Peroxidase activity of neutrophil granules in two cases of congenital myeloperoxidase deficiency]

The neutrophils and monocytes of two patients with hereditary myeloperoxidase deficiency lacked myeloperoxidase activity as determined by light and electron microscopic cytochemical staining. Using Graham-Karnovsky media, azurophils of neutrophils were devoid of peroxidase whereas all eosinophilic and basophilic granules exhibited normal peroxidase activity. After incubation in alkaline diaminobenzidine media which stains the catalase of microperoxisomes, some small granules were seen to be strongly stained in both immature and mature neutrophils. These small granules were distinct from all other neutrophilic granules which lacked a positive reaction. Only, in the presence of cyanide or aminotriazole, peroxidatic activity was also detected in some ellipsoid azurophils. This observation suggests that these substances activated an oxidase whose nature is discussed.     

New norsesquiterpene aldehyde and sesquiterpene hemiacetal from the seed ofPolygonum hydropiper

Summary A new norsesquiterpene aldehyde, polygonal and a new sesquiterpene hemiacetal, isodrimeninol having drimane skeleton have been isolated from the seed ofPolygonum hydropiper, and their structures have been established to be1 and5. Polygonal showed pungency and plant growth inhibitory activity.     

The identification of norlobariol,a new lichen constituent fromXanthoparmelia scabrosa (Tayl.) Hale

Summary Norlobariol (I) previously described as a synthetic product derived from norlobaridone (II) was isolated as a new metabolite fromXanthoparmelia scabrosa (Tayl.) Hale.Acknowledgment. The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of Dr D. Galloway in identifying the lichen sample and Dr A.W. Campbell for the microanalytical data.     

Immunopetentiators and the protection they give against carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity

Summary Immunopotentiators such as BCG, levamisole, PS-K and OK-432 prevent carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) hepatotoxicity, and in spite of exposure to CCl₄ the liver tissue levels of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactive substances were not increased in rats pretreated with such immunopotentiators.     

Antigénicité et pouvoir immunogène des toxines extraites des venins d'Elapidae et d'Hydrophiidae

Summary In this article the results are reported of recent experiments concerning the antigenicity and the immunogenic properties of some basic toxic proteins recently extracted from snake venoms. A serological classification of these substances is proposed. 3 groups have now been determined. As most of the low molecular weight proteins (<10.000) the immunogenicity of the toxin ofNaja nigricollis, taken as an example, is poor. The influence of polymerization of this toxin, and the adjuvant effect of the Freund mixture on the production of specific antibodies, are described. By affinity chromatography, using Sepharose 4B as a carrier, antibodies against this toxin were separated from the other proteins of the antiNaja nigricollis horse immune-serum. They belong to the IgT immunoglobulins. By the same technique, when erabutoxin a fromLaticauda semifasciata is covalently linked to the Sepharose, antibodies reacting with both this toxin and the toxin were separated from the same immuneserum. This confirms that an immunological relationship exists between the toxin of an Elapidae:Naja nigricollis, and the erabutoxin a of an HydrophiidaeLaticauda semifasciata.