Effect of steviol and its structural analogues on glucose production and oxygen uptake in rat renal tubules

The effect of several natural products of Stevia rebaudiana on glucose production and oxygen uptake in rat renal cortical tubules was investigated. Steviol, isosteviol and glucosilsteviol decreased glucose production and inhibited oxygen uptake. The sweet principle stevioside, and steviolbioside, however, were without effect on gluconeogenesis and oxygen uptake.     

The effect of hypoxia on hepatic cytochromes and heme turnover in rats in vivo

We evaluated the effect of hypoxia (7% v/v) on hepatic heme turnover in vivo and microsomal heme protein content in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Hepatic heme protein turnover, measured as 14CO-production during continuous infusion of 5-14C-aminolevulinic acid, a precursor of nonerythrogenic heme, was decreased 60% during hypoxia and returned to control levels promptly after reoxygenation. Hepatic cytochrome P-450 content was decreased in hypoxic and 24-h reoxygenated animals. We conclude that normobaric hypoxia decreases hepatic cytochrome P-450 which could contribute to decreased drug metabolism in hypoxia. This decrease is probably due to heme oxygenase-independent breakdown of hepatic heme.     

Postoperative hypoxia after extracorporeal circulation: A possible graft against host reaction (preliminary communication)

Zusammenfassung Bei Patienten, bei welchen ein extrakorporaler Blutkreislauf durchgeführt wurde, fanden sich in den Lungen grosse Mengen von Plasmazellen. Bei Benützung von frischem homologem Blut für die Ingangsetzung des extrakorporalen Kreislaufes scheinen die Plasmazellen des Spenderblutes in den Lungen schädigend zu wirken. Sie können möglicherweise für Kapillarschädigungen und Störungen des normalen Gasaustausches verantwortlich gemacht werden.     

Action of tobacco on lipolysis and its modification by insulin

Resumen Los fumadores habituales tienen niveles de FFA significantivamente más altos que los no fumadores. El acto de fumar incrementa la lipolisis. Fumar sin inhalar el humo produce incremento de lipolisis. La insulina inhibe la accion lipolítica del humo de tabaco.     

Genetic analysis of modifier variability inDrosophila subobscura

Summary The previously detected modifier variability acting on the expression of the Bare (Ba) locus inDrosophila subobscura is demonstrated to be due to polygenes situated along the chromosome O. From crosses between isogenic lines of high and low modifier effect we ascertained the presence of approximately 5 modifier loci.We are grateful to Dr M. Green for valuable comments on the experimental design used in this paper.     

Emergence of a new satellite RNA from cucumber mosaic virus isolate P1

The cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) isolate P1 caused very mild symptoms on many plant species.After serial passages by mechanical inoculation over five years, CMV P1 caused severe symptoms on several tobacco cultivars and tomato. A specific band of approximately 0.3 kb in length was amplified by RT-PCR with primers synthesized based on reported CMV satellite RNA (satRNA) sequences. Sequence analysis showed there were two satRNAs (Sat-Pl-1 and Sat-P1-2). Sat-Pl-1 contained 335 nucleotides, and Sat-P1-2 contained 394 nucleotides. These two satRNAs shared 64% overall nucleotide sequence homology, and differences between the two satRNAs included mutations as well as deletions. Sat-Pl-1 was identical to a satRNA (Z96099) reported in 1995 in CMV P1. Based on differences in the sequence and secondary structure between these two satRNAs, we conclude that Sat-P1-2 represents the emergence of a new satellite ( necrotic satellite) from attenuated satRNA populations. The possible effect of the emergence of this new satRNA is discussed.     

Karyotypic variation in Chilean lizards of the genusLiolaemus (Iguanidae)

Summary Most of 12 taxa karyotypes retain 6 pairs of metacentric macrochromosomes (primitive), but show reduced numbers of microchromosomes (2n=34, 32 and 30). Others whow increased diploid numbers due to macrochromosomal fissions (up to 4 fissions, 2n=40). One shows a fission polymorphism.We thank Dr. W.P. Hall for his many suggestions and comments; and L. Alvarez, E. Barrientos, I. Campos, M. Fernandez and F.N. Manzur for generous assistance. This study was aided by the Project del Servicio de Desarrollo Científico de la Universidad de Chile, No. B259-783.