Electrophoretic behaviour of some human blood cells

Riassunto Viene riportato uno studio sui gruppi carichi alla superficie di alcune cellule del sangue, usando la tecnica della microelettroforesi. Differenze in mobilità elettroforetica, in funzione del pH, per piastrine, eritrociti, linfociti e granulociti sono presentate.The authors wish to thank Dr.C. A. Bouvier and Dr.J. Ritschard of the Hôpital Cantonal de Genève for their advice and encouragement.     

Phosphatidyl-N-(2 hydroxyethyl)-alanine synthesis of distearoyl L-α-glycerylphosphoryl-N-(2 hydroxyethyl)-alanine

Zusammenfassung Die erste Synthese eines Phosphatidyl-N-(2 hydroxyethyl)-alanins wird beschrieben.

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Dedicated to Professor Dr.Erich Baer in honour of his 70th birthday.

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The nomenclature used in this communication is that used byFischer andBaer for well-nigh 4 decades. However, according to the rules of IUPAC-IUB commission this should be 1,2-distearoylsn-glycero-3-phosphoryl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-alanine.

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The authors thank the National Institute of Health (USA) and the Medical Research Council (Canada) for making the grants available to ProfessorE. Baer, which made this work possible.

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The authors thank Dr.J. von Euw and Professor Dr.T. Reichstein of the University of Basel (Switzerland) for kindly providing the rotation. As the optical purity is a very important criterion of the activity of the phospholipids; this has been determined on the Schmid and Heansch polarimeter (visual) as well as on the Perkin Elmer polarimeter (photoelectric) with excellent agreement.     

Autoradiographic evidence for binding of3H-flunitrazepam (Rohypnol®) to melanin granules in the cat eye

Summary This autoradiographic study revealed after an i.v. injection an accumulation of³H-flunitrazepam in melanin granules of the pigment epithelium and of the choroid cells. It seems that after a short period, a large proportion of the strongly bound drug is released.Acknowledgments. I thank Dr E. Kovács and Mrs V. Beuck for help in treating the animals and Miss C. Böhler and Mr R. Krauer for excellent technical assistance.This drug, with a radiochemical purity of 99.2%, was prepared by Drs R. Schwob and J. Würsch, F. Hoffmann-La Roche & Co., Ltd, Basel, Switzerland.     

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.     

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.     

Improved diffraction patterns from isolated heart muscle with infrared light

Summary Diffraction measurement of myofilament overlap can be made with greater resolution or extended to thicker heart muscle preparations by using light of a near IR wavelength.Supported in part by National Heart and Lung Institute, grant 5 R01 HL 18668-02.I wish to thank Dr E. H. Sonnenblick for support, Dr M. Kawai for advice, and Mr Andrew Hopkins, Jr, for technical assistance.     

A lipase in the milk of the gorilla

Zusammenfassung Gorillamilch hat nach Gallensäureaktivierung eine ähnlich spaltende Wirkung auf echte Fette wie Menschenmilch. Ohne Gallensäure kann hochmolekulares Fett auch im Zusammenwirken mit neutralisiertem menschlichem Magensaft oder Magenmucosaextrakten angegriffen werden, indem hierbei Di- und Monoglyzeride entstehen. Ebenso werden niedrig molekulare Ester direkt angegriffen wie zum Beispiel Tributyrin. Die Gorillamilch ist die einzige Tiermilch, bei der ein der Menschenmilch genau entsprechendes Verhalten der Lipase bisher gefunden wurde.

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Acknowledgment: The gorilla milk I obtained from Prof. K.Bernhard, Director of the Physiologisch-Chemisches Institut in Basel, who received it from Dr. E.Lang, Director of the Zoological Garden in Basel. I thank both gentlemen very much.     

AnAnolis skin melanophore assay suitable for photoaffinity labeling studies with α-MSH

Summary Visual determination of MSH-induced pigment migration in melanophores of small pieces ofAnolis carolinensis skin is standardized by first measuring photoelectrometrically the change in reflection/transmission of the whole dorsal skin in response to different hormone concentrations. This method allows the rapid and precise recording of time-response curves after photoaffinity labeling of MSH receptors or of dose-response curves of large series of synthetic compounds.Acknowledgments. We wish to thank Ms V. Jäggin, Ms C. Schulthess and Ms G. van Hees for excellent technical assistance, Dr. R. Andreatta, Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, for his generous gift of -MSH and Prof. A Pletscher for his continuous interest. This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.     

