Tolerance breaking by lymphocyte activating factor induced by Escherichia coli O138 lipopolysaccharide from homologous macrophages.

Following an antigenic dose of 10 microgram or a tolerogenic dose of 200 microgram of Escherichia coli O138 lipopolysaccharide (LPS), BALB/c mice were examined on day 14 for percentages of theta-bearing cells. A considerable increase in T cells was noticed in lymphocytes from tolerant draining lymph nodes, and furthermore these cells did not possess receptors for LPS when tested for rosette inhibition. However, when the supernatant from 1 X 10(7) macrophages, pretreated with 150 microgram LPS, was given to tolerant mice on day 7, by day 14 tolerance was found to be broken, anti-LPS IgG was present in circulation and the draining lymph node contained T cells specifically committed to LPS. The change from suppressor to helper T cell activity is discussed in relation to enhancement of the immune response.     

Miniaturized methods for testing the toxicity of pesticides to microorganisms

A minialurized method of determining the toxicity of pesticides to large numbers or soil mitroorganisms is described. Bacteria. actinomycetes, yeasts, fungi and algae can be used as test organisms. A modification of the method allows determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations of pesticides to specific microorganisms. Some results obtained with herbicides are presented. Microméthodex pour éprauver la toxicité des pesticides vis-á-vis des micro-organismes Une micromethode pour determiner la toxicité des pesticides vis-á-vis de nombreux micro-organismes du sol est décrite. Des bactéries. des actinomycetes, des levures. des champignons et des algues peuvent ëtre utilisés comme organismes-tesis. Une modifitation de la méthode permel les determinations des concentrations minimales inhibitrices des pesticides vis-á-vis des micro-organismes specifiques. Quelques resultats obtenus avec des herbicides sont présentés. Miniaturisierte Methoden zur Prüf'ung der Toxizitüt von Pflan- zenhehandlumgsmit teln auf Mikraorganismen Es wird einc miniaturisierte Methode zur BestimmungderToxi- zität von Pfianzenbehandlungsmitteln für groβe Zablen von Bodenmikroorganismen beschrieben, Als Testorganismen können Bakterien. Actinomyceten. Hefen, Pilze und Algen benutzi werden. Eine Modifizierung der Methode gestattet die Bestimmung der Minimum-Hemmkonzentration von Pflanzen- behandlungsmitteln auf spezielle Mikroorganismen. Einige Ergebnisse, die mit Herbiziden erarbeitel wurden. sind darge-stellt.     

Balance of conversion of [14C]lindane in lettuce in hydroponic culture

After application of [¹⁴C]lindane to the nutrient medium (1.45 ppm), 14.1% of the radioactivity was taken up by 12 lettuce plants during 4 weeks; in the nutrient medium, 7.8% was recovered after the same time interval. The radioactivity in the nutrient extract comprised: unchanged lindane (about 82%); free 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol, free pentachlorophenol, conjugates of pentachlorophenol, and an unidentified polar compound (a total of 15%); 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene, 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene, pentachlorobenzene, hexachlorobenzene, 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorocyclohex-1-ene, and probably 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexene (a total of 3%). The radioactivity extracted from plants consisted of unchanged lindane (about 77%); free 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol, conjugates of a tetrachlorophenol and pentachlorophenol, and a strongly hydrophilic compound that was not identified (a total of 20%); 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, pentachlorobenzene, 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorocyclohex-1-ene, and probably 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexene (a total of 3%). Identification was carried out by means of comparisons of chromatographic properties and of the mass spectra with those of authentic reference compounds. The significance of hexachlorobenzene as a metabolite of lindane is discussed.     

Mango seed kernels as an energy source for chicks1

1. Chemical analysis of a sample of ground mango seed kernels (MSK) revealed the following percentage composition: dry matter, 91.55; ash, 1.97; protein, 6.74; ether extract, 12.53; fibre, 1.30; nitrogen‐free extract, 77.46.

2. The ME content of MSK was 1.82 kcal/g.

3. The percentage retention of the crude fat content of MSK was only 3.38%.

4. Substituting MSK for corn at 10 or 20% led to reduced growth rate and poorer food consumption and a reduced efficiency of food utilisation in the period 0 to 4 weeks.     

