Effects of 1-alkyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole-1-ethanamines and related compounds, potential antidepressants, on biogenic amine uptake mechanisms.

A new series of compounds structurally related to the potential antidepressant tandamine, i.e., the 1-alkyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole-1-ethanamines, inhibit the noradrenaline uptake mechanism and are relatively ineffective in inhibiting the serotonin uptake mechanism in vivo. The potency of the most effective compound (9-ethyl-N,N,1-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocarbazole) is similar to that of desimipramine and is of potential use in the treatment of endogenously depressed patients.     

Chemical studies on the silver staining of nucleoli

Summary The uptake of Ag-ions by isolated nucleoli of rat liver cells was studied. Nucleolar proteins separated by electrophoresis were examined for selective silver-staining. A mechanism for a preferential Ag-staining of the nucleoli is discussed.We thank Mrs L. Schwinn for her valuable technical assistance, and Mrs K. Jain for presenting us DNA. We would like to thank the Department of Biology V for making possible the measurements with the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Liver enzyme induction by the anion exchanger resin,Dowex 1×2, in the rat

Summary Peroral treatment of rats with the anion exchanger resin, Dowex 1×2, for 8 days leads to liver enlargement and increase of alkaline and acid phosphatases, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, catalase, and the enzymes of microsomal drug metabolism in the liver. The sequestration of bile acids by this treatment mimics the biochemical effects of clofibrate- and phenobarbital-like drugs in the liver.Acknowledgment. The authors want to thank Mrs Fey, Mrs Kremer and Mr Weinrauch for their skilful technical assistance.     

Impaired proximal tubular transport functions in anaesthetized splanchnicotomized dogs

Summary The maximal tubular transport of inorganic phosphate,d-glucose and para-aminohippuric acid, respectively, was depressed on the denervated side in unilaterally splanchnicotomized, anaesthetized dogs. It is concluded that renal sympathetic activity might in general regulate proximal tubular transport functions.The authors are indebted to Mrs V. Vajda, Mr A. Karai, Mrs K. Kéry, Mrs B. Asztalos, Mr S. Szécsi and Mr J. Vártok for their valuable technical assistance.     

Coenzymes Q: Stimulants of the phaǵocytic activity in rats and immune response in mice

Zusammenfassung Mittels der Tusche-Clearance-Methode wird gezeigt, dass Coenzym Q₆ und Q₁₀ die phagozytische Aktivität bei Ratten steigert. Im Vergleich mit Schaferythrozyten wurde bei Mäusen durch Zufuhr von Coenzym Q₁₀ eine Verdoppelung der primären hämolytischen Antikörperbildung festgestellt.

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The authors are deeply indebted to Drs. J. H.Heller, J. H.Green and A. D.Adler for support and helpful discussions in the course of this work. We thank Mrs. G.Katopodis, Mrs. R.Wells, Miss J.Mannion, Mrs. S._Reynolds and Mrs. A._Lee for technical assistance.     

Changes in the concentration of adenohypophyseal prolactin and morphological manifestations in the adenohypophysis of lactating rats after administration of D-6-methyl-8-[β-isopropylaminoethyl] ergoline-I

Summary The four days administration of D-6-methyl-8-[-isopropylaminoethyl]ergoline-I (VÚFB-10726) to nursing rats decreases adenohypophyseal prolactin as determined with disc electrophoresis, and produces changes in the histological appearance of adenohypophyses, which indicate the inhibition of prolaction production and secretion.The authors thank Dr.I. J. Skála, Mrs.J. Boubínová, Mrs.J. Emanuelová and Mrs.V. Maitová for technical assistence.     

Baroreceptor and sympathetic responses to acebutolol,a 646-1646-1646-1agent,in rabbits

Summary Baroreceptor activity was increased after i.v. infusion of acebutolol in rabbits with an intact circulation, and in rabbits with a total cardiopulmonary by-pass. In rabbits with an intact circulation, renal nerve activity was reduced.We wish to thank Mrs H. Bodard and Mrs F. Raimbault for their technical collaboration and Specia Laboratories for supplying acebutolol. This work was supported by a grant from INSERM (ATP No. 15.75.38).     

