Antagonism of chlorpromazine byβ-melanocyte stimulating hormone (β-MSH)

Résumé Une préparation hautement purifiée de l'hormone mélanophorétique-MSH inhibe les effets de la chlorpromazine au niveau de la moelle spinale.     

On the action ofβ-melanocyte stimulating hormone (β-MSH) on spontaneous electric discharge of the transparent knife fish,G. eigenmannia

Résumé L'hormone mélanophorétique-MSH, à des concentrations de 0.1 à 0.2µg/ml dans l'eau de l'aquarium, produit une diminution de la fréquence des modifications spontanées de l'amplitude des décharges électriques du poissonG. eigenmannia. Ces résultats sont en accord avec les observations antérieures montrant divers effets de-MSH sur l'activité électrique du système nerveux central chez les mammifères.     

Influence of cyproterone acetate on the activity ofβ-glucuronidase in the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex of the male mouse

Summary Daily s.c. injections of cyproterone acetate greatly decrease the protein content and-glucuronidase activity in the mouse hypothalamus. These effects are reversible and the recovery capacity of the animal seems to be inversely related to the duration of antiandrogenic treatment.Financial aid was given by CNR (finalized project Biologia della Riproduzione) and Ministry of Education. Thanks are also due to Prof. G. Chieffi for suggestions and to Mr R. Auriemma for maintenance of experimental animals.     

Influence of α-MSH and ACTH on cortical bone remodelling in hypophysectomized rats

Summary Hypophysectomy increases both periosteal resorption and endosteal apposition along the femur diaphysis in rat. Administration of -MSH decreased the periosteal resorption but had no effect on the endosteal apposition. ACTH had only minor effects on the endosteum. Thus, -MSH and ACTH, in the doses used, have different effects on cortical bone in rat. The effect of -MSH on cortical bone could be an effect of the hormone alone or by its stimulation of other factors.     

In situ demonstration of the activity of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase on steroid hormone secreting cells within the paraaortic lymph nodes of golden hamster

Summary The in situ activity of 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was detected in clustered cells which showed steroid-producing morphology, within the capsule of the paraaortic lymph node. In light and electron microscopic studies, the positive reaction products were detected on intracapsular cell clusters. This result indicates that these unique cells may have a steroid secreting function within the lymph nodes.     

Influence of sex,developmental time and food onβ-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity in the rice weevilSitophilus oryzae L.

Summary The effects of some biological parameters on -N-acetylglucosaminidase activity have been investigated inS. oryzae. There is no significant influence of sex and developmental time on the enzyme activity level, which appears in contrast to be greatly influenced by food (wheat or sorghum). Sorghum contains competitive inhibitors which are almost completely removed after dialysis. Fasting relieves this inhibition very quickly, suggesting that inhibitors act directly at the gut level.     

Effects of duration of gonadectomy,sex and age on adrenal steroid 5α-reductase activity in the rat

Summary Within 6–8 weeks, gonadectomy in male and female rats leads to an increase in adrenal 5-steroid reductase activity. However, long-term post-orchiectomy enzyme activity decreases to the control level and this effect is not related to the age of animals.Supported in part by grant No.564/VI from Polish Academy of Sciences. Generous gift of hormones applied in these studies from The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA is acknowledged.     

Naloxone prevents the analgesic action of α-MSH in mice

Summary -MSH (0.1, 1, 10 g) was administered intracerebroventricularly and its action on pain sensitivity was investigated by the hot-plate method in mice. -MSH produced dose-dependent analgesia and this analgesic effect was prevented by naloxone (1 mg/kg, s.c.). It is possible that -MSH may play a role in the mechanism of pain through endogeneous opioid systems.     

Antidiuretic hormone involvement in the release of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone by hyperosmotic stimuli

Summary In the normal Wistar rat, the plasma -MSH level was raised by hypertonic saline injection (as compared with control rats injected with isotonic saline). No such rise in -MSH followed hypertonic saline administration in the Brattleboro (hereditary diabetes insipidus) animal (compared to isotonic saline injected controls). It is suggested that, in the rat, endogenous antidiuretic hormone is involved in the secretory response of the pars intermedia to osmotic stimuli.     

Effects of N2, O2′-dibutyril cyclic GMP on the nucleoside phosphotransferase activity of the retina of the chick embryos

Summary In the retina of the chick embryo, 2 different forms of nucleoside phosphotransferase take part in the phosphorylation of thymidine. One is an unstable form with higher molecular weight. The other with lower m. wt is a stable form. This paper shows that N², O²-dibutyril cyclic GMP causes a marked decrement of the activity of the unstable nucleoside phosphotransferase.     

