Alcaloïdes du Pandaca ochrascens

From leaves and root bark of Pandaca ochrascens ten alkaloids were isolated: apparicine, akuammicine, dehydro-19,20 condylocarpine, akuammidine, epi-16 dehydro-14,15 vincamine, ibogaine, iboluteine, ibogaline and also two new alkaloids, epi-19 ibogaine or (19R) 19-hydroxyibogaine and epi-19 iboxygaline or (19R) 19-hydroxyibogaline. The absolute configuration at C₁₉ of these new alkaloids and other alkaloids hydroxylated on 19 of the Iboga type is discussed.     

Alcaloïdes des feuilles de Holarrhena febrifuga

Leaves of Holarrhena febrifuga from East Africa contain 1·5% of alkaloids, mostly of the amino-3α ceto-20 pregnane-5α type. Six alkaloids have been isolated: funtumine (I), holamine (II), dimethyl- and monomethyl-funtumine (Ia) and (Ib), dimethyl- and monomethylholamine (IIa) and (IIb); these methyl derivatives have been isolated for the first time from natural source. Pregnane-3,20-dione has been isolated from the same leaves.     

Alcaloïdes de Zanthoxylum tsihanimposa

From the bark of Zanthoxylum tsihanimposa (Rutaceae) 5 furoquinoline and benzophenanthridine alkaloids were isolated. Three are known compounds: γ-fagarine, skimmianine and dihydrochelerythrinylacetone. The other two, dihydrochelerythrinylacetaldehyde and O-methyldihydrochelerythrinyl-acetone, are probably artefacts.     

Alcaloïdes indoliniques du Strychnos variabilis

Three new indolinic alkaloids have been isolated from the root bark of Strychnos variabilis: strychnopivotine, unusual because the C₁₇ atom of the curane skeleton is lacking, 16-hydroxyisoretulinal and rosibiline, a derivative of N-desacetylretuline. Their structures were deduced from spectral data and that of rosibiline was confirmed chemically.     

Les tissus élaborateurs d'hormones stéroïdes chez les amphibiens urodèles

Résumé Les cellules du tissu glandulaire du testicule et de la glande interrénale de pleurodèle montrent les caractères généralement observés dans les cellules stéroïdogènes. Des différences existent entre les deux tissus. Le reticulum endoplasmique du tissu glandulaire est très développé et présent dans toutes les cellules qui sont d'aspect homogène. Au contraire, le tissu interrénal montre deux aspects cellulaires différents. Le premier se caractérise par un reticulum endoplasmique lisse relativement peu développé par rapport au tissu glandulaire, par des mitochondries petites et nombreuses, enfin par des liposomes denses et petits. Le deuxième aspect au contraire, se distingue par le petit nombre de mitochondries souvent géantes et à crêtes plus fréquemment organisées en faisceaux, par des liposomes nombreux de grandes dimensions et peu denses aux électrons.Le tissu glandulaire est très peu touché par l'hypophysectomie. Le reticulum persiste plusieurs mois comme d'ailleurs l'activité 5-3 -hydroxystéroïde deshydrogénase. Dans le tissu interrénal, la proportion des cellules d'aspects différents varie au profit des cellules à lipides abondants et à grandes mitochondries. L'activité 5-3 -hydroxystéroïde deshydrogénase est longtemps décelable.Le rôle du reticulum endoplasmique du tissu glandulaire est discuté en fonction des observations réalisées dans d'autres cellules stéroïdogènes à reticulum abondant. La signification des deux aspects cellulaires observés dans l'interrénale est discutée en relation avec les résultats expérimentaux obtenus en particulier chez le rat.Cette étude révèle que les critères d'activité d'une cellule stéroïdogène sont délicats à établir et doivent être différents d'un tissu à l'autre.

