Inhibitory effect of the flavonoid silymarin on the erythrocyte hemolysis induced by phenylhydrazine

The flavonoid silymarin, which is used as a therapeutical agent in the treatment of liver diseases, can inhibit the hemolysis and lipid peroxidation induced by phenylhydrazine on erythrocytes obtained from rats treated with the flavonoid. This effect is ascribed to the antioxidant properties as a free radical scavenger exhibited by the flavonoid. Silymarin failed to inhibit the glutathione depletion induced by phenylhydrazine on erythrocytes. It is proposed that the flavonoid acts at the membrane level of the cell avoiding the lipid peroxidative and fluidizing effect of phenylhydrazine.     

Meclofenamate increases ventilation in lambs

To investigate the effects of the prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, meclofenamate, on postnatal ventilation, we studied 11 unanaesthetised, spontaneously-breathing lambs at an average age of 7.9 +/- 1.1 days (SEM; range 5-14 days) and an average weight of 4.9 +/- 0.5 kg (range 3.0-7.0 kg). After a 30-min control period we infused 4.23 mg/kg meclofenamate over 10 min and then gave 0.23 mg/h per kg for the remainder of the 4 h. Ventilation increased progressively from a control value of 515 +/- 72 ml/min per kg to a maximum of 753 +/- 100 ml/min per kg after 3h of infusion (P less than 0.05) due to an increased breathing rate; the effects were similar during both high- and low-voltage electrocortical activity. There were no significant changes in tidal volume, heart rate, blood pressure, arterial pH or PaCO2, the increased ventilation resulted from either an increase in dead space ventilation or an increase in CO2 production. This study indicates that meclofenamate causes an increase in ventilation in lambs but no changes in pH of PaCO2. The mechanism and site of action remain to be defined.     

The cytotaxonomy ofEmilia spp. (Asteraceae: Senecioneae) occurring in Brazil

Analysis of several populations in a large part of the distribution area of the genusEmilia in Brazil has revealed only two species: the diploidE. sonchifolia and the tetraploidE. fosbergii. The more widely reportedE. coccinea was not found. They show a karyotype constancy in morphology and chromosome number (2n = 10 and 2n = 20, respectively), C-banding pattern and number of secondary constrictions. Some indications were found thatE. fosbergii may be an allopolyploid and that its ancestors had different genome sizes.     

The reaction mechanism of Na, K-ATPase

To help characterize the Na,K-ATPase active site with enzyme incorporated into phospholipid vesicles, the activities with alternative substrates were compared, 22Na/Na-transport was equivalent with ATP, CTP, carbamylphosphate and acetylphosphate, but slower with CTP, 3-O-methylfluoresceinphosphate (3-O-MFP), nitrophenylphosphate and umbelliferonephosphate. It indicates a slower rate of formation of phosphorylating enzyme complex in conformation position of E1 (E1P) when the second group of substrates is bound with enzyme active center. 22Na/K-transport was half as effective with CTP as with ATP and was far slower with the other substrates. It indicates a more stringent selectivity at the low-affinity site of enzyme in conformation E2 that accelerates the slow step of this transport mode. Although enzyme modification with fluoresceinisothiocyanate blocks the high-affinity site to ATP, the K-phosphatase reaction catalyzed by E2 is retained, even with a substrate, 3-O-MFP, that binds to the adenine pocket. Dimethylsulfoxide inhibits hydrolysis of the nucleotides and of the carboxylic phosphate substrates of the K-phosphatase reaction, but stimulates hydrolysis of the phenolic phosphate substrates (nitrophenylphosphate and umbelliferone phosphate) which normally are hydrolyzed more slowly than the other substrates. On the basis of these data the authors propose the model of Na,K-ATPase active center.     

A new name and a new species in MexicanRuellia (Acanthaceae)

Based on pollen and floral morphology,Blechum grandiflorum is transferred toRuellia, and the nameR. mirandana is proposed for this species. A new species,Ruellia tuxtlensis, is described which is distinguishable fromR. mirandana by its longer spike and elliptic bracts. It is presently known only from the lowlands of Veracruz, Mexico.     

Prostaglandin E2 causes hypoventilation and apnea in newborn lambs

To test the hypothesis that prostaglandin (PG) E2 is a respiratory depressant in the newborn lamb, 12 chronically catheterized, unanesthetized lambs (age 2-6 days) were infused with progressively increasing doses of PGE2 (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1; 30 min for each dose) into the ascending aorta. PGE2 caused significant progressive decreases in ventilation (due to decreased tidal volume and breathing rate), heart rate, blood pressure, and percent of the time spent in low-voltage electrocortical activity (LVA). PGE2 also caused respiratory acidosis, hypoxemia, and increased frequency and duration of apneic events (greater than 3 s). During the infusion there was a dose-related increase in plasma concentration of PGE2. At 30 min postinfusion, all measured variables showed recovery, although arterial pH, CO2 tension, and plasma PGE2 remained significantly different from control values, and the percent time in LVA was even higher than during control. Infusion of the vehicle alone (n = 5) caused no significant changes in any of the measured variables. The results, taken in combination with previous fetal studies, indicate that PGE2 has marked inhibitory effects on breathing movements both before and after birth.     

Development of fertilized ovules and their role in the growth of the pea pod

The histological development of fertilized ovules during fruit-set and development in pea ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) has been investigated. Killing the ovules on day 0 (anthesis) or day 1 prevented fruit-set and resulted in ovary degeneration. When the ovules were destroyed at later stages the ovaries developed, though the rate of growth of the pod was reduced significantly. Pollination in pea occurs normally the day before anthesis, and fertilization of the egg cell 32 to 48 h later. The first divisions of the zygote and endosperm nuclei started simultaneously (ca 48 h after pollination) but the endosperm developed more rapidly than the embryo; the embryo sac cavity was lined with free endosperm nuclei at the time of beginning suspensor elongation. Extracts of endosperm and ovule coats from ovules at day 7 after anthesis showed fruit-set activity in pea, the latter material having about 3 times more activity than the former per ovule basis. These results indicate that fertilization of the ovule is necessary for fruit-set in pea, and that compounds which induce fruit-set are probably synthesized in the ovules following fertilization.