Maternal vitamin A restriction alters biochemical development of the brain in rats

Summary The biochemical development of the fetal brain in relation to maternal vitamin A restriction was studied in rats. The vitamin A status of pregnant rats was varied by supplying low, medium and adequate amounts (6, 40, and 100 g retinol/day/kg body weight, respectively) of vitamin A during pregnancy and suckling. The maternal vitamin A restriction caused an altered brain development in terms of tissue weight, DNA, RNA and protein levels, and biosynthesis of DNA and protein from [³H]-thymidine and [³H]-leucine, respectively. A dose-dependent effect of maternal vitamin A restriction on the metabolism of DNA, RNA and protein was noticed in the developing fetal brain of rats.     

Teratogenic interactions between cadmium and radiation in mice

Summary Mouse embryos were exposed to various doses of cadmium and/or X-rays on day 8 of gestation. The combined treatment exerted an antagonistic effect regarding the teratogenic action of the two agents.     

Structural changes of deoxyribonucleoprotein fibres following gamma-irradiation under aerobic and hypoxic conditions.

The DNP fibres gamma-irradiated under aerobic condition showed a reduction of their diameter, while no remarkable changes were observed in the DNP fibres irradiated under hypoxic condition by scanning electron microscopy.     

Studies on the behaviour of circular dichroism of different haemoglobins in the 260 nm region

Zusammenfassung CD-Messungen mit hoher Auflösung an Hämoglobinen verschiedener Spezies ergaben eine Aufspaltung der breiten Absorptionsbande bei 260 nm in 4 einzelne Maxima. Diese stimmen mit der Bandenlage des Phenylalanins im Absorptionsspektrum vom Hämoglobin gut Überein und werden daher diesem Chromophor zugeordnet.     

Effects of polysorbates and Cremophor EL on vascular responses in rat aorta

The effects of Tween 20, Tween 80, and Cremophor EL, surface active agents which are used for dispersion of water-insoluble substances, on vascular responsiveness were investigated using rat aortic rings. In high concentrations all these agents produced persistent contractions in aortic rings independent of the presence of endothelium. These contractions were not influenced by inhibitors of known endogenous contractile mediators. Incubation with these agents caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of the endothelium-dependent relaxant responses to acetylcholine in intact precontracted aortic rings. Endothelium-independent relaxations produced by sodium nitroprusside were not inhibited, but rather potentiated in the presence of Tween 80 (10^–1 ml/l). On the other hand, Tween 80 inhibited the contractile effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine, phenylephrine, and bradykinin significantly. The data suggests that these substances affect both endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle.     

(S)-(+)-4,4,4-Trifluoro-3-(indole-3-)butyric acid,a novel fluorinated plant growth regulator

Racemic 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-(indole-3-)butyric acid (TFIBA) has been synthesized and shown to inhibitAvena coleoptile elongation. (S)-(+)-TFIBA (fig. 1), which was prepared by an enzymatic method and markedly promotes root growth of Chinese cabbage, lettuce and rice plants, is a novel fluorinated plant growth regulator. Activity of the (S)-(+)-enantiomer of TFIBA was 10-fold greater than that of the (R)-(–)-enantiomer in the first two plant species and 5-fold greater in rice.     

Mate choice and male competition inOrchesella cincta (Collembola)

Summary Both male and femaleOrchesella cincta (Collembola) were able to discriminate between spermatophores of different origin. Females chose spermatophores deposited by closely related males while males preferentially destroyed spermatophores of other males.