[Cisplatin, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide combination chemotherapy of epithelial ovarian cancer]

The chemotherapeutic effects of cisplatin + adriamycin + cyclophosphamide (PAC) on 50 epithelial ovarian cancers were compared with the effects of 5-fluorouracil + cyclophosphamide + mitomycin C (FAM) in 17 patients. The cumulative survival at 5 years was 61.1% in all patients, 62.5% in patients treated with PAC and 54.7% in patients treated with FAM. The 5-year survival rate was 100% in Stage I, 63.5% in Stage II, 40.1% in Stage III and 22.2% in Stage IV. Of 22 patients with Stage III and IV treated with PAC, 16 patients responded (8CRs + 8PRs). The median survival duration of the treated patients was 19 months. On the other hand, of 8 patients treated with FAM, only one patient responded (PR). The median survival duration was 7 months. These results indicated the effectiveness of PAC chemotherapy against advanced ovarian cancer. No severe toxicity was observed during treatment with PAC or FAM.

Dependence characteristics and risk assessment of agonist-antagonist analgesics

Risk assessment of dependence-producing drugs comprises assessment of two major risks: the risk that a drug is likely to be abused (abuse liability) and the harm that is likely to occur as a consequence of abuse (termed here as harm liability). Important determinants of these risks are the dependence-related pharmacological and toxicological properties of a drug. In this paper, the relationships of the drug properties to the abuse and harm liabilities are described. Next, a scoring system to assess the abuse and harm liabilities is introduced. Finally, an attempt to actually apply this system to several prototypic drugs of abuse and some agonist-antagonist analgesics is explained.

Relationship between minimum reinforcing doses and injection speed in cocaine and pentobarbital self-administration in crab-eating monkeys

The relationship between minimum reinforcing doses and injection speed was investigated by using 2 levels of speeds in experiments on self-administration of cocaine or pentobarbital in 2 crab-eating monkeys each. The experiments were conducted under a fixed ratio (FR) 1 schedule with 30-min time-out after each drug injection, wherein the drugs and saline were made available for alternate 5-day periods. The minimum reinforcing doses at each injection speed were determined by the titration procedure in which the presence or absence of reinforcing effect at a particular drug dose was judged based on comparison of the self-administration rate at that dose with the rate in the preceding saline period. The results showed that the minimum reinforcing doses of cocaine and pentobarbital tended to be higher in inverse proportion to the injection speed of the drugs.

Alteration of hepatic phospholipids in rats and mice by feeding di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate and di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate

Effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DOA) and di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), plasticizers for polyvinylchloride products, on concentrations and compositions of hepatic phospholipids were studied in rats. When administered to rats at a 2% level for 2 wk, both DOA and DEHP caused a hepatomegaly, an increase in hepatic phospholipids and a decrease an increase in hepatic phospholipids and a decrease in the ratio of phosphatidylcholine (PC) to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). In the comparable study with mice, the alkyl moiety of DOA was found to be responsible for these alterations. DOA and DEHP specifically altered fatty acid compositions of PC and PE: there was an increase in oleic and palmitic acids and a decrease in stearic and docosahexaenoic acids in PC and an increase in arachidonic acid at the expense of docosahexaenoic acid in PE. In addition, DOA caused an increase in the trienoic and tetraenoic molecular species in PC and an increase in the 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonyl (16:0@20:4) species in PE. Thus, the effects of DOA on the lipid dynamics resembled those observed with DEHP, although the magnitude was slightly moderated.

Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate enhances hepatic phospholipid synthesis in rats

The effects of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, a typical peroxisomal proliferator, on the activities of key enzymes in the glycerophospholipid synthetic pathway and the incorporation of lipid precursors into liver lipids in vitro were studied periodically in rats. When di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate was fed at the 1% level to rats, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase activity increased 2-3-fold in liver homogenates and microsomes in 2-4 days. The specific activity of microsomal CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase increased by 1.5-fold, whereas the cytosolic activity was depressed. The microsomal CDPcholine:diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase specific activity decreased, whereas the activity in the homogenates increased, suggesting the proliferation of the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum in di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate-treated rats. The incorporation of [1(3)-3H]glycerol or [1-14C]acetate into liver phospholipids in vitro increased in 2 days and stayed at a high level up to 12 days. The present study confirmed that di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate induced an enhancement of phospholipid synthesis in the liver. The increase in hepatic phospholipid synthesis by this drug is presumably linked to the proliferation of peroxisomes and other intracellular membranes.

