Action d'un hépatome ascitique du rat sur les acides nucléiques du pancréas et du rein

Summary Animals having an ascites hepatoma show an increase in the incorporation of P³² into ribonucleic acid and desoxyribonucleic acid of the pancreas, whereas no change is seen in the kidneys. The variations noted in the pancreas may be compared with those observed previously in the liver and the adrenals. It can therefore be presumed that a substance which stimulates biosynthesis or disrupts the normal metabolic balance is produced by the ascites cells.

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Travail effectué avec l'aide matérielle de l'Institut National d'Hygiène.     

Sur l'apogéotropisme du Phycomyces

Summary Under definite conditions of culture, growth of sporangiophore of Phycomyces has been investigated by Shadowgraphic method. During sporange formation, the rate of growth is the smallest (Fig. 1). The apogeotropic sensitivity of sporangiophores is the greatest before sporange formation; presentation and reaction times increase with age and strongly with light pre-treatment (Fig. 2, 3). Auxin could be responsible for apogeotropic reactions of Phycomyces.     

Composition du suc de décongélation du muscle strié de la grenouille

Summary Because of cell membrane destruction, fluid escaping a muscle on thawing contains a large amount of proteins (myogen and globulin X). Whilst usual gradientsa, b, andc are present in the fluid, the gradientsd ande also occurring in extracts of unstimulated frog muscles are replaced by the gradientx already found in extracts of in N₂ exhausted muscles.     

Actions d'un inhibiteur sélectif des acétylcholinestérases,le 3318 CT,sur la transmission neuromusculaire du chat

Summary 3318 CT [bis (piperidinomethylcoumaranyl-5) cetone dimethiodide], a specific inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, antagonizes, in small dosages, the neuromuscular block induced by Flaxedil in the cat; in larger dosages, 3318 CT blocks the transmission: this paralysing action is not related to an accumulation of acetylcholine, as acetylcholine itself antagonizes it; decamethonium also restores, partially at least, the indirect contractions. Prostigmine and m-hydroxyphenyltrimethylammonium have no action. The neuromuscular block by 3318 CT thus appears as a competitive curarization in an animal with inhibited acetylcholinesterases. There was no indication that pseudo-cholinesterase can play a part in the neuromuscular transmission; whereas in the case of the vagal transmission such a possibility could not be ruled out.     

L'action de l'hypoglycémie sur l'électrorétinogramme du lapin

Summary Hypoglycaemia in the rabbit due to an intravenous injection of insulin results in an important diminution of the value of theb wave in the ERG (up till 80%). Nevertheless, this phenomenon does not follow directly upon the lowering of the blood glucose level but takes place, on the average, about 2 h later. This fact is explained by the enormous energy reserves of the retina, the lowering of the ERG taking place only when these reserves are exhausted.

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Travail subventionné par la FondationEmil Barell (Bâle).     

Contribution à l'étude d'une propriété répétitive du cerveau

Summary While pursuing the study of cortical functioning by the EEG. and after-image methods, we have come to believe that every stimulation evokes in the corresponding area of the cortex not only a simultaneous excitation but also acontinued action, i.e. after stimulation, several successive excitations of progressively diminishing intensity appear in the same area of the cortex.We have investigated the continued groups appearing on corticographical tracings taken from different cortical areas of the experimental animal (the rabbit) after various forms of stimulation (auditory, electrical, and visual). By comparing them with the after-images seen by human subjects in EEG. experiments, we have been led to identify the two phenomena.In order to carry this study further, we have undertaken two series of corticographical experiments, recording tracings takensimultaneously from the parietal and striate areas of the rabbit. The first series was intended to study the effects on the tracings of visual stimuli. The second was concerned with the effects on the same tracings of weak electrical stimuli.

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Nous avons consacré à cette propriété répétitive du cerveau une note parue dans les Comptesrendus de l'Académie des Sciences, Juillet 1955, Paris — dont le présent article constitue le développement.     

