Purothionins inAegilops-Triticum spp.

Resumen EnTriticum durum Desf. (genomiosAB), el genomioA controla la sintesis de purotionina y el genomioB la de purotionina . Las especies diploides del grupoAegilops-Triticum sintetizan ó, pero no las dos. En numerosos aloploides de este grupo se observa la pérdida de la actividad sintética para la purotionina correspondiente a uno de los genomios.     

Delay in skin allograft rejection in rats grafted with fetal adrenal glands

Resumen Se ha observado en este trabajo que el injerto de suprarrenales de fetos en ratas de 6 días de edad determina aumento del tiempo de supervivencia de aloinjertos de piel realizados al 10° día de vida en relación a los testigos y a ratas injertadas con suprarrenales de adulto. Un efecto similar se observó cuando se administró diariamente a partir del 6° día de vida 16-metil prednisona en dosis altas que producían gran trastorno del crecimiento, evidente disminución de peso del timo y en algunos casos muerte del animal.

---

---

Fellow of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Centificas y Técnicas (Argentina).     

Dissociation of glucocorticoid effects of C-21 steroids at high concentrations in thymocytes

Summary A dissociation between inhibition of RNA synthesis and cell lysis was observed when thymocytes of adrenalectomized rats were incubated with high concentrations of pregn-4-ene-11-ol-3, 20-dione and pregna-1,4-diene-11-ol-3,20-dione. In contrast, no dissociation of these effects was found with the typical glucocorticoids cortisol and corticosterone, nor with their 1,4-diene analogs under the same conditions.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by grants from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina to the Instituto de Biologia y Medicina Experimental and the Programa de Regulación Hormonal y Metabólica as well as by financial help from the Secretaría de Ciencia y Tecnología.     

A comparison of the pharmacological activity ofgD 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and its monohydroxylated metabolites in man

Resumen Se hizo un estudio comparativo de la capacidad del ⁹-tetrahidro-cannabinol y de sus metabolitos monohidroxilados en producir effectos similares a los de la marihuana cuando son inyectados intravenosamente a humanos. Se encontro que la hidroxilacion en la posición 11 no cambio la potencia, en la posición 8 la redujo, y en la posición 8 la abolio por completo.

---

---

These studies were conducted under Contract No. HSM-42-71-95 between the Center for Studies of Narcotic and Drug Abuse of the Division of Narcotic Addition and Drug Abuse, NIMH, and the Research Triangle Institute. In addition, this investigation was supported by Public Health service Research Grant No. RR-46 from the General Clinical Research Centers Branch of the Division of Research Resources. We thank Drs.Monique Braude and st.Szara, Center for Studies of Narcotic and Drug Abuse, NIMH, for their interest and encouragement of this program. We also thankCarolyn Bishop andDaynise Skeen for their technical assistance.     

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.

---

---

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

High-affinity binding ofβ-alanine to cerebral synaptosomes might involve glycine-receptors

Summary High-affinity, Na⁺-independent binding of -alanine to a synaptosomal fraction of rat brain was potently inhibited by glycine and by some other -amino acids, but not by taurine or GABA. This binding mechanism, which was also sensitive to both bicuculline and strychnine, might involve synaptic receptors for both -alanine and glycine.This study was supported in part by Centro Ramón y Cajal and Fundacion Juan March.     

Influence of adrenergic blocking agents upon morphine and catecholamine analgesic effect

Resumen Las catecolaminas adrenalina (0,25 y 0,5 mg/kg) noradrenalina (0,5 y 1 mg/kg) e isoproterenol (4 y 8 mg/kg) producen efecto analgésico significativo en lauchas. También aumentan (adrenalina 0,25 mg/kg, noradrenalina 0,5 mg/kg e isoproterenol 4 mg/kg) el efecto analgésico de pequeñas dosis de morfina (1 mg/kg). El bloqueador -adrenérgico dihidroergotamina (4 mg/kg) no influencia substancialmente estas acciones, pero el bloquente-adrenérgico propranolol (1 mg/kg) bloquea los efectos analgésicos de la morfina, adrenalina e isoproterenol, no siendo tan efectivo contra la noradrenalina. Se deduce que debe existir un compromiso de receptores-adrenérgicos en el mecanismo de los efectos analgésicos de las catecolaminas y también de la morfina.

---

---

Fellow of the Consejo de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas.     

Hydrolysis of amino acid β-naphthylamides by aminopeptidases in the parotid gland

Zusammenfassung Die Aktivität der Aminopeptidasen in Ohrspeicheldrüsen wurde gemessen. Glycyl-Prolin-naphthylamid, Alanin-naphthylamid, Leucin-naphthylamid, Methionin-naphthylamid, und Arginin-naphthylamid wurden von der Mikrosomenfraktion und der löslichen Fraktion schnell gespalten. Das Glycyl-Prolin-naphthylamid spaltende Enzym war in Ohrspeicheldrüsen in relativ grösserer Menge vorhanden. Die Aufspaltung von Glycyl-Prolin-naphthylamid in Glycyl-Prolin und-Naphthylamin wurde papierchromatographisch nachgewiesen.     

Histochemistry of ovarian 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the rat during the estrus cycle

Riassunto In ovaie di ratta, durante le fasi del ciclo estrale, fu determinata istochimicamente l'attività 3-HSD e 20-HSD. L'attività 20-HSD risulta localizzata esclusivamente nei corpi lutei. Essa compare nei giovani corpi lutei durante il proestro e si mantiene fino alla completa involuzione dell'organulo.     

