Age distribution of circulatingα-interferon

Summary A sensitive radioimmunoassay showed that circulating -interferon in the plasma of healthy individuals was low in children and reached the highest level in the young adult, then declined gradually with age. Circulating -interferon was 0.201±0.059 ng/ml in males (n=19) and 0.184±0.076 ng/ml in females (n=14) at ages 30–39 years old. It was noted that circulating -interferon was maintained up to a certain level even in elderly individuals.     

Using genetically-defined rodent strains for the identification of hippocampal traits relevant for two-way avoidance behavior: a non-invasive approach

Summary Genetically-defined rodent strains permit the identification of hippocampal traits which are of functional relevance for the performance of two-way avoidance behavior. This is exemplified here by analyzing the relationship between infrapyramidal mossy fibers (a tiny projection terminating upon the basal dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal neurons) and two-way avoidance learning in about 800 animals. The necessary steps include 1) identification of structural traits sensitive to selective breeding for extremes in two-way avoidance, 2) testing the robustness of the associations found by studying individual and genetical correlations between hippocampal traits and behavior, 3) establishing causal relationships by Mendelian crossing of strains with extreme structural traits and studying the behavioral consequences of such structural randomization, 4) confirming causal relationships by manipulating the structural variable in inbred (isogenic) strains, thereby eliminating the possibility of genetic linkage, and 5) ruling out the possibility of spurious associations by studying the correlations between the hippocampal trait and other behaviors known to depend on hippocampal functioning.In comparison with the classical lesion approach for identifying relationships between brain and behavior, the present procedure appears to be superior in two aspects: it is non-invasive, and it focuses automatically on those brain traits which are used by natural selection to shape behaviorally-defined animal populations, i.e., it reveals the natural regulators of behavior.     

A new indolic antiauxin, α-(5,7-dichloroindole-3-)isobutyric acid: its chemical synthesis and biological activity

Summary A new potent antiauxin, -(5,7-dichloroindole-3-)isobutyric acid has been synthesized and shown to inhibit auxin-mediated elongation ofAvena coleoptiles and to stimulate root growth of rice seedlings. Its activity is stronger than -(p-chlorophenoxy)isobutyric acid and is comparable to that of 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, which are typical antiauxins.     

In vivo effects of immunostimulating lipopeptides on mouse liver microsomal cytochromes P-450 and on paracetamol-induced toxicity

Summary Immunomodulating lipopeptides lauroyl-L-Ala--D-Glu-LL-A2pmNH2-Gly (RP 44.102) and lauroyl-L-Ala--D-Glu-LL-A2pmNH2 (RP 56.142) were found to protect mice against the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol, which is due to cytochrome P-450 dependent formation of toxic metabolites and radicals. In fact they decreased the amount of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450, and the level of CCl₄-induced lipid peroxidation. In contrast lauroyl-L-Ala--D-Glu-DD-A2pmNH2 (RP 53.204), which only differs by the configuration of the two chiral carbons of A2pm (diaminopimelic acid) and is not an immunomodulating agent, failed to protect against poisoning by paracetamol and had no effect on the level of hepatic cytochrome P-450 or the microsomal CCl₄-induced lipid peroxidation. This provides a clear connection between the immunostimulating properties of a compound and its effects on xenobiotic biotransformations.     

Evolutionary and ecological implications of cardenolide sequestration in the monarch butterfly

Summary Monarch butterflies sequester cardenolides from their larval host plants in the milkweed genusAsclepias for use in defense against predation. Of 108Asclepias species in North America, monarchs are known to feed as larvae on 27. Research on 11 of these has shown that monarchs sequester cardenolides most effectively, to an asymptote of approximately 350 g/0.1 g dry butterfly, from plants with intermediate cardenolide contents rather than from those with very high or very low cardenolide contents. SinceAsclepias host plant species are distributed widely in space and time across the continent, monarchs exploit them by migration between breeding and overwintering areas. After overwintering in central Mexico, spring migrants east of the Rocky Mountains exploit three predominantAsclepias species in the southern USA that have moderately high cardenolide contents. Monarchs sequester cardenolides very effectively from these species. First generation butterflies are thus well protected against predators and continue the migration north. Across the northern USA and southern Canada most summer breeding occurs on a fourthAsclepias species and in autumn most of these monarchs migrate back to Mexican overwintering sites. The ecological implications of this cycle of cardenolide sequestration for the evolution of monarch migration are discussed.     

