Long-term depression of two primary immune responses induced by a single dose of 5-(3,3-dimethyl-1-triazeno)-imidazole-4-carboxamide (DTIC)

Summary 2 primary immune responses (anti-SRBC antibody response and allograft rejection) have been tested in mice at various time intervals after single doses of either DTIC or cyclophosphamide. The DTIC-induced immunodepression proved to be extremely long-lasting, being still detectable after 2 months.This work was supported by Project NO1-CB 64054 of the U.S.-Italy Cooperative Science Program.     

Dissolution of gallstones in hamsters by 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid

Summary Addition of 0.05–0.20% of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid to a lithogenic hamster diet resulted in a marked reduction in the incidence of gallstones in hamsters.Supported, in part, by grants HL-03299, AG-00076 and T32 CA-09171 and a Research Career Award, HL-0734 from the National Institutes of Health.     

Respiratory function of blood and relative weight of certain organs in two species of shrew: Crocidura russula and Suncus etruscus (Soricidae mammals)]

A high oxygen capacity combined with a low oxygen affinity and a large Bohr effect achieve a high oxygen transport capacity in small shrews. The high metabolic rate (Suncus estruscus: 100 to 350 ml O2/kg. min) can be explained by the combination of the favorable blood parameters with a high relative heart weight (1,2% of body weight) and heart frequencies of 1,000 to 1,350 per minute.     

Prostacyclin-like activity of endothelium and subendothelium — important for atherosclerosis?

Summary Morphological control of Moncada's bioassay for prostacyclin (PG I₂) activity measurement shows that the activity depends not only on endothelium, but in important amounts on subendothelial tissue too. Therefore, it can be concluded that platelet thrombus formation after endothelial cell injury does not depend only on the PG I₂-producing ability of the tissue.     

Irreversible depigmentation of dark mouse hair by T-2 toxin (a metabolite ofFusarium sporotrichioides) and by calcium pantothenate

Summary T-2 toxin, a trichothecene metabolite of several Fusarium spp. causes depigmentation of dark mouse hair at the site of its application. Calcium pantothenate, though usually considered as antigreying factor, caused depigmentation at the site of its i.p. injections, at high concentration.     

Elevated glucose levels influence in vitro hatching,attachment, trophoblast outgrowth and differentiation of the mouse blastocyst

Summary A glucose concentration of 3.5 mg/ml is optimal for in vitro embryo attachment and trophoblastic cell outgrowth. Raising the concentration above 3.5 mg/ml does not improve embryo culture and can at certain concentrations be detrimental to embryo development.     

Variations au cours de la journée de l'incorporation in vivo de la leucine tritiée dans les protéines du cervelet et du cerveau du jeune rat normal et hypothyroïdien

Summary In the normal and hypothyroid 6-day-old rat, the specific radioactivity (RSA) and the relative RSA (ratio of the RSA to the [³H] leucine concentration of the acido soluble phase) of the cerebral and cerebellar proteins, change during the day synchronally. They show a maximum at 15.00 h and a minimum at 03.00 h. At all stages studied, these values are significantly lower in the hypothyroid animals than in normal ones.     

Cadmium-113 FT NMR-spectra of rabbit liver metallothioneins

Summary Cadmium-113 FT NMR-spectra of rabbit liver metallothionein-I and-II gave 6 and 7 NMR-signals, respectively, at between 610 and 670 ppm downfield from aqueous Cd(ClO₄)₂ solution (0.1 M).We thank Mr M. Imanari (JEOL) for the NMR-data and Dr K. Kubota (NIES) for encouragement.     

Effect of water oxygenation on oxygen consumption and gill ventilation of the crab, Carcinus maenas (L.)]

At 15 degrees C, the oxygen uptake rate of Carcinus maenas was practically independent of the ambient oxygen pressure betueen 50 and 500 Torr. Within this range, hyperventilatory and hypoventilatory responses were observed in hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions respectively whereas the oxygen extraction coefficient remained more or less constant.