Removal of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporated in liver DNA of newborn and young adult rats

Summary 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BUdR) removal from liver DNA in newborn and young adult rats has been demonstrated: it forms the basis of a reliable method to measure DNA repair in tissues provided with detectable DNA synthetic activity.This work was supported by a grant from Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, and Donazione Teston, Bologna, Italy.     

Biosynthèse in vitro d'octopamine par le système nerveux et le cœur du mollusque gastéropodeHelix pomatia

Summary The tyrosine is decarboxylated in vitro by the central nervous tissue and by the intracardiac nervous tissue ofHelix pomatia by aromatic amino-acid decarboxylase. The tyramine obtained is the partially transformed into octopamine by tyramine--hydroxylase. The inhibition of monoamine oxidase favours apparition of the 2 amines. The monoamine oxidase seems able to regulate their synthese and to assure their inactivation.

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Biosynthèse in vitro d'octopamine par le système nerveux et le cur du mollusque gastéropodeHelix pomatia

     

Chromosome variations inXenopsylla astia Rothschild, 1911 (Siphonaptera). A preliminary report

Summary 2 populations of rat fleas,Xenopsylla astia, collected from (A) Bombay and (B) Trivandrum, were found to differ in chromosome number as follows; (A) 2n=10 in both sexes; (B) 2n=18 (male) and 20 (female). Preliminary observations have further shown that the 2 populations differ in certain morphological characters and that their reciprocal hybrids are sterile in the male and partially sterile in the female sex.Acknowledgments. We wish to express our deepest gratitude to Dr Robert E. Lewis, Professor of Entomology, Iowa State University, USA, for confirming our identification of the 2 samples of rat fleas. We are indebted to Dr N.R. Prabhoo, Reader in Zoology, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, for his advice and helpful suggestions. We are also indebted to Prof. K.M. Alexander, for encouragement and providing facilities. Financial help of the University Grants Commission, India, to one of us (C.T.) is also gratefully acknowledged.     

Inhibition of noradrenaline release from sympathetic nerves by pentobarbital

Summary Pentobarbital concentrations of 10–100 M selectively inhibited the noradrenaline release evoked by activation of the nicotinic receptors on the terminals sympathetic nerves of the rabbit heart. Higher concentrations also decreased the noradrenaline release induced by KCl or by electrical stimulation of the nerve axons.This paper is dedicated to Professor Dr. G. Malorny on the occasion of his 65th birthday.Acknowledgment: We thank Mrs G. Thielecke for technical assistance.     

Effect of beta-adrenergic blockade on intramuscular triglyceride mobilization during exercise

Summary It was shown in the rat that mobilization of intramuscular triglyceride during exercise is controlled by the adrenergic system.Acknowledgments. The work was supported by the Polish Academy of Sciences, grant No. 10.4.2.01.3.2.     

An assessment of the effect of hormone and neurotransmitters on adenine and gluanine derivatives simultaneously in rat brain cortical slices

Summary A 2-dimensional thin-layer method has been developed for the separation on cellulose of adenine and guanine derivatives. Using incubated rat cerebral cortex slices it was shown that noradrenaline and acetylcholine stirnulated cAMP and cGMP production respectively but glutamate and -aminobutyric acid stimulated production of both cyclic nucleotides.     

Migration of lymphoid cells to the bone marrow of rat following eradication of cells in DNA synthesis and in mitosis

Summary Eradication of replicating bone marrow cells of rat by means of combined administration of single doses of hydroxyurea and vinblastin is followed within 9–10 h by an inflow of lymphoid cells of extramedullary origin in the range of 13,200,000/femur. The rat bone marrow with a high content of lymphoid cells was previously shown to be concentrated in stem cells. The factor(s) which convey the information of decrease of replicating marrow cells to extramedullary sites is at present unknown.Acknowledgment. This study was supported by a grant from the Chief Scientist Office, Ministry of Health, Israel.Hydroxyurea for this investigation was given as a gift by the Squibb Institute of Medical Research, Princeton, N.J. USA, to which the authors are indebted.     

The effect ofγ-irradiation on soil enzyme stability

Summary Arylsulphatase, -1,3 glucanase, phosphatase and urease responded differently to -irradiation (5–50 Mrad) in air-dried and moist soils. In all instances phosphatase was the most stable. The variability between enzymes may be due to inherent biochemical and stuctural characteristics or to their location within the soil microenvironment.Supported by a grant from the NERC.     

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.