Renin-angiotensin role in thirst: paradoxical enhancement of drinking by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor

A competitive angiotensin converting enzyme antagonist SQ 20, 881 (SQ), was used to examine the role of the renin-angiotensin system in putative renin-dependent thirst in the albino rat. Significant enhancement of "renin-dependent" as well as renin-independent drinking was observed in the presence of peripheral SQ. Intraventricular SQ obviated this enhancement of drinking but did not affect the water intake caused by the original stimulus itself, whereas it sharply reduced drinking evoked by peripheral renin in nephrectomized rats. Prior renin depletion likewise had no influence on so-called renin-dependent thirst.     

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone binding sites in human breast carcinoma

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs can cause regression of hormone-dependent breast carcinomas. These effects are thought to be mediated through the inhibition of gonadotropic and steroid hormones. These analogs may also act directly on the tumor because they are effective in treating breast cancer in some postmenopausal women. The presence of specific binding sites for gonadotropin-releasing hormone was demonstrated in human breast carcinomas by means of a novel approach of ligand immunoblotting. The results indicate a possible mechanism by which the peptide has direct effects on this tissue. These binding proteins were not detectable in non-neoplastic breast tissue.     

Stable amplified DNA in drug-resistant Leishmania exists as extrachromosomal circles

The relative stability of amplified DNA in drug-resistant Leishmania major was previously reported to be dependent on location, that is, unstable amplified DNA was extrachromosomal and stable amplified DNA was chromosomal. Leishmanial chromosomes have now been directly examined by means of orthogonal-field-alternation gel electrophoresis (OFAGE). The amplified DNA's in three resistant cell lines displayed unusual migration and were clearly extrachromosomal, regardless of whether the amplified DNA's were stable or unstable. Thus, contrary to conclusions from earlier studies of drug resistance in cultured animal cells, stable amplified DNA in Leishmania can be extrachromosomal. In addition, these amplified DNA's were shown to be circular on the basis of their resistance to exonuclease III digestion and their behavior on OFAGE. Their mobility was also greatly changed after treatment with topoisomerase II, suggesting that the amplified DNA's were either supercoiled or concatenated circles.     

Illness-induced aversions in rat and quail: relative salience of visual and gustatory cues

Bobwhite quail, like the rat, learn in one trial to avoid flavored water when illness is induced by a drug (1/2) 12 hour after drinking. In contrast to the rat, quail also learn to avoid water that is merely darkened by vegetable dye. The visual cue is even more salient than the taste cue in quail.     

Evidence for an antiaphrodisiac in the sweat bee Lasioglossum (Dialictus) zephyrum

Male Lasioglossum (Dialictus) zephyrum in the field are attracted to models impregnated with the odor of virgin females. The number of males responding increases with increasing odor concentration. Once a male has contacted a model, its attractiveness to other males is reduced, suggesting that the male may contribute an antiaphrodisiac cue so that other males avoid mated females.     

LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE IN TESTIS: DISSOCIATION AND RECOMBINATION OF SUBUNITS

Electrophoretic resolution of lactate dehydrogenase in mature testes from a variety of animals revealed one or more unusual isozymes in addition to the usual five forms. Dissociation of the enzyme and recombination of the polypeptide subunits led to the formation of new isozymes and to a redistribution of activity among those normally present, indicating that lactate dehydrogenase synthesis in postpubertal testis is controlled by more than two genes.