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Tissues secreting steroid hormones in urodele amphibians

Summary The fine structure of testis glandular tissue and interrenal gland cells of Pleurodeles shows the general features observed in other steroïdogenic cells. Certain differences exist between the two tissues. The agranular endoplasmic reticulum of the glandular tissue cells is well developed and present in all cells of similar appearance. On the contrary, the interrenal tissue cells show two different features. The first is characterised by a poorly developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, compared with that of the glandular tissue, by small and numerous mitochondria, and finally by small electron dense lipid droplets. The second feature is the small number of mitochondria often giant and with fascicles of straight tubular cristae and numerous large lipid droplets of low electron density.The effect of hypophysectomy on the glandular tissue cells seem very slight. The endoplasmic reticulum and the 5-3 -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity persists for several months. In the interrenal tissue, the proportions of the two different cellular features are modified. Cells rich in lipids and with large mitochondria are more abundant. It is possible to demonstrate a 5-3 -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity for a long time after hypophysectomy. The functional significance of the agranular endoplasmic reticulum is discussed in relation to some other observations on different steroidogenic cells with a well developed agranular endoplasmic reticulum. The significance of the two cellular features observed in the interrenal gland is discussed in connection with experimental data obtained in the frog and the rat.This study shows that it is difficult to define criteria of cellular activity, which probably differ from one tissue to another.

Equipe de Recherche associée au C. N. R. S. Cytologie Ultrastructurale n 129.     

Structure des caboxines: Alcaloïdes oxindoliques du Cabucala fasciculata

The structures of three new 11-monomethoxy pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids have been elucidated by chemical correlations with reserpinine: caboxine-A was assigned to the allo C₁₉-méthyl α series: 3S, 4R, 7S, 19S; isocaboxine-A and B to the epi-allo C₁₉-methyl α series and have, respectively, the following configurations 3R, 4S, 7S, 19S and 3R, 4S, 7R, 19S.     

Morphologie des spermatozoïdes

Spermatozoa morphology is one of the qualitative characteristics of spermatogenesis. However, because of both the variations in the definition of normal morphology and the existence of different kinds of sperm abnormalities as well as the use of various techniques of morphology assessment, such a parameter is poorly used in usual laboratory work. Morphological sperm anomalies can be from testicular or post-testicular origines, while the latter is still unproved. The causes of such anomalies are either from genetic origines, but in these cases any spermatozoa demonstrate this anomaly, or due to an endogenous factor with varicocele the most usually quoted but unproved pathology, But exogenous factors, either chemical such as drugs and pesticides or physical such as heat, are also responsible for morphological sperm anomalies. Analysis of sperm morphology is indicative of both the testicular health status (in cases of occupational exposure to chemical or physical toxics) and the fertility potential since morphology is correlated to sperm motility and involved in fertilization through the acrosome reaction.     

Alcaloïdes d'Alstonia vitiensis var. Novo ebudica monachino

Five alkaloids have been isolated from Alstonia vitiensis: pleïocarpamine, vincorine, cabucraline, alstovine (11-methoxycompactinervine) and quaternoxine; the latter two are new alkaloids.     

Structure et ultrastructure des attaches hydranthes-hydrothèques chez les polypes Thecata

Résumé Les dispositifs permettant l'ancrage des hydranthes à leur thèque ont été étudiés chez diverses familles de Thécates par des méthodes histologiques, histochimiques et à l'aide des techniques de la microscopie électronique.Dans tous les genres étudiés nous avons pu observer la présence d'attaches reliant la mésoglée à la thèque ou à une expansion de celle-ci.Ces attaches ou desmocytes apparaissent sous l'aspect de tigelles raides, élargies à leurs deux extrémités.L'une, incluse dans la mésoglée, est massive, étalée en contact intime avec les fibres mésogléennes. L'autre, implantée dans le périsarc, est fortement épanouie et présente de nombreuses digitations assurant son ancrage parfait.L'axe des desmocytes est plein.Ces attaches ne sont pas constituées de chitine ni édifiées par les fibres mésogléennes ou musculaires, leur nature protéinique semble les rapprocher davantage des tonofibrilles.

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Structure and ultrastructure of anchoring devices of hydrants in Thecata

Summary The anchoring devices of hydranths to their thecae have been studied in various Thecata families by means of histochemical, histological and electron microscope techniques. In all the genera examined have been observed joints fastening the mesoglea to the theca or an expansion thereof.These joints of desmocytes appear as stiff stalks with broadened extremities. The one included in the mesoglea is massive, spread out and in intimate contact with the mesoglean fibers. The other, ending in the perisarc, is largely opened and has numerous digitations ensuring its efficient anchoring. The axis of the desmocytes is solid. The joints are not chitinous nor constituted by mesoglean or muscular fibers. Their proteinaceous nature seems to relate them rather to the tonofibrils.