Effect of acute and chronic ethanol ingestion on the content of reduced glutathione of various tissues of the rat

Summary The effect of acute ethanol ingestion (5 g/kg) by fasted rats, or chronic treatment in fed animals, revealed a significant decrease in the content of reduced glutathione of the liver and kidney. No changes were observed in reduced glutathione levels of the pancreas, intestines, stomach or spleen in the acute model. In this condition, the time course study of the decrease in reduced glutathione levels showed a progressive effect in the liver and a rapid and constant effect in the kidney.These studies were supported by the Grant M 308-792 from the Servicio de Desarrollo Cientifico, Artistico y de Cooperacion Internacional, Universidad de Chile, and by the Research Associateship Program (L.A.V.) from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.     

Accelerated development of a Th-2 type factor in animals with and without an imbalance between help and suppression

Summary A helper factor can be detected in antigen-treated supernatants from spleen T and adherent cells of sensitized animals. This factor promotes an indirect hapten-specific plaque forming response of B cells, irrespective of the identity of the carrier, i.e. provides the Th-2 type of help. Factor production increases with age and occurs most rapidly in strains known to have an accelerated decrease of suppressor capacity. The reason for the inverse correlation between suppressor capacity and the Th-2 type of helper factor is discussed.Acknowledgments. Thanks are due to the Medical Research Council, the National Cancer Institute of Canada and the National Health Research and Development Program for financial support; T.M. is indebted to the Medical Research Council for personal support.     

Pituitary response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone in diabetic male rats

Summary The rise in serum luteinizing hormone concentration after treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone was less in diabetic castrated male rats than control castrates. In intact male rats, gonadotropin-releasing hormone treatment resulted in higher serum luteinizing hormone concentrations in diabetic than in control rats.Acknowledgments. This work was supported in part by a grant from the Medical Research Council of Canada. The authors are grateful to Dr G.D. Niswender, Dr L.E. Reichert, Jr. and the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Diseases, Rat Pituitary Hormone Program for providing radioimmunoassay materials. The streptozotocin was kindly provided by Dr W.E. Dulin, The Upjohn Company. D.B. Beaton and J. Brunka provided excellent technical assistance.     

Effect of the juvenoid methoprene on the hemolymph composition of the cabbage maggotDelia radicum (Diptera: Anthomyiidae)

Summary Treatment of post-feeding larvae of the cabbage maggotDelia radicum with methoprene did not affect the capacity of the insect to pupate, but suppressed eclosion to the adult stage. The concentration of hemolymph trehalose was significantly decreased by methoprene treatment, although hemolymph protein and amino nitrogen levels were unaffected.19 December 1986The authors are grateful to D. C. Read of the Research Centre, Agriculture Canada, Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada for supplying eggs ofD. radicum for the stock colony. TheD. radicum colony was maintained at the Agriculture Canada Research Station, St. John's West, Newfoundland, Canada. The sample of methoprene was donated by Zoecon Corp., Palo Alto, California, U.S.A. This research was supported by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Operating grant A6679).     

Ecdysteroids: possible candidates for the hormone which triggers salivary gland degeneration in the ixodid tickAmblyomma hebraeum

Summary Following engorgement, female ixodid ticks secrete a tick salivary gland degeneration factor (TSGDF) into the hemolymph. Here we show that the arthropod ecdysteroid hormones, ecdysome and 20-hydroxyecdysone, induce degeneration of tick salivary glands maintained in organ culture. The effective dose range in vitro is 30–300 ng/ml, a range reported to be physiological for this species following repletion. In addition, infusion of 20-hydroxyecdysome in vivo induces salivary gland degeneration. We therefore propose that TSGDF may be an ecdysteroid.Acknowledgments. Some of the data reported here were presented to the annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Zoologists, 15–18 May 1983; Program of abstracts, page 53. Financial support of the Canadian National Sportsmen's Fund and NSERC Canada to W.R.K. is gratefully acknowledged.     

Hyperthyroidism and gonadotropin secretion in male and female rats

Résumé Chez des rats adultes, mâles et femelles, traités à la triidothyronine (T₃), on a remarqué une perte de poids qui n'est pas dûe à une diminution de consommation de nourriture. Les niveaux sériques de l'hormone lutéinisante semblent être réduits par le traitement au T₃ chez les rats femelles, mais non pas chez les rats mâles. Le niveau sérique de l'hormone stimulante de la follicule et le niveau pituitaire de gonadotropines ne sont pas affectés de façon significative par le traitement au T₃.

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Acknowledgments. This work was supported by grant No. A-6248 from the National Research Council of Canada. The authors are grateful to Dr.G. D. Niswender, Dr. L. E. Reichert Jr. and the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases Rat Pituitary Hormone Program for providing the materials used in the radioimmunoassays.     

