Coordinated activation of muscle fibres by different conduction velocities in branches of a crustacean motor axon

Summary Higher conduction velocities in branches of the fast excitor axon to distal muscle fibres ensure that these fibres are activated almost simultaneously with proximal fibres in the claw closer muscle of lobsters, producing a contraction of maximal force.Supported by Muscular Dystrophy Association and National Research Council of Canada.Supported by National Institute of Health and Muscular Dystrophy Association of America.     

Abnormally soluble collagen produced in fibroblasts cultures

Summary Abnormally soluble collagen is synthesized in vitro not only by skin fibroblasts of Marfan patients but also by those of patients with Ehlers-Danlos type V and cutis laxa. The excessive solubility of collagen is corrected by the addition to the culture medium of a synthetic flavonoid, (+)-catechin.Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (Nos. AM-10811, HL-05435, GM-19513 and GM-00081), the National Fondation-March of Dimes, and Zyma, S.A., Nyon, Switzerland.     

Precocious puberty in rats induced by hypothalamic lesions: A comparison of platinum and stainless steel electrodes

Summary Precocious sexual maturation was induced in immature female rats by 2 types of unilateral hypothalamic lesions. Stainless steel electrodes produced smaller tissue defects but proved more efficient than platinum electrodes.Supported by Swiss National Science Foundation grant No. 3.016.73.Supported by Canadian Medical Research Council grant No. MT 4192.Supported by a contribution from the Roche Research Foundation for Scientific Exchange and Biomedical Collaboration with Switzerland     

Adenylate kinase fromRhodospirillum rubrum

Summary A partial purification and some properties of adenylate kinase from the photosynthetic bacteriumRhodospirillum rubrum are described.Supported by grant No. GI34284 from the National Science Foundation.We thank Eric Wong for excellent technical assistance.     

The effect of protein-energy malnutrition on appositional bone growth in the rat

Summary During protein-energy malnutrition appositional bone growth in the seventh caudal vertebra of the rat slows and finally ceases. During rehabilitation appositional growth begins agains and attains a rate in excess of that of the controls. This may account for alterations in skeletal proportions resulting from manutrition.Supported in part by National Research Council of Canada grant A4692.     

The effect of methaqualone on prenatal development in the rat

Summary Methaqualone treatment of pregnant rats in doses of 100–200 mg/kg day produces resorption and a series of anomalies whose incidence increases with the dose-level employed.Acknowledgment. Supported by the National Research Council of Canada, grant No. A0292. Methaqualone was generously supplied by W. H. Rorer, Canada, Ltd.     

Role of Friend-associated lymphatic leukemia virus in immunization against Friend leukemia complex

Summary Mice inoculated with Friend leukemia complex (FLC) pretreated with concanavalin A are resistant to FLC challenge only when they have become infected with the FLC-associated lymphatic leukemia virus (LLV). In interpreting states of resistance to FLC induced by various immunizing procedures, the possibility that immunity is sustained by an unrecognized LLV infection should always be considered.Supported by a grant from the Italian National Research Council.     

Time-qualified reference intervals — chronodesms

Summary Methods are presented for qualifying clinical reference intervals, for individuals as well as peer groups, according to circadian and other rhythms, using chronobiologically-defined single samples or time series.Supported by the Hoechst Italia Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency (R804512-01-0), US Public Health Service (5-K6-GM-13, 981), National Cancer Institute (1R01-CA-14446-01), Cancer Supplement (CA-14445-01S1), National Institute of Aging (A6-00158) and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (OH 00631).     

Simplification of the ecdysteroid radioimmunoassay by the use of protein A fromStaphylococcus aureus

Summary Three methods of separating antibody-bound ligand from free ligand were compared for an ecdysteroid radioimmunoassay. Ecdysteroid antibody concentration and ligand specific radioactivity were adjusted to measure 2 ranges of ecdysone concentrations (0.01–2.0 ng and 0.25–32.0 ng). In comparison with the tradiotional separating agent, ammonium sulfate, neither protein A nor polyethylene glycol altered sensitivity or specificity of the radioimmunoassays. The protein A immunoglobulin precipitation method is quick and simple, making it a preferred alternative protocol for terminating ecdysteroid radioimmunoassays.Supported by grants AM-30118 from the National Institutes of Health and PCM-8116931 from the National Science Foundation.     

Interaction of chlorpromazine with organic solvents and fatty acids as studied by UV-spectrophotometry

Summary The magnitude of the UV-spectral change of chlorpromazine increases in the presence of increasing concentrations of alcohols or fatty acids and with increasing chain length. A maximum is reached with 14.0- or 16.0-fatty acids. The difference spectrum is still larger with unsaturated fatty acids, a maximum effect being obtained with one cis-double bond. The spectral change is abolished by chaotropic and enhanced by antichaotropic agents.Supported by a grant of the Swiss National Science Foundation.     

