9-α-hydroxyparthenolide,a novel antitumor sesquiterpene lactone fromAnvillea garcini (Burm.) DC1

Summary A novel sesquiterpene lactone, 9--hydroxyparthenolide (1) was isolated from a chloroform extract ofAnvillea garcini that was collected in Iran. The structure of1 was assigned on the basis of high field NMR decoupling experiments and other spectroscopic evidence. This -methylene lactone has shown significant activity in both the 9KB cell culture and P388 mouse leukemia test systems.The authors acknowledge the support of contract No. N01-CM-97296 from the National Cancer Institute and the use of the Purdue University Biochemical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory (NIH grant No. RR01077). This is paper 16 in the series Potential Antitumor Agents.     

Failure of somatostatin to influence experimental tumor cell growth in vivo and in vitro

Summary The influence of somatostatin on tumor cell growth was studied in vivo in mice (sarcoma 180 ascites tumor and Lewis lung tumor) and in vitro on nontransformed and polyoma-transformed cell lines. 4 or 20 g/100 g of cyclic somatostatin and 4 g/100 g of linear protamin Zn-bound somatostatin were injected s.c. twice daily in the in vivo study. Cyclic somatostatin (1, 4 or 10 g/ml) was added twice daily to the cell cultures. Somatostatin administration influenced neither the survival of animals nor the growth rate of cultured cell lines. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A2025117 00011     

Studies on muscle fibre splitting in skeletal muscle

Summary Autoradiographic, stereological and histological studies have been carried out to determine the origin of muscle fibre splitting which supposedly occurs during muscle hypertrophy. The results obtained clearly indicate that the supposedly split fibres are a transient response probably derived from satellite cells and are not derived from pre-existing fibres by true splitting. Similarly, increases in muscle fibre size are not achieved by recruitment of satellite structures as indicated by lack of myonuclear recruitment.Acknowledgment. This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the Medical Research Council of Great Britain. The authors are grateful for the excellent technical assistance of Miss H. Caulton, M.J. Wild and M. Fenner.     

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.     

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.