Influence of zopiclone on male reproductivity in rats

The influence of zopiclone, a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic, on male reproductivity and the recovery of the influences were examined in rats since it was found that oral administration of zopiclone to male rats produced sperm death and infertility at doses of 50 mg/kg or more. In the present study, zopiclone was administered orally by gavage at doses of 50 and 250 mg/kg once daily for 6 weeks to male rats of 8 weeks old. The rats were paired with untreated female rats at the end of the 2nd, 4th, and 6th weeks of administration and of the 2nd, 4th, and 6th weeks after termination of the administration. As the results, the copulation rates were 100% in the 50 mg/kg group, but the rate was low in the 250 mg/kg group at the end of the 2nd week of administration. The pregnancy rates of 0% and low motility and morphological abnormalities of the sperm were observed in the zopiclone-treated groups at the end of the 2nd week of administration. In the histological examination of the male reproductive organs, such changes as arrest of spermatogenesis and dilation of the epididymal ducts filled with the sperm were observed in the 250 mg/kg group at the end of the 2nd week of administration. In the recovery observation, the ability to impregnate female rats and the condition of the sperm recovered in the 50 mg/kg group at the end of the 2nd week of recovery. In the most rats of the 250 mg/kg group the ability to impregnate female rats and the condition of the sperm recovered at the end of the 4th and 6th weeks of recovery. However, in some rats of the 250 mg/kg group the ability to impregnate female rats and the condition of the sperm were still not recovered at the end of the 6th week of recovery.

Cellular retinol-binding proteins in head and neck tumors and their adjacent tissues

The levels of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) were examined by Scatchard analysis in 17 surgically resected human head and neck tumors and their adjacent normal tissues (normal tissues corresponded to muscle tissue). The center area and the marginal area of tumors were tested for their levels of CRBP in 17 cases, and the adjacent tissue was tested in 13 of the 17 cases. Only a small difference (if any) in the dissociation constant (Kd values) was seen in some cases between tumor and adjacent tissue; in most cases the Kd values in both areas were similar, and these values were also similar between the central and marginal areas of tumors. The average level of CRBP in the marginal area of the tumors was higher than that in the center area of the tumors in all the 17 cases. Among the 13 tumor cases whose adjacent tissues were tested, 12 showed CRBP levels more than two times higher in the marginal area of tumors; whereas in only one case was the level in the marginal or the center area of tumor similar to that in the adjacent tissues.

Kinetic studies on turtle pancreatic ribonuclease: a comparative study of the base specificities of the B2 and P0 sites of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A and turtle pancreatic ribonuclease

Kinetic constants for the transesterification of eight dinucleoside phosphates CpX and UpX by bovine and turtle pancreatic ribonuclease were determined. Both ribonucleases have a preference for purine nucleotides at the position X. However, bovine ribonuclease, like other mammalian ribonucleases, prefers 6-amino bases at this site, while turtle ribonuclease prefers 6-keto bases. This difference in specificity at the B2 site may be explained by the substitution of glutamic acid at position 111 by valine in turtle ribonuclease. These results have been confirmed by inhibition studies with the four nucleoside triphosphates. Inhibition studies with pT and pTp showed that a cationic binding group (P0) for the 5'-phosphate of the pyrimidine nucleotides bound at the primary B1 site is present in turtle ribonuclease, although lysine at position 66 in bovine ribonuclease is absent in turtle ribonuclease. However, the side chain of lysine 122 in turtle ribonuclease is probably located in the correct position to take over the role as cationic P0 site.