Testosterone in royal jelly

Summary A compound with immunoreactivity, and TLC and GLC mobility of testosterone was isolated from royal jelly of honeybee (Apis mellifera). This is the first demonstration of vertebrate steroid hormone in this species.Acknowledgment. Supported by USPHS grants DE Nos 04039-05 and 05666-03 from the National Institute of Dental Research, NIH.     

Fe(II)-induced decomposition of epidioxides. A chemical model for prostaglandin E,prostacyclin and thromboxane biosynthesis

Summary A chemical model for biosynthesis of PGE, PGX and the thromboxanes from the prostaglandin endoperoxides is presented which is based on known reactions of other endoperoxides with the Fe(II)–Fe(III) redox system in vitro.Supported in part by USPH grant CA-13121 through the National Cancer Institute.     

Comparison of the effectiveness of intramuscular and intraperitoneal ACTH in the rat

Summary Injection of 1–24 ACTH is more effective by the i.m. than i.p. route. Large doses are required to induce consistent maximal adrenal corticosterone secretion.Supported by grants from the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.     

Adrenal dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity: 24-hour rhythmicity and evidence for pineal control

Summary Adrenal medullary dopamine--hydroxylase activity was found in male rats to have a 24-hour rhythm, with an approximately 6-fold increase at about the time of the onset of darkness. This nocturnal rise in enzyme activity did not occur when lights were kept on, nor did it occur in animals that had been pinealectomized.Supported in part by grants from the Ford Foundation (No. 630-05050A), National Institutes of Health (No. HD-03352) and National Institute of Mental Health (No. MH-25019) USPHS.     

Chromosome stabilizing structures in mitotic Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) cells1

Summary A new technique which removes all membranes, cytoskeletal elements, organelles, but preserves intact metaphase, anaphase and telophase configurations is combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as an approach for direct visualization of chromosomal behavior in late mitosis. With this approach we are able to confirm the presence of a centromeric ring which stabilizes the centromeres during the cell cycle and present evidence for a lattice-like sheet of interchromatidic fibers in late mitosis.Supported by the National Institute of Health Grant CA32572 to L. D. Hodge.     

Spontaneous contractions and bioelectric activity after differentiation in culture of presumptive neuromuscular tissues of the early frog embryo

Zusammenfassung Gewebekulturen vonFroschneurula mit zugehörigen Muskelprimordien differenzieren in vitro und zeigen charakteristische Serien von Muskelkontraktionen. Elektrophysiologisch wurde nachgewiesen, dass die Muskelzuckungen durch endogene, komplexe, rhythmische Nervenaktivität hervorgerufen werden können.

---

---

Supported in part by award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (USA). Thanks are due to Dr.Margaret R. Murray and to the staff of her tissue culture laboratory for their hospitality and assistance during this period.

---

Supported in part by grants NB-03814 and NB-K3-2904 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness.     

Induction of developmental anomalies in mice by maternal stress

Summary The short-time restraint of pregnant mice on day 8 of gestation led to a significant increase of the anomaly rate in fetuses. This effect may be due to stress factors of endocrine origin.The technical assistance of Mrs E. Frei is gratefully acknowledged. Supported by the Swiss National Foundation for Scientific Research.     

Effects of precocene II and juvenile hormone III on the activity of neurosecretory A-cells inOncopeltus fasciatus

Summary Application of precocene II, topically or by contact method, appears to inhibit the synthetic activity of neurosecretory A-cells of the pars intercerebralis ofOncopeltus fasciatus. Treatment of precocene-treated insects with JH III apparently stimulates the secretory activity of these cells.Supported by National Research Council of Canada grant No. A4669.We thank Dr G. B. Staal, Zoecon Corporation, Palo Alto, California, for the gift of precocene II.     

Dissolution of gallstones in hamsters by 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid

Summary Addition of 0.05–0.20% of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid to a lithogenic hamster diet resulted in a marked reduction in the incidence of gallstones in hamsters.Supported, in part, by grants HL-03299, AG-00076 and T32 CA-09171 and a Research Career Award, HL-0734 from the National Institutes of Health.     

A method for avoidance of electrostatic flashing in preparing autoradiographs with stripping film

Zusammenfassung Die Vorbereitung des Films unter einer Alkohol-Wasser-Lösung wird empfohlen, um die störende Belichtung des autoradiographischen «stripping film» durch elektrostatische Entladungen in einer trockenen Atmospäre zu vermeiden.

---

---

Supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

---

Supported by a grant from the American Cancer Society. This is publication No. 972 of the Cancer Commission of Harvard University.