The induction of diabetes in rats by intramuscular administration of streptozotocin.

Streptozotocin administered i.m. was as effective a diabetogenic agent as when administered i.v. This is useful, particularly for the induction of diabetes in small animals.     

Serum thymic factor as a radioprotective agent promoting survival after X-irradiation

Summary Serum thymic factor (FTS, zinc-free thymulin) protected mice from death after whole-body X-irradiation. It was significantly radioprotective even when administered after irradiation, but it was more effective when administered both before and after irradiation. The protective effect appears to be due to the enhancement of hematologic recovery in the animals.     

Serum thymic factor as a radioprotective agent promoting survival after X-irradiation

Serum thymic factor (FTS, zinc-free thymulin) protected mice from death after whole-body X-irradiation. It was significantly radioprotective even when administered after irradiation, but it was more effective when administered both before and after irradiation. The protective effect appears to be due to the enhancement of hematologic recovery in the animals.     

The elimination of 1,5-anhydroglucitol administered to rats

Summary Rat serum contains natural 1,5-anhydroglucitol. Injected or orally administered 1,5-anhydroglucitol was efficiently reabsorbed by the renal tubuli via a mechanism which had a saturation point at high serum 1,5-anhydroglucitol levels. The compound had a slow turnover rate in the body; its half-life is approximately 3 days. The compound was readily absorbed in the gut when administered orally.     

The Role of the Agouti-Related Protein in Energy Balance Regulation

The Agouti-Related Protein (AgRP) is a powerful orexigenic peptide that increases food intake when ubiquitously overexpressed or when administered centrally. AgRP-deficiency, on the other hand, leads to increased metabolic rate and a longer lifespan when mice consume a high fat diet. In humans, AgRP polymorphisms have been consistently associated with resistance to fatness in Blacks and Whites and resistance to the development of type-2 diabetes in African Blacks. Systemically administered AgRP accumulates in the liver, the adrenal gland and fat tissue while recent findings suggest that AgRP may also have inverse agonist effects, both centrally and peripherally. AgRP could thus modulate energy balance via different actions. Its absence or reduced functionality may offer a benefit both in terms of bringing about negative energy balance in obesigenic environments, as well as leading to an increased lifespan.     

Radiation protection of bone marrow lymphocytes by 2-mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG)

Summary The drug, MPG, when administered before irradiation, increases the radioresistance of bone marrow lymphocytes of mice to gamma rays and helps in promoting fast recovery, especially when exposed to sublethal dose.     

The use of cyclophosphamide as an enhancer of the vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease

The immunization of biungulate animals with killed foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) requires periodic vaccinations due to a low vaccine immunogenicity. Therefore, FMDV antigens need to be combined with adjuvants such as aluminum hydroxide, saponin or oil emulsions. Animal handling for periodic inoculations, and the repeated doses of vaccines that have to be administered increase the commercialization costs. Moreover, the use of adjuvants may induce adverse effects.In the present work we show that it is possible to increase the life span of neutralizing antibodies in serum when a single dose of cyclophosphamide (Cy) is administered four days before vaccination with aluminum hydroxidesaponin FMDV vaccine.     

Suppression and enhancement of humoral immune response to Toxoplasma gondii by passive antibody

Anti-toxoplasma antibodies administered passively to mice may lead to suppression of enhancement (reported for the first time with Protozoan parasites) of subsequent antibody response when these animals are later infected with Toxoplasma gondii. The outcome is dependent on infecting strain of Toxoplasma and the antigen-antibody ratio.     

Necessity of adjuvants for inducing effective antibody response to zona pellucida antigens

Rhesus monkeys evoked a vigorous antibody response to a single heteroimmunization dose of zona pellucida antigens, when these were administered along with complete Freund's adjuvant. The antisera recognized all the three major porcine zona glycoprotein families and the animals were rendered amenorrheic after such immunization. Monkeys immunized with zona without adjuvant, however, failed to show any anti-zona antibody response and had normal menstrual cycles. Zona pellucida glycoproteins are thus not effective immunogens unless administered along with a powerful adjuvant.     