Intravenous self-administration of (-)-cathinone and 2-amino-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methyl)phenylpropane in rhesus monkeys

The reinforcing effects of (-)-cathinone, a pharmacologically active ingredient of khat, and 2-amino-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methyl)phenylpropane ((STP) (DOM)), a hallucinogenic psychotomimetic, were studied by intravenous self-administration experiments in rhesus monkeys. Among the experiments described in this paper, the result of continuous self-administration of (-)-cathinone was briefly reported elsewhere. T. Yanagita, Studies on Cathinones, NIDA Research Monograph 27, Proceedings of 41st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Committee on Problems of Drug Dependence, 1979, pp. 326-327.

[Multidisciplinary treatment of the head and neck cancer--FAR therapy and its modification and application]

Treatment of the head and neck cancer has surprisingly developed in the last decade. The most possible reasons were the development of the more effective anticancer drugs and new combination therapy including immunotherapy. FAR therapy, which was applied to the head and neck cancer in our clinic since 1972, was a combination of vitamin A, 5-FU and radiation. We have already reported the results and the problems of FAR therapy. But, recently we have developed the clinical application of vitamin A to the chemotherapy so as to overcome the resistance of the tumor cells to the anticancer drugs. In this paper, vitamin A was focused as a potentiating agent and the possible material to overcome the resistance to the anticancer drugs.

Synergistic combination therapy of 5-fluorouracil, vitamin A, and cobalt-60 radiation for head and neck tumors--antitumor combination therapy with vitamin A

Using cultured transformed fibroblasts, an antitumor agent, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), was found to be potentiated in its inhibitory action on RNA formation by vitamin A. 5-FU in combination with vitamin A enhanced more effectively the cellular sensitivity to irradiation than when 5-FU was used alone. So we have applied a triple combination of 5-FU, vitamin A, and cobalt-60 radiation (FAR therapy) to clinical treatment of head and neck tumors since 1972. The treatment of 192 patients with cancer of the larynx, 60 patients with hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal cancer, and 23 patients with epipharyngeal cancer with FAR therapy during 6 years from 1972 to 1977 resulted in highly effective synergism, and the improved points of this therapy were considered.

[Pharmacodynamic effects of d-nicotine--Comparison with l-nicotine]

The acute toxicity and pharmacological effects of d-nicotine were examined in several species of animals and compared with those of l-nicotine. The LD50s for intravenous administration of d- and l-nicotine were 6.15 and 0.33 mg/kg, respectively. In unanesthetized rhesus monkeys, EEG activity was not influenced by d-nicotine, 64 micrograms/kg, i.v., while the same dose of l-nicotine produced seizure-like waves with some spindles. In rats, d-nicotine increased spontaneous motor activity, and in the experiment under a DRL 20-sec schedule, it increased lever press responding, decreased the number of reinforcements and shortened interresponse time. Similar effects were also observed by administration of l-nicotine at lower doses than for the d-isomer. In anesthetized rats, d-nicotine elevated the blood pressure and increased the heart rate with a potency of about one-eighth that of the l-isomer. Further, tachyphylaxis and cross tachyphylaxis were developed to the blood pressure-raising effect in rats after repeated administration of both isomers. d-Nicotine elicited contraction of isolated rat ileum preparations, but with a potency of about one-tenth that of the l-isomer. Both isomers at the same concentration blocked transmission at the neuromuscular junction in isolated rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm muscle preparations. These results indicate that the pharmacological effects of d-nicotine are qualitatively similar to but quantitatively less potent than those of l-nicotine.

[Review of intra-arterial infusion-radiation therapy for lingual cancer]

Since 1974, we have performed intra-arterial infusion combined with radiation therapy in 137 cases of malignant tumor of the head and neck region. Of these 31 cases of lingual cancer are reviewed in the present paper. The cases were divided, according to the kind of infusional agent administered, into the following groups: BUdR X 5-FU (BAR), 13 cases and BUdR, 18 cases. Instances of death occurring in patients to which anti-cancer agents were applied were as follow: BAR, 8 cases (2 local recurrence, 1 lymph node metastasis, 3 unknown and 2 other causes) BUdR, 8 cases (2 local recurrence, 3 lymph node metastasis, 2 pulmonary metastasis, 1 unknown). Cases of death classified by stages included: (I) 2/6, (II) 4/10, (III) 8/13 and (IV 2/2. The shortest period of observation was 2 years and the longest 10. One of the 15 surviving cases has undergone hemiglossectomy due to recurrence, but the remaining 14 have not received any surgical treatment.

