Lesch-Nyhan syndrome in an Arab family. Detection and biochemical manifestation of heterozygosity.

A large Arab family affected with the rare X-linked Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is reported on. Two hemizygous boys, two and nine years of age, had the classical biochemical and clinical-neurological syndrome. The activity of erythrocyte hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) was below the detectable limit (greater than 0.

Glycogen metabolism in the placenta of streptozotocin diabetic rats.

Administration of STZ prior to mating, induced significant impairment in glycogen metabolism in term rat placentae. Glycogen retention was observed in the treated placentae, while glycogen synthetase activity was reduced. The glycogenolytic pathway seemed to proceed mainly through amyloglucosidase enzyme whose activity increased threefold.

The effect of withaferin A, a natural steroidal lactone, on the fine structure of S-180 tumor cells.

Mouse sarcoma 180 (S-180) solid and ascites tumor cells were treated in vivo and in vitro with withaferin A and observed with the electron microscope. The compound was found to effect this spindle microtubules of cells in metaphase. An interesting finding was the double membranes surrounding the chromosomes in the treated cells; probably the nuclei were reconstructed directly from the metaphase stage in the in vivo withaferin A-treated cells.

The effect of withaferin A on human peripheral blood lymphocytes. An electron-microscope study.

Cultures of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) were treated with withaferin A and examined by an electron microscope. The compound was found to affect the spindle microtubules of cells in metaphase. There were no intact pole-to-pole microtubules or pole-to-kinetochore microtubules found in the treated cells; the centrioles were located in the center.