Incorporation of α-aminobutyric acid into ergostine byClaviceps purpurea

Summary Claviceps purpurea 275 F.I. fed with -aminobutyric acid produces ergostine with the corresponding -hydroxy--aminoacid undiluted by endogenous aminoacid. Almost all the -aminobutyric acid not incorporated into the ergostine remains unchanged in the medium. The significance of these results in the biosynthesis of ergot alkaloids is discussed.     

In vivo effects of Escherichia coli endotoxin on sulfobromophthalein clearance in the guinea-pig.

In vivo studies indicated that the primary effects of E. coli endotoxin on hepatic clearance of sulfobromophthalein were at the excretory level. Newborns were more sensitive to the LPS than older animals.     

Effect of aldosterone and methylprednisolone on cardiac NaK-ATPase

Summary Aldosterone (15 g BID) and methylprednisolone (8 mg QD) administration to female guinea-pigs augmented both the total and the specific activity of NaK-ATPase but not the activity of adenylate cyclase in the cardiac sarcolemma. The rise in NaK-ATPase was due to increase in the number of enzyme molecules; catalytic activity and ouabain-sensitivity of individual molecules did not change.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by grant 1 R01 HL16611 from the National Heart and Lung Institute of the National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service. I thank Mr Kooil Kang for his excellent technical assistance.     

Some properties of the goat placental lactogen

Summary Goat placental lactogen was partially purified from a medium collected after placental tissue incubation. The data obtained by disc electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing experiments, as well as by means of radioreceptor assay methods, provide evidence of the similarity between the goat and ovine placental lactogen.The careful technical assistance of L. Tichovská is gratefuly acknowledged.     

Early foetal thrombosis induced by Thalidomide in mouse: Possible explanation for teratogenicity

Summary Mouse foetuses were treated by Thalidomide on days 11–12 in order to verify whether the drug would induce blood abnormalities leading to circulatory troubles. About 18% of the treated foetuses showed both severe limb haemorrhages on day 14, and obvious alterations of the nucleated red blood cells of vitelline origin. These blood abnormalities, occurring suddenly during the well-known critical stage of foetal development, could be responsible for circulatory blocks leading to necrosis.     

Lithium exchange in from epithelium: determination of unidirectional flux using the stable isotopes 6Li and 7Li in an ionic analyzer]

The use of the stable isotopes 6 and 7 of lithium, and detection with the ionic analyser, allow the measurement of unidirectional transepithelial Li-fluxes, between "external" and "internal" solutions which both contain 80% Na and 20% Li. Efflux was found to be bigger than influx. An important lag-phase on the curve, reveals the interference of a Li-compartment, with a high capacity, in the epithelium itself.     

Changes in ecdysone levels in the spiderPisaura mirabilis nymphs (Araneae,Pisauridae)

Summary RIA of ecdysones are made on nymphal extracts ofPisaura mirabilis during the intermoulting cycle. The hormone level is low during exuviation and the greatest part of the intermoulting period but increases notably before and after ecdysis. The main hormonal peak or pre-ecdysial peak is due to -ecdysone, characterized by combined TLC/RIA.Acknowledgment. We wish to thank Dr M. Hirn for his help during the manipulations and J. Britton who has translated the text into English.     

An electrophoretic investigation of the binding of 3-14C coumarin to rat serum proteins

Summary The binding of coumarin to serum proteins of the rat has been demonstrated. Of the total bound coumarin (37% of injected dose), 36% was bound to the slow and fast ₁ globulins, 11% to the post albumins, 10% to globulin and 9% to albumin.