Somatostatin content and release of isolated pancreatic islets from obese-hyperglycemic mice.

The somatostatin content in pancreatic islets of obese-hyperglycemic mice was much lower than in the islets of normal mice. Also the release of somatostatin was decreased from the islets obtained from the obese-hyperglycemic mice. Tissue culture for 1 week changed neither the content of, nor the amount of somatostatin released from, the pancreatic islets.     

Complexed rheumatoid factor measurements in sera, synovial fluids and in immune complex fractions.

Mild acidic treatment increases the rheumatoid factor titre of some sera and synovial fluids (SF) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile RA (JRA) and most frequently in rheumatoid vasculitis. This unmasking of 'hidden' RF in serum and SF samples correlated with the RF-immune complexes (RF-IC) and complexed C4 present in the 3% polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitates, indicating that by means of 'hidden' RF measurements RF-ICs are possibly detected. This method seems to provide a diagnostic tool for detecting RF-ICs in RA and other related diseases.     

Relationship between the pentose phosphate shunt and methemoglobin reductase activity in human erythrocytes: Effect of aging on methemoglobin reductase activity.

The increase in methemoglobin reductase activity in human erythrocytes upon incubation with inosine, phosphate, pyruvate occurs only in the presence of methylene blue. No difference in activity of the methemoglobin reductases was observed between enzyme extracts of fresh cells and aged cells.     

Presumptive identification of aminoglycoside antibiotics by the pH susceptibility disc agar-diffusion method.

Using the pH (buffered) sensitivity discs for the agar-diffusion bioassay of aminoglycoside antibiotics, characteristic response curves were obtained. Since the nature of the activities observed are structure-related, this method can serve as a useful aid for primary identification of members of this class of antibiotics.     

Haemoglobin Bohr effect and lactic acid content of the blood of 2 water-snakes with different degrees of aquatic adaptation.

H. modestus, a water-snake with morphological respiratory adaptation to its habitat, presents haemoglobins with a lower Bohr effect than those of L. miliaris, an aquatic snake without such respiratory adaptations. The difference in blood lactic acid content of the 2 snakes submitted to mechanical stimuli appears to be compatible with the properties of their haemoglobins.     

Inhibition of the NADP-linked glutamate dehydrogenase from Trypanosoma cruzi by silver nitrate.

The purified NADP-linked glutamate dehydrogenase from Trypanosoma cruzi was strongly inhibited by silver nitrate. The inhibition was reversed by reduced glutathione, and was modified by the presence of the substrates during preincubation of the enzyme with the inhibitor.     

Effects of aresenite and oxamate on the in vitro functional activity of estrogen-dominated rate uterine horns.

Arsenite but not oxamate produce in vitro a distinct depression of estrogen-dominated uterine motility, both in the absence of substrate as well as in the presence of exogenous glucose or lactate. The addition of oxamate to preparations suspended in a medium with lactate as the sole external substrate ameliorates the depression of uterine motility elicited by arsenic.     

GABA stimulates the rabbit corneal endothelial fluid pump.

GABA and its analogues were shown to activate the rabbit corneal endothelial fluid pump in the micromolar range. The stimulation was abolished by bicuculline and chlorpromazine, but not by picrotoxin.     

Influences of temperature change on the relaxation and amplitude inhibition by noradrenaline in the rabbit jejunum.

In the rabbit jejunum, the elevation of temperature within the range of 25-37 degrees C diminished the sensitivity to noradrenaline (NA) for both the relaxation and amplitude inhibition. The relaxation by NA was mainly mediated via adrenergic beta-receptors at 25, 30 or 37 degrees C. The amplitude inhibition was mediated via alpha-receptors at 37 degrees C, and both alpha- and beta-receptors at 30 or 25 degrees C.