Direct determination of local oxygen consumption of the brain cortex in vivo. A method is described to determine local oxygen consumption quantitatively in the brain cortex under in vivo conditions. Local oxygen consumption is calculated from the slope of local tissue PO2 decrease during a few seconds of total ischemia of the brain for each second after the stop of circulation. The decrease of tissue PO2 is recorded simultaneously at several measuring sites. To be independent of oxygen chemically bound to hemoglobin, tissue PO2 values are raised above 100 Torr. The calculation of local oxygen consumption for each second during the short period of ischemia showed that the O2 consumption remains constant only for a few seconds ranging from 5 to maximally 15 s at different locations. The O2 consumption decreases continuously although the tissue PO2 values are still above the full saturation of hemoglobin. The rate of local oxygen consumption varies considerably at different measuring sites of the superficial layers of the brain cortex (cat). The mean value amounts to 3 +/- 1.5 ml O2/100 g tissue and minute.


Exercise induced augmentation of myocardial oxygen extraction in spite of normal coronary dilatory capacity in dogs. Myocardial O2-extraction rate was studied during exercise induced augmentation of cardiac work in dogs. The O2-extraction rate at rest was 75% of arterial content. Progressive levels of exercise increased the animals' O2-consumption from 7 ml/min-kg up to 91 ml/min-kg. Cardiac output rose from 108 ml/min-kg at rest to 484 ml/min-kg at the highest exercise level. The increase in myocardial O2-consumption from 9 ml/min-100 g at rest up to 57 ml/min-100g at the highest exercise level was met by an increase in coronary flow from 59 to 256 ml/min-100 g and a rise of myocardial AVDO2 from 15 to 22 Vol%. Thus the latter contributed 40% to the augmented myocardial O2-requirements. Coronary venous O2-saturation decreased to 9% saturation during highest levels of exercise. This low value was not the result of a limited coronary dilatory capacity, of inadequate state of exercise training, or of a relative underperfusion of the inner layers of the left ventricle. Thus, augmentation of myocardial O2-extraction rate seems to be a mechanism of physiological relevance during exercise induced elevation of myocardial O2-requirements in dogs and may be explained by capillary recruitment in the myocardium.


Calcium-dependent increase in efflux of [1-3H] taurine from the superfused rat cerebellar cortex in vivo. High (40 mM) potassium stimulation has been shown to increase the efflux in vivo of [1-3H] taurine from the superfused rat cerebellar cortex by 46%, P less than 0.001. During superfusion with calcium-free media this increase in efflux is abolished. The cellular location of [1-3H] taurine in the cerebellar cortex is not yet known, but this region of the brain contains exceptionally high levels of endogenous taurine. The calcium dependency of the release of labelled taurine raises the possibility that taurine has some neuro-humoral role in the cerebellar cortex.


Time course of anoxia-induced K+ concentration changes in the cochlea measured with K+ specific microelectrodes. The endocochlear potential (EP), potassium concentration in the endolymph (Ke+) and in the perilymph (Kp+) were measured in guinea-pigs during anoxia of different duration. Specific K+ double-barrel microelectrodes with liquid ion exchanger were used. The resting K+ concentration in the endolymph was 146.8 +/- 9.2 mM and in the perilymph 3.2 +/- 0.5 mM. The following time course of events was observed in the cochlea during anoxia: 40-50 s after the arrest of ventilation the K+ concentration decreased by 0.1-0.2 mM in the scala vestibuli, which was time related to a rapid fall of EP to negative values. Perilymphatic K+ started to increase in both scalae with a latency of 2-2.5 min, reaching a concentration of about 14 mM 60 min after the arrest of ventilation. The endolymphatic K+ began to decrease after a latency of 2.5-3 min, and 60 min after the arrest of ventilation an 80% concentration (average 112 mM K+) was reached as compared to the initial value. From the comparison of K+ concentration changes with the experimental values of the negative EP, it may be assumed that the negative EP is mainly generated by the K+ gradient between the perilymph and endolymph.


The effect of indomethacin on kidney function: indomethacin and furosemide antagonism. The effect of furosemide and indomethacin on renal function was investigated in anesthetized dogs. 1. On infusing 0.05 mg/kg/min furosemide directly into the left renal artery, about 18% of the filtered water and 19% of the filtered sodium was excreted in both non-hydrated and hydrated dogs. 2. Under the effect of 0.1 mg/kg/min indomethacin administered intravenously renal blood flow decreased markedly, glomerular filtration rate remained unchanged, the filtration fraction increased. 3. Indomethacin induced a decrease in water and sodium rejection and water and sodium excretion in both the hydrated and non-hydrated animals. 4. Indomethacin inhibited the diuretic effect of furosemide in the non-hydrated animals. This effect was much weaker in the hydrated group. These data suggest that in the anesthetized dog, endogenous prostaglandins may serve to maintain renal blood flow but not glomerular filtration rate. It is concluded that the indomethacin-induced inhibition of the furosemide effect is the consequence of hemodynamic changes occurring in the kidney. The data do not support the direct physiological role of prostaglandins in regulating tubular function.


