The evolutionary history ofDrosophila buzzatii. V. Differential survivorship onOpuntia betweenD. buzzatii andD. serido

Summary Survival time ofDrosophila buzzatii adults on anOpuntia (prickly pear) medium was significantly longer than that of its nearest relativeD. serido. A significant difference was also found betweenD. buzzatii adults from two experimental populations, one of them fed onOpuntia rots for more than two years and another one kept on standardDrosophila medium for the same period of time. These results suggest that adult selection may be taking place in cactiphilicDrosophila in their natural habitats and could be responsible for the niche differentiation betweenD. buzzatii andD. serido.This work has been supported by the Comisión Asesora de investigación Científica y Técnica, Spain, by funds to project 4514/79 awarded to the third author.     

On the regulatory properties of a halophilic malic enzyme fromHalobacterium cutirubrum

Summary The NADP-linked malic enzyme fromHalobacterium cutirubrum is strongly inhibited by acetyl-CoA and NADH, and rather weakly inhibited by oxaloacetate and glyoxylate, in the presence of very high KCl concentrations (3,M), considered physiological for the extremely halophilic bacteria.This work was supported by grants from the consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina, and the Consejo de Investigaciones de la Universidad Nacional de Rosario. JJC and MCV are members of the Carrera del Investigador Científico of the former and the latter institutions, respectively.     

Inhibition of the NADP-linked glutamate dehydrogenase fromTrypanosoma cruzi by silver nitrate

Summary The purified NADP-linked glutamate dehydrogenase fromTrypanosoma cruzi was strongly inhibited by silver nitrate. The inhibition was reversed by reduced glutathione, and was modified by the presence of the substrates during preincubation of the enzyme with the inhibitor.This work was supported by grants from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina and the Secretaría de Estado de Ciencia y Technología de la República Argentina. JJC is a member of the Carrera del Investigador Científico, and SMJ a Research Fellow, of the former Institution.     

Coronary perfusion pressure as a determinant of ventricular performance

Summary The results observed in this work support the view that coronary perfusion pressure affects ventricular performance independently of metabolic effects; a mechanism operating in beat-to-beat regulation is proposed.This work was carried out during the tenure of grants in aid from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP médicas 78/1392) and from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq 2222, 1608/78).     

Cytogenetics of South American akodont rodents (Cricetidae). V. Segregation of chromosome No. 1 polymorphism inAkodon molinae

Summary Akodon molinae is polymorphic with 2n=42, 43, 44, where the metacentric autosome No. 1 is homologous to 2 acrocentrics 1a and 1b. Matings between 2n=43 heterozygotes 1/1a, 1b gave a surplus of 1/1 offspring, a moderate reduction of heterozygous and a strong reduction of homozygous 1a, 1b/1a, 1b offspring. The latter type also has a highly reduced fertility.This work was supported by grants from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, the Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires and the Organización de Estados Americanos.     

Localization of peroxidase activity inTrypanosoma cruzi microbodies

Summary Electron microscopic observation ofTrypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes reveals the presence of microbody-like structures (microperoxisomes) in which 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) is peroxidized to electron-opaque material. The role of peroxidase in DAB peroxidation is supported by the enzyme demonstration in disrupted epimastigotes and the microbody-containing cell fractions.This investigation was supported by grants from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) and the Special Fund for the Study of Chagas Disease (Subsecretaría de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Nación).     

The extracellular protease fromPseudomonas fluorescens

Summary An extracellular protease has been purified from cultures ofPseudomonas fluorescens. It is a metalloenzyme with a molecular weight of 37,000±3,700, able to digest casein, hemoglobin and gelatine.This work was supported by grants from the Consejo Nacional de Investig ciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina, and the Consejo de Investigaciones de la Universidad Nacional de Rosario. JJC is a member of the Carrera del Investigador Científico, and SMJ the recipient, of a schollarship, of the former institution.     

