Morphine suppression of ethanol withdrawal in mice

Summary The acute administration of morphine, alcohol or dopamine results in a pronounced suppression of the convulsions produced by alcohol in mice. The suppressive action of morphine on alcohol withdrawal in the mouse apparently is not a product of morphine intoxication, but rather to some other specific interaction between alcohol and morphine in the central nervous system. The conclusion suggest that dopamine may play a significant role as a modulator in convulsions produced during alcohol withdrawal.Dr.Kenneth Blum is Associate Professor in Pharmacology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and a Career Teacher in Drug Abuse and Alcoholism under a grant number 1-TO1-DA00290-01 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.Acknowledgments. Our thanks are due toB. Wiggins, R. Marin andS. Elston for their excellent technical assistance. Research funded in part by Air Force Grant No. AFOSR-71-2075.     

Octopamine,dopamine and noradrenaline content of the brain of the locust,Schistocerca gregaria

Summary The octopamine, dopamine and noradrenaline content of the brain of the locust,Schistocerca gregaria has been determined using sensitive radiochemical-enzymatic assays. Octopamine and dopamine are present in high concentration but the noradrenaline content is only 1/25 that of octopamine. Both reserpine and fusaric acid (a dopamine--hydroxylase inhibitor) produce a significant depletion of the octopamine stores.The author is a M.R.C. of Canada Fellow. Thanks are due to Drs.A. A. Boulton, A. V. Juorio, andP. H. Wu for helpful discussion.     

Histochemical differentiation of the formaldehyde-induced fluorophores derived from dopamine andl-DOPA

Résumé On signale une méthode de différenciation de la fluorescence provenant dul-DOPA et celle de la dopamine, basée sur leur taux de décoloration lorsqu'elles sont exposées à la lumière ultra-violette. L'intensité de la fluorescence provenant dul-DOPA s'est avérée plus rapide à disparaître que celle provenant de la dopamine.     

A possible chemical basis for the higher mutagenicity of marijuana smoke as compared to tobacco smoke

Summary The results of comparative analyses of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in marijuana and tobacco smoke indicate a considerably higher content of potential carcinogens in the former. A model experiment involving ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol suggests that the pyrolysis products of cannabinoids are major contributors to the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons.We thank Dr.John Benner and Ms.Carolyn Keene of the University of Kentucky for help with the smoking experiments. This work was supported by Grant No. R01-DA-00507-01 from the National Institute of Mental Health.     

Changes in dopamineβ-hydroxylase activity of monkey plasma with age

Summary Plasma dopamine -hydroxylase activity of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata fuscata) increased with age, and the developmental changes were similar to those of human beings. However, the adult level plasma DBH activity of various monkey species was much lower than that of human beings.We thank Dr.K. Nozawa, Dr.O. Takenaka and Mr.T. Shotake (Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University) for their help in collecting monkey blood samples.     

Mescaline: Its effects on learning rate and dopamine metabolism in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Summary The pharmacological action of mescaline on goldfish was studied with the Bitterman-Agranoff shock-avoidance test. In short term experiments with high mescaline doses an increase in learning rates was observed. Similar results were obtained with apomorphine andl-dopa. However, when the fish were exposed to smaller mescaline doses (or to fluphenazine) for 3 days, their ability to avoid electric shock was reduced. Apparently, mescaline induced a release of dopamine which stimulated central dopaminergic systems. Subsequently, MAO destroys the liberated dopamine. Thus, the ensuing dopamine deficit appears to be responsible for the marked changes in behavior in the chronic experiment.This work was supported in part by research grants from the National Eye Institute (EY No. 00313) and the National Institute of Mental Health (MH No. 20020), and by the Sterling Morton Charitable Trust Fund.     

Antiinflammatory reaction associated with murine L1210 leukemia

Summary Mice bearing L1210 leukemia did not show impaired humoral or cellular immune response to antigenic stimulation during the early stage of the tumor, and a depressed response was noted only in the terminal stage. L1210 cells were shown to suppress inflammatory reaction in vivo.Supported in part by USPHS research grant No.5-01-RR05-352-12, and by theIndependent Order of Foresters, San Bernardino District 3208. We acknowledge the valuable assistance ofJudith Johnson andJames Tan in this project. Histopathological examination byDick H. Koobs is appreciated.     

Dark induced increase in pineal serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity: A refractory period

Zusammenfassung Nachweis, dass Ratten, aus normaler Lichtperiode abrupt in Dunkelheit versetzt, keine Zunahme der NATase-Aktivität im Pinealorgan zeigen und dass Isoproterenol-Injektion die Zunahme der NATase auslöst.