L'action du 2,4-dichlorophénoxyacétate de sodium sur les végétaux

Zusammenfassung 0,5prozentige Lösungen von 2,4-dichlorophenoxyessigsaurem Natrium verhindern das Keimen vonAgrostemma Githago, Hordeum vulgare undTriticum vulgare. Das Wachstum junger Pflanzen der drei Arten wird durch Verpflanzen auf mit 0,5prozentigen Lösungen dieses Stoffes getränktem Sand gehemmt. Schwächere Lösungen gestatten das Wachstum, es ist aber verlangsamt und die Pflanzen tragen Mißbildungen verschiedener Art, die an die nach Einwirkung von Colchicin und Heteroauxin beschriebenen erinnern. Stark verdünnte Lösungen (5·10^–6) beschleunigen das Wachstum und regen die Wurzelbildung an; diese Wirkung ist beiHordeum vulgare besonders deutlich.     

Propriétés chitinolytiques du liquide exuvial du ver à soie (Bombyx mori L.)

Summary The authors add further confirmation to the hypothesis of the role played by a chitinase during the process of moulting. By ligaturingBombyx mori-larvae between head and thorax, accumulation of moulting fluid takes place between the larval and nymphal cuticles, swallowing of this fluid being prevented. The chitinolytic properties of this moulting fluid are demonstratedin vitro. The activity of chitinase at different pH is investigated: the optimum pH lying at about 5.4.     

Technique d'inclusion et d'ultramicrotomie,destinée à l'étude du développement des organelles dans une cellule isolée

Summary (1) Control of cell orientation and knowledge of the plane of sectioning are indispensable (but generally ignored) requirements for studies of the development of cellular constituents. (2) A simple technique that meets these requirements for the electron microscope is given. (3) As applied toParamecium, it is shown that the ciliary complexes of the new gullet develop outside of the old one, and that invagination begins at the anterior end of the gullet anlage.

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Travail effectué dans le cadre d'une recherche faite en collaboration avec les Instituts d'Histologie et de Biophysique, grâce à une subvention de «Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche-Stiftung zur Förderung wissenschaftlicher Arbeitsgemeinschaften in der Schweiz».     

L'action du dithizone sur la rétine du lapin Etude électrophysiologique

Summary Dithizone provokes chorio-retinal lesions in the rabbit, visible ophthalmoscopally after 12 h and microscopally after 8 h. The ERG reveals much earlier alterations, theb wave diminishes rapidly and the ERG is abolished in 3 to 4 h. In the cases where no durable lesions are noted, the ERG is nevertheless pathological, theb wave being diminished 40 to 70% of its initial value during the first day, but becoming normal once again even if a permanent diabetes results. These anomalies of the ERG are related to acute hypoglycaemia and enzymatic blockage.

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Travail subventionné par la FondationEmil Barell (Bâle).     

Fixation et inclusion du matériel nucléaire deEscherichia coli

Zusammenfassung In Abhängigkeit vom pH der Fixierungsflüssigkeit und vorhandener Kationen zeigt der Bakterienkern in Dünnschnitten entweder eine grobe oder aber eine feine Innenstruktur. Die als Chromosomenstrukturen gedeuteten Koagulationsbilder werden erneut in Frage gestellt.     

Etude du métabolisme de mescalines fluorées par Pieris brassicae (Insecte,Lépidoptère)

Summary The action of -fluorinated mescalins on induction of diapause in the cabbage butterfly. Pieris brassicae, has been studied. The introduction of fluorine into mescalin has no influence on this activity. This result suggests solvolysis of fluorine and in vivo formation of a common ethylimine intermediate. Activity decreases, however, with substitution of the nitrogen.     

