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Summary Hemoglobin, non-enzymatic and enzymatic muscle proteins of the loach Cobitis delicata were examined electrophoretically. Eleven proteins were shown to be under control by 20 loci. Only two loci were defined as polymorphic and 14 loci were completely monomorphic. Estimated average heterozygosity over all 20 loci was 0.011 in the loach population.

Summary The electrophoretic pattern of the loach muscle adenylate kinase was composed of one or two major bands. Each major band was preceded by two minor bands. Three codominant alleles were postulated to segregate in loach. Each allele coded for one major band with different mobility. Adenylate kinase (AK. E.C. 2.7.4.3.) catalyses the reaction 2ADP ATP + AMP. and is known as a heat stable protein constituent of skeletal muscle. Electrophoretic variation of AK has been reported in the pika Ochotona r. rufescens (Vergnes et al. 1974). the teleostean fish Zoarces viviparus (Frydenberg & Si-monsen, 1973), the mussel Mvtilus edulis (Ahmad et al. 1977). and the tunicate Ciona intestinalis (Schmidtke & Engel. 1980). In this note, individual variation of AK in muscle extracts of the fresh-water fish Misgurnus anguillicaudatus is described. Loach were collected in ponds or purchased from fish shops (Table 1 & Fig. 1). Three populations (OS. AS and KN) were purchased from fish shops in Osaka. Akashi and Kanazawa cities, respectively. Their exact sampling locations were not known. For reference, the locations of these cities are indicated by an open circle in Fig. i. Fish were collected and stored frozen at – 20 oC at the sampling time given in Table 1. Muscle extracts were prepared and examined in the period February-April 1981.The method for preparing muscle extract and-the starch gel electrophoretic procedures were the same as those reported previously (Kimura, 1976). The amine-citrate buffer system as described by Clayton & Tretiak (1972) was used. AK was stained by the method of Allendorf et al. (1977). After electrophoresis, an inhibition test was also performed by immersing the gel in 10-3M 5.5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate) solution for 30 minutes at room temperature. Under the electrophoretic condition used in the present study, all of the AK

Summary Sixteen enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins of the pigeon Columba livia domestica were examined electrophoretically. These proteins were presumed to be under control by 22 loci. Of the 22 loci, 6 were defined as polymorphic and 15 as monomorphic. Another locus was variable, but the variation was not genetically interpretable. Average heterozygosity calculated over 21 loci was 0.075.

Summary Electrophoretic variations of enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins were investigated in 8 populations of the loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. The cathodic hemoglobin and the muscle protein in the region II were shown to be polymorphic, in addition to the five polymorphic proteins previously reported (the anodic hemoglobin, muscle protein in the region III, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucomutase and aspartate aminotransferase; Kimura, 1976 & 1977). The muscle proteins in the regions I, IV and V were monomorphic. The values of genetic distances between loach populations, calculated over 10 loci, indicated that M. anguillicaudatus should be classified into two local races.

Whether organic anion and cation transporters are involved in the renal excretion of xanthine derivatives, 3-methylxanthie and enprofylline, remains unclear. In this study, we have investigated the effects of typically predominant substrates for organic anion and cation transporters on the tubular secretion of 3-methylxanthine and enprofylline in rats. In the renal clearance experiments using typical substrates for organic anion transporters, probenecid and p-aminohippurate, probenecid (20 mg/kg), but not p-aminohippurate (100 mg/kg), significantly decreased the renal clearance and clearance ratio of 3-methylxanthine and enprofylline. The typical substrates for organic cation transport systems, tetraethylammonium (30.6 mg/kg) and cimetidine (50 or 100 mg/kg), significantly decreased the renal clearance and clearance ratio of 3-methylxanthine and enprofylline. These results suggest that the renal secretory transport of 3-methylxanthine and enprofylline are mediated by probenecid-, cimetidine- and tetraethylammonium-sensitive transport systems. Uric acid, an organic anion, significantly inhibited the renal secretion of 3-methylxanthine, but not enprofylline, suggesting that the renal tubular transport of 3-methylxanthine is also mediated via uric acid-sensitive transport system. These findings suggest the possibility that both organic anion and cation transporters are, at least, involved in the renal tubular transport of 3-methylxanthine and enprofylline in rats.

Summary The loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus is a fresh-water teleost and is known to be widely distributed through Japan, Formosa, Korea and into eastern Asia. The author has reported electrophoretic variation in five different proteins in the loach (Kimura, 1976a, b, c). This note describes a sixth example, electrophoretic variation of aspartate aminotransferase (AAT; EC 2.6.1.1.).

