Lipide in der Eischale vom Strauss (Struthio camelus)

Summary The egg shell (with cuticle) of the ostrich contained a total lipid concentration of 0.19 mg/g egg shell; the phospholipids constituted the major portion, among the neutral lipids cholesterol esters, cholesterol and free fatty acids were identified. The egg shell lipids showed a stimulating effect on the crystal growth of calcium carbonate; the highest rate of crystal growth was observed with the phospholipid fraction.

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Forschergruppe Biomineralisation. Von der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft gefördertes Projekt.

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Herrn K. Kasimir danken wir für seine experimentelle Unterstützung bei den Lipiduntersuchungen. Herrn Prof. H.-J. Meyer, Mineralogisches Institut Bonn, danken wir für die Messungen der Kristallwachstumsgeschwindigkeit.     

Observation of bacteriophages in wine (author's transl)]

Electron microscopic examination of samples of Swiss wine, collected during the malolactic fermentation, revealed the presence of bacteriophages of three different morphological types. It is interesting to note that these phages have been found in a product whose pH is lower than 3.5.     

Plurality in the determinism of organophosphorus teratogenic effects (author's transl)]

In Quail embryos, nicotinamide prevents beak and legs abnormalities produced by bidrin but remains inefficient against vertebral defects induced by bidrin and parathion. In contrast, the vertebral deficiencies are greatly alleviated or abolished by pralidoxim, an antidote known and used in organophosphorus intoxications. From these observations, a plurality in the determinism of teratogenic effects induced by organophosphorus compounds is evident.     

Effect of Corynebacterium parvum on serum lysozyme (muramidase) levels (author's transl)]

An i.v. injection of 548 microgram of killed Corynebacterium parvum into C57B1 mice leads to significant changes in serum lysozyme (muramidase) levels. After an initial fall at 24 h, the activity of the enzyme increased progressively, reached a peak on the 9th day and returned to control range after the 15th day.     

Neurosecretion and hydroelectrolytic regulation in Artemia salina (author's transl)]

The activity of Artemia protocerebral median neurosecretory cells is stimulated when animals are grown in media whose tonicity is lower than that of sea weater. The substance liberated by these cells could regulate the tonicity of the internal medium.     

Antibiotically active tripeptides of the sequence L-arg-D-X-L-phe] (author's transl)]

Five tripeptides with the sequence L-Arg-D-X-L-Phe showed antibiotic activity on fungi and on some pathogenic moulds. The action of the peptides could be neutralized in the cross-strip test by the L-amino acid corresponding to the D-amino acid in the middle position.     

Lysosome-rich synaptosomal preparations from rat mesencephalus (author's transl)]

Subcellular fraction, enriched with synaptosomes, obtained from rat brain has been found contaminated by lysosomes, as evidenced by the high content of acid phosphatase, their biochemical marker.     

Acid-base changes across the rat jejunum, in vitro (author's transl)]

Everted sacs of rat jejunum are able to adjust to near 6.5 any solution whose pH is situated between 5.5 and 9.5. Beyond these limits the adjustment becomes incomplete. Changes in PCO2 and total CO2 associated with changes in mucosal pH-values suggest that bicarbonate or CO2-movements toward the jejunal lumen involved in this adjustment process are predominant.     

Phagocytosis of liposomes by mouse peritoneal macrophages (author's transl)]

Uptake of 14C-cholesterol or 3H-cholesterol labelled liposomes, stimulation of 14C-glucose oxidation, as well as ultrastructural and autoradiographical experiments have shown that liposomes are phagocytized by mouse peritoneal macrophages. Further results have shown that degradation of liposomes was not complete 2h after uptake.     

Autosomal chromosometranslocation of piebald cattle and brown cattle (author's transl)]

Different autosomal chromosome fusions at piebald cattle and brown cattle are described. In randomly investigated breeds of cattle in Germany, we found 1/25 translocation in piebald cattle and a 1/29 Robertsonian fusion in brown cattle. Fertility differences were investigated.     

Stability of some bradykinin analogues against kininase II (author's transl)]

Some analogues of bradykinin, especially with replacements by other amino acids of phenylalanine in position 8, have been investigated for enzymatic stability against kininase II from rat duodenum microsomes and rat uterus plasma membranes, respectively. As compared with bradykinin, two of the analogues, [8-erythro-beta-phenylserine]- and [8-erythro-alpha-Amino-beta-phenylbutyric acid]-Bradykinin were stable to enzymatic degradation. Therefore, the latter may be used for studies in hormone-receptor interaction.     

Microscopical investigations on the 'vessel sealing' effect of calcium ions (author's transl)]

The effect of locally applied calcium on the vascular permeability is studied under the conditions of an acute inflammatory reaction. Using the Sephadex-inflammation, local elevated calcium concentration neither inhibited oedema formation, nor were reduction of inflammatory signs at all observed on the microscopical level.     

Defect of incorporation of S in old Swan autoimmune mice thymus (author's transl)]

A diminution of the incorporation of radioactive S in epithelial cells of the thymus of auto-immune Swan mice is shown. This defect of incorporation seems to be in relation to a thymus deficiency.     

Rat liver S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase purification by affinity column chromatography (author's transl)]

S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (EC 3.3.1.1) has been purified 240-fold from rat liver by affinity column chromatography on aminohexyl sepharose bound 6-mercaptopurine 9 D-riboside. The purified enzyme was homogeneous by gel electrophoresis.