Necessity of adjuvants for inducing effective antibody response to zona pellucida antigens

Summary Rhesus monkeys evoked a vigorous antibody response to a single heteroimmunization dose of zona pellucida antigens, when these were administered along with complete Freud's adjuvant. The antisera recognized all the three major porcine zona glycoprotein families and the animals were rendered amenorrheic after such immunization. Monkeys immunized with zona without adjuvant, however, failed to show any anti-zona antibody response and had normal menstrual cycles. Zona pellucida glycoproteins are thus not effective immunogens unless administered along with a powerful adjuvant.     

Suppression and enhancement of humoral immune response toToxoplasma gondii by passive antibody

Summary Anti-toxoplasma antibodies administered passively to mice may lead to suppression or enhancement (reported for the first time with Protozoan parasites) of subsequent antibody response when these animals are later infected withToxoplasma gondii. The outcome is dependent on infecting strain of Toxoplasma and the antigen-antibody ratio.     

Effect of p-coumaric acid on immature estrogen treated and cyclic female mice

Oral administration of p-coumaric acid to estrogen-primed immature female mice exerts neither estrogenic nor anti-estrogenic activity, but when it is administered to cyclic female mice in single dose at proestrus or in repeated doses, induces alteration in estrus cycle, ovarian and uterine weight and structure.     

Triterpenes of toxic and non-toxic taxa of Lantana camara.

The taxa of Lantana camara toxic to animals contain lantadene A lantadene B, whereas in two non-toxic taxa other triterpenes predominate. Several new triterpenes have been characterized. Contrary to earlier claims, lantadene A and to a lesser extent lantadene B are toxic when administered intraruminally to sheep.     

Effect of estrogens on infection of rabbits with cattle plague virus previously administered to rabbits]

The Rabbit bovipest virus selectively destroys the lymphoid B line in the Rabbit. Estrogens inhibit this destruction when they are administered before the infection which leads are to think that they act on membrane sites of the lymphocytes.     

Triterpenes of toxic and non-toxic taxa ofLantana camara

Summary The taxa ofLantana camara toxic to animals contain lantadene A and lantadene B, whereas in two nontoxic taxa other triterpenes predominate. Several new triterpenes have been characterized. Contrary to earlier claims, lantadene A and to a lesser extent lantadene B are toxic when administered intraruminally to sheep.     

Possible mutagenic activity of saccharin

Summary A mutagenic effect of saccharin in Chinese hamsters, using the in vivo SCE test, was observed when massive overdoses were administered; cyclamate was not mutagenic.     

Possible mutagenic activity of saccharin.

A mutagenic effect of saccharin in Chinese hamsters, using the in vivo SCE test, was observed when massive overdoses were administered; cyclamate was not mutagenic.     

Suppression of intrinsic B-cell function in Dengue-infected mice.

Mice infected with Dengue virus show a depressed immune response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a helper T-cell-independent antigen, when LPS was administered on day 0, 6 and 12 post infection. Mice injected with inactivated virus failed to show immunosuppression.     

The effect of luteineizing hormone on chicken testis and pineal gland uptake of 32P.

The glandular uptake of radioactive phosphorus (32P), administered carrier-free, was used as an endpoint for the study of the effects of luteinizing hormone (LH) on the testis and pineal gland of 3-, 10- and 13-day-old White Leghorn cockerels. Pineal uptake of 32P of the 13-day-old birds decreased and testis uptake of 32P increased following LH treatment. Maximum effects were observed when 20 mug LH was administered 4.0 h before autopsy. Although testis uptake of 32P increased following LH treatment in 3- and 10-day-old cockerels, pineal uptake of 32P remained unchanged.     

Effect of p-coumaric acid on immature estrogen treated and cyclic female mice

Summary Oral administration of p-coumaric acid to estrogen-primed immature female mice exerts neither estrogenic nor anti-estrogenic activity, but when it is administered to cyclic female mice in single dose at proestrus or in repeated doses, induces alteration in estrus cycle, ovarian and uterine weight and structure.The authors wish to thank Dr S. C. Pakrashi and his associates of Medicinal Chemistry Department for isolating the compound. Thanks are also due for granting Senior Research Fellowship to P.P. and Junior Research Fellowship to S.N.K. respectively.