Comments on “aggregation of equivalence relations” by P. C. Fishburn and A. Rubinstein

The theorem of the paper Aggregation of Equivalence Relations, by Fishburn and Rubinstein, states a result already known. This theorem improves a result from Mirkin (1975) and appears as a corollary occurring in Leclerc (1984).

---

Resume L'unique théorème de l'article Aggregation of Equivalence Relations de Fishburn et Rubinstein est déja connu. Il améliore, en fait, un résultat de Mirkin (1975) et apparait en tant que corollaire dans Leclerc (1984).

     

The contents of the pygidial gland of the primitive antNothomyrmecia macrops (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)

Summary The principal constituent of the pygidial gland ofNothomyrmecia macrops is 3,7-dimethyloct-6-en-2-one, a substance not previously identified in insects. Also identified were 2,6-dimethylhept-5-enal, 2-nonanone, indole, -dodecalactone, and the hydrocarbons pentadecane, heptadecane, heptadecene and heptadecadiene, all in low nanogram quantities.     

Paranormal health claims

Summary Faith in paranormal cures has always been the last hope of many sufferers from chronic or incurable diseases. Magico-religious rituals of healing are still around, but some have been replaced by pseudo-scientific systems, thinly disguising old superstitions in new obscurantism, more appealing to the half-educated. in medical quackery, inventiveness seems to be limitless, and only the main paranormal healing systems can be reviewed here. The increasing popularity of alternative healing indicates the extent of dissatisfaction with dehumanising aspects of modern, technological medicine and its preoccupation with curing the curable at the expense of caring for the incurable. This leaves the sufferers, and also healthy people labelled with non-existent diseases, bleeding prey for the sharks roving the seas of medical ignorance. Medicine came into the world with a twin brother called Charlatanism — Lavoisier     

Pharmacodynamic profile of CQP 201-403, a novel 8α-amino-ergoline

Summary The profile of action in animals of CQP 201-403, a novel 8-amino-ergoline, is in most aspects that of a very potent dopaminomimetic, both as a prolactin secretion inhibitor, and at the levels of the CNS and the cardiovascular system. Qualitatively CQP 201-403 differs slightly from bromocriptine and apomorphine in its effects on the CNS (no influence on serotonin metabolism in the rat cortex; induction of masculine mounting behavior in rats) and the cardiovascular system of the dog (reflex tachycardia in response to a blood-pressure fall). In man the new compound proved to be highly active in lowering prolactin serum levels and to be more potent than bromocriptine (Parlodel^®).In memory of Dr Annemarie Closse, who died 14 June 1987.     

Comparative aspects of structure and action of molluscan neuropeptides

A number of neuropeptides were isolated from the ganglia and muscles of molluscs, and their actions were examined. Diverse neuropeptides, in addition to several classical neurotransmitters, were suggested to be involved in the regulation of the anterior byssus retractor muscle ofMytilus. A wide structural variety of members of theMytilus inhibitory peptide family was observed in each of the generaMytilus, Achatina andHelix. Gly-Trp-NH₂, the C-terminal dipeptide fragment of the neuropeptide AGPWamide, showed a more potent action than the parent peptide in all of the muscles examined. Peptides related to some molluscan neuropeptides were found to be distributed interphyletically. Some neuropeptides containing ad-amino acid residue were found inAchatina andMytilus. These aspects of molluscan neuropeptides are thought not to be exceptional.