An immunodominant T-cell-stimulatory epitope located near the carboxy terminus of the 38-kDa antigen from M. tuberculosis (38.G, residues 350-369) was found to be M. tuberculosis-complex specific. This was demonstrated by the presence of proliferative and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses in mice immunized with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG, whereas mice immunized with M. avium or other non-tuberculous species of mycobacteria showed no such responses. Peptide 38.G stimulated the proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy purified protein derivative (PPD)-positive individuals but not from PPD-negative individuals. It also elicited DTH responses in M. tuberculosis sensitized mice and in PPD-positive healthy human volunteers. Peptide 38.G could therefore prove to be an important component in any new molecularly defined reagent used in the immunodiagnosis of tuberculous infection.

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A number of 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-4-substituted-1,4- dihydropyridines were synthesized and evaluated for pregnancy-interceptive activity in mated hamsters. Out of 24 compounds, 12, 15, 21, 22, 28, and 34 caused a marked reduction in the number of implantations when administered on days 3-8 postcoitum. In an in vitro competition assay, none of the compounds exhibited noticeable binding affinity for uterine progesterone receptors. The results reported here have helped to identify new leads for developing pregnancy-interceptive agents and the active compounds do not seem to elicit their interceptive effect through receptor-mediated inhibition of progesterone action in hamster uterus.

The hormonal properties of coronaridine hydrochloride were investigated. A single oral administration of the compound (30 mg/kg) prevented pregnancy in rats when given on days 1, 2, 3 or 4 post-coitum; the effect on'days 5 , 6 , 7 or 8 of pregnancy was, however, partial. The substance showed estrogenic activity but was devoid of antiestrogenic, androgenic, antiandrogenic, progestational, antiprogestational and uterine stimulant activities; however, there was a partial inhibition of oxytocin-induced uterine response. Coronaridine appears to exert its antifertility action due to its frank estrogenicity. naemontane heyneania is reported to prevent pregnancy when administered orally on days 1-5 post-coitum in rats C11.