Starfish encounters: An experimental study of its advantages

Summary The predatory starfishCrossaster papposus exploits a chemically mediated escape response in another predatory starfishAsteria rubens when a common food resource is available to both species. Intraspecific avoidance amongC. papposus is strong and functions in dispersal. Responses to inter- and intraspecific encounters among starfish may be important to the predatory ecology of species in high positions in their food webs.I thank the MAFF. Fisheries Lab., Burnham-on-Crouch for hospitality and facilities, Prof. N.B. Marshall, F.R.S. and Dr A.C. Campbell for laboratory facilities at Q.M.C.     

Appearance of sperm activation factors in the ovary of the sea urchinHemicentrotus pulcherrimus with maturation

Summary Ovaries of the sea urchinHemicentrotus pulcherrimus were extracted with 70% ethanol. The extracts were polarographically assayed for respiration-stimulating activity toward homologous spermatozoa. The data of the bioassay and light microscopic observation on thin sections of the ovaries showed detectable activity only in mature ovaries.We thank the Misaki Marine Biological Station for kindly supplying us with specimens. This work was supported in part by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan.     

Effect of sodium butyrate in combination with X0irradiation,chemotherapeutic and cyclic AMP stimulating agents on neuroblastoma cells in culture

Summary Sodium butyrate, X-irradiation, chemotherapeutic agents and cyclic AMP-stimulating agents caused reduction in the cell number (due to cell death and reduction in cell division) when added individually to mouse neuroblastoma cells in culture. However, the combination of sodium butyrate with X-irradiation, chemotherapeutic and cyclic AMP-stimulating agents produced a greater reduction in the cell number than that produced by the individual agents.     

Reputed rat scotophobin prepared by a solid-phase procedure shown invalid by comparison with a product derived from a classical synthesis on the basis of physical and biological properties

Zusammenfassung Eine Synthese von Scotophobin mit klassischen Methoden ergab ein Produkt, das sich vom natürlichen Peptid hinsichtlich seiner biologischen, chromatographischen und physiologischen Eigenschaften unterschied. Es wird daraus gefolgert, dass die für das natürliche Produkt vorgeschlagene Strukturformel nicht korrekt ist.     

Combined action of ribovirin and rimantadine in experimental myxovirus infection

Summary This communication presents the results of the comparative study of the chemotherapeutic activity of ribovirin (virazol) and rimantadine and their combined action on the experimental influenza infection in tissue culture and in vivo.     

Actinomycin binding and uridine incorporation by human normal bone marrow cells

Riassunto Nel midollo umano normale, parallelamente alla differenziazione cellulare delle linee mieloide ed eritroide, si osserva, per l'incorporazione dell'uridina nell'ARN, una diminuzione maggiore di quella della fissazione dell'actinomicina-D alla cromatina.     

Interaction of chinoform with electron transfer system of rat liver microsomes

Zusammenfassung Nachweis, dass Chinoform, 5-chloro 7-iodo 8-quinolinol, mit Mikrosomen der Rattenleber weder hydroxyliert noch dehalogeniert werden kann. Inkubation mit Chinoform vermindert die Komponenten des elektronischen Transfersystems, was auch mit in vivo-Versuchen festgestellt wurde.