Regional variation in the effects of nicotine on catecholamine overflow in rat brain.

The effects of acute, repeated intermittent and continuous administration of nicotine on the overflow of noradrenaline in the ventral hippocampus and dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and striatum have been studied. Daily injections of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg(-1) for 5 days) enhanced noradrenaline and dopamine overflow in the ventral hippocampus and nucleus accumbens respectively (P < 0.

Media and tests to simplify the recognition and identification of members of the Proteeae.

Several important and diverse human pathogens are found in the tribe Proteeae. By identifying and concentrating on key biochemical reactions, it has been possible to devise six simple media that permit the identification of all the important members of the tribe with ease, speed and accuracy. This was confirmed by optional additional confirmatory media and tests.

Effects of acute D-CPPene on mesoaccumbens dopamine responses to nicotine in the rat.

Acute administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist, D-CPPene (SDZ EAA 494; 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-1-propenyl-1-phosphonic acid; 2 mg/kg), abolished (P < 0.01) the sensitised mesoaccumbens dopamine response to nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) measured using in vivo microdialysis, but not the increased locomotor activity, observed in rats pretreated with nicotine prior to the test day.

Alternative splicing of the human IgA Fc receptor CD89 in neutrophils and eosinophils.

Receptors for the Fc portion of IgA (Fc alpha R) trigger important immunological elimination processes against IgA-coated targets. Investigation of human Fc alpha R (CD89) transcripts in neutrophils, eosinophils and a monocyte-like cell line, THP-1, with the use of reverse transcriptase PCR, Northern blotting and RNase protection analysis, has provided evidence in these cell types for at least two distinct transcripts generated by alternative splicing. The cDNAs derived from the two major transcripts of both neutrophils and eosinophils have been cloned and sequenced.

Characterisation of strains of Salmonella serotype Livingstone by multiple typing.

Isolates of Salmonella serotype Livingstone (6,7:d:1,w) from man, water and various animals and animal products in Canada, England, France, Israel and Scotland were examined for ribotype, biotype and plasmid profile. Analysis by these methods indicated that an epidemic strain of Livingstone of ribotype 1/biotype 8/plasmid-type 6 was responsible for the major upsurge of Livingstone infection that occurred in man in Tayside (Scotland) between 1989 and 1991; that type was also isolated from spring water, animal feed and poultry. Livingstone isolates of ribotype 1/biotype 8 with plasmid profiles other than type 6 were also present in Scotland, England and France at that same time.

Neurochemical and behavioural interactions between ibogaine and nicotine in the rat.

1. In vivo brain microdialysis has been employed to investigate the effects of ibogaine on nicotine-induced changes in dopamine overflow in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of freely moving rats. The effects of the compound on locomotor responses to nicotine and behaviour in the elevated plus-maze were also examined.

Pharmacology of nicotine and its therapeutic use in smoking cessation and neurodegenerative disorders.

During the last decade, nicotine has been used increasingly as an aid to smoking cessation and has been found to be a safe and efficacious treatment for the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. This period has also seen significant advances in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the psychopharmacological responses to nicotine, including, particularly, those that have been implicated in nicotine addiction. This paper reviews this decade of progress in the specific context of the therapeutic application of nicotine to the treatment of smoking cessation.

Biotyping of Escherichia coli in microwell plates.

A simple, inexpensive scheme of eight tests for biotyping strains of Escherichia coli in microwell plates is described. The tests comprise primary tests for the fermentation of raffinose, sorbose, ornithine, dulcitol and 2-deoxy-D-ribose, and secondary tests for rhamnose fermentation, lysine decarboxylation and motility. Among a collection of 75 clinical isolates of Esch.

The detection of raised levels of IgM to Proteus mirabilis in sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

An analysis by ELISA of 100 rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive sera selected at random from a collection of sera from patients with various auto-immune diseases and joint pains, and 100 RF-negative sera from the same collection matched by patient age and gender, showed that the RF-positive sera had highly significantly (p < 0.0001) raised levels of IgM antibody, but not IgG antibody, to Proteus mirabilis over those of the RF-negative sera. This response was subsequently found to be associated with sera from patients who clinically had rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Subspecies discrimination of staphylococci from revision arthroplasties by ribotyping.