Agonist-antagonistic interactions of pentazocine with morphine studied in mice

Interactions between the antinociceptive effects of pentazocine and morphine were studied in mice. In the tail-pressure test, the antinociceptive effect of pentazocine, 4.75 to 9.5 mg/kg, SC, was synergistic to that of morphine, 0.69 to 1.38 mg/kg, SC. In the acetic acid writhing test, the effect was also synergistic with pentazocine, 7.13 to 9.5 mg/kg, SC, and morphine, 1.03 to 1.38 mg/kg, SC. In the tail-pinch test, larger doses of morphine than those above were required to suppress the nociceptive response, and simultaneous administration of pentazocine, 2.38 to 19.0 mg/kg, SC, and morphine, 2.75 mg/kg, SC, produced antagonistic effects. Pentazocine, 19.0 mg/kg, completely antagonized the effect of morphine, 2.75 mg/kg, with simultaneous administration at these doses always nearly equipotent to administration of pentazocine alone. These results suggested that when pentazocine and morphine are simultaneously administered, pentazocine synergizes or antagonizes to antinociceptive effects of morphine depending on the dose sizes of morphine and pentazocine, and that the relative saturation levels of morphine and pentazocine at the receptor may be important factors in determining whether the interaction of pentazocine with morphine is antagonistic or synergistic.

Inhibition of stomal recurrence in laryngectomy with preoperative far therapy. A statistical evaluation

FAR therapy is effective for cancers of the head and neck, in particular laryngeal cancer. This combined chemoradiotherapy consists of 5-FU, vitamin A and radiation. We found 10% stomal recurrences in reviewing 112 patients who had been treated with total laryngectomy. Stomal recurrences after total laryngectomy occur frequently in patients undergoing an emergency tracheotomy. We studied 33 such patients divided into 2 groups, on the basis of whether laryngectomy had been carried out after the emergency tracheotomy plus preoperative FAR therapy, or whether laryngectomy had been carried out without preoperative FAR therapy. The incidence of stomal recurrence was less among those given preoperative FAR therapy and was statistically significant. Such being the case, preoperative FAR therapy seems to e prophylactically effective against stomal recurrence after emergency tracheotomy.

Toxicological studies on the influence of diazepam following prolonged administration of ethanol in the rhesus monkey and rat

The influence of diazepam treatment following prolonged ethanol administration was toxicologically examined in rhesus monkeys and rats. In the monkey, ethanol was intragastrically administered through a chronically implanted catheter by programmed infusions at doses of 1.5 g/kg 4 times daily every 6 hours over a period of 5 or 10 weeks and followed by intragastric administration of diazepam 4 mg/kg twice a day for 5 weeks. In the rat, ethanol was administered by gavage at doses of 8 g/kg once a day or 4 g/kg twice a day for 5 weeks after which diazepam 300 mg/kg was intragastrically administered once daily for 5 weeks. In the monkey, ethanol produced such toxic changes as hypertriglyceridaemia, fatty metamorphosis of the hepatocytes associated with megamitochondria, proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and vacuolation in the hepatocytes, and gastritis. Diazepam did not aggravate but mostly alleviated these changes. In the rat, on the contrary, the serum GPT level slightly elevated due to the ethanol administration, and remained at the elevated level with the diazepam treatment in contrast with the complete recovery with non-treatment for 5 weeks after the ethanol administration. However, such changes as increase of fat droplets in the hepatocytes and the triglyceride concentration in the liver which had been developed by ethanol administration recovered during the diazepam treatment period. In spite of the recovery, the elevation of the serum GPT level being remained by diazepam may indicate possible influence of diazepam on the liver function when the drug is administered after prolonged administration of ethanol.