A novel biochemical systematic technique for herpetology based on epidermal keratin

Summary Using green geckos (Phelsuma) the molecular weights and isoelectric points of S-carboxymethylated keratin monomers from fresh and preserved reptile epidermis were investigated. Isoelectric focussing reveals that several of the circa 35 components differ between genera, species and races and that the relative similarity of the SCMK pattern is directly related to evolutionary similarity and is of considerable taxonomic value.We would like to thank the SRC (grant A/8799.9 to R.S. Th.) and the Department of Zoology, Aberdeen for funding this research and Dr Alan Knox for his advice and assistance at the inception of this project. R.S. Th. would like to thank the Bonhote fund, Carnegie Trust and the Joint Research Committee of Aberdeen University for travel expenses related to this research and the Reptile and Amphibian section of the BMNH for the loan of specimens. M. G. would like to thank J.M. Gillespie for communications on keratin biochemistry and Dr Charteris (BDH) for a sample of their molecular weight markers prior to it being marketed.     

Lack of correlation between structural features and function of synthetic agents tested for leukocyte chemotaxis

Summary A number of proteins, poly-L-amino acids, oligopeptides and lipids were tested for neutrophil, cosinophil and macrophage chemotactic activity. One myoglobin preparation was active. Based on the negative findings for all other substances, primary structure, secondary structure, degree of hydrophobicity, size and charge of a molecule, could be ruled out as structural features recognized by chemotactically responding phagocytes.I thank Dr J. H. Wissler for suggesting the reported experiments and Dr M. Landy and Prof. E. Sorkin for advice and criticism during preparation of this article. The excellent assistance by Mrs J. Kerschbaumer-Bech and Miss Margrit Bühlmann is gratefully acknowledged. This work was supported by Swiss National Foundation for Scientific Research, grant 3.8750.72, and by Sandoz-Stiftung, Basel.     

A spontaneous chicken chimaera

Summary Among hybrids of the inbred lines, a chicken was found to be chimaeric in red blood cells and skin cells and to produce 3 types of sperm cells. This bird could have originated either from the fusion of 2 blastoderms or from the fertilization and fusion of the oocyte and the 2nd polar body.The authors wish to thank Professor Morten Simonsen. Institute for Experimental Immunology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, and Dr Vincenzo Miggiano, Basel Institute for Immunology, Basel for stimulating and critical discussion, and Professor Milan Haek, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, for his interest and advice.     

Effects of tranylcypromine on the concentrations of some trace amines in the diencephalon and hippocampus of the rat

Summary Concentrations of 4 trace amines in diencephalon and hippocampus of the rat were measured by integrated-ioncurrent mass spectrometry after administration of the antidepressant drug, tranylcypromine. Much larger increases were observed for 2-phenylethylamine and tryptamine than for m- and p-tyramine.Financial support has been provided by the Medical Research Council of Canada, the Psychiatric Services Branch, Province of Saskatchewan, the Alberta Mental health Research Fund, and the Special Services and Research Committee, University of Alberta Hospital.Acknowledgments. The authors wish to thank Dr B.A. Davis for synthesizing the deuterated internal standards and Dr D.A. Durden for supervising the mass spectral analyses. Expert technical assistance was provided by Mr R.C. Mag-Atas and Ms D.G. Calverley. The advice and encouragement of Professors W. G. Dewhurst and A. A. Boulton are gratefully acknowledged.     

A haemagglutinin in the tissue fluid of the Pacific oyster,Crassostrea gigas,with specificity for sialic acid residues in glycoproteins

Summary An agglutinin for human red cells has a specificity for sialic acid and a high affinity for bovine salivary glycoprotein. Digestion of the glycoprotein with Pronase or neuraminidase indicated that binding of sialic acid to receptors in the agglutinin is the first tepp in the mechanism of formation of a stable complex between ligand and receptor.We wish to thank Dr. P. Walne, Conwy Laboratory, MAFF, for generous supplies of Crassostrea gigas. One of us (SWH) wishes to thank the Natural Environment Research Council for financial support.     

