TRH analogue with C-terminal thioamide group. Synthesis, receptor binding, TSH-releasing activity and alpha-MSH-releasing activity

A new TRH analogue containing a C-terminal thioamide group was synthesized. This peptide was shown to have receptor-binding affinity, and TSH- as well as alpha-MSH-releasing activities very similar to native TRH.     

The effect of intraventricular thyroxine administration on body temperature in dogs at rest and during physical exercise

Summary Infusion of 1 g thyroxine into the left cerebral ventricle of the dog did not change body temperature at rest, but it caused significantly higher increases in T_re during physical exercise.     

Organoselenides as potential immunostimulants and inducers of interferon gamma and other cytokines in human peripheral blood leukocytes

Summary A number of organoselenium compounds have been described as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, glutathione peroxidase-like agents and inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis. Here we report that bis [2-(N-phenyl-carboxamido)]phenyl diselenide, 2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one (Ebselen) and related compounds are inducers of interferon gamma (IFN-) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in human peripheral blood leukocytes. The IFN and TNF response was rapid, occurring within 20 h, and high-up to 1000 and 2000 units ml^–1-and was clearly related to the dosage and the structure of the compounds. The action of the compounds and phytohemagglutinin was synergistic. The IFN gamma and TNF production was reduced after removing adherent cells. Although the mode of action of the compounds is not known, they appear to interact directly or indirectly with both adherent and non-adherent leukocytes, and stimulate the synthesis of a set of different cytokines including factors controlling the cell proliferation. Therefore, organoselenides may be regarded as the biological response modifiers.     

Glutaminase activity in rat skeletal muscle mitochondria

Isolated rat skeletal muscle mitochondria took up about 40-ng-atoms O per mg protein, with glutamine as the only respiratory substrate. The mitochondria incubated in the presence of glutamine and KCN formed both ammonia and glutamate in equivalent amounts. The experiments reported here provide suggestive evidence that rat skeletal muscle mitochondria contain glutaminase (L-glutamine amidohydrolase EC 3.5.1.2.) activity.     

Inhibition of new blood vessel formation in mice by systemic administration of human rib cartilage extract

1 M HCl-guanidine extract of human funnel chest rib cartilage administered i.v. to mice decreased specifically vasoproliferation induced by intradermal injection of allogeneic murine lymphocytes.     

Dissection of the molecular mechanisms that control the nuclear accumulation of transport factors importin-α and CAS in stressed cells

The physiological state of eukaryotic cells controls nuclear trafficking of numerous cargos. For example, stress results in the inhibition of classical protein import, which is characterized by the redistribution of several transport factors. As such, importin-alpha and cellular apoptosis susceptibility protein (CAS) accumulate in nuclei of heat-shocked cells; however, the mechanisms underlying this relocation are not fully understood. We now show that heat upregulates the initial docking of importin-alpha at the nuclear envelope and stimulates the translocation of CAS into the nuclear interior. Moreover, heat exposure compromises the exit of importin-alpha from nuclei and drastically increases its retention in the nucleoplasm, whereas CAS nuclear exit and retention are less affected. Taken together, our results support the idea that heat shock regulates importin-alpha and CAS nuclear accumulation at several levels. The combination of different stress-induced changes leads to the nuclear concentration of both transport factors in heat-stressed cells.     

Decondensation of nuclear chromatin under the influence ofTris buffer

Résumé Des petits fragments de foie de rat ont été maintenus dans un tampon 2 mM tris HCl avec ou sans saccharose (concentration final 0,25M). L'incubation du tissus pendant au moins 1 h dans le tampontris cause une décondensation de la chromatine, qui peut être retardée par le saccharose. Les changements morphologiques des types de chromatine n'ont pas l'effet d'incorporer l'uridine dans le noyaux interphasiques du foie.     

Adaptation to histamine. histaminase activity

Résumé L'activité de l'histaminase de cobayes n'est pas modifiée par l'adaptation à l'histamine, soit par voie inhalatoire soit par voie intrapéritonéale.