Distribution of ACTH-like immunoreactivity in rat brain and gastrointestinal tract.

Immunocytochemistry reveals ACTH-like immunoreactivity to reside not only in the pituitary but also in central nerves and in central nerves and in antral gastrin cells. In all probability, the central nerves store a peptide identical with or closely resembling true ACTH. Their pattern of distribution is, in some regions, similar to that of enkephalin-immunoreactive nerves. The antiserum demonstrating ACTH-like immunoreactivity in central nerves and in antral gastrin cells is directed towards the COOH-terminal part of the hormone. A peptide corresponding to this part, the corticotrophin-like intermediate peptide (CLIP) is manufactured by the pars intermedia of the pituitary. CLIP is devoid of adrenocortical activity, but has recently been shown to possess insulin-releasing activity. The occurrence of CLIP-like peptides in antral gastrin cells may indicate a role for such peptides in the gastrointestinal regulation of insulin release. The simultaneous occurrence of enkephalin-like and ACTH-like immunoreactivity in the antral gastrin cells is of particular interest since a large precursor molecule, containing both the enkephalin and the ACTH sequence has recently been identified.     

Effect of lithium chloride on ethanol uptake by rats

A selective uptake of ethanol by presenting its 5% solution as the only source of fluid was elaborated in rats for 2 months. It was found that lithium chloride injected intravenously in a dose of 35 mg/kg twice per 24 hours for 14 days depressed the ethanol preference causing a motivation inversion whose mechanism was associated with the changes in the activity of the hypothalamic centres of the neuroendocrine regulation. A possibility of lithium salts in the therapy of chronic alcoholism is discussed.     

Experience with epidemiologic studies of pyocyaneus infections. I. Feasibility of using serotypes and antibiotic resistance as a epidemiologic label for clinical strains]

The authors carried out serological typing of 98 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, isolated from patients of burn department of the Sklifosovsky First Aid Institute in January-July, 1974, and of 215 strains obtained from other sources; their sensitivity to 13 antibiotics was determined. Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures isolated from the patients were typed with O-sera of 10 serological types. The presence of several hospital strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found by means of serological typing; along with these there were revealed cultures of this causative agent sporadically appearing in the department. Sensitivity to some antibiotics could serve as an additional criterion for differentiation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains of the same serological type.     

Characterization of p29, an estrogen-receptor associated tumor marker

Monoclonal antibody D5, raised against cytosolic human estrogen receptor (ER) reacts with p29, a receptor-associated cytoplasmic serine phosphoprotein which does not bind steroid, While p29 selectively binds GTP and to a lesser extent ATP, in vitro GTP binding does not result in p29 phosphorylation. Under ER activating conditions, p29 associates with cytosolic ER; GTP, ATP and sodium molybdate block formation of immunoprecipitable p29-ER complexes. Nucleotide binding data suggest a role for p29 in the estrogen response machinery, possibly at the level of phosphate or nucleotide metabolism.