Suramin stimulates renal growth in the rat

Summary Suramin given to rats in a single high dose (20 mg/100 g i.v.) stimulated renal growth. Maximum changes are taking place after 6–9 days of treatment.Suramin (Bayer 205) was generously provided by bayer (Leverkusen, Federal Republic of Germany).The authors thank Miss J. Telegdy and Mrs I. Harmos for technical assistance and Mrs M. Herczeg for the preparation of the sections.     

Effect of des-Tyr1-γ-endorphin on serotonin metabolism in rat brain regions

Summary Intracerebroventicular (i.c.v.) administration of des-Tyr¹-γ-endorphin (0.1 and 1.0 μg) caused a decrease of the serotonin (5-HT) concentration of the hippocampus. The concentration of 5-HIAA and the pargyline-induced alterations in 5-HT and 5-HIAA were not affected. No effects were noticed in other brain regions. Acknowledgement. The skilful technical assistance of Ms Henny de Vos Burchart-Lodewijks and Mrs H.A. Spierenburg and J.A. Meijer is gratefully acknowledged. Des-Tyr¹-γ-endorphin was a gift of Dr. H.M. Greven, Organon International B.V., Oss, The Netherlands. To whom reprint requests should be addressed.     

Rate of tryptophan hydroxylation in vivo in brain nuclei of genetically hypertensive rats of the Lyon strain

Summary The rate of tryptophan hydroxylation in vivo is unaltered in brain areas of 5, 9 and 21 week-old Lyon genetically Hypertensive (LH) rats as compared to both Lyon Normotensive (LN) and Low Blood Pressure (LL) rats, except for a decrease in the C1 area of the medulla oblongata in 9 week-old animals.Acknowledgment. The authors wish to thank Dr M.F. Belin, Dr J.F. Pujol and Mrs J. Sacquet for their help during this study. This work was supported by the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale Française and the C.N.R.S.     

Attraction ofScolytus scolytus (F.) to the components of Multilure,the aggregation pheromone ofS. multistriatus (Marsham) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Summary The attraction ofS. scolytus to the components of Multilure is described. 4-Methyl-3-heptanol is an attractant which is synergised bya-cubebene. Multistriatin appears to be an inhibitor. A combination of 4-methyl-3-heptanol and cubeb oil is more effective as a bait forS. scolytus than Multilure.We thank Mr A. K. Hughes and Mr J. Boswell for their cooperation in allowing us to conduct experiments on Parham Estate; Mr D. Mobbs and Mr C. Thorne for the statistical analyses; Dr J. W. Peacock for samples of mixed isomers of multistriatin and distilled cubeb oil; Mrs J. Allsop and Mr N. J. Fielding for technical assistance. We are grateful to Mr D. Bevan, Dr J. H. Borden, Dr J. F. Grove and Prof. A. W. Johnson for their interest and encouragement.     

Effects of calcium-EGTA buffers on active calcium transport in inside-out red cell membrane vesicles

Summary In inside-out red cell membrane vesicles, the free calcium concentration half-maximally stimulating active calcium uptake is about 2 orders of magnitude smaller in a calcium-EGTA buffer than in media containing unbuffered calcium. In calcium-EGTA buffer, the maximum rate of calcium uptake is determined by the total calcium concentration present. A possible model for explaining these findings is presented.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by the Scientific Research Council, Ministry of Health, Hungary (6-03-0306-01-1/Gá). We thank for the valuable comments of Dr Ilma Szász and for the skilful technical assistance of Mrs M. Sarkadi.     

Freeze tolerance in the frog,Rana sylvatica

Summary Wood frogs survive extracellular freezing at moderate subzero temperatures (–4°C) for at least 11 days. Freezing survival is aided by the accumulation of high concentrations of glucose as a cryoprotectant in blood and tissues. Glucose production was accompanied by a rapid decline in liver, but not muscle, glycogen levels suggesting that liver is the organ controlling cryoprotectant synthesis.Acknowledgments. This study was supported by grants to L.M.G. from the Kroc Foundation (Santa Ynez, California) and from the National Institute of Dental Research (Grant No. DE-03987). The authors wish to thank K. Yorko, M. Shakin, J. Finan and Mrs N. Manivannan for their technical and secretarial assistance.Acknowledgments. I thank Dr J. Ballantyne, Dr F. Schueler and I. McMurray for help with frog collections and Dr. W. Schmid, Dr J. Bogart and Dr F. Cook for helpful discussions. Supported by an N.S.E.R.C. operating grant and by a grant from the Atkinson Charitable Foundation.     

