Enzymatic N-acetylation of tryptamine by brain homogenates of Locusta migratoria before and after intoxication by chlordimeform or lindane (author's transl)]

Brain homogenates of Locusta migratoria are found to possess enzyme capable of catalyzing the N-acetylation of tryptamine. A main product of the enzymatic reaction is isolated and identified as N-acetyltryptamine by chromatography analyse. Both insecticides, chlordimeform and lindane, inhibit enzyme activity. A direct correlation between the degree of intoxication and acetylation of tryptamine is described.     

Prediction of final data with use of preliminary and/or revised data

In the case of US national accounts the data are revised for the first few years and every decade, which implies that we do not really have the final data. In this paper we aim to predict the final data, using the preliminary data and/or the revised data. The following predictors are introduced and derived from a context of the non-linear filtering or smoothing problem, which are: (1) prediction of the final data of time t given the preliminary data up to time t- 1, (2) prediction of the final data of time t given the preliminary data up to time t, (3) prediction of the final data of time t given the preliminary data up to time T, (4) prediction of the final data of time t given the revised data up to time t -1 and the preliminary data up to time t- 1, and (5) prediction of the final data of time t given the revised data up to time t-1 and the preliminary data up to time t. It is shown that (5) is the best predictor but not too different from (3). The prediction problem is illustrated using US per capita consumption data.     

Time course study of the changes in blood glutathione induced by acute ethanol intoxication in the rat

Acute ethanol treatment of rats (5 g/kg) has a biphasic effect on the glutathione content of the erythrocyte. After 3 h of intoxication there is a diminution in total GSH equivalents, followed by a recovery to basal values 6 h after treatment. The decrease of total GSH equivalents is mainly due to a diminution of the oxidized form of the tripeptide. Concomitantly a marked increase in the plasma level of glutathione was found at 3 h, followed by a diminution to values obtained at time zero.     

用改进的平行热线法测量绝热材料导热系数的研究

基于平行热线法的测量原理,在加热电路中串联一个限流电阻,使加热过程中由于热线温升引起电阻增大造成的功率变化减小至0.6%,提高测量精度;采用铂电阻温度传感器代替传统的热电偶实现温度测量,用于低温下的温度测量,扩大导热系数测量范围。采用这种测量方法,搭建绝热材料导热系数的测量平台,测量硬质聚氨酯泡沫塑料的导热系数,与国家玻璃纤维产品质量监督检验中心的鉴定结果对比,其相对误差在5%以内,验证了改进的平行热线法的正确性。     

Prevention or acceleration of type 1 diabetes by viruses

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells. Even though extensive scientific research has yielded important insights into the immune mechanisms involved in pancreatic β-cell destruction, little is known about the events that trigger the autoimmune process. Recent epidemiological and experimental data suggest that environmental factors are involved in this process. In this review, we discuss the role of viruses as an environmental factor on the development of type 1 diabetes, and the immune mechanisms by which they can trigger or protect against this pathology.     

A scanning electron microscope method for the examination of glass microelectrode tips either before or after use

Zusammenfassung Mikroglaselektroden wurden im rasterelektronenmikroskopischen Dunkelfeld transmissionsoptisch ohne Metallbeschichtung untersucht, wobei die Elektroden nicht beschädigt werden und für physiologische Ableitungen wieder benützt werden können.

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I wish to thankR. D. Purves for his advice and for the use of the resistance measuring equipment. This work was supported by the Australian Research Grants Committee and the National Heart Foundation of Australia     

Specific immunostaining of CCK cells by use of synthetic fragment antisera

Summary Antibodies to the central fragments 9–20 dodecapeptide sequence of CCK were used for specific immunostaining of the CCK cells of the mammalian gut. The use of high specific antibodies to synthetic fragment, essential when there is a possibility of immunochemical cross reactions between antisera and hormones of similar molecular structure provides the key to increased understanding of the nature and relationships of peptide hormones.Grants from the Medical Research Council and the Volkswagenwerk-Stiftung made the work possible.     

