An alternative decomplementation method for the measurement of the survival of human erythrocytes transfused into rats

Summary An alternative technique for measuring the survival of⁵¹Cr-labelled human erythrocytes transfused into rats is described, in which aggregated human gamma-globulin is substituted for cobra venom factor as a decomplementing agent.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico.     

DNA and RNA content in diploid and tetraploid amphibians

Resumen En el anuro tetraploide naturalOdontophrynus americanus, el contenido de DNA es el doble que el determinado, bioquimicamente, en los especimens de la población diploide deO. americanus. Sin embargo el contenido de RNA de ejemplares de las dos poblaciones es aproximadamente igual. Aparentemente, mecanismos de regulación bloquean el esceso de material genético en el tetraploide.

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This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas, the Fundo de Pesquisas do Instituto Butantan and the Rockefeller Foundation.     

Vesicular inclusions in the nuclei of epithelial cells of Malpighian tubes of the hemipteran,Panstrongylus megistus

Summary Vesicular inclusions observed in Malpighian tubes of hemipterans have been associated with a virus-like infection rather than a lysosomal-type activity, which is the case of the identical cytoplasmic structures.This study was supported by a grant (75/907) of the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo. The authors are indebted to Dr E. O. Rocha-e-Silva for generously providing them with the insect specimens.     

Occurrence of a new type of mosaicism inApis mellifera

Summary A mixture of tissue with male and female olfactory plates (sensilla placodea) was observed in the antennal segments number 8, 9 and 10 of a gynandromorphic honeybee obtained by radiation from a Co⁶⁰ source.Work carried out with financial help of Fundação de Amparo A Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil.     

Ultrastructural and histochemical studies on the mucous granules in the tube feet of the starfishEchinaster brasiliensis

Resumen Es estudiada la ultraestructure y la histochimica de gránulos de secreción de células glandulares mucosas del pié ambulacrario de la estrella de marEchinaster brasiliensis. Estos gránulos secretores tienen una organización distincta comparada con aqueles encuentrados en la estrella del marAsternia stellifera anteriormente estudiada. Así son organizados en forma de circolos concentricos en torno du un eixo.

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Acknowledgments. The authors wish to express their thanks to Mrs.Arlene Mayhugh for her valuable technical assistance. This work was, in part, supported by grants from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil.

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Pesquisadora-Conferencista do CNPq (TC 308-Proc. 9051/70).     

Anticomplementary fraction from the poisonous secretion of the paratoid gland of the toad (Bufo marinus paracnemis Lutz)

Summary Fractionation of the poisonous secretion of the toadBufo marinus paracnemis Lutz, by dialysis and chromatography on QAE-Sephadex, led to the isolation of a fraction which was adsorbed to the ion exchanger. This fraction, when incubated with human serum, yielded an anticomplementary effect that was evaluated by measuring the kinetics of lytic activity on sensitized sheep red cells (classical pathway) and unsensitized rabbit cells (alternative pathway).We are very much indebted to Dr Lewis J. Greene for valuable discussions. Thanks are due to Dr Antonio C. Nero and Miss Ester G. Silva for their cooperation. This work was supported in part by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP).     

Aggressive behaviour induced by marihuana compounds and amphetamine in rats previously made dependent on morphine

Résumé Les rats soumis à la morphine ont été traités pendant la phase d'abstinence avec des injections i.p. d'amphéta mine et (–) ⁹-trans-tätrahydrocannabinol.

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With a fellowship from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP). We are very grateful to Prof.J. Ribeiro do Valle, Escola Paulista de Medicina, for the generous supply of THC.     

Distribution of repetitive DNA sequences in the polytene chromosomes ofRhynchosciara americana

Summary The distribution of fast, intermediate and slow renaturing fractions ofRhynchosciara americana DNA was examined in the polytene salivary gland chromosomes by in situ hybridization. Heterochromatic areas readily hybridized but hybrid formation in the euchromatin depended more on the repetitiveness of the RNA probe.Supported by funds from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Projecto BIOQ-FAPESP) and from The Research Foundation of The City University of New York.R.A. Eckhardt was a visiting professor under the Multinational Scientific and Technological Development Program of the Organization of American States.     

