Electrical response of bat retina to spectral stimulation: comparison of four microchiropteran species

Summary Electrical responses of the retinas of 4 species of microchiropteran bats stimulated by spectrally restricted light flashes were found to diverge systematically from the rhodopsin absorption spectrum. The divergence was progressively greater across the 4 species. The results appeared explainable by assuming a second photoreceptor class and photopigment which was present in progressively greater numbers in the retinas ofEptesicus fuscus, Desmodus rotundus, Artibeus jamaicensis andCarollia perspicillata.This work was made possible by equipment provided by grant No. EY 01228 from the U.S.P.H.S., Bob Hope Fight for Sight award No. G 522 and a grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. Portions of this work were presented at the Fifth International Bat Research Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 11, 1978.The authors would like to express appreciation to Drs A.M. Potts, J. B. Longley, R. S. Crockett and T. G. Wheeler for helpful suggestions and to Drs J. H. Richardson, J. G. Cooper, L. Kundrotas, Mr B. Spoonamore and Mr W. Lopez-Forment for facilitating collection and importation of the Mexican bats.     

Effect of light adaptation on electrical responses of the retinas of four species of bats.

The levels of light adaptation at which the retinas of 4 species of microchiropteran bats became unable to generate electroretinograms were progressively ordered. The order correlated well with light preferences based on activity patterns of the 4 species. These results suggest that the ability of the retina to function in ambient light may govern some natural behaviors of these bats.     

Labeling of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide with technetium-99m pertechnetate

Summry Bacterial endotoxin treated with technetium-99m can be visualized in living animals by gamma camera imaging.This work was supported in part by grant No. M4 305105-3100 from the Naval Research and Development Command.     

Site of sex pheromone biosynthesis in the female housefly,Musca domestica L.

Summary The primary site of sex pheromone biosynthesis in the female housefly is the abdominal integument tissue, whereas the contribution of the legs is relatively minor. A substantial portion of the sex pheromone components are, however, transferred from the abdomen to the legs, probably as a result of grooming.Acknowledgment. This work was supported by the Science and Education Administration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture under grant No. 7801064 from the Competitive Research Grants Office. Contribution of the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No 524. Housefly pupae were kindly supplied by Dr Ted Shapas, S.C. Johnson and Son, Inc., Racine, Wisconsin.Author for correspondence.     

Liver esterase abnormalities in hereditary neurological diseases of mice

Zusammenfassung Alle von uns in Mäusen untersuchten vererblichen neurologischen Erkrankungen stellen entweder primäre oder sekundäre gesamtkörperliche Prozesse dar. Verschiedene allelische Substitutionen produzieren spezifische Leber-Esterase-Isozym-Defekte.

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This work was supported in part by NIH research grant No. NB 06448 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases nad Stroke, a grant from the National Foundation for Neuromuscular Diseases, Inc., a grant from the Health Research Fund, United Fund of Schenectedy County, Inc., and an allocation from NIH General Research Support Grant No. RR 05545 from the Division of Research Resources to The Jackson Laboratory.

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The principles of laboratory animal care as promulgated by the National Society for Medical Research are observed in this Laboratory.     

Effect of cholestasis and biliary diversion on the absorption of Na octanoate in the rat

Summary The intestinal absorption and portal vein transport of Na octanoate by isolate jejunal segments perfused in iivo were unchanged in rats studied 48 h after bile duct ligation or fistula.This work was supported by grant No. MT 4433 from the Medical Research Council of Canada.     

Electrical response of bat retina to spectral stimulation: comparison of four microhiropteran species.

Electrical responses of the retinas of 4 species of microchiropteran bats stimulated by spectrally restricted light flashes were found to diverge systematically from the rhodopsin absorption spectrum. The divergence was progressively greater across the 4 species. The results appeared explainable by assuming a second photoreceptor class and photopigment which was present in progressively greater numbers in the retinas of Eptesicus fuscus, Desmodus rotundus, Artibeus jamaicensis and Carollia perspicillata.     

