Psychiatric Molecular Genetics and the Ethics of Social Promises

A recent literature review of commentaries and ‘state of the art’ articles from researchers in psychiatric genetics (PMG) offers a consensus about progress in the science of genetics, disappointments in the discovery of new and effective treatments, and a general optimism about the future of the field. I argue that optimism for the field of psychiatric molecular genetics (PMG) is overwrought, and consider progress in the field in reference to a sample estimate of US National Institute of Mental Health funding for this paradigm for the years 2008 and 2009. I conclude that the amounts of financial investment in PMG is questionable from an ethical perspective, given other research and clinical needs in the USA.     

Two types of eye movements during electrical stimulation of the rostral and caudal parts of the medial frontal "oculomotor" area in cats

The character of eye movements during electrical stimulation of the medial wall of the brain beneath the cruciate sulcus and of the inferior wall of the cruciate sulcus itself in the frontal cortex was investigated in waking cats. Stimulation of this part of the brain evoked two types of eye movements: unidirectional concomitant saccades, whose direction and amplitude were independent of the original position of the eyes in the orbits, and saccades into the central position (so-called centering saccades). Unidirectional saccades appeared in response to stimulation of the caudal part of the investigated zone, centering saccades in response to stimulation of its rostral part. Analysis of the directions and amplitudes of unidirectional saccades suggested the retinotopic organization of the caudal zone. Systematic changes in the magnitude and direction of vertical saccades during stimulation of the deep parts of the cruciate sulcus indicated previsely the projection of the vertical meridian of the retina. Reappearance of vertical saccades evoked by stimulation of certain parts of the medial wall of the brain suggests the existence of more than one retinotopically organized zone in this region. Inconstancy of stereotaxic coordinates of the oculomotor area, studied in different animals, was noted.Institute for Problems in Information Transmission, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 16, No. 6, pp. 761–766, November–December, 1984.     

Microcalorimetric assay of acetylcholinesterase

Comparative assays were made in a spectrophotometer and a microcalorimeter for the reaction between acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) and acetylthiocholine. The rate of light absorbance change and the rate of heat flow were measured from similar and simultaneous reactions in spectrophotometer and microcalorimeter, respectively. At the enzyme activity levels studied, i.e., 0.05–0.15 I.U. in calorimetry and 1–4 I.U. in spectrophotometry, the reaction rates were linear and showed first-order kinetics. A highly significant positive correlation was seen between the two methods (r = 0.997). More importantly, spectrophotometric assay with acetylthiocholine (which utilized a secondary reaction with chromagen, dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid) stood in highly significant positive correlation with calorimetric assays (which did not require a chromagen) either with the same substrate (r = 0.976) or with acetylcholine (r = 0.900). It appears that microcalorimetry can be used in preference to spectrophotometry for enzyme kinetic studies to overcome the complexity of reaction mixture and interference problems and with the advantage of using natural substrates.     

‘De novo’ centrioles originate at sites associated with annulate lamellae in sea-urchin eggs

Hypertonic stress stimulates the formation of new centrioles in sea-urchin eggs. Those centrioles which appear away from the nuclear surface originate exclusiveJy at sites associated with annulate lamellae. Although apparent when nascent centrioles become visible, the annulate lamellar association is gradually lost as nascent forms mature into centrioles.     

Modulation of murine hemopoiesis in vivo by a synthetic hemoregulatory pentapeptide (HP 5b)

Abstract. Degeneration of the archenteron in middle gastrulae occurred in the presence of α,α'-dipyridyl or Zn²⁺, inhibitors of prolyl hydroxylase. In the presence of these substances the archenteron degenerated and was eventually destroyed. Adding Fe²⁺ to the embryo culture containing α,α'-dipyridyl protected the archenteron from further degeneration, but the collapsed archenteron was not restored to the upright position. At the late gastrula stage, α,α'-dipyridyl did not cause the degeneration of the archenteron. Treatment of the embryos by α,α'-dipyridyl, starting at the swimming blastula stage, resulted in the production of many mesenchyme-like cells but archenteron was not produced in the embryos. Addition of Fe²⁺ to α,α'-dipyridyl culture, just before the beginning of gastrulation of normal embryos, resulted in the formation of normal archenteron. α,α'-Dipyridyl inhibited hydroxylation of proline residues of collagen in sea urchin embryos and Fe²⁺ prevented the inhibition by α,α'-dipyridyl. Respiration was not inhibited by α,α'-dipyridyl.     

Social behavior in a captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) group

A group of captive chimpanzees, consisting of one adult male and three mother/infant pairs, was systematically observed over a 15-month period. Over 200 hr of data were collected, using both sequential and time sampling techniques, and compared to the available data on wild chimps. Unlike many captive groups, most behavior patterns were remarkably similar, both qualitatively and quantitatively, to that of wild chimpanzees including: play, grooming, infant sexual development, tool use, food sharing, prosocial partner preferences, and aggressive displays.     

Enzymic synthesis ofL-Lysine fromDL-α-Amino-ε-caprolactam by new microbial strains

The production of L-lysine fromDL-α-amino-ε-caprolactam (DL-ACL) by new strains producingL-α-amino-ε-caprolactamase and aminocaprolactam racemase is described. Optimal conditions for hydrolysis ofL-ACL byCryptococcus sp. and for racemization of ACL by cells of a strain isolated in nature and identified asPseudomonas sp. were determined. Synthesis ofL-α-amino-ε-caprolactamase is induced byDL-ACL orL-lysine with the same effectivity. A positive effect of phosphates (potassium salts) on reduction of the induction lag was detected, the synthesis of this enzyme was found to be repressed by glucose and some possibilities of the reversion of this repressive effect were demonstrated. Under conditions optimal for the production of both enzymes a quantitative theoretical conversion of 10 % aqueousDL-ACL toL-lysine by a mixture of native cells in a mass ratio of 1: 2 (producer of ACL-hydrolase to producer of ACL-racemase) occurred in 8 h at 40 °C and pH 8.0     

The release of prostaglandins in human aqueous humour following intraocular surgery. Effect of indomethacin

Inflammatory reaction to ocular trauma is known to be related to prostaglandins. To further evaluate this phenomenon in human, PGE₁ and E₂ were measured by R.I.A. after silicic acid chromatography in aqueous humour of 26 patients before and 3 days after surgery for unilateral senile cataract (posterior chamber implant after extracapsular surgery). 13 out of these patients were treated with indomethacin by enteral route and 13 were not treated.PGE₂ levels increased in all non-treated patients from : m < 214 pg/ml before surgery, to 2666 ± 869 pg/ml (range : 257 - 8728) p < 0.001 after surgery. PGE₂ levels did not increase in indomethacin-treated patients. PGE₁ levels did not increase significantly in non-treated as in treated patients.1) Intra-ocular surgery is followed in human by a constant increase of the only PGE₂ in the aqueous humour. 2) Indomethacin inhibits this increase. 3) The post-surgical increase in the permeability of blood-aqueous barrier appears to be related to a release of PGE₂.