Bicuculline and picrotoxin block γ-aminobutryic acid-gated Cl− conductance by different mechanisms

Summary Using isolated, internally perfused bullfrog dorsal root ganglion cells we have studied the dose-response curves for -aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the presence of internally or externally applied GABA antagonists. With external application of antagonists the inhibition of the GABA current by bicuculline was competitive and that by picrotoxin was noncompetitive. Picrotoxin but not bicuculline blocked when internally perfused.To whom reprint requests should be addressed.Acknowledgments. We thank Drs S. Minakami and S. Yasui for helpful discussions and comments.     

A new semisynthetic ergot peptide alkaloid: DCN 203-922

Summary We report the synthesis, stereochemistry and preliminary pharmacological evaluation of DCN 203-922, a novel ergot alkaloid of the cyclol type, which contains in its peptide moiety the uncommon amino acid L-allo-isoleucine.Part of this paper was reported by this author at the Herbstversammlung der Schweizerischen Chemischen Gesellschaft, Bern, in October 1986.     

土茯苓种苗质量分级标准研究

探究土茯苓(Smilax glabra)种苗质量分级标准,为土茯苓人工种植规范化发展奠定基础。本研究随机选取50株土茯苓种苗进行调查,首先应用相关分析确定苗木分级指标,然后通过逐步聚类分析法修正分级,最终计算出土茯苓种苗的苗木分级标准。结果表明,根数和球茎数为土茯苓种苗的质量分级指标。土茯苓种苗分级标准为Ⅰ级种苗：根数≥37.4,球茎数≥6.8;Ⅱ级种苗：28.3≤根数<37.4,4.2≤球茎数<6.8;Ⅲ级种苗：根数<28.3或球茎数<4.2。所抽取的土茯苓样苗中,Ⅰ、Ⅱ级种苗(合格苗)分别占34%和20%,Ⅲ级种苗(不合格苗)占46%。本研究通过逐步聚类分析法制定的土茯苓种苗质量分级标准结果可靠,说明此方法可行,能为土茯苓人工种植繁育研究以及生产优质的土茯苓种苗提供理论资料。     

Maternal vitamin A restriction alters biochemical development of the brain in rats

Summary The biochemical development of the fetal brain in relation to maternal vitamin A restriction was studied in rats. The vitamin A status of pregnant rats was varied by supplying low, medium and adequate amounts (6, 40, and 100 g retinol/day/kg body weight, respectively) of vitamin A during pregnancy and suckling. The maternal vitamin A restriction caused an altered brain development in terms of tissue weight, DNA, RNA and protein levels, and biosynthesis of DNA and protein from [³H]-thymidine and [³H]-leucine, respectively. A dose-dependent effect of maternal vitamin A restriction on the metabolism of DNA, RNA and protein was noticed in the developing fetal brain of rats.     

Hypothalamic histamine modulates adaptive behavior of rats at high environmental temperature

Summary Histamine content in the rat hypothalamus was lower at 4°C and higher at 31°C compared to that at 21°C. Pretreatment with -fluoromethylhistidine, a suicide inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase, attenuated both the increased level of hypothalamic histamine and rat adaptive behavior at 31°C. Increase of histamine content in the hypothalamus appears to be an important factor contributing to rat adaptive behavior to high environmental temperature.