Localization of Na+-pump sites in frog skin. The localization of Na+-pump sites (Na+-K+-ATPase) in the frog skin epithelium was determined by a freeze-dry radioautographic method for identifying [3H]ouabain-binding sites. Ventral pelvic skins of Rana catesbeiana were mounted in Ussing chambers and exposed to 10(-6) M [3H]ouabain for 120 min, washed in ouabain-free Ringer's solution for 60 min, and then processed for radioautography. Ouabain-binding sites were localized on the inward facing (serosal) membranes of all the living cells. Quantitative analysis of grain distribution showed that the overwhelming majority of Na+-pump sites were localized deep to the outer living cell layer, i.e., in the stratum spinosum and stratum germinativum. Binding of ouabain was correlated with inhibition of Na+ transport. Specificity of ouabain binding to Na+-K+-ATPase was verified by demonstrating its sensitivity to the concentration of ligands (K+, ATP) that affect binding of ouabain to the enzyme. Additional studies supported the conclusion that the distribution of bound ouabain reflects the distribution of those pumps involved in the active transepithelial transport of Na+. After a 30-min exposure to [3H]ouabain, Na+ transport declined to a level that was significantly less than that in untreated paired controls, and analysis of grain distribution showed that over 90% of the ouabain-binding sites were localized to the inner cell layers. Furthermore, in skins where Na+ transport had been completely inhibited by exposure to 10(-5) M ouabain, the grain distribution was identical to that in skins exposed to 10(-6) M. The results support a model which depicts all the living cell layers functioning as a syncytium with regard to the active transepithelial transport of Na+.


Postoperative aneurysms of the heart. Case report and review of the literature. A postoperative left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is reported in a seven-year-old after closure of an atrial septal defect and repair of partial anomalous venous drainage. A discussion of the etiology and clinical presentation of post operative aneurysms are presented. Cardiac aneurysms of both the true and false variety have been commonly reported following myocardial infarction, blunt and penetrating trauma and infectious processes such as tuberculosis and syphilis. As the frequency of open heart correction of congenital and acquired lesions increases, the incidence of post-operative pseudoaneurysm of heart can also be expected to increase. The diagnosis of this entity in the postoperative period is often difficult and may lead to delay in detection and correction. The clinical presentation and subsequent course of false anurysm differs from the more common true aneurysm to an extent which should be recognized by both cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. A case of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm after open heart repair of an atrial septal defect is reported and a clinical profile which may be helpful in the earlier recognition of this entity is presented.


Identification of acidic mucopolysaccharides by agarose gel electrophoresis. A micro-method for the identification of most acidic mucopolysaccharides by agarose gel electrophoresis with three different buffer systems is described. In barbital buffer the mucopolysaccharides are fractionated from each other as a function of their net charge, whereas in a diamine buffer the fractionation is probably achieved according to the degree to which they are bound to the diamine. A combination of barbital and diaminopropane buffers in two-dimensional electrophoresis for the identification of mucopolysaccharides is also described.


Mass fragmentographic determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid in brain tissue using deuterated internal standards. A mass fragmentographic method for the determination of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) in the same extract of rat brain tissue is decribed. Deuterium-labelled analogues were used as internal standards. 5-HT and 5-HIAA were separated by solvent extraction and pentafluoropropionyl derivatives were prepared for the mass fragmentographic analysis. Multiple ion analysis confirmed the identity of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in the rat brain. At the mass numbers used routinely for the determination of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in the rat brain. At the mass numbers used routinely for the determination of 5-HT and 5-HIAA, the experimental error was below 3% (calculated from mean values of 0.05 and 0.24 nmole, respectively). The recovery of the authentic compounds added to brain extracts was more than 95%. The levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in the rat brain were 2.95 +/- 0.16 and 0.64 +/- 0.18 nmole/g, respectively. More than 100 samples could be analyzed within 3 days. The presence of 5-hydroxytryptophol in rat brain was also investigated, but none could be detected either as a conjugate or as the free alcohol.


Altered growth hormone and prolactin responses to dopaminergic stimulation in Huntington's chorea. Seven patients affected by Huntington's chorea were given an acute administration of 2-Br-alpha-ergocryptine (CB 154, Sandoz), a direct agonist at dopamine receptor sites. Seven nonobese hospitalized patients were used as controls. Oral administration of CB 154 (2.5 mg) induced a more prompt and consistent rise in  plasma growth hormone (GH) levels in patients than in controls. GH levels rose from baseline values of 0.3+/-0.1 ng/ml to mean peak values of 20.4+/-5.1 ng/ml (120-270 min) in choreic subjects and from baseline values of 1.0+/-0.4 ng/ml to mean peak values of 5.7+/-1.6 ng/ml (180-300 min) in control subjects (P less than 0.02). Baseline plasma prolactin (PRL) values were significantly higher in choreic than in control subjects (22.1+/-6.6 ng/ml vs. 8.1+/-1.4 ng/ml, respectively, P less than 0.02); administration of CB 154 induced a more consistent PRL decrease in control than in choreic subjects. Collectively, these results suggest the existence of an abnormal regulation of GH and PRL secretion in Huntington's chorea, probably due to alterations in central dopaminergic neurotransmission.


New Staphylococcus aureus phage type 94/96(292) associated with a fatal septicemia. A fulminating septicemia due to Staphylococcus aureus phage type 94/96(292) resulting in the death of a patient with no previous history of illness. This newly characterized strain is identified by an additional typing reaction with experimental phage 292. The prevalence of this strain is discussed.


Defective recognitive immunity in family aggregates of colon carcinoma. Cancer-free individuals from family agregates of seemingly hereditary colon carcinoma were studied to determine the nature of their cell-mediated immune capacities in miexed leukocyte culture. Members of families who demonstrated no evidence of a precancerous condition such as polyposis coli did demonstrate substantial cellular immunopathology. Of these, 44% showed a decreased responsiveness of their peripheral mononuclear cells to allogeneic stimuli, and in a number of these individuals this deficiency clearly manifested itself as an inappropriate suppression of potentially normal lymphocyte blastogenic capacities by an adherent population of mononuclear leukocytes. This in vitro defect of recognitive immunity appears to be the same type of defect that has already been described for individuals with established maligancies. The pattern of phenotypic expression of this immunopathology within these families is not inconsistent with an hereditary disorder. Individuals from families with a known hereditary somatic precancerous condition usually did not demonstrate this immunopathology. It is appropriate to speculate that the defect of recognitive immunity in the former families could be contributory to the genesis of the colon carcinoma.


Antibodies to human caudate nucleus neurons in Huntington's chorea. Antibodies reacting with neuronal cytoplasmic antigens present in normal human caudate and subthalamic nuclei were detected in 37 of 80 probands afflicted with Huntington's disease (HD). IgG antibodies were detected by immunofluorescence using frozen sections of unfixed normal human and rat brain. Specificity of IgG binding was confirmed using pepsin F(ab')2 fragments of IgG isolated from positive sera. In vitro complement fixation of IgG antibody was detected in 22 of 31 sera tested. Neuronal cytoplasmic antigens reacting with positive HD sera were diminished after trypsin or RNAase treatment of tissue sections but were not removed by DNAase, neuraminidase, EDTA, or dithiothreitol treatment. Antibody staining of neurons could be removed after absorption with isolated caudate nucleus neurons or by using perchloroacetic acid extracts of caudate nucleus. Prevalence of antibody reacting with neuronal cytoplasm was 3% in 60 normal controls and 6% among a wide variety of patients with diverse neurological disorders. However, one-third of 33 patients with Parkinson's disease showed presence of antineuronal antibody. Among patients with HD, a significant association was noted between duration of clinical disease greater than 7 yr and titers of antibody of 1:2 or greater (P less than 0.001). When 115 family members of HD probands were tested, 30% of unaffected spouses showed presence of antineuronal antibody. 23.2% of first-degree relatives at risk for developing HD was also positive (P less than 0.001). 10.5% of second-degree relatives showed presence of antineuronal antibody. These data may support an environmental or infectious factor somehow involved in the ultimate expression of HD.


Suppression of immune complex-induced inflammation by the chemotactic factor inactivator. Small amounts (10(-10) mol) of purified human chemotactic factor inactivator (CFI) suppress leukocytic infiltration, permeability changes, and hemorrhage associated with acute immune complex-induced injury in rats. The reversed passive dermal Arthus reaction and acute immune complex-induced alveolitis in rats have served as the model systems of inflammation. The mechanism of inhibition does not appear to relate to interference with formation and deposition of immune complexes, or with fixation of complement in vitro or iv vivo. Human CFI inhibits in vitro the chemotactic activity generated in complement-activated rat serum. The inhibitory effects of human CFI are not seen if it is first heat inactivated. The data provide the first direct support for the conclusion that CFI has anti-inflammatory activity.


Noninvasive ultrasonic estimation of brachial artery blood flow. Ultrasonic instrumentation based on the Doppler phenomenon fulfills the requirement that a blood flowmeter should sense a variabel which is a function of the volume of blood moved through a blood vessel in situ. The blood flow velocity waveform recorded noninvasively from the brachial artery in the antecubital fossa was used as basis for quantitatively estimating a stroke flow index. The method used in these experiments was reproducible in 31 volunteer subjects studied; the first and second brachial artery stroke flow indices determined on different days had a correlation coefficient of 0.909. The calculated minute flow index ranged from 32 to 95 ml in these subjects. A clinical application was explored by making serial measurements before and after operation in 64 patients submitting to 68 open heart operations. A significant reduction in the brachial artery blood flow velocity was recorded postoperatively in 21 of these patient. The brachial artery stroke flow index has potential value as an objective measure of cardiovascular instability.


