Uterine morphology and glycogen deposition of pregnant rats after clomiphene citrate treatment during preimplantation stages

Summary Clomiphene citrate did not induce glycogen deposition in the uterine luminal epithelium of pregnant rats as it did in ovariectomized rats. However, the drug did alter the epithelial morphology which may be a factor in its postcoital contraceptive action.Acknowledgment. The advice and guidance of Dr W.J. Bo are respectfully and gratefully acknowledged. This work was supported by USPHS grant AM 08029-6. The clomiphene citrate was supplied through the courtesy of the Wm. S. Merrell Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.     

Artificial spawning effected in the fresh water teleost,Cyprinus carpio by clomiphene citrate

Summary Triweekly i.m. injections of clomiphene citrate (group 1, 25 g/0.5 ml and group II, 50 g/1.0 ml) were administered for a period of 3 months during the preparatory period to female fresh water teleosts exhibiting ovarian recrudescence, while a control group received 0.5 ml of physiological saline throughout the period of experimentation i.e., from February through April. 50 g clomiphene citrate treatment brought about a steady increase in ovarian size, and oocytes began to enlarge and mature and finally ovulation took place in April. This is 4 months ahead of their normal occurrence.The authors wish to express their gratitude to Richardson Merrel Co. for supplying the sample of clomiphene citrate, and Dr K.N. Udupa, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi for facilities.     

Current(I)-voltage(V) relationships of the neuromembrane of an identifiable giant neurone of an Afican giant snail (Achatina fulica Férussac) in the presence of an inhibitory tripeptide,L-Lys-L-Phe-L-Tyr

Summary An inhibitory tripeptide, L-Lys-L-Phe-L-Tyr, caused membrane hyperpolarization of the TAN (tonically autoactive neurone) resulting in an elevated firing level. The tripeptide, however, did not markedly affect either the TAN I–V curve or the firing pattern obtained by transmembrane triangular current injection.The authors wish to express their thanks to Prof. M. Kohsaka and Prof. A. Mori of Okayama University for the helpful advice, and to Dr A. Inoue of Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co. for the donation of L-Lys-L-Phe-L-Tyr.     

Estrogen-induced uterine metaplasia in rats given oral supplements of vitamin A

Zusammenfassung An der Ratte wurde der Einfluss von oral verabreichtem Vitamin A auf die östrogeninduzierte Metaplasie der Uterusschleimhaut untersucht. Kleine Dosen von Vitamin A (250 IE pro Woche) sind zur Vermeidung dieser Metaplasie wirksamer als grosse Dosen von Vitamin A (100 000 IE pro Woche).

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This research was completed while the author was a student in the Department of Anatomy, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, N.C. It was supported by a grant from the National Vitamin Foundation. The author is indebted to Dr. W. J. Bo for suggesting the problem and for making himself available for consultation.     

Immunochemical identity of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV from pig serum,liver, submaxillary gland and kidney

Summary The enzymes which were extracted by autodigestion from the microsomal fractions of the pig kidney, liver and submaxillary gland and from the serum showed an immunochemical identity by a double immunodiffusion test. But the kidney enzyme had a different pI-value from the pI-values of the enzymes of other organs.This investigation was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Japan to K. M. F. We would like to thank Dr Toshiharu Nagatsu (Department of Life Chemistry, Graduate School at Nagatsuta, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan) for helpful suggestions, Mr Moritoshi Sato (Matsumoto Meat Inspection Station, Matsumoto, Japan) for their generous supply of pig organs and Ajinomoto Co. Inc., Tokyo, Japan, for the gift of Gly-Pro-p-nitroanilide tosylate. Technical assistance of Miss K. Yanagisawa is gratefully acknowledged.     

Luminal alkalinization by guinea-pig cecum in vitro,an electro-neutral process

Summary Guinea-pig cecum was found to alkalinize its mucosal media in vitro at a chemical equivalents rate greater than the short circuit current (I_SC). Alkalinization was inhibited by conditions which did not affect I_SC and by low mucosal Na suggesting an electro-neutral process, dependent on Na.This study was supported in part by the National Science Foundation Grant BMS 74-08901. The authors appreciate the insight and encouragement of Dr Michael J. Jackson expressed in numerous conversations.     

Modification of effects of biologically active peptides,caused by enzyme treatment,on the excitability of identifiable giant neurones of an African giant snail (Achatina fulica Férussac)

Summary Physalaemin, which excites an identifiable molluscan giant neurone (the TAN, tonically autoactive neurone), lost the effect after the trypsin treatment. Unexpectedly, this peptide shows an inhibitory effect on the same neurone after chymotrypsin treatment. Deamino-dicarba-(d-d-)oxytocin and d-d-Arg-vasotocin, which excite another identifiable neurone (the PON, periodically oscillating neurone) continue to show the effect after chymotrypsin treatment (6 h). But d-d-Arg-vasotocin losts the effect on the PON after trypsin treatment.The authors thank Dr Sadaaki Iwanaga of Osaka University and Dr Atsuo Inoue of Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co. for their helpful advice, and Miss Hiroko Tamura for her technical assistance.     

