Comparison Between Plasma Levels of β-Thromboglobulin and Platelet Factor 4 in Various Diseases

Contentrations of β-thromboglobulin (β-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF-4) in platelet poor plasma were determined using radioimmunoassay in 97 healthy subjects and 307 hospitalized patients. In normal subjects, mean values (and SEM) of β-TG and PF-4 were 37±2 ng/ml and 8.3+1.5 ng/ml, respectively. Levels of β-TG increased with age. A statistically significant correlation between concentrations of β-TG and PF-4 was observed in 30 normal subjects (r=0.77, p<0.001). Levels of these protein increased in cases of DIC, acute deep vein thrombosis, acute myocardial infarction, acute cerebral infarction, transient ischemic attacks, diabetes mellitus with retinopathy or nephrotic syndrome, whereas these decreased in patients with aplastic anemia or acute leukemia. In a case of DIC with suppressed production of platelets in bone marrow, concentrations of β-TG and PF-4 remained within normal limits. There were few cases, in whom discrepancies between levels of β-TG and PF-4 were observed. Following oral administration of dipyridamole (300 mg daily), concentrations of β-TG and PF-4 decreased. From these results, it is concluded that elevation of β-TG ot PF-4 indicates hypercoagulable states.

Morphine analgesia and the bulbospinal serotonergic system: increase in concentration of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the rat spinal cord with analgesics

Administration of an analgesic dose of morphine increased the concentration of the metabolite of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA), in the spinal cord of rats. The time course of the change in 5HIAA concentration in the dorsal half of the spinal cord corresponded to that of the morphine analgesia, while such was not the case in the ventral half. When the spinal cord was transected at C1, the effect of morphine on 5HIAA concentration disappeared. After transection at the inter-collicular level, this effect remained. The possible relationship between morphine analgesia and descending serotonergic neurons in the spinal cord is discussed.

Influences of verapamil, X-537A, A-23187 and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate on release of 5-hydroxytryptamine from rat brain slices

Influences of verapamil, X-537A, A-23187 and cyclic-AMP on the release of [3H]-5-HT taken up into rat brain slices, were examined. Incubation with 40 mM KCl induced tritium release which was dependent on the presence of Ca2+. Verapamil, which blocks Ca2+ influx in excitable tissues, decreased potassium-induced release of 5-HT. Tritium release induced by ionophore X-537A was not dependent on extracellular Ca2+ while that induced by A-23187 required Ca2+. Cyclic-AMP, dibutyryl cyclic-AMP and theophylline did not significantly stimulate 5-HT release either in the presence or absence of Ca2+.

Temperature preference of adolescent mice

The behavioral preference of mice for various ambient temperatures was investigated while the mice were housed in a wire mesh cage. The animals exhibited a significant avoidance of ambient temperatures of 22 degree C and lower, especially when they were in an inactive period. This result suggested that temperatures a little higher than those conventionally adopted might be appropriate for rearing mice in wire mesh cages.

An improved method for estimating the activity of a mouse with the photoswitch

A new method for estimating the activity of a mouse by means of the photoswitch is contrived. This device can follow the activity with high fidelity and notable sensitivity, as compared with the conventional method.

Effect of enkephalin and substance P on sympathetic nerve transmission in mouse vas deferens

Effect of methionine-, leucine-enkephalin (met-, leu-enkephalin) and substance P on the transmission in mouse vas deferens was studied. Both met- and leu-enkephalin inhibited electrically induced contraction of vas deferens at 10(-8)-10(7) M, met-enkephalin being 1.4 times more active than leu-enkephalin. Nalorphine (10(-6) M) antagonized these effects. Substance P (10(-9)-10(-7) M) had no effect on the contraction. Met- and leu-enkephalin (10(-7)-10(-5) M) decreased the high potassium induced [3H]-norepinephrine release from vas deferens, while substance P (10(-6) M) significantly increased it. Nalorphine (10(-5) M) reversed the inhibitory effect of met-enkephalin. These results indicate that these peptides modify the transmission of sympathetic nerve in mouse vas deferens.

Breaking action of reductones related to ascorbic acid on nucleic acids

The action of two types of ascorbate-related reductones on nucleic acids was investigated by comparison with that of ascorbic acid (AsA). Amino reductone (ScA) and thiol reductone (MHC) caused strandscissions in nucleic acids. This was confirmed by the fact that reductones lowered the viscosity of DNA solution and shifted the peaks of DNA and RNA to the low molecular side in centrifugal profile. Cu2+ strengthened their action as in the case of enediol reductones. The braking activity of thiol reductone is relatively wesk compared with those of amino and enediol reductones. The preferential degradation of spurinic acid was caused with amino and thiol reductones, suggesting that pyrimidine clusters in nucleic acids were susceptible to breakage.

Spontaneous activity and heat avoidance of mice

Experiments were conducted with eight female mice on the avoidance of heat stress over the ambient temperature range from 25 to 34 degrees C. Significant avoidance behavior of the animals was observed at Ta = 30 degrees C, becoming more noticeable as the ambient temperature was raised. When exposed to heat, the animals showed peaks of avoidance during the second half of the dark period. This result seemed closely related to the spontaneous activity pattern of mice which reached a maximum between 1800 and 2000 at each experimental temperature. In this experiment, mice were more apt to choose a comfortable place during their inactive period than during their active period. This hypothesis on the relation between mice's heat avoidance and spontaneous activity was supported by the results of an additional experiment conducted in a cold environment of Ta = 18 degrees C.

