An Estimate of Divergence Time of Parazoa and Eumetazoa and That of Cephalochordata and Vertebrata by Aldolase and Triose Phosphate Isomerase Clocks

Previously we suggested that four proteins including aldolase and triose phosphate isomerase (TPI) evolved with approximately constant rates over long periods covering the whole animal phyla. The constant rates of aldolase and TPI evolution were reexamined based on three different models for estimating evolutionary distances. It was shown that the evolutionary rates remain essentially unchanged in comparisons not only between different classes of vertebrates but also between vertebrates and arthropods and even between animals and plants, irrespective of the models used. Thus these enzymes might be useful molecular clocks for inferring divergence times of animal phyla. To know the divergence time of Parazoa and Eumetazoa and that of Cephalochordata and Vertebrata, the aldolase cDNAs from Ephydatia fluviatilis, a freshwater sponge, and the TPI cDNAs from Ephydatia fluviatilis and Branchiostoma belcheri, an amphioxus, have been cloned and sequenced. Comparisons of the deduced amino acid sequences of aldolase and TPI from the freshwater sponge with known sequences revealed that the Parazoa–Eumetazoa split occurred about 940 million years ago (Ma) as determined by the average of two proteins and three models. Similarly, the aldolase and TPI clocks suggest that vertebrates and amphioxus last shared a common ancestor around 700 Ma and they possibly diverged shortly after the divergence of deuterostomes and protostomes.     

Strong adjuvant action of Klebsiella O3 lipopolysaccharide and its inhibition of systemic anaphylaxis

Abstract Immunization with lipopolysaccharide from Klebsiella O3 as an immunological adjuvant did not cause the death of mice in systemic anaphylaxis to bovine serum albumin. On the other hand, most mice immunized with lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli O111, Klebsiella O4 and Salmonella minnesota did die. Klebsiella O3 lipopolysaccharide enhanced IgM and IgG antibody response to BSA more markedly than Escherichia coli O111 lipopolysaccharide, while it affected the production of IgE antibody only slightly. Therefore, it is suggested that the inhibition of systemic anaphylaxis by Klebsiella O3 lipopolysaccharide adjuvant might be related to its strong adjuvant action on IgM and IgG class antibody production, and that high levels of circulating IgM and IgG antibodies might act as blocking antibodies in the development of IgE-mediated systemic anaphylaxis.     

Some aspects of infanticide and intermale competition among langurs,Presbytis entellus,at Dharwar,India

Conspecific infanticides by male langurs depresses population growth in their densely populated habitats. An infanticidal model developed from demographic parameters obtained in the Dharwar study area predicts an almost stable population. On the other hand, a non-infanticidal model predicts a population growth by 2.6% per year. The effect of frequent troop usurpation and infanticide on the control of population growth must be strong if the natality rate is high. For subadult and juvenile surplus males, it must be difficult to survive and to mature in the all-male party in its poor habitat. However, from calculations for living adult males and the number of troops at Dharwar, most adult males are thought to be able to obtain a troop within five years of first challenge of usurpation. Dominant males do not always take over a troop containing more females than do subordinate males. These simple assessments require further intensive field studies to determine the precise differences between infanticidal and non-infanticidal populations and whether or not dominant males make a greater genetic contribution than subordinate males to subsequent generations.     

