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.     

Etude ultrastructurale de la transformation du corps élémentaire en corps initial chez lesRickettsiella

Summary An intermediate stage between the elementary and the initial bodies of theRickettsiella genus is defined as the beginning of an intracellular cycle. It is characterized by several structural changes in the dense elementary body: the cytoplasm becomes less electron-dense; thus, the nucleoid and the ribosomes are visible. The inner layer of the cell-wall becomes progressively clearer and the trilamellar structure of the inner and outer membranes appears distinctly. Preinitial body is proposed as name of this stage of development.     

A rotating bottle culture method with continuous replacement of the gas phase

Summary A rotator culture method is described which provides a continuous flow of oxygenating gas to cultures in rotating bottles. The system maintains constant O₂ and CO₂ levels in the culture medium throughout the incubation period. It also provides a more stable pH than systems with sealed culture bottles.Acknowledgments. We would like to thank Mr B. Secker, Mr C. Hellon and Mr S. J. Ellis, of the Physiological Laboratory workshop, for constructing the rotator apparatus. We also thank the Medical Research Council, London, for financial support for the project.     

In vitro inactivation of corpora allata of the bugOncopeltus fasciatus by precocene II

Summary Corpora allata fromOncopeltus fasciatus incubated in vitro in medium containing 10^–5.35 M (1 g/ml) of precocene II lose their ability to secrete juvenile hormone when reimplanted into last instar larvae.Acknowledgments. We thank Mr K. Dorn, Mrs L. Dolezal, Mrs V. Nötzli-Graf, Mr K.H. Trautmann and Mr A. Schuler for technical help, Dr W. Vogel and Dr A. Dübendorfer for valuable discussions.     

Effect of dihydroergocristine infusion on tolbutamide-induced insulin secretion in man

Summary The insulinemic response to 1 g of tolbutamide i.v. is greatly enhanced (+145%) after a 60-min infusion of the -lytic dihydrogenated ergot alkaloid, dihydroergocristine (83.3 m/min, corresponding to a total dose of 5 mg) in 7 healthy subjects. No differences are observed in the glycemic responses.Acknowledgment. The authors are grateful to Mr Franco Della Sala, M.D., for his skillful technical assistance.     

Neurotransmitter synthesis inLimulus ventral nerve photoreceptors

Summary Radiochemical precursor compounds for neurotransmitters were incubated withLimulus ventral nerve photoreceptor preparations. Octopamine was preferentially synthesized by a photoreceptor rich fraction of the nerve, acetylcholine was made by a photoreceptor poor fraction, and -aminobutyric acid was made about equally well in both fractions. The possibility that the ventral nerve photoreceptor cells serve a neurosecretory function in the adultLimulus is discussed.From the Neurobiology Course, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass. The Neurobiology Course is supported by grants from the Grass, Sloan and Sandoz Foundation and from Merck, Sharp and Dohme Research Institute.     

Lysergic acid diethylamide affects blood flow to specific areas of the conscious rat brain

Zusammenfassung Die i.v. Verabreichung von LSD an Ratten steigert den Blutkreislauf im Hirnstamm sowie im frontalen und parietalen Cortex selektiv. Es wurden durch 6-Nor-LSD, 2-Methyl-LSD und ^{8, 9}-LSD weder wahrnehmbare Verhaltensänderungen noch Änderungen des regionalen Blutkreislaufs verursacht.     

Conservation of cytoplasmic poly (A)-containing RNA in mouse and rat.

By comparing the melting temperature of DNA-DNA duplexes between related species, it is shown that total single-copy DNA evolves at a faster rate that DNA which is transcribed into poly (A)-containing RNA. Such a comparison suggests that at least 70% of rat single-copy DNA does not code for protein.