The effect of acidic polysaccharides and prostaglandin-like substances isolated from Propionibacterium acnes on granulocyte chemotaxis.

Three acidic polysaccharide (AP) fractions and the prostaglandin-like substances (PLS) isolated from P. acnes were investigated regarding their chemotactic activities on polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Both AP's and PLS induced a significant chemotatic response, which suggests their involvement in inflammatory acne vulgaris.     

Effect of insulin on immunological phagocytosis by macrophages.

It was shown that, in physiological concentrations, insulin enhances, in vitro, the immunological phagocytosis of sensitized sheep erythrocytes by cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages. Insulin seems to stimulate macrophage phagocytosis as a cholinomimetic agonist by increasing the intracellular levels of cyclic GMP.     

Mechanical responses of the isolated cervix of the day-22 pregnant rat to field stimulation.

Field stimulation of isolated, spirally-cut cervix from day-22 pregnant rats produced contractions which could be inhibited by tetrodotoxin or hyoscine and potentiated by propranolol. The rat cervix would appear to receive both cholinergic and noradrenergic innervations whose transmitters activate muscarinic cholinoceptors and beta-adrenoceptors respectively.     

Fragments of linear unintegrated Rous sarcoma virus DNA, resulting from digestion with SmaI restriction endonuclease]

Linear unintegrated DNA of Schmidt-Ruppin Rous sarcoma virus, subgroup D (SR-RSV-D), was digested with SmaI restriction endonuclease, analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis, "blotted" by Southern's method and hybridized with a viral 32P cDNA. SmaI cleaves this DNA at five sites, two of which are localized at the ends of the provirus. Src and env genes seem not to be restrictied by SmaI cleavage.     

Cerebral neurosecretions and regulation of moulting in a haematophagous insectPanstrongylus megistus, (Heteroptera,Reduviidae)

Summary 2 factors elaborated by distinct neurosecretory cells in the pars intercerebralis control moulting inPanstrongylus megistus. The 1st, originating probably in the A cells, activates the thoracic gland. The 2nd, produced by the A cells, acts at an earlier stage in a different way.Supported by CNPq., Brésil and DGRST (aide No. 76.7.0716).     

Immunochemical identity of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV from pig serum, liver, submaxillary gland and kidney.

The enzymes which were extracted by autodigestion from the microsomal fractions of the pig kidney, liver and submaxillary gland and from the serum showed an immunochemical identity by a double immunodiffusion test. But the kidney enzyme had a different pI-value from the pI-values of the enzymes of other organs.     

Increase in Na+, K+ -ATPase enzyme units in liver and kidneys from essential fatty acid deficient rats.

(3H)-Ouabain binding to liver and kidney preparations was utilized to estimate the number of Na+, K+-ATPase enzyme units in livers and kidneys from rats fed 2% corn oil supplemented or fat-free diets. The specific (3H)-ouabain binding in liver and kidney preparations from fatty acid deficient rats was increased approximately 40%, but the affinity of the binding sites for ouabain (Kd-value) remained unchanged. The increased concentration of Na+, K+-ATPase enzyme units observed in the essential fatty acid deficient rats may contribute to the reduced body fat accumulation and elevated heat production observed in these animals.     

The detection of superoxide anion from the reaction of oxyhemoglobin and phenylhydrazine using EPR spectroscopy

Summary The low temperature EPR spectrum of a quickly reacted mixture of oxyhemoglobin and phenylhydrazine was studied. With the use of a computer, the spectral contribution of methemoglobin in the region of g=2 was subtracted. The remaining spectrum was that of an axial free radical (g=2.00, g=2.06) having the magnetic parameters of superoxide anion. In the presence of superoxide dismutase, this axial radical was not seen, confirming that superoxide anion is indeed generated by the reaction.The portion of this investigation carried out at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine was supported in part by US Public Health Service Research Grant HL-93399 from the Heart and Lung Institute and by National Institute Contract Nol-CP-55606 to J.P. This is communication No. 378 from the Joan and Lester Avnet Institute of Molecular Biology.Predoctoral fellow in the Medical Scientist Training Program (United States Public Health Service Grant 5-TO-5-GM 01669-12) at the New York University School of Medicine.Recipient of a grant-in-aid from the New York Heart Association.     

Light transmission. I. An acoustic method able to monitor transmitted light

Summary A method able to monitor transmitted light acoustically is described. It makes use of an amplifier of light variations, provided with a photocell and a sound device, a photometer, an optic probe and a special support.Acknowledgments. The author would like to thank Dr Leonard Salzarulo, chairman of the Physics Department of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, for the critical reading of the paper. The author acknowledges the invaluable assistance of Prof. Araldo Ramundo of the Centro Regionale Professionale in Cosenza, Italy, for designing and assembling the electronic amplifier. Appreciation is also extended to Prof. Giuseppe Battendieri of the Liceo Scientifico Enrico Fermi in Cosenza, Italy, for the schematic reproduction of the apparatus.     

Etude ultrastructurale de la transformation du corps élémentaire en corps initial chez lesRickettsiella

Summary An intermediate stage between the elementary and the initial bodies of theRickettsiella genus is defined as the beginning of an intracellular cycle. It is characterized by several structural changes in the dense elementary body: the cytoplasm becomes less electron-dense; thus, the nucleoid and the ribosomes are visible. The inner layer of the cell-wall becomes progressively clearer and the trilamellar structure of the inner and outer membranes appears distinctly. Preinitial body is proposed as name of this stage of development.