Serotonin, the superior colliculus, and grooming behavior in cats with neocortical lesions. Previous studies of cats with pontile lesions indicate that a serotonergic deficit exists in the superior colliculi and that this deficit is involved in the genesis of an abnormal grooming behavior. Cats with frontal neocortical lesions exhibit the same serotonergic deficit and the same abnormal grooming behavior. The present study established that the serotonergic deficit is involved in the mediation of the abnormal grooming behavior in cats with frontal neocortical lesions. Microinjections of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) into the superior colliculi abolished or signigicantly reduced the abnormal behavior in cats with frontal neocortical lesions, whereas no effects of 5-HTP were observed after injections into the cerebrospinal fluid above the superior colliculi, into the tegmentum beneath the superior colliculi, or into the medial dorsal nucleus rostral to the superior colliculi. Other substances (tryptophan, noradrenaline, and gamma-amino-butyric acid) had no effect on the abnormal behavior when injected into the superior colliculi. Further evidence implicating a serotonergic deficit in the mediation of the abnormal behavior was obtained by systemic injections: The abnormal behavior was abolished with 5-HTP in cats with frontal neocortical lesions and in adrenalectomized cats that were previously treated with p-chlorophenylalanine.. The present study also demonstrated that the abnormal grooming behavior is induced by frontal neocortical lesions and not by more caudal lesions of the neocortex. The anatomical relations between the frontal neocortex and the superior colliculus and the role of these structures in grooming behavior are discussed.


Unusual reactions following insect stings. Clinical features and immunologic analysis. Fifteen patients were studied who had unusual reactions following insect stings. These included serum sickness, neurologic disease, renal disease, and delayed hypersensitivity-type reactions. The clinical features are briefly outlined. Measurements were made of serum venom-specific IgE and IgG antibodies. These antibodies were present in some patients and in these instances suggested an immunologic pathogenesis for the reactions. Alternative etiologies for the unusual reactions are also discussed.


Accumulation of platelets at sites of antigen-antibody-mediated injury: a possible role for IgE antibody and mast cells. Circulating 51Cr-labeled platelets accumulate at skin sites in which a reversed passive Arthus reaction has been induced. The accumulation is biphasic in time and is accompanied by an increased vascular permeability. Increased permeability itself, however, will not produce localization of platelets. A similar platelet accumulation was observed upon injection of compound 48/80 or anti-IgE antibody into the skin and this was not altered in rabbits depleted of complement or neutrophils. Activation of skin mast cells and release of a platelet-activating factor (PAF) is suggested as a mechanism for the effect produced by anti-IgE and compound 48/80. The first phase of platelet accumulation in the Arthus reaction was also unaffected in rabbits depleted of neutrophils or complement, which may suggest a role for IgE antibody and mast cells. The second phase of accumulation was diminished in complement-depleted animals and abrogated in rabbits without neutrophils, suggesting a complement and neutrophil-mediated process but which still might be mediated through mast cell activation by neutrophil cationic protein.


Immunosuppressive activity of human seminal plasma. I. Inhibition of in vitro lymphocyte activation. A high molecular weight fraction prepared from human seminal plasma by gel filtration chromatography suppresses human lymphocyte transformation and DNA synthesis induced by mitogens (PHA, Con A, PWM), antigens (Candida albicans, tetanus toxoid), and allogenic cells. This same fraction also suppresses the stimulated response of mouse lymphocytes to allogenic cells and to various mitogens, including T cell-dependent and T cell-independent mitogens. The induction, but not the expression, of cell-mediated cytotoxicity is also suppressed. Similar high molecular weight fractions suppress the in vitro humoral response of mouse spleen cells to both a T cell-dependent (SRBC) and a T cell-independent (DNP-F) antigen. The high m.w. fraction exhibited in vitro suppressive activity at concentrations of 0.1 to 1.0 mg/ml which corresponds to a 1/50 or greater dilution of human seminal plasma. These observations support the concept that a local immune response against sperm in the female reproductive tract is actively suppressed by a component in seminal plasma.


Distinctive functional properties of human blood L lymphocytes: a comparison with T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and monocytes. Human blood lymphocytes with high affinity Fc receptors have been operationally named L lymphocytes because of membrane-labile IgG markers. L lymphocytes lack membrane-incorporated immunoglobulin and do not form rosettes with sheep red blood cells coated with IgM antibody and mouse complement. These lymphocytes are capable of binding IgG in normal human serum at 4 degrees C and will form rosettes with human lymphocytes coated with Ripley IgG. In this study, functional in vitro properties of isolated L lymphocytes were compared with T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and monocytes. To obtain these mononuclear populations, first, plastic adherent monocytes were harvested. T lymphocytes were then isolated by centrifugation of E rosette-forming cells, and other rosetting techniques were employed to isolate L and B lymphocytes by negative selection. The functional properties of L lumphocytes were completely unlike those of T cells, B cells, or monocytes. L lymphocytes did not proliferate in response to mitogens, soluble antigens, or cell surface antigens. Moreover, this population could not replace monocytes in helping T lymphocytes respond to concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen. Once T cells were supplemented with monocytes, however, the addition of L lymphocytes to the culture greatly enhanced the T lymphocytes proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalinA, purified protein derivative (PPD), and streptokinase/streptodornase. L lymphocytes were not a subset of B cells. They did not spontaneously develop surface Ig in culture, and pokeweek mitogen could not induce them to transform and generate cytoplasmic Ig detectable by immunofluorescence. Mixtures of B cells and T cells responded to pokeweed mitogen better than do T cells alone. In contrast, enhanced reactivity with L and T cell combinations was not observed. Another sharp difference between these two populations was the stimulator capacity of each in mixed lymphocyte culture. When B and L lymphocytes were carefully monocyte-depleted, only B cells were effective stimulators of autologous and allogeneic lymphocytes. In comparison with T cells, B cells, and monocytes, L lymphocytes were the only effective killers of human blood lymphocytes sensitized with IgG. L lymphocytes, then, have cytotoxic potential, but cannot proliferate in response to various stimulants or become antibody-producing cells. These findings suggest that L lymphocytes comprise a third lymphocyte population.


Thymic maturation in vitro by a secretory product from macrophages. Our results indicate that immature thymocytes can be induced by macrophage culture fluid (MCF) to differentiate in vitro. This maturation occurs during several days of culture but does not require DNA synthesis. It is accompanied by an augmentation of surface H-2 which precedes a loss of susceptibility to cytolysis with anti-TL and complement. Our evidence indicates that there is no physical loss of TL within the thymus. Thymocytes cultured with MCF also acquire the capacity to respond in an MLC. Differentiation was shown not to be due to interferon nor could it be reproduced by 2-ME. The stimulating molecule is distinct from the principal mitogenic protein found in MCF.


Regulation of immunoglobulin production in human peripheral bood leukocytes: cellular interactions. The intercellular influences regulating immunoglobulin (Ig) synthesis by normal human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) were investigated in cells stimulated by pokeweed mitogen (PWM). This system was shown to be totally T lymphocyte dependent as purified B lymphocytes (less than or equal to 1% T lymphocytes) failed to make significant amounts of Ig. No evidence was obtained for an Ig class switch as all classes of Ig (IgM, IgG, IgA) were shown to be produced in increasing amounts over a 6-day time period. T lymphocytes demonstrated maximum helper effect when mixed with equal numbers of B cells. This helper effect was mediated through the dual mechanisms of increasing the number of B lymphocytes containing cytoplasmic Ig and by increasing the maturity of these B lymphocytes as demonstrated by an increasing Ig production per B lymphocyte. When present in higher numbers, T lymphocytes were also capable of suppressing Ig production. This T-mediated suppression was first evident as a decrease in the Ig produced per B lymphocyte (decreased maturity). With maximum T suppression Ig-containing B lymphocyte numbers were also diminished. T lymphocyte help was relatively independent of macrophages (phagocytic cells) and did not require DNA synthesis for expression. Both T help and suppression were shown to cross allogeneic barriers. Immature T lymphocytes (thymocytes) were incapable of mediating either activity. Normal human PBL contain T lymphocytes campable of mediating both T help and suppression and the Ig produced by PBL was shown to be the balance of these activities. This balance probably represent the participation of distinct T lymphocyte subpopulations analogous to the T helper (Ly 1+) and T suppressor (Ly 2+, 3+) populations in the mouse.


Multiple myeloma: an immunologic profile. I. Peripheral blood studies. Seventy-four patients with multiple myeloma, 17 untreated and 57 treated, were studied to characterize their peripheral blood lymphocytes. PBL were studied for E, EAC, and EA rosette-forming cells, SIg, and Fc receptor-bearing cells. The responses to HA, Con A, and PWM were assessed as well as their ability to stimulate or to respond in a MLC. Finally, the capacity of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes to lyse Chang cells, CRBC, and PHA-stimulated lymphoblasts was examined. These results were compared with a group of normals and patients with benign monoclonal gammopathy. In untreated myeloma patients there was a normal percentage of T cells, but an abnormal distribution of B cells as judged by a decrease in SIg-bearing cells, as well as an increase in EAC rosette-forming cells. Subpopulation analysis showed a marked increase in EAC rosette-forming cells without SIg. PHA, Con A, and PWM, and response in MLC were all normal. However, the ability to stimulate in MLC was significantly depressed. Treated myeloma patients had similar findings, except that the response to PWM was significantly depressed. The capacity of PWM-stimulated cells to lyse target cells was depressed in both groups. The results indicate that, in the peripheral blood of myeloma patients, there are populations of lymphocytes characterized by the presence of the EAC receptor without SIg, which are deficient in the capacity to stimulate an MLC response and the ability to be cytotoxic when stimulated by PWM. The results form a baseline for the study of abnormal lymphoid function in human myeloma.


Regulatory mechanisms in cell-mediated immune responses. II. Comparison of culture-induced and alloantigen-induced suppressor cells in MLR and CML. Two antigen-nonspecific T cell-dependent suppressor systems were compared for their effects upon CML and MLR. Suppressor cells generated by an in vitro culture of spleen cells were compared with suppressor cells generated by in vivo priming with alloantigen. Culture-induced suppressor cells were themselves unable to respond in CML or MLR; were able to suppress actively the CML and MLR responses of untreated responding cells; were mitomycin-sensitive; and, produced no easily demonstrable suppressive supernatant. Alloantigen-primed cells were able to respond in CML and LR; could suppress proliferation in MLR, but were able to suppress CML only after mitomycin treatment; and, produced suppressive supernatants active in suppressing both CML and MLR. In addition to cataloging the differences and similarities between these suppressor populations, the data have been employed to analyze the mechanisms by which suppression occurs in CML and MLR.


The lymphocyte activating influence of the HLA-A region. Six individuals with an established recombination between the HLA-A and the HLA-B loci of the major histocompatibility complex have been tested in unilateral mixed lymphocyte cultures with other members of their families. A weak, but statistically significant lymphocyte activating influence of the HLA-A chromosomal region has been observed.


