Heterogeneity of antibodies blocking the binding of bungarotoxin to the acetylcholine receptor in myasthenia

Inhibitory effect of myasthenic patients antibodies on alpha-bungarotoxin binding to the human acetylcholine receptor has been demonstrated by radioimmunoassay. By using decamethonium, an acetylcholine agonist, we have shown the existence of two antibody sub-groups reacting with the toxin-binding site: one sub-group is represented by antibodies which block the binding directly, the other by antibodies that inhibit the binding, only in the presence of decamethonium.     

Glucosinolate contents in maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacón) seeds, sprouts, mature plants and several derived commercial products

Several products derived from processed maca hypocotyls (Lepidium peruvianum Chacón, previously known asL. meyenii Walp.) were surveyed for glucosinolate content and quantified by HPLC analysis. These included pills, capsules, flour, liquor, tonic and mayonnaise. Different plant organs such as fresh hypocotyls and leaves, seeds, dry hypocotyls, and sprouts were also included in the survey. The most abundant glucosinolates detected in fresh and dry hypocotyls and leaves were the aromatic glucosinolates, benzylglucosinolate (glucotropaeolin) and p-methoxybenzylglucosinolate. Maca seeds and sprouts differed in profile from hypocotyls and leaves due to the modification of benzylglucosinolate. No glucosinolates were detected in liquor and tonic, while mayonnaise had only trace amounts of those glucosinolates. It had instead allylglucosinolate (sinigrin), which is an aliphatic glucosinolate. The pills, capsules and flour had the same glucosinolates as those observed in hypocotyls, but in variable amounts. The richest sources of glucosinolates were seeds, fresh hypocotyls and sprouts, in that order.     

Analysis of the expression of chicken and rat gene products in myoblast x myoblast cell hybrids

Hybrid cells were isolated by fusing primary chicken myoblasts to HPRT-deficient rat L6 myoblasts and incubating the cells in medium containing HAT and ouabain. All hybrid clones contained both rat and chicken chromosomes and expressed a number of gene products characteristic of both species. Although all clones were capable of fusing spontaneously to form myofibers, immunofluorescence and isoenzyme analysis revealed only the rat forms of skeletal muscle myosin and MM-creatine kinase. No differentiated gene products of chicken origin were detected. Analysis of the expression of chicken HPRT revealed that some hybrid clones were capable of modulating this enzyme activity when switched from HAT medium into thioguanine medium and back into HAT, even though HPRT is normally a constitutively expressed enzyme. Parental control cells were incapable of this modulation phenomenon.     

Characterisation of stroma-dependent blast colony-forming cells in human marrow

Human bone marrow contains a population of haemopoietic progenitor cells that can be distinguished by their ability to adhere to preformed stromal layers (cultured in the presence of methylprednisolone [MP+] and form blast cell colonies. The stromal layers function in the colony assay after they have been heavily irradiated but not after they have been passaged. The binding of the progenitor cells to the stromal cells is complete after 2 hours of coincubation, and stromal layers of 9.6 cm2 can provide adhesion sites for at least 2,000 blast colony-forming cells. The blast colony-forming cells were shown by micromanipulation to self-renew as well as to give rise to multipotential and lineage-committed colony-forming progenitor cells.     

Immunocytochemical localization of somatostatin in the brain of the lizard, Ctenosauria pectinata

The brain of the lizard, Ctenosauria pectinata, was studied light microscopically using an immunocytochemical staining method that is specific for neurohypophysial hormones and somatostatin. It was shown that the telencephalon and particularly the diencephalon contain somatostatin-producing perikarya, while somatostatinergic fibers occur in the entire brain. Similar to the situation in other vertebrates, somatostatin neurons in Ctenosauria pectinata form a population distinct from the neurohypophysial hormone-producing neurons. The small-sized somatostatin neurons were found in the cortex and the diencephalon: (1) ventral from, and partially overlapping with, the classical neurosecretory paraventricular nucleus; and (2) in the region of the infundibular (tuberal) nucleus. Somatostatin fibers were found among the classical neurosecretory fibers of the supraoptico-paraventricular system (tract, median eminence, neural lobe), near to and within the epiphysis, in the septum, in the vicinity of the tectum opticum and the cerebellum, and in the tegmentum.     

Control in congenital adrenal hyperplasia monitored by frequent saliva 17OH-progesterone measurements

Treatment in a group of 19 patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) has been monitored by frequent, serial measurements of saliva 17OH-progesterone (17OHP) concentrations. Detailed 17OHP profiles were obtained during consecutive weekend days and every 1-2 h over a separate 24-hour period. Patients showed a marked diurnal rhythm in 17OHP levels, particularly when treated with hydrocortisone. In some patients, 10 mg/m2/day of hydrocortisone was sufficient glucocorticoid replacement to produce adequate control, although there was considerable individual variation. Saliva 17OHP profiles provided valuable information on the efficacy of hydrocortisone, cortisone acetate, prednisolone and dexamethasone as glucocorticoid suppressive regimes in the treatment of CAH. Preliminary results suggest that hydrocortisone given in two divided doses during the day, supplemented by a small dose of prednisolone at bedtime, is suitable treatment for CAH patients who are still growing. In the patient who has completed statural growth, single daily dose dexamethasone therapy ensures adequate adrenal suppression and is convenient in the longterm.