Impaired amylase release from the parotid gland of rats treated with reserpine.

Using an automated system for the analysis of amylase, the release of this enzyme was compared in superfused parotid gland segments from control and reserpine treated rats. Stimulant-evoked amylase release was delayed and of smaller magnitude in the glands of the treated animals and a reduction of the transmembrane K+ gradient caused a smaller and short lasting reduction in Ach-evoked release of amylase in the glands from these animals.     

Affinity chromatography of human serum proteins using matrix bound lectin fromViscum album L.

Summary The D-galactose specific lectin fromViscum album L. reacts with serum proteins that contain the corresponding D-galactopyranosyl residues. By affinity chromatography of human serum on lectin-sepharose IgM, ₂-macroglobulin, haptoglobin and -lipoprotein were quantitatively retained. Only parts of IgA, IgG and transferrin were retarded. The other serum proteins are unbounded as albumin, ₁A– and ₁C.     

(−)-Maalian-5-ol,a new enantiomeric sesquiterpenoid from the liverwortPlagiochila ovalifolia

Summary A new enantiomeric sesquiterpene alcohol named (–)-maalian-5-ol was isolated from the liverwort, and the structure and absolute configuration was determined to be the stereostructureI by chemical and spectral evidence.The authors express their gratitude to Dr H. Inoue, National Science Museum, for identification of the liverwort, and Prof. T. Tokoroyama, Osaka City University, for sending of the data of (–)--maaliene and (+)-selina-5,11-diene. Thanks are also due to the Ministry of Education for financial support of this work.     

The effect of acidic polysaccharides and prostaglandin-like substances isolated from Propionibacterium acnes on granulocyte chemotaxis.

Three acidic polysaccharide (AP) fractions and the prostaglandin-like substances (PLS) isolated from P. acnes were investigated regarding their chemotactic activities on polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Both AP's and PLS induced a significant chemotatic response, which suggests their involvement in inflammatory acne vulgaris.     

Effect of insulin on immunological phagocytosis by macrophages.

It was shown that, in physiological concentrations, insulin enhances, in vitro, the immunological phagocytosis of sensitized sheep erythrocytes by cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages. Insulin seems to stimulate macrophage phagocytosis as a cholinomimetic agonist by increasing the intracellular levels of cyclic GMP.     

PPD-induced blastogenesis is auto-regulated by suppressor cells generated in vitro.

Suppressor cell induction can be demonstrated during antigen specific blastogenesis by using the same methods which have shown induction of suppressor cells by Con A. Since suppressor cells are rapidly generated during antigen specific blastogenesis, they must regulate the final level of blastogenesis induced during the seven day in vitro incubation.     

Increase in Na+, K+ -ATPase enzyme units in liver and kidneys from essential fatty acid deficient rats.

(3H)-Ouabain binding to liver and kidney preparations was utilized to estimate the number of Na+, K+-ATPase enzyme units in livers and kidneys from rats fed 2% corn oil supplemented or fat-free diets. The specific (3H)-ouabain binding in liver and kidney preparations from fatty acid deficient rats was increased approximately 40%, but the affinity of the binding sites for ouabain (Kd-value) remained unchanged. The increased concentration of Na+, K+-ATPase enzyme units observed in the essential fatty acid deficient rats may contribute to the reduced body fat accumulation and elevated heat production observed in these animals.     

The structure of amoorastatone and the cytotoxic limonoid 12-hydroxyamoorastatin

Summary 2 new limonoid-type terpenes have been isolated from an aqueous extract of seeds produced by the Eastern Himalayan (India) plantAphanamixis grandifolia Bl. By interpreting principally mass spectral and nuclear magnetic resonance data, the structures of 12-hydroxyamoorastatin (2b) and amoorastatone (3) were elucidated. Unequivocal evidence for the 12-hydroxyamoorastatin structural assignment was obtained by chemical conversion to sendanin (4). Amoorastatin derivative2b was found to significantly inhibit growth of the murine P388 lymphocytic leukemia cell lines but amoorastatone in the same system was inactive. In a comparative biological study, sendanin (4) and anthothecol (7) were also found significantly to inhibit growth of the P388 cell line, while rohitukin (8) and limonin (9) were found to be inactive.Part 63 of the series Antineoplastic Agents. For the previous contribution refer to G.R. Pettit, T.S. Krupa and R.M. Reynolds, Int. J. Peptide Protein Res., in preparation. The present investigation was supported in part by Public Health Research Grant No. CA-16049-05 from the National Cancer Institute, the Fannie E. Rippel Foundation, Mrs Mary Dell Pritzlaff, the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Foundation, Mr John F. Schmidt, and the Phoenix Coca-Cola Bottling Company.     

A rotating bottle culture method with continuous replacement of the gas phase

Summary A rotator culture method is described which provides a continuous flow of oxygenating gas to cultures in rotating bottles. The system maintains constant O₂ and CO₂ levels in the culture medium throughout the incubation period. It also provides a more stable pH than systems with sealed culture bottles.Acknowledgments. We would like to thank Mr B. Secker, Mr C. Hellon and Mr S. J. Ellis, of the Physiological Laboratory workshop, for constructing the rotator apparatus. We also thank the Medical Research Council, London, for financial support for the project.     

Trans-4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid (ferulic acid) inhibits the effect of androgens on the rat prostate

Summary Trans-4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid (ferulic acid, FA) antagonized the effect of exogenous androgens on the ventral prostate (VP) in castrated rats as well as the effect of endogenous androgens in intact rats. FA, however, had no effect on the seminal vesicles (SV) and levator ani muscle (LAM), nor oestrogenic effect in female rats and mice. FA did not antagonize the receptor binding of testosterone nor inhibit the conversion of testosterone into 5-dihydrotestosterone (DHT).Supported in part by the project fund (grant 53-403) of Kawasaki Medical School.The authors would like to thank the Central Laboratory, Sankyo Pharmaceutical Co., Tokyo, for supplying 19-nortestosterone-17-ferulate.