Potentiation of bradykinin and eledoisin by BPF (bradykinin potentiating factor) fromBothrops jararaca venom

Zusammenfassung Nachweis der pharmakologischen Wirkung des Bradykinins am isolierten Meerschweinchenileum und am deutlichen Blutdruckanstieg bei Hund und Katze nach Vorbehandlung mit BPF (Bradykinin-potenzierender Faktor aus Jararcagift). Unter diesen Bedingungen werden mit Bradykinin gleich intensive Effekte wie mit Eldoisin erhalten.

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This work was aided by research grants from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa and from the Public Health Service, National Institute of Health, Bethesda (Md. USA) (NB. 02953-03).     

Portugal: Recent Information from the Department of International Relations of the Instituto Nacional de Investigação Cientifica,Lisboa (INIC)

Science Policy News

Portugal: Recent Information from the Department of International Relations of the Instituto Nacional de Investigação Cientifica, Lisboa (INIC)     

Some metabolic disorders affecting the carotenoid-linked haemolymph proteins inRhynchosciara americana (Diptera,Sciaridae)

Summary Disorders in the carotenoid metabolism are proposed to explain the absence of the yellow and violet or only the violet carotenoid-linked proteins from the haemolymph of someR. americana larvae. The lack of only the yellow chromoprotein is considered to be due to a failure in the biosynthesis of its apoprotein.Supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) and Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (CNP_q). W.R.T. and A.G. de B. are indebted to Prof.F. J. S. Lara for advice, encouragement and for laboratory facilities. We thank Mr.A. Malavasi for collecting larvae in nature, Mrs.R. M. Zanelato for larvae culture and MissI. L. Jorge for typing.     

In vitro inactivation of the neurotoxic action of β-bungarotoxin by the marine natural product,manoalide

Summary The irreversible neurotoxic action of -bungarotoxin (-BuTx) can be prevented by preincubation of the toxin with manoalide, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Manoalide was also found to inactivate purified phospholipase A₂ and thus prevent hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine. PLA₂ is a component found in several neurotoxic venoms and is also a rate limiting enzyme important in phospholipid metabolism and prostaglandin synthesis in man.This work is a result of research sponsored in part by NOAA-Department of Commerce under Sea Grant No. NA80AA-D-00120 and the California State Resources Agency R/MP-21. The US Government is authorized to produce and distribute reprints for governmental purposes. A preliminary report of aspects of this work appeared in Fedn Proc.42 (1983) 374. We also acknowledge the technical assistance of Dan Rohrer. Dr George Taborski's advice and assistance during the course of this work is gratefully acknowledged.J. C. de Freitas is a post-doctoral fellow supported by Fundacao de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (81/0263-9) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico (201.171/82), Brazil.     

Constitutive heterochromatin and nucleolus organizer region in the knifefish,Apteronotus albifrons (Pisces,Apteronotidae)

Summary The C-banding and silver staining of the chromosomes of the knifefishApteronotus albifrons (2n=24), demonstrated the presence of constitutive heterochromatin in the centromeric region of every chromosome, except pair 4, where the entire long arm was darkly stained, the silver stain positive nucleolus organizer region (NOR) being embedded in it.The authors are grateful to Dr Sen Pathak (University of Texas System Cancer Center at Houston, Texas, USA) and Dr Yatiyo Yassuda (Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil) for their suggestions. This study was supported in part by grants of the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico (CNPq).     

Hydrolysis of histones by horse urinary kallikreins

Summary Horse urinary kallikrein was shown to hydrolyze histones from calf thymus and chicken nuclei erythrocytes. The hydrolysis is inhibited by benzamidine and hyposulfite but not by soy-bean trypsin inhibitor; horse plasma kallikrein also produces this hydrolysis.Work supported by grants from Projeto BIOQ/FAPESP (São Paulo), FINEP (Rio) and CNPq (Rio).Fellow from CNPq, from Instituto Biológico (São Paulo).     

