Cholesterol content and cholesterol esterifying activity of various organs in guinea pigs

In various organs of the guinea pig, the total cholesterol content of an organ was significantly correlated with the percentage of esterified cholesterol present in this organ. Cholesterol esterifying capacity was shown in most organs, with highest activities in the adrenals, the spleen and the liver. The significant correlation found between the cholesteryl ester content of an organ and its acyl cholesterol acyltransferase activity suggests a possible role of this enzyme in determining the level of the total and esterified cholesterol in a tissue.     

The v-myc oncogene is sufficient to induce growth transformation of chick neuroretina cells

A number of studies have shown that full transformation of non-established rodent fibroblasts can be efficiently achieved in vitro by the concerted action of two oncogenes belonging to different complementation groups. Extension of the two-genes carcinogenesis model to other differentiated cell types, presumably endowed with different controls of growth, is desirable for a better understanding of questions such as the host cell selectivity of oncogene action. A recent report claimed that cooperation between two oncogenes, v-myc and v-mil, is required to achieve transformation of chicken embryo neuroretina cells, which are characterized by a limited growth capacity in monolayer culture. Here we present evidence that the v-myc oncogene alone is sufficient to induce growth transformation of glial and neuronal precursor cell types from chick neuroretina. We also report that induction of transformation by v-myc is accompanied by faithful preservation of some of the differentiated functions of the chick cells.     

Chemotaxis of rabbit macrophages in vitro: Inhibition by drugs

Summary Chemotaxis of rabbit macrophages was inhibited in vitro by phenylbutazone and sodium salicylate, but not by other antiinflammatory agents. Other inhibitory compounds were colchicine, vincristine, PHA, Con A, iodoacetic acid, cytochalasin B, and EDTA. Some of these in vitro results contrast apparently with in vivo effects.     

Biotin as a regulator of some haematic parameters and of DNA-content of the liver of old rats

Summary Biotin administration to old rats (28 months) causes in the blood an increase of ATP, glucose, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase and a decrease of cholesterol and acid phosphatase; in the liver DNA and electrostatic interactions between DNA and histones are increased. Such parameters come within the values shown by adult rats.     

Harmaline tremor: activity of the interposito-rubral system and of the bulbo-ponto-reticular formation

The effects of tremogenic doses of harmaline have been studied by extracellular unit recordings and 14C 2-deoxyglucose marking in two groups of cats. Harmaline sensitive neurons were found in the lateral reticular nucleus and the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis. The nucleus interpositus as well as the red nucleus were also found to be discharging at the tremor frequency, indicating that the cerebello-interposito-rubral system participates in harmaline tremor. In cats with unilateral sections of the inferior cerebellar peduncle, 14C 2-deoxyglucose marking demonstrated that the increased activity previously observed in those structures was a consequence of harmaline acting on the inferior olive.     

Mathematical model of pituitary thyrotropic function

Summary A nonlinear differential equation is used to develop a mathematical model describing the time course of thyrotropin (TSH) concentration in human plasma after thyroliberin (TRH) stimulation. The application of the model to real data shows that pituitary responsiveness to TRH is highest in euthyroidism, reduced in primary hypothyroidism, and lowest in hyperthyroidism.