Virulence-associated acquisition of iron in mammalian serum by Escherichia coli. Effects of iron on the growth of avirulent and virulent strains of Escherichia coli were tested in mice and in mammalian sera. Infection of the animals with iron increased mortality rates in mice infected with the avirulent strain to levels found in mice infected with the virulent strain. In vitro experiments showed that bacteria deprived of iron in bovine or human sera or milk or in chicken egg white stopped miltiplication and died in a very short time. These antibacterial effects were neutralized effectively with the addition of exogenous iron or the iron-binding bacterial product, enterochelin. In contrast to avirulent bacteria, which were effectively inhibited in mammalian serum, virulent bacteria were able to obtain iron and multiply. The ability of virulent bacteria to grow in mammalian serum is being attributed to the presence of iron-binding enterochelin and lipopolysaccharide in large amounts on the cell walls of virulent bacteria.


Proactivator and activator levels of plasminogen in plasma as measured by caseinolysis. A procedure is presented for the caseinolytic assay of plasminogen proactivator and activator levels in blood. The validity of the method was established and normal plasma proactivator levels were determined in 10 subjects. No detectible activator activity was found in these subjects. Venous occulsion produced a small rise in activator activity. Hageman-deficient and Fitzgerald trait plasmas did not produce activator activity after exposure to kaolin. The generation of activator activity in the Fitzgerald plasma was partly restored by the addition of purified high molecular weight kininogen, but the Hageman-deficient plasma was not corrected. The caseinolytic assay avoids some of the drawbacks which are inherent in methods which depend on fibrin dissolution for the detection of enhanced fibrinolytic states, provides a reproducible baseline, and may be sufficiently sensitive to detect changes of clinical interest.


Preparation and characterization of fluorescent N-(3-pyrene)maleimide adducts of myosin. N-(3-pyrene)maleimide adducts of myosin (PM-myosin) are fluorescent and possess actin-activated Mg2+ ATPase activity. Addition of ATP to PM-myosin produces a reversible decrease of 10% in fluorescence intensity of the pyrene fluorophore in the presence of actin. Analogues of ATP which are poor substrates for myosin ATPase or which merely dissociate actomyosin produce less decrease in fluorescence of PM-myosin than does ATP. Since fluorescence of acto-PM-myosin is sensitive to environmental changes associated with ATP hydrolysis, and/or with fluorophore-actin interactions. PM-myosin may be a useful analysis of molecular aspects of muscle contraction.


The chemo-mechanical coupling relation in the oscillatory contraction-relaxation cycles of insect fibrillar muscle. The mechanical properties and the activity of the myofibrillar ATPase have been investigated at 21 degrees C on glycerinated back muscle from the water-bug Lethocerus colossicus. When the fibres were held under isometric conditions after stretching them by 0.5--4%, the ATPase required to maintain a given tension increases from 19 to 39 p-moles ATP split for each mg of tension developed as the Ca2+ level is increased from 10(-7) to up to 10(-5) M. The mechanical properties and the ATPase activity have been determined for Ca2+-activated fibres using sinusoidal frequencies of 1--30 HZ and oscillatory amplitudes of 0.5--6% peak-to-peak. In this way the R.M.S. velocity of sinusoidal movement was varied between 0.1-10 mm/sec. The rate of ATP splitting associated with oscillatory tension development, the dynamic tension cost, increases both with Ca2+ and with frequency of oscillation (at 1% peak-to-peak amplitude), becoming as high as four times the isometric value. The oscillatory power output which can be obtained is increased when the Ca2+ level is raised from 10(-7) to 10(-5) M or towards higher amplitudes of oscillation. The chemo-mechanical coupling efficiency increases proportionally with the R.M.S. velocity of muscle movement. In presence of 10(-5) M Ca2+ optimal efficiencies of 5.5--6.2 kcal work per mole ATP split are obtained at R.M.S. velocities of 1.3--2 muscle lengths/sec. The ability of the muscle fibres to perform osciillatory work at the higher frequencies was much reduced at lower Ca2+ levels of 10(-6) or 10(-7) M and the maximal efficiencies never exceeded 2.2 kcal/mole.


The echocardiographic correlates of left ventricular hypertrophy diagnosed by electrocardiography. Echocardiography was performed in 28 consecutive patients who manifested accepted criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy on their electrocardiograms. Four groups of patients were identified: Group 1, nineteen (68%) who had an increase in both interventricular septal and left ventricular posterior wall thickness; Group 2, three patients (11%) with isolated enlargement of the left ventricular internal dimension; Group 3, two subjects (7%) with increased septal thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness and left ventricular internal dimension and Group 4, four patients (14%) with normal echocardiographic measurements. It is concluded that increases in both septal and left ventricular wall thickness are the primary echocardiographic correlates of left ventricular hypertrophy as diagnosed on the electrocardiogram.


Changes in the levels of chloride cells and (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase in the gills of yellow and silver eels adapting to seawater. Changes were measured in the numbers of chloride cells and the levels of (Na+ + K+)-DEPENDENT ATPase in the gills of immature, yellow eels and mature, silver eels during adaptation from freshwater to seawater. The percentage of chloride cells in yellow eels more than doubled after six days in seawater; at this time the specific activity and concentration of (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase in gills start to increase in parallel to reach maxima after two weeks that are 2.5 times the starting values. It is concluded that adaptation of yellow eels to seawater involves an increase in the numbers of chloride cells in gills as well as an increased amount of (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase per chloride cell. Mature silver eels in freshwater had essentially the same numbers of chloride cells and the same specific activity of the enzyme in the gills as yellow eels fully adapted to seawater. Transferring silver eels to seawater did not alter the percentage of chloride cells in gills although the level of (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase and its specific activity increased slightly. Thus, although the silver eel is better prepared for life in seawater than the yellow eel, it still has to attain an increased level of (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase in its chloride cells to be fully adapted to seawater.


Epilepsy and schizophrenia: a neurochemical bridge. This paper reviews some of the evidence in the literature that suggests neurochemical processes by which the regulation of seizure threshold and the onset of schizophrenic-like symptoms are interrelated. For those patients who experience the alternation of seizures and acute psychoses the following working hypothesis is presented: The central dopaminergic synapse is described as a malfunctioning regulatory circuit. Insufficient feedback inhibition or lifting of the setpoint leads to an increased number of occupied receptors. This might cause schizophrenic-like symptoms. Insufficient release of feedback control or lowering of the setpoint leads to a decreased number of occupied receptors. This might increase seizure susceptibility. The neurochemical arguments in support of this hypothesis will be discussed in detail. The localization of the dopaminergic synapses involved in the development of schizophrenic-like symptoms is subject to speculation. The meso-limbic dopaminergic system has to be taken into consideration.


Down's syndrome and deletion of short arms of a G chromosome. A woman in a family in which a G group chromosome (No. 21) with deleted short arms (21p-) is present has passed this chromosome to an intellectually deficient son, a normal son, and a daughter with Down's syndrome. Another daughter is chromosomally and phenotypically normal. As in other reports that focus on a concurrence of Gp- chromosomes and Down's anomaly, the possibility is considered that this chromosomal variant may predispose to developmental abnormalities or to non-disjunction, or both.


Secretion of the adrenal androgen, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, during normal infancy, childhood, and adolescence, in sick infants, and in children with endocrinologic abnormalities. Serum concentrations of the adrenal androgen, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, were measured by radioimmunoassay in normal infants and children, in sick premature and full-term newborn infants, and in patients undergoing evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal and -adrenal systems. Premature infants had significantly greater (p less than 0.001) levels of DHAS (263 +/- 40)[SE]migrong/dl) than did full-term infants (58.9 +/- 5.2) during the first ten days of life; further increments occurred in stressed "sick" infants. A gradual age- and maturity-related rise in serum concentrations of DHAS was observed during childhood with the earliest increase occurring prior to the onset of pubertal production of gonadal steroids. Serum levels of DHAS rose following administration of ACTH and were increased in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, in whom rapid decrements followed treatment with dexamethasone. hCG or LH-RH treatment did not alter DHAS concentrations. These data suggest that direct secretion of DHAS by the adrenal gland and/or peripheral sulfation of DHA, rather than gonadal secretion, accounts for the majority of DHAS production. The involvement of adrenal androgens in the pubertal maturation of the reproductive endocrine system thus may be evaluated by quantitation of serum DHAS.


Thiocardenolides II: synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 3beta-thioacetyl-14beta-hydroxy-5beta-card-20(22)-enolide. The synthesis of a 3beta-thioacetylcardenolide is described. The thioacetate exhibited effects similar to those seen with digitoxigenin acetate on the isolated frog and guinea pig hearts at 1 X 10(-7) dilution. In the intact rat heart, the lethal dose was 5 mg/kg for the thioacetate and 2.5 mg/kg for digitoxigenin acetate. The thioacetate inhibited sodium- and potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase to the same extent as digitoxigenin, but it was somewhat less inhibitory than digitoxigenin acetate.


A dissociation between temperature regulation and fever in the rabbit. 1. The role of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in temperature regulation and in fever in the rabbit has been investigated. 2. Intrahypothalamic microinjections of 5-HT in the conscious rabbit alters body temperature in a dose-dependent manner. 3. Low doses (5-5nmol) of 5-Ht and control saline injections produced a small, non-significant increase in temperature, with a long latency. 4. Doses of 14 nmol 5-HT produce a hyperthermia with a 45 min delay; while microinjections of 28 nmol result in a biphasic response; an initial short hypothermia is followed later by a hyperthermia. 5. Depleting the rabbit's brain of 5-HT by pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) fails to affect its body temperature at thermoneutral temperatures but significantly impairs the ability to thermoregulate against a cold stress. 6. PCPA pretreatment did not, however, impair the febrile response to bacterial pyrogen and prostaglandin E1. 7. These results reveal a dissociation between the effects of 5-HT depletion on temperature regulation, and on fever. The site of action of 5-HT in temperature regulation must be proximal to the fever input, but distal to the convengence of peripheral and hypothalamic temperature inputs.


