Specific binding of three neurotoxins with phospholipase A2 activity to synaptosomal membrane preparations from the guinea pig brain

Snake presynaptic toxins such as crotoxin, β-bungarotoxin and taipoxin block neuromuscular transmission through inhibiting the release of acetylcholine by their phospholipase A₂ activities. On the other hand, many other phospholipase A₂s show little neurotoxicity. It is likely that the difference lies in whether high affinity binding to nerve cell membranes exists or not. To test this idea, crotoxin, β-bungarotoxin and taipoxin were first radioactively labeled with Na(¹²⁵I) without loss of their neurotoxicity. Using the radioactive toxins we have found that each of the three showed specific binding to synaptosomal membranes from guinea pig brain. In contrast, we could not detect specific binding of a non-neurotoxic pancreatic phospholipase A₂. Crotoxin and taipoxin, but not β-bungarotoxin, also bound specifically to membrane preparation from other tissues. The binding of each toxin was not greatly affected by the other two toxins. The photoaffinity labeling technique has been used to obtain further information about the components which bind crotoxin. For this purpose, (¹²⁵I) crotoxin was derivatized with N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-4-azidobenzoate. Autoradiographic analysis of the membranes following photoirradiation in the presence of the modified crotoxin revealed that an 85K dalton component was preferentially covalently conjugated with the crotoxin analogue in a specific manner.     

红色角毛虫的形态学和形态发生过程的研究

观察并描述了上海采集到的红色角毛虫的形态结构和形态发生过程。发现形态发生时虫体分别于前、后两个区域发生前、后两个口围带原基,并且由同一个体分裂而成的前,后两个仔虫内,额、腹、横棘毛和缘棘毛的分化并不完全相同,以至造成两个仔虫上棘毛的数目和缘棘毛的列数有明显差异。根据红色角毛虫的形态结构及其形态发生中的一些不够稳定的特点,推测它可能是一种还处于分化中的腹毛类纤毛虫。     

Occurrence of the methylisobutylxanthine-stimulated cyclic GMP binding protein in various rat tissues

A new type of cGMP binding protein, the activity of which is characteristically stimulated by methylisobutylxanthine, has been previously discovered in rat lung and platelets (Hamet, P. and Coquil, J.F. (1978) J. Cyclic Nucleotide Res. 4, 281-290). In the present study, we demonstrate the occurrence of this protein in soluble extracts of a variety of rat tissues fractionated by a DEAE-Sepharose chromatography. In several tissues (spleen, lung and brain) the binding activity of this protein was of the same order of magnitude as that of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Complete complementary DNA of rat tyrosine aminotransferase messenger RNA. Deduction of the primary structure of the enzyme

The primary structure of rat tyrosine aminotransferase (L-tyrosine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase; EC 2.6.1.5), a liver-specific enzyme involved in gluconeogenesis, has been deduced from the nucleotide sequence of a cloned full-length cDNA. The mRNA is 2362 nucleotides long (excluding the poly(A) tail) and codes for a polypeptide of 454 amino acids with a molecular weight of 50634. Unambiguous identification was obtained by comparison of this sequence with the amino acid sequences of several peptides obtained from the purified enzyme.     

Opposite effects of two ligands for peripheral type benzodiazepine binding sites, PK 11195 and RO5-4864, in a conflict situation in the rat

The effects of two drugs acting at the peripheral type benzodiazepine binding sites, PK 11195 and RO5-4864, were examined in shock-induced suppression of drinking in rats. These two compounds have opposite effects : RO5-4864 (3.1-1205 mg/kg i.p.) enhanced whereas PK 11195 (25-50 mg/kg i.p.) decreased the punished responding, and PK 11195 (6.25 mg/kg, a dose which did not alter the punished responding) blocked the proconflict action of RO5-4864 (6.25 and 12.5 mg/kg). The effects of RO5-4864 and PK 11195 were not antagonized by RO15-1788, a selective antagonist of the central benzodiazepine site. In addition, PK 11195 (6.25 mg/kg) did not reverse the proconflict effect of two beta-carbolines : beta-CEE and FG 7142. AS picrotoxin did not change the punished responding, these data imply that the effects of RO5-4864 and PK 11195 on the one hand and those of chlordiazepoxide and beta-carbolines on the other hand are differentially mediated and suggest that the peripheral type benzodiazepine binding sites are involved in this conflict model.     