Comparison of the specificty of human and bovine tuberculin PPD for testing cattle. 1--Republic of Ireland.

A tuberculin testing trial in cattle was carried out in the Republic of Ireland to compare the specificity for bovine tuberculosis of a human purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin (Weybridge) with that of a bovine PPD (Rotterdam), and to determine whether discrimination between specific and non-specific reactions to mammalian tuberculin is better with doses of tuberculins smaller than those traditonally used for testing cattle. Tests were carried out in 510 cattle, 395 of which were shown by post mortem examination to be tuberculous and 115 non-tuberculous. Three dilutions at five-fold intervals of both mammalian tuberculins were used together with two dose levels of avian tuberculin PPD (Weybridge), and all reactions were measured both by increase in skin fold thickness and by diameter of induration. In the environment of this trial, the bovine PPD was shown to be more specific for bovine tuberculosis than the human PPD, and particularly in differentiating from "skin tuberculosis". There was no indication of greater specificity at lower doses of tuberculin. Measurement of induration diameter proved a satisfactory alternative method of reading tuberculin reactions in cattle under field conditions.     

Plasma protein alterations in cattle suffering from acute peritonitis.

Modification of the normal plasma protein picture has been studied in plasma samples from cows suffering from spontaneously arisen (17 cases) or experimentally induced acute peritonitis (5 cases) using polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Considerable differences were found in the postalbumin region during peritonitis. One protein component increased in size, while another disappeared. Two weak components in normal samples were replaced by four discrete protein bands. These modifications were not detected in any of 10 plasma samples from cows suffering from other diseases than peritonitis or in any of 35 samples from clinically healthy animals. The modifications were visible 12-16 h after injection of the provoking agent and were remarkably alike from one case to the next.     

Conversion of the aldrin/dieldrin metabolite dihydrochlordene dicarboxylic acid-14C in rats

Upon intravenous application of dihydrochlordene dicarboxylic acid-¹⁴C to rats, the radioactivity is quickly excreted, and 44% of the excreted radioactivity consists of metabolites. Nine metabolites have been isolated from feces and urine extracts. Three metabolites could be identified by means of authentic samples by thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometry: two isomers of dechlorodihydrochlordene-dicarboxylic acid (metabolites I and II, total 22.5%) and dihydrochlordene-dicarboxylic acid-dimethyl-ester (metabolite III, 11.3%).     

Pheromone-based communication disruption ofAdoxophyes orana on peach using the new RAK 3+4 dispensers and their effect on development of fruit rot diseases

The effectiveness of the pheromone-based communication disruption method was examined against the summerfruit tortrix,Adoxophyes orana F.v.R. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a pest of peach trees, using the new RAK 3+4 dispenser (BASF). NoA. orana males were captured in pheromone traps inside the experimental orchards, which were saturated with the RAK 3+4 dispensers. The percent of damaged leaves was practically zero, while the level of damaged fruits was 0–6% in pheromone-treated orchards. The percentage of fruit rot caused byMonilinia laxa was lower in pheromone-based communication disruption orchards than in the control. It was concluded that the RAK 3+4 dispenser could be used againstA. orana as an economical and environmentally friendly method.     

Electrocorticogram disturbances detected in rats exposed from early stages of life to residual doses of lindane

Functional brain alterations induced by lindane were examined in Rat chronically exposed to low doses of lindane (1 and 2 μg L⁻¹ in drinking water) from conception. Histological and electrophysiological investigations were conducted at 14 weeks of age. Lindane did not induce histological changes. It did not significantly modify the sleep-wakefulness cycle and EEG did not show major alterations. The spectral EEG analysis, by recording cortical variations in both energy spectrum and energy levels of different frequency bands, showed an increase in the 11-15 Hz activity in both groups exposed to lindane. This activity was characterised by spindles well-depicted during slow wave sleep or associated with fast activity during wakefulness and theta activity in paradoxical sleep. These data suggest that chronic exposure to lindane doses as low as 1 μg L⁻¹ in drinking water could lead to central electrophysiological effects possibly involving GABA-benzodiazepine mechanisms.