The timing of cyclophosphamide therapy in tumor-bearing rats affects the resistance to tumor challenge in survivors

Summary Cyclophosphamide given to rats 2 or 5 days after an injection of Yoshida ascites sarcoma cured approximately the same proportion of animals, but the resistance to a subsequent tumor challenge was found only in rats treated with the drug 5 days after tumor injection.     

Conversion of mammalian cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase into modulator-dependent protein kinase (type II) in vitro

The spontaneous conversion of mammalian cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (G-PK) into modulator-dependent protein kinase (type II) (M-PKII) in the absence of cGMP or histone was observed in vitro. The findings, together with similarity in substrate protein specificity, suggest that M-PKII is the catalytic subunit of mammalian G-PK.     

Effects of thyrotrophic-releasing hormone (TRH) on thermoregulation in the rat

At ambient temperatures (Ta) of both 8 and 22 degrees C, intraventricular administration of TRH (10-80 microgram) produced a dose-dependent hypothermia in rats. The hypothermia was due to both decreased metabolic heat production and cutaneous vasodilatation. In contrast, at 30 degrees C Ta, TRH increased metabolic heat production (due to behavioral excitation) and led to hyperthermia.     

Examination of naturally occurring polyacetylenes and α-terthienyl for their ability to induce cytogenetic damage

Summary -Terthienyl and 5 polyacetylenes were examined for chromosome damaging activity using Syrian hamster cells. None of these naturally occurring compounds induced sister chromatid exchanges and neither -terthienyl nor phenylheptatriyne induced chromosome aberrations.The authors wish to thank the National Science and Engineering Research Council for financial support of this research.     

Preparation and oxygen binding properties of soluble covalent hemoglobin-dextran conjugates

Summary Stroma-free hemoglobin solutions present some drawbacks when used as blood substitutes, essentially because the hemoprotein has a low vascular retention, due to its small hydrodynamic volume. Covalent coupling of the protein with dextran derivatives artificially increases its size and affords polymeric conjugates whose oxygen-binding properties (Barcroft's curve, Hill coefficient) depend on the molecular weight.The authors wish to thank Prof. J. Neel and Prof. C. Vigneron for useful discussions and criticism.     

Effects of ACTH and diabetes on phospholipid metabolism in adrenal mitochondria.

Incorporation of 32P into adrenal mitochondrial phospholipids (PL) incrased in ACTH-treated rats, but it decreased in diabetics, inspite of the fact that these animals showed adrenal overacity. Since diabetics did not show increased 11 beta-hydroxylation. as opposed to ACTH-treated rats, it is suggested that the stimulation of this enzyme activity by exogenous ACTH is related to an increased turnover of PL at the mitochondrial membrane. The process is impaired in diabetics and prevents the stimulation of 11 beta-hydroxylation.     

Irreversible shock in rats after injection of microspheres into the renal artery

Summary After injection of microspheres into both renal arteries of rats, an irreversible shock syndrome develops, resulting in death within 4–12 h. Ligation of both renal pedicles after injection of microspheres prevents the shock. It is presumed that kininogenases released from the kidneys participate in the pathogenesis of the shock syndrome.These studies were supported in part by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft within the SFB 90, Cardiovasculäres System.     

Anthropologist fired: Stanford plays its China card

The ethical obligations of Western anthropologists working in the People's Republic of China became an issue recently when Stanford University's anthropology department unanimously decided to dismiss doctoral candidate Steven Mosher because of his conduct while in an unnamed Chinese village. Mosher maintains that the dismissal was in retaliation for his publishing an article in a Taiwanese weekly about the practices of forced third trimester abortion and infanticide in the village. Neither Stanford nor Mosher has revealed the specific reasons for the dismissal.