Host cell reactivation of ozone-treated T3 bacteriophage by different strains ofEscherichia coli

Summary Host cell reactivation capacity for ozone T3 phage was determined for differentE. coli strains deficient in one or more of the DNA repair mechanisms. The results indicate that DNA polymerase I appears to play a key role in the repair of damage produced on the DNA by ozone while thelexA gene product seems to play a minor one.This research was sponsored by the National Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada. One of us (PLH) acknowledges a scholarship from the NSERCof Canada.     

Anti-feedant activity of the polyacetylene,phenylheptatriyne (PHT), from the Asteraceae toEuxoa messoria (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Summary Phenylheptatriyne (PHT), a polyacetylene from various species of Asteraceae reduced feeding and weight gain of larvae of the polyphagous insectEuxoa messoria when incorporated into an artificial diet at concentrations of 10–300 ppm. These results suggest a role as insect antifeedants for the widely distributed polyacetylenes of the Asteraceae.Acknowledgment. This work was supported by NSERC and Agriculture Canada (E.M.R.) We thank Dr R. J. Byers (Agriculture Canada) for eggs ofEuxoa. To whom reprint requests should be addressed.     

Induction of deoxyribonucleic acid degradation inEscherichia coli by ozone

Summary Cell survival and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) degradation were measured for wild-typeEscherichia coli B251 cells after exposure to different concentrations of ozone. The results show that extensive breakdown of DNA occurs after ozonation and that the extent of ozone-induced DNA degradation generally correlates with the colony-forming ability of the cells.We thank Dr M.J. d'Aoust for supplying laboratory facilities. This work was jointly sponsored by the National Research Council of Canada, the Ministère de l'Education du Québec, and funds from the Université de Montréal. One of us (C.H.) acknowledges a postgraduate scholarship from the NRC of Canada.     

Effect of cortisol and norethandrolone on inflammation and tumor growth

Résumé Le norethandrolone administré chez le rat intact ou surrénalectomisé se montre très efficace à prévenir la perte de poids causée par le cortisol. Cet antagonisme, toutefois, n'est pas démontrable en ce qui concerne l'effet anti-inflammatoire, la diminution de la croissance tumorale et l'atrophie du thymus et de la surrénale dus au cortisol. En outre, le norethandrolone présente à lui seul des propriétés anti-inflammatoires et thymolytiques, plus spécialement chez l'animal intact.

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This work was supported by grant from the National Cancer Institute of Canada. The authors wish to thank Pfizer Canada, Montreal, and G. D. Searle & Co., Chicago, U.S.A. who graciously supplied cortisol acetate and norethandrolene.

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Medical Research Associate of the National Research Council of Canada.

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Work done under tenure of a summer fellowship from the Fondation Rhéaume of Montreal (Canada).     

Excessive proliferation of epithelium of the rabbit cornea

Zusammenfassung Die Schädigung der Basalmembran durch eine Stichverletzung hat eine Proliferation und Einwanderung von Corneaepithelien zur Folge. Eigenartigerweise sind bei diesem Prozess keine Mitosen nachweisbar, was darauf hinzuweisen scheint, dass Amitosen experimentell verfolgt werden können.

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This research was supported in part by grants from the National Research Council (Canada) and the National Cancer Institute of Canada.     

A mechanical study of the cat retractor bulbi muscle

Zusammenfassung Die mechanischen Eigenschaften des M. retractor bulbi in der Katze (Anstiegs- und Abfallzeiten der Einzelzuckung und der tetanischen Kontraktion und Fusionsfrequenz) liegen zwischen den Eigenschaften der schnellen und langsamen Zuckungsfasern des M. obliquus inferior.

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This investigation was supported by Public Health Service Program Project Research Grant No. NB 06038, General Research Support Grant No. 5 S01 FR-05566, and Research Career Program Award No. K3-NB-14,094 to Dr.Bach-y-Rita from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness.     

Effect of local anaesthetics on the accumulation of [3H]-Metaraminol by rabbit atria and vasa deferentia

Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Wirkung von Lokalanästhetika auf die Anhäufung von [³H]-Metaraminol im Vorhofmuskel und Vas deferens des Kaninchens untersucht. Die von Kokain hervorgerufene Hemmung der [³H]-Metaraminol-Akkumulation ist mindestens hundertmal stärker als diejenige nach Procain, Prilocain und Lidocain.

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Supported by a grant-in-aid from the Medical Research Council of Canada. The author is indebted to Astra Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Ltd. for supplies of lidocaine hydrochloride and prilocaine hydrochloride.     