Incorporation of phospholipids in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

Summary Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC) were incubated with unilamellar vesicles (UV) or multilamellar vesicles (MV). UV and MV were incorporated differently into EATC. The increase in³²P-phospholipid in EATC in the presence of UV was 12% in 300 min. Absorption of phospholipid from MV could account for only 3%. About 50% of the UV incorporation of³²P was by endocytosis and/or fusion.This work was supported by a grant from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina. J. L. Corchs is an investigator from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas.     

Narciclasine,an inhibitor of protein synthesis. Action onAllium cepa L. root meristems

Summary Shortening of nucleologenesis time in a synchronous cell population, labelled as binucleate, by a caffeine pulse and fall in frequency of prophases are related to narciclasine inhibition of protein synthesis inAllium cepa L. meristems.Acknowledgments. We gratefully acknowledge Dr D. Vázquez and Dr A. Jiménez, from the Instituto de Bioquímica de Macromoléculas, for calling our attention to this protein synthesis inhibitor and providing us samples both of narciclasine andNarcissus bulbs. We also greatly appreciate Dr B. Rodriguez and Dr F. M. Panizo of the Instituto de Química Orgánica (Departamento de Productos Naturales) for their valuable help in isolation and characterization of narciclasine, and for laboratory facilities. The work has been partially supported by the Comisión Asesora para la Investigación Científica (Spain). A.S. has a fellowship awarded by the Instituto de Cultura Hispánica, Spain.     

Differential effect of hypophysectomy on skin and tracheal cartilage glycosaminoglycans

Resumen En 12 ratas normales y en 12 hipofisectomizadas 150 días antes se determinaron las concentraciones de ácidos urónicos, glicoproteínas, ácido hialurónico, heparitín sulfato, condroitín-4-sulfato, condroitín-6-sulfato, dermatán sulfato y heparina en piel y cartílago traqueal. Estos estudios demostraron dos hechos: (1) un efecto distinto de la hipofisectomía sobre piel y tráquea en relación con el metabolismo de las glicoproteínas y el ácido hialurónico, cuyas concentraciones aumentaron en la primera y descendieron en la segunda; (2) una disociación entre el comportamiento del ácido hialurónico y los glicosaminoglicanos sulfatados en piel, aumentando la concentración del primero y disminuyendo las correspondientes a los segundos en forma variable segÚn la fracción considerada.

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Member of the Carrera del Investigador Científico, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la Rep. Argentina.     

Effect of hydrocortisone administration on erythropoiesis in the adrenalectomized dog

Resumen La administración de 2 mg/kg/día de hidrocortisona durante 40 días en perros adrenalectomizados 4 meses antes produjo elevación del volumen de la masa roja circulante y de la síntesis de hemoglobina. El tratamiento con la hormona en la dosis de 4 mg/kg/día durante los siguientes 40 días produjo más aumento de la actividad eritropoyética de la médula ósea, una gran proporción de la cuál fue inefectiva en términos de producción de eritrocitos, produciéndose un descenso de la masa roja circulante.

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Member of the Carrera del Investigador Científico del Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.

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This work was supported by Grant No. 1126d from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.     

The effect of RNA synthesis inhibitors on prenucleolar bodies

Summary Inhibition of RNA synthesis prevents the fusion of prenucleolar bodies in the NOR region during nucleologenesis. However, their physical coalescence between themselves is increased, as shown inAllium cepa L. meristems.This work has been partially supported by the Comisión Asesora para la Investigación Científica y Técnica (Spain). We greatly acknowledge M.L. Martínez and O. Partearroyo for their skilfull technical and secretarial work.     

Staining of microtubules of the electrocyte ofElectrophorus electricus L. by alcian blue and lanthanum

Summary Microtubules were observed in the cytoplasm of theElectrophorus electricus L. when the tissue was fixed in the presence of alcian blue and lanthanum nitrate.Supported by grants from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Conselho de Ensino para Graduados da UFRJ, and FINEP.     