Protein biosynthesis and hyperpolarization of cells

.     

The in vivo expression of the globin genes of theβ cistron in γ-,δ-, andδβ-thalassemia heterozygotes

There is considerable evidence suggesting that the switch from to and chain production after birth is due, in part, to silencing of the genes by stage-specific factors which bind to their promoters and to the competition from the adult ( and ) genes for a common enhancer element located in the locus control region. As a consequence one can expect that the increased Hb F production in adults with hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin or -thalassemia is directed mainly by -globin genes in cis to the deletion(s) responsible for these conditions. Here we review data on heterozygotes with -, -, or -thalassemia, who also had an^AT mutation, in cis or in trans, which was used as a marker of gene expression. The results show that a deletion affecting adult genes favors the expression of genes in cis, while the deletion of a single gene does not affect the expression of the gene in cis but leads to a faster switch postnatally.     

Digestive enzymes in the gut and salivary gland of the larvae ofChilo auricilius Ddgn.

Summary Amylase, - and -glucosidase, - and -galactosidase, -fructosidase, trypsin, aminotripeptidase, leucine-aminopeptidase, prolinase, prolidase glycyl-L-leucine dipeptidase and glycylglycine dipeptidase are present in the 3rd instar larvae ofChilo auricilius.Dr Kishan Singh, Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, is gratefully acknowledged for providing necessary facilities.     

Purification of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth inhibitor and its characterization as transforming growth factor-β type 1

In 1986, Brown and Clemmons (Proc. natl Acad. Sci. USA83 (1986) 3321) showed that platelets contain a substance, platelet-derived growth inhibitor (PDGI), that inhibits in vitro endothelial cell replication. Although platelets are rich in transforming grwoth factor (TGF-), PDGI was considered not to be related to TGF-, on the basis of its reported properties (extraction from platelets at neutral pH, binding to heparin-Sepharose). However, we purified PDGI to near homogeneity and showed that on the basis of HPLC retention behavior, in vitro growth inhibitory activities with several cell types, receptor binding, and immunoneutralization of growth inhibitory activity with specific anti-TGF- type 1 antibodies, PDGI is most probably identical with TGF- type 1.     

Properties of an auxin-oxidising system fromLactobacillus bulgaricus

Résumé Un traitement à l'acide-indolylacétique (IAA) a pour effet d'induire — chezLactobacillus bulgaricus — un système inactivant l'IAA. Le pH optimum de ce complexe enzymatique est de 6.0 et sa température optimale de réaction de 32 °C. Cette induction est inhibée par des analogues de l'IAA (acides-indolyl carboxylique et-indolyl propionique;dl-tryptophane). L'apparition de cette « IAA-oxydase » permet de rendre compte, dans une large mesure, des effets de l'IAA sur la croissance des microorganismes testés.     

17β-Hydroxymethyl-Steroide: Darstellung von Derivaten des 17α-Hydroxy-17β-hydroxymethyl-4-androsten-3-ons

Summary Starting from 17-hydroxy-17-hydroxymethyl-4-androsten-3-one, we synthesized 4-chloro-17-hydroxy-17-hydroxymethyl-4-androsten-3-one-17, 20-acetonide and 17-hydroxy-17-hydroxymethyl-1, 4-androstadien-3-one. 11, 17-dihydroxy-17-hydroxymethyl-4-androsten-3-one was obtained from cortisone via methyl-17-hydroxy-3, 11-dioxo-4-etienate.     

On the structure of the natural dipeptide N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamic acid (NAAGA)

Riassunto Si descrive la sintesi dei due dipeptidi isomeri acido N-acetil--l-aspartil-l-glutammico (I) e acido N-acetil--l-aspartil-l-glutammico (II). Il loro confronto con il NAAGA, dipeptide precedentemente isolato dal tessuto nervoso di alcuni mammiferi, ha dimostrato l'identità del nuovo metabolita con il-dipeptide (II).     

Elevation of plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity during insulin-induced hypoglycemia in man

Résumé Nous avons étudié l'activité de la dopamine--hydroxylase du plasma humain. Elle a été remarquablement accure par l'administration de grandes quantités d'insuline. Les corrélations entre cette activité et celle des systèmes nerveux sympathiques sont également discutées.     

The molecular structure of the benzilic acid rearrangement product of 3α, 17β-diacetoxy-11-hydroxy-12-oxo-5β-androst-9(11)-ene

Zusammenfassung Die Struktur desp-Brombenzoates des Benzilsäureumlagerungsproduktes von 3, 17-Diacetoxy-11-hydroxy-12-oxo-5-9(11)-androsten wurde durch dreidimensionale Röntgenstrukturanalyse eines Einkristalls als 3-p-Brombenzoat des 11-Carboxy-3, 11, 17-trihydroxy-13-C-nor-5-androstan 11a, 17-Laktons erkannt.     

Effect of cadmium chloride on steroidogenic enzymes in the Bidder's organ of the toad (Bufo melanostictus)

Summary Injection of cadmium chloride in a toad increases both the ⁵-3-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase and 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities in Bidder's organ.     

Konstitution des Cinobufagins

Summary The structure of Cinobufagin is shown to be 3-Hydroxy-14, 15-epoxy-16-acetoxy-5-bufa-20, 22-dienolide.

---

---

Die ausführliche Publikation erscheint demnächst in den Helv. chim. Acta.