Acridine-psoralen amines and their interaction with deoxyribonucleic acid

A series of novel compounds in which a 9-acridinyl nucleus is linked to a psoralen nucleus in the 5- or 8-position via polyamines was prepared and examined. Their reversible binding to DNA and their irreversible binding to DNA and DNA cross-linking upon irradiation with UV-A light were examined. It was found that they were all less efficiently photoreactive than 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), both in cross-linking and photobinding to DNA, whereas the ratio between their photobinding and cross-linking was 40-400 times that of 8-MOP. Compounds in which the linker was attached to the 5-position in psoralen showed smaller cross-linking and photobinding efficiencies and larger ratios between photobinding and cross-linking than those of psoralens attached in the 8-position. This strongly indicates that the 9-substituents of the acridines are oriented toward the minor groove. Flow linear dichroism studies showed that the compounds were DNA intercalating with the acridine moiety, whereas the psoralen moiety in no case was clearly intercalating. This conclusion was further supported by viscometry which also strongly indicated monointercalation.     

Migration Inhibition Studies on Peripheral Leukocytes and Lymph Node Cells from Ruminants with Fascioliasis

Delayed type hypersensitivity against antigens of Fasciola hepatica has been repeatedly documented in infected hosts. Evidence has been presented to suggest that the delayed reactivity may develop earlier in the regional lymph nodes of the parasitized organ than in other lymph nodes of the body (Soulsby 1971).     

Chromosome Abnormalities in Patients Treated with Chlorpromazine,Perphenazine, and Lysergide

In a chromosome study on leucocyte cultures made in 13 patients treated with chlorpromazine, 15 treated with perphenazine, and nine treated with lysergide, a significantly higher frequency of gaps, breaks, and hypodiploid cells in the patients treated with perphenazine and lysergide occurred compared with the 41 controls studied. It is concluded that if some drugs can induce major chromosome abnormalities, and less toxic alternatives are available, the latter should be used in preference.     

Localization of monoaminergic neurons in the central nervous system of Astacus astacus Linné (Crustacea)

Summary The cellular localization of biogenic monoamines in crustaceans was studied by means of a highly specific and sensitive fluorescence method devised by Falck and Hillarp. It was found that neurons displaying specific fluorescence in the central nervous system were confined to the protocerebrum, the medulla externa and interna and the ventral nerve cord. The method allows a distinction between the fluorophores of 5-hydroxytryptamine (and 5-hydroxytryptophan), which emit the yellow light, and the fluorophores deriving from the catecholamines (and DOPA), which emit the green light. Green-fluorescent neurons occurred abundantly in the aforementioned parts of the central nervous system while yellow-fluorescent neurons were sparsely present in the same parts.The present work has been carried out at the departments of Histology and Zoology at the University of Lund. The authors take great pleasure in expressing their warmest thanks for laboratory facilities, provided by Professors Erik Dahl (Zoological Institute) and Bengt Falck (Histological Institute).The research reported in this document has been sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Grant AF EOAR 66-14 through the European Office of Aerospace Research (OAR), United States Air Force and by a grant from the Swedish Natural Science Research Council 99-32 (nr 5995).