Silymarin, an inhibitor of lipoxygenase.

Silybin (I), silydianin (II) and silychristin (III), the constituents of silymarin, non-competitively inhibit the lipoxygenase from soybeans (EC 1.13.11.12) in vitro.     

Retinoids, a new class of compounds with prophylactic and therapeutic activities in oncology and dermatology.

A review of recent investigations in the retinoid field is presented. Retinoic acid exerts a prophylactic and a therapeutic effect on chemically induced benign and malignant epithelial tumors in mice. In clinical studies positive therapeutic results have been obtained in patients with preneoplastic and neoplastic epithelial lesions. However, treatment with retinoic acid is limited by serious side effects (hypervitaminosis A syndrome). Therefore, the synthesis of analogs of retinoic acid (retinoids) possessing a more favorable therapeutic ratio has been initiated. Among a large series of synthesized compounds, certain aromatic analogs proved to have a particularly favorable therapeutic ratio. The structure-activity relationship of the most active retinoids is discussed including some biological data concerning prophylaxis and therapy of epithelial tumors. The total synthesis of retinoids according to various building schemes is discussed in detail. Methods for the synthesis of the cyclic end group, of the polyene chain component, and of the full retinoid skeleton are described. Metabolic studies of retinoic acid and of the most active retinoid, as well as the synthesis of some isolated metabolites are outlined. Suggestions concerning the mechanism of action of retinoids are made. Some clinical results on the treatment of acne, psoriasis and precancerous conditions are reported.     

Positive after-image, PAI: early erasure by saccadic eye movement or Jendrassik manoeuvre

Positive after-images (PAIs) evoked by low intensity stroboscopic flash are erased by voluntary large amplitude saccadic eye movements. The duration of the PAI is shortened by a Jendrassik manoeuvre. The results suggest that muscle spindle afferent impulses conducted centrally are involved in the erasure phenomenon. The duration of the PAI is modifiable by drugs. The social implications of PAI are considered briefly.     

The effect of glycine on serum luteinizing hormone in adult female rats

The response of serum luteinizing hormone to glycine has been studied during the estrous cycle in adult female rats. I.p. administration of 200 mg of glycine significantly elevated serum luteinizing hormone levels at all stages of the estrous cycle.     

Further characterization of the effects of ultraviolet irradiation of the amphibian egg

UV-irradiation of the vegetal hemisphere of amphibian eggs leads to developmental abnormalities in neural morphogenesis. The possibility that the egg's transient sensitivity to irradiation could be due to pigmentation changes was examined in albino eggs. The tissue specificity of the effects of irradiation was analyzed by exchanging the ectoderm between irradiated and control embryos.     

GABAergic inhibition of neurons in the ventral tegmental area.

Stimulation of the nucleus accumbens evokes a potent inhibition in neurons of the ventral tegmental area. GABA is likely to act as a transmitter in this descending inhibitory system.     

Effects of the antiprotease Trasylol on peripheral blood leucocytes.

Binding of the antiprotease Trasylol to human peripheral blood lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) was demonstrated at the ultrastructural level using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. This also revealed endocytosis of membrane bound Trasylol by PMNs. Trasylol inhibited PHA- and ConA-induced lymphocyte stimulation, and was cytotoxic to unstimulated cells.     

The effect of methallibure (I.C.I. 33,828) on the steriodogenesis in the ovary and testis of a fresh water teleost, Cyprinus carpio

Methallibure treatment of mature Cyprinus carpio causes a marked reduction in the steroidogenesis, as indicated by the fall in 3beta-HSD activity in the gonads. Significance of these results is discussed.     

Somatostatin inhibits the mitogenic effect of thyroliberin.

The effect of somatostatin and of thyroliberin on the mitotic incidence in the organ-cultured anterior pituitary lobe of the rat was investigated, using the colchicine metaphase-arrest technique. It was found that somatostatin added to the culture medium, together with thyroliberin, blocked the mitogenic effect of the latter.