Levamisole in postoperative adjuvant immunochemotherapy for gastric cancer

Summary The usefulness of LMS in postoperative immunochemotherapy of gastric cancer was investigated. In compliance with the protocol, MMC was given at a dose of 20 mg on the day of gastrectomy, and an additional 10 mg on the next day IV. The patients receiving 600 mg Tegafur daily were then divided into two groups according to whether LMS was also given or not. LMS was administered for 3 days before the operation in a daily dose of 150 mg and for 1 year or more after operation according to a schedule of 3 days' administration followed by an 11-day interval. The 2-year follow-up demonstrated that in stage III patients, the LMS (+) regimen was superior to the LMS (–) regimen, since the former prolonged the relapse-free interval significantly. The survival rate for stage III disease was also significantly higher in the LMS (+) than in the LMS (–) group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of subjective or objective side-effects between two groups. The incidence of agranulocytosis was comparable in the two groups.Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group, Japan Levamisole Research AssociationChairmen of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group, Japan LMS Research AssociationController of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group, Japan LMS Research AssociationMembers of the Data Collection and Analysis SubcommitteeThis study was carried out by the Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Group, Japan LMS Research Association (directed by Prof. Kiyoshi Inokuchi, Dept. of Surgery, Kyushu University and Prof. Eiro Tsubura, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Tokushima University). The results were presented in part at the 19th General Meeting of the Japanese Society for Gastroenterological Surgery in February, 1982     

Comparative potencies of botulinum toxin for infant and adult mice

Culture fluids of 4 type A, 6 type B, and 1 type EClostridium botulinum strains were compared for their toxicities in 9–11-day-old (infant) and adult mice. In intraperitoneal challenges, most toxins were about equally potent for infants and adults; the exceptions were 4 type B preparations, which were 500 to 5,000 times more lethal for infants. In orogastric challenges, samples were 10 to >15,000 times more toxic for infants, and the previously mentioned type B toxins constituted a group having the highest relative toxicity for infants.     

Metronidazole-induced susceptibility of adult mice to intestinalClostridium botulinum colonization

Clostridium botulinum type A spore challenges were given orogastrically to adult mice that had been treated with metronidazole. The organism multiplied in the intestinal tract for up to five days if it was administered 9–48 h after the last dose of metronidazole. The known antibacterial spectrum of metronidazole indicated that obligate anaerobic bacteria are important in the natural resistance of adult mice to colonization byC. botulinum, but treatment with the antimicrobial agent did not reduce the number of these bacteria in the cecum and colon.     

Effects of an inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthase on glycosphingolipid synthesis and neurite outgrowth in murine neuroblastoma cell lines.

1-Phenyl-2-decanolyamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP), an effective inhibitor of UDP-glucose:ceramide glucosyltransferase, caused inhibition of cell growth in murine neuroblastoma cell lines. Metabolic labeling of glycosphingolipids with [14C]galactose in NS-20Y, Neuro2a, and N1E-115 cells showed reduced incorporation of radioactivity into gangliosides and neutral glycosphingolipids when threo-PDMP was present in the medium. Treatment of NS-20Y cells with threo-PDMP resulted in a time-dependent decrease in mass levels of gangliosides and neutral glycosphingolipids. After 24 h in the presence of 50 microM threo-PDMP, neutral glycosphingolipid mass was reduced to 32%, where glucosylceramide was the most affected (90% decrease). The ganglioside mass was reduced to 57% of the original content. Neurite outgrowth from neuroblastoma cells in serum-free medium was significantly inhibited by threo-PDMP in a dose-dependent manner. Threo-PDMP also caused retraction of neurites which had been induced to extend in serum-free medium. Pretreatment of cells with GM1 partially restored the ability of NS-20Y cells for neurite outgrowth in the medium containing threo-PDMP. These results suggest a possible role for glycosphingolipids in neurite outgrowth of murine neuroblastoma cells.     

Ejaculations induced by p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) in rats, hamsters and mice.

The ejaculatory response induced by p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) in male rats, hamsters and mice was observed during 2 hours after the injection. The animals were treated intraperitoneally with PCA at doses ranging from 0.78125 to 160 mg/kg. The ED50 (effective dose in 50% of animals) values of PCA for the initiation of ejaculation in rats and hamsters were 1.3397 (1.0732-1.6725) and 0.1105 (0.0802-0.1522) mg/kg, respectively. On the other hand, no ejaculation was observed in any mice at any doses examined. So we concluded that there are species differences in the ejaculatory response, induced by PCA, among rats, hamsters and mice.