A new neurosecretory system in fish,located in the gill region

Summary A peculiar neurosecretory system is reported in 6 teleost species;Clarias batrachus, Heteropneustes fossilis, Mystus seenghala, Ompak pabda, Glassogobius giuris andNotopterus notopterus. It is located in the gill region close to the pseudobranch or to the carotid labyrinth. The neurosecretory cells have been identified using stains specific for neurosecretion. The results are discussed in the light of the association of the neurosecretory system with the pseudobranch or the carotid labyrinth, and the airbreathing habit of these fishes.We are grateful to Prof. U.S. Srivastava for providing laboratory facilities and for encouragement. The work was financially supported by U.G.C. Research Project grant awarded to C.B.L.S., which is thankfully acknowledged. Thanks are due to M. Seal and Amarlata for technical help rendered.     

Isolation and fusion studies on protoplasts from pollen tetrads

Summary different enzymes were tested for isolation of intact protoplasts from pollen tetrads. About 80% isolation was achieved from pollen tetrads of Cajanus cajan and Zea mays and about 60% from Luffa cylindrica and Lycopersicon esculentum after 4 h of treatment with 5% cellulase. When these mononucleate protoplasts were incubated in presence of 0.05 M CaCl₂ in 0.3 M glucose at pH 10.5, 70–80% fusion was achieved. Fusion was rare in sodium nitrate solutions.This work was supported by a grant from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi (No. 1-32/73, Ed. I) in the form of a Senior Fellowship awarded to P. C. D.Work carried out at Molecular Cytogenetics Research Unit, Dept. of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.     

Mechanism of reaction of carcinogen N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene with DNA

Summary Scavenging studies are supporting the notion that triplet radical cations are formed during the binding of the carcinogen N-acetoxy-2-acetylamino-fluorene to native DNA in vitro.This work was supported by Grant No.3305.78 of the Swiss National Science Foundation and by a grant from The Roche Research Foundation.     

Ansamitocin P-3, a maytansinoid,fromClaopodium crispifolium andAnomodon attenuatus or associated actinomycetes

Summary Guided by cytotoxicity, ansamitocin P-3, a maytansinoid, was isolated in very low yield from two members of the moss family Thuidiaceae,Claopodium crispifolium (Hook.) Ren & Card. andAnomodon attenuatus (Hedw.) Hueb. Ansamitocin P-3 showed potent cytotoxicity against the human solid tumor cell lines A-549, HT-29. A possible basis for the occurrence of this compound in mosses is discussed.Presented at the XV International Symposium on Natural Product Chemistry, Monterrey (Mexico) April 28–30, 1988 and at the International Research Congress on Natural Products, Park City (Utah, USA) in July 1988.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by grant No. CA 33326 from the NCI, NIH, USA. K.S. is the recipient of support from the Anandha-Mahidol Foundation, Thailand. The 470 MHz NMR instrument was available through the Purdue University Biochemical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory supported by NIH grant No. RR1077 from the Biotechnology Resources Program of the Division of Research Resources. Special thanks are due to the Purdue Cell Culture Laboratory for in vitro testing data and to Dr M. Antoun forC. crispifolium extraction. The animal testing data are the results of screening performed under the auspices of the Developmental Therapeutics Program, Division of Cancer Treatment, the NCI.     

Differentiation in renal homografts of isolated parts of rat embryonic ectoderm

Summary The central and the peripheral areas of the head-fold stage rat embryo ectoderm develop into both the neural tissue and the epidermis when grafted under the kidney capsule of adult rats.This investigation was supported by the grant No. IV/3 from the Research Foundation of S.R. Croatia, and in part by NIH PL 480 Agreement No. 02-038-1.     

Quantitation of proliferative mucosal cells of the Mongolian gerbil on a weight basis

Summary Quantitation of proliferative activity of the intestine of the gerbil shows a substantial decrease in proliferative activity as compared to the mouse. The use of dry vs wet weights proved to have no bearing on calculations of proliferative activity. The gerbil may prove a useful model for drug and radiation experimentation.This work was supported by National Science Foundation grant No. GB35522. Reprint requests should be addressed to: H.S., Health Physics, Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, West Point (Pennsylvania 19486, USA).     