Influence of chlorpromazine administered to rat dams in the peripartum and nursing periods on the learning behavior of the second generation

Behavioral teratogenicity of chlorpromazine (CPZ) was studied in rats by observing the spontaneous motor activity level and learning behavior of light-dark discrimination in the second generation. The dams were treated with CPZ from day 17 of gestation to postpartum day 21 at doses of 2 mg/kg sc. once daily in one group and 4 mg/kg sc. twice daily in the other. The activity level of F1 was measured at 6 to 7 weeks of age for 68 hrs by a magnetic field counter. The learning experiments were started at 5 weeks of age in one group and 15 weeks of age in the other on the behaviors of the continuous food reinforcement at the beginning, then the light-dark discrimination, and finally the reversal discrimination learning. As the results, no influence of the CPZ treatment was observed in the activity level and learning behaviors of the continuous food reinforcement and light-dark discrimination. But, in the reversal learning of the light-dark discrimination an impairment or delay was observed in some F1 of the CPZ groups. Thus, the significance of observing reversal learning behavior in the assessment of the behavioral teratogenicity of drugs has been shown.

Dependence potential of zopiclone studied in monkeys

In gross behavioral observation the minimum effective dose of zopiclone was intravenously 0.06-0.25 mg/kg and intragastrically 1-4 mg/kg in rhesus monkeys. Zopiclone suppressed barbital withdrawal signs of rhesus monkeys at a single dose of 16 mg/kg or more. The suppressing effect of zopiclone 32 mg/kg i.g. was comparable to diazepam 8 mg/kg. Crab-eating monkeys treated with zopiclone at doses up to 32 mg/kg twice daily for up to 8 weeks manifested intermediate-grade signs upon withdrawal (i.e., less severe than after treatment with diazepam and similar to nitrazepam). Zopiclone was self-administered by rhesus monkeys relatively frequently by the intravenous route; the infrequent intragastric rate was similar to or slightly higher than with diazepam.

Influence of tolerance to and physical dependence on opioid analgesics on cortical evoked potential in rats

The influence of single and repeated doses of morphine, pentazocine, and chlorpromazine on the latent time of cortical evoked potentials was observed in rats. The evoked potentials were induced by electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve under the condition of curarization and artificial respiration. The evoked potential consisted of 4 phases. The latent time of the N2 component was prolonged by single dose administration of morphine at 5 mg/kg, s.c., pentazocine at 15 mg/kg, s.c., or chlorpromazine at 2 mg/kg, s.c. The effects of morphine and pentazocine were antagonized by naloxone but that of chlorpromazine was not. By repeated administration of morphine at 5 mg/kg or pentazocine at 15 mg/kg twice daily for 4 weeks, the prolongation of latent time tended to disappear gradually. Further, in these rats the latent time became shorter than that of normal rats after naloxone administration or natural withdrawal for 18 hr. Thus the development of tolerance to and physical dependence on these drugs were demonstrated by recovering and shortening of the latent time, even when withdrawal signs were not apparently observed in the rats' gross behavior. On the other hand, repeated administration of chlorpromazine at 2 mg/kg twice daily for 4 weeks did not produce such shortening of the latent time as was observed with morphine and pentazocine. These results indicate that the evoked potential can serve as a sensitive parameter for observation of the development of tolerance to and physical dependence on opioid analgesics in rats.

