Permeability of cellophane membranes to parotid proteins during dialysis

Summary Pooled parotid saliva was dialyzed in cellophane membranes against water for periods of up to 1 week and loss of proteins was monitored by acrylamide gel-electrophoresis. A gradual loss of cationic proteins was observed whereas anionic proteins were not appreciably affected. Loss of the cationic proteins could be greatly reduced by performing dialyses against dilute electrolyte solutions rather than water. These effects were attributed primarily to electrostatic charges associated with the dialysis membranes.The assistance of Mr E. Pederson and Dr G. Clark is gratefully acknowledged. Supported by Naval Medical Research and Development Command Project MR005.19 6048, Bethesda, Maryland. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not be construed as reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the Naval Service at large. The use of commercially available products does not imply endorsement of these products or preference to other similar products on the market.Deceased.     

Reduction of serum X-prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase activity in tumour-bearing mice and reversal of reduced enzyme activity by lentinan,an anti-tumour polysaccharide

Summary Serum X-prolyl dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase activity which had been shown to be depressed in cancer patients was clearly reduced in mice with Ehrlich carcinoma and Sarcoma 180, and slightly reduced in mice with methylcholanthrene-induced sarcomas. The reduced enzyme activity was completely reversed during tumour regression of sarcoma 180 by administration of lentinan, which causes regression of sarcoma 180.     

Functional consequences of treating turkey liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase with penicillin G

Summary Treatment of turkey liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase with penicillin G progressively inactivated the enzyme and desensitized the enzyme toward high substrate inhibition. The treatment also led to reduced sensitivity to AMP inhibition and the loss of cooperative interaction among AMP-binding sites. These altered properties were not reversed by dialysis, but were prevented when treatment with penicillin G was performed in the presence of substrate.This work was in part supported by grant RR-8006 from the General Research Branch, Division of Research Resources, NIH (USA) and in part by Faculty Research Grant from Southern School of Pharmacy, Mercer University, Atlanta (Georgia, USA).     

Nuclear blebs in oocytes of the fishClarias batrachus

Summary Large nuclear blebs have been observed in oocytes of the fish,Clarias batrachus. The bleb, which contains nucleoplasm, is finally extruded from the nucleus. The extruded body is DNase-sensitive, and it implies that some amount of DNA is extruded from the nucleus of these oocytes.Acknowledgments. We are thankful to Dr. R.K. Sharan, Department of Zoology, Patna University, for providing laboratory facilities, and to Dr V.G. Jhingran and Dr P.V. Dehadrai of ICAR for their keen interest in the work.     

Pharmacological studies of a new analgesic,dl-erythro-1-phenyl-2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-[4-(p-methoxybenzyl)-1-piperazinyl] ethanol dihydrochloride,in experimental animals

Summary dl-Erythro-1-phenyl-2-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-[4-(p-methoxybenzyl)-1-piperazinyl] ethanol dihydrochloride showed orally a definite analgesic activity, without producing the significant morphine-like physical dependence liability, and its analgesic potency was about a half that of codeine and far superior to aminopyrine in experimental animals.     

High K+ content explains the abolition of the action potential in amphibian sciatic nerve in vitro byLathyrus sativus seed extract

Summary The action potential in amphibian sciatic nerve in vitro has been reported to be abolished by the topical application ofLathyrus sativus seed extract. We have confirmed this effect, but find that it is probably caused by the high K⁺ content of such seed extracts and that organic neurotoxins are not implicated.Acknowledgments. We thank the Wellcome Trust for financial support, Professor M.W. Bradbury for help with the ion determinations and Miss M.B. Burbridge of the Tropical Products Institute, London, for obtaining seed from Bombay, India.     

The effect of an ethanol extract of catnip (Nepeta cataria) on the behavior of the young chick

Summary The alcohol extract of catnip has a biphasic effect on the behavior of young chicks. Low and moderate dose levels (25–1800 mg/kg) cause increasing numbers of chicks to sleep, while high dose levels (i.e. above 2 g/kg) cause a decreasing number of chicks to sleep.     

Composition of epicuticular wax of rice,Oryza sativa

Summary The epicuticular wax of rice, varietyRibe, comprised n-alkanes, esters, aldehydes and free alcohols. The nalkanes contained 4 major chain lengths, C₂₇, C₂₉, C₃₁ and C₃₃. Triacontanal and dotriacontanal were the major aldehydes. Octacosanol comprised 89% of the free alcohols. The esters were mainly esters of C₁₆ to C₂₄ acids with C₂₂ to C₃₀ alcohols.This research was supported by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome.