The suppression of mouse spontaneous locomotor activity by the ingestion of deuterium oxide.

The spontaneous locomotor activity of the laboratory mouse is significantly depressed by the ingestion of deuterium oxide. The response, which is reversible, is a retilinear one with up to 70% reduction in activity with the administration of 25% heavy water.     

Some aspects of the NMR-spectra of aporphine and phenanthrene alkaloids

Summary The C-11 proton of an aprophine possessing a C-1,2 methylenedioxy group falls relatively upfield between 7.47 and 7.86. Additionally, the i.c.s. for the two protons of the methylenedioxy group is large (4–12 Hz). The presence of a methylenedioxy at C-3,4 in a phenanthrene alkaloid also results in an upfield shift ( 8.95–9.00) of the C-5 proton.This project was supported by NIH research grant No. HL-12971, awarded by the National Heart and Lung Institute, PHS/DHEW.     

Effect of dipyridamole on human platelet phospholipids

Summary The effect of dipyridamole on platelet phospholipids has been studied. After the platelet incubation with dipyridamole, a 38% reduction in the concentration of the sphingomyelin and a 21% increase in phosphatidyl choline were produced.     

Effect of heat treatment on the ATPase activity of various sarcoplasmic reticulum preparations.

Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) preparations is activated after a short period of preincubation at temperatures between 40 and 45 degrees C, but for temperatures higher than 48 degrees C pronounced denaturation is observed. Heat denaturation is decreased if Mg2+ or K+ are present during heat treatment.     

Does an inhibitor of mitochondrial adenylate kinase also affect oxidative phosphorylation?

Summary Adenylate kinase activity of intact mitochondria is strongly inhibited by Ap₅A, i.e.p ¹,p ⁵-Di (adenosine-5-) pentaphosphate, whereas oxidative phosphorylation is not affected. Therefore, Ap₅A is a useful tool to distinguish between oxidative and non oxidative ATP generating reactions.Acknowledgment. The generous support of Prof. Dr.Walther Lamprecht is gratefully acknowledged. J. L. thanks the Stipendienfonds des Verbandes der Chemische Industrie for a scholarship.     

Organization of myosin molecules in the muscle thick filament

Summary Tryptic treatment of muscle thick filaments reveals the underlying backbones of aggregatedl-meromyosin as a coli of 3 secondary filaments (helical repeat 130 nm) each in turn a coli of a 3 finer ones.     

Blood plasma investigations by resonance raman spectroscopy: Detection of carotenoid pigments

Summary Using Raman spectroscopy, we demonstrate that low levels of -carotene, lycopene, and xanthophyll give rise to resonance enhanced bands in blood plasma. These results explain the significance of previously unidentified spectral maxima which have been related to the state of health of the blood donor.     

Sur l'inversion de l'action hypertensive de la prostaglandine F2α, chez le rat

Summary In normal rats, prostaglandin F₂ is a potent vasoconstrictor. The corresponding systemic hypertension is progressively attenuated by tachyphylaxis, revealing a longlasting fall of blood pressure. Tachyphylaxis is accelerated by previous injection of arachidonic acid and bradykinin. The vasodepressive activity of PGF₂ is inhibited by indomethacin.

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Nous remercions vivement le docteurPike (Upjohn, Kalamazoo) qui nous a fourni gracieusement ces prostaglandines.     

Influence of cyclic nucleotides on protein synthesis in vascular smooth muscle

Summary The incorporation of leucice-¹⁴C into protein in bovine mesenteric arteries was augmented by cyclic GMP (10^–3 M) and decreased by cyclic AMP (10^–3 M). There was no effect of 5 AMP (10^–3 M). The phosphodiesterase inhibiting drugs theophylline (10^–3 M) and papaverine (5×10^–5 g/ml) both decreased the leucine-¹⁴C incorporation.We are indebted to Mrs.Lena Burlin for hear assistance. Finacial support has been provided by the Swedish State Medical Research Council (No. 04X-101X-4498).     

Ecdysone 20-hydroxylase from the midgut of the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta L.)

Summary An ecdysone 20-hydroxylase enzyme system that converts -ecdysone to 20-hydroxyecdysone was prepared from the midgut of the tobacco hornworm prepupa. This partially purified enzyme is NADPH dependent and is localized in the mitochondrial fraction of the midgut tissue.