Facilitated diffusion in a tissue cylinder with an anoxic region. When the diffusion of oxygen is facilitated by myoglobin this diffusional transport can adequately supply oxygen required by tissue metabolism over greatly increased distances. Earlier analyses of this phenomenon have considered the rate of reaction between oxygen and myoglobin as infinitely fast. A first-order correction which takes into account the finite rate of reaction involves a reaction boundary layer at the surface where the oxygen enters the tissue, and a second reaction boundary layer around an anoxic region in the tissue when such a region is present. These corrections are calculated for a tissue cylinder and the results obtained are compared with results neglecting the finiteness of the reaction rate. The maximum distance over which facilitated diffusion can supply oxygen is less when the corrections are taken into account. For physiologically relevant parameter values the size of an anoxic region is predicted to be larger by about 15% of the radius of the tissue cylinder.


Micropuncture study of fluid handling in the cat kidney. Superficial proximal and distal tubules of both kidneys of pentobarbital-anesthetized cats, infused with 2.5% (w/v) polyfructosan in Ringer solution at 0.45 ml/min, were micropunctured. Whole one-kidney GFR average 4.1 ml/min. SNGFR averaged 15 nl/min in 51 determinations and was proportional to whole-kidney GFR in individual cats. Absolute fluid reabsorption along the length of the accessible portion of the proximal tubule was 1.6 nl/min.mm. The length of the whole proximal tubule was 6 mm as measured from the glomerulum to the descending thin limb of Henle's loop. The length of the distal tubule was 3.5 mm from the macula densa to the first branching of the collecting duct. Proximal fluid was isoosmolar with plasma whereas fluid entering the distal tubule was markedly hyposmolar. Late distal tubular fluid samples were also isosmolar. The cat appears to be well suited for micropuncture experiments in terms of freedom from respiratory movements and the presence of surface distal tubules.


The effect of motilin on the electrical activity of rabbit circular duodenal muscle. The effect of 13-norleucine motilin on electrical activity and membrane resistance of the rabbit circular duodenal muscle was studied with intracellular recording techniques. Electrical slow waves without spikes occurred in Krebs solution made twice hypertonic by addition of sucrose. The slow waves were basic organ specific type rhythm (BOR). Their mean frequency was 18.1.min-1, the mean amplitude from trough to peak was 11.4 mV and mean membrane potential during the trough was -59.1 mV. Motilin (1.10(-7) g/ml) had the following effects: (1) The membrane depolarized by a mean of 10.9 mV. (2) Membrane resistance was reduced. (3) The BOR slow waves were either reduced or abolished. (4) Slow fluctuations of membrane potential characteristic of a minute-type rhythm (MR) appeared. (5) Trains of spikes occurred at the crests of the MR and were associated with contraction of the muscle.


The early phase of experimental acute renal failure. II. tubular leakage and the reliability of glomerular markers. Experiments were designed to determine whether leakage of substances across the tubular epithelium, which are impermeant in the normal kidney, falsifies the measurement of glomerular filtration rate in acute renal failure. Permeability to those substances most commonly used for filtration rate determination, polyfructosan, inulin and ferrocyanide, was estimated by measuring their recoveries following perfusion through various nephron segments in haeme pigment, ischaemic and nephrotoxic models of acute renal failure. Late proximal recovery of 14C ferrocyanide was only marginally decreased compared to controls, by a maximum of 6%. Distal recovery of polyfructosan, 14C and 3H inulin were depressed somewhat more, by a maximum of 11%. Urinary recovery of 14C inulin was reduced by only 15% in kidneys showing severely restricted renal function. It is concluded that tubular leakage is not a feature of significance in the early phase of moderate acute renal failure, that ferrocyanide and inulin are reliable markers for the determination of nephron filtration rate and water reabsorption, and that the reduction in whole kidney inulin or polyfructosan clearance reflects primarily a reduction in glomerular filtration rate.


Chlorotetracycline induces calcium mediated shape changes in human erythrocytes. Is Ca asymmetrically distributed in the red cell membrane? Calcium was localized in the red cell membrane by light microscopy using chlorotetracycline hydrochloride (CTC) as chelate probe. Treating human erythrocytes with CTC dissolved in saline free of divalent cations, leads to a 530 nm fluorescence emission in the cell border and to characteristic cell shape changes which were evaluated to assess intramembrane calcium distribution. CTC prevented and reverted erythrocyte crenation induced either by washing or superfusing the cells with saline. The ionophore A23187, EGTA and glucose depletion depressed the shape modifying effect of CTC. Thus, CTC appears to act on red cell shape by complex formation with membrane associated calcium. This is further confirmed by the failure of degraded CTC, devoid of metal binding capacity, to modify the crenated shape. The CTC effect can be reverted by superfusing the erythrocytes with CTC-free medium. Thus, calcium binds more tightly to the membrane than to CTC and is not displaced by the antibiotic. If the bilayer couple hypothesis [Sheetz, M.P., Singer, S.J., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 71, 4457-4461 (1974)]applies, crenation is reverted by expansion of the inner membrane half relative to the outer membrane half. Expansion of the inner membrane half results from intercalation of CTC which binds to calcium. Thus, calcium in the red cell membrane preferentially occupies the inner leaflet of the bilayer.


Effect of acute uremia on arginine metabolism and urea and guanidino acid production by perfused rat liver. Since arginine is a precursor of urea and other guanidino derivatives, we have evaluated its metabolism in acute uremia using the isolated perfused rat liver. Female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent bilateral nephrectomy (n = 5) or sham operation (n = 5) 48 h prior to liver perfusion. Fifty microCi of L-[guanidino 14C] arginine and unlabelled arginine and aspartic acid were added to the recycling perfusate