Brevinin-2R is a novel non-hemolytic defensin that was isolated from the skin of the frog Rana ridibunda. It exhibits preferential cytotoxicity towards malignant cells, including Jurkat (T-cell leukemia), BJAB (B-cell lymphoma), HT29/219, SW742 (colon carcinomas), L929 (fibrosarcoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), A549 (lung carcinoma), as compared to primary cells including peripheral blood m...

A decrease in genome size was found in the hemiclonal hybridogenetic frog Rana esculenta (R. ridibunda x R. lessonae) from areas of radioactive contamination that resulted from the Chernobyl fallout. This genome reduction was of up to 4% and correlated with the background level of gamma-radiation (linear regression corresponded on average to -0.4% per doubling of radiation level). No change in ...

We have succeeded in the isolation, culture and morphological characterization of Rana ridibunda stomach enteric plexuses. We have furthermore obtained intra and extracellular bioelectric recordings from the explants in culture. The culture medium used (Eagle MEM), the collagenase digestion and the general culture conditions followed are similar to those applied to mammal enteric plexus explant...

Two different test systems, one based on the isolated sciatic nerve of an amphibian and the other on a microbial eukaryote, were used for the assessment of herbicide toxicity. More specifically, we determined the deleterious effects of increasing concentrations of herbicides of different chemical classes (phenoxyacetic acids, triazines, and acetamides), and of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), a de...

The inhibitory effects of ATP and adenosine on the nerve-mediated contractile responses of isolated sartorius muscle of the frog, Rana ridibunda, evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS) were studied using pharmacological organ-bath technique. The effects of hydrocortisone applied in vitro and in vivo on contractility of sartorius muscle were also examined. ATP (100 microM) significantly re...