Preparation and oxygen binding properties of soluble covalent hemoglobin-dextran conjugates

Summary Stroma-free hemoglobin solutions present some drawbacks when used as blood substitutes, essentially because the hemoprotein has a low vascular retention, due to its small hydrodynamic volume. Covalent coupling of the protein with dextran derivatives artificially increases its size and affords polymeric conjugates whose oxygen-binding properties (Barcroft's curve, Hill coefficient) depend on the molecular weight.The authors wish to thank Prof. J. Neel and Prof. C. Vigneron for useful discussions and criticism.     

Spontaneously (genetic) hypertensive rats: Naloxone-reversible and propranolol-reversible decrease in pain sensitivity

Summary Adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are less sensitive to painful stimuli than their normotensive controls, Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. This difference can be eliminated by the specific opiate antagonist, naloxone, and by the -adrenergic blocking agent, propranol.Acknowledgment. The author wishes to thank Miss R. L. Holcomb for her editorial assistance.     

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.     

Stimulation of glucagon and inhibition of insulin secretion evoked from carotid baroreceptors.

The influence from carotid baroreceptors on portal immuno-reactive glucagon and insulin levels and on arterial plasma glucose concentration was studied in vagotomized cats by sectioning of the sinus nerves. Such a complete elimination of the afferent baroreceptor discharge caused a prompt and pronounced increase in the glucose and glucagon levels, whereas the insulin concentration significantly decreased. The role of vascular barorecptors in the hyperglycemic response to hemorrhage is discussed.     

Snake venom action: Are enzymes involved in it?

Summary Enzymes were the first clearly recognized components of snake venoms. When several more were discovered, attempts were made to correlate venom action with enzymic functions. The last few years have seen most successful efforts in the identification, isolation and structural elucidation of highly toxic polypeptides present in snake venoms, in particular of neurotoxins and membrane-active toxins. Following this development the polypeptides were called the true toxic components and the enzymes lost their previous central position in venom pharmacology. The time, therefore, has come to re-evaluate the role of enzymes in the complex interaction between snake and prey. While highly active polypeptides indeed dominate the action of hydrophiid venoms, they appear to play a lesser role in crotalid venom action as compared with enzyme components. Enzymes are involved in many levels of venom action, e. g. by serving as spreading factors, of by producing very active agents, such as bradykinin and lysolecithins in tissues of preys or predators. Some toxins, e. g. the membrane-active polypeptides appear to participate in the interaction between membrane phospholipids and venom phospholipases. The classical neurotoxin, -bungarotoxin, has been recognized as a powerful phospholipase. Several instances are known which indicate that some enzymes potentiate the toxic action of others; the analysis of a single enzyme may, therefore, not fully reveal its biofunction. For 3 enzymes, ophidianl-amino acid oxidase, ATPpyrophosphatase, and acetylcholinesterase, some of the problems pertaining to venom toxicity are discussed.     

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.     

Irreversible shock in rats after injection of microspheres into the renal artery

Summary After injection of microspheres into both renal arteries of rats, an irreversible shock syndrome develops, resulting in death within 4–12 h. Ligation of both renal pedicles after injection of microspheres prevents the shock. It is presumed that kininogenases released from the kidneys participate in the pathogenesis of the shock syndrome.These studies were supported in part by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft within the SFB 90, Cardiovasculäres System.     

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.