Discovery of a cool planet of 5.5 Earth masses through gravitational microlensing

In the favoured core-accretion model of formation of planetary systems, solid planetesimals accumulate to build up planetary cores, which then accrete nebular gas if they are sufficiently massive. Around M-dwarf stars (the most common stars in our Galaxy), this model favours the formation of Earth-mass (M(o)) to Neptune-mass planets with orbital radii of 1 to 10 astronomical units (au), which is consistent with the small number of gas giant planets known to orbit M-dwarf host stars. More than 170 extrasolar planets have been discovered with a wide range of masses and orbital periods, but planets of Neptune's mass or less have not hitherto been detected at separations of more than 0.15 au from normal stars. Here we report the discovery of a 5.5(+5.5)(-2.7) M(o) planetary companion at a separation of 2.6+1.5-0.6 au from a 0.22+0.21-0.11 M(o) M-dwarf star, where M(o) refers to a solar mass. (We propose to name it OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb, indicating a planetary mass companion to the lens star of the microlensing event.) The mass is lower than that of GJ876d (ref. 5), although the error bars overlap. Our detection suggests that such cool, sub-Neptune-mass planets may be more common than gas giant planets, as predicted by the core accretion theory.     

An attempt to determine the time of cystine aminopeptidase (oxytocinase) appearance in the chick embryo plasma

Zusammenfassung In Hühnerembryonen wurde der Blutplasmaspiegel der Cystinaminopeptidase (Oxytocinase) bestimmt. Das Ferment konnte erst nach 19 Tagen Inkubationszeit nachgewiesen werden. Die Oxytocinasemenge steigt mit dem Alter der Embryonen an und erreicht nach 3 Tagen die Blutplasmawerte der adulten Hühner.     

Vagal influences on ADH release in the conscious dog

Résumé On a comparé le taux de l'ADH plasmatique et la réactivité osmotique du système antidiurétique hypothalamo-hypophysaire avant et après l'interruption du tronc vagosympathique gauche au niveau du cartilage cricoïde chez les chiens nonnarcotisés. La vagosympathectomie a produit une augmentation de la concentration de l'hormone antidiurétique dans le plasma du sang aussi bien qu'une réactivité osmotique du système antidiurétique.

---

---

The author thanks MrW. Pringle from Parke, Davis and Co for supplying the ampouls of Pitressin used in this study and MissK. Obidziska from the Department of Applied Physiology for valuable technical assistance.     

Invertebrate neuropeptides resembling vasotocin and some analogues: Synthesis and pharmacological properties

Summary The solid phase synthesis of three invertebrate vasopressin-oxytocin homologs: AVP-like factor, F₁ ¹, ([Leu², Thr⁴] AVT)² isolated from subesophageal and thoracic ganglia ofLocusta migratoria ³, Arg-conopressin-S⁴. ([Ile², Arg⁴] AVT), Lys-conopressin-G⁴ ([Phe², Arg⁴] LVT), both isolated from the venom of fish-hunting marine snails of the genusConus and six of their analogues is reported. These analogues are: [Arg⁴] AVT, [Ile²] AVT, [Leu²] AVT, [Phe², Arg⁴] AVT, [Arg⁴] LVT and [Ile², Arg⁴] LVT. All peptides were tested for antidiuretic and vasopressor activities.     

A note on the use of protease inhibitors during chromatin fractionation on hydroxyapatite columns

Summary It was found that NaHSO₃ present in the eluents enabled full and reproducible recovery of chromosomal proteins from a hydroxyapatite column. Another protease inhibitor PMSF, did not have that effect.     

Antibody-induced formation of caps inToxoplasma gondii

Summary Trophozoites ofToxoplasma gondii from mouse peritoneal exudate move their surface membrane antigens towards one pole of the cell when incubated with antibodies. The phenomenon may be induced in up to 50% of incubated parasites. It is prvented by some metabolic inhibitors and low temperatures (0–4°C). These properties do not change in parasites subpassaged after repeated incubation with antibodies.We wish to thank Dr. J.lusarczyk of the National Institute of Hygiene for his help in preparation the photomicropgraphs.     

Glutaminase activity in rat skeletal muscle mitochondria

Summary Isolated rat skeletal muscle mitochondria took up about 40-ng-atoms O per min per mg protein, with glutamine as the only respiratory substrate. The mitochondria incubated in the presence of glutamine and KCN formed both ammonia and glutamate in equivalent amounts. The experiments reported here provide suggestive evidence that rat skeletal muscle mitochondria contain glutaminase (L-glutamine amidohydrolase EC 3.5.1.2.) activity.This work was supported by the Polish Academy of Sciences within the project II. 1, 2, 6.