5,5-Diphenylhydantoin Antagonizes Neurochemical and Behavioral Effects of p, p'-DDT but Not of Chlordecone

Abstract: Rats were given 75 mg/kg of 5,5-diphenylhydantoin (phenytoin) or vehicle 30 min prior to 75 mg/kg of 1, 1, 1-trichloro-bis( p -chlorophenyl)ethane ( p, p' -DDT) (p.o.) or chlordecone (i.p.) and tremor was measured 12 h later. Rats were then killed, and regional brain levels of biogenie amines and their acid metabolites and amino acids were determined. Pretreatment with phenytoin significantly attenuated the tremor produced by p, p' -DDT but enhanced that produced by chlordecone. p, p' -DDT had significant effects on the levels of asparate, glutamate, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), whereas chlordecone increased glycine, 5-HIAA, and MHPG levels. Pretreatment with phenytoin blocked p.p' -DDT-induced increases of aspartate in the brainstem and spinal cord, 5-HIAA in the hippocampus, and MHPG in the brainstem and hypothalamus. Phenytoin significantly enhanced chlordecone-induced increases of MHPG in the brainstem. These data indicate that organo-chlorine-induced increases in noradrenergic activity in the brainstem and spinal cord may be directly related to the tremorigenic effects of these chemicals.     

Standing stock and production of Ecklonia radiata (C.Ag.): J. Agardh

The monthly productivity, standing stock, plant size and density of Ecklonia radiata (C.Ag.) J. Agardh is presented for a 2-yr period. Annual production was 20.7 kg wet wt · m^?2 with maximum growth of 0.9% per day in spring (October–December) and minimum growth of 0.2% per day in late summer. (March–April). A close negative correlation was found between spring and summer growth and water temperature. Maximum biomass (18 kg wet wt · m ^?2) did not coincide with maximum growth but occurred in late summer. Minimum biomass (6 kg wet wt · m ^?2) occurred in winter. An estimate of erosion of plant material from the kelp bed was made from these data and a hypothesis concerning the ultimate destination of eroded and removed kelp plants was formulated.     

Pantothenate limitation does not induce uncoupled growth of Zymomonas in chemostat culture

Summary Growth coefficients ofZymomonas mobilis were compared in glucose-limited chemostat culture using a complex medium and a defined minimal growth medium at non inhibitory concentrations of ethanol. Under carbon and energy limited conditions in the complex medium containing yeast extract, the max. molar growth yield (Y_G ^max) and maintenance energy coefficient (m_e) were 10.8 g cell/mol glucose and 8.3 mmol glu/g cell/hr, respectively. Glucose-limited growth in the minimal medium with NH₄Cl as nitrogen source promoted slight energetic uncoupling, as reflected in the decrease in the maximum growth yield. The growth yield with respect to calcium pantothenate was calculated to be 1.4×10⁴ g cell/g Ca-pantothenate. However, pantothenate-limited growth did not result in a decrease in growth yield nor an increase in the specific rate of glucose catabolism. Steady-state growth measurements failed to confirm the previously held view of Belaïchet al. (1972) that pantothenate deficiency induces energetic uncoupling inZymomonas.     

Fate of corticotrophins in an isolated adrenal-cell bioassay and decrease of peptide breakdown by cell purification

1. The fate of corticotrophins in a trypsin-dispersed rat adrenal-cell assay system was investigated with a view to establishing whether differences in the rate of inactivation might contribute to potency differences observed between analogues. 2. Corticotrophin-(1-24)-tetracosapeptide and to a lesser extent synthetic 1-39 corticotrophins were found to be inactivated during incubation with cell suspension. 3. Peptide fragments were isolated by using [[(3)H(2)]Tyr(23)]corticotrophin-(1-24)- tetracosapeptide as a marker. The fragments indicate a peptidase with a predominantly tryptic specificity. 4. The peptidase is present in the extracellular fluid and is released from cells when they are damaged. 5. Cells were fractionated on an albumin gradient. Cells from the zona fasciculata and the zona intermedia or reticularis were present in fractions which produced fluorogenic steroids in response to corticotrophin. 6. Purification of the cells by centrifugation through albumin decreased degradation by peptidases, so that if the assay is carried out with a dilute suspension of purified cells peptide breakdown should not affect the observed potencies of adrenocorticotrophin analogues. 7. No binding of [[(3)H(2)]Tyr(23)]corticotrophin-(1-24)- tetracosapeptide to cells could be detected at low concentrations of the peptide. This indicated that less than 120 receptors/cell are occupied during stimulation by a dose that would elicit approx. 80% of the maximal response.     

GROWTH STUDIES OF THE ROOT OF INCENSE CEDAR,LIBOCEDRUS DECURRENS. I. THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY TISSUES

Wilcox , Hugh . (State U. Coll. of Forestry, Syracuse, New York.) Growth studies of the root of incense cedar, Libocedrus decurrens. I. The origin and development of primary tissues. Amer. Jour. Bot. 49(3): 221–236. Illus. 1962.—The anatomical features of active and dormant roots of incense-cedar seedlings are described and discussed in relation to various problems of differentiation and morphogenesis. Autoradiographs confirm the presence of a group of relatively inactive cells at the site of the apical initials. During periods of maximum growth activity, the presence of a quiescent center is accentuated by a peak in number of divisions in adjacent tissues. With diminution in growth activity, the peak occurs closer to the quiescent center and the size of the meristem appears to diminish. During dormancy, the configuration of the initial region seems to indicate the existence of apical initial cells which coincide with a minimal constructional center, as determined by studies of cell lineage. Roots whose apical cells retain their meristematic appearance are able to resume growth after a period of dormancy, whereas roots whose apical cells undergo vacuolation are likely to perish. Graphs are presented to show the functional relationships between growth rate and the varying distances from the apical meristem at which the tissues of the root differentiate and mature. Although early differentiation of precursory phloem could be discerned almost as soon as early vacuolation of metaxylem, its recognition was more dependent upon subjective judgment. The functional relationship between differentiation and growth rate was most pronounced in the maturation of protoxylem elements, the development of Casparian strips in the endodermis, the development of suberin lamellae in the endodermis, and by the development of phi layers in the inner cortex.     

Blood-Free Medium for the Rapid Growth of Pasteurella tularensis

A medium composed of (in g/100 ml) Tryptose broth with thiamine (Difco), 2.6; cysteine-HCl, 0.12; glucose, 1; FeSO₄, 7H₂O, 0.005; KCl, 0.02; histidine, 0.1; tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (tris) buffer, 0.3; and agar, 1; will support rapid growth of the fully virulent SCHU-S4 strain of Pasteurella tularensis. Although the test organism grew rapidly on medium from which KCl and tris buffer were omitted, these two components increased the stability of the medium upon storage at 4 C. It was necessary to (i) control carefully the relative concentration of the ferrous iron and cysteine-HCl, (ii) incubate the prepared medium overnight prior to use, and (iii) incubate the inoculated plates in an atmosphere of high relative humidity. Rapid growth of the organism was obtained also from very small inocula in the liquid form of the medium. Biochemical studies designed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the enhancement of growth of P. tularensis in this relatively simple blood-free medium were initiated.