Journal of Applied Biology
Year:2000 | Volume:13 | Issue:1|Papers Count:9

Harmine, Harmaline, Harmane and norharmane are a group of B-carboline alkaloids of Peganum harmala L. Harmane and norharmane are of special interest because they are found endogenously in mammalian tissues. In this study, the effects of the alkaloids on body temperature in mice were compared and by using the benzodiazepine receptors antagonist flumazenil, the role of benzodianzepine receptors in these effects was investigated. Since locomotor activity may affect temperature control in mice, the effects of these compounds on locomotion were also assessed at the same doses and conditions that influenced body temperature. The studies were carried out on mice by using harmine, harmaline, harmane, norharmane and flumazenil. Body temperature was measured by putting a probe into the animal anus and locomotor activity was measured by using an activity meter with two ultrasonic transducers. Harmine (0.5, 1.5, 2.5,5 mg/kg i.p.), harmaline (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 5 mg/kg i.p.), harmane (0.5, 1, 2, 4 mg/kg i.p.) and norharmane (0.5, 1, 2, 4 mg/kg i.p.) reduced body temperature dose dependently, but did not affect locomotor activity. Differences between the body temperature lowering efficacies of the alkaloids were not significant, however hamane was significantly more potent than the other alkaloids (P<0.05). Flumazenil did not antagonize the body temperature lowering effects of the alkaloids. The harmala alkaloids reduce body temperature in mice dose dependently at doses that do not affect locomotor activity. It seems that benzodiazpine receptors are not involved in the hypothermic effects of the alkaloids.

In this paper we show that inner derivation Sa maps into the radical if and only if for every irreducible representation p, p (a) is scalar. In addition we obtain that every inner derivation corresponding to o-quasi central elements in some Banach algebras maps into the radical. Finally, we extend some results for inner derivations to generalized inner derivations. AMS Mathematics Subject Classification: 64H40

In this study the effect of a derivative of vitamin A, all trans retinoic acid, on metabolic process of alveolar macrophages such as protein and RNA synthesis was investigated. Employing radiolabeled amino acids and nucleotide incorporation into the synthesized proteins and RNA, the following results were obtained: the effect of retinoic acid on cell survival was dose dependent and the highest value was seen at 10 M concentration. Using radiolabeled amino acid, 3H leucine in the culture media, showed that the protein synthesis was increased and the highest count was obtained at 16 hours of incubation and 10-7 M concentration of retinoic acid. Determination of RNA synthesis in the presence and absence of retinoic acid showed that in all treated cells, the level of RNA synthesis was higher than the controls. Protein and RNA synthesis inhibitors also confirmed the results.

In genetic linkage analysis when a genetic trait is regressed on some factors such as polygenic values and environmental effects, one needs to estimate the model parameters and test some hypotheses. Since only the phenotypes of the individuals are observed, calculation of likelihoods involves consideration of all compatible configurations of genotypes. The number of this configurations increases as the size of the pedigree and the number of loci involved increase. One natural approach is the use of Monte Carlo methods. In this paper we use the Gibbs Sampling Method to do the calculations.

In order to study biological effects of alternating electromagnetic fields (AEMFS), developmental stages of egg and larval 1, 2, 3 of Drosophila (wild type) were exposed to 11 mT50 Hz field. The field was produced in a pair of helmholz coils. Each of the developmental stages were exposed to AEMF S for 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours, separately. The general features of adult flies including head, thorax, abdomen and all morphological changes in groups were studied and compared. The frequency of abnormal flies was calculated by using statistical methods at P<0.05. The results obtained from experimental groups of larval stages showed a significant increase in abnormal individuals, whereas the results obtained from eggs exposed to AEMFS were non-significant (Also, it was revealed that duration of exposure time has signification correlation with the increase -of number of abnormal flies. Comparison of mortality percentage and sex dependence of the abnormal flies in control and field - exposed groups did not show significant results. Black pigments were observed in abdominal fluid of some field - exposed individuals. Chemical analysis of these pigmentations, which have been transferred to subsequently offs Prings, too, revealed Na+, Mg+2, ... mineralization together with unknown organic material.