Effect of acetylsalicylic acid on iron absorption in the rat

Summary The in vivo administration of⁵⁹Fe to the rat accompanied by acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) enhanced significantly counts in blood, spleen, liver and femur without affecting those of the intestine. The results suggest that ASA augments iron absorption either via an inhibitory action on the synthesis of prostaglandins or by a purely chemical mechanism.This work was supported by Grant No. 6638 from CONICET (Argentina).The technical assistance of Mrs María E. Castro and Mrs Patricia Dubra is gratefully acknowledged.     

Semi-synthesis of A23187 (calcimycin) analogs

Summary The cleavage of A23187 to give a synthon (4) and the semi-synthesis from (4) of 2 Des-N-methylamino A23187 isomers (7a,b) are described. The antibiotic activities of the acids analogous to A23187(1), (2), (7a), (7b) are compared.Acknowledgment. The authors are very grateful to Drs G. Dauphin and J.Y. Lallemand for the NMR-spectra at 400 MHz performed in Gif-sur-Yvette, To Dr J.G. Gourcy and Mrs G. Kergomard for technical assistance.     

Uptake of ferritin from the medium byTokophrya infusionum

Summary Tokophrya infusionum, a suctorian, is deprived of a mouth opening. The uptake of ferritin from the medium is accomplished through pits, invaginations of the plasma membrane which are permanent structures. From the pits containing ferritin, flat vesicles are pinched off transporting the ferritin to the cytoplasm.Supported by grant AI-08989 US Public Health Service.The author acknowledges gratefully the excellent technical assistance of Mrs Sondra Lewengrub.     

Enhancement of ethanol-induced sleep by whole oil of nutmeg

Summary In young chickens, the whole oil of nutmeg (200 mg/kg) increased the duration of sleep induced by ethanol (1–4 g/kg), particularly deep sleep. Inproniazid (50–400 mg/kg), a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, did not mimic this effect.Acknowledgments. The authors would like to thank Mr E.J. Spellman of Frische-D & O for supplying the oil of nutmeg and Mrs N. Sherry for secretarial and editorial assistance.     

The effect of the ergoline derivative VUFB-6683 on the adenohypophysial prolactin concentration in rats

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe vond-6-Methyl-8-ergolin-I-ylacetamid-Tartarat, VUFB-6683 wurde bei säugenden Ratten das Gewicht und der Prolaktinspiegel der Adenohypophyse herabgesetzt und die Laktation gehemmt.

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The authors are indebted to Dr.I. J. Skála, Dr.J. Hondlík, Mrs.V. Maitová and Mrs.J. Emanuelová for technical assistance; and to Dr.I. Mikulá for his aid in designing the study.     

Tubuloreticular structures in chicken bursa Fabricii lymphocytes

Summary Tubuloreticular structures were observed in bursal lymphocytes of a 12-day-old male chicken. These structures are often observed in mammalian lymphocytes and endothelial cells. Their presence in bursal lymphocytes confirm their association with B-lymphocytes.We are grateful to Dr. J.L.F. Cristina Afonso for material support, to Mrs M. Lapão and J.P. Cristina Afonso for thier technical help, and to the Freixial Poultry Industry for providing the chickens.     

Abnormal organization of ovarian follicles in the mutantl(1)su(f) mad-ts ofDrosophila melanogaster

Summary The morphology of ovarian follicles in the temperature-sensitive female-sterile mutantl(1)su(f) ^mad-ts has been studied by means of light and electron microscopy. As the follicle cells gradually degenerate at the restrictive temperature (29°C) the follicles become increasingly disorganized with respect to shape and polarity.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 46). We wish to thank Mrs R. Koppa for excellent technical assistance and Mrs G. Mahlke for photographic work. We are also indebted to Dr D. Zissler, Dr E. Gateff and Prof. K. Sander for many helpful suggestions.