The changes in configuration of the rib cage and abdomen during breathing in the anaesthetized cat. 1. The external surface of the rib cage and abdominal wall in anaesthetized cats was surgically exposed in order to record their movements cinematographically in spontaneous breathing and in paralysed cats, during artificial positive pressure ventilation. 2. Cine-stereophotography was used to allow the recording of the movements of a set of markers placed on the external surface of the trunk wall and the corresponding stereometric data were numerically and graphically processed into three-dimensional drawings. The cine-film frames corresponding to the phases of maximum inflation and deflation of the lungs were analysed to reveal the changes in configuration associated with the respiratory movements of the trunk wall. 3. The changes in shape of the diaphragm and the diaphragm and the displacements of the abdominal viscera between extreme inflation and deflation were recorded by X-ray photography. 4. During spontaneous inspiratory movements, the ribs rotated outwards and rostrally about the costovertebral joints, bringing about an increase in the transverse dimensions of the cage all along its length; these movements were accompanied by a clear-cut caudad displacement of the sternum, caused by the straightening of the costal cartilages and by the widening of the angles defined at sternochondral joints between the sternum and each of the costal cartilages. 5. Neuromuscular blockade abolished muscle tone in the trunk wall, allowing the weight of the viscera markedly to deform its configuration. 6. The inspiratory rib movements of the paralysed animal during artificial inspiration were similar to those during spontaneous breathing but the movements of the sternum were inverted and showed small cranial displacements. 7. The loss of muscular tone under neuromuscular blockade made the abdominal wall more compliant than the rib cage to the positive lung pressure and allowed greater mobility of the viscera with consequent distortion of the shape of the diaphragm. 8. The role of rib cage muscle tone in meeting requirements of purely configurational character in such a shell-like structure is discussed in relation to the optimal mechanical performance of the diaphragm.


[Index of fibrinolysis with new fibrin plate (author's transl)]. Plasminogen-free fibrin plate (fP) which was made from treated commerical bovine fibrinogen with Lysine-Sepharose was developed in our laboratory. This new fibrin plate showed the following specificities. a) This new fibrin plate did not show any lysis with high amount of streptokinase and Urokinase (10,000 u/ml and 500 u/ml). b) The concentrations of its substrate was the same as standard plate (SP) and its substrate was not denatured compared with heated plate (HP). c) The activity of plasmin can be measured quantitatively on fP and linear correlation between plasmin units and lysis area was showen. d) This procedure of new fibrin plate was easy and simple and could be applicable to the materials of other species, i.e., human, rabbit and porcine. With the use of two kinds of bovine fibrin plate (SP and fP), activation of fibrinolysis of human plasma, euglobulin and plasminogen induced by SK and UK was investigated and each correlation ship between sample and activator was studied statistically. From these results, "Index of fibrinolysis" meaning of fibrinolytic components such as plasmin, plasminogen, activator, proactivator, anti-activator and anti-plasmin were indicated. Indeed, these index of fibrinolysis were calculated from the lysis area of plasma+SK, Eug.+SK and Eug.+UK by each formula and index obtained from some physiological and pathological condition showed us many new information about fibrinolysis.


University education for the physically disabled. Two per thousand of the student population are physically handicapped. The facilities for the care of physically disabled students were surveyed at the 34 universities that have full-time medical officers and primary medical teams. It was found that communication before arrival about special medical and nursing needs of the student is insufficient, that there is inadequate liaison within the universities between the admissions office and the medical unit, and a lack of published statements by the universities about the admission of the physically disabled.In contrast, the facilities available for the handicapped student are considerable, the academic success rate high, the range of serious disability being successfully coped with is extensive, and there is a need for more encouragement in the community for the physically disabled to undertake, where intellectually capable, a university education.


Properties of strains of Staphylococcus aureus in the 94, 96 complex. Strains of Staphylococcus aureus that are lysed by typing phages 94 or 96, or by both phages, are usually resistant to lysis by other basic-set typing phages. They are, however, sensitive to several experimental phages and show a number of different lytic patterns when tested against these phages. These differences in susceptibility are due, in part, to immunity imposed by temperate phages carried by the different strains. Resistance to lysis by other basic-set phages was not due to prophage immunity, but to at least one restriction and modification system in such strains. Restrictionless mutants were isolated from one strain in several experiments. These showed an increased sensitivity to many basic-set phages. However, all of these mutants retained the ability to modify the phages to the characteristic "94, 96" specificity. Strains in the 94, 96 complex showed a remarkable homogeneity in biological traits. The majority were non-pigmented, and produced lipase, fibrinolysin, alpha and delta haemolysins and enterotoxin B. This homogeneity may well be a reflexion of the restriction and modification systems in these strains, that prevent the acquisition of genetic material from strains outside the complex. A new lytic group V is proposed for members of the 94, 96 complex.


Role of lipids in the Neurospora crassa membrane. I. Influence of fatty acid composition on membrane lipid phase transitions. The relationship between lipid composition and phase transition was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry for intact and membrane phospholipid extracts of wild-type (w/t) and the cel-(Tw 40) mutant of Neurospora crassa. The cel-(Tw 40) mutant (grown on minimal, sucrose medium supplemented with Tween 40 at approximately 34 degrees C) had approximately twice the saturated fatty acid content of w/t organisms grown at approximately 22 degrees C. The gel-liquid crystal phase transitions of ergosterol-free extracts derived from w/t and cel-(Tw 40) occur at -31 and -11 degrees C, respectively. The heats of transition (delta H) of these extracts were 1 and 13 cal/g, respectively. The addition of ergosterol (the predominant sterol in Neurospora) to the phospholipid extracts decreased the observed heats of transition, but did not alter the transition temperature. Intact Neurospora, whether w/t or cal-(Tw 40) did not manifest similar gel-liquid crystal phase transitions in the differential scanning calorimeter. However, an endothermic peak at approximately 30 degrees C was observed in intact cells and extracted phospholipids of both w/t and cel-(Tw 40) organisms. This peak was insensitive to the addition of ergosterol, had a low heat content (delta H congruent to 1 cal/g), and was reversible.


Reconstitution of craniofacial osseous contour deformities, sequelae of trauma and post resection for tumors, with an alloplastic-autogenous graft. Our experience using a new technique for reconstructing contour defects of facial bones has been presented. It employs particulate, cancellous bone and an implantable prosthesis accurately fabricated of polyether urethane and polyethylene terephthalate cloth mesh which can be produced in a variety of configurations. A mannequin made of these materials displaying the various parts of the craniofacial complex that have been restored or are currently under investigation is shown in Figure 10. Large cranial vault defects, orbital floors, mandibles including chin augmentation, and nasal bone deformities have been successfully restored in man. Restoration of the pinna of the ear is currently being evaluated in laboratory animals.


Spectinomycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Neisseria gonorrhoeae resistant to high levels of spectinomycin (more than 2,048 microng/ml), were isolated from specimens obtained from a patient with urethritis. The bacterial resistance to spectinomycin is probably due to ribosomal changes that are a result of a chromosomal mutation. If spectinomycin fails to cure gonorrhea, spectinomycin resistance should be considered.


Clinical history as a screening test for ankylosing spondylitis. A controlled study of 138 subjects demonstrated that the clinical history may be sensitive (95%) and specific (85%) in the differential diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis when reliance of five specific historic features is made. Back pain that is insidious in onset, in a patient younger than 40 years, persisting for at least three months, associated with morning stiffness and improving with exercise is characteristic of inflammatory spinal disease.


Ca binding of intestinal smooth muscle myosin B. By means of both centrifugation and filtration techniques, the Ca binding activity of intestinal myosin B was studied. The binding capacity of myosin B was Ca dependent and was approximately linear when the concentration of Ca in the medium ranged from 10(-4) to 10(-7) M. The Ca sensitivity of ATPase activity in the same range of Ca concentration exhibited a sigmoid curve. The Scatchard plot of Ca binding showed that intestinal myosin B had at least two types of binding sites. One of these was defined as a high affinity site with an apparent affinity constant of 2.5 x 10(6) M-1. The other was supposed to be a low affinity site of Ca binding. Mild trypsin treatment reduced the Ca binding capacity of intestinal myosin B by 1.45-2.44 nmol/mg protein. These values are approximately the concentration of the high affinity Ca binding sites in the intestinal myosin B. A major concern regarding the effect of trypsin is that the reduction of Ca binding surely accompanied the elimination of Ca sensitivity of myosin B ATPase activity. From these results, it seems likely that the high affinity sites of Ca binding identified in this study are based on the troponin-like component included in intestinal myosin B.


[Possibilities of early diagnosis of thromboembolic complications in myocardial infarct by means of biochemical methods]. A total of 41 patients with ischaemic heart disease and 30 normal donors were subjected to examinations of the biochemical indices of the blood coagulation system in its coagulation and anticoagulation links, as well as to tests reflecting the fibrinolytic and inhibitory activity of the urine. In the presence of thromboembolic complications in myocardial infarction patients a sharp elevation of "residual fibrinogen" and antiplasmins is noted along with a reduction of the urokinase activity of the urine.


[Comparison of the changes in the QRS complex of the ECG with data from a pathologicoanatomic study in acute myocardial infarct]. A comparison of electrocardiographic and anatomic data was made in 74 patients with acute myocardial infarction with the purpose of investigating QRS-complex changes in macrofocal myocardial infarction, and establishing the correlation between ECG data and the volume of the infarcted myocardium. It has been shown that subendocardial and transmural necrosis of the anterior wall of the left ventricle was in all cases reflected on ECG by QS, while transmural necrosis of the posterior wall was associated in 86% of the cases with the presence of QR, Qr or qR on ECG. Thus, the estimation of myocardial necrosis depth by ECG data is difficult. An increase in myocardial necrosis area is paralleled by an increase in Q wave duration, in Q/R ratio value, and by a decrease in R wave amplitude. There was no significant linear correlation between the volume of necrosis area and the amplitude of Q wave of the number of ECG leads in which signs of myocardial infarction were detected.


