Extrapyramidal pathways with monosynaptic effects upon primate α-motoneurons

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Cellular antigens in myxo- and paramyxoviruses as revealed by immunodiffusion methods

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The alteration of the functional properties of human haemoglobin by spectrin

Summary Kinetic investigation by means of stopped flow techniques showed the rate of deoxygenation of haemoglobin to be slower in the presence of spectrin. At pH 7.15, the kinetic constant was 27.2 sec^–1 in presence of spectrin instead of 34.3 sec^–1 for haemoglobin alone. Also, equilibrium studies have revealed that the oxygen pressure for half-saturated haemoglobin decreased when spectrin was added to the reaction medium. At pH 7.35, the log(pO₂)_1/2 was 0.88 for haemoglobin in presence of spectrin instead of 0.93 for haemoglobin alone. From these results, an interaction between spectrin and haemoglobin may be suspected.Grantee of the Institut pour l'Encouragement de la Recherche Scientifique dans l'Industrie et l'Agriculture (Belgium).Acknowledgments. We are grateful to Drs A. Fraboni, Y. Looze, A. G. Schnek and C. Vandecasserie whose advice and/or experimental assistance were particulary helpful in the development of this work. We wish to acknowledge the financial support of the Convention d'Association CEN-IRE-ULB.     

Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in rats paw edema by prostaglandins

Summary Experimental results indicate that rat's paw oedema development by PGs is inhibited by 35 AMP and increased by 35 GMP. This research confirms the opposite effect to that of cyclic nucleotides. The respective behaviour of 35 AMP and 35GMP in their primary oedema-induced activity is discussed.We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistence of Mr.Sauro Pellegrini.     

Inhibition of sodium transport in frog skin by cardiac glycosides of different molecular structure

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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.     

Amylin given by central or peripheral routes decreases gastric emptying and intestinal transit in the rat

The effect of rat amylin on gastric emptying and intestinal transit in the rat was examined. Amylin administered intracerebroventricularly (1, 2, 2.5 or 4 g/rat) produced the maximal decrease in gastric emptying and intestinal transit at the dose of 2.5 g/rat. Higher doses produced a lower effect. Peripheral administration (25, 50 or 100 g/kg) produced dose-dependent effects. Pre-treatment with neostigmine blocked the effect of amylin when it was centrally injected, while the effect of amylin given peripherally was partially reduced. Pre-treatment with domperidone decreased the inhibitory effect of peripherally injected amylin, but no effect was observed when the peptide was centrally injected.     

A new chalcone glucoside and cernuoside from the flowers ofAcacia dealbata

Summary A new chalcone glucoside has been isolated from the flowers ofAcacia dealbata and shown to be 4,2,4,6-tetrahydroxy-3-methoxychalcone 2-O--D-glucoside (1) by chemical degradations and spectroscopic methods. Cernuoside (4,6,3,4-tetrahydroxyaurone 4-O--D-glucoside), (2) has also been found in this plant material.Acknowledgments. The author thanks Prof. H. Wagner, Institut für pharmazeutische Arzneimittellehre der Universität München, for a sample of homoeriodictyol, and Prof. J.B. Harborne, University of Reading, for a sample of aureusidin.     

Uptake of D-glucose anomers by rat retina

Summary Uptake ofd-glucose anomers by isolated rat retina was studied. After 3 min incubation at 37°C in the presence of or anomer (750 g/ml), a significantly greater uptake (1.32 mg/g wet tissue) of -anomer was observed compared with that of -d-glucose (1.11 mg/g wet tissue). This result and other data suggest that the carrier ford-glucose transport in the retina prefers the -anomer stereospecifically.Acknowledgment. The authors are grateful to Mr S. Suzuki for his technical assistance.     

Relevance of specific activity in experimental erythrocytocide by55Fe

Summary Iron loads between 0.20 g and 26 g, added to 5Ci⁵⁹Fe, were followed for up to 150 days in mice. Relative organ uptake increased as a function of iron load in liver and kidneys while it decreased in bone marrow and blood. Several weeks after injection, all load-related differences disappeared.Research carried out under the auspices of the US Department of Energy and by NIH GRANT HL-15685-02.     

Individual recognition and incest avoidance in eusocial common mole-rats rather than reproductive suppression by parents

Non-reproductive females in families of eusocial common mole-rats (Cryptomys sp., Rodentia) are not suppressed by their mother, (either behaviourally or pheromonally) as is generally assumed. They do not mate with their father and brothers simply because they are not sexually attractive for them (and vice versa). The incest avoidance is based on the capability to recognize (and keep in memory for up to three weeks) each family member individually. A sterile daughter may conceive and deliver young in her parental family if given the opportunity to mate with an unfamiliar mate in a separate cage. In this way, two females may breed side by side in one family.     

Effect of some monoamine oxidase inhibitors on deamination of biogenic monoamines by rat liver mitochondrial monoamine oxidase

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Gamma-aminobutyric acid uptake by rat kidney brush-border membrane vesicles

Summary Brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from rat kidney cortex possessed two uptake systems for -aminobutyric acid (GABA), a high affinity system (Km=10.9 M) and a low affinity system (Km=1203 M). Both uptake systems were inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid and ouabain, and by the action of neuraminidase, whereas the GABA analogs nipecotic acid, -alanine, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid and 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo-[4,5c]-pyridin-3-ol had no effect on the GABA uptake activity. The BBMW uptake systems were clearly different from the GABA transport systems present in brain tissue.     