[Comparison of the effects of several psychotropic drugs by gross behavioral observation on rhesus monkeys]

The pharmacological profiles of psychotropic drugs, chlorpromazine, diazepam, imipramine, morphine, barbital, cocaine, d-amphetamine, and LSD-25, at various doses were compared in terms of gross behavioral observations in rhesus monkeys. At each observation 4 monkeys maintained in group cages were used, with 2 out of 4 being administered the compound and the other 2 being administered vehicle as control. The findings were scored against predetermined criteria. In order to compare profiles, items to sensitively reflect the influence of psychotropic drugs were selected, namely apprehension, spontaneous motor activity, alertness, motor function, tremor, pupil size, and salivation. The preadministration scores of these items were subtracted from the corresponding scores at various time following administration, with the absolute values of all items at each time being added together and graphed. Next, the profiles during the peaks on the graphs were expressed as histograms. If the histograms of 2 or more drugs at 4 times their minimum effective doses showed common tendencies in 3 or more items, or if common tendencies were noted in only 2 items but with no opposing tendencies in any other items, these drugs were collected into a group. The result was the following classification by profile: 1) chlorpomazine, diazepam, morphine, barbital; 2) d-amphetamine, cocaine; 3) imipramine; 4) LSD-25. These results may be interpreted as indicating that the characteristics of the effects of psychotropic drugs may be determined by gross behavioral observation in rhesus monkeys.

Thebaine metabolites in the urine of rhesus monkeys

The metabolic fate of thebaine in rhesus monkeys was investigated. Using thin layer chromatography, more than four metabolites were detected in the urine of monkeys given thebaine (8 mg/kg, s.c.). Two of the metabolites isolated by high performance liquid chromatography were not consistent with those reported previously. With the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the structures were identified as oripavine (3-O-demethylthebaine) and nororipavine (3-O,N-di-demethylthebaine) from the mass spectra of their trimethylsilyl and propionyl derivatives. Further experiments with liver microsomes from rhesus monkeys showed that, in addition to these metabolites, northebaine was also formed from thebaine in the presence of NADPH.

Cigarette smoking in rhesus monkeys

In the present pilot study, an attempt was made to shape and maintain cigarette smoking behavior in rhesus monkeys both with and without the simultaneous use of other reinforcers. Initially, 14 monkeys were trained to suck air and puff on cigarettes using sweetened liquid reinforcer. After smoking had been established, the sweetened liquid reinforcement was removed. Smoking without this reinforcement, referred to as 'voluntary smoking,' was then observed during 20-h daily sessions. Of 14 monkeys studied, 2 have engaged in voluntary smoking for 2 years or longer. The maximum figures recorded for any single 20-h session were 3,271 puffs (20 cigarettes) in one monkey and 16,384 puffs (47 cigarettes) in the other. Although the baseline variability of smoking by these monkeys was quite high, low-nicotine and nicotine-free cigarettes seemed to lead to clear decreases in smoking. In 2 other monkeys that did not perform voluntary smoking, smoking was reestablished under a random-time or a tandem schedule for sweetened liquid reinforcement. Within this situation ('schedule-controlled smoking') schedule manipulations also led to changes in intake of cigarette smoke. The voluntary smoking model described in the present paper should be useful for studying the factors involved in initiating and maintaining smoking behavior and for studying the psychopharmacological effects of smoking, while the schedule-controlled smoking model should be useful for studying the physiological effects of smoking and for studying th relationship of smoking with various disease entities.

Drug dependence potential of viloxazine hydrochloride tested in rhesus monkeys

The drug dependence potential of viloxazine was tested in 5 experiments on rhesus monkeys. In gross behavioral observation of normal monkeys the acute CNS effects of the drug were found to be very weak. Decrement of spontaneous motor activity and occasional eye-closing were observed with single doses higher than 16 mg/kg IV, IM and 128 mg/kg PO, while convulsions and death occured at 64 mg/kg IV and IM. Viloxazine did not suppress the morphine and barbital withdrawal signs in monkeys that had been made physically dependent on these drugs and withdrawal. In the test for physical dependence by repeated administration of the drug at 16 mg/kg IM twice daily for 31 days in normal monkeys, no observable withdrawal sign was developed in the naloxone precipitation and natural withdrawal tests. In intravenous self-administration experiments, a weak reinforcing effect was demonstrated in some monkeys, but the effect was extremely weak. Thus, viloxazine was found to be physical dependence-free and its overall dependence potential was regarded as very low.