[Study of arteriosclerosis in different geographical zones of the Soviet Union. II. The fatty acid makeup of the lipids of the vascular wall in inhabitants of Uzbekistan]. A detailed description is presented for the fatty acids composition of the ether fractions of cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids in the normal aortic intima and at various stages of atherosclerosis in indigenous population (Uzbeks) and migrant (Russian) population of Uzbekistan. The most significant changes were revealed in the cholesterol ethers. At various stages of atherosclerosis the changes in the fatty acids of cholesterol ethers are not identical and depend on the nature of the lesion. The relative content of the oleic acid is usually higher, and that of the linoleic--lower in the fat strands and spots, than in the unchanged aortic intima. In the atheromatous plaques, on the contrary, the content of the linoleic acid increases, and that of the oleic--decreases. With age, the content of the linoleic acid increases even in the portions of the intima free of atherosclerosis. The relative content of linoleic acid in the triglycerides of the normai intima and in the atheromatous plaques is higher in the indigenous population of Uzbekistan, than in the migrants.


[Epidemiology of ischemic heart disease among the rural male population of Karaganda Province]. All WHO requirements and recommendations fulfilled, a one-stage epidemiological study was conducted in a nonorganized population of rural males, aged 30 to 59 years. With the aid of random numbers tables 1450 persons were selected, of whom 1340 were examined (92.4%). The majority of the examined (82.3%) were engaged in physical labour in different branches of agriculture, and only 14.4%--in clerical work. Ischaemic heart disease was found in 55 persons (4.1%), among them 26 (47.2%) were newly diagnosed cases. Among the clarks ischaemic heart disease was found to be more than twice as frequent (7.2%) as in those engaged in hard (3.3%) and moderately hard (3.7%) physical labour. A correlation was established between the incidence of the disease and such leading risk factors as arterial hypertension, smoking, excessive body weight, limited exercises and hypercholesterolemia. The conducted epidemiological study proves the necessity of the development and realization of preventive measures against ischaemic heart disease among the rural population.


[Peripheral stenoses of the pulmonary arteries: possible causes and syndromic relationships (author's transl)]. The catheterization results and additional malformations and diseases in 20 infants and children with pulmonary artery stenosis are reported. In 17 cases additional cardiovascular malformations were found. In 15 cases extracardiac malformations or developmental retardation were observed. Peripheral stenoses of the pulmonary arteries are frequently established in rubella embryopathy, in the syndrome of supravalvular aortic stenosis, in Down s syndrome, in different types of nanism, in thalidomide embryopathy and in the socalled arteriohepatic dysplasia (Watson and Miller) associated with hypoplasia of the bile ducts. In 3 cases an arteriophepatic dysplasia was confirmed by angiocardiography and biopsy. Coarctations of pulmonary arteries rarely need operative interventions.


[About degradation products of the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor in serum. I. The inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor as precursor of the acid stable trypsin-plasmin-inhibitor of the serum (author's transl)]. The humoral inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor is to define as precursor of the acid stable trypsin-plasmin-inhibitor in the serum. The inhibitor is filtrated by the glomerulum and excreted in the urine. The serum level of the inhibitor is increased in nephropathy. Using a new assay for the intact precursor it was found that during inflammation the decreased precursor level indicates an increased turnover, though the glomerular filtration of the acid-stable inhibitor is within normal range. The increase of the precursor level during nephropathy indicates that the kidney is the main degradation organe for the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor. Nevertheless, an increase of the acid-stable inhibitor is to be seen. This fact is only to explain if it is assumed that the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor is permanently degraded everywhere in the organism.


[The influence of the beta-blocking agent pindolol on blood pressure and heart weight of rats with Goldblatt-type hypertension (author's transl)]. Preexisting increase of plasma renin activity in hypertension seems to indicate an effective hypotensive action of adrenergic beta-receptor antagonists. In spite of marked elevation of plasma renin activity in Goldblatt-rats, the beta-blocker Pindolol failed to lower the blood pressure. On the contrary, high doses of this substance led to an acceleration of the Goldblatt-type hypertension, perhaps because of the intrinsic sympathomimetic activity of Pindolol. These findings support the conception that beta-blockers are effective in lowering the blood pressure only in hypertension with stimulated renin secretion, which is caused by an increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Plasma renin activity was not altered by Pindolol. There existed a linear relationship between blood pressure and left-ventricular weight in all groups of rats, which was not impaired by Pindolol in all used doses.


Weak mixed lymphocyte culture response in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). A study was made to determine whether the mixed lymphocyte culture test could detect histocompatibility differences between two strains of the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus. A semi-micro mixed lymphocyte culture was developed using 6 X 10(5) stimulating and responding cells per 0.12 ml culture volume at a ratio of 1:1. A culture period of 120 hours was found to be optimal. Although a weak allogeneic response was demonstrated with the Uclp:(MON) strain responding to stimulating cells from the MON/Tum strain, the reverse was not seen. A mixed lymphocyte reaction to xenogeneic (mouse) cells was demonstrated, and response to the mitogen, phytohemagglutinin, was strong. These data and the low stimulation index obtained in allogeneic culture supported the view that histocompatibility differences among different strains of the Mongolian gerbil are weak.


Application of immunofluorescence to the establishment of an Encephalitozoon cuniculi-free rabbit colony. Serologic screening of a rabbit breeding colony over a 9-month period showed that all 9-week-old rabbits with Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection were born of E cuniculi-infected does. This observation, obtained from studies on 395 young rabbits, suggested that transmission of infection is either transplacental or the result of close contact soon after birth. On this basis, 16 young healthy rabbits, seronegative to E cuniculi, were isolated and tested at 2-week intervals for antibodies to E cuniculi. In the first 2 months, seven rabbits showed indications of developing antibodies to E cuniculi and were immediately removed from the colony. The remaining rabbits along with their 52 offspring were tested for serum antibodies for a further 16 months and no rabbit became seropositive. Eight months after establishment of the colony, three does, one buck and six 12-week-old rabbits were killed. Macroscopic and extensive histologic and immunofluorescence examinations failed to reveal any evidence of infection with E cuniculi. These results showed that serological screening for E cuniculi infection by immunofluorescence is a simple yet adequate procedure for establishing a rabbit colony free of encephalitozoonosis.


Heart disease in the hypertensive patient. Uncontrolled hypertension increases the workload of the left ventricle causing the development of hypertrophy and an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption that may precipitate ischemia because of inadequate oxygen delivery related to accelerated coronary atherosclerosis. Control of the hypertension should prevent the further development of hypertrophy, delay the development of fibrosis and possibly also slow the rate of development of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, when myocardial function is impaired because of hypertrophy or other myocardial diseases, the level of blood pressure becomes an important determinant of left ventricular performance. Regardless of the level of arterial pressure, vasodilator drugs that lower arterial pressure may result in marked improvement in left ventricular performance and relief of symptoms of left ventricular failure. Therefore, control of blood pressure in the presence of heart disease may involve treatment of normotensive patients to bring them into a lower normotensive range as well as the more traditional treatment of hypertensives to bring them into the normotensive range. Although this scenario is consistent with conventional wisdom and clinical experience, intricacies of the relationship between hypertension, hypertrophy, myocardial oxygen delivery, atherosclerosis and intramyocardial blood flow distribution remain poorly understood. Until these aspects of the natural history of heart disease are better worked out therapy will remain largely empirical.


Medical undergraduate teaching of paediatrics in the community. The undergraduate teaching of childhood illness in the community is described. This teaching includes a cross-section of acute childhood illness together with some contact with handicapped children in their own homes. Although there were only four teaching sessions, the frequency of conditions studied approximated to that in general practice


[Complex Laboratory of Work Physiology and Psychology LPF-1]. A complete labour physiology and psychology laboratory has been designed and set up for the purpose of unifying the methods of physiological and psychological investigations, standardizing measurements procedures and rasing the effectiveness of examinations. The laboratory is fitted out with instruements and equipment ensuring observation over the functional state of the blood circulation, respiratory thermoregulation, metabolism, motor analyzer, central nervous system, higher nervous activity, visual and acoustic analyzers. The composition of the equipment and its arrangement according to functional units are recommended.


[Forecasting the development of the workshops for repair of medical equipment]. A rapidly increasing provision of public health establishments with medical equipment and the need of continually keeping up its performance efficiency require a scientific approach to forecasting the necessary technical maintanance service and, consequently, an adequate growth of the repair workshops capacity. The dependance elicited on the example of the Perm works for repair of medical equipment suggests considering economicomathematical models for the development of the like enterprises serving the purpose of planning capital investments in the construction of new and reconstruction of old workshops and plants within the system of "Medtekhnika".


A study of dependence of protein synthesis in mitochondria on the transmembrane potential. 1. Incorporation of [H3]leucine into the TCA insoluble fraction of rat liver mitochondria incubated in vitro is inhibited by uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. The inhibition is not correlated with the activation of mitochondrial ATPase. 2. Dependence of mitochondrial protein synthesis on the transmembrane potential is manifested in a wide range of K+ and Mg++ concentrations in the incubation media. 3. The inhibitory action of uncouplers shows a lag period equal to 5-7 minutes, this lag period however is not observed when the uncoupler is added to puromycin-treated mitochondria. 4. Dependence of mitochondrial protein synthesis on the transmembrane potential, which represents a property characteristic for the inner mitochondrial membrane suggests that mitochondrial ribosomes act in close contact with the mitochondrial membrane system.


A model for histone-nonhistone control of ontogenesis. The co-operation of histones and nonhistones in the known models can sufficiently explain the control of processes occurring within the differentiated cells. To give an explanation--on the same basis--for changes during ontogenesis and for manifestation of the development's program, a new model is needed which supposes the existence of a programming as well as a realizing system. At the start, the realizing system becomes repressed by histones. After this, the programming system gives orders for the production of nonhistones. These latter then activate the adequate (definite) operator of the realizing system and direct, simultaneously, a further programming gene for the production of a specific nonhistone needed for the following step of the program. Further on, the model could give an explanation for the manner in which the differentiated features of the cell are conserved during mitosis. One may suppose, in this case, that the new DNA strands become without delay wholly repressed. The phase-specific nonhistones--characterizing the cell's ontogenesis and produced by direction of the programming genes--will then displace the histones from the adequate DNA-sites.


Hodgkin's disease with predominant epitheloid cells. The present paper reports on a 38-year-old patient with left supraclavicular adenopathy, clinically suspect of tuberculosis. Histologic examination showed disappearance of the lymph node structure due to diffuse, nodular hyperplasia of epithelioid and Sternberg-Reed cells. The particularities of this rare form of Hodgkin's disease, described by Lennert, are discussed, as well as problems of differential diagnosis.