Phylogenetic relationship of the Brasilian leptodactylid frog generaCraspedoglossa,Cycloramphus andZachaenus

Summary Based on immunological comparisons of the serum albumins ofCraspedoglossa andZachaenus with antisera to albumin of several species ofCycloramphus, it is concluded that morphological and biochemical evolutionary rates have not been comparable within the study group. Taken together, the morphological and biochemical information demonstrate that whileZachaenus is a genetic member of theCycloramphus lineage, it has attained generic status.This study was supported by NSF grant No. DEB78-23396, the Amazon Ecosystem Research Program, Smithsonian Institution, the Fluid Research Fund, Smithsonian Institution, and the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo.The authors gratefully acknowledge the following colleagues for their help in procuring frog samples: R.I. Crombie, M.C. Duchêne, F.I. McCullough, F.C. do Val and P.E. Vanzolini.     

Thyroxine administration and the uptake of amino acids by liver cell nucleolus,nucleus and cytoplasm,and by other cell types

Résumé L'administration de thyroxine cause une chute de l'incorporation de la phénylalanine-H³ et du tryptophane-H³ par divers organes, excepté le foie. Le cytoplasme et les noyaux des hépatocytes ont presenté une plus grande concentration de substance injectée.

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This investigation was supported by grants from Fundaçao de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Rockefeller Foundation, and Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas.

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The help of Profs.L. C. U. Junqueira andC. P. Leblond as well as the technical assistance of MissE. Freymüller are acknowledged.     

Contribution to the primary tissue culture technique. A new method for mechanical cell dispersion

Summary A new technique for preparing primary tissue cultures by mechanical cell dispersion was idealized. The time required to prepare a culture by this procedure was greatly reduced and the cultures obtained are morphologically and physiologically of better quality than that obtained by the classical methods of enzymatic cell dispersion.This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas, Fundo Especial de Despesas do Instituto Butantan and DivisãoNacional do Cancer. The authors wish to thank Mrs.Sibylle Heller for the translation.     

Effect of scorpion venom fromTityus serrulatus (Tityustoxin) on the acetylcholine release and fine structure of the nerve terminals

Zusammenfassung Nachweis, dass ein Giftstoff des südamerikanischen SkorpionsTityus serrulatus auch in vitro am isolierten Meerschweinchendarm zu stark erhöhtem Acetylcholinausstoss führt der bei Kalziumentzug und Blockade des Natriumeinstroms durch Tetrodotoxin blockiert werden kann. Elektronenoptisch sind im Mäusezwerchfellpräparat nur im präsynaptischen Gebiet pathologische Veränderungen zu sehen.

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This work was supported by a grant (Biol. No. 72/134) of the State of São Paulo Research Foundation.     

Biological studies onPseudohypocera kerteszi (Phoridae,Diptera)

Summary 15 couples ofPseudohypocera kerteszi were introduced into individual tubes containing culture medium, maintained at 22–28°C and 45–55% relative humidity. The courtship and the behaviour of males and females before and after the copula are described for the first time; the number of eggs laid by each female during the oviposition period and the sexual rate in offspring were registered in each tube. The relative viability from egg to imago was determined in 8 of the 15 tubes.This study was made possible by a grant of the State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).     

The phosphorylases system of the cardiac muscle of normal and reserpinized rats poisoned with 2,4-dinitrophenol

Résumé L'effet du DNP dans la glycogénolyse du cur du rat a été étudié en mesurant le taux de phosphorilasea, phosphorilase totale et phosphorilaseb-quinase. On a obtenu des résultats semblables à ceux qui ont été observés pendant l'anoxie. L'occurrence possible de deux mêchanismes d'accélération de la glycogénolyse («push» et «pull»), dans les animaux emploisonés par le DNP, est discutée.

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Acknowledgment. The authors wish to express their gratitude to Mr.A. F. Leite, J. Guimarães Filho, MissZimar Faria andMiss Samira Abdouch for the efficient technical assistance.