The effect of different nitrogen sources on pigment production and sporulation of Monascus species in submerged, shaken culture.

Thirty-nine strains from the genus Monascus were cultivated aerobically to study the relation between nitrogen nutrition and sporulation and pigment production. The effects of yeast extract, nitrate, ammonium, and ammonium nitrate have been compared. During cultivation the pHs of the different media are not the same, resulting in the formation of different coloured pigments. When the source of nitrogen is yeast extract or nitrate the pH is around 6.5 and red pigments are formed, whereas with ammonium or ammonium nitrate the pH is around 2.5 and the pigments are orange. It is proposed that only the orange pigments, monascorubrin and rubropunctatin, are produced biosynthetically and that the other pigments are formed from these by chemical transformations depending on the cultural conditions. The presence of organic nitrogen is optimal for growth and unfavourable for pigment production. Reduced growth and best pigment formation occurs with the three other nitrogen sources. Nitrate stimulates conidiation and sexual reproduction, while ammonium is inhibitory. Pigment production is better when conidiation is reduced. A mechanism is proposed for the control of sporulation and pigment production.     

Effects of CL 115,347, (±)-15-deoxy-16-vinyl-PGE2 methyl ester, on cardiovascular responses and plasma catecholamines in pithed stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats during sympathetic stimulation

The effect of CL 115,347, a topically active antihypertensive PGE₂ analog, and PGE₂ on changes in blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) response and plasma epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) levels induced by stimulation of the sympathetic spinal cord outflow were studied in pithed stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). Surgical pithing significantly reduced plasma E but not NE levels suggesting that the sympathoadrenal medullary system differentially affects E and NE release. Sympathetic stimulation of the spinal cord of pithed SHRSP increased HR, BP, plasma E and NE levels. Topically applied CL 115,347 (0.001–0.1 mg/kg) dose-dependently decreased BP, while intravenously infused PGE₂ (30 μg/kg/min) did not alter BP except for a brief initial drop. Topical application of CL 115,347 (0.1 mg/kg) also inhibited BP responses to sympathetic stimulation without effects on HR or plasma E or NE levels. Intravenous infusion of PGE₂ (30 μg/kg/min) inhibited both BP and HR responses to spinal cord stimulation but did not alter plasma catecholamine levels. These studies in SHRSP suggest that CL 115,347 and PGE₂ modulate cardiovascular responses mainly via postjunctional effects, but act differently on the cardiovascular elements, CL 115,347 acts primarily on blood vessels while PGE₂ acts on blood vessels and heart.     

Anti-IgA-mediated transfusion reactions in Canada.

During a 6-year period (1977 to 1982) blood samples from 152 Canadian patients were referred to the national reference laboratory of the Canadian Red Cross Society because the referring hospitals had not been able to determine the cause of the patients'' severe nonhemolytic transfusion reactions. Twenty-one patients were found to be IgA deficient, and 12 of them had strong class-specific anti-IgA antibodies, which were presumed to have been responsible for the reactions. The spectrum of symptoms that accompanied these violent reactions was documented for 10 of the patients. As a probable minimum, the incidence of anti-IgA-mediated reactions averaged 1.3 per million units of blood or blood products transfused during this period.