Inhibition of potassium (86Rb) influx in Ehrlich ascites cells by bilirubin and ouabain

Summary Bilirubin inhibited influx of potassium into Ehrlich ascites cells without altering efflux. The data showed that compared with ouabain, net potassium influx components were impaired in a higher degree by bilirubin. The reversal of this effect was shown, in our experimental conditions, only for ouabain.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by a grant from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas, República Argentina. The authors wish to thank Miss Marta S. Göthje for techical assistance.     

SEM observation of cultured,mitogen-stimulated leukocytes. Cells obtained from patients with acute myeloblastic and chronic lymphocytic leukemias

Summary SEM observation of acute myeloblastic leukemia cells, incubated for 20 h with the mitogens pokeweed and phytohaemagglutinin, showed these to have elongated structures that were either smooth or partially covered by thumblike figures. By contrast, the chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells possessed more compact shapes and some were covered with blebs of varying sizes.Supported by grant No. A3624 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.We would like to acknowledge the help of Mr Jean-Luc Verville and Mrs Diane Keating from this Department. Our thanks also go to Dr J.F. Perdue, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research of the Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada, for the very generous use of his equipment and also to Mr Pierre Daigneault from M. E. C. A. Laboratories.     

Identification of an acyclic diterpene alcohol in the defense secretion of soldiers ofReticulitermes lucifugus

Summary The defense secretion of soldiers ofReticulitermes lucifugus has been shown to contain, predominantly, (R)-(–)-(E,E)-geranyllinalool together with germacrene A and -farnesene.This report covers part of a collaborative study with J.-L. Clément, Lab. d'Evolution, Université P. et M. Curie, Paris, to whom we are grateful for supplies of material and discussions. We also thank Dr O.T. Jones for collections ofReticulitermes lucifugus.     

Stimulation of sporulation ofClostridium perfringens by papaverine

Summary Papaverine induced sporulation inClostridium perfringens, strains FD-1 and PS52; growth was markedly slowed under these conditions. Papaverine induced sporulation in the presence of glucose, a sporulation repressor, although increasing glucose concentrations overcame the papaverine effect. Papaverine induced sporulation of strain FD-1 more effectively than did theophylline.The author wishes to thank Mrs P.A. Thompson for excellent technical assistance.     

Unstable genetic system inDrosophila melanogaster: I. Instability at theCinnabar locus

Summary A mutant strain containing acinnabar allele (cn ^rbr ,rojo brillante) is reported, that produces wild-type revertants at thecinnabar (cn) locus. Incn ^rbr /cn heterozygotes the rate of mutation is highly increased. The presence of a mutator agent acting premeiotically is indicated.D.L. Lindsley and E.H. Grell, Genetic variations ofDrosophila melanogaster. Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, 1968; Publication No. 627.     

Glutathione and gamma-glutamyl cycle enzymes in rat mammary gland

The main enzymes of the gamma-glutamyl cycle during the lactogenic cycle in rat mammary gland were studied. A significant increase was found in all of them with the onset of lactogenesis. The effect of methionine sulfoximine on reduced glutathione concentration was studied in tissue slices of lactating mammary gland. The findings suggest that this compound effects glutathione synthesis by inhibiting gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase.     

Cortical representation of the cortico-motoneuronal system in monkeys

Zusammenfassung Es wurden Aktionspotentiale verschiedener Nerven registriert, welche auf jede kortikale Reizung in einem Zuge von repetitiven Stimulationen folgten, ferner wurden monosynaptische Reflexe nach konditionierenden kortikalen Stimulationen geprüft.Die Experimente ergaben, dass unter den verschiedenen kortikospinalen Systemen das direkte kortikomotoneuronale System (das CM-System) die am meisten abgegrenzte kortikale Repräsentation besitzt.     

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The climatic changes of the past thousand years

Résumé Exposé des données historiques et naturelles attestant des fluctuations de climat dans l'hémisphère nord au cours du dernier millénaire. Dans la zone tempérée, il y eut depuis les environs de l'an 1000 cinq époques climatiques: 1° 1000–1250, climat doux et sec. 2° 1250–1400, pluvieux et orageux. 3° 1400–1600 plus froid, moins orageux. 4° 1600–1850, avance des glaciers. 5° réchauffement progressif. Les causes de ces changements sont discutées à la fin de l'article.