Studies of heat precipitable immunoglobulins

The nature of the heat precipitation of 3 mononoclonal heat labile immunoglobulins was studied. These included 2 γG pyroglobulins and one γM pyroglobulin. Thermoprecipitable activity of both γG pyroglobulins could be localized to their heavy chains and to the Fab fragments of one of them. Heat precipitability of the γM paraprotein required the presence of the intact γM molecule since 7S subunits did not precipitate. The thermal precipitates appeared to result from intramolecular or intermolecular reactions with the formation of strong covalent bonds rather than weak non-covalent bonds. The importance of disulphide bonding was excluded in the precipitation of both γG but not in the γM pyroglobulins. Heat precipitation of the monoclonal γM resulted in coprecipitation of other proteins, particularly γG globulin, which suggested a specific type of reaction with this immunoglobulin. The interaction of the γM pyroglobulin, normal γG and heat produced an irreversible precipitate.

Prostatic abscess

Chitty (1957), reporting on prostatic abscess from the Bristol Department of Urology, suggested that the treatment of choice was transurethral resection of the entire gland. Over the 10 years since this initial report our experience has amply confirmed this view and a further series of 67 patients is now analysed. It would appear that there is no absolute means of establishing the diagnosis, either from the history or the clinical findings, and that even when the diagnosis is suspected it may only be confirmed by resection of the gland. The abscesses are not infrequently multiple and thus a simple saucerization of one cavity may leave further significant foci undiscovered. A full transurethral prostatectomy is therefore the treatment of choice. This policy of radical treatment by the transurethral route has been followed by minimal postoperative complications or recurrence.

An investigation of the distribution coefficients of some androgen esters using paper chromatography

Rm values have been determined for four homologous series of androgen esters, using a Bush paper chromatography system, to assess the value of the ratio of the solubilities in the individual solvents (solubility ratio), as an estimate of distribution coefficient. The distribution coefficients were proportional to Rm values in all four series, and for three of these the proportionality constant was the same. Limitations in the use of RM values to predict biological effects have been pointed out.

Reaginic Antibody against Insulin: Demonstration of Antigenic Distinction between Native and Extracted Insulin

Reaginic antibody against insulin mediated a generalized systemic reaction. The antibody was demonstrated to be against the insulin molecule and not against contaminating non-insulin proteins. The reaginic antibody was consistent with localization in a γE type of immunoglobulin. Reactivity was directed against insulins of several species including human insulin. The antibody reacted with various submolecular units of insulin but not against isolated A- and B-chains. The presence of reactivity against human synthetic insulin and insulin prepared from recombination of polypeptide subunits demonstrated the related antigenicity of these molecules. The reaginic antibody reacted only against extracted insulin including autologous insulin and not against endogenous circulating insulin.

Analogues of geranyl pyrophosphate as inhibitors of prenyltransferase

Six analogues of geranyl pyrophosphate (the monophosphates of geraniol and tetrahydrogeraniol, and the pyrophosphates of nerol, octan-1-ol, tetrahydrogeraniol and citronellol) were synthesized, and were found to be inhibitors of pig liver prenyl- (geranyl-)transferase. The effects of each analogue were analysed in kinetic experiments, which showed the pyrophosphates of citronellol, tetrahydrogeraniol and octan-1-ol to be the most potent inhibitors. The results are interpreted to support a previous hypothesis that the main forces in the binding of substrates to prenyltransferase are non-specific lipophilic forces and a pyrophosphate-binding force.

Comparisons of Reaginic Antibodies from Three Species

Reaginic antisera from three species were fractionated by gel filtration. The reaginic activity was localized and compared with other major immunoglobulins in each serum. The reaginic antibody appeared distinct from the major immunoglobulins in sera of man, monkey and dog. Heterologous antisera prepared against the reaginic antibody of all species absorbed reaginic activity. These antisera were prepared in a manner such that they had no detectable activity against the major immunoglobulin classes. These results were interpreted as being consistent with demonstrating similarities between reaginic antibodies of the three species. It is provisionally suggested that reaginic antibodies in sera of dogs and monkeys may reside in a γE analogous to human γE.

Biological half-lives of [4-14C]testosterone and some of its esters after injection into the rat

Biological half-lives for 14C from labelled testosterone in muscle and whole body of rats have been measured after intramuscular injection of [4-14C]testosterone and its lower esters (formate to valerate). A relation has been observed between ethyl oleate-water distribution coefficients, biological half-lives in the rat and “times of maximum effect” in the rat and fowl.