Evolutionary implications of ascorbic acid production in the Australian lungfish

Summary It is shown that the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) synthesizes ascorbic acid in its kidney, suggesting that ascorbic acid synthesis started before the origin of the tetrapods.Acknowledgments. We would like to thank Dr G.C. Grigg, University of Sydney, Mr R. B. Humphries, Dr P.A. Janssens and Dr C.H. Tyndale-Biscoe, Australian National University, and Dr. M. Griffiths and J.C. MacIlroy C.S.I.R.O., Division of Wildlife Research for supplying the tissue.     

An immunohistochemical study on the distribution of histiocytes containing S-100 protein-like antigen in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma/leukemia; a preliminary report

The immunohistochemical distribution of histiocytes containing S-100 protein-like antigen in the skin lesions of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma/leukemia is investigated. Marked hyperplasia of these histiocytes is found in two cases of mycosis fungoides.We thank Prof. Y. Ishida, Gunma University School of Medicine, Dr K. Iwata, Kochi Prefectural Central Hospital, Dr M. Motoi, Okayama University Medical School, Dr H. Enzan, Kochi Medical School, for supplying the material.     

Influence of presensitization with allogeneic lymphoma cells on the growth and response to therapy of radiation-induced lymphomas in mice

Summary Congenic mice were sensitized with viableH-2-incompatible radiation-induced lymphomas (RIL), challenged with syngeneic RIL and treated with bis-chloroethyl-nitrosourea. Either enhancement or inhibition of RIL was found in presensitized mice, depending on the tumor-host system used.This work was supported by Progetto Finalizzato Virus, CNR (Rome, Italy), Contract No. 770025284/1152505.Acknowledgments. I wish to thank Dr J. Mayo and Mr C.R. Reeder of the Mammalian Genetics and Animal Production Section, Division of Cancer Treatment (DCT), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda (Maryland, 20014, USA) for providing the mice used in this study. I also thank Dr H.B. Wood of the Drug Synthesis and Chemistry Branch, DCT, NCI, NIH, for furnishing the BCNU used.     

Hybridization between Robertsonian karyotypic races of the common shrewSorex araneus

Summary British common shrews of the Aberdeen, Oxford and Hermitage Robertsonian karyotypic races were hybridized successfully in captivity. Hybrids, both simple Robertsonian heterozygotes and double Robertsonian heterozygotes with monobrachial homology, have been identified in an area of contact between the Oxford and Hermitage races. The relative fertility of these two types of hybrid is considered.I thank Dr. C. E. Ford F. R. S., Prof. F. W. Robertson and Dr A. E. Douglas for reading earlier drafts of this paper, Prof. F. W. Robertson, Dr J. R. K. Savage and Dr J. R. Clarke for laboratory facilities, Mrs J. E. Evans for technical assistance and S.E.R.C. for financial support.     

Effect of seasonal variations and cold acclimation on serum transaminase activity of common Indian frogRana tigrina

Summary A definite seasonal change is observed in 2 transaminases, SGOT and SGPT ofR. tigrina. Cold acclimation significantly depresses transaminase activity of serum.Acknowledgments. Thanks are due to Dr M.M. Goil and Dr R. K. Sharma for their invaluable help in various ways. Dr K. Singh would also like to thank S.C.S.T., U.P., for the financial assistance.     

A demonstration of the resolution of NMR imaging in biological systems

Summary A proton NMR imaging study of several fruit specimens demonstrates the integrity and resolution of this new imaging method.Acknowledgment. We thank Professor E. R. Andrew, Dr W. S. Moore and Miss C. Simaroj for their contributions. The work was supported by MRC grant G975-102.     

3-Methyl-2-hexanone from the triatomine bugDipetalogaster maximus (Uhler) (Heteroptera; Reduviidae)

Summary The occurrence of 3-methyl-2-hexanone as a major component of the secretion and possible alarm substance from the metasternal scent glands in the triatomine bugDipetalogaster maximus is reported.The authors are indebted to Mr B.O.C. Gardiner of the Zoology Department, Cambridge, for a supply of livingDipetalogaster. They would like also to thank Dr D.E. Games for the provision of mass spectral facilities under support from the S.E.R.C.