Fundamental studies on electric stimulator used for acupuncture analgesia

In order to perform safe and effective electric stimulation in acupuncture analgesia or therapy, basic knowledge concerning the electric stimulator is required. If direct current is used, a negative square wave with a pulse duration of 0.5 approximately 1.5 msec should be applied to the needle electrode to perform effective stimulation. Negative current is more effective at lower amperage than positive current and the possible corrosion hazard by the positive current can be avoided.

Ergosterol biosynthesis in yeast. Pathways in the late stages and their variation under various conditions

[Methyl-14C]methionine was supplied to yeast cells under aerobic and anaerobic conditions for the investigation of the pathway for ergosterol biosynthesis after the methylation of the side-chain. Under aerobic conditions, the incorporation of radioactivity into ergosterol was high. With a limited oxygen supply, in contrast, the radioactivity was first accumulated in ergosta-7,24(28)-dien-3beta-ol and ergosta-8,24(28)-dien-3beta-ol, and then transferred to ergost-7-en-3beta-ol, ergost-8-en-3beta-ol and ergosta-7,22-dien-3beta-ol with time. Under strictly anaerobic conditions, a double bond was introduced neither to delta5 nor to delta22. The results of the tracer experiments suggested the operation of several pathways in the late stages of ergosterol biosynthesis. It was also suggested that the main pathways varied depending on the conditions such as oxygen supply and other factors. The above conclusion was supported by the results of the analyses of the sterol compositions of the cells grown under various conditions.

Direct effect of histamine on cortisol and corticosterone production by isolated dog adrenal cells

Department of Physiology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki, Japan

(Received 2 September 1977)

In the dog, intravenous injection of histamine produces a marked increase in adrenocortical secretion (Suzuki, Hirai, Yoshio, Kurouji & Yamashita, 1963; Papp, Stark, Ács & Varga, 1964; Asano, 1966; Katsuki, Ito, Watanabe, lino, Yuji & Kondo, 1967; Tanigawa, 1967; Narita, 1971; Yamashita, Shimizu, Mieno & Kawao, 1973; Hirose, Matsumoto & Suzuki, 1976; Hirose, Matsumoto, Aikawa & Suzuki, 1977). The adrenocortical response of the dog to histamine was found to be markedly reduced, although not completely eliminated, by hypophysectomy (Hirose et al. 1976, 1977). This indicates that the response, although dependent for the main part on the pituitary gland, may involve a direct effect of histamine on the adrenal cortex or some other extrapituitary factor. In the present study, a direct stimulatory effect of histamine on the adrenal cortex was examined by evaluating the production of cortisol

Alterations during postnatal period in the secretory responsiveness of the sweat glands in rats to mecholyl

A study was made to know the alterations in the secretory responsiveness of the plantar and palmar sweat glands to local administration of mecholyl in rats during postnatal period. Nonresponsiveness of the plantar and palmar sweat glands to mecholyl was observed in 0- to 16-day-old and 0- to 10-day-old rats, respectively. After the nonresponsive period, a gradual increase in the responsiveness to mecholyl was observed in the plantar sweat glands. In the palmar sweat glands, however, a rapid increase followed by a temporary decrease and a subsequent gradual increase in the secretory responsiveness to mecholyl was found. This temporary decrease in the secretory responsiveness was observed on days soon after weaning.

Metabolism of branched medium chain length fatty acid. II--beta-oxidation of sodium dipropylacetate in rats

Catabolic intermediates of sodium dipropylacetate, an anticonvulsant drug, in the urine extracts of the drug-treated rats were examined by the aid of gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Eleven drug-specific peaks were estimated as unmetabolized sodium dipropylacetate, succinic acid, 2-n-propyl-3-hydroxypentanoic acid, 2-n-propyl-4-hydroxypentanoic acid, 2-n-propyl-3-oxopentanoic acid, 2-n-propyl-5-hydroxypentanoic acid, adipic acid, 2-n-propylglutaric acid, dipropylacetic acid glucuronide, propionic acid and 3-heptanone. Administration of sodium dipropylacetate with isoleucine to rats resulted in the disappearance of 2-n-propyl-3-oxopentanoic acid and a considerable decrease in 2-n-propyl-3-hydroxypentanoic acid. These data indicated that beta-oxidation was involved in the metabolism of sodium dipropylacetate as well as glucuronide conjugation and omega oxidation.

Purification of complement-fixing antigens of Rickettsia sennetsu by ether treatment

Soluble and particulate complement-fixing antigens of Rickettsia sennetsu were prepared from spleen suspensions of mice infected with the rickettsia and treated with cyclophosphamide. The medium used during purification of antigens, a solution consisting of equal volumes of phosphate-glutamate-sucrose buffer and veronal-buffered saline, was suitable for obtaining antigens with high titers and no anti-complementary activity. By heat treatment, it was demonstrated that the soluble antigen was heat labile and the particulate antigen was heat stable. The soluble antigen was precipitated by 80% saturation with ammonium sulfate. Cross-complement fixation tests using both soluble and particulate antigens revealed that there was no antigenic difference among strains of R. Sennetsu. On the other hand, no cross-activity was observed between R. sennetsu and R. orientalis.

Adrenal cortical secretory responses to histamine and cyanide in dogs with hypothalamic lesions

Experiments were performed on dogs with hypothalamic lesions as well as on intact and hypophysectomized dogs. Adrenal venous blood samples were collected and analyzed for 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS). In intact dogs, a marked increase in adrenal 17-OHCS secretion was observed after an i.v. injection of histamine and following an i.v. infusion of cyanide. Adrenal 17-OHCS secretion in response to histamine was markedly reduced but not completely abolished by hypophysectomy and was partially impaired by anterior median eminence lesions and by posterior median eminence lesions, but was not significantly impaired by supramammillary lesions. Adrenal 17-OHCS secretion in response to cyanide was completely abolished by hypophysectomy, markedly reduced by posterior median eminence lesions and partially impaired by anterior median eminence lesions and by supramammillary lesions. Thus, a partial dissociation of the adrenocortical secretory responses to histamine and cyanide was observed in dogs with hypothalamic lesions, suggesting that the mechanism and the pathway to the anterior pituitary involved in the adrenocortical secretory response to histamine and cyanide are somewhat different.

Dissociation of adrenocortical secretory responses to cyanide and philocarpine in dogs with hypothalamic lesions

In dogs with hypothalamic lesions as well as in intact and hypophysectomized dogs, adrenal venous blood samples were collected and analyzed for 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS). In intact dogs a marked increase in adrneal 17-OHCS secretion was observed following the i.v. infusion of cyanide as well as after the i.v. injection of pilocarpine; this was completely abolished by hypophysectomy. The adrenocortical response to pilocarpine was markedly impaired and that to cyanide partially suppressed after lesioning of the anterior median eminence. However, after lesioning of the posterior median eminence, the adrenocortical secretory response to pilocarpine was almost the same as in intact dogs, whereas the response to cyanide was markedly impaired. Thus, a dissociation of adrenocortical secretory responses to cyanide and pilocarpine was demonstrated in dogs with hypothalamic lesions.