Sixty-six cultures of Staphylococcus spp. were obtained from bone and tissue samples collected from 37 patients during revision arthroplasties and were speciated and ribotyped to assess strain diversity in each species. There were 10 ribotypes among 51 isolates of S.

Desensitization of the nicotine-induced mesolimbic dopamine responses during constant infusion with nicotine.

1. The effects of constant nicotine infusions (0.25, 1.

Differential localisation of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase in kidney during human embryonic and fetal development.

The aim of our study was to localise UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT) in the developing mesonephric and metanephric kidneys of the human embryo and fetus, using immunohistochemical methods and an antibody preparation with broad specificity to the human isoforms. In embryonic and early fetal development of the metanephric kidney, UDPGT is located primarily in derivatives of the ureteric bud such as the ureter, pelvis, calyces and collecting ducts. This early predominance of UDPGT to ureteric bud derivatives declines by mid-fetal life: a) as nephrons evolve and develop they become increasingly UDPGT immunoreactive such that in mature metanephric kidney, the proximal tubules are highly UDPGT reactive, with other elements of the nephron also immunopositive (albeit at lower reactivities) and b) with the formation of an immunonegative transitional epithelium in ureter, pelvis and calyces, the reactivity retained in collecting ducts is only a small proportion of the total.

Neural mechanisms underlying nicotine dependence.

There is little doubt that many habitual smokers find it difficult to quit the habit because they have become addicted to the nicotine present in the smoke. This paper addresses some of the pharmacological mechanisms underlying this addiction and discusses how an understanding of these mechanisms may contribute to the more effective use of nicotine replacement therapy during smoking cessation. It considers critically the evidence that the "rewarding" properties of nicotine, which serve to reinforce drug-seeking behaviour, are related to stimulation of the mesolimbic dopamine system of the brain.

Studies on the influence of nicotine infusions on mesolimbic dopamine and locomotor responses to nicotine.

The present study examined the effects of constant nicotine infusions on dopamine overflow in the nucleus accumbens and on locomotor activity and compared them with the changes evoked by repeated daily injections (one injection per day for 5 days) of the drug. The putative anxiolytic properties of nicotine have also been examined using the elevated plus-maze test of anxiety. Repetitive daily subcutaneous injections of nicotine (0.

The production of HlyA toxin by Proteus penneri strains.

Twelve diverse strains of Proteus penneri of clinical origin all produced a calcium-dependent haemolysin, unlike most other Proteus spp. In most strains the haemolysin was secreted into the medium during early exponential growth and lysed not only of a variety of erythrocyte types from several animals including man, but also human neutrophils and human embryo lung fibroblasts. The haemolysin was a protein of 107 kDa, the same size as Escherichia coli HlyA, and it reacted with antiserum to E.

A miniaturized biotyping system for strain discrimination in Escherichia coli.

A two-tier miniaturized scheme of eight tests was devised for biotyping strains of Escherichia coli in microwell plates. Primary biotypes were defined by positive and negative reactions in tests for fermentation of raffinose, sorbose, dulcitol and 2-deoxy-D-ribose and for decarboxylation of ornithine when read after specified periods of incubation; subtypes were identified within primary biotypes according to results in secondary tests for rhamnose fermentation, lysine decarboxylation and motility. The method gave reproducible results on different occasions of testing.

The molecular basis of the genetic deficiencies of five of the components of the glucose-6-phosphatase system: improved diagnosis.

The understanding of type 1 glycogen storage diseases (GSDs) has been greatly hindered by a lack of knowledge of the molecular basis of glucose-6-phosphatase (Glc-6-P'ase). The problem has been the complete failure of many laboratories, including our own, to purify to homogeneity a single polypeptide with high levels of Glc-6-P'ase activity. The best preparations to date all contain five or six different polypeptide bands and have specific activities in the range 17-50 mumoles/min per milligram.