The influence of homologous pulmonary proteins on the lung tissue reactivity: an experimental analysis. The influence of homologous pulmonary proteins on the lung tissue reactivity was experimentally and immunomorphologically analysed in rabbits: a. in the development of specific sensitized substrate; b. by the challenge of hypersensitivity reactions: and c. by the evaluation of the development of an experimental lung tuberculosis at the level of the sensitized lung. Morphometrical methods were used. The immunomorphological analysis pointed out the importance of the increase of pyroninophilic and plasma cells and of eosinocytes in the lung tissue sensitized to homologous proteins included in the complete Freund adjuvant, the specificity and peculiarities (frequency of plasmocytosis and necrosis) of hypersensitivity reactions intratracheally and intravenously challenged with the homologous pulmonary proteins at the level of the sensitized lung, as well as the severe evolution of the experimental lung tuberculosis by comparison with that developing in a lung substrate sensitized without homologous pulmonary proteins or unsensitized. These results provided data for the influence exerted on the lung substrate by the pulmonary proteins which are released during the evolution of lugn processes and could act as autoantigens in the framework of an autoaggressive pathogenic component of chronic diseases.


Relationships between specialized cells, capillaries, and intermediary cytofibrillary elements. VIIIth note. A systematization attempt of the RHS in the light of Bertalanffy's theory of systems. Phylogenetic data concerning the circulatory and the macrophagic systems in epineural invertebrates and in vertebrates are exposed. On this basis, the taking into consideration of a large general and complex system of defence is proposed as a work hypothesis. Within this system, two subsystems of the IInd order are described: the 1st represented by the epithelial organs, and the IInd by the immunogenic ones. In the first case, the epithelial cell populations (epithelial organs from the IInd step of author's classification, Vth note) play a dominant role in the local defence. The stroma and capillaries are dominating the defence process in the organs with covering epithelia (IIIrd step), in which the endothelia, the pericapillary membranes and the histiocytes are intervening; the antibody formation is missing. The immunogenic subsystem--the most evoluted form of the antiblastic and antinfection defence--comprises all the organs and formations of the old RHS. This IInd order subsystem is subdivided into two other subsystems of the IIIrd order: one comprises the primary lymphoid organs and the other, the secondary ones. Within the first began the differentiation; within the second, differentiation of cells participating in the cellular and humoral immunity is improved. Thus, each subsystem of the IIIrd order is subdivided into immunocompetent and non-immunocompetent cell lines (subsystems of the IVth order). Some reactions interpreted as expressions of cellular exchanges (open systems) providing the division and differentiation, especially of T and B lymphocytes, are described. The various terminology still used for the old RES and RHS is criticized and a new provisional terminology is proposed.


Atypic adenomatous hyperplasiae of the endometrium. Cytologic and histopathologic confrontations. By cytologic and histopathologic confrontations performed in uterine curettage products, 34 atypic adenomatous hyperplasiae were comparatively analysed with 38 malignant proliferations of the endometrium. The confrontation was made with the aim of knowing the diagnosis significance of some atypic adenomatous hyperplasiae lesions, finally correlated with the diagnosis established on histerectomy pieces. The significance of anomalies and/or atypies generated by disorders occurred in the cytodifferentiation of glandular cells and of those of the covering epithelium of the endometrium are discussed as well as the value of methods for the early diagnosis of the malignant process at the level of endometrium.


Autoradiographic changes in the kidney of the whole-body sublethally x-ray irradiated rat. 203Hg-hydroxymersalyl uptake / gram of kidney (HU), renal autoradiographic and histologic aspect after 800 R X-ray whole-body rat irradiation was studied. Twenty-four to seventy-two hours after irradiation, HU increased, while tubular autoradiographic granularity decreased. Their return to the control levels occurred gradually within two weeks. The relations of these findings to the early circulatory and dystrophic changes, as well as to the subsequent postirradiation restoring renal process are discussed.


Proline-oxidase and hydroxypyroline-2-epimerase activities in experimental fibrosing granulomatous processes of the lung. Three experimental fibrosing granulomatous processes of the lung (pulmonary granulomas induced by complete Freund adjuvant, viral pneumonitis induced by the A2 influenza virus, and tuberculosis induced in animals exposed to tobacco smoke) were produced in rabbits and the results confronted in view of establishing some relationships between mesenchymal cell accumulations, reticulin fibrillogenesis, and the enzymic activities of proline-oxidase (PO) and of hydroxyproline-2-epimerase (HEP), enzymes intervening in the control of hydroxyproline incorporation in the procollagen molecule. Histopathologic, histochemical and histoenzymic methods, quantification of cells and fibrils, statistical analyses, including the regression lines method, were used. The confrontation of the three processes made obvious that the cell accumulation invariably preceded the fibrillogenetic process, that the immune nature of the process was accompanied by larger cell accumulations than the non-immune one, that between cell accumulations and fibrillogenesis there existed highly significant correlations, and that the increase of the enzymic activities of proline-oxidase and of hydroxyproline-2-epimerase always accompanied these tissular changes, being topographically coincident with them (interlobular areas, alveolar walls).


Histoenzymology of the lung. I. Enzyme activities of the lung tissue of acult humans; relationships between structure and functions. Human adult lung fragments removed from macroscopically undamaged and anthracosis exempted zones of lungs of 20 pneumonectomies made for cancer, were tested for 25 enzymic activities. The location and intensities of these enzymic activities were different in the lung tissue components; The bronchial epithelia contained highly active LDH, MDH, SDH, NADH-TR and NADPH-TR, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, active hydroxyproline-2-epimerase, alkaline phosphatase. Ca2+-activated ATP-ase, and beta-galactosidase. Bronchial and vascular muscles presented intense activities of LDH, MDH and SDH of alkalinephosphatase, AMP-ase and Ca2+-activated ATP-ase, as well as of beta-galactosidase. The alveolar walls presented high activities of SDH, MDH and LDH, of alkaline and acid phosphatases, of beta-galactosidase and of Tween-40 and 60-esterases, of HEP, cytochrome-oxidase and peroxidase. The free alveolar macrophages were active for LDH, MDH, SDH, NADH-TR and NADPH-TR, G1-6-ph-DH, acid and alkaline phosphatase, cytochrome-oxidase and peroxidase, HEP, AMP-ase and Mg2+-activated ATP-ase, Tween-esterases, naphthol-ASD-acetate esterase, and beta-galactosidase. The endothelia contained high activities of alkaline phosphatase, of AMP-ase and Mg2+-activated ATPase, of LDH, MDH and SDH, and of beta-galactosidase. In bronchial lymphoid nodules it was the LDH, MDH, SDH, cytochrome-oxidase and peroxidase, HEP, alkaline phosphatase and AMP-ase, Tween-60-esterase and beta-galactosidase that were active. The interlobular areas of the lung presented intense activities of SDH, MDH, LDH, HEP and cytochrome-oxidase. The activities of the other tested enzymes were weaker or absent in the adult human lung components, the same as those of aminopeptidases which were present only in some free alveolar macrophages. The discussion of some relationships between these enzymic actitivies and the morphology of the human adult lung tissue asserted that the latter could not be considered as a "normal" tissue but as one overstrained by the components of blood and polluted air.


Interrelations between specialized cells, capillaries and intermediary cyto-fibrillar elements, IXth note. The fibrillar apparatus of the human dermis during ageing. The dynamics of mean density on conventional microscopic field method of the fibrillar apparatus (collagenous, elastic and reticular fibers and fragments) both in the papillary and profound dermis is followed up. In this study 40 fragments of human skin from 4 groups were included: children, adults, aged people with lesions of senile keratosis and without lesions of senile keratosis. Some histological and biochemical data from the literature were confirmed. Using the conventional microscopic field method a new element was proved, namely: the changes connected with age are significant and present a stereotypic succession; However, these changes are not always similarin intensity and direction for the three varieties of the fibers and in both layers of the dermis. An increase tendency of the fibrillar apparatus beginning from the childhood to the adulthood and then a differentiated decrease or stabilization towards the old age with the appearance of senile keratosis lesions were noticed. During ageing the fibrillar elements of the dermis become thickened and fragmented, with implications on the physiological functions of the skin.


Experimental studies on factors influencing the widespread organ distribution of Walker 256 tumour metastases. The Walker 256 tumour metastases occurring spontaneously or following i.v. experimental inoculation to lungs and lymph nodes were studied. This preferential metastasis or organ selectivity was changed by inducing modifications in the tumour cell itself or in the host. Changes induced in the tumour cell decreased the incidence and organ distribution of metastases if the cell membrane was altered by trypsin; conversely, the trophic effect exerted by glucose on the blood-borne tumour cells, leading to an increase of cell viability and proliferative capacity, resulted in augmented metastasis incidence and widespread organ distribution of metastases. The behaviour of experimentally metastasizing Walker tumour cells could be also influenced by the inhibition of the host immune response (hydrocortisone), irradiation, Luvatren, irradiation + Luvatren), the increased metastatic incidence and extension being proportional to the degree of the immunosuppression produced by these agents. The experimental data support the conclusion that tumour dissemination is the result of complex interactions between the tumour and the host.


Histoenzymology of the lung. II. The behaviour of lung hydrolytic enzymes during some experimental pulmonary processes. The enzymic activity of acid alkaline phosphatases, of alanyl- and leucine-aminopeptidases, of beta-galactosidase and beta-glucuronidase, and of Tween-60-esterase was tested in the rabbit lung tissue during the following experimental processes: a) the sensitization with Freund adjuvant containing PPD and challenge of the delayed hypersensitivity reaction to PPD), b) the sensitization with gamma-globulin in Freund adjuvant, c) the pulmonary Arthus reaction, d) the lung granulomas induced by intravenous administration of Freund adjuvant containing heterologous lung proteins, e) the tuberculosis and silicotuberculosis under the influence of tuberculostatics. A metabolic intensification expressed by a marked increase of the tested hydrolytic enzymes was observed comparatively with controls in all these immune, granulomatous and inflammatory processes experimentally induced in the lung. The morphologic substrate of this behaviour was represented by the numerous cell proliferation and differentiations of the reticulomacrophagic type occurring during these experimental processes under the stimulation of antigenic elicitors. The latter also induced an increase of the lysosome-formation as submicroscopic site of these hydrolytic enzymes.


