Influence of ethanol on thyroxine accumulation in the hypothalamus,pituitary gland and cerebrospinal fluid in the newborn rabbit

Summary The effect of ethanol on thyroxine (T₄) accumulation in the hypothalamus (H), pituitary gland (P) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been investigated in 1–15-day-old rabbits. It has been found that H or CSF serum ratios decreased with age by about 2 in the course of 13 postnatal days. Stable T₄ resulted in an increase of¹²⁵I-T₄ in H, P and CSF. Ethanol per se caused an increase in transfer and accumulation of radiothyroxine or made the changes after loading animals with carrier T₄ more pronounced.     

Affinity chromatography of human serum proteins using matrix bound lectin fromViscum album L.

Summary The D-galactose specific lectin fromViscum album L. reacts with serum proteins that contain the corresponding D-galactopyranosyl residues. By affinity chromatography of human serum on lectin-sepharose IgM, ₂-macroglobulin, haptoglobin and -lipoprotein were quantitatively retained. Only parts of IgA, IgG and transferrin were retarded. The other serum proteins are unbounded as albumin, ₁A– and ₁C.     

The effects of physostigmine on the oxygen uptake in rat brain tissue

Summary Physostigmine in a dose of 0.1 mg/kg i.v. expressly stimulated the oxygen uptake in the rat cerebral cortex. This effect was blocked by propranolol and seems be mediated by catecholamines. Since atropine also antagonized the stimulant effect of physostigmine, it appears that the action of physostigmine is primarily cholinergic and that the adrenergic effect is a secondary phenomenon. The higher dose of physostigmine (0.4 mg/kg i.v.) caused a depression of rat brain oxygen uptake.This work was supported by a grant from Serbian Republic Scientific Fund (ZMNU SR Srbija), Belgrade (Yugoslavia).The authors wish to acknowledge the skilful technical assistance of Lj. Krsti.     

(−)-Maalian-5-ol,a new enantiomeric sesquiterpenoid from the liverwortPlagiochila ovalifolia

Summary A new enantiomeric sesquiterpene alcohol named (–)-maalian-5-ol was isolated from the liverwort, and the structure and absolute configuration was determined to be the stereostructureI by chemical and spectral evidence.The authors express their gratitude to Dr H. Inoue, National Science Museum, for identification of the liverwort, and Prof. T. Tokoroyama, Osaka City University, for sending of the data of (–)--maaliene and (+)-selina-5,11-diene. Thanks are also due to the Ministry of Education for financial support of this work.     

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.     

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.