Effects of cortisone and thyroxine on intestinal trehalase activity in infant mouse

Summary Cortisone acetate (25 g/g b.wt/day) administration to 8-day-old suckling mice induces a premature increase of trehalase activity along the entire small intestine. On the other hand, thyroxine (1 g/g b.wt/day) is unable to provoke a precocious increase of trehalase activity. Trehalase appears to be the only brush border membrane disaccharidase controlled solely by glucocorticoid hormones during the postnatal maturation of the intestine.Supported by grant MA-5969 from the Medical Research Council of Canada to D.M. C.M. is a recipient of a studentship from MRC of Canada.     

Identification ofTrypanosoma theileri as a contaminant in primary cultures of bovine retina

Summary T. theileri has been isolated from primary cultures of bovine retina and subcultered successfully for 2 passages in sub-confluent cultures. When cultures reached confluency no trypomastigotes or epimastigotes could be detected and attempts to recover trypanosomes from these cultures were unsuccessful. The presence of intracellular forms could not formally be excluded.We wish to thank Dr S. Dershko, Division of Meat Inspection, Health of Animals Branch, Department of Agriculture (Canada) and Intercontinental Packers, Ltd. for their assistance in obtaining the freshest possible specimens. The skillful technical assistance of Mrs J. Graham is also gratefully acknowledged. This investigation was supported by the M. R. C. of Canada.     

On the contamination of the Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma with a pleuropneumonia-like organism

Résumé La terramycine et la néomycine ne parviennent pas à décontaminer le lymphosarcome de Murphy-Sturm infecté par un «pleuropneumonia-like organism». Il a été constaté que ce microorganisme est transmissible à d'autres tumeurs transplantables. Le rat porteur d'une tumeur infectée devient résistant à l'induction d'arthrite par l'exsudat d'une tumeur homologue. L'exsudat d'un lymphosarcome de Murphy-Sturm provenant d'un autre laboratoire est également doué de propriétés arthritogènes.

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This work was supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute of Canada. The authors also gratefully acknowledge generous gifts of terramycin from Pfizer Canada, Montreal, and neomycin from The Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, U.S.A.

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Medical Research Associate of the National Research Council of Canada.     

The effect of the phytoalexins,lubimin, (−)-maackiain,pinosylvin, and the related compounds dehydroloroglossol and hordatine M on human lymphoblastoid cell lines

Summary We have tested the effect of the phytoalexins lubimin, (–)-maackiain and pinosylvin and the related compounds dehydroloroglossol and hordatine M on the growth of the human lymphoblastoid cell lines Molt and Raji. (–)-maackiain, pinosylvin and dehydroloroglossol showed significant growth inhibitory action on the cells. Suppression of [³H] thymidine and [³H] leucine uptake was tested and noted in pinosylvin and dehydroloroglossol. The phytoalexins and related compounds are widespread in plants and provide a potential source of antineoplastic substances.We would like to acknowledge the assistance of J. Hux in preparing the phytoalexins and related compounds. This work was supported by a grant from National Health and Welfare Canada. Correspondence to Dr. L. Skinnider, Department of Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7M OWO.     

Orotic acid prevents changes in cardiac sarcolemmal glycoproteins and contractility associated with muscular dystrophy in hamsters

Summary Orotic acid included in the diet of cardiomyopathic hamsters during the myolytic phase of the disease (30–60 days of age) prevented the reduction in cardiac sarcolemmal sialic acid, calcium binding, sialyltransferase activity and contractile activity associated with the cardiomyopathy.This work was supported by research grants from the MRC of Canada, the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada and the Nova Scotia Heart Foundation. I thank Dr Peter E. Dresel for his encouragement and Ms Jane Benjamin and Mr Steven Couban for their technical assistance.     

Host cell reactivation capacity of different strains ofE. coli B resistant or sensitive to ozone

Summary Host cell reactivation capacity for ozonated or irradiated phage was determined for different strains ofE. coli either more sensitive or resistant to ozone than the wild type strain. The results suggest that theozr gene product could be involved in the same repair pathway for ozone-induced lesions on DNA as thepolA gene. The possible involment of a specific endonuclease for these lesions is also considered.This research was sponsored by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. P.L.H. acknowledges a postgraduate scholarship from the NSERC of Canada.     

Molt-induced muscle atrophy decreases the zinc content of the pectoralis of the Giant Canada Goose (Branta canadensis maxima)

Summary During molt-induced atrophy of the pectoralis muscle of the Giant Canada Goose (Branta canadensis maxima), the zinc content of the muscle was significantly reduced (p0.0139), though the concentration of zinc per unit weight of muscle appeared higher (p0.0232). Zinc lost from the muscle during molt could be utilized for growth of the new flight feathers.Acknowledgments. Funds for this study were obtained from an operating grant awarded to J. C. G. by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.