Structure and pharmacological actions of physalaemin,the main active polypeptide of the skin ofPhysalaemus fuscumaculatus

Riassunto Viene descritto il procedimento che ha permesso l'isolamento e il chiarimento della struttura chimica dellafisalemina, il principale dei polipeptidi attivi della pelle diPhysalaemus fuscumaculatus, anfibio dell'Argentina. La fisalemina, strettamente vicina all'eledoisina anche da un punto di vista chimico è, come questa, dotata di potente azione sulla muscolatura liscia vasale ed extravasale. Essa è nettamente distinguibile, mediante saggi paralleli, da tutti gli altri polipeptidi biogeni finora noti.

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Supported in part by a grant from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche, Roma.     

Occurrence of a physalaemin-like polypeptide (Uperolein) and other active polypeptides in the skin ofUperoleia rugosa

Riassunto Gli estratti metanolici della pelle diUperoleia rugosa, piccolo anfibio australiano, contengono, oltre ad eventuali costituenti attivi minori, due polipeptidi altamente attivi. Il primo è caratterizzato da una intensa azione stimolante sul colon e sull'utero di ratto; il secondo, per il quale viene proposto il nome diuperoleina, è dotato di potente azione ipotensiva nel cane e nel coniglio, di potente azione stimolante sul colon di coniglio e di potente azione scialagoga nel ratto. L'uperoleina è strettamente vicina da un punto di vista biologico, e presumibilmente anche chimico, alla eledoisina e alla fisalemina.     

Occurrence of new imidazolealkylamines (Spinaceamine and 6-Methylspinaceamine) in skin extracts ofLeptodactylus pentadactylus labyrinthicus

Riassunto Estratti di pelle diLeptodactylus pentadactylus labyrinthicus contengono elevati quantitativi di imidazolalchilamine, fra cui due derivati imidazo-c-piridinici finora ignoti in natura: la spinaceamina e la 6-metilspinaceamina.

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Supported by grants from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma, and the Rockefeller Foundation, New York.     

Occurrence of Hyp3-bradykinin in methanol extracts of the skin of the South African leptodactylid frogHeleophryne purcelli

Summary Methanol extracts of the skin of the South African amphibians belonging to the genusHeleophryne (H. purcelli purcelli, H. purcelli depressa, H. purcelli orientalis, H. natalensis) contain large amounts (20–500 g/g fresh tissue) of Hyp³-bradykinin.Supported by grants from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy, and from the Ministry of Education, Japan.     

Occurrence of bradykinin-like substances in the amphibian skin

Riassunto Gli estrati di pelle di alcuni comuni anfibi nostrani (Rana esculenta, Rana temporaria) e, ancor più, di certi anfibi sudamericani del generePhyllomedusa contengono rilevanti quantitativi di polipeptidi bradichinino-simili. Negli estratti diPhyllomedusa sauvagi ne sono stati identificati almeno tre, a mezzo di una semplice cromatografia su colonna di allumina basica: polipeptide A, assai simile alla bradichinina per le sue proprietà farmacologiche; polipeptide B, dotato di prolungata ed intensa azione ipotensiva; polipeptide C, particolarmente attivo sull'ileo di cavia. Sono in corso ricerche dirette all'isolamento di questi polipeptidi e al chiarimento della loro struttura chimica.

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Supported by grants from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma, and the Rockefeller Foundation, New York.     

Occurrence of carnosine in skin of certain leptodactylid frogs

Zusammenfassung Carnosin, ein Dipeptid, das normalerweise nur in Vertebratenmuskeln vorkommt, wurde als einer der Hauptinhaltsstoffe in der Haut bestimmter Frösche identifiziert. In 9 Froscharten des GenusEleutherodactylus wurden 0.2 bis 1.2 mg Carnosin pro Gramm frischer Haut gefunden.     

Effects of physalaemin,a vase-active peptide from amphibian skin,on the excitability of an identifiable molluscan giant neurone ofAchatina fulica Férussac

Summary We examined effects of several vasoactive peptides (substance P, physalaemin, neurotensin, bradykinin, angiotensin etc.) on the excitability of molluscan giant neurones identified in the subesophageal ganglia ofAchatina fulica Férussac. Of these peptides, only physalaemin showed a remarkable excitatory effect on a giant tonically autoactive neurone.     