A sensitive, reproducible and specific radioimmunoassay for human interleukin-4 (IL4) has been developed. Using 125I-labeled IL4 and polyclonal rabbit antisera raised against recombinant human IL4, a competitive inhibition assay was developed which could detect 5 pg/ml of human IL4. Other interleukins, growth factors, hormones, peptides and lectins did not affect the assay. IL4 was measured in supernatants of culture media of stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Kinetics of IL4 production in PHA-stimulated PBMC from seven normal subjects revealed that the peak levels of IL4 were seen at 24 h and then declined. Peak IL4 levels in PHA stimulation of PBMC from untreated patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases (Graves' disease and chronic thyroiditis) were significantly higher than normal controls. However, after treatment, IL4 production decreased to normal. The present study demonstrates the usefulness of quantitating human IL4 produced by PBMC and that there exists a deregulated production of IL4 in autoimmune thyroid diseases.

There is an interesting clinical report indicating that aciclovir, which is mainly excreted into urine, decreases the systemic clearance of theophylline by inhibiting cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2-mediated metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effect of aciclovir on the metabolism of theophylline, and on the activity and expression of hepatic CYP1A2 in rats. Theophylline (10 mg/kg) was injected intravenously into rats treated with two different dosages of aciclovir. When theophylline was simultaneously administered with aciclovir (50 mg/kg), the systemic clearance of theophylline and metabolic clearance of its major metabolites, 1-methyluric acid and 1,3-dimethyluric acid, were unchanged. In place of theophylline, when 1-methyl-3-propylxanthine (2.5 mg/kg), which is almost metabolized by CYP1A2 in rats, was coadministered intravenously with aciclovir (50 mg/kg), the pharmacokinetics of 1-methyl-3-propylxanthine was also unchanged. When theophylline was administered to rats pretreated with repeated intraperitoneal injections of aciclovir (25 mg/kg twice daily for 3 d), no significant differences in the systemic clearance of theophylline and its metabolic clearance to 1-methyluric acid and 1,3-dimethyluric acid were observed between the control and aciclovir-treated rats. This dosage of aciclovir did not change the activity of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylation, which is represented as CYP1A2 activity. In Western blot analysis, no significant change in the protein levels of hepatic CYP1A2 was observed between the control and aciclovir-treated rats. The present study suggests that aciclovir has no effect on the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of theophylline and on the activity and expression of hepatic CYP1A2 in rats.

Six species of the fresh water snail were collected from a total of 29 sampling sites. To evaluate genetic variability within and between populations, enzymes coded for by 18 presumed loci were examined by starch gel electrophoresis.Out of the six species, three (S. niponica, S. multigranosa and S. nakasekoae) were endemic to the Lake Biwa and remaining three (S. libertine, S. reiniana and S. kurodai) were the snail species widely distributed throughout Japan. The proportion of polymorphic loci and the expected average heterozygosity per individual for the three endemic species were 0.120±0.069 and 0.019±0.003, respectively. Those for the three widespread species were 0.179±0.068 and 0.058±0.017 (mean±S.D.), respectively. The present result showed that the S. kurodai, which has been considered to be transitional between the S. libertine and S, niponica complexes (Davis, 1969), should be classified into the Davis′s S. libertina complex.

To evaluate genetic variability within and between populations of two closely related snail species Semisulcospira libertina and Semisulcospira reiniana, enzymes coded for by 18 presumed loci were examined by starch gel electrophoresis.The proportion of polymorphic loci and the expected average heterozygosity per individual for the S. libertina populations were 0.172 and 0.057, respectively. These for the S. reiniana populations were 0.114 and 0.039, respectively. Nei′s genetic distance value estimated between the two species was 0.1235.Marked difference in allele frequency between the two species was observed at the MPI and 6PGD loci. Other five loci (ICDH-1, AAT, MDH-1, PHI and Est) were variable in some of the libertina populations, although the five loci were fixed for the wild type allele in all of the reiniana populations. Another locus PGM-1 was variable in both species. These loci seemed to be useful genetical markers for differentiating S, libertina from S. reiniana.

Myo-inositol uptake by erythrocytes from humans, rabbits and rats was studied with an isotope technique. In human erythrocytes, the inhibitory effect on myo-inositol uptake was stronger with glucose than with ouabain. However, an aldose reductase inhibitor (ONO-2235, 100 microM) or insulin (200 microU/ml) failed to correct the decrease in myo-inositol uptake in packed RBC, produced by either 10 mM glucose or 2mM ouabain. Ten mM ouabain had an inhibitory effect on myo-inositol uptake in all species, but an inhibitory effect was not observed with 20 mM glucose in rabbit erythrocytes. The results suggest that myo-inositol uptake by erythrocytes may be dependent on the active transport system via sodium-ATPase and that erythrocytes may not be a suitable model to monitor the possible effect of an aldose reductase inhibitor on myo-inositol concentrations in other tissues concerned with diabetic complications.