Selective activity of morphine on the ‘EEG arousal reaction’ to painful stimuli

Résumé L'action de la morphine sur l'activité électrique cérébrale a été étudiée sur le lapin ni anesthésié ni curarisé. La réaction d'arrêt, qui se traduit par une désynchronisation du tracé EEG, consécutive à un stimulus douloureux (stimulation du nerf sciatique, pincement de l'oreille) est abolie par des doses de morphine qui n'influencent pas les modifications analogues du tracé EEG provoquées par les stimulations sensitives ou sensorielles (stimulation olfactive, acoustique ou tactile).Une telle spécificité, qui n'apparaît pas dans le cas de la scopolamine et des barbituriques (Pentobarbital), peut être mise en rapport avec l'action analgésique caractéristique de la morphine.     

The action of 5-hydroxy-dl-tryptophan and 5-hydroxy-tryptamine on the cortical electrical activity of the ‘midpontine pretrigeminal preparation’

Riassunto Il 5HTP, direttamente iniettato nel circolo cerebrale, produce un quadro elettroencefalografico di sonno, indipendente da modificazioni di flusso nel circolo cerebrale e da eventuali metaboliti che si formano al di fuori del cervello. La 5HT, iniettata nelle stesse condizioni, o è senza effetto o dà una reazione elettroencefalografica di risveglio.     

β-Methyl carboline,a benzodiazepine inverse agonist,attenuates the effect of triazolam on the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity

Summary The benzodiazepine triazolam, the benzodiazepine inverse agonist, -methyl carboline (-CCM) or both, were administered to adult male hamsters under conditions of constant light. When given alone, triazolam induced phase advances in the circadian activity rhythm of about 90 min, while -CCM when given alone, had no effect on phase of the activity rhythm. However, when triazolam and -CCM were given at the same time, the magnitude of the phase advances induced by triazolam were attenuated to about 30 min. These data, in conjunction with previous results, provide pharmacological evidence for a GABAergic system involved in the regulation of a central circadian pacemaker.     

Effect of radical scavengers on TNFα-mediated activation of the uPA in cultured cells

Active oxygen, produced by cultured cells following stimulation with various growth factors, seems to be involved in signal transduction leading to cellular responses such as gene expression and growth modulation. In the present study, the intracellular oxidation state was measured in immortalized human endothelial cells (ECV304) after treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF), using a fluorescent dye and a laser-scanning confocal microscope. The intracellular oxidation state was increased 60 min after the addition of TNF, and this increase was abolished by a radical scavenger, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is also a precursor of glutathione, and by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). TNF increased the steady state level of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), and NAC inhibited this increase at a dose that also inhibited the increase in the intracellular oxidation state. PDTC, on the other hand, did not affect the induction of the uPA gene by TNF. These results suggest that intracellular glutathione level rather than the oxidation state is necessary for the induction of the uPA gene by TNF.     

Liver cell therapy: is this the end of the beginning?

The prevalence of liver diseases is increasing globally. Orthotopic liver transplantation is widely used to treat liver disease upon organ failure. The complexity of this procedure and finite numbers of healthy organ donors have prompted research into alternative therapeutic options to treat liver disease. This includes the transplantation of liver cells to promote regeneration. While successful, the routine supply of good quality human liver cells is limited. Therefore, renewable and scalable sources of these cells are sought. Liver progenitor and pluripotent stem cells offer potential cell sources that could be used clinically. This review discusses recent approaches in liver cell transplantation and requirements to improve the process, with the ultimate goal being efficient organ regeneration. We also discuss the potential off-target effects of cell-based therapies, and the advantages and drawbacks of current pre-clinical animal models used to study organ senescence, repopulation and regeneration.     

Elapidα-toxins have no effect on the cholinergic responses of bivalve myocardia

Summary Elapid-toxins (-bungarotoxin,-cobratoxin and crudeBungarus caeruleus venom) do not affect the myocardial nicotinic ACh receptors of the following bivalve molluscs:Mercenaria mercenaria, Chione cancellata, Mya arenaria, Mytilus edulis, Rangia cuneata andCrassostrea virginica.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by N.I.H. grant HL-09283 to M.J.G.; it is contribution No. 102 from the Tallahassee, Sopchoppy and Gulf Coast Marine Biological Association.