Age-dependent response of lactate dehydrogenase of pituitary of rat to testosterone

Summary The effects of time and various doses of testosterone on the responsiveness of lactate dehydrogenase of pituitary of 7-, 38- and 78-week-old rats were studied. The activity of the enzyme increases in 78-week-old rats. Castration decreases the enzyme activity at all ages. Maximum increase in the enzyme activity is seen with 50 and 100 g of testosterone 4 h after administration of hormone to castrated rats. No further time and dose-dependent effect is observed. The magnitude of increase for the enzyme is higher at the age of 38 weeks and decreases in 78-week-old rats.To whom all correspondence should be addressed. The authors are grateful to Professor M.S. Kanungo, Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University for the suggestions and encouragement. K.V.G. thanks the PL-480 for a research fellowship.     

Large-scale purification of hepatitis B surface antigen using affinity chromatography

Summary Large-scale purification of hepatitis B surface antigen, applicable to the preparation of potential vaccines for prevention of hepatitis B, is described. The method involves the following steps: precipitation of serum with polyethylene glycol 6000, affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose and on -aminononyl-Sepharose, and isopycnic centrifugation.This study was supported by grant 09011 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. We thank Dr. B. Hollinger for testing HB_sAg samples by a complement fixation test.     

Degradation of ribosomal RNA from Escherichia coli by ribonuclease U2 and in vitro transcription of "RNA-fragments" into complementary DNA]

Under well defined conditions ribosomal RNAs purified from Escherichia coli can be degraded by ribonuclease U2 giving rise to RNA fragments of 60--70 nucleotides. In vitro, these fragments are efficiently transcribed into a complementary DNA by DNA polymerase RNA dependent, partially purified from extracts of E. coli. In vivo, "RNA-fragments-U2" inhibit the development of plant tumors.     

Mammalian spot test with moxnidazole, a 5-nitroimidazole

Moxnidazole [3-(5-nitrol-1-methyl-2-imidazolyl)-methyleneamino-5-morpholinomethyl-2-oxazolidinone, HCl], known to be mutagenic in microbial tests and Drosophila, induced genetic alterations in somatic cells of mice. Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) served as positive control.     

Seasonal variations in fat body metabolism of the green frog Rana esculenta (L.).

Rana esculenta (L.), kept under natural conditions, show almost constant body weights in the annual cycle. Fat body weight, however, has a distinct maximum in October decreasing continuously to a May minimum which is also evident in the fat body index. The triglyceride and protein contents show the same course. Suprisingly high amounts of glycogen are found, which reach a maximum in August.     

Giant collagen fibres in the gonopodium of the mosquitofishHeteradria formosa,Agassiz, 1853 (Pisces,Poeciliidae)

Summary The gonopodium of the mosquitofishHeteradria formosa was studied by transmission electron microscopy. In cross-section the gonopodium shows the following structure from the outside inwards: mutilayered epidermis, basal lamina and central supporting tissue, in which vessels and nerves are embedded. At the top of the gonopodium giant collagen fibres are found, which measure up to 150 m in length and 6 m in diameter. These fibres reinforce the gonopodium.This research was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Address for reprints: Forschungsgruppe Dermatologie der Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, D-6900 Heidelberg.     

Epithelial-mesenchymal interaction in differentiation of duodenal epithelium of fetal rats in organ culture

Summary Epithelial-mesenchymal interaction in the differentiation of duodenal epithelium of fetal rats was investigated by recombination experiments in vitro. The proportion of goblet cells in duodenal epithelium was significantly greater on recombination of developing duodenal epithelium with mesenchyme of the glandular stomach than on recombination with that of the duodenum. Mesenchyme of the glandular stomach or forestomach was better than duodenal mesenchyme in supporting morphogenesis of duodenal epithelium. Treatment of tissues with N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) did not affect these tissue interactions.This work was supported by grants-in-aid for cancer research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan.Acknowledgment. The authors wish to express their gratitude to Prof. T. Mizuno of the University of Tokyo for valuable suggestions.     

Circadian rhythm ofβ-glucuronidase

Summary The circadian rhythm of rat liver-glucuronidase has been studied in animals kept under highly standardized laboratory condition. A clear 24 h rhythm has been observed for this enzyme with a peak activity at 01.00 h and a trough at 13.00 h.The work was carried out in Institut für Anatomie I, Medical School, Hannover (Federal Republic of Germany). Supported by grants from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Sonderforschungsbereich 146 and VW Stiftung, Hannover A2 11.2000.