[Histological appearances of cancer of the head and neck treated with pepleomycin (NK 631) (author's transl)]

Clinical findings and histopathological appearances in the patients with cancer of the head and neck treated with a new anti-tumor agent, pepleomycin, are reported. The total dosage of the new drug was within 100 mg on the average; however, the responses to chemotherapy were considerably favorable in general. Pepleomycin was markedly effective in two patients, moderately effective in seven, and ineffective in one. Microscopic evidences of regression of cancer cells were demonstrated in six surgical materials. Pepleomycin was shown to have an even more selective action on squamous cell carcinoma than bleomycin. The reactions of the surrounding tissue and skin to combination therapy, including pepleomycin, remained comparable to those to bleomycin. Side effects of the drug were slight fever and transient anorexia. No fibrosis of the lung was seen during eight months of observation.

[Drug effects on blood pressure and heart rate in unanesthetized animals. (1). Effects of beta-blocking agents (author's transl)]

beta-Blocking actions of orally administered Kö 1400 and tiprenolol, new beta-blocking agents, were studied in unanesthetized rats and dogs, using a fall of blood pressure and an increase in heart rate produced by isoproterenol as a measure of beta-receptor activation. Blood pressure was recorded from the aorta of the dog and the caudal artery of rat via indwelling catheter, and heart rate of the dog was recorded by a cardiotachometer triggered by R waves of the lead II electrocardiogram. Mean resting blood pressure was 116 mmHg in rats and 93 mmHg in dogs, and heart rate was 99 beats/min in dogs. Isoproterenol (0.5 microgram/kg) was injected via indwelling venous catheter. Kö 1400, tiprenolol and propranolol inhibited the hypotension and tachycardia induced by isoproterenol at an oral dose level of 2 mg/kg or more. beta-blocking action in these preparations was found to be tiprenolol greater than Kö 1400 greater than propranolol. Pharmacological half life of tiprenolol was longer than that of propranolol, whereas that of Kö 1400 was shorter. No selectivity of beta-blocking actions was observed with all three beta-blockers. These findings are in agreement with the results obtained in isolated atrial and tracheal preparations of the guinea pig.

Growth and liver lipids of casein-fed rats incubated in the presence of glucose and lipid

The effect of casein that has reacted with glucose and/or lipid on the growth and hepatic lipids of rats was studied. A mixture of casein-ethyl linoleate-glucose was kept at 50 degrees C and RH 80.4% for 14 days and defatted with ethyl ether and acetone. When the casein that had reacted with glucose and lipid was fed at at 10% dietary level for 14 days, the growth of rats was markedly depressed. Not only levels of hepatic lipids but also of plasma lipids were specifically modified. The accumulation of hepatic lipids was primarily due to the increase in triglyceride. When casein was reacted with glucose alone, similar but considerably lesser changes in the growth and liver lipid components were observed. These data indicate that casein characteristically deteriorates with glucose and/or lipid, but the effect of oxidation of the latter is very remarkable.

Nonselective incorporation into sporangium of either "older" or "younger" chromosome of the vegetative cell during sporulation in Bacillus cereus

Employing Bacillus cereus strain 2, we examined the fate of two chromosomes contained in vegetative cells in the course of sporulation. Cytological observations and quantitative estimation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) confirmed the earlier observations that, during the course of sporulation, one of two chromosomes of the vegetative cell was incorporated into the sporangium and the other disappeared into the medium as the result of cell lysis. Log-phase cells, labeled completely with thymine-2-(14)C in the presence of deoxyadenosine, were cultured in the "cold" glucose-glutamate-glycine-salts medium, and culture samples, taken at intervals at successive generations, were subjected to sporulation in glutamate-salts medium. The percentage of radioactivity in the spores separated from each culture remained almost unchanged at nearly 50% and was independent of the number of generations of the preceding culture in the "cold" medium. This suggests that the selective incorporation into the sporangium of either the "older" or "younger" chromosome of a vegetative cell does not occur in the course of spore formation. Some examples of the selective and nonselective behavior of DNA molecules in cellular events in microorganisms are cited.