About the transformation of the interstitium in the ovary of mammals and women during the age of prepuberty

Résumé Ont été examinés 427 ovaires de cobayes et de jeunes filles. L'ovaire, chez le cobaye de 30 jours de la vie postnatale et chez la jeune fille âgée de 10 ans, est caractérisé par des follicules en croissance de grandeur presque égale (isofolliculie) et par la disparition presque complète de l'activité enzymatique de l'interstitium.     

Assembling and alerting scents produced by the bedbugCimex lectularius L.

Zusammenfassung Es wird gezeigt, dass die Aggregation der Bettwanzen (Cimex lectularius) durch einen von beiden Geschlechtern abgegebenen Versammlungsduft eingeleitet wird. Letzterer ist in Methylalkohol, aber nicht in Diäthyläther löslich, verdampft bei 32°C und lockt unbegattete sowie begattete Wanzen beider Geschlechter an. Die Lockreaktion ist von der Duftmenge abhängig und bleibt bei antennenlosen Wanzen aus. Die Stinkdrüsen gereizter, respektive verletzter Bettwanzen sondern Hex-2-en-1-al und Oct-2-en-1-al als Alarmduft ab, der die Zerstreuung der Wanzengruppen hervorruft.     

The presence of smooth muscular cells in the ovary of several mammals as seen under the electron microscope

Riassunto Mediante l'impiego del microscopio elettronico viene dimostrata la reale esistenza di piccoli gruppi di cellule muscolari lisce, non in rapporto con vasi, in differenti zone dell'ovaio (stroma, corpo luteo, teca, ghiandola interstiziale) del gatto, del coniglio e del topo. Le cellule muscolari subiscono caratteristiche modificazioni in relazione al ciclo ovarico.

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This paper was presented to the 28th Italian Congress of Anatomy in Naples (24–28 October 1969).     

HAb18G/CD147-mediated calcium mobilization and hepatoma metastasis require both C-terminal and N-terminal domains

HAb18G/CD147 is a heavily glycosylated protein containing two immunoglobulin superfamily domains. Our previous studies have indicated that overexpression of HAb18G/CD147 enhances metastatic potentials in human hepatoma cells by disrupting the regulation of store-operated Ca²⁺ entry by nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP. In the present study, we investigated the structure-function of HAb18G/CD147 by transfecting truncated HAb18G/CD147 fragments into human 7721 hepatoma cells. The inhibitory effect of HAb18G/CD147 on 8-bromo-cGMP-regulated thapsigargin-induced Ca²⁺ entry was reversed by the expression of either C or N terminus truncated HAb18G/CD147 in T7721C and T7721N cells, respectively. The potential effect of HAb18G/CD147 on metastatic potentials, both adhesion and invasion capacities, of hepatoma cells was abolished in T7721C cells, but not affected in T7721N cells. Release and activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-9, were found to be enhanced by the expression of HAb18G/CD147, and this effect was abolished by both truncations. Thapsigargin significantly enhanced release and activation of MMPs (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in non-transfected 7721 cells, and this effect was negatively regulated by SNAP. However, no effects of thapsigargin or SNAP were observed in T7721 cells, and expression of HAb18G/CD147 enhanced secretion and activation of MMPs at a stable and high level. Taken together, these results suggest that both ectodomain and intracellular domains of HAb18G/CD147 are required to mediate the effect of HAb18G/CD147 on the secretion and activation of MMPs and metastasis-related processes in human hepatoma cells by disrupting the regulation of NO/cGMP-sensitive intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization although each domain may play different roles.Received 1 April 2004; received after revision 15 June 2004; accepted 22 June 2004     

Alkaloids ofBerberis laurina Billb. II. Two new phenolic biscoclaurine alkaloids

Zusammenfassung Die Isolierung von zwei neuen dauricinartigen AlkaloÏden, Espinin and Espinidin, ausBerberis laurina, und deren Strukturaufklärung durch Spektroskopie und Degradation werden beschrieben.     

Cell proliferations inLymantria dispar L. larvae infected with the nuclear polyhedrosis virus

Résumé Dans l'hypoderme et l'épithelium trachéal de chenilles deLymantria dispar L. infectées expérimentalement avec le virus de la polyhédrose nucléaire, nous avons découvert des proliférations cellulaires de type néoplasmique. Dans les cellules des tissus de prolifération on observe une hypertrophie du noyau et du nucléole, la formation d'une strome virogénique et l'apparition d'inclusions virales — modifications caractéristiques produites par le virus de la polyhédrose nucléaire.     

Über die Isolierung von Pyrenophorol

Summary The isolation of patulin I and pyrenophorol II from submerse cultures ofByssochlamys nivea Westling is described.     

Enzymes and receptors in the leukotriene cascade

Leukotrienes are a family of paracrine hormones derived from the oxidative metabolism of arachidonic acid. These lipid mediators are recognized as important signal molecules in a variety of inflammatory and allergic conditions affecting the skin, joints, gastrointestinal and respiratory systems, in particular asthma. Such conditions are typified by local pain, tissue edema, hyperemia and functional losses. In the tissues, immunocompetent cells accumulate at the site of injury which contribute to tissue damage and perpetuation of the disease process. Leukotrienes can elicit most, if not all, of these signs and symptoms. Thus, leukotriene B₄ is one of the most powerful chemotactic agents known to date and participates in the recruitment of leukocytes. The cysteinyl leukotrienes, on the other hand, contract smooth muscles, particularly in the peripheral airways and microcirculation. Recently, drugs which block the formation and action of leukotrienes have been introduced as novel antiasthmatic medications. This chapter reviews the biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology of the key enzymes and cognate receptors in the leukotriene cascade.