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Support was provided to S. B. by NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship No. 1 FO2 HD 52858-01.

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We thankW. Langebartel andM. Veltrum.     

Daily variations in pigeon cropsac responses to prolactin

Zusammenfassung Es wird festgestellt, dass die Ansprechbarkeit des Taubenkropfsackes auf Prolactin in Abhängigkeit vom hormonalen Zustand des Versuchstieres von Tag zu Tag verschieden ist.

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Our study was supported by a Public Health Service Research Grant No. 5 R01 AM13400 and a Public Health Service Research Career Development Award No. GM-17, 898, toAlbert H. Meier. The ovine prolactin was a gift of the Endocrinology Study Section of the National Institutes of Health. We thank Dr.P. E. Schilling of the Computer Center at Louisiana State University for making the statistical evaluations.     

Elevated kidney glucosyltransferase activity in genetic prediabetic mice

Summary Glucosyltransferase activity in the renal cortex of genetic diabetic KK mice was significantly increased at 40 days of age when compared to that of Swiss albino and F₁ hybrid mice. This increase in enzyme activity in the absence of glucose intolerance can be regarded as an earlier genetic marker for the diagnosis of diabetic microangiopathy.Acknowledgments. This research was supported in part by the General Research Support Grant No. RR-05398 from the General Research Support Branch, Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Health Training Grant No. 5-T01-AM-05617-06, Hope for Diabetics Foundation, Inc., and Pfizer Research Laboratories. Dr.R. A. Camerini-Davalos was a Career Scientist of the Health Research Council of the City of New York, and Drs.A. S. Reddi andC.A. Velasco were N. I. H. Trainees in Diabetes Mellitus during part of this study.     

Analyses chromatographiques des corticoïdes extraits du liquide amniotique d'une femme diabétique

Summary Paper chromatography was applied to corticoids extracted from amniotic fluid of a diabetic mother.Normal amniotic fluid contains no 17-hydroxycorticosterone and cortisone, as defined by paper chromatography.The extract of amniotic fluid of a diabetic mother, insulin treated from the 4^th month and giving birth to a child with a congenital anomaly of cervical vertebras (Klippel-Feil syndrome) and with typical Cushing aspect, has been chromatographed. It contains 25–50µg of 17-hydroxycorticosterone and cortisone. The protein content of this fluid was 0.7 g %.     

Egg pigment: Early elimination from the developing retina of the frog

Zusammenfassung Die während der Oogenese entstandenen Melaningranula werden aus dem neuralen Netzhautanteil ausgeschieden und vom Pigmentepithel aufgenommen. Dies geschieht, bevor das Zentralnervensystem pigmentfrei geworden ist, und ermöglicht wirkungsvolle Lichtaufnahme in den Photorezeptoren.

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I thank Mrs.Adriana Ward for her excellent assistance during this study and Dr.G. K. Smelser for the use of his electron microscope facilities. This study was supported in part by grants No. EY 00624-01 and No. EY 00190-15 from the National Institutes of Health.     

Use of indomethacin to reverse neonatal hypotension

Summary Treatment with indomethacin elevated systemic arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance in hypotensive newborn goats. Indomethacin may be of value in restoration of systemic arterial pressure in stress-induced hypotension.Supported in part by Nos. NIH-HL-10834-06, NIH-T01-HL05979-02S1 and Florida Heart No. 74-AG-2.Acknowledgments. The authors wish to thankN. L. Murtha, L. Tumarkin, J. Howard andP. Eitzman for their technical assistance and Merck, Sharpe and Dohme for the gift of indomethacin. This research was conducted under the guiding principles in the care and use of animals approved by the Council of the American Physiological Society and the National Institute of Health.     

Ultrastructural identification of human tonsil T-lymphocytes by peroxidase-conjugated anti-HTLA serum

Summary A horse anti-serum rendered specific for human T-lymphocytes was conjugated with peroxidase and used for ultrastructural identification of human tonsil T-lymhocytes. With T- and B-enriched suspensions, virtually all T-lymphocytes were labelled with Po-anti-HTLA, whereas no B-cells were stained with this conjugate. The labelling was found to be irregularly distributed on the plasma membrane of T-cells. Direct identification with specific Po-anti-HTLA conjugate confirm the ultrastructural characteristics of thymus-dependant cells.This work was supported by I.N.S.E.R.M. grants No. 74-5-027-01 and A.T.P. No. 73-16.Acknowlegments. We are indebted toMartine Blanc who prepared the cell suspensions and toDanielle Germain who did the preparations for electron microscopic examination.     

