Chromosomes of three Asian mammals:Meriones meridianus (Rodentia: Gerbillinae),Spermophilopsis leptodactylus (Rodentia: Sciuridae),Ochotona rufescens (Lagomorpha: Ochotonidae)

Zusammenfassung Chromosomenanalyse von 3 asiatischen Säugetieren:Meriones meridianus (2n=50),Ochotona rufescens (2n=60) undSpermiophilopsis lepto-dactylus (2n=38), Deren 2n's und Karyotypen wurden mit verwandten Formen ninsichtlich der Geschlechter und Gattungen verglichen und zur Klassifizierung diskutiert.     

Tryptophan (Trp), serotonin (5-HT), monoamino oxidase (MAO) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in brain and subesophagic ganglions of earthworms. Effects of Parathion

Summary Tryptophan, 5-HT, MAO and 5-HIAA were determined in the first 5 segments of earthworms (Oligochaetae) where the brain and subesophagic ganglions are located. Tranylcypromine (IMAO) decreased MAO activity increasing 5-HT and decreasing 5-HIAA. Motility and survival of worms were disturbed. InAllolobophora species (young worms), parathion fumigation decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and increased Trp, 5-HT and 5-HIAA. Motility was diminished after 24 h: it worsened after 72, but returned to normal levels 40/50 days later.Publication of the National Institute of Agrarian Technology (INTA), Argentina.Acknowledgments. We are most grateful to Prof. Zlatko Tomsic (from the Lillo Institute, Tucumán) and to Leticia Alvarado (from INTA) and to Prof. Mirta P. de Matosian for earthworm classification.     

An anaesthetic forCorophium volutator (pallas) andMarinogammarus obtusatus (dahl), crustacea,amphipoda

Résumé On a trouvé que l'anesthésique M.S. 222 Sandoz est effectif sur les amphipodesCorophium volutator etMarinogammarus obtusatus. Une concentration de 0.5 g/l peut anesthésier les animaux avec un délai de 30 min. Tous les animaux des deux espèces se remettent de l'anesthésie, même après 2 h dans cette concentration.     

Animal pharmacology of oxapadol (MD 720111), a new non-narcotic analgesic

Summary Oxapadol is a non-narcotic analgesic with an unusual chemical structure. It possesses analgesic activity in 4 species similar to that of other non-narcotic reference analgesics. It also shows antipyretic and antiinflammatory effects and in the analgesic dose range is devoid of undesirable neurological, gastro-intestinal and cardiovascular side-effects.Acknowledgments. We thank Mss M. Mazadier, R. Adam and M. Delhommeau for technical assistance, Dr R.D. Porsolt for help with the text and Ms M. Fiquémont for secretarial assistance.     

The schizogony of Polychromophilus (Haemoproteidae), cosmopolitan parasite of Microchiroptera]

The schizogony of Polychromophilus was partially known by the findings of Schingarew, Mer and Goldblum who demonstrated microschizonts in the reticulo-endothelial tissue. The present work completes these data by showing the presence of macroschizonts in the lungs of both African and European species. These schizonts are characterized by their large size, the hypertrophy of the host cell and its nucleus and the evolution of the parasite apparently slow when young, becoming rapid later.     

Chromosomes of the rock hyrax,Procavia capensis (Pallas), 1767

Zusammenfassung Es werden die Chromosomen eines weiblichen und zwei männlicher Felshyraxarten,Procavia capensis (Pallas), 1767 (Hyracoidea: Mammalia) beschrieben. Ihre diploide Chromosomenzahl ist 2n=54. Mit Ausnahme derX-Chromosomen sind keine eindeutigen Chromosomenkomplement-übereinstimmungen mit denjenigen von Elefanten sichtbar. Hingegen sind die allgemeinen Eigentümlichkeiten der Karyotypen und die Anzahl der Hauptarme der Chromosomen ähnlich und stimmen überdies mit taxonomischen Verbindungen, die zwischen den Hyracoidea und den Proboscidea angenommen werden, überein.     