Direct evidence favouring the notion that erythropoietin alters iron transport across the isolated intestinal tract of the rat

Summary A simple and reproducible method, using the isolated not everted intestine of the rat, for the study of iron transport is presented. Erythropoietin (ESF) enhanced significantly the passage of⁵⁹Fe across the intestine augmenting its movement at mucosal and serosal layers of the intestinal well.This work has been supported by grant 6638 from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.Senior Investigator of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.     

The acidic glycosaminoglycans of the synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis

Resumen Se estudiaron los glucosaminoglucanos del líquido sinovial de la rodilla de pacientes con artritis reumatoidea clásica. El nivel de glucosaminoglucanos totales desciende en la artritis un 55% comparado con los controles. Esto es debido principalmente a la disminución del ácido hialurónico (59%). Se confirmó la presencia de pequeñas cantidades de controidin-4-sulfato y se detectaron trazas de una sustancia similar al condroitin-6-sulfato.

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Member of the Carrera del Investigador Científico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la Repùblica Argentina.

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This work was partially supported by research grants from the CONICET, Republica Argentina.     

A chromosome study ofScarites occidentalis (Coleoptera,Caraboidea)

Summary Scarites occidentalis has 2n=41 (females 2n=42), n=19+X₁X₂Y. This multiple sex-chromosome system and other karyotypic characteristics suggest that this species andS. buparius share a recent common ancestor in which the sex trivalent was probably originated.Thanks are due to Dr N. Virkki for his valuable comments and his help with the English, to Dr Ramos and Dr Aparicio for discussion and advice, to Dr F. Hiraldo and M. Mañez for collecting the specimens. This work has been supported by a postdoctoral fellowship of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.     

Metabolism of amphibian spermatozoa in relation to their motility

Summary Bufo arenarum spermatozoa were able to sustain motility both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. In aerobiosis, the oxygen consumption varies between 2.6 and 4.2 l O₂/10⁸ cells/h at 30°C. The synthesis of lactic acid by anaerobic spermatozoa demonstrated the existence of an active glycolytic pathway.This work was supported by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas and the Latinoamerican Program of Human Reproduction (PLAMIRH), grant 34-95-2-75.     

Effects of arsenite and oxamate on the in vitro functional activity of estrogen-dominated rat uterine horns

Summary Arsenite but not oxamate produce in vitro a distinct depression of estrogen-dominated uterine motility, both in the absence of substrate as well as in the presence of exogenous glucose or lactate. The addition of oxamate to preparations suspended in a medium with lactate as the sole external substrate ameliorates the depression of uterine motility elicited by arsenite.This work has been supported by grants 6638 and 6294 from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.Senior Investigator of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.Junior Investigator of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.     

Effect of hypophysectomy on the oxidative and glycolytic metabolism of hypothalamus

Resumen En el presente trabajo se ha estudiado el consumo de oxígeno y la producción de ácido láctico en hipotálamo anterior, medio y posterior en animales hipofisectomizados. Los resultados obtenidos indicaron que la hipofisectomía produce un significativo incremento en la actividad oxidativa del hipotálamo anterior y posterior sin modificar el hipotálamo medio.

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Supported by a grant of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.

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Research Fellow from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.

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Established Investigator. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas de la República Argentina.     

Circadian variations of muscle metabolites

Resumen El contenido diafragmático de proteína, glucógeno y DNA fue estudiado a intervalos de 4 h durante las 24 h. Los animales empleados fueron ratones hembras mantenidos en cuartos con períodos de luzoscuridad de 12 h cada uno. Pudo demostrarse que los tres parámetros presentaron una clara variación circadiana, coincidiendo la aparición de los valores máximos y mínimos para todos ellos durante el período de actividad (oscuridad) y reposo (luz) respectivamente.

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The authors carried out this work with the aid of grants from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas and Comisión de Investigaciones Cientificas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires.