentanen Ungleichgewicht zwischen NE und 5-HT im Gehirn herrührt.

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This study is supported in part by Career Development Award No. K3 NB 15279-09 and Grant No. MH 11189 from the National Institutes of Health, U.S.P.H.S. The authors wish to thank Dr.A. J. Plummer of CIBA Pharmaceutical Company for supplying the reserpine phosphate and Dr.R. J. Bower of Wyeth Laboratories for the mephentermine used in this study.     

Increased fusion frequency ofAspergillus nidulans protoplasts

Zusammenfassung Die Häufigkeit der Protoplastfusion auxotropher Mutanten vonAspergillus nidulans wurde durch Zugabe von 0.6M KCl oder NaCl gesteigert.

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The authors thank Dr.R. F. Rosenberger for the strainAspergillus nidulans pabal,y, ts6; ProfessorJ. G. H. Wessels and Dr.O. M. H. de Vries for discussions, and Dr.I. Rojik for help in electron microscopy.     

Persistence of a growth hormone-like antigen in organ cultures of human placentas

Zusammenfassung Auswüchse menschlicher Placenten (12.–14. Woche Schwangerschaft) wurden in Organkultur gehalten. Obwohl sich die histologische Struktur langfristig erhalten lässt, bleibt ein dem menschlichen Wachstumshormon ähnliches Antigen, das in unkultiviertem Syncytiotrophoblast vorhanden ist, nur 10–14 Tage lang am Leben. Dasselbe erscheint vorübergehend in Cytotrophoblastzellen der Placentaauswüchse während der ersten 3 Monate.

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We are grateful to ProfessorC. H. Read (Department of Pediatrics, Iowa University) for anti HGH serm; to Dr.P. S. Brown, (Department of Materia Medica, Aberdeen University) for human urinary gonadotrophin preparations; to MissesS. Tait, A. Bruce andF. Duguid for technical assistance. This work was supported by a generous grant to ProfessorA. R. Currie and J. S. b. from the British Empire Cancer Campaign.