A simple procedure for removal of intra- and extra-tumoral macrophages from primary tumor cultures

Summary Improved growth of tumor cells in primary cell suspensions isolated from solid tumors can be achieved by addition of an antifungal agent, mycostatin, to the culture medium. Mycostatin inhibits the cytotoxicity of macrophages and also quickly detaches phagocytes without any apparent retardation of the growth of tumor cells. This method is particularly useful for obtaining cultures of lung tumor cells or cells from lung metastases of other tumors.This research was supported in part by grants CA-22839 and CA-28482 awarded by the National Cancer Institute, DHEW, USA. This is publication No. 406 from the Department of Basic and Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Medical University of South Carolina.We thank Charles L. Smith for editorial assistance. Address correspondence to Y. Y., Department of Basic and Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29403, USA.     

Adenosine-induced slow ionic currents in the Xenopus oocyte

Adenosine and its 5'-phosphorylated congeners evoke specific membrane-mediated responses in excitable tissues. Available data suggest that inhibition of the target cell occurs due to hyperpolarization, and in some preparations a compound effect of ATP (excitation and inhibition) has been found. However, the ionic mechanism of the purinergic-mediated response has not been studied by standard intracellular voltage-clamping techniques. Recently, we have discovered purinergic receptors in the Xenopus oocyte, a well defined giant cell amenable to rigorous electrophysiological and biochemical studies. We report here that in these cells, adenosine-induced slow membrane responses consisted of an early depolarizing (D) transient current carried by Cl ions, followed by a steady hyperpolarizing (H) current involving K+ ions. The relative potency sequence for the D current was ATP congruent to ADP greater than AMP congruent to adenosine; this order was reversed for the H current.     

Molekulargewichtsbestimmung von Kalbsherzmyosin

Summary Sedimentation and diffusion coefficients, partial specific volume, intrinsic viscosity, ATP-ase activity and molecular weight of cardiac myosin from calf hearts were determined. The values agree well with the results ofMueller et al.⁴ for cardiac myosin of the dog, and are not essentially different from values reported for skeletal myosins.¹      

On the prevention of loss of RNA into lipid solvents

Résumé La perte de RNA dans les solvants tels que l'éthanol et l'acétone, au cours de la délipidation des nucléoprotéines précipitées par l'acide, peut être évitée en traitant le précipité (obtenu à une concentration quelconque d'acide trichloracétique) par le dioxane avant d'extraire avec les autres solvants délipidants usuels.     

Ecdysterone: an insect moulting hormone fromAchyranthes aspera (amaranthaceae)

Résumé L'ecdystérone, hormone de mue des insectes a été extraite de l'Achyranthes aspera et identifiée par des méthodes chromatographiques et spectroscopiques.     

A possible process of the secondary sterilization: Delayed anovulation syndrome

Zusammenfassung Die Wirkung verschiedener Testosterondosen auf die postpuberale Ovulation von Ratten wurde untersucht, wobei an Ovarien der Nachweis gelang, dass der anovulatorische Zustand nach der Pubertät testosteron-dosisabhängig ist.

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Supported by a research grant from the Ministry of Education of Japan.