Down's syndrome: changes in protein fractions of blood plasma

Summary A statistically significant decrease of prealbumin and statistically significant increases of alpha₂-macroglobulin and IgA were found in blood plasma of patients with Down's syndrome using quantitative crossed immunoelectrophoresis.We are indebted to Prof. T.C. Bøg-Hansen, University of Copenhagen, for the helpful discussion of our results.     

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.     

The effect ofβ-adrenergic stimulation and blockade on the efflux of PGE1-like material from the isolated perfused rabbit heart

Summary Prostaglandin (PG) release was measured from the isolated perfused rabbit heart. The effects of -adrenergic stimulation and blockade suggest that PG synthesis is regulated in part by adrenergic mechanisms.     

Alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in rat myocardium membranes after prolonged ethanol inhalation

Summary After 3 weeks of continuous ethanol intoxication by inhalation, the maximal number and affinity of the -and -receptors of rat heart were unchanged. These data indicate that adrenergic receptor disturbances are not involved in the mechanism of chronic ethanol-induced triglyceride deposition in the heart.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by grants from the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale. We wish to thank Mr M. Clément for skilled technical assistance in performing chronic ethanol inhalation treatments.     

Effect of spike disease on the 5′-and 3′-nucleotidase activities in sandal plants

Summary In the sandal plant affected by spike disease, caused by mycoplasma-like organisms, the changes occurring in the 5-and 3-nucleotidase activities were studied and their possible significance discussed.     

Spontaneous maze ambulation in two mouse strains

Summary A simple device is described, which permits us to quantify several parameters of spontaneous behaviour of small animals. Using this device with mice we obtained statistically satisfactory results, showing a strong genetic influence on the behavioural characteristics tested.We wish to thank Mr R. Laplace for technical help, Mr J. P. Arnould for electronic work as well as I.N.S.E.R.M.-SCR 3.     

Synthetic identification as a hexapeptide of alpha substance-IB inducing sexual agglutination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

For the identification of a peptidyl principle inducing sexual agglutination in the yeast, 2 supposed hexapeptides (1a, b) were synthesized by the conventional method. The 1a (H-Arg-Gly-Pro-Phe-Pro-Ile-OH) revealed complete identity with the natural peptide in TLC, MS and biological property on agglutination. The 1b showed the sexual agglutinability in the same degree as 1a, though distinct differences were observed in the chemical data. Both 1a and 1b had a strong bitter taste.     

Eye lens development and gamma crystallins in Discoglossus pictus (Anura).

The ontogeny and localization of the gamma crystallins in Discoglossus pictus lens development has been determined. Using antibody specific for amphibian gamma crystallins in the immunofluorescence technique, it was found that gamma crystallins first appear in primary lens fibre cells in the lens rudiment, and continue to be restricted to the fibre area as lens development progresses. Thus the role of gamma crystallins as indicators of a differentiated state remains constant in amphibian evolution, having been demonstrated in the most archaic anuran superfamily, as well as in others more recently evolved.     

Species difference in the effects of proteolytic enzymes on red cell membrane

Summary Pronase and -chymotrypsin digested the major glycoprotein in the human and mouse red cell membranes and in SDS gel electrophoresis the glycoprotein disappeared accompanied by the appearance of a new band of lower mol.wt. However in the membranes of sheep, rat and rabbit, no digestion was demonstrated. The effects of pronase on anion permeability were almost identical for human and animal erythrocytes.     

Sensitivity of the developing chick myocardium to the positive inotropic effects of calcium and isoproterenol

Summary The present results show that the sensitivity of the chick myocardium to the positive motropic effect of Ca⁺⁺ decreases during development and that the Ca⁺⁺ concentration of the physiological solution used must be lowered below normal to study the effects of positive inotropic agents in preparations from younger embryos. Isoproterenol elicits positive inotropic responses in 7–9-day embryonic ventricle and in newborn chick atria; however, the 4-day embryonic myocardium is unresponsive to isoproterenol.This work was supported by Grant No. HL-15995 from the National Heart Institute (USPHS).The authors would like to thank Dr.F. E. Shideman for the isolated tissue baths used in these experiments.