The relationship between Na+, K+-ATPase inhibition and cardiac glycoside-induced arrhythmia in dogs. In order to determine if there is a relationship between Na+, K+-ATPase inhibition and cardiac glycoside-induced arrhythmia, the time course of the onset and offset of the arrhythmia induced by the semi-synthetic glycoside, actodigin, and the enzyme activity during arrhythmia and following reversion to normal sinus rhythm was studied in the intact, anethetized dog. An infusion of actodigin(AY22,241) at the rate of 0.1 micronmol/kg/min for 30 min induced a severe and persistent arrhythmia within 13.1 +/- 192 min of 9 dogs. Upon termination of the actodigin infusion, the arrhythmia spontaneously converted to sinus rhythm within 17.5 +/- 2.3 min. Left ventricular tissue was taken from dogs sacrificed at the peak of the actodigin-induced arrhythmic periods or from the dogs that were allowed to recover from the actodigin-induced arrhythmia. These samples were homogenized and the membrane-containing fraction was passed through a Millipore filter. The membrane fraction trapped in the filter was then assayed for Na+ + K+ stimulated, Mg2+ dependent ATPase acctivity. The results showed that, in comparison to the time matched control dogs, the cardiac microsomes prepared from the arrhythmic dogs had a markedly reduced Na+, K+-ATPase activity. On the other hand, actodigin-treated dogs that were allowed to recover from the arrhythmic episode had Na+, K+-ATPase activity that was not significantly different from the control values. The amount of 3H-actodigin bound by the cardiac muscle microsomal fraction was also investigated. The microsomes from left ventricle were isolated with a slight modification of the method of Dutta et al. (1968). The microsomal binding of 3H-actodigin was maximum at 30 min (26.6 mol/mg protein) when the sample was prepared from the dogs at the peak of the arrhythmic effect. However, the binding was significantly reduced (11.5pmol/mg protein) in the microsomal fraction from hearts that had returned to sinus rhythm. These data provide direct evidence that inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase and cardiac glycosideinduced arrhythmia may have some cause and effect relationship.


Contributions to the study of bisazo dye(s) induced eye anomalies in rats. Eye anomalies were studied in embryos and foetuses of pregnant Wistar albino rats injected i.p. on day 9 of pregnancy with trypan blue (8-15 mg/100 g) and Niagara sky blue 6B (10-15 mg/100 g). Specimens were obtained by killing or by repeated surgical interventions between the 12th and 20th day of pregnancy. Microscopical changes were recorded in 170 embryos and foetuses of the experimental series and in 50 control specimens. Anophthalmia nad microthalmia (of various degrees) were the main anomalies induced by both dyes used. Other anomalies, less frequent, involved the whole eye or one or more eye components. No degenerative and necrotic changes the whole eye or one or more eye components. No degenerative and necrotic changes were recorded and no features attesting the vascular origin of malformations could be found. The persistence of eye appendages even in the total absence of any eye rudiment was constantly observed. Control specimens showed no microscopical changes of the developing eye. Some problems concerning possible pathogenic pathways are discussed.


[Echinococcal cysts of the external oblique muscle. Clinical case]. A short account of the nosological, physiopathological and therapeutical aspects of cysts due to muscle echinococcus is given. A case of echinococcus of the external oblique muscle is presented and its diagnostical difficulties pointed out.


[Surgical treatment of aneurysms of the thoracic aorta. Presentation of personal cases]. Six cases of aneurysm of the thoracic aorta, four located in the 1st segment and two in the 3rd, are reported. The four cases in the ascending aorta presented a different aetiology: a) aneurysm on aortic stenosis (case 1); b) atheromatous aneurysm (case 2); c) aortic dissection (case 5); d) aneurysm due to dystrophy of the media in a patient with Marfan's disease (case 6). 3 tubular prosthetic substitutions of the ascending aorta were made (with a valvular substitution and commissural relocation associated with right aorto-coronary venous by-pass) and one plastic intervention on the aorta with valvular substitution. The aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta presented traumatic aetiology and were treated with resection-dacron graft, using femoral artero-venous partial CEC.


[Palmoplantar, punctate and striated keratodermia. Critical notes on a family group]. A cases of punctate and striated keratodermia palmaris et planataris is described. Reference is made to the recent tendency to group together forms once considered distinct. An unusual family pedigree composed of non-consanguineous subjects is presented.


Comparison between urinary 17-ketosteroids and serum androgens in hirsute patients. In order to ascertain the usefulness of urinary 17-ketosteroids (17-KS) in the evaluation of hirsutism, 28 paired determinations of 17-KS and serum androgens were performed in 26 hirsute women before (control) and after (post Dex) 7 days of dexamethasone (Dex) administration. Upper normal control and post Dex urinary 17-KS and serum steroid levels were as follows: 17-KS, 15 and 5 mg/24 hour urine collection; dehydroepiandrossterone sulfate (DHEA-S), 2500 and 400 ng/ml serum; testosterone (T), 0.5 and 0.3 ng/ml; dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 0.35 and 0.2 ng/ml; androstenedione (A), 2.3 and 1.6 ng/ml; androst-5-ene-3beta-17beta-diol (delta5-diol), 1.6 and 0.4 ng/ml; and cortisol (F), 140 and 40 ng/ml. In 5 of the 28 tests, control 17-KS levels were elevated. In these 5 tests, control serum levels of one or more androgens were also elevated. DHEA-S was the only steroid of which the serum levels were elevated in all these 5 patients. Control 17-KS were within normal limits in 23 tests. Of these, 19 had elevated serum androgens. Nine patients with elevated post Dex urinary 17-KS also had elevated post Dex levels of serum androgens. Of 19 patients with normal post Dex 17-KS, 14 had elevated post Dex serum androgen levels. These data indicate that 1) urinary 17-KS determinantions do not reliably identify patients with elevated serum androgens; 2) Dex suppression of 17-KS does not correlate well with Dex suppression of serum androgens; and 3) for the evaluation of hyperandrogenism, measurements of serum androgens give a better understanding of the type of androgens involved and the source of hyperandrogenism.


Jadassohn-type anetoderma in association with keratoconus and cataract. The unusual association of macular atrophy--Jadassohn type of anetoderma, bilateral subcapsular ocular cataracts and keratoconus--is described in an otherwise healthy adult male. This association has not, to the best of our knowledge, been previously described. The possibility that this is not a chance association is discussed.


Corticosteroid glaucoma.

Corticosteroid glaucoma. The non-depolymerised mucopolysaccharides of the anterior chamber angle can become hydrated. This biological oedema can obstruct the trabcculae, but the physiological liberation of catabolic enzymes from the lysosomes depolymerises the mucopolysaccharides and prevent this obstruction. This is, on the contrary, facilited by the corticosteroids, which reinforce the lysosomal membranes and impede the liberation of the catabolic enzymes. There are clones of goniocytes which are corticosensitive and other which are not. Depending upon the predominace of the one or the other, the cortisone test will be positive or negative.


Response to stretch of proprioceptors in adult rat muscles de-efferented at birth. Hind-limb muscles of new-born rats were de-efferented by removing the lumbosacral spinal cord. Spinal ganglia remained intact, together with their peripheral axon. The presence of sensory terminals in limb spindles, induces the full ultrastructural differentiation of muscle spindles, as has been shown previously. In the present paper we have shown by integrating the sensory discharges in the whole nerve from chronically de-efferented muscles that even several months after birth, muscle proprioceptors (probably mostly spindles) still maintain their basic mechanoreceptor properties. Although the limbs were completely immobilized throughout the whole experimental period, spindles from these chronically de-efferented muscles still responded as slowly adapting receptors. The dynamic component was also present in the integrated neurogram response during stretching. It thus appears that basic functional properties of rat muscle proprioceptor persist even when these receptors differentiate and survive without motor innervation and any adequate functional stimuli, i.e. under conditions of permanent disuse.


6-Plate element for recording of cutaneous blood flow. A 6-plate element for isocaloric recording of cutaneous blood flow is described. Co-heating, penetrating depth and influence of a larger vessel simulated in a model were examined. The 6-plate element is less influenced by inhomogenous and anisotropic blood flow than the conventional 2-plate element and thus particularly suitable for routine measurements and repeated applications.


The mechanism of action of harmaline on renal solute transport. The effect of the hallucinogenic drug harmaline was tested on rat kidney proximal tubular solute and water transport, using in vivo micropuncture and electrophysiological techniques as well as in vitro biochemical techniques. During peritubular application harmaline (5 mmol/l) was found to block net tubular volume absorption reversibly (by 85%) through inhibition of active Na+ transport and possibly active HCO-3 transport. The inhibition was accompanied by a rapid strong depolarization of the tubular cell membranes. As a biochemical equivalent harmaline inhibited the Na+-K+-ATPase and the Mg2+-ATPase of peritubular cell membrane fractions as well as the HCO-3-stimulated ATPase of a brush border membrane fraction with similar kinetics. By studying glucose tracer efflux and by measuring cell membrane potential and conductance changes in response to glucose perfusions, no evidence for a direct effect of harmaline on Na+-glucose (or amino acid) cotransport mechanisms in the brush border could be obtained. The data suggest that harmaline does not specifically compete with Na+ for transport sites. Neither are the cotransport systems in the brush border membrane specifically inhibited, nor could the inhibition of the Na+ pump in the peritubular cell membrane simply result from a competition between harmaline and Na+.


Ethibond--a new polybutylate coated polyester suture. This paper describes a new plastic polymer coating, polybutylate (polytetramethylene adipate), which, when applied to braided polyester fibre produces a new suture material--Ethibond. The advantages of this new suture material are improved handling properties, reduced tissue drag and minimal tissue reactivity. The paper details the physical and biological properties of the material.


[Preliminary clinical experience with antibacterial surgical sutures]. Surgical sutures made of Letilan-Lavsan and polyvinyl alcohol fibers with morphocycline and neomycin and filamentous Letilan were applied in 802 patients in the past 4 years. These sutures display considerable antibacterial properties. The antibacterial effect of Letilan-Lavsan sutures is reduced during the healing because of formation of fibrous capsules, the fibers themselves not being deprived of their antibacterial properties for a long period. The Letilan fibers undergo gradual fragmentation and degradation. The antibacterial properties of polyvinyl alcohol fibers added with morphocycline and neomycin are retained for 2 months in the body tissues. The antibacterial Letilan-Lavsan sutures and filamentous Letilan sutures can be sterilized by autoclaving, applying hydrogen peroxide--formic acid mixture, gamma irradiation and ethylene oxide. The unsterilized antibacterial sutures can be used as cutaneous sutures in surgical procedures.


