Effect of deglycyrrhizinized liquorice on gastric acid secretion,histidine decarboxylase activity and serum gastrin level in the rat

Zusammenfassung Nachweis, dass die Behandlung mit einem deglycyrrhizinierten Lakrizpräparat die basale Säurereaktion bei Ratten hemmt. Erhöhtes antrales pH führt zu vermehrter Freisetzung von antralem Gastrin mit bedeutender Aktivierung der Histidindecarboxylase in der Magenschleimhaut.

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Acknowledgments: This study was supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council No. B73-04x-1007-08 and by the Albert Påhlsson Foundation.     

The COMT inhibitor tolcapone potentiates the anticataleptic effect of Madopar in MPP+-lesioned mice

Orally administered Madopar (levodopa/benserazide 41) dose-dependently antagonized haloperidol-induced (1 mg/kg s.c.) catalepsy in MPP⁺-lesioned mice. Pretreatment with a new selective catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor, tolcapone (30 mg/kg p.o.), slightly potentiated the antagonistic effect of Madopar (15 mg/kg p.o.) on haloperidol-induced catalepsy. The ability of tolcapone to increase the Madopar effect was significantly attenuated by high doses of 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD) (800 mg/kg i.p.). This might suggest a competitive blockade of the active transport of levodopa through the blood-brain barrier. In conclusion, the inhibitory effect of tolcapone on the O-methylation of levodopa to 3-OMD by COMT is largely due to improved levodopa and dopamine availability in the brain, and to the reduced formation of 3-OMD.     

Glutamate decarboxylase activity in brain regions of differentially-housed mice; a difference in the olfactory bulb

Summary Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activities were determined in homogenates of 8 brain regions of mice that had been differentially housed (isolated vs grouped) for 4–9 weeks. GAD activity was lower in whole forebrains and in olfactory bulbs of isolated mice, changes which might be associated with their increased aggressiveness.     

The effect of cold and diazepam on the toxicity of fenfluramine in mice

Zusammenfassung Kaltbehandlung und i.v. Injektion von Diazepam reduzierten die Toxizität des Fenfluramins bei der Maus beträchtlich.     

The effect of methaqualone on prenatal development in the rat

Methaqualone treatment of pregnant rats in doses of 100-200 mg/kg day produces resorption and a series of anomalies whose incidence increases with the dose-level employed.     

The effect of methaqualone on prenatal development in the rat

Summary Methaqualone treatment of pregnant rats in doses of 100–200 mg/kg day produces resorption and a series of anomalies whose incidence increases with the dose-level employed.Acknowledgment. Supported by the National Research Council of Canada, grant No. A0292. Methaqualone was generously supplied by W. H. Rorer, Canada, Ltd.     

Kinetic arguments for the existence of a single form of intestinal ornithine decarboxylase during the postnatal development of normal and sparse-fur mutant mice and after EGF treatment

Summary The K_m for ornithine is remarkably constant during the course of postnatal development in both normal and spf mutant mice even if a large but transient increase in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity is noted. Four hours after EGF injection (4 g/g b.wt) to 17-day-old normal and spf mice, a marked stimulation of ODC activity is observed but K_m remains unaffected. These data argue against the existence of multiple forms of ODC in the intestinal mucosa of mice.Supported by grant MA-8923 from the Medical Research Council of Canada. The author is Chercheur-boursier du Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec.     

Kinetic arguments for the existence of a single form of intestinal ornithine decarboxylase during the postnatal development of normal and sparse-fur mutant mice and after EGF treatment

The Km for ornithine is remarkably constant during the course of postnatal development in both normal and spf mutant mice even if a large but transient increase in ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity is noted. Four hours after EGF injection (4 micrograms/g b.wt) to 17-day-old normal and spf mice, a marked stimulation of ODC activity is observed but Km remains unaffected. These data argue against the existence of multiple forms of ODC in the intestinal mucosa of mice.     

The effect of L-dopa on pupillary diameter in mice

Summary Injection of L-dopa in mice produces dose-dependent mydriasis. Pre-treatment with peripheral dopa-decarboxylase inhibitors (carbidopa and benserazide) or with an alpha-adrenergic blocking agent (phentolamine) abolishes the pupillary dilation caused by L-dopa. Pretreatment with fusaric acid, an inhibitor of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, also antagonizes the mydriatic effect of L-dopa. Thus, our results suggest that the mydriasis produced in mice following the injection of L-dopa is caused by its peripheral conversion to noradrenaline, which stimulates alpha-adrenergic receptors in the dilator iridis. There was no evidence that stimulation of specific dopaminergic receptors was involved.We are grateful to N. Rothschild, Head of Laboratory Animal Department, Sackler School of Medicine, for his help.     

The effect of sexual isolation on feeding pattern in mice

Resumen Se investigaron los efectos del stress y la obesidad en diversos mecanismos fisiológicos hipotalámicos. La obesidad fué evidente inyectando aurothioglucose. Estadisticamente se registraron mayores aumentos en ratones aislados que en aquellos mantenidos familiarmente.     

The effect of kidney-bean leucoagglutinin on homograft rejection in mice

Zusammenfassung Nach der Wirkung auf die Überlebenszeit von Transplantaten bei Mäusen zu schliessen, besitzt Leucoagglutinin ausPhaseolus vulgaris extrahiert, eine nur schwache immunosuppressive Aktivität. Sie ist nicht deutlich mit der lymphozytenstimulierenden oder agglutinierenden Aktivität verknüpft. Eine starke akute Toxizität von Leukoagglutinin wurde festgestellt.

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Supported by grants from the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, the Finnish Medical Research Council, the Åhlén Foundation and the Swedish Cancer Society.     

The effect of BCG-vaccination on vaccinia virus infections in mice

Summary Pretreatment with BCG yielded a high degree of protection against experimental vaccinia virus infections in mice.Corynebacterium parvum andAristolochia acid were less protective; other immunostimulants were ineffective.     

The effect of splenectomy on the development of experimental pyelonephritis

Summary Although an unusually high incidence of a variety of infections in infants who had undergone splenectomy has been reported by a number of investigators the subject remains somewhat controversial. In the present experiments the role of the spleen in the protection of rats against experimentally induced hematogenous pyelonephritis was studied. The results of this study suggest that the spleen has an important preventive function against bacterial infection.