Urinary acidic glycosaminoglycans in Werner's syndrome

Summary The composition of urinary acidic glycosaminoglycans (AGAG) in 4 patients with Werner's syndrome was determined by an enzymatic assay system using chondroitinases and hyaluronidase. In Werner's syndrome, the amount of hyaluronic acid and heparan sulfates in the total AGAG increases. A compositional change in the chondroitin sulfate isomers occurs. The change of urinary AGAG in Werner's syndrome appears to reflect age-related changes.The study was supported, in part, by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan, the Life Science of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research and the Adult Disease Clinic Memorial Foundation, Tokyo. Thanks are due to Dr Y. Yamada and Dr R. Abe for collecting specimens, and Miss R. Abe and Miss R. Yamaguchi for technical assistance.     

Isolation and partial characterization of ovine lactoferrin

Summary Ovine lactoferrin was isolated by ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion exchange chromatography. Comparative analyses were performed with the bovine protein. Differences in the amino acid compositions and the tertiary structure of the proteins were observed.Acknowledgments. We would like to thank Dr M. Casey for his interest in this work, Dr P. Lavanchy for performing the amino acid analyses and M.F. Baumann for providing us with ewe milk.     

Effect of age on distribution of acidic glycosaminoglycans in normal human urine: Special reference to proportion of chondroitin sulfate A to the C-isomer

Résumé Le sulfate A de chondroitine est un acide glycosaminoglycanes principal chez les enfants normaux. Mais cette substance diminue avec l'age, tandis que le sulfate C de chondroïtine a une tendance à augmenter. Il en résulte une diminution, de l'action du sulfate A sur le sulfate C. La prépondérence du sulfate C de chondroïtine se manifeste après l'adolescence. Il augmente continuellement au cours de la vie.

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Acknowledgments. Grateful thanks are due to Prof.Y. Horiuchi for his interest and encouragement. We are indebted to Dr.T. Ishikawa and Dr.H. Ninomiya for preparing normal human urine. The present study was supported by a grant in aid for scientific research from the Education Ministry in Japan.     

Chromsome aberrations in cattle raised on bracken fern pasture

Summary Thirteen cows maintained on natural bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) were analyzed cytogenetically. The frequency of structural chromosome aberrations detected in peripheral blood cells was significantly higher when compared to that detected in animals raised on pasture containing no bracken fern. We discuss the clastogenic action of fern and its synergistic action with infection by type 2 and 4 papilloma virus in the same animals.Acknowledgments. We are grateful to Dr F. J. Benesi, Dr J. L. Guerra and Dr I. L. Sinhorini for performing some of the clinical and pathological analyses; O. P. Ferraz, L. A. Tadeu Dias, L. F. Feitosa and A. M. N. Paiva for technical assistance; and to Dr N. H. C. Castro and Dr C. de Araujo Peres for critical and statistics review, respectively. Research was supported by CNPq FAPESP and CAPES.     

Simple estimation of blood content in bone homogenates for the determination of the real amount of drugs in bone tissue

Summary The content of blood in bone homogenates can be determined quantitatively by estimation of the haemin in the homogenate and in a sample of peripheral blood taken at the same time. Haem is completely split from the haemoglobin molecule by reaction with hydrochloric acid-acetone and converted to haemin, which can be analyzed spectrophotometrically. The blood content can be calculated from the amount of haemin in the homogenate in relation to that of the peripheral blood. This method is useful to determine the real amount of drugs in bone tissue.Acknowledgment. Thanks are due to Dr N. Walker and Dr H. Stuflesser, Balgrist, Orthopaedic University Hospital, Zürich, for kindly supplying the heads of femora removed at surgery.     

Cobalt-staining of motor nerve endings in the locust (Locusta migratoria)

Summary A method is described for axonal cobalt-staining of peripheral nerve branches. First experiments were carried out on abdominal muscles of the locust.     

The silver-staining technique—a tool for characterizing lymphocyte populations in mammalian peripheral blood

Summary Nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) of the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 9 mammalian species were analyzed by means of a silver-staining procedure. Species-specific NOR patterns were demonstrated. The number of NOR chromosomes was positively correlated with the nucleolar coefficient, and negatively correlated with the relative frequencies of uninucleolar cells in PBL interphase.Acknowledgment. The authors thank Professor Dr E. Groll-Knapp, of the Institute of Environmental Hygiene at the University of Vienna, for statistically evaluating the data provided.     

Vitellogenin synthesis induced in locust fat body by juvenile hormone analog in vitro

Summary Fat bodies from adult females ofLocusta migratoria continue to synthesize vitellogenin and other proteins when cultured in vitro. A strong secondary induction of vitellogenin synthesis was obtained in fat bodies cultured in the presence of methoprene, and a weaker but significant primary induction was also obtained using higher doses (>100 g) of methoprene.This work was carried out in Dr G.R. Wyatts Laboratory and I thank him for helpful discussions. I also thank Dr G. Staal (Zoecon Corp.) for supplying the methoprene and Pfizer Inc. for rimocidin sulfate. This research was supported by grants from the US NIH (HD 02176) and Canada NSERC.     

Studies on peripheral neurons and neurohaemal tissue in the thorax of the stick insect (Carausius morosus)

Summary The distribution of peripheral neurosecretory and non-neurosecretory neurons, and transverse nerve neurohaemal swellings, is described in the thorax ofCarausius morosus. The electrical activity of the isolated transverse nerves has been recorded.We are grateful to the Science Research Concil for financial support, and to Dr Sue Fifield and Steven Irving for methylene blue and electron microscope preparations.     

