Kinetics and products of the hydrolysis of 3,4-dihydroprecocene I 3,4-epoxide in aqueous organic solvents

The hydrolysis of 3, 4-dihydroprecocene I 3, 4-epoxide (3, 4-dihydro-7-methoxy-2, 2-dimethyl-3, 4-epoxy-2H-benzo[b]pyran), the putative ultimate cytotoxin of the insect growth regulator precocene I (7-methoxy-2, 2-dimethyl-2H-benzo[b]pyran), has been studied and found to exhibit first-order kinetics [k = 0.17 s^?1 in 10 mm-phosphate buffer pH 7.0, containing 1, 4-dioxane (1 + 1 by volume), ionic strength 0.1]. Plots of log k versus pH, and k versus buffer concentration, suggest that the reaction is subject to both specific and general acid catalysis. High-performance liquid chromatography showed the reaction products to be predominantly the corresponding stereoisomeric diols (3, 4-dihydro-7-methoxy-2, 2-dimethyl-2H-benzo[b]pyran-3, 4-diol), the trans : cis ratio of which varied from 1.8: 1 to 2.2: 1 but was constant over the pH range 6-8, at a given buffer concentration. The results indicate that acid-catalysed hydration of 3, 4-dihydroprecocene I 3, 4-epoxide is an S_N1 reaction, involving a trigonally hybridised carbocation at C4, even at physiological pH. Similar studies on 3, 4-dihydroiso-precocene I 3, 4-epoxide (3, 4-dihydro-6-methoxy-2, 2-dimethyl-3, 4-epoxy-2H-benzo-[b]pyran), a biologically inactive isomer of 3, 4-dihydroprecocene I 3, 4-epoxide suggest that an S_NI mechanism also contributes to its hydrolysis, but the rate constant is 4000 times lower than that for 3, 4-dihydroprecocene I 3, 4-epoxide. Knowledge of the reactivity and mechanism of reaction of such compounds forms an important part of the basis for rational prediction of biological activity in precocene analogues, and hence their possible use as pest control agents.     

Rosetting of bovine T-lymphocytes with autologous and allogeneic red blood cells

Certain bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and foetal thymocytes were shown to bind autologous and allogeneic red blood cells (RBC). When autologous RBC were treated with dextran, approximately 10% of peripheral blood lymphocytes and about 30% of thymocytes were found to form rosettes. Cells forming autologous rosettes appear to be a population of T-lymphocytes because (1) more rosette formation occurred with thymocytes than with PBL, (2) autologous rosette formation was increased in PBL cultures enriched in T cells and was decreased in cultures depleted of T cells, (3) very few rosette forming cells had surface immunoglobulin and (4) peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures depleted of monocytes did not show a decreased autologous rosette formation. It appears that the cells forming rosettes with autologous and allogeneic RBC belong to the same sub-population of T-cells.     

Immunosuppression in bovine trypanosomiasis: studies with louping-ill vaccine.

The antibody response to louping-ill virus vaccine was examined in mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei and T congolense, and in Ethiopian cattle experimentally infected with T brucei, T congolense and T vivax. In mice the antibody response was completely suppressed, while in cattle infected with T congolense and T vivax the antibody response to the vaccine was only 10 per cent that of uninfected animals. In contrast, the response of cattle infected with T brucei was not significantly reduced, and this was attributed to their relatively light and transient parasitaemias. Trypanocidal chemotherapy (diminazine aceturate) administered on the same day as vaccination largely restored the competence of the immune response of both mice and cattle infected with T congolense. The use of such drugs should be considered when cattle are vaccinated in trypanosome endemic areas.     

Different Culture Media Requirements of IVF and Nuclear Transfer Bovine Embryos

Important differences exist between in vitro fertilized (IVF) and nuclear transfer (NT) bovine embryos. Studies have shown that although in vitro development is comparable, post-implantation survival is greatly reduced in NT embryos. In this study, we compare serum and bovine serum albumin (BSA) supplementation during oocyte maturation and embryo culture of IVF and NT embryos. In experiment 1, oocytes and embryos were randomly distributed into different treatment groups consisting of synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) medium supplemented with either serum, fatty acid-free BSA (FAF) or fraction V BSA during maturation and/or culture to assess IVF embryo development. In experiment 2, oocytes were matured in SOF + serum or SOF + FAF and reconstructed embryos were cultured in SOF + FAF to assess NT embryo development. Among the IVF treatment groups, a greater number of blastocysts were observed in the steer serum (SER) group (IVM and IVC in SOF + serum) on day 6; however, no significant differences were seen in blastocyst development from day 8 onwards. Hatching frequencies on days 8 and 9 were significantly greater in groups with serum, with the exception of FAF (IVM and IVC in SOF + FAF) on day 9. For the NT treatment groups, the presence of serum during IVM resulted in a higher proportion of MII oocytes and increased blastocyst development and hatching rates were compared with supplementation of FAF. These results indicate that both serum and FAF provide comparable embryo development for IVF but not for NT bovine embryos.     

Subcutaneous granuloma caused by Mycobacterium avium complex infection in a cat

A localised subcutaneous swelling developed on the nasal bridge of a cat receiving chemotherapy for alimentary tract lymphosarcoma. Cytological and histological examination of representative samples of the lesion demonstrated pyogranulomatous inflammation and abundant acid-fast bacilli. A Mycobacterium sp was cultured from tissue excised from the lesion. Extensive testing at three reference laboratories indicated the strain was a member of the Mycobacterium avium complex. The infection was treated successfully by cytoreductive surgery and a 6 weeks course of orally administered clofazimine.