Egg white proteins of the black-tailed gull (Larus crassirostris) were resolved into four regions by starch gel electrophoresis. Region IV consisted of three zones of protein which migrated from sample insertion slot to the cathode in the pH 7.5 gel. Proteins in region IV were identified as conalbumins. Three types of electrophoretic pattern of conalbumin were detected.

Summary To evaluate genetic variability in 19 population samples of the fresh water snail Semisulcospira libertina, 10 enzymes coded for by 13 presumptive gene loci were examined by starch gel electrophoresis. The mean proportion of polymorphic loci and the mean heterozygosity value estimated for the 19 samples were 0.199 and 0.063, respectively. The mean F statistics of Wright (1943) was estimated over the four polymorphic loci (PGM, 6-PGD, MPI and PGI) for the snail populations to be 0.3615.

The gas phase molecular structure of bromoform has been studied by electron diffraction. By a joint analysis of the diffraction results and the moments of inertia for CH79Br3, CD79Br3, CH81Br3, and CD81Br3 obtained by Williams et al., the bond distances in rg and the bond angles in \varphiav have been determined as follows: rg(C–Br)=1.924±0.005 A, rg(Br…Br)=3.175±0.003 A, rg(C–H)=1.111±0.046 A, \varphiav(BrCBr)=111.7±0.4°, and \varphiav(HCBr)=107.2±0.5°. The uncertainties represent the estimated limits of error. The anharmonicity parameter of the Morse-type potential, a3, for the nonbonded Br…Br atom pair has been estimated as −1.3±0.9 A−1.

Summary Phosphoglucose isomerase electrophoretic patterns of the Japanese quail were found to be controlled by three alleles at an autosomal locus. In the laboratory quail population, the frequency of the alleles PGIF, PGIS1 and PGIS2 was 0.175, 0.465 and 0.360, respectively.

A molecular mechanics calculation has been performed to explain the substitution effects on the molecular structures of halomethanes. The concept of the VSEPR model has been incorporated into the force field by the use of reference bond lengths and bond angles depending on the electronegativities of ligands. The calculation has reproduced the experimental bond lengths and angles of halomethanes generally within 0.01 A and 1.5°, respectively.

The molecular structure of benzene has been determined by combining the average distances obtained by the present electron diffraction study and the moments of inertia reported by Cabana et al. The following thermal average bond distances have been determined: r g (C-C) = 1.399 ± 0.001 A and r g (C-H) = 1.101 ± 0.005 A. The uncertainties represent the estimated limits of error. The C-H distance of this molecule is similar to vinyl C-H distances.

Summary Transferrin types in the Japanese quail Coturnix coturnix japonica are controlled by a single autosomal locus Tf with at least two codominant alleles TfB and Tfc. The frequencies of TfB and Tfc in a commercial population of the domestic quail were 1.00 and 0.00, respectively. Previous studies demonstrated that in the domestic populations of the Japanese quail three electrophoretic patterns AB, B and BC existed in egg white conalbumin and that the electrophoretic variation of conalbumin occurred in parallel with that of serum transferrin. Furthermore, from the preliminary mating experiments the transferrin-conalbumin variation was proposed to be under the control of at least two codominant alleles 77s and Tfc at an autosomal locus (Kimura et al., 1977, 1978). The present study was designed (1) to report a large amount of family data from three generations in order to support the previously published hypothesis on genetic control of electrophoretic patterns of transferrin, and (2) to survey the gene constitution of transferrin in a commercial population of the domestic quail. Sera were added with iron, heated for 5 min at 65°C (Stratil, 1967), then were investigated by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Hydrolysed starch from Connaught Medical Laboratories, Toronto, was used. A discontinuous citrate/Tris/LiOH/borate buffer system (pH 8.0) of Ferguson & Wallace (1961) was employed. The gels were stained with Amido Black 10B.

Summary One of the two loci controlling muscle lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was shown to be polymorphic in the loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. The result of the survey on four populations suggests that the differences in the LDH gene frequencies are correlated with the geographical distribution of the loach. A fourth phosphoglucomutase allele (PGMD) was found in one of the loach populations examined.

Summary Phosphoglucomutase of two groups of the loach Cobitis biwae, a fresh-water teleost, was examined by starch gel electrophoresis. Some of the fishes had six-banded electrophoretic patterns not observed in other loach species (e.g. Misgurnus anguillicaudatus and Cobitis delicata). The complexity of the pattern is explainable by an assumption that the loaches are tetraploid fishes. The result suggests that a diploid-tetraploid relationship exists within the species Cobitis biwae.