Creatol (5-hydroxycreatinine), a new toxin candidate in uremic patients

Both 5-hydroxy-1-methylhydantoin (3) and the hitherto unrecognized 5-hydroxycreatinine (2-amino-5-hydroxy-1-methyl-imidazol-4(5H)-one or creatol) (6) can be isolated from the urine of uremic patients, in whom these compounds probably arise as oxidative metabolites of creatinine (1). The enhanced production of the well-known uremic toxin, methylguanidine (8), from creatinine (1) in such patients, almost certainly occurs via the newly recognized metabolite.     

Human neuropharmacological findings with oxapadol (MD 720111), a new non-narcotic analgesic

Summary The effects of oxapadol, a new non-narcotic analgesic, were tested in man using the electrically-induced nociceptive flexion reflex in the flexor muscles of the lower limb as an index of pain. The drug caused a significant increase in the threshold of the reflex whereas no change was noted with placebo.     

Preparation of ‘new’-vasoconstrictine (SVPx), a vasoconstrictor hormone of plasma

Résumé La «nouvelle»-vasoconstrictine (SVPx 1962), une hormone vasoconstrictrice du plasma, a été préparée par distribution à contre-courant en quantité suffisante pour l'étude de sa structure chimique et de ses propriétés biologiques.     

Human chorionic somato-mammotropin (HCS), proposed terminology for designation of a placental hormone

Zusammenfassung Es wird vorgeschlagen, dass das von verschiedenen Forschern als «human placental lactogen», «chorionic growth hormone prolactin», «purified placental protein (human)» usw. bezeichnete plazentare Hormon «chorionic somato-mammotropin (HCS)» benannt wird.     

Prostaglandin (15S)-PGA2 derivatives in the gorgonianPlexaura homomalla (Esper), formakükenthali Moser

Summary The lipid fraction, 17%, of air-driedPlexaura homomalla formakükenthali, collected in the Caribbean at Puerto Rico, yielded 50% of its weight as the mammalian prostaglandin (15S)-PGA₂ methyl ester. The freeze-dried gorgonian yielded (15S)-PGA₂ largely as the acetate of the methyl ester. (15S)-PGA₂ was also obtained from material collected at St. Croix and at South Caicos. Field observations indicate thatPlexaura kükenthali may be a species separate fromPlexaura homomalla and that it is abundant on some shallow water reefs in the Caribbean. Prostaglandins could not be detected in the lipid fraction of eggs isolated fromPlexaura homomalla (Esper) formahomomalla.Acknowledgments. We gratefully acknowledge support from the Office of Sea Grant, NOAA, Department of Commerce (Grant 047-158-44067), and the use of facilities at the Isla Mayagues Marine Laboratory of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, the West Indies Laboratory of Fairleigh Dickinson University at St. Croix, U.S.V.I., and the Marine-Biologisch Instituut at Curacao. Special thanks to Dr. F.M. Bayer, Curator, Department of Zoology, National Museum of Natural History-Smithsonian Institution for checking identity of gorgonians used in this study.     

Comparison of counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), latex agglutination (LA) and staphylococcal coagglutination (COAG) in pneumococcal antigen detection in vitro

Summary CIE was compared to agglutination assays employing commercial kits (Directigen, Phadebact), as well as our own LA and COAG reagents, in detection of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PCP) antigens in vitro. Directigen provided the most sensitive assay. CIE was of comparable sensitivity except for PCP antigen types 7 and 14.     

Comparison of counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), latex agglutination (LA) and staphylococcal coagglutination (COAG) in pneumococcal antigen detection in vitro

CIE was compared to agglutination assays employing commercial kits (Directigen, Phadebact), as well as our own LA and COAG reagents, in detection of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PCP) antigens in vitro. Directigen provided the most sensitive assay. CIE was of comparable sensitivity except for PCP antigen types 7 and 14.