(3H) spiroperidol binding decreases in brains of rats infected with Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus1

Summary After i.p. inoculation with the Guajira strain of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus a significant decrease in the density of (³H) spiroperidol binding sites in the striatum, midbrain and frontal cortex was observed. No changes in the affinity of the receptors could be demonstrated. This finding is compatible with neuronal degeneration caused by the viral infection.Acknowledgments. This work was partially supported by Condes-Luz and Fundacite-Zulia. Butaclamol isomers were a gift of Ayerst Laboratories, Montreal, Canada.     

Comparative distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance P and PHI in the enteric sphincters of the cat

In the feline gastrointestinal tract, the neuropeptides, substance P, VIP and PHI were investigated by specific radioimmunoassays and immunocytochemistry. The concentrations of all 3 peptides and the level of peptidergic innervation were significantly less in the anal sphincter than elsewhere, whereas no significant differences were seen between other sphincter and non-sphincter regions.     

Hemodynamic studies in acute venous stasis edema in rats

An increase in venous pressure in the rat tail is known to result in acute edema. Acute venous stasis edema of the rat tail was induced by applying a force-controlled banding of standard tension (200 g) proximally for a period of 6-12 h. The hemodynamic changes of acute venous stasis edema were evaluated using non-invasive plethysmography, fluorescence angiography, computer thermography and invasive radioactive microsphere techniques. It is shown here that reduction of tail circulation to 40% of the control value is followed by prolonged vascular disorder characterized by genesis of reversible edema, increased total blood flow to the tail and decreased local cutaneous blood flow, without affecting the general hemodynamics. The cutaneous circulation (decreased blood flow) seems to be principally involved in the edemogenic response, whereas the deeper vessels (hyperemia) may or may not play a determinant role in acute experimental venous stasis edema in rats.     

Antiviral activity of coralloid root ofCycas revoluta extract against some viruses of tomato plant

Summary Crude coralloid root extract ofCycas revoluta showed significant antiviral activity against viruses of the tomato plant (PVX, PVY, TMV, TAV and TRSV) when applied 24 h before virus inoculation, or when mixed with different virus inocula before virus inocultion, in hypersensitive and systemic hosts. No such inhibition was observed when extract was applied 24 h after virus inoculation. TAV did not show any inhibitory response in a systemic host.Authors are thankful to Dr S. N. Gupta and Dr (Smt.) K. Shukla for their valuable guidance and providing laboratory facilities and U.G.C. for financial assistance.     

Human hepatitis B vaccine from recombinant yeast

The worldwide importance of human hepatitis B virus infection and the toll it takes in chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma, make it imperative that a vaccine be developed for worldwide application. Human hepatitis B vaccines are presently prepared using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) that is purified from the plasma of human carriers of hepatitis B virus infection. The preparation of hepatitis B vaccine from a human source is restricted by the available supply of infected human plasma and by the need to apply stringent processes that purify the antigen and render it free of infectious hepatitis B virus and other possible living agents that might be present in the plasma. Joint efforts between our laboratories and those of Drs W. Rutter and B. Hall led to the preparation of vectors carrying the DNA sequence for HBsAg and antigen expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we describe the development of hepatitis B vaccine of yeast cell origin. HBsAg of subtype adw was produced in recombinant yeast cell culture, and the purified antigen in alum formulation stimulated production of antibody in mice, grivet monkeys and chimpanzees. Vaccinated chimpanzees were totally protected when challenged intravenously with either homologous or heterologous subtype adr and ayw virus of human serum source. This is the first example of a vaccine produced from recombinant cells which is effective against a human viral infection.     

Molecular cloning of cDNA encoding a murine haematopoietic growth regulator, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor

DNA clones specifying the murine granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor have been isolated. This haematopoietic growth factor is encoded by a unique gene specifying a messenger RNA of 1,200 nucleotides and a polypeptide of 118 amino acids. It bears no structural similarity to the functionally related factor, interleukin-3, described recently.     

Period multupling-evidence for nonlinear behaviour of the canine heart

Although there has recently been considerable interest in applying the theory of nonlinear dynamics to the analysis of complex systems, as yet applications of the theory to biological systems in vivo have been very limited. We report here evidence of nonlinear behaviour in the electrocardiogram and arterial blood pressure traces of the noradrenaline-treated dog. Noradrenaline produces variations in these traces that repeat themselves with regular periods of integral numbers of heart-beats (period multupling), an effect that resembles the 'period-doubling' and other 'bifurcative' behaviour observed when the driving frequency of a nonlinear oscillator is increased above a critical value. The simplest type of periodic variation that we report is the so-called 'electrical alternans', which has long been known as one response of cardiac electrical activity to certain stresses and disease states.