Serum cholesterol levels in a Nigerian population sample

Serum cholesterol was determined in 104 healthy Nigerians (57 males and 47 females). The average cholesterol concentration was 187 +/- 72.8 mg/100 ml (mean +/- SD) with a range of 60-480 mg/100 ml. Cholesterol levels were higher in males than in females and increased with age. Distribution of cholesterol level was generally skew to the left.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids inDanaus plexippus L. andDanaus chrysippus L.

Summary Danaus plexippus L. andDanaus chrysippus L. have been found to store pyrrolizidine alkaloids obtained from adult food plants and it is suggested that the alkaloids contribute to the unpalatability of the butterflies to potential predators.Acknowledgment. We thank Dr.C. C. J. Culvenor for rearing some of the butterflies andJ. M. Smith for plant collection. The plants were identified by the national Herbarium, Melbourne.     

Neoplasms inLumbricus terrestris L.

Zusammenfassung Cancerogene Chemikalien oder Röntgenstrahlen verursachten am Regenwurm (Lumbricus terrestris) verschiedene neoplastisch aussehende Beschädigungen.     

Bergapten inDictamnus albus L.

Zusammenfassung Die Isolierung von Bergapten (5-Methoxy-Psoralen) ausDictamnus albus L. wird beschrieben. Die photosensibilisierende Wirkung der Inhaltsstoffe dieser Pflanze nach UV-Bestrahlung auf die menschliche Haut ist hauptsächlich auf dieses Furocoumarin zurückzuführen.     

Cytochromeh fromAplysia depilans L.

Riassunto Nell'epatopancreas di due Gasteropodi marini:Aplysia depilans eA. limacina è presente un emocromogeno assai simile al citocromoh di Helix. Il pigmento è stato estratto e purificato e le sue proprietà fisiche, chimiche e biologiche sono state confrontate con quelle dell'emoproteina di Helix.     

Anthocyanins ofDioscorea alata L.

Résumé Trois anthocyanines ont été extraits de tubercules d'une variété de l'ignameD. alata à chair pourpre. Tous les 3 sont des glycosides de la cyanidine: le pigment principal est le cyanidine-3,5-diglucoside.     

Anthocyanins inDioscorea alata L.

Résumé Trois arthocyanidines acylées ont été extraits de tubercules d'une variété deDioscorea alata L. des Antilles. Tous 3 sont des glycosides de la cyanidine: le pigment principal est la cyanidine-3-gentiobioside acylée d'acide ferrulique; les 2 autres pigments secondaires sont semblables aux cyanidine-3-glycosides acylées d'acide ferrulique.     

Neurosecretory cells inArtemia salina L.

Zusammenfassung Mit der Gömöri-Technik wurden beiArtemia drei Typen neurosektretorischer Zellen nachgewiesen. Im Gehirn sind grosse, ovale Zellen mit vakuolisiertem Cytoplasma vorhanden, von denen einige grosse Axone besitzen. Der 2. Typus ist kleiner und weist keine zum Augenstiel führenden Fortsätze auf. Der 3. Typus liegt als traubenförmige Gruppen von Zellen im X-Organ des Augenstiels. Wahrscheinlich ist ventral am Gehirn ein Depotorgan für das Sekret des 1. Typus vorhanden. Die Beziehung dieser Zellen zur parthenogenetischen Vermehrung der Art wird untersucht.     

Production of heteroagglutinins in haemocytes ofLeucophaea maderae L.

Summary It was our purpose to study the immunological activity of circulating fluid cells in the blattoid insectLeucophaea maderae L. These cells are generically called haemocytes; after a preliminary morphological study under optical microscope, they were treated with anti-heteroagglutinins serum marked with fluorescein isothiocyanate. Thus, it was possible to show the presence of heteroagglutinins into the cytoplasm, as regards one group of haemocytes, and on the cell membrane for the second group.Acknowledgment. The author wishes to express his sincere thanks to Prof.R. Milani, Director of the Zoological Department of the University of Pavia, who kindly supplied the insects to carry out the present research.     

Flavonoide ausVitex agnus castus L.

Summary Leaves ofVitex agnus castus L. and of related species which are said to have hormonelike activities contain three flavonoids: casticin and luteolin-7-D-glucoside and aD-glucoside of an unknown 5-hydroxy-flavone derivative.     

Astragalin ausPodophyllum peltatum L. undP. emodi Wall.

Summary A yellow flavonoid pigment, which occurs as a companion of the lignan glycosides inPodophyllum peltatum L. andP. emodi Wall. has been identified as astragalin (=kaempferol-3-glucoside).

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18. Mitt. über mitoschemmende Naturstoffe. 17. Mitt.:E. Schreier, Helv. chim. Acta47, 1529 (1964).     

Bestimmung des DNS-Gehaltes in Zellkernen des Nervengewebes vonHelix pomatia L. undPlanorbarius corneus L. (Stylommatophora und Basommatophora,Gastropoda)

Summary It has been demonstrated by cytophotometric measurements of the DNA-content in glial- and nerve cells of the snailsHelix pomatia (Stylommatophora) andPlanorbarius corneus (Basommatophora) that the giant nuclei of nerve cells in the central ganglia contain more than tens of thousands of DNA compared with sperm nuclei. According to the DNA-content of sperms (=n), the values for glial cells are between 2n and 4n for both species.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. W.Dittrich, Institut für Strahlenbiologie der Universität Münster, danke ich für die Möglichkeit, am UMSP I arbeiten zu dürfen; Frl. A.Stipproweit danke ich für sorgfältige technische Assistenz.     

Production of heteroagglutinins in haemocytes of Leucophaea maderae L.

It was our purpose to study the immunological activity of circulating fluid cells in the blattoid insect Leucophaea maderae L. These cells are generically called haemocytes; after a preliminary morphological study under optical microscope, they were treated with anti-heteroagglutinins serum marked with fluorescein isothiocyanate. Thus, it was possible to show the presence of heteroagglutinins into the cytoplasm, as regards one group of haemocytes, and on the cell membrane for the second group.     

Amphibious vision in Coryphoblennius galerita L. (Perciformes).

The morphology of the ophthalmic cornea in the blenniid fish Coryphoblennius galerita (Teleostei) shows adaptation to the amphibious life. Amphibious vision is provided by a flattened area within the cornea. Eyes of other, non-amphibious blenniids are compared with those of C. galerita.     

Diuretic activity of roots ofClitoria ternatea L. in dogs

Zusammenfassung ZermahleneClitoria ternatea-Wurzeln oder deren Extrakt in 95% Alkohol zeigten bei oraler Verabreichung in nicht-toxischer Dosis keine nennenswerte diuretische oder natriuretische Wirkung beim Hund. Intravenöse Gaben des Extraktes führten zu mässiger Steigerung der Ausscheidung von Natrium und Kalium im Harn, zeigten aber gleichzeitig auch Anzeichen von Nierenschädigung.