Effect of 6-hydroxydopamine on neuropeptides in the rat female genitourinary tract

The occurrence and distribution of neuropeptide Y has been determined in the rat female genitourinary tract by radioimmunoassay and chromatographic analysis. Within the bladder, higher concentrations of neuropeptide Y were found in the trigone (48.8±5.2 pmol/g) than in the dome (36.0±2.1 pmol/g). In the genital tract, highest concentrations were identified in the vagina (41.4±2.1 pmol/g). Treatment of rats with 6-hydroxydopamine resulted in significant depletion of neuropeptide Y concentrations in both parts of the bladder, together with vagina, uterine horn and fallopian tube. No change was observed in the cervix, uterine body and ovary. Concentrations of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide were unaffected by treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine except in the area of the cervix where concentrations rose from 64.1±5.7 pmol/g to 133.6±15.1 pmol/g (p<0.05). There was a generalised, but statistically insignificant rise in substance P concentrations.     

褐稻虱饲料稻株中数种氨基酸的营养效应

本研究初步证实饲料稻株中甘氨酸、赖氨酸和酪氨酸含量的高低,同褐稻虱(Nilaparvata lugens Stal)的发育进度、存活率、短翅型出现率和单雌产卵量关系极为密切,它们是褐稻虱赖以正常生长发育和繁殖的重要氨基酸。     

四川成都市郊正常成年男性血清生殖激素水平及其频数分布

本文用放射免疫测定法(RIA),测定了200～290例中国四川成都市郊30～73岁的正常成年男性血清睾酮(T)促黄体激素(LH).卵泡刺激素(FSH)及泌乳激素(PRL)的水平及其分布,进行了不同年龄水平差异显著性的观察,见到睾酮与泌乳激素水平无显著差异,促黄体激素及卵泡刺激素水平,随年龄之增加而升高,差异有显著性,并测得它们在血清中水平的分布:LH、FSH及PRL均为对数正态公布,T既非正态又非对数正态,但其频率分布较对称,接近正态分布。     

Effect of gossypol on testicular blood flow and testosterone production in rats

Rats were treated with highly purified gossypol acetic acid at doses of 15 or 30 mg/kg day-1 for 6 weeks to produce an effect on spermatogenesis as shown by reduced sperm motility and increased sperm malformation rates. The treated rats did not differ from the controls in the body weight growth curves and reproductive organ weights. When stimulated with hCG, testicular blood flow was increased in the low dose group; the testosterone concentrations in peripheral and testicular venous blood were also increased to a greater extent than those of the control group. No difference was found between the high dose and control groups in testicular blood flow or testosterone concentrations. The morphology of the Leydig cells was apparently normal, although some degenerative changes in the germinal epithelium were observed in the high dose group. Therefore, there is no evidence in our experiment to show any anti-androgenic effect following 6-week treatment of gossypol in rats, even at the dose of 30 mg/kg day-1.     

High concentrations of a novel peptide, neuropeptide Y, in the innervation of mouse and rat heart

A newly discovered bioactive peptide, neuropeptide Y (NPY), has been found in the innervation of the mouse and rat heart by immunocytochemistry, NPY-immuno-reactive nerves were very dense around the nodal tissues. They also surrounded the coronary arteries and arterioles and were found in close association with the cardiac muscle. The distribution of NPY-containing nerves paralleled that of noradrenergic fibers, demonstrated by the use of antibodies to the catecholamine-converting enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine beta-hydroxylase. Furthermore, NPY was seen to be present in a proportion of intrinsic neurons mostly found in the atria and in close proximity to the nodal tissue. The concentrations of extractable NPY-immunoreactive material (about 150 pmol/g in whole mouse heart) by far surpasses those of the other peptides so far reported in the cardiac tissue. High performance liquid chromatography demonstrated the NPY immunoreactivity to elute in a single sharp peak, in an identical position to brain NPY.