CONT Author: Eldon D, Nielson MRR-B, 1967, No. 12 No. A Biological Research Division Dr. Murray Senkus December 21, 1967 Director of Research MONTHLY RESEARCH REPORT Period Covered: Biological Research Division November 15 through . 1967, No. 12 December 15, 1967 of Pages: 5 ___ BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY, astituents in Animals EFFECT OF ANESTHESIA A rat anesthetized with pentobarbital was injected intra~ peritgneally with 7 ye of palmitic acié-c*, and the distribution of Cl” determined four hours later. The distribution was found to be nearly identical to that previously. observed in an unanes- thetized rat. Tt is concluded that anesthesia has no appreciable affect on the normal metabolism of palmitic acid. 2, TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINING METABOLIC FATE A tyo-step thin layer chromatography system has been developed to separate the neutral lipids extracted from rat liver into cholesterol, 1,2 glycerides, fatty acids, triglycerides, cholesterol esters, and hydrocarbons. By this technique it will be possible to determine the amount of C!4 incorporated into these individuals fractions in the rat liver, or other tissue after exposure of an animal to the C14 compound. Previously, it has been observed that phenol-Cl4 administered as an aerosol to a rat is first distributed throughout the individual tissues and then rapidly exereted in the urine. A similar pattern has now been confirmed for phenol-Cl4 adninistered intraperitoneally. Nicotinic Acid-cl4 Nicotinic acid-Cl4 administered into the lungs by the trachea as an aerosol was rapidly distributed throughout the body tissues and then excreted either in the urine or in respiratory C02. Whereas, only a snall portion of the C14 from phenol-cl4 is excreted in the respiratory C02, a major portion of the Cl4 from nicotinic acid-7-C!4 is metabolized quite readily in the body tissues. It would be desirable to have uniformly labeled nicotinic acid-Cl4 to carry out similar experiments. nZ9@ 6L70SII. Herbicides, a Of 38 new RJR compounds tested, none were sufficiently active to justify further testing. Compound SAGO, 1-decyl-4-hydroxypiperidine and SAALUG, 1-decyl piperidine, were shown previously in USDA tests to have potential use | as aquatic herbicides. Preliminary tests of the toxicity of these 5 two compounds to fish indicate that these compounds are more toxic to fish than Diquat or acrolein, two of the currently used aquatic herbicides. ¢+_ Greenhouse Tests_ None of 26 RJR compounds tested for pre-emergence or post emergence herbicidal activity showed significant activity. Abscisin Tests in our greenhouse show the trans, trans isomer of abscisin to be effective in delaying growth, flowering, rooting, and ripening of a single branch of an ornamental pepper plant. The trans, trans isomer of abscisin is reported in the literature to be only one-thirtieth as effective as the natural cis, trans form of abscisin in a germinating wheat test. This is an important observation sincexour pilot plant produced abscisin is a mixture of the cis, trans and trans, trans forms of abscisin. Reports from recipients of gift samples of abscisin continue to be received. Two groups will be testing abscisin this coming winter and spring as a bud inhibitor in connection with winter donancy and cold hardiness. IV. Insecticides ivity None of 36 RJR compounds screened for insecticidal activity were sufficiently actively to warrant further testing. of RIR 1A, mpounds by Upon request by the Entomology Research Division, Pesticides Chenical Research Branch of the USDA, samples of 14 compounds have been submitted to seven different USDA testing stations. The compounds submitted are SAA6A, SAAI4G, SAAZ1G, SAA23C, SAA26G, SAA2BA, SM2G, SMG, SMSC, SMOG, SMI1G, S¥32A, SHSOA, and SAA74A. $298 6ez05 Primary Pharmacologic Screening Thirty-six compounds have been screened in the mouse observation assay.None of these compounds shoved any outstanding activity; however, four (SN26G, SM15G, SMB6A, and SFF45A) will be tested further. b. ralepts Of the three compounds received to be tested specifically for analeptic effect on the pentobarbitalized rabbit, two (SBB13¢ and SR6C) were active while SBB42A was inactive. Further testing showed that SR6C was inferior to dihydromariolide. Three compounds were tested for local enesthetic properties. All three compounds produced tissue damage and will not be tested further. He sholic Assay A feeding experiment utilizing a high fat diet (atherogenic) was completed. The results indicate that the serum cholesterol levels were increased >300% over control after 6 days on this diet. A second run using Atromid-S as a standard cholesterol lovering agent showed that although the serum cholesterol levels were still elevated, Atromid-S did significantly (0.01 level) decrease the cholesterol over the control levels. VI. Secondary Evaluations Pilot experiments involving implantation of either tracheal or nasal cannulae in rats and rabbits are continuing in an effort to obtain a chronic preparation in which we can determine the effects of chronic inhalation of smoke. _ Sedative-Depressant Studies SDD34G was tested in the amphetamine aggregation assay and found to partially antagonize the toxicity of amphetamines in a manner similar to standard mild sedative-depressant compounds. In addition, SDD34G was shown to potentiate pentobarbital induced hypnosis. Further vork will be done with this compound. STARCH BIOCHENTSTRY The initial synthesis of maltose-forming amylase by B in activity after incubating about four days as a result of changes in the nutrient medium. The enzyme appeared to be quite stable and could be precipitated and recovered in powder form. When low D.E. starch syrups were treated with this anylase preparation, maltose was the predominant product. Isomaltose was not detected. Local Anesthetics, : polymyxa required seven days of incubation. A recent test culture produced a two-fold increase 9798 6LZ0S