The effect of vitamin B6 supplements on development of seizures in the gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus.

To see if a Vitamin B6 deficiency is responsible for seizure-proneness in the gerbil, $\text{Meriones unguiculatus}$, a diet supplemented with 0.5mg of pyridoxine per gram of Purina Lab Chow was fed to 8 experimental (E) mated pairs and their litters while 8 control (C) pairs and their litters were fed Purina Lab Chow which contains .004mg per gram of pyridoxine. All litters were tested for seizures every 2 weeks from 2 through 7 mos. of age once a month in a standard (SS) test cage and 2 weeks later in a clean home cage (CC) — and again at 1 yr in the SS cage. There were no differences on any of the measures between E and C litters. Significantly more seizures were elicited in the SS than in the CC tests, and the SS test became increasingly more effective with age. It was concluded that gerbil seizures were not due to a Vitamin B6 deficiency and that some age-related process might be a productive area for future investigation.     

Viscometric characterization of pennisetin from pearl millet

Pennisetin, the alcohol soluble storage protein of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum), was isolated in a homogeneous state. The intrinsic viscosity [n] of this protein was found to be in the range of 16.5-17.7 ml/g in 70% (v/v) aqueous ethanol. The [eta] changed marginally when temperature was increased from 20 to 70 degrees C and also in the presence of 10 mM NaCl. The data indicated that pennisetin was a rigid, rod shaped asymmetric hydrodynamic particle with molecular dimensions in the range of 301 x 14.4 A - 317.7 x 14.2 A. During denaturation with guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn.HCl), the intrinsic viscosity of pennisetin increased from 16 to 25ml/g with a mid point at 3.6 M of the denaturant. The native protein structure was unfolded in 6 M Gdn.HCl as shown by the exposure of aromatic amino acid residues buried in the native state and this transition was found to be reversible. The intrinsic viscosity of pennisetin in 5.9 M Gdn.HCl corresponded to Mr 25,000 which was comparable to that determined by SDS-PAGE.     

Stable paper indicator systems for rapid identification of microorganisms]

The authors prepared under experimental-industrial conditions paper indicator systems for the express identification of microbes, including carbohydrate discs (by the method of Nikitin et al.), and newly worked out types for the determination of the activity of cytochromoxidase, urease, indol formation, and indicator amino acid decarboxylases (lysin, ornithin, arginine). The use of paper indicator discs proved to be expedient for rationalization of laboratory diagnosis of bacterial intestinal infections.