Post-meiotic transcription of phosphoglycerate-kinase 2 in mouse testes

We have used a human phosphoglycerate kinase-1 (PGK-1) cDNA clone to study expression of PGK-2 during mouse spermatogenesis. Hybrid selection, in vitro translation with product identification by 2-D gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the PGK-1 cDNA clone hybridized to PGK-2 mRNA in mouse testes. Northern analyses of RNA purified from separated spermatogenic cells demonstrated a large increase in abundance of PGK-2 mRNA in post-meiotic cells. Thus, post-meiotic transcription of PGK-2 mRNA is demonstrable with cloned DNA probes.

[Yersinia enterocolitica septicemia in a thalassemic girl]

We report a four-year-old girl, previously splenectomized because of thalassemia major, who was admitted with gastroenteritis, abdominal pain and high grade fever. At laparotomy she was found to have appendicitis and mesenteric adenitis. Blood and stool cultures grew yersinia enterocolitica. Clinical course was favourable under Ampicillin-Gentamycin treatment. The importance of iron metabolism in the pathogenesis of yersinia sepsis is stressed, being this topic reviewed.

The zoapatle. XI. Effects elicited by Montanoa tomentosa and Montanoa frutescens on rat uterine strips

Zoapatle aqueous crude extract (ZACE) obtained from Montanoa tomentosa (M.t.) inhibits the in vitro spontaneous contractility pattern of rat uterine tissue. The opposite effect was observed with ZACE from Montanoa frutescens (M.f.) in the same preparation. Both plant extracts, M.t. and M.f., increased the in vitro spontaneous contractility pattern in the uterine guinea pig assay. In depolarized uterine tissue, propranolol (beta-blocker) inhibited the relaxing effect induced by M.t.. Atropine (cholinergic antagonist) abolished the increase in uterus contractility produced by the presence of M.f.

[Progressive myositis ossificans. Report of a case and results of treatment with disodium etidronate]

A new case of myositis ossificans progressiva is described. Authors emphasize the possibility of early diagnosis because there are characteristic malformations in this condition. Treatment with disodium etidronate (EHDP), proposed by some authors, had no clear benefit. Management of patients must concentrate on avoidance of exacerbating factors--muscle traumas--, physiotherapy and adequate psychotherapy.

Enhanced metabolism of morphine in Octodon degus compared to Wistar rats

Comparative studies of the actions of morphine in different mammals have shown that Octodon degus presents an unusual tolerance to this compound. Morphine glucuronidation and N-demethylation in microsomal fractions of Octodon degus were 10.9 and 50.0 nmol of product formed/min/g of wet liver, respectively. In Wistar rat these activities were 10.5 and 12.5, respectively. Microsomal protein and cytochrome P-450 contents were two and four times higher in Octodon degus than in the Wistar rat, respectively. These results may explain the high tolerance to morphine presented by Octodon degus.

Pineal modulation of ACTH 1-17 effect upon murine corticosterone production

In tests of corticosterone production in vitro, aqueous pineal homogenate (APH) modulates the effect of a short-chain ACTH analogue, ACTH 1-17, added to adrenals from different circadian stages. Adrenal and pineal glands from female B6D2F1 mice, standardized on staggered LD 12:12 regimens, were obtained at the same clock-hour from each room, in order to cover 6 different circadian stages. Adrenals from each circadian stage were bisected and incubated with APH from the same circadian stage (isophasic incubation) or from one of the other 5 circadian stages (heterophasic incubation). ACTH 1-17 (0.05 IU) was added to each incubation medium. After 4 hours of incubation at 37 degrees C with 95% O2 and 5% CO2, the media were stored at -20 degrees C until corticosterone RIA were done. APH was found to have a statistically significant modulatory effect upon the stimulation by ACTH 1-17 of adrenal corticosterone production in vitro. This APH effect changed rhythmically as a function of circadian stage from amplification over no effect to attenuation, as a so-called feed-sideward.

Circadian pineal modulation of pituitary effect on murine corticosterone in vitro

An old controversy is resolved as a novel effect: In a rhythmic fashion, aqueous pineal homogenate (APH) enhances, attenuates or leaves unaffected the production of corticosterone by mouse adrenals incubated with pituitary media. All glands stem from the same circadian stage in these (isophasic) studies on 72 female CD2F1 mice, standardized for two weeks in L 0600-1800 and D 1800-0600. Every 4 hours during a 24-hour span, 12 mice were killed. Pineals were removed for the preparation of APH and stored at 4 degrees C. Hypothalami, pituitaries and adrenals were removed, bisected and placed in wells containing 1 ml Krebs-Ringer buffer (K), at 4 degrees C, until incubation. At each circadian stage, bisected adrenals were incubated with 95% O2 and 5% CO2 at 37 +/- 1 degree C for 5 hours, with K only or with the addition of 0.05 IU ACTH 1-17 or APH or with isophasic pituitary or hypothalamic preincubation media with and without APH or muscle. Media were stored at -20 degrees C until corticosterone RIA. A circadian rhythm (p less than 0.05) characterized corticosterone production after stimulation by the pituitary alone or with APH. The overall modulatory effect of APH is an increased circadian amplitude of adrenal corticosterone production, in response to the isophasic pituitary.

[Interstitial deletion of the long arms of chromosome 13]

We present a case of a child with important phenotypic abnormalities (retinoblastoma, hypoplasia of the thumbs and genital), as well as craneofacial and evident psychomotor retardation. The chromosomal study showed a interstitial delection of the long arms of a chromosome from D group. We try to correlate karyotypes and phenotype, telling about difficulties that this relation means insisting about the importance of knowing more cases of chromosome 13 delection. We also think that subbands analysis represents an important factor in this correlation.

Receptors for morphine and opioids

Two points concerning enzymatic systems acting on disposal of morphine are discussed, namely the multiplicity of glucuronyltransferase and the effect of nalorphine on N-demethylation of morphine. Evidences of the presence of at least two different glucuronyltransferases in microsomes of rat liver, kidney and intestine are presented. These evidences are given by the different distribution of the glucuronizing activity for morphine and rho-nitrophenol in microsomal preparations of these organs; by the different glucuronidation activity for both substrates induced by phenobarbital and 3-methylcholantrene; and finally by the chromatographic separation of fractions with enzymatic glucuronidating activity only for rho-nitrophenol or only for morphine. Nalorphine in concentrations of 1.3 X 10(-3) M and 1.3 X 10(-4) M inhibited in vitro de-N-demethylation of morphine 1.3 X 10(-3) M by the supernatant of rat liver homogenates, while in concentration of 1.3 X 10(-5) M it enhanced this reaction.