Conditioned seizures susceptibility in the hamster induced by prior auditory exposure

Zusammenfassung Nachweis audiosensibilisierter Anfälle beim HamsterMesocricetus auratus nach Konditionierung auf akustischen Reiz.

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Supported in part by grant No. EC 00447-01 from the PHS. We thank Mrs.Barbara Beagle for technical assistance.     

Rates of ethiodide formation and the stereochemistry of ajmaline at C-21

Résumé Les auteurs ont mesuré les vitesses de réaction entre l'ajmaline plus dérivés et l'iodure d'éthyle. Les conclusions stéréochimiques deTaylor au C-21 en ont été confirmées.

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For previous papers on rates of quaternary iodide formation of alkaloids see (a)M. Shamma and J. B. Moss, J. Amer. chem. Soc.83, 5038 (1961) and (b)M. Shamma andE. F. Walker Jr., Chem. & Ind.1962, 1866.

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Acknowledgments. The authors wish to thank Dr.W. I. Taylor of CIBA Pharmaceutical Company for the generous gift of the compounds used in this study, and the National Institutes of Health (Grant No. GM-10608-01) for financial assistance.     

Antischistosomal and some toxicological properties of a nitrodiphenylaminoisothiocyanate (C 9333-Go/CGP 4540)

Summary A procedure to enhance the schistosomicidal effectiveness in vivo of an isothiocyanate derivative and some of its antischistosomal properties are reported. Determinations of the effects of this compound on tissue thiol levels and on highly sensitive bacterial tester strains have indicated that its mutagenic potential is of a low order and that the latter is decreased further after reduction of the host's intestinal bacterial flora.Acknowledgments. Supported, in part, by grants No. AI-08022 and No. GM-16492 from the National Institutes of Health, and No. 274-0063 (JHU No. 1) from The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. We wish to express our sincere appreciation to Dr.H. Striebel and Dr.F. Kradolfer of Ciba-Geigy for providing us with the isothiocyanate derivative and with information about its biological activities, and to Dr.H. van der Schalie and to Dr.H. Blankespoor of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, for supplying us with mice infected with 3 strains ofS. japonicum (under contract No. N01-AI-42504, NIH).     

Kinetic studies on soluble and membrane-bound dopamineβ-hydroxylase isolated from storage vesicles of heart and adrenal medulla of different species

Summary IdenticalK _m-values for soluble and membrane-bound dopamine -hydroxylase isolated from adrenal medullary vesicles of different species were obtained; the same holds true for both forms of the enzyme of heart vesicles.The excellent technical assistance of MissSabine Klemt is gratefully acknowledged.     

Antineoplastic agents 32. The pseudoguaianolide helenalin

Zusammenfassung Aus der PflanzeHelenium autummnale (Familie compositae) wurde ein alkolischer Extrakt gewonnen, der cytotoxische und antileukämische Aktivität zeigte und die Helenalin (I) als wirksame Komponente enthielt. Die Behandlung von Mäusen, die Träger von P 388 lymphocytischer Leukämie waren, ergab eine beachtliche (T/C 220) Verlängerung ihrer Lebenserwartung. Die Substanz zeigte ausserdem einen wachstumshemmenden Einfluss auf das Walker 256 Karzinom. Helenalin ist das erste Sesquiterpen vom Pseudoguaianolid Typ, welches in vivo eine solche antineoplastische Aktivität zeigt.

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For part 31, refer toG. R. Pettit, P. Traxler andC. P. Pase, Lloydia36, in press (1973).

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This investigation was supported by Public Health Service Research Grants No. CA-10612-01 to No. CA-10612-04 from the National Cancer Institute and was performed pursuant to contract No. NCI-C-71-2308 with the Division of Cancer Treatment, National Cancer Institute, Department of Health, Education and Welfare. A grant from the C.S.I.R. (South Africa) to G.M.C. is also gratefully acknowledged. In addition, we are indebted to Dr.L. Johnston for identifying theHelenium autumnale, toBetty J. Abbot and her colleagues at the National Cancer Institute, for the biological studies, and toJ. F. Day for assisting with both the laboratory scale and preparative scale plant extraction procedures.     

Occurrence of trichochromes in the urine of a melanoma patient

Summary The presence of two phaeomelanic pigments, trichochrome B and C, was demonstrated in the urine of a patient with malignant melanoma metastases.Supported by grants from the Swedish Cancer Society (No. 626-B75-04XA), 869-B75-01P, the Swedish Medical Research Council (No. B76-04X-00056-12), and the Walter, Ellen and Lennart Hesselman Foundation for Scientific Research. ProfessorProta was a visiting scientist of the Swedish Cancer Society (No. 626-B75-04U).