Metabolic implications in the elevation of serum activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase in chronic renal failure

Summary The activity of intestinal isoenzyme of serum alkaline phosphatase was evaluated in 21 non-dialyzed patients with advanced renal failure and in 52 patients on regular hemodialysis. In patients without hepatopathy, a significant inverse correlation was found between the enzyme activity and serum calcium levels. Hepatopathy was the most significant variable influencing the enzyme activity in patients on dialysis. Secondary hyperparathyroidism and a decreased rate in enzyme elimination should be assessed for the above-normal activities of intestinal ALP in serum in chronic renal failure.     

Biosynthesis of indole glucosinolates in rape seedlings under the influence of some sulphur metabolism inhibitors

Zusammenfassung Die Biosynthese von Glucobrassicin und Neoglucobrassicin, insbesondere der Einfluss von Alloxan, Natrium- und Kaliummolybedenat auf die Inkorporation von Schwefel aus Sulfat, wurde untersucht.     

Pathological lesions in larvae hatched from ovigerous females ofChasmagnathus granulata (Decapoda,Brachyura) exposed to cadmium

Morphological abnormalities were noted in larvae hatched from ovigerous females of the estuarine crabChasmagnathus granulata, exposed to 1 and 15 mg/l of cadmium during the egg incubation period. The highest concentration produced a significant incidence of hydropsy, atrophy of dorsal spine, pleon and pereiopods as well as enhancement of pigmentation. Some possible causes of these results are discussed and compared with the effects caused by other pollutants on the same species.     

Experimental formation of podocytes in the parietal layer of the Bowman's capsule

A metaplastic transformation of the parietal layer of the Bowman's capsule into podocytes is described in glomerular cysts induced by postnatal injection of methylprednisolone acetate to rabbits. Both the anomalous location of podocytes and their utility for the study of the biology of the cells are discussed.     

The effect of dietary administration of aspartic acid on thymus weight in C57 black mice

Summary D,L aspartic acid incorporated at a level of 0.5% w/w into the diets of C57B1/10 male mice for 2–8 weeks increased significantly the thymus weight. Similar effects were observed after a 10 days' treatment of the mice with K- and Mg-salts of D,L aspartate (1%) in drinking water.     

A new sterol from the spongeHaliclona chilensis (Thiele)

Summary From the spongeHaliclona chilensis (Thiele) a minor keto-sterol was isolated and characterized as 24-keto-cholesta-5,25-dien-3-ol by means of spectroscopic (¹H and¹³C-FT NMR, MS) methods.     

Free intracellular and protein bound amino acids in tissues as affected by a mixedβ-adrenergic agonist

The administration of metaproterenol induced an increase in gastrocnemius muscle weight without change in body growth rate or tissue protein concentrations, while epididymal fat was reduced. This effect was accompanied by an enhancement in the levels of intracellular amino acids in muscle. By contrast, liver amino acids were unaffected by treatment with the mixed -adrenergic agonist.     

Dihydropyridine BAY-K-8644 activates chromaffin cell calcium channels

Douglas and Rubin suggested that "the role of acetylcholine as a transmitter at the adrenal medulla is to cause some brief change in medullary cells which allows Ca ions to penetrate them and trigger the catecholamine ejection process". The Ca2+-channel blocking agents, verapamil, nifedipine and nitrendipine, have been used widely to investigate the properties of slow Ca2+ channels in a variety of tissues, including the adrenomedullary chromaffin cell. Recently, small modifications to the nifedipine molecule produced a derivative, BAY-K-8644 (methyl-1,4-dihydro-2, 6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)-pyridine-5-carboxylate), that in contrast to the Ca2+-channel blocking agents, stimulated cardiac and vascular smooth muscle contractility. We have tested whether this compound behaves as a Ca2+-channel activator at the chromaffin cell membrane as shown by Schramm et al. in smooth muscle cells. The experiments described here strongly suggest that it does so.