The skeletal parameters, C–C, C–F, and C···F distances, of 2-fluoropropane have been determined by means of gas electron diffraction. The rg-values obtained are: C–C 1.514±0.004 A, C–F 1.405±0.005 A and C···F 2.366±0.006 A. By a joint analysis of the diffraction data and the spectroscopic moments of inertia, determination of the remaining structural parameters has also been attempted, and the φz value of the CCC angle being found to be 114.6±1.5°.

Summary To evaluate genetic variability in two populations of the wild quail Cofurnix coturnix japonica, proteins and enzymes were examined by starch gel electrophoresis. Rare variants so far not observed in domestic quail were found in the following five enzymes; aspartate aminotransferase, acid phosphatase, pancreatic esterase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase. The proportion of polymorphic loci (Ppoly) and the expected average heterozygosity (H) in one of the two populations were estimated to be 0.484 (15/31) and 0.085, respectively. Those in another population were 0.433 (13/30) and 0.086, respectively. The genetic distance (Nei, 1975) between the two wild quail populations was D= 0.0074. D values of 0.0321 and 0.0189 were estimated between the laboratory quail population previously examined (Kimura et al., 1982) and each of these two wild populations.

The small-angle scattering intensity of 40 keV electrons by CS2 and CCl4 molecules has been measured by the use of a counting unit. The experimental intensities have been compared with the theoretical values for the independent-atom-model, and an analysis of the comparison has shown the consistency of the present results with Tavard’s energy relation. The difference intensity, Δσ(s), of CCl4 has shown oscillatory behavior resulting from the distortion of charge distribution due to chemical-bond formation.

The B–I distance of BI3 was determined to be 2.118±0.005 A. A modified Schomaker-Stevenson rule holds for the boron-halogen bond lengths of the boron trihalides except for the fluoride. The B–F distance is much shorter than the value predicted by the rule.

The Raman bands of sulfuric acid and ammonium sulfate in aqueous solutions were observed in the S–O stretching region and were resolved into components with a Voigt profile. The concentration dependence of the half band-widths was examined. The 980 cm−1 band of SO42− in acidic solutions was determined to have a width of 8.0±0.3 cm−1 when unbroadened by any chemical process. In the concentration-half-width curve for this band, two conspicuous bends were found, at about 2 M and 8 M stoichiometric concentrations of H2SO4. It seems that the former bend is attributable to the disappearance of water clusters, and the latter, to the partial defect of the primary hydration shell of the oxonium ion. The interrelation between the half-widths of the 980 cm−1 and 1050 cm−1 bands suggests that the formation of the HSO4−·H3O+ ion pair is related to the spectroscopic lifetime of HSO4−.

The principal causes of death among 9, 737 diabetics who died in 280 hospitals all over Japan dung the period 1971-1980 have been analyzed retrospectively in this study. The main cause of death in Japanese diabetics was vascular complicar tions. The mortality from vascular complications was 41.5%, 37.9% for males and 46.8% for females, increasing with the duration of diabetes and with age. The most interesting findings were of cardiovascular disease which was the cause of death in 12.3% of the subjects in our study as compared to 54.6% of the Joslin Clinic patients (1971). However, our incidence rate was almost twice that reported in Japan in 1967 by Goto (Japan). In contrast, cerebrovascular disease and nephropathy are much more common in Japanese than in American diabetics. Recently cancer has become more common in Japanese diabetics and 25.3% of the deaths have been assigned to it. In contrast, diabetic coma due to hyperglycemia accounted for only 4.1% of deaths. The average life span of Japanese diabetics is still over 10 years shorter than that of non-diabetics.

The structure parameters of tetramethyltin have been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction to be as follows: rg(Sn–C)=2.1436±0.0030 A, rg(Sn···H)=2.7642±0.0125 A, rg(C–H)=1.1179±0.0090 A, l(Sn–C)=0.0496±0.0098 A, and l(Sn···H)=0.1532±0.0132 A. The experimental molecular intensity has been well reproduced by the molecular model in which the methyl groups are rotating freely, or nearly freely. The scattering factors, based upon the relativistic Hartree-Fock-Slater or the Hartree-Fock atomic potential, have given a theoretical background in better agreement with the experimental one and have led to a more reasonable Sn–C mean amplitude than did the scattering factors based upon the Thomas-Fermi-Dirac or the Thomas-Fermi atomic potential.

Summary To investigate genetic variation and to compare it with those of domestic quail populations, enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins in a wild quail population were examined electrophoretically. The wild quail population had a genetic variability considerably lower than those of domestic populations. The average heterozygosity estimated for 22 loci was 0.090 in the wild quail population.