Sedation and need-free salt intake in rats treated with clonidine.

The effect of intraperitoneal injection of clonidine (9-72 microg/kg) on need-free 1.5% NaCl intake and on performance (defined as percent of a complete trial) in the rotarod test, was studied in normovolemic adult male rats. Clonidine (18 and 36 microg/kg) inhibited the 1.5% NaCl intake in a 2-h test at doses that did not alter the performance in the rotarod test. The dose of 36 microg/kg did not inhibit 10% sucrose intake. Only the highest dose (72 microg/kg) of clonidine inhibited the 1.5% NaCl intake and the performance in the rotarod test, and produced signs of sedation. Sedation was determined either by change in posture (immobility or lack of postural tonus) of the animals during the ingestive test or by their performance in the rotarod test. The results suggest that sedation is not a determinant effect on the inhibition of 1.5% NaCl intake induced by clonidine.

Immunochemical study of changes in reserve proteins of germinating soybean seeds.

Changes in the reserve proteins of soybean seeds (Glycine max) were investigated by the techniques of disc electrophoresis and disc immunoelectrophoresis. Three different antisera were used in these studies, an anti-whole soybean extract serum 129, an anti-11S soybean protein monospecific serum 102, and an anti-7S soybean protein monospecific serum 132. At least 6 antigenically distinct components were found to be present in the proteins of the isolated soybean protein bodies. These components are metabolized at different rates during germination. The major soybean protein (11S component) is found to be present even after 16 days of germination, whereas the 7S component disappears after the ninth day. Histochemical observations of cotyledon sections during germination are also reported.