Haloperidol produces hypothermic effects in rats

Summary Intraperitoneal administration of either haloperidol or chlorpromazine produced hypothermia both in the cold (8° C) and at room temperature (22°C). The hypothermia was brought about both by a decrease in metabolic heat production and an increase in the cutaneous temperature of tail and foot skin. However, at a higher temperature (29°C), there were no changes in rectal temperature and other thermoregulatory responses.The work reported here was supported by grants from the National Science Council of Republic of China and J. Aron Charitable Foundation (New York, N.Y.). The authors are grateful to Dr C.Y. Chai for his advice during the experimentation. The generous support of Dr C.J. Shih was much appreciated by the authors. Also, we thank Dr C.D. Bloomer (Smith, Kline and French Co.) for the supply of chlorpromazine.     

Timing of action of sperm proteases in ascidian fertilization

Summary The timing of action of three sperm proteases, acrosin, spermosin, and a chymotrypsin-like enzyme, in the fertilization of the ascidian,Halocynthia roretzi, was examined by adding specific protease inhibitors at various times after insemination. The results indicate that the last two enzymes both function at the early stage of the process of sperm penetration through the egg investment, while acrosin functions at the late stage.Acknowledgments. We are indebted to Dr M. Hoshi of Tokyo Institute of Technology for his helpful discussion, and to Dr T. Someno of Nippon Kayaku Kogyo Co. for his generous gifts of Z-Val-Pro-Arg-H and leupeptin. This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan, and from Naito Research Foundation.     

Effects of some oligopeptides,consisting of aromatic amino acids,on the excitability of an identifiable giant neurone of an African giant snail (Achatina fulica Férussac)

Summary L-Phe-L-Tyr and L-Lys-L-Phe-L-Tyr showed a marked inhibitory effect (not chloride-dependent) on the excitability of an identifiable giant neurone (the TAN) of Achatina fulica Férussac, while L-Tyr-L-phe, L-Tyr-L-Tyr, L-Phe-L-Phe, L-Lys-L-Phe and Z-L-Phe-L-Tyr (Z-: carbobenzoxy) had no effect.Authors wish to thank Dr Atsuo Inoue of Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co. for his helpful advice, and Miss Hiroko Tamura for her technical assistance.     

Effect of suppression of endocrine or exocrine pancreatic function in hemorrhagic shock

Summary Somatostatin did not influence the pathologic consequences of hemorrhagic shock, but pancreatic duct ligation prevented the post-oligemic decline of arterial pressure and formation of toxic factors. These results indicate that pancreatic acinar cells release myocardial depressant factor and are important in the pathophysiology of shock.Supported in part by research grant No. HL-17745 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the NIH.Acknowledgments. We gratefully acknowledge the expert technical assistance of Mary Ann Gaffney, Richard Levin and Kathleen Shupe during the course of these investigations. We also thank Dr William D. Cash of Ciba-Geigy Co., Ardsley, New York, for the supply of somatostatin.     

Changes in cholinesterase activity of muscle after crushing the sciatic nerve of rats

Summary The subcellular distribution of cholinesterase (ChE) was studied in the gastrocnemius muscle of rats after strong or weak nerve crushing. The ChE activities of muscle were decreased to a greater extent by strong crushing than by weak crushing. In particular, the ChE activity of the fraction containing sarcoplasmic reticulum was most greatly decreased. These results suggest that the change in the ChE activity of the microsomal fraction most finely reflects the strength of nerve crushing.Acknowledgments. This study was accomplished in Central Research Laboratories, Sankyo Co. Ltd. The authors wish to thank Prof. Tsuneyuki Nakazawa, Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Fujita-Gakuen University, and Dr Yutaka Sakai for their valuable advice and support, Sr Jean M. Michalec for her critical comments, and Miss Hamako Katano, Mr Naoji Mikuni and Miss Yoshie Ishii for their skillful technical assistance.     

Inhibition of oxidizing enzymes by metronidazole

Zusammenfassung Eine unerwartete Möglichkeit, wie Metronidazol zu einer nur scheinbaren Hemmung der Alkoholdehydrogenase führen könnte, wird aufgedeckt.

