Enrichment of dystrophy-associated antigen from erythrocyte membranes of mice with muscular dystrophy

In a previous report, it was shown that erythrocyte membranes from mice with muscular dystrophy of strain 129/ReJ-dy manifest a unique antigen. In the current study, this antigen was enriched from solubilized membranes by a two-step solid phase immunoadsorbent. The enriched fraction retained antigenicity as well as a reduced set of electrophoretic forms of protein over that seen in solubilized membranes. The enriched fraction contained no novel molecular weight species but several were noticeably enriched, particularly at 54,000 daltons.

Effect of cocaine on rat brain enzymes

Acute administration of cocaine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) stimulated activity of striatal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) which reached its maximum level at 10 min and returned to normal between 20-40 min. However, tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) activity in the pons-medulla was reduced to a minimum at 10 min after its injection and returned to normal between 20-40 min. Activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) was significantly reduced at 10 min and increased MAO (Type A) at 20 min showing a biphasic effect of cocaine on this enzyme. Relation of the time-courses of cocaine effects on the activity of these enzymes and the levels of related neurotransmitters is discussed.

Modification of behavioral and neurochemical effects of cocaine by haloperidol

Cocaine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) stimulated spontaneous motor activity (SMA) and induced stereotypy (ST) in rats. Haloperidol at 0.015 mg/kg, i.p. dose reduced or blocked cocaine-induced ST, but did not affect, drug-induced hyperactivity. At 0.03 mg/kg, i.p. dose of haloperidol, both behavioral effects were blocked. Cocaine decreased the norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) contents of diencephalon-midbrain (DM) and pons-medulla (PM) and increased dopamine (DA) contents in the DM and caudate nucleus (CN) at 20 min after its administration. Haloperidol (0.03 or 0.015 mg/kg) at 30 min postdrug produced opposite effects on the levels of NE, DA and 5-HT in the respective brain areas compared to cocaine. Given in combination, haloperidol reversed the effects of cocaine on the levels of NE, DA and 5-HT. Thus the cocaine-induced behavioral changes and their modification by haloperidol can be correlated to the neurochemical changes produced by these drugs alone or their combination.

Microfilaria of Wuchereria bancrofti in bone marrow smear

Microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti were detected in seven cases of anemia in persons with asymptomatic filariasis. In three cases microfilariae could not be detected in the blood. Their presence in bone marrow may indicate the ability of microfilariae to cross the vessel wall.