RNA metabolism in brain of suckling normal and hypothyroid rats

Resumen Se estudió la incorporación de radioactividad en RNAs de fracciones subcelulares de cerebro de ratas normales y neonatalmente tiroprivas de 10 días de edad, luego de la administración subcutánea de ácido orótico tritiado. El hipotiroidismo afecta la síntesis de RNA nuclear «ràpidamente marcado» y probablemente su transporte al citoplasma.

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Supported by Grants from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (1003b) and the Institute Nacional de Bromatología y Farmacología, Argentina.     

Renal vascular reactivity to ATP in hyper- and hypothyroid rats

The effects of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on the renal vasculature of isolated kidneys from control, hyper- and hypothyroid rats were characterized. ATP responsiveness was evaluated in basal tone and in raised tone (phenylephrine 10^–6 M) preparations. These responses were compared with those obtained with barium chloride or sodium nitroprusside (SNP), used respectively as nonreceptor agonists for vasoconstriction or vasodilation. In preparations at basal tone, ATP produced dose-related vasoconstriction, which was increased in hyperthyroid kidneys, and was severely attenuated in kidneys from hypothyroid rats. In raised tone preparations from control rats ATP produced a dual response: vasoconstriction at low doses, which declined with increasing doses to give way to vasodilator responses; biphasic responses were found in some kidneys. Hyperthroid kidneys showed increased pressor responses and a vasodilator response similar to those seen in kidneys from control rats. However, in hypothyroid kidneys the vasodilator response was abolished. The responses to barium chloride and to SNP were significantly increased and decreased in hyper- and hypothyroid kidneys, respectively; vasoconstrictor responses to SNP were also found in hypothyroid kidneys. Hence the abnormal responses to ATP observed in both thyroid dysfunctions may be partially explained by unspecific alterations in the contractile machinery of the renal vasculature in these kidneys. However, ATP responsiveness (vasoconstriction at low tone and vasodilation at raised tone) was more severely affected in hypothyroid kidneys, suggesting that purinergic (P_2X and P_2Y) receptor activity may be decreased in these organs.     

Quantitative changes in beta-adrenergic responses of isolated atria from hyper- and hypothyroid rats

Concentration-response curves for the chronotropic and inotropic effects of isoprenaline, in the absence and presence of propranolol, were obtained on heart atria isolated from normo- or dysthyroid rats. Hyperthyroidism increased the chronotropic potency and efficacy of the beta-adrenergic agonist. The results are compatible with the view that thyroid hormone increases the density of functional beta-adrenoceptors in cardiac pacemaker tissue.     

Chemotaxis of leucocytes

Summary It is the purpose of this review to provide a survey of some more recent work on chemotaxis of leucocytes. Attention was drawn to the existence of a variety of cytotaxins (chemotactic mediators) and in particular to their cell specificity. The significance of these different cytotaxins for the accumulation of leucocytes in inflammatory sites in vivo is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Die Aktivität chemischer Substanzen, die Wanderungsrichtung von Zellen zu bestimmen, wird als Chemotaxis bezeichnet. Chemotaxis ist von erheblichem biologischem Interesse; sie dient der Reproduktion, der Ernährung, der zellulären Organisation oder der Vermeidung schädlicher Stoffe bei Pflanzen und Tieren.Das Referat vermittelt einen kritischen Überblick über neuere Arbeiten über Chemotaxis von Leukozyten, und es wird die Bedeutung dieses Vorganges für die entzündliche Ansammlung von Leukozyten diskutiert.

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This work was supported by the Swiss National Foundation for Scientific Research, Grant No. 4518 and by the World Health Organization.     

Stress by restraining potentiates morphine catalepsy in rats

Summary Restraint-induced stress potentiated morphine catalepsy in rats. This potentiation was partially antagonized by pharmacologic treatments decreasing central serotonin, acetylcholine, prostaglandins and by naloxone. Selective increase in central dopamine also inhibited the potentiation.Acknowledgments. SKB is an ECFMG Senior Faculty Fellow from the Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. Partial research support by the Dakota State Aerie Fraternal Order of Eagles is gratefully acknowledged.     

Drumsticks in the leucocytes of primates

Riassunto La frequenza del «drumstick» nei nuclei dei leucociti polimorfonucleati di diverse specie di Primati è stato riscontrato pressochè simile a quella dell'Uomo.

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The technical cooperation of MissP. Monaci and Mr.V. Puel has been very valuable. — The present research was partially carried out under a grant from the Italian National Council of Research (n.7854/F).     

Stress by restraining potentiates morphine catalepsy in rats

Restraint-induced stress potentiated morphine catalepsy in rats. This potentiation was partially antagonized by pharmacologic treatments decreasing central serotonin, acetylcholine, prostaglandins and by naloxone. Selective increase in central dopamine also inhibited the potentiation.     

Pressor response to oxotremorine in atropinized rats

Zusammenfassung Eine zentrale, nikotinartige Wirkung von Oxotremorin wird am Blutdruck der Ratte beschreiben.     

Ribonuclease activity in leucocytes of hyperimmunized rabbits

Résumé Les leucocytes du sang périphérique de lapins hyper-immunisés contreCoxiella burneti ont été comparé avec des leucocytes de lapins normaux. Par la méthode cytochimique on a pu constater chez les animaux hyper-immunisés un accroissement du taux des leucocytes polynucléaires, l'enzyme ayant une activité accrue ce qui s'accorde avec un titre élevé d'anticorps dans le plasma. L'auteur cherche à déterminer la signification de cette augmentation de l'enzyme chez les animaux hyper-immunisés et de son rapport avec la réaction immunogène.     

Na fluxes in human mononuclear leucocytes

Unidirectional 22Na fluxes were investigated in human peripheral mononuclear leucocytes. Ouabain inhibited about 60% of Na efflux and the addition of bumetanide further reduced Na efflux rate by about 45%, suggesting the presence of a transport pathway capable of extruding Na against its gradient. Prostaglandins E1 and E2 and exogenous cAMP were found to be potent inhibitors of the bumetanide-sensitive Na efflux without affecting the ouabain-sensitive or the ouabain and bumetanide resistant Na effluxes.