Synthesis of trypsin inhibitor CMTI III from squash seeds (Cucurbita maxima)

Summary Using the solid-phase procedure, a 29-peptide cross-linked by three disulphide bridges was synthesized. The synthetic product was shown to be identical with the trypsin inhibitor CMTI III from squash seeds (Cucurbita maxima).Acknowledgments. This work was supported by the Swedish Natural Science Research Council (K-GF 3020-107) and the Polish Academy of Sciences (Research grant No. MR I 12.1.6.1).     

Comparison of native and microwave irradiated DNA

Summary Chemical changes induced in the testicular DNA of irradiated Swiss male mice are described. Parameters quantified were hyperchromocity and melting temperature. The data supports the possibility that microwave causes strand separation.This work was supported by grant No. N00014-A-0346-0002, from the Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research, Arlington, VA.     

Electrophoretic heterogeneity exhibited by the S-allele specific glycoproteins ofBrassica

Summary A number of self-incompatibility genotypes ofB. oleracea were analyzed by sensitive electrophoretic procedures. Members of the class of S-allele specific glycoproteins that increase in correlation with the onset of the incompatibility response were resolved into several components on SDS gels. The implications of this molecular heterogeneity are discussed in relation to S locus function.This work was supported by NSF grant No. PCM 8118035. The authors acknowledge the assistance of Dr Marilou McLaughlin, Coordinator of Sponsored Research, SUNY, Cortland, and thank Carl Burr, Delia Baroni, and Raymond Nagell for assistance in photography.     

Changes in lactic dehydrogenase isoenzyme pattern in muscle of tumor-bearing mice

Summary The lactic dehydrogenase isoenzyme distribution shifts gradually toward the isoenzyme pattern of the tumor in mouse muscles located distally from a transplanted mammary carcinoma.This study was supported by a grant from the Minnesota Masonic Memorial Cancer Research Fund and, in part, by Grant No. 16-P-5681015-17 from the Rehabilitation Services Administration, U.S. Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare.     

Binding of ferritin-lectin conjugates to C-type virus in intact cells

Summary Ferritin-Ricin II and Ferritin-Concanavalin A bound to budding as well as mature C-type viral particles. No differencies in binding between the viral coat and adjacent plasma membrane were detected with either lectin conjugate. Aggregation of viral particles by lectin conjugates was observed, and linking of virus to the plasma membrane resulted in phagocytosis of viral particles.Acknowledgment. The authors thank Phyllis Johnson for her excellent technical assistance. This work was supported by NIH grant CA 15044-03 and NS 06208. LM is the recipient of an NINDS Research Career Development Award 1 KO4-NS 00101.     

Suppression of immunization to tuberculosis and diphtheria by an extract of lymphoid tissue

Zusammenfassung Dank einer neuen Anwendung von Lymphknotenextrakten (statt Röntgenextrakten, Corticosteroiden, Antilymphozytenserum usw.) wird eine erhebliche Reduktion der immunologischen Reaktion erzielt, wenn die Tiere mit diesen Extrakten vorbehandelt und gleichzeitig mit Antigenen behandelt werden.

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This investigation was supported in part by U.S.P.H.S. Research Grant No. CA-02624 from National Cancer Institute; and in part by an institutional grant to Detroit Institute of Cancer Research from United Foundation of greater Detroit allocated through Michigan Cancer Foundation and the Detroit General Hospital Research Corporation, and Newaygo County Cancer Society.     

Effect of abnormal amino acid concentrations on blood-brain barrier

Zusammenfassung Nachweis, dass die i.p. Injektion grosser Mengen vonl-Tyrosin die Permeabilität der hypothetischen «Blut-Hirn-Schranke» beträchtlich herabsetzt. Pyridoxalphosphat verhindert nicht nur diese Hemmung, sondern steigert die Absorption vonl-Lysin.

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This work was supported by a grant to S.B.N. from the office of Navel Research No. N 00014-70-C-0151.