Abstract: The invention is concerned with new glial growth factors, such as the molecule referred to as GGF2. These factors are mitogenic factors for, e.g., Schwann cells.

Abstract: Modulators of neurotransmitter release including substituted guanidines, N"-aminoguanidines, and N,N'N",N'"-tetrasubstituted hydrazinedicarboximidamides, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods involving the use of such neurotransmitter release modulators for the treatment or prevention of pathophysiologic conditions characterized by the release of excessive or inappropriate levels of neurotransmitters. Also disclosed are screening assays for compounds which selectively inhibit glutamate release. Also disclosed are methods of blocking voltage sensitive sodium and calcium channels in mammalian nerve cells.

Abstract: The invention involves the purification of various glial mitogenic factors. In one aspect of the invention, vertebrate brain material is extracted, and the extract is then subjected to chromatographic separation. The glial mitogenic factors which can be obtained include a basic polypeptide with a molecular weight of from about 30 to about 36 kD, by reference to SDS-PAGE, and a second basic polypeptide factor which is from about 55 to about 63 kD as determined by SDS-page.

Abstract: Disclosed is the characterization and purification of DNA encoding numerous polypeptides useful for the stimulation of glial cell (particularly, Schwann cell mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Also disclosed are DNA sequences encoding novel polypeptides which may have use in stimulating glial cell mitogenesis and treating glial cell tumors. Methods for the synthesis, purification and testing of both known and novel polypeptides for their use as both therapeutic and diagnostic aids in the treatment of diseases involving glial cells are also provided. Methods are also provided for the use of these polypeptides for the preparation of antibody probes useful for both diagnostic and therapeutic use in diseases involving glial cells. The present invention is specifically directed to a method of using a secretable glial growth factor to induce acetycholine receptor synthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules which encode for part or all of glial growth factor molecules, as well as recombinant vectors and transfected cell lines.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a substituted guanidine by reacting a substituted cyanamide with ammonia or a substituted amine in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst. Also disclosed is a process for the preparation of a tri-substituted guanidine by reacting a mono-substituted cyanamide with a di-substituted amine.

Abstract: A compound consisting of a base, a ribose and a fucose, in which the base is a purine or a pyrimidine, the ribose has R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 attached respectively to any two of 2'-O, 3'-O and 5'-O, and the fucose has R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 attached respectively to any three of 1"-O, 2"-O, 3"-O and 4"-O, wherein each R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 is H, acetate, sulfate, phosphate, or a metallic salt of acetate, sulfate or phosphate; and the base is linked to the ribose via a bond between 9-N of the base and 1'-O of the ribose when the base is a purine or via a bond between 1-N of the base and 1'-C of the ribose when the base is a pyrimidine and the ribose is linked to the fucose via a bond between any one of 2'-O, 3'-O and 5'-O of the ribose and 1"-C of the fucose.

Abstract: Modulators of neurotransmitter release including substituted guanidines, N"-aminoguanidines, and N,N'N",N"'-tetrasubstituted hydrazinedicarboximidamides, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods involving the use of such neurotransmitter release modulators for the treatment or prevention of pathophysiologic conditions characterized by the release of excessive or inappropriate levels of neurotransmitters. Also disclosed are screening assays for compounds which selectively inhibit glutamate release. Also disclosed are methods of blocking voltage sensitive sodium and calcium channels in mammalian nerve cells.

Abstract: A substantially pure compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently, is H, CH.sub.3, CF.sub.3, F, Cl, Br, I, OH, OCH.sub.3, OCF.sub.3, SH, SCH.sub.3, NH.sub.2, N.sub.3, NO.sub.2, CN, COOH, CONH.sub.2, CH.sub.2 CONH.sub.2, or SO.sub.2 NH.sub.2 ;R.sub.3 is H, CH.sub.3, COOH, CONH.sub.2, or COOR where R is C.sub.1-4 alkyl;each R.sub.4, independently, is H or C.sub.1-6 alkyl;X is CH.sub.2, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2, CH.dbd.CH, or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 ; ##STR2## each Z, independently, is H, CH.sub.3, or Q where Q is a hydrophobic acyl, benzoyl, phenacetyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or N-methyl-dihydropyridine-3-carbonyl linked to N by an amide bond which is cleavable by an endogenous central nervous system enzyme;D is H or ##STR3## where R.sub.5 is H or C.sub.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a substituted guanidine by reacting a substituted cyanamide with ammonia or a substituted amine in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst. Also disclosed is a process for the preparation of a tri-substituted guanidine by reacting a mono-substituted cyanamide with a di-substituted amine.