Alcoholic heart disease.

Alcoholic heart disease. Alcohol has been suspected for many years of being a cause of heart disease. For a while its role was obscured by its association with beriberi heart disease and, more recently, by the toxic effect of cobalt in beer. Experimental studies, however, have provided convincing evidence of the primary role of alcohol itself. The mode of action is still in dispute. In the absence of specific findings, the diagnosis is made chiefly by exclusion of other known causes of heart disease and by a history of excessive alcohol intake over a number of years. The usual methods of treatment for the manifestations of heart failure, arrhythmias, and thromboembolic phenomena are important, but total abstinence from alcohol is the single essential factor. The sooner this is instituted, the better is the chance of interrupting the otherwise inexorable course to death.


The influence of antiserotonergic agents on the action of dopaminergic drugs. The effect of drugs blocking serotonin receptors: cyproheptadine, methysergide, and methergoline, and of serotonin synthesis inhibitor, p-chlorophenylalanine on the stereotyped behavior and number of rearings of the rats receiving apomorphine, amphetamine, nomifensine and 1,3-dimethyl-5-aminoadamantane was investigated. The blockade of serotonin receptors potentiates behavioral effects of dopamine agonists. It is concluded that central serotonin may play an inhibitory role, antagonistic to that of catecholamines.


Synthesis and activation of mitotic Ca2+-adenosinetriphosphatase during the cell cycle of mouse mastocytoma cells. The activity of a Ca2+-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) increases during the mitotic phase of synchronized mouse mastocytoma P-815X2 cells. The enzyme is synchronized mouse mastocytoma P-815X2 cells. The enzyme is synthesized mainly during a distinct period of the interphase and is activated at mitosis. It is thought to regulate the formation of the mitotic apparatus by controlling the concentration of Ca2+ ions at the site of formation of the mitotic spindle.


Effects of parachlorophenylalanine and amphetamine on habituation of exploration. Parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 400 mg/kg) retarded the habituation of exploration in the rat recorded over 3 successive days. A more detailed analysis showed that this was not due to any retention deficit, but was secondary to an impairment of habituation within each session. PCPA also disrupted the response of rats to a change of stimuli. (+)amphetamine (4 mg/kg) prevented exploration in the rat and a 2 mg/kg dose reduced exploration and impaired within-session habituation. (+)amphetamine (1 mg/kg) in mice impaired within-session habituation, without significantly reducing exploration. The nature of the deficits produced by these 2 drugs is discussed.


Quipazine-induced head-twitch in mice.

Quipazine-induced head-twitch in mice. Quipazine has been reported to be a direct serotonin receptor agonist. In this laboratory, quipazine produced head-twitch in mice similar to that produced by the serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). Three antiserotonergic drugs (methiothepin, methysergide, and cinanserin) antagonized both the 5-HTP and quipazine-induced head-twitch responses. In addition, the quipazine response was significantly potentiated by a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, pargyline. Since it is not likely that quipazine itself is metabolized by MAO, these results suggested that quipazine might cause release of endogenous serotonin. Parachlorophenylalanine, a serotonin depletor, significantly antagonized the potentiation of quipazine by the MAO inhibitor but failed to antagonize the head-twitch produced by quipazine itself. The present studies suggest that quipazine influences serotonin receptors in the brain to produce head-twitch by two mechanisms of action: (1) by direct serotonin receptor activation, and (2) indirectly by causing a release of endogenous serotonin.


Functional transformation of fast posterior latissimus dorsi muscle by "slow" nerve implanted in newly hatched chickens. 1. Contraction properties and the activity of Ca2+ - ATPase were investigated 2 and 5 to 6 1/2 months after transposition of the fast posterior latissimus dorsi muscle (PLD) to the other side in newly hatched chickens. At the same time the muscle was cross-innervated by the nerve originally supplying the slow anterior latissimus dorsi muscle (ALD). 2. The mean isometric twitch contraction time of these transposed, cross-innervated PLD muscles in the 2-month-old and 5 to 6 1/2-month-old groups was 61.6 +/- 4.2 msec and 72.5 +/- 10.8 msec respectively. When compared with values obtained in control PLD and ALD muscles (21.9 +/- 0.6 msec and 107.7 +/- 5.6 msec), contraction time was significantly prolonged by this procedure. 3. Ca2+ - ATPase activity was also found to change towards the slow muscle (activity in control PLD was 0.600 micronmoles Pi/mg myosin/min, in the transposed, cross-innervated PLD 0.462 and in control ALD muscle 0.156 respectively). 4. Foreign innervation may thus induce changes in functional and biochemical properties even in muscles considerably different in structure and function, if transformation is allowed to take place at a sufficiently early stage of development. The muscle transposition itself, by introducing the element of muscle dedifferentiation and regeneration, probably assists the transformation process by making the muscle more plastic to the neural influences.


Development of spontaneous motility in chick embryos. Interaction of strychnine, glycine and GABA. The interaction of strychnine (1 mg/kg egg weight), glycine (100 mg/kg egg weight) and GABA (103 mg/kg egg weight) on spontaneous motor activity recorded by the method of Kovach (1970) in intact eggs was studied in chick embryos from the 11th to 21st day of incubation. In 11- and 13-day embryos, neither of the amino acids influenced strychnine activation of spontaneous motility. From the 15th incubation day, strychnine activation was distinctly affected by both amino acids, but the maximum effect was observed on the 19th day. Glycine had a stronger inhibitory effect, since it prevented strychnine convulsions from developing, whereas GABA only modified them. It can be concluded from the results that glycine-sensitive and GABA-sensitive mechanisms of embryonal spontaneous motility do not begin to take effect in chick embryos until the 15th day of incubation.


Release of free fatty acids by the rat kidney. The authors studied the release of free fatty acids (FFA) by the rat kidney cortex. They found that the kidney cortex released FFA into the incubation medium like adipose tissue. The presence of Ca2+ ions did not affect FFA release. Glucose significantly inhibited it. It was further shown that the kidney cortex is sensitive to the akipokinetic action of adrenaline and the antilipolytic action of insulin, in the same way as adipose tissue. It is concluded from the results that the kidney cortex has a lipolytic system which seems to be subject to higher hormonal regulatory mechanisms.


Effect of interaction of oestrogen, testosterone and thyroid hormones on the serum ceruloplasmin level in rats. Male rats were given oestradiol benzoate (1 mg as an aquaeous microcrystal suspension i.m. twice a week), testosterone isobutyrate (0.5 mg as an aquaeous microcrystal suspension i.m. once a week) and dried thyroid (Thyreoidin SPOFA, 0.2% in food), alone or variously combined. Oestradiol raised adenohypophyseal weight, the binding capacity of the adenohypophyseal proteins for thyroxine and the serum ceruloplasmin level. Testosterone and Thyreoidin inhibited all three of these reactions, but when they were administered together there was no summation of their inhibitory action. The nature of the relationships between the three given proteosynthetic reactions is discussed.


The effect of acetyldexphenmetrazine and dexphenmetrazine on the susceptibility to audiogenic seizures in mice. The antiepileptic effect of dexphenmetrazine (DP) and acetyldexphenmetrazine (ADP) was tested on audiogenic seizures in a 100% susceptible strain of mice. DP had no antiepileptic effect, however, it markedly suppressed the postparoxysmal motor inhibition. ADP had a distinct anticonvulsive effect--it suppressed the convulsive component of the seizure, leaving its running component unaffected. The results are compared with the effect of both drugs on electrographic epileptic phenomena in the turtle brain (Servít and Strejcková 1976).


The effect of dexphenmetrazine and acetyldexphenmetrazine upon epileptic electrographic activities in the brain of the turtle. The effect of acetyldexphenmetrazine (ADP) and dexphenmetrazine (DP) on normal and epileptic electrographic activities in the cortical and thalamic structures of the turtle brain were studied in curarized and artificially ventilated animals. Both drugs almost exclusively influenced cortical activities. The effect of low doses of ADP and DP was similar--they desynchronized cortical activity and suppressed the activity of a cortical penicillin focus. They also elevated the cortical response to optic stimuli. Higher doses of ADP continued to suppress both normal and epileptic cortical activities. Higher doses of DP had a two phase effect with enhancement of epileptic activity in the first phase. Continuous trains of theta activity appeared after low doses of ADP and very often after both low and high doses of DP. The findings are discussed in terms of comparative physiology of the brain.


Localization of intraspinal longitudinal systems participating in the spreading of viscerosomatic activity. In experiments on the cats the relationship was studied of individual columns of the spinal cord to irradiation of the early (propriospinal) and late component of viscerosomatic reflex responses. It was found that the intraspinal systems involved in the descending spread of activity forming the early and the late component of the splanchnic response along the spinal cord were localized mainly in the anterolateral quadrants of the white matter. The descending systems are bilateral and cross at the segmental level. The pathways participating in the spread of the two-component somatomotor discharge evoked by intercostal nerve stimulation are localized in the same area. A bilateral lesion of the dorsal part of the lateral columns of segments C1 to C3 strongly inhibited the late component of the reflex responses. Inhibition was reversible, showing that systems modifying the development and course of the late component are localized in this region. Lesion-induced changes in viscerosomatic reflex responses were parallel with changes in somatomotor discharges. This finding supports the opinion that the pathways involved are localized close together and that their action is modified by similar factors.


Hypoglycaemia and food intake in rats given graduated doses of insulin. Hypoglycaemia of varying duration was induced with graduated doses of long-acting insulin (10, 40 and 160 U/kg b.w.) in young, growing (8- to 10-week-old) male Wistar rats fed ad libitum on two different diets. In all, 6 doses of insulin were administered, at 48-hour intervals. The blood glucose level and food consumption were determined 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after injecting the insulin. Both the hypoglycaemic effect and elevated food intake during hypoglycaemia depended on the dose of insulin and not on the type of diet. Total food consumption during the experiment (12 days) was markedly raised only in the groups given the maximum dose of insulin (160 U/kg b.w.). The weight gain in all the experimental groups was lower than in the control groups and food consumption per weight gain unit was higher.