Effect of butyl alcohol inDatura innoxia Mill

Zusammenfassung Die Behandlung der Samen vonDatura innoxia Mill. mitn-Butylalkohol und Temperaturschock ergibt in der nächsten Generation Pflanzen, deren Samen einen höheren Alkaloidgehalt aufweisen. Das Hauptalkaloid ist Scopolamin (Hyoscin) mit einem Anteil von 50–70% am Gesamtalkaloidgehalt.

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The author is grateful to Dr. K.Ganapathi, Director, and Dr. C. K.Atal, Scientist of this Laboratory, for their interest in the work.Shri Het Singh, Dr. K. L.Dhar and MissSubash Kumari helped by analyzing the seeds which is duly acknowledged.     

The mesenchymoangioblast,mesodermal precursor for mesenchymal and endothelial cells

Mesenchymoangioblast (MB) is the earliest precursor for endothelial and mesenchymal cells originating from APLNR⁺PDGFRα⁺KDR⁺ mesoderm in human pluripotent stem cell cultures. MBs are identified based on their capacity to form FGF2-dependent compact spheroid colonies in a serum-free semisolid medium. MBs colonies are composed of PDGFRβ⁺CD271⁺EMCN⁺DLK1⁺CD73^? primitive mesenchymal cells which are generated through endothelial/angioblastic intermediates (cores) formed during first 3–4 days of clonogenic cultures. MB-derived primitive mesenchymal cells have potential to differentiate into mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs), pericytes, and smooth muscle cells. In this review, we summarize the specification and developmental potential of MBs, emphasize features that distinguish MBs from other mesenchymal progenitors described in the literature and discuss the value of these findings for identifying molecular pathways leading to MSC and vasculogenic cell specification, and developing cellular therapies using MB-derived progeny.     

Test-tube fertilization of ovules inMelandrium album Mill. with pollen grains ofDatura stramonium L.

Zusammenfassung Samenanlagen vonMelandrium album wurden in vitro mit Pollen vonDatura stramonium bestäubt und befruchtet. In seltenen Fällen konnte ein zweikerniger Proembryo beobachtet werden. Das primäre Endosperm unfasste in der Regel 4 Zellen, nach 3–4 Tagen bis zu 25 Zellen.

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I express my thanks to the head of the Department of General Botany, Prof. A.Szweykowska, for the facilities provided during the course of this work and her interest in these investigations.     

Regulation of oligodendrocyte precursor migration during development, in adulthood and in pathology

Oligodendrocytes are the myelin-forming cells in the central nervous system (CNS). These cells originate from oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) during development, and they migrate extensively from oligodendrogliogenic niches along the neural tube to colonise the entire CNS. Like many other such events, this migratory process is precisely regulated by a battery of positional and signalling cues that act via their corresponding receptors and that are expressed dynamically by OPCs. Here, we will review the cellular and molecular basis of this important event during embryonic and postnatal development, and we will discuss the relevance of the substantial number of OPCs existing in the adult CNS. Similarly, we will consider the behaviour of OPCs in normal and pathological conditions, especially in animal models of demyelination and of the demyelinating disease, multiple sclerosis. The spontaneous remyelination observed after damage in demyelinating pathologies has a limited effect. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the biology of OPCs, particularly adult OPCs, should help in the design of neuroregenerative strategies to combat multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases.     

Creatinine: A precursor of methylguanidine

Zusammenfassung Intraperitoneale Zufuhr von¹⁴CH₃-Kreatinin in Ratten erhöht deren 24-h-Ausscheidung von radiomarkiertem Methyl-Guanidin im Urin, während Tiere, die andere radiomarkierte potentielle Vorläufer erhalten hatten, keine erhöhte Ausscheidung zeigten. Diese in-vivo-Konversion von Kreatinin zu Methyl-Guanidin konnte nicht der Aktion gastrointestinaler Bakterien zugeschrieben werden, da die Ausscheidung von Methyl-Guanidin sowohl in antibiotikabehandelten als auch in sterilen Ratten übereinstimmte.     

3,5-Dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid,a further metabolite of sinapic acid

Zusammenfassung Aus Rattenurin wurde 3,5-Dihydroxyphenylpropionsäure als Metabolit der Sinapinsäure isoliert.     

Nucleic acid,amino acid,and carbohydrate metabolism of nurse cell nucleoli inMusca domestica

Zusammenfassung Die multiplen Nukleolen in den polyploiden Nährzellkernen des Ovars vonMusca domestica erweisen sich in Kurzzeitexperimenten als Orte des höchsten RNS-, Protein- und Glukoseumsatzes. Die relativ stärkste autoradiographische Markierung der Nukleolen findet sich nach 15–30 min³H-Glukose-Inkubation. Dieser Befund wird als Hinweis für eine möglicherweise bevorzugt im Nukleolenbereich stattfindende Umwandlung von Glukose in Ribose gewertet, die bei der Nukleotidsynthese für die rRNS-Produktion verwendet wird.     

Oxytoxins,bioactive molecules produced by the marine opisthobranch molluscOxynoe olivacea from a diet-derived precursor

Summary The ethereal extract of the mucous secretion from the opisthobranch molluscOxynoe olivacea was examined and found to contain two novel ichthyotoxic compounds, named oxytoxin 1 and 2 (1, 2). The structures of1 and2 are closely related to the metabolites previously isolated from the algaCaulerpa prolifera. The activity of the most stable compound was studied in order to investigate the possibility, of a further biological role for these metabolites, which represent an uncommon example of bioactive molecules produced in vivo from a dietary precursor.     

L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine,a noradrenaline precursor,inhibits dopamine release and metabolism in the rat striatum in vivo

The effect of L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-threo-DOPS) on dopamine (DA) release and metabolism in the striatum was studied in freely moving rats by intracerebral microdialysis techniques. The DA level as well as the levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid were significantly decreased 140 min after the administration of L-threo-DOPS (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally). The results suggest that L-threo-DOPS inhibits the release and metabolism of DA in the striatum.     

Oxytoxins, bioactive molecules produced by the marine opisthobranch mollusc Oxynoe olivacea from a diet-derived precursor

The ethereal extract of the mucous secretion from the opisthobranch mollusc Oxynoe olivacea was examined and found to contain two novel ichthyotoxic compounds, named oxytoxin 1 and 2 (1,2). The structures of 1 and 2 are closely related to the metabolites previously isolated from the alga Caulerpa prolifera. The activity of the most stable compound was studied in order to investigate the possibility of a further biological role for these metabolites, which represent an uncommon example of bioactive molecules produced in vivo from a dietary precursor.