A centrally induced vasodepressor response after intravenous administration of whole venom ofNaja mossambica pallida in cats

Summary Naja mossambica pallida venom administered i.v. (300 /kg) produces an initial brief fall in blood pressure, due to a direct myocardial depressant effect, and a sustained fall due to central depressant effect.This study was supported by University of Nairobi research grants (670–376). We also thank Mr E. Njogu for photographic assistance.     

Molecular analysis of spontaneous somatic mutants.

Eukaryotic structural gene mutations occurring spontaneously in a mouse myeloma cell line offer the opportunity to study somatic mutation in animal cells at the molecular level. Studies on the myeloma protein and on mRNA have enabled us to characterise four such mutants representing four different mutation mechanisms. The results may have some bearing on the origin of antibody diversity.     

Pulsating aurora induced by upper atmospheric barium releases

An effect which appeared to be pulsating aurora was observed to be associated with explosive releases of barium vapour near 250 km altitude, but only when the explosions were in the path of precipitating electrons associated with the visible aurora.     

Influence of PGA1 on cartilage growth

Summary Using the Fell technique of organ culture of cartilage in a chemically defined medium, it has been shown that prostaglandin A₁ at a concentration of 25 g/ml caused chondrocyte death in chick embryonic limb rudiments. An equimolar concentration of PGE₂ was not toxic to the cells.Acknowledgments. We are grateful for the support of C. J. K. by the Medical Research Council and of D. L. G. by the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council for Research. Our thanks are due to Dame Honor Fell, F. R. S. for invaluable advice and guidance, to Dr J. Pike (Upjohn Co.) for supplies of prostaglandin A₁, and to Dr Sylvia Fitton-Jackson for the gift of culture medium.     

A new one-step synthesis of hexahydrocannabinoid analogs

Summary A one-step synthesis of hexahydrocannabinoid analogs (HHC) is described making use of the condensation of phenolic ketones and aldehydes with citronellal in the presence of pyridine.Grateful thanks are accorded to Drs L. Chopard and S. Selvavinayakam for spectral measurements and Dr I. Fleming for useful discussion.R. Mechoulam and Y. Gaoni, Recent advances in the chemistry of Hashish, in: Progress in the Chemistry of Organic natural products, vol. 25, p. 175. Ed. L. Zechmeister. Springer Verlag, Wien 1967; R. Mechoulam, Marijuana Chemistry and Pharmacology, metabolism and clinical effects. Academic Press, New York 1973; R. Mechoulam, N. K. McCallum and S. Burstein, Chem. Rev.76, 75 (1976).     

Two monoclonal antibodies against different antigens using the same VH germ-line gene

Immunoglobulin diversity seems to arise largely by three mechanisms: (1) the existence of several germ-line genes, which must be rearranged before expression--that is, V and J for the light (L) chains, V, D and J for the heavy (H) chains; (2) somatic events, including mutations and gene conversion; and (3) combinatorial association of heavy and light chains, leading to the proposal that random pairing of p X H and q X L chains might generate p X q antibody molecules expressing discrete specificities. As heavy and light chains derived from the same immunoglobulin molecule would frequently reassociate preferentially, it is likely that only a fraction of potential heavy--light pairs actually provides "valid' antibodies. As a consequence of combinatorial heavy--light chain pairing, antibodies of discrete specificities sharing the same VH region, associated with distinct light chains (or vice versa) should be encountered. We report here that two heavy chains, derived from the same VH germ-line gene, may be present in anti-NP or anti--GAT antibodies, depending on their association with a specific lambda or kappa light chain, respectively.