The ear-shell (Sulculus diversicolor aquatilis) myoglobin is composed of an unusual 39 kDA polypeptide chain

An unusual myoglobin was isolated from the buccal mass of the ear-shell Sulculus diversicolor aquatilis. The myoglobin consists of a 39 kDa polypeptide chain which is about double the size of the usual myoglobin subunit, contains one heme per molecule, and has an unusual spectral property ion the oxy-form. On the basis of these properties and partial amino acid sequencing, we propose that Sulculus myoglobin has a didomain structure, and that one of the two domains does not function as an oxygen-binding domain. So far, a myoglobin of this type has not been described in molluscs.     

The ear-shell (Sulculus diversicolor aquatilis) myoglobin is composed of an unusual 39 kDA polypeptide chain

Summary An unusual myoglobin was isolated from the buccal mass of the ear-shellSulculus diversicolor aquatilis. The myoglobin consists of a 39 kDa polypeptide chain which is about double the size of the usual myoglobin subunit, contains one heme per molecule, and has an unusual spectral property in the oxy-form. On the basis of these properties and partial amino acid sequencing, we propose thatSulculus myoglobin has a didomain structure, and that one of the two domains does not function as an oxygen-binding domain. So far, a myoglobin of this type has not been described in mollusos.     

Occurrence of an endocrine centre in the gonad of a land slugLaevicaulis alte (Gastropoda: Pulmonata)

Summary An endocrine centre consisting of club-shaped cells has been found in the gonad of a slug for the first time. It is situated in the right half of the gonad near the periphery.Acknowledgment. Thanks are due to Prof. Dr G. Sundara Rajulu for guidance and helpful suggestions. I am grateful to the Director of Collegiate Education, Tamil Nadu, for permission to undertake this investigation.     

Occurrence of dihydromurexine (Imidazolepropionylcholine) in the hypobranchial gland ofThais (purpura)haemastoma

Riassunto Gli estratti metanolici di organo ipobranchiale diThais (purpura)haemastoma contengono cospicui quantitativi di un nuovo estere della colina, la diidromurexina o imidazolpropionilcolina. La base è localizzata esclusivamente nella striscia mediana giallastra dell'organo ipobranchiale, ove può raggiungere concentrazioni dell'ordine di 15–17 mg per g di tessuto fresco.

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Supported by grants from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma.     

Glu(OMe)2-litorin,the second bombesin-like peptide occurring in methanol extracts of the skin of the Australian frogLitoria aurea

Summary The second bombesin-like peptide occurring in methanol extracts of the skin of the Australian frog Litoria aurea was isolated in a pure form and identified as Glu (OMe)²-litorin.Supported in part by grants from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma.     

Plasma vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) levels and intestinal ischaemia

Summary Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is released into the portal circulation in large quantities by ischaemic bowel. In view of its known high concentration in the gut and potent vasoactive properties it may well be implicated in the pathogenesis of the serious haemodynamic changes produced by gut ischaemia.     

Plasma vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) levels and intestinal ischaemia

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is released into the portal circulation in large quantities by ischaemic bowel. In view of its known high concentration in the gut and potent vasoactive properties it may well be implicated in the pathogenesis of the serious haemodynamic changes produced by gut ischaemia.     

Occurrence of phyllomedusin,a physalaemin-like decapeptide,in the skin ofPhyllomedusa bicolor

Riassunto Viene descritto l'isolamento e il chiarimento della struttura della phyllomedusina, decapeptide attivo della pelle dell'anfibio sudamericanoPhyllomedusa bicolor. La phyllomedusina è apparsa strutturalmente assai vicina alla eledoisina e alla fisalemina.

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Supported n part by grants from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma.     

Localization of bovine pancreatic polypeptide (BPP)-like immunoreactivity in rat pancreatic monolayer culture

Summary Antiserum to bovine pancreatic polypeptide (BPP) has been used for immunofluorescent staining in the light microscope. With this technique it is possible to detect the presence of specific cells in monolayer culture from neonatal rat pancreas which contain BPP or a closely related peptide.This work was supported by a grant (No. 3.553.75) from the Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche Scientifique. We are very grateful to Dr.R. E. Chance, Eli Lilly, for his generous gift of BPP and anti-BPP serum. We are also very obliged to Dr.R. H. Unger for providing glucagon, to Dr.J. Rivier and Dr.R. Guillemin for somatostatin, to Dr.N. Yanaihara for secretin, to Dr.W. Gepts for gastrin and to Dr.A. J. Moody for GLI.     

Inhibition of skin calcification (Calciphylaxis) by polyphosphates

Zusammenfassung Grahamsalz, ein langkettiges Polyphosphat, ist bei subcutaner Verabreichung imstande, eine pathologische Verkalkung der Haut (Calciphylaxe) bei der Ratte zu hemmen. Der Wirkungsmechanismus dieser Hemmung wird kurz diskutiert.