Contraceptive activity of combinations of steroids and antiadrenergic preparations]

Experiments were conducted on mature female rats. Simultaneous administration through a tube for 14 days, daily, of mestranol (0.04 mg/kg) and megestrol acetate (0.8 mg/kg) gave no significant contraceptive effect, whereas the use of steroid preparations in the same doses in combination with antiadrenergic substances--dopegit (100 mg/kg) or pyrroxan (10 mg/kg) prevented pregnancy effectively.     

Genotypical characteristics of the immunological Vi-antibody maturation depending on the effect of Vi-antigen deposit in the body

The authors carried out a comparative analysis of the changes in the antibody synthesis and their immunological maturation in the immunization with various doses of the Vi-antigen of linear rats differing by the capacity to deposit this antigen. August rats with a high capacity to deposit the Vi-antigen (in comparison with Wistar rats in which this capacity was less) were characterized by an increased level of highly avid antibodies. The interlinear differences were found in the character of the changes in the antibody synthesis depending on the immunizing dose of the antigen. Genotypical peculiarities of the immunological maturation of the antibodies were demonstrated. The authors suppose that the described phenomenon was genetically determined and referred to the factors determining the individual immunological reactivity. In the choice of the optimal immunizing doses of the antigens the authors recommend complex determination of the antibody level and the degree of their avidity.     

Nerve elements of the heart of the rat after right-sided vagotomy

A quantitative electron microscopical investigation of the sinus node of the atrioventricular His' bundle and of the perinodal working myocardium in intact rats and 7, 15 and 30 days after right-sided vagotomy has revealed variable character of changes in the neural elements of the zones mentioned. Certain ultrastructural rearrangements in the neural apparatus are described; they reflect a combination of destructive and regenerative processes in the heart under vagotomy. Thirty days after the operation, regeneration of the neural elements in the sinoauricular area is of restorative and in the atrioventricular area--of excess character. The data are presented on dynamics of changes in the diameter of the amyelinated neural fibers in the cardiac areas investigated. Participation of both nervi vagi in innervation of the main and additional pacemakers of the organ is discussed.     

Intracellular and extracellular alkaloids of Penicillium roqueforti

The alkaloid composition of mycelium and culture liquid filtrate of the fungus Penicillium roqueforti IBPM-F-141 was studied. The new metabolite--3,12-dihydroroquefortine, a derivative of roquefortine, the main component of the alkaloid fraction of this culture, has been isolated for the first time. The structure of 3,12-dihydroroquefortine was determined by chemical and physico-chemical methods. In addition to roquefortine and 3,12-dihydroroquefortine, representatives of a new alkaloid group, the clavine alkaloids, e. g. isofumigaclavine A, isofumigaclavine B and festuclavine, were also isolated and identified. The data on the content of these compounds in mycelium and culture medium are presented.