Serotonin-containing cells in the ascidian endostyle

Summary In the ascidian endostyle, all fluorescence due to serotonin is localized in the peripheral, iodine-binding area of the endostylar epithelium, which is homologous to the vertebrate thyroid. The amine appears to be stored in granule-containing cells which may correspond to the vertebrate calcitocytes.We are grateful to Dr M.P. Gorbunova for helpful advise and diseussion.     

Enhancement by caffeine of sister-chromatid exchange frequency induced by antineoplastic agents in human lymphocytes

Summary The SCE frequency induced by Thiotepa and the effect of this antineoplastic drug in combination with caffeine have been studied in cultures of human peripheral blood. Caffeine was found to enhance SCE and breakage frequencies induced by Thiotepa in human lymphocytes.Acknowledgment. I am deeply grateful to Dr M.J.W. Faed, for stimulating discussions, guidance and constructive criticism. This paper is a part of my Ph.D. thesis submitted to Dundee University.     

Androgen levels in the rete testis fluid during sexual development

Summary The concentrations of testosterone (T) and 5-dihydrotestosterone were measured in fluid collected from the rete testis of immature and adult rats. The results indicate that adult levels of T are attained in the seminiferous tubules much earlier than in the peripheral circulation.This work was performed at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA and supported by the National Institutes of Health through grants HD12641 and HD12642. We thank Dr B.V. Caldwell for antiserum to testosterone.     

Effects of hypothalamic injections of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine on thermoregulation in rats

Summary 5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine, a serotonin depletor, infused directly into the anterior hypothalamus of rat's brain, produced an increase in both heat production and heat loss (as indicated by changes in peripheral circulation) at temperatures of 8, 15 and 22°C. The rectal temperature of these treated rats remained constant.This work was supported by grants from National Science Council of Taiwan and J. Aron Charitable Foundation (USA). The author is grateful to Dr C. Y. Chai and Mr C. C. Wei for their support.     

Short-distance homing in a small mammal: the role of exteroceptive cues and path integration

Summary When hoarding food under IR light, the golden hamster returns to its nest by path integration after an active outward journey, and it is capable of compensating the angular component of a passive outward journey independently of auditory, olfactory, tactile and geomagnetic cues. If, however, peripheral visual cues are available, they predominate over information which is gained during the active or passive outward journey. Further experiments show the limitations of homing by path integration, which is open to cumulative errors and therefore needs to be complemented by other categories of information.Acknowledgments. This research was supported by the Fonds national suisse de la recherche scientique, grants No. 3.349.0.74 and 3.753.0.80. We are very grateful to Dr J. Bovet, Dr W. Heiligenberg, Dr J. G. Mather and to an unknown referee for their critical comments and to Mr R. Schumacher for all his ingenious technical help.     

Amnesic effects of intravenous diazepam and lorazepam

Summary The amnesic effects of 2 benzodiazepine drugs, diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan), have been investigated. Some of the effects were similar to those of certain clinical amnesic syndromes. The effects were more extensive than previous work has indicated.Acknowledgments. The authors are grateful to Dr J. Hope and Dr D. Gosh for clinical assistance and to Dr T.V.A. Harry of John Wyeth and Brother Ltd, Dr W.H. Franklin of Roche Products Ltd and Professor J.B. Chappell for advice and discussion. We thank John Wyeth and Brother Ltd for financial support and for supplying lorazepam.     

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.     

A fungitoxic principle from the leaves ofLawsonia inermis Lam.

Summary During antifungal screening of higher plants, the leaves ofLawsonia inermis were found to exhibit strong fungitoxicity. On chemical investigation, the antifungal factor was found to be 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (Lawsone). The minimum effective dose against test organism was found to be 1000 ppm. Lawsone was found to exhibit fungicidal activity, wide fungitoxic spectrum and nonphytotoxicity.Acknowledgment. Authors are thankful to Dr Nitya Nand, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, for providing facilities to carry out chemical investigations. Our thanks are particularly due to Dr R. S. Kapil, Dr Geeta Devi Tripathi and Dr S. C. Tripathi for their help rendered in various ways.     

Immunological and radioimmunological studies of membrane antigen(s) from human breast carcinomas and non-tumoral breast tissues. I.

Summary The authors extracted and partially purified a pool of antigens from primary breast carcinomas. The antigens responded to anti-CEA antibody in a radioimmunoassay (R. I. A.) and were not detected in non-tumoral breast tissues used as controls. Antisera were obtained by immunizing rabbits.The authors want to express their appreciation to Dr Sergio Orefice, Prof. Carlo Mor and Dr Luisa Amante for their collaboration.     

Nuclear pores. can they expand and contract to regulate nucleocytoplasmic exchange?

Summary Recent evidence has revived the idea that translocation of macromolecules between nucleus and cytoplasm may be regulated via expansion and contraction of the entire diameter of the nuclear pore complex. The present investigation does not support this hypothesis.Acknowledgments. We are indebted to Dr J.H.M. Willison for discussion of his and Dr Rajaraman's results before their publication. We also wish to thank Dr C. Thurston, Dr D.H. Williamson and Dr K. Lambert for providing some of the specimens used in this investigation. N.J. Severs acknowledges the support of the Science Research Council and the Cancer Research Campaign.     

Cholinergic nerves in the rat portal vein

Summary The innervation of the rat portal vein was studied using the cholinesterase histochemical method 2 plexuses of cholinergic nerve fibers were found; an external plexus localized at the level of the outer adventitial layers and an inner plexus at the level of the adventitial-medial transitional zone and in the outer layers of the media.Acknowledgments. We thank Dr C. Cavallotti for his kind help and criticism. The kind help of Dr W. Collier and of the staff of the laboratory of Neurobiology as well as the bibliographic assistance of Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Serv. Documentazione, Dr Magliola) are gratefully acknowledged.