Effect of lofepramine and other antidepressants on the uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine and noradrenaline into rat brain monoaminergic neurons

Lofepramine, (N-methyl-N-[4-chlorobenzoylmethyl]-3-[10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenz(b,f)-azepin-5-yl]-propylamine hydrochloride), is a new antidepressant with low toxicity and no peripheral anticholinergic activity. Its effect on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and noradrenaline uptake into rat brain monoaminergic neurons was studied and compared with that of other antidepressants, particularly with that of imipramine and desipramine. Lofepramine inhibited both 5-HT and noradrenaline uptake into synaptosomal fractions in vitro but was 4 times more potent in inhibiting noradrenaline than 5-HT uptake, indicating the effect resembles that of desipramine. Noradrenaline uptake was also preferentially inhibited in synaptosomes from brain of rats treated previously with lofepramine or desipramine (i.p.). Pretreatment with SKF 525A (i.p.) did not diminish the effect of lofepramine, but rather potentiated it. Therefore it is suggested that the formation of desipramine is not necessary for lofepramine to exhibit, the effect on amine uptake in vivo. Both lofepramine and desipramine inhibited intraventricular noradrenaline uptake into synaptosomes without any effect on 5-HT uptake. These results suggest that lofepramine is qualitatively similar to desipramine with respect to preferential inhibition of noradrenaline uptake into central noradrenergic neurons.

[Fundamental and clinical investigation of clindamycin-2-phosphate in otorhinolaryngological field (author's transl)]

Some laboratory examinations were made with clindamycin-2-phosphate (CLDM-2-phos.). The drug was applied clinically to several otorhinolaryngological infections and the good results were obtained as follows. 1) Observing by biophotometer, the growth of Staphbylococcus aureus FDA 209P was inhibited well by the serum (diluted 10-fold) 30 minutes, 1, 2, 4 hours after 300 mg of CLDM-2-PHOS. were injected intramuscularly. 2) Serum concentration was determined by thin-layer method with Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341 as the test organism. The peak of serum level was obtained at 1 hour after a single intramuscular injection of 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg dosis of CLDM-2-phosphate. The peak of blood concentration was 5.4 mug/ml, 5.6 mug/ml respectively. 3) CLDM-2-phosphate concentration in tissues was estimated one hour after intramuscular injection of CLDM-2-Phosphate. The concentrations in blood and palatine tonsilla were 5.0 mug/ml and 2.9 mug/ml respectively after the intramuscular injection of 10 mg/kg. The concentrations in blood and mucous membrane of maxillar sinusitis were 4.1 mug/ml and 2.5 mug/ml respectively after the intramuscular injection of 10 mg/kg. 4) CLDM-2-phosphate was administered by intramuscular injection into 30 cases with various infections in otorhinolaryngological field. The clinical results were excellent in 22 cases (73.3%), effective in 3 cases (10.0%) and ineffective in 5 cases (16.7%). The effectiveness was 83.3%. 5) No side effects were observed in 30 cases.

Studies on caerulein (FI6934). Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of caerulein

35S-Caerulein (35S-FI6934) was administered intramuscularly into rats (280 mug/kg), rabbits (380 mug/kg) and mice (3.3 mg/kg). Blood level of radioactivity in rats and rabbits reached the maximum at 5 and 15 min after administration, respectively, and then decreased rapidly. In both rats and rabbits, the radioactivities were excreted mainly into the urine. The physiological activity of FI6934 was detected in the blood of rats and rabbits collected within 15 and 30 min after injection respectively, and in the bile of rats collected within the first 2 hr. In rats, the radioactivities were densely distributed in kidney, liver, pancreas, and intestine. Four metabolites of 35S-FI6934 were isolated by paper chromatography from rat urine (i.m., 500 mug/kg). The main metabolites, F-I and F-II, were negative to nynhydrin and to the Ehrlich reagent and carried no physiological activity. 35S-Chym-I, which was prepared by digesting 35S-FI6934 with chymotrypsin, was injected to rats (i.m. 16 or 8 mg/kg/. The metabolite, C-I, isolated from the urine was considered to have a very similar structure to F-I from the results of paper chromatography and paper electrophoresis. By amino acid analysis, the structure of C-I was estimated to be as follows: Pyr-Gln (or Glu)-Asp-Tyr-Thr-Gly. (see article).

A digital auto-recorder for measuring the drinking frequency of mice

An inexpensive, automatic digital recorder to measure the drinking frequency of mice was designed. When an animal licked the spout of the water bottle, it closed the path of the current of the amplifier input circuit and a module converted the closure signal into an electric pulse. A camera preset by a timer automatically photographed the counter which had accepted the pulse. The apparatus was inexpensive and estimated the drinking frequency of many mice individually and simultaneously. This system is applicable as a pulse-recorder to physical phenomena other than water intake.

Effects of excess NaCl intake on blood pressure and cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in the monkey

The Macaca irus is a monkey species that is highly susceptible to experimental cholesterol atherosclerosis of the aorta, coronary and cerebral arteries and cutaneous xanthomatosis-like lesions induced by feeding a diet high in cholesterol and/or coconut oil for 14 months.

The monkeys fed an atherogenic diet were divided into two groups: monkeys receiving excess sodium and controls. The excess sodium group showed a significantly higher systolic blood pressure as compared with the control group; however, elevation of blood pressure was mild and was not considered as significant hypertension.

The loading of excess sodium chloride in monkeys fed an atherogenic diet did not enhance severity of atherosclerosis of the aorta, coronary and cerebral arteries.