Bromocriptine-induced removal of endoplasmic membranes from prolactinoma cells

Summary Adenomatous prolactin cells lose 39% of their cytoplasm volume within 7 days after the beginning of bromocriptine treatment. A simultaneous reduction of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus occurs. Their membranes are removed by rapid transport along the secretory pathway to the cell surface and to lysosomal destruction.We thank Prof. E. del Pozo, Sandoz Ltd, Basle, for the generous gift of injectable bromocriptine, Prof. E.R. Weibel, Dept. of Anatomy, University of Bern, for his technical advice, Dr U. Helfenstein, Institute of Biostatistics, University of Zürich, for his help in the statistical evaluation of the results and the EMDO-Foundation, Zürich, for financial support.     

In vitro mutagenicity testing of a potent,new, benzoyl urea insect growth regulator

Summary Bacterial mutagenicity assay to detect potential chronic toxicity of a potent, new, benzoyl urea insect growth regulator (CGA-112913 or IKI-7899, formerly UC-62644) was conducted using 5 histidine auxotrophs ofSalmonella typhimurium. Tests within the concentration range of 0.9–500 g (saturating)/plate of the compound with and without the 5–9 mammalian metabolic activation system showed no mutagenic effects clearing the way for long-term chronic toxicology studies.The authors thank Professor Bruce N. Ames for supplying the tester strains together with all the relevant information for conducting the bioassays and Ms. Norma Charlebois for her meticulous technical assistance.     

Adrenocortical metabolism and plasma corticosterone in soman intoxicated rabbits

Summary The organophosphate neurotoxin soman produced impairments in adrenocortical RNA and protein metabolism. Fasciculate and reticular cell RNA and protein contents were supporessed with sublethal to acutely lethal dosages (20, 30 and 40 g/kg, s.c.) during the acute excitatory phase of intoxication and at 6–8 h post injection. All three dosages produced ca 90% inactivation of plasma cholinesterase. A transient elevation of plasma corticosterone occurred with 20 g/kg soman whereas there was a protracted increase with 30 g/kg. Corticosterone was not significantly elevated with 40 g/kg, but death occurred at 13±4 min. Thus, the magnitude and/or nature of soman-induced metabolic impairments does not appear to prevent adrenal activation.Supported by US Army Medical Research and Development Command Contract DAMD 17-81-C-1202.     

基于预先补偿和全状态反馈控制的车-轨耦合振动抑制

以高速磁浮列车为研究对象,探讨了弹性轨道下的车-轨耦合振动问题。建立了能反映实际问题的车-轨耦合最小悬浮单元模型,并进行了开环系统稳定性和耦合振动机理分析。以弥补比例-积分-微分（PID）控制器有效信息利用不足为出发点,设计了基于预先补偿的全状态反馈控制器。通过仿真分析了反馈增益矩阵对系统跟踪性能和振动抑制能力的影响,提出了适当降低对悬浮间隙的要求换取振动抑制能力提升的思路。进一步分析了反馈系数对悬浮系统性能的影响规律,基于此得到了优化的预先补偿和全状态反馈控制框架。最后,通过实验验证了基于预先补偿的全状态反馈控制对抑制车-轨弹性耦合振动的有效性。     

冷水鱼固着类纤毛虫PCR检测方法探讨及感染因素分析

针对冷水鱼养殖中固着类纤毛虫检测难和污染源不明确、种类鉴定难的问题,对冷水鱼养殖环境中固着类纤毛虫的主要寄生种类及感染因素进行调查分析,在不同季节于河北省内采集冷水鱼和水环境样本。首先,采用形态学方法对鱼体及水环境中的固着类纤毛虫进行初步鉴定;然后,建立PCR方法进行分子水平鉴定,并进行系统发育学分析;最后,对冷水鱼感染寄生虫的原因进行分析。形态学鉴定结果表明,冷水鱼寄生的固着类纤毛虫主要有累枝虫(Epistylis sp.)和钟虫(Vorticella sp.)2类;引物设计、敏感性和特异性试验结果显示,建立的寄生虫PCR检测方法有效,测序比对和系统发育分析结果进一步验证了其形态学结果;运用已建立的PCR方法检测出固着类纤毛虫在水环境中高达94.38%,鱼体广泛寄生,感染率达到了100%;且无季节差异,水体中的虫体可能是造成鱼长期感染的原因之一。研究数据可为冷水鱼病害的科学预测、预防和治疗提供依据,同时为冷水鱼养殖产业的可持续发展提供疫病防治参考。     

Identification and possible biological relevance of spermatozoal transglutaminase

Summary Normal human spermatozoa were demonstrated by dot immunoblot analysis and immunohistochemistry to possess transglutaminase (TGase). The immunological identification of spermatozoal TGase is consistent with reports by others of its biochemical identification and suggested role in sperm motility,and provides, in view of the immunoregulatory properties of seminal plasma TGase, presumptive identification of a means whereby spermatozoa, under normal physiological conditions, may possibly be protected from immunological attack within the female reproductive tract.     

Retention of topical liposomal formulations on the cornea

Summary The ability of liposomes composed of different kinds of phospholipid materials to adhere to the surface of the cornea was studied in the rabbit. The liposomes were labelled with tracer amounts of an I¹²⁵-labelled phosphatidylethanolamine derivative and were instilled in 10 l drops onto the cornea. The retention of radioactivity was monitored. The results show that liposomes containing positively charged phospholipids are better retained than an albumin control. Thus, it may be possible to develop a drug delivery, liposome system which would permit long-term sustained release of ophthalmic drugs onto the cornea.     

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.     

Inhibition of the growth of cariogenic bacteria in vitro by plant falvanones

Phytoalexins, defensive compounds produced by plants against microbial infections, were purified fromSophora exigua (Leguminosae) and their growth inhibitory effects on oral cariogenic bacteria were determined in vitro. Among three isolated compounds, 5,7,2,4-tetrahydroxy-8-lavandulylflavanone completely inhibited the growth of oral bacteria including primary cariogenic mutans streptococci, other oral streptococci, actinomycetes, and lactobacilli, at concentrations of 1.56 to 6.25 g/ml.