Control of the cardiovascular system ofAplysia by identified neurons

The neural network that controls the cardiovascular system ofAplysia adapts cardiovascular function to a variety of different physiological and behavioral situations. It (1) coordinates the cardiovascular system with the renal and respiratory systems; (2) modifies both systemic and regional blood flow during food-elicited arousal and feeding; and (3) changes the tension of longitudinal vascular muscle to adapt the arterial tree to changes in body shape. Indirect evidence suggests that the cardiovascular control circuit may also play a role in maintaining homeostasis during egg laying. Several putative neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine, serotonin, R151 and R152 peptides, have been localized to identified neurons in this circuit.     

Separation and quantitative determination of imipramine and desipramine from rat biological samples by high pressure liquid chromatography

Summary Imipramine and its metabolite, desipramine, have been determined in several rat biological samples by high pressure liquid chromatography. The method allows one to detect 15 ng in column of both drugs with a lower sensitivity limit of 20 g l^–1.     

Correlation between car ownership and leukaemia: Is non-occupational exposure to benzene from petrol and motor vehicle exhaust a causative factor in leukaemia and lymphoma?

Although there is widespread agreement that many cancers have environmental causes we are often unable to see associations between specific cancers and exposure to environmental chemicals. One might also speulate that the more widespread, common-place and normal a chemical exposure is perceived to be then the less likely it will be that the exposure is recognised, let alone be considered to cause cancer. Widespread contamination of air by chemicals associated with internal combustion may be an example of one such invisible carcinogenic exposure. Yet evidence is available which suggests that many leukaemia and lymphoma cases, as well as other cancers, may be caused by this mundane and ubiquitous environmental contamination. The hypothesis is developed that leukaemia clustering as well as national leukaemia incidence may be related to non-occupational exposure to benzene formed by petrol combustion and resulting from petrol evaporation¹. The possible association between exposure to fuel vapours, internal combustion products and cancer merits much closer examination than it receives at present.     

Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibits collagen synthesis in human and rat granulation tissue fibroblasts

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) on collagen gene expression in rat and human granulation tissue fibroblast cultures. The cells were exposed to 0.1, 1, 10, or 100 ng/ml of TNF-, and the rate of collagen synthesis was measured as synthesis of protein-bound³H-hydroxyproline. Total cellular RNA was isolated from fibroblasts, and measurements of specific cellular RNAs from fibroblasts were performed by Northern blot hybridizations using³²P-labeled cDNA probes. In cultures of rat granulation tissue fibroblasts TNF- decreased³H-hydroxyproline production to about 75% of that in controls and it also decreased pro1(I) and pro1(III) collagen mRNA levels, maximally to 33% and 23% of the control levels, respectively. In cultures of human granulation tissue fibroblasts a similar inhibiting effect in the production of collagen was seen. TNF- decreased the production of³H-hydroxyproline to 56% of the control value with a dose of 100 ng/ml also having an inhibiting effect on pro1(I) collagen mRNA levels of up to 43% of the control level. However, no effect was seen on pro1(III) collagen mRNA levels.     

An epoxidation byCorynebacterium simplex

Zusammenfassung Während unserer Untersuchungen über die mikrobiologische Dehydrierung verschiedener 16-Methylsteroide durch Bakterienkulturen vonCorynebacterium simplex, wurde eine neue Art von Umwandlung beobachtet. Von 16-Methyl-9(11)-pregnen-17, 21-diol-3, 20-dion-21-acetat ausgehend, gelang es aus den Kulturfiltraten 16-Methyl-1, 4-pregnadien-9, 11-epoxy-17, 21-diol-3, 20-dion zu isolieren. In einigen Fällen wurde auch das4-Derivat dieser Verbindung als Nebenprodukt erhalten.     

Action of ACTH,cAMP and cytochalasin B on steroid production by Y-1 mouse adrenal tumor cells in culture

Summary Continued incubation of Y-1 mouse adrenal tumor cells with adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) or with dibutyryl-3,5-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP) resulted in an initial increase and a subsequent decrease in steroidogenesis. ACTH-or dbcAMP-stimulated steroidogenesis was inhibited by cytochalasin B (CB) to approximately the same extent during the entire period of incubation; CB inhibition of the ACTH response was reversible.Supported in part by NTSU Faculty Research grant No. 34711, and NIA No. AG01055-02A1.Acknowledgment is made for the assistance of L. Hershberger, J. Youngblood and V. Dang; K. Mrotek, K. Johansson and M. Donahue were editors.     

Effects of D-glucose anomers on afferent discharge in the hepatic vagus nerve

Summary Intraportal injections of -D-glucose, optically equilibrated D-glucose and -D-glucose reduced afferent discharges in the hepatic vagus nerve of anaesthesized rats. -D-Glucose was most potent in decreasing the discharge.