Actions de la néostigmine,du D.F.P. et du 3318 CT sur la sensibilité du rectus de grenouille aux esters acétique,propionique et butyrique de la choline

Summary The potentiating effects of Neostigmine, D.F.P. and 3318 CT (a selective true cholinesterase inhibitor) on acetylcholine (ACh), propionylcholine (PrCh), butyrylcholine (BuCh) and amyltrimethylammonium (AmT), have been studied using the frog's rectus abdominis. Neostigmine increases the actions of the three esters much more than that of AmT. Low concentrations of D.F.P. potentiate maximally BuCh but have practically no effect on ACh, PrCh, and AmT. 3318 CT potentiates AcCh and PrCh but inhibits BuCh and AmT.These results indicate the specificity of the hydrolysis of pharmacologically active doses of BuCh, on the one hand, of AcCh and PrCh, on the other hand, by different enzymes or the frog's rectus.Results obtained with high concentrations of D.F.P. and with association of the different anticholinesterases indicate that a maximal or nearly maximal potentiation of one of these esters is already obtained with the specific inhibitor concerned; the supplementary inhibition of the non-specific enzymes thus appears to have no or only a poor effect.     

Relations du « métabolisme respiratoire » des bactéries et du type de bactériophage avec l'activité de substances antiphages

Summary Quantitative determination of bacteriolysis with different T_1–7-phages confirms earlier observations that with substances inhibiting the action of T₁-phage the normal respiratory metabolism of the protected bacteria is quantitatively restored in every detail.With T₂-phage, showing a different respiratory course of bacteriolysis, no effect is obtained with the same substance, either on the respiration of the bacteria or on the typical course of respiration during bacteriolysis. The action of the phage inhibiting substance against T₁-phage is therefore an effect of definite specificity.     

Activité staphylostatique de composés du groupe des benzophénarsazines

Summary It is shown that certain compounds belonging to the group of angular benzophenarsazines display a high specific bacteriostatic activity towardsMicrococcus pyogenes var.aureus. This biological property provides a further ground of similarity between these compounds and one of their structural analogues, 3,4–5,6-dibenzocarbazole.     

Présence d'uraninite dans les minéraux accessoires du granite de baveno

Summary Microscopic crystals of uraninite are found in the accessories of the Baveno granite by the nuclear photographic emulsion technique. The uraninite is believed to be a primary mineral of the granite, its concentration in the sample is less than 1 p.p.m. but it contributes about 10% of the total activity.     

Propriétés antiacétylcholinestérasiques du diiodométhylate debis-(diméthylamino-3-phénoxy)-1-3 propane,de ses dérivés phénoliques et des esters carbamiques correspondants

Summary Thein vitro anti-acetylcholinesterase properties ofbis-(dimethylamino-3-phenoxy)-1-3 propane dimethiodide (2842 CT) of two phenolics derivatives (3443 CT and 3116 CT) and of the two corresponding carbamic esters (3152 CT et 3113 CT) have been compared using human red blood corpuscles as enzyme source; under specified conditions, the Cl-50 are respectively 8 × 10^–7 M for 2842 CT, 3.5 × 10^–9 for the two phenolic compounds, and 1.5 × 10^–9 for the carbamic esters. The potencies of these phenols are very close to those of the carbamates, being a bit higher or lower depending on the concentration of the inhibitor and on the time of the readingThe two phenolic compounds, like 2842 CT, react readily with the enzyme contrarily to the carbamic esters which combine slowly. On the other hand the inhibition by the phenolic derivatives is as stable against washing as that by the carbamates. The carbamates, but not the phenols, show the slow displacement phenomenon.Some of these characteristics are compatible with the hypothesis that carbamic compounds could act through liberated phenolic functions but others indicate that carbamic groups have a role of their own.     

L'électrophorèse sur papier des protéines hydrosolubles du cristallin

Summary By using paper electrophoresis, the authors succeeded in demonstrating different protein fractions in human and animal lenses.Qualitative and quantitative differences were noted in different animals, between the cortical and the nuclear areas of the lens, and also according to age.

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Chargé de Recherches du Fonds national de la Recherche scientifique.