Eicosapentaenoic acid in tissue lipids ofPieris brassicae

Summary Larvae of the cabbage white butterfly,Pieris brassicae, have a dietary requirement for linolenic acid (C183n3) and were found to accumulate two other members of the n-3 family, C203n3 and C205n3 (eicosapentaenoic acid) especially in testicular phospholipids. Arachidonic acid was observed in trace amounts only. During diapause the relative titer of eicosapentaenoic acid increased in testicular phospholipids to about 4.2% of the fatty acids. Eicosapentaenoic acid is a possible precursor of prostaglandins, suggesting that prostaglandins of the 3-series predominate in this insect.     

Protective effect of vitamins against trichothecene toxicity towardsSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary Several trichothecene mycotoxins were shown to inhibit the growth ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae. This effect was most pronounced with the macrocyclic trichothecenes, especially verrucarin A. Much less growth inhibition was observed with T-2 toxin. Verrucarol, diacetoxyscirpenol, acetyl T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, T-2 tetraol and neosolaniol were inactive at a concentration of 75 g of toxin per disc. Incubation ofS. cerevisiae with verrucarin A together with vitamins resulted in a decrease in toxicity. Pyridoxine-HCl, Ca-pantothenate, thiamine-HCl and -tocopheryl acetate were amongst the most potent of the vitamins tested which reversed growth inhibition, overcoming the inhibitory potential of the toxins.9 December 1986The authors thank Dr J. Behrend, Makor Company, Israel, for a generous gift of verrucarin A and roridin A.     

Cell-to-cell coupling studied in isolated ventricular cell pairs

Summary Cell pairs isolated from adult rat and guinea pig ventricles were used to study the electrical properties of the nexal membrane. Each cell of a pair was connected to a voltage-clamp system so as to enable whole-cell, tight-seal recording. The current-voltage relationship of the nexal membrane was found to be linear, revealing a resistance r_n of 2–4 M. r_n was insensitive to the sarcolemmal membrane potential (range:–90 to +30 mV), and exerted no time-dependent gating behavior (range: 0.1 to 10 s). Lowering pH_i yielded a small increase in r_n. Vigorous elevations in [Ca²⁺]_i gave rise to an increase in r_n which was associated with a cell shortening. Uncoupling caused by aliphatic alcohols or halothane did not produce cell shortening. Cell pairs were also used to study action potential transfer.     

A major metabolite of Δ1-tetrahydrocannabinol reduces its cataleptic effect in mice

Summary The results described here demonstrate that THC-induced catalepsy in mice can be substantially inhibited by the prior administration of ¹-THC-7-oic acid, the major metabolite of THC in most species including humans. This raises the possibility that the intensity and duration of action of THC may depend to a large degree on the levels of this metabolite at the sites of action.We thank the National Institute on Drug Abuse for supporting this project by grants DA-02043 and DA-02052 and for supplying all of the cannabinoids. One of us (S.B.) is also the recipient of a Research Scientist Award from NIDA. We are grateful to Kristen Carlson and Thomas Honeyman for helpful suggestions in preparing this report.     

Binding of 11-cis retinaldehyde to the partially purified cellular retinaldehyde binding protein from bovine retinal pigment epithelium

Summary 11-cis retinaldehyde binding analysis was performed on a bovine retinal pigment epithelium preparation of cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP), whose purity degree was estimated as 75%. Equilibrium binding studies were carried out measuring the replacement of tritium-labeled with unlabeled 11-cis retinaldehyde at 25°C. Analysis of the experimental data both by a direct curve-fitting procedure utilizing a non linear least square regression analysis and by a conventional Scatchard plot revealed a single non-interacting binding site with an apparent equilibrium constant of 0.9×10^–7 M.A binding stoichiometry of approximately 1 mol of 11-cis retinaldehyde/mol of binding protein can be calculated from the experimental data. Competition studies carried out in the presence of unlabeled trans and cis isomers of Vitamin A derivatives confirm the high degree of specificity of the 11-cis retinaldehyde binding.     

涂层对热电偶热电性能及大气中寿命的影响

在难熔金属热电偶表而施加涂层的目的,旨在使原仅限和真空、中性及还原气氛中测量的热电偶能在大气中使用.本文讨论涂层对难熔金属热电偶在氧化气氛的"热电势—温度","热电势—时间"的关系及其寿命的影响.具有涂层的W/M.热电偶在氧化气氛(常压下1500℃取得263小时±1%t的最高记录,而W-Re热电偶存1500℃试验的前70小时偏差也在1%t内.而没有涂层的热电偶仅支持数分钟便破坏.     

细支纱摩擦纺初探——尘笼胆结构及其安装角α对纺纱的影响

本文以细支纱摩擦纺为研究对象,利用实验测试手段研究了尘笼胆结构对吸口轴向负压和尘笼胆安装角α对加捻区轴向负压和流速分布的影响。最后,基于类似于控制论中的“黑箱”原理,采用二次正交回归设计在实验室自制单头机上进行了32支纱的纺纱试验,建立了加捻辊加稔效率、纱线品质指标及CV值与尘笼胆几何尺寸、尘笼胆安装角α、摩擦辊转速及纺纱速度间的关系,并作了分析,由此得到选取α=0°、S=6毫米左右较好的结果。