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This research was supported in part by a grant from Ayerst Laboratories (New York), Scientific Advisory Board of the Licensed Beverage Industries (New York), and the Milheim Foundation for Cancer Research (Denver, Colorado). We thank Dr.T. Robitscher of Ayerst Laboratories and Dr.V. Drill of G. D. Searle & Co. for reagents used, and Dr.Drill for unpublished information from his laboratories.     

Taurine concentrations in the aqueous humor and plasma of anesthetized rabbits

Summary Aqueous humor taurine concentrations were found to be significantly higher (p<0.01) than that of the plasma in anesthetized rabbits. Topical application of 2 mg terbutaline lowered intraocular pressure (p<0.001), but did not alter aqueous taurine content.Supported by National Eye Institute grants Nos EY05430 (JMR) and EY02156 (DEP).Acknowledgments. We thank Dr J. Gintautas, this institution, for translating reference 18 and Dr S. Y. Schmidt, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, for valuable advice.     

Polychlorinated biphenyl-induced modification of lymphocyte response to plant mitogens in rats

Summary In PCB-treated rats total white cell and differential counts and lymphocyte proliferative response to PWM were unaltered. The lymphocyte response to PHA was increased in treated animals.Acknowledgements. Supported by grants from the Medical Research Council of Canada. We thank the Monsanto Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo., for donating Aroclor 1254 and Dr.P. Cano for the protein determinations and electrophoresis.     

Interaction of BW755C,a potent inhibitor of lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase,with mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase

Summary The interaction between BW755C (3-amino-1-[m-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-pyrazoline), a potent inhibitor of both lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase, and respiratory chain in mitochondria and electron transport particles (ETP) from rat livers was examined. BW755C accelerated the oxygen uptake by mitochondria without the addition of substrate for the respiratory chain. Spectrophotometric study revealed that BW755C was quickly oxidized by cytochrome oxidase in mitochondria to a compound possessing an absorption maximum at 524 nm. p-Phenylenediamine (p-diaminobenzene, PPDA), which, like BW755C, serves as an electron donor to cytoschrome oxidase, was shown to inhibit the generation of active oxygen in macrophages; the inhibition was stronger than that of BW755C. These results strongly suggest that the oxidative conversion of BW755C by mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase is associated with its potentially inhibitory action on the active oxygen-generating system in phagocytes.The authors are indebted to Dr M. Hori, Gifu College of Pharmacy and to Dr Y. Orii, Kyoto University for their kind supplies of BW755C and pure cytochrome oxidase, respectively.     

The local anesthetic potency of norcocaine,a metabolite of cocaine

Summary The local anesthetic effects of cocaine and one of its main metabolites norcocaine, were investigated comparatively on isolated ganglion cells of the marine gastropod,Aplysia californica. During a 1-hour-period, different action potential parameters such as amplitude, duration, maximum rate of rise were observed, which demonstrated that norcocaine exhibits a higher local anesthetic potency than cocaine.Acknowledgments. The authors are grateful to Dr M. R. Klee and Dr M. R. Park for helpful discussion. The work was partly supported by Österreichischer Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung     

Effect of pancreatic polypeptide on DNA-synthesis in the pancreas

Summary Bovine pancreatic polypeptide increases DNA-synthesis in the rat pancreas; no effect is observed in stomach (oxyntic area), duodenum or liver. BPP neither augments or inhibits the trophic action of cholecystokinin.Acknowledgment. Pure pancreatic polypeptide was donated by Dr. R. E. Chance (Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Co., Indianapolis, Ind, USA). G. R. Greenberg is supported by a Fellowship of the Medical Research Council of Canada.     

Cortisol-induced migration of eosinophil leukocytes to lymphoid organs

Summary Cortisol induces a migration of eosinophil leukocytes from the blood to several lymphoid organs, such as the spleen, lymph nodes and thymus, but not to other tissues. This migration explains the cortisol-induced blood eosinopenia, which is much more pronounced in intact than in splenectomized animals.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by the Servicio de Desarrollo Cientifico y Creación Artística from the University of Chile. Hydrocortisone sodium succinate (Solu-Cortef^®, Upjohn) was kindly provided by Upjohn Co., Santiago, Chile. We appreciate the technical assistence from Dr E. del Solar, Mr D. Sáez, Miss J. Habach, Mr M. López and Miss M. Liendo.     

A synergistic interation between the teratogenic effect of trypan blue and dietary deficiency in the rat

Summary There was a increased incidence, compared to controls, of exencephaly and micropthalmia in the offspring of rats fed a vitamin D deficient diet and injected with trypan blue on day 9 of gestation. Oral vitamin D did not reverse the effect.Acknowledgments. The author wishes to thank Dr G. Lumb and Dr. B. Mawer for advice on diets, and Mrs de Silva for making the assays.