The effect of physostigmine on (Na++K+)-ATPase activity in different rat brain regions

Summary The activity of (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase and acetylcholine esterase were folloed in rat brain cerebral cortex, caudate, thalamus, hippocampus and medulla after i.v. administration of physostigmine. Both enzymes were found to be inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. The most pronounced inhibition of (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase was found in caudate. where the highest activity of acetylcholine esterase is found.These studies were supported by a grant from the Union of Science of Republic Serbia, No. 40404-14.     

Alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in rat myocardium membranes after prolonged ethanol inhalation

Summary After 3 weeks of continuous ethanol intoxication by inhalation, the maximal number and affinity of the -and -receptors of rat heart were unchanged. These data indicate that adrenergic receptor disturbances are not involved in the mechanism of chronic ethanol-induced triglyceride deposition in the heart.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by grants from the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale. We wish to thank Mr M. Clément for skilled technical assistance in performing chronic ethanol inhalation treatments.     

Inhibition of rat liver glutamine synthetase by phosphonic analogues of glutamic acid

Summary Analogues of glutamic acid, -methylglutamic acid and glutamine in which the -or -COOH groups are replaced by PO₃H₂ or P(O)(OH₃)OH functions competitively inhibit rat liver glutamine synthetase. The K₁ values are comparable to or lower than K_M for L-glutamate.This study was supported by grant R.1.9.     

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     

Inhibitory tripeptide,Lys-Phe-Tyr,as a fragment of physalaemin

Summary Several peptides were separated from-chymotrypsin-treated physalaemin by high voltage paper electrophoresis, and inhibition of the excitability of a molluscan giant neurone (tonically autoactive neurone) by the tripeptide, Lys-Phe-Tyr, was demonstrated.We thank Dr Sadaaki Iwanaga of Osaka University and Dr Atsuo Inoue of Daiichi Pharmaceutical CO for their helpful advice and the donation of the tripeptide (Lys-Phe-Tyr).     

Synthetic identification as a hexapeptide of alpha substance-IB inducing sexual agglutination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

For the identification of a peptidyl principle inducing sexual agglutination in the yeast, 2 supposed hexapeptides (1a, b) were synthesized by the conventional method. The 1a (H-Arg-Gly-Pro-Phe-Pro-Ile-OH) revealed complete identity with the natural peptide in TLC, MS and biological property on agglutination. The 1b showed the sexual agglutinability in the same degree as 1a, though distinct differences were observed in the chemical data. Both 1a and 1b had a strong bitter taste.     

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.     

Non-mendelial female sterility in Drosophila melanogaster: demonstration of an inducer chromosome 4]

Crosses between two classes of Drosophila melanogaster strains (reactive and inducer) may lead to partially sterile F1 females. This sterility, called S.F. sterility, can be characterized by its physiological features. It appears to be the result of an interaction between two factors: "R" brought into the initial croos by the reactive mother and "I" by chromosomes of the inducer father. Except for chromosome 4, each chromosome of the well known inducer strains may carry the I factor (inducer chromosomes). The present results provide evidence for the presence of an inducer fourth chromosome in the inducer strain Nagasaki.     

The effect of dehydration on the neurohypophyseal blood flow in rats with hereditary diabetes insipidus

Summary Neurohypophyseal blood flow increases in water-deprived rats. This increase is independent of vasopressin release, since it occurs even in rats with hereditary defect of hypothalamic vasopressin synthesis.Acknowledgment. The technical assistance of D. Vilimovská is acknowledged.     

Model of the effect of 4-aminopyridine at the level of potassium channels of the giant axon of the squid, Logigo forbesi L.]

Most of the effects of 4-aminopyridine on the potassium conductance of the giant axon of the Squid can be explained in terms of a simple model based on the physicochemical properties of the molecule and what is known about the structure of the potassium "channels".