Androstenedione or corticosterone treatment during pregnancy alters estrous cycle of adult female offspring in mice

Summary Female offspring from mice injected with androstenedione during late pregnancy showed lengthened vaginal cycles, persistent estrus and decreased incidence of pro-estrus and dïestrus, whilst offspring from mice injected with corticosterone showed increased incidence of dïestrus. These observations give qualified support to the hypothesis that stress during pregnancy alters the female offspring reproductive system through the action of adrenal steroids.     

Androstenedione or corticosterone treatment during pregnancy alters estrous cycle of adult female offspring in mice

Female offspring from mice injected with androstenedione during late pregnancy showed lengthened vaginal cycles, persistent estrus and decreased incidence of pro-estrus and diestrus, whilst offspring from mice injected with corticosterone showed increased incidence of diestrus. These observations give qualified support to the hypothesis that stress during pregnancy alters the female offspring reproductive system through the action of adrenal steroids.     

Monoamine oxidase activity of the brain of Locusta migratoria in normal conditions and after intoxication by two insecticides: chlordimeform and dieldrin]

Our investigations have shown up an MAO activity in locust brain, by the use of a radio-isotopic method, as much at larval as at adult stage. This MAO activity is in a sample of 34,3 dpm/mg of brain tissue (wet weight). Investigations have also been undertaken on effects of dieldrin and chlordimeform poisoning on this MAO activity. Even at sublethal dosages, chlordimeform causes a significant inhibition of MAO activity in vivo. This finding is in accordance with Beeman and Matsumura's work in vitro. Moreover, acute poisoning by dieldrin produces more than 60% of inhibition of MAO, 3 hours after administration of 115 microng of this insecticide by injection in the hoemocelian cavity.     

Penetration of intact mitochondria by dehydroepiandrosterone and its conjugates or derivatives

Zusammenfassung Nach Bebrütung intakter Mitochondrien aus Meerschweinchenleber in 10^–4 M Lösung von 7-³H-DHEA bzw. seinen Konjugaten oder Derivaten zeigte es sich, dass lediglich lipophile Verbindungen wie das freie Steroid, besonders aber DHEA-sulfatid, durch die Membran eingedrungen und metabolisiert worden waren.     

N-alkylation by means of esters. A new use of lithium aluminium hydride

Riassunto Viene descritto l'uso dell'idruro di litio e alluminio quale agente alchilante-riduttore nella reazione di lattami od ammine secondarie, con atomo di azoto appartenente ad un anello, con esteri di acidi carbossilici, per ottenere ammine terziarie.     

Simplification of the ecdysteroid radioimmunoassay by the use of protein A fromStaphylococcus aureus

Summary Three methods of separating antibody-bound ligand from free ligand were compared for an ecdysteroid radioimmunoassay. Ecdysteroid antibody concentration and ligand specific radioactivity were adjusted to measure 2 ranges of ecdysone concentrations (0.01–2.0 ng and 0.25–32.0 ng). In comparison with the tradiotional separating agent, ammonium sulfate, neither protein A nor polyethylene glycol altered sensitivity or specificity of the radioimmunoassays. The protein A immunoglobulin precipitation method is quick and simple, making it a preferred alternative protocol for terminating ecdysteroid radioimmunoassays.Supported by grants AM-30118 from the National Institutes of Health and PCM-8116931 from the National Science Foundation.     

Facilitation or inhibition of memory by morphine: a question of experimental parameters

The effects of morphine on memory are highly controversial. According to some investigators post-trial injections of morphine facilitate memory. Others, however, have reported impairment of memory after morphine injections. To investigate the extent to which this may be due to different experimental parameters, foot-shock intensity and dosage of morphine were systematically varied in a passive-avoidance task. It was found that post-trial administration of medium and relatively high doses of morphine facilitate retention performance following moderate levels of foot-shock. Under other conditions of dose and shock intensity, the drug was not effective or even impaired retention.