Corticotropin peptides and melanotropins elevate the level of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate in cultured murine brain cells.

Cell cultures derived from mouse and rat brain and consisting mainly of astroblasts are known to respond to several hormones by increasing or decreasing their intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP. In the present study these cultures were analyzed for their susceptibility to various additional hormonal and other neuroactive compounds. Only the peptides of the corticotropin (ACTH)/melanotropin (MSH) family were found active.

[Sonographically evident changes in placental structures in pregnancy. 1].

During the routine prenatal care a sonographical valuation of the placental tissue structure is performed. It could be proved at 657 gravids (1436 examinations) that the placental tissue structure is changing the course of pregnancy. The results were graduated in three stages from 0 to 3.

Parathyrin and calcitonin stimulate cyclic AMP accumulation in cultured murine brain cells.

Despite the key role Ca2+ plays in the nervous system, biochemical actions on neural tissue of the Ca2+-regulating peptide hormones parathyrin and calcitonin were unknown. Until a few years ago only neurons, but not glial cells, were considered as targets for peptide hormones. Our recent observation that peptide hormones do indeed act on glial cells is extended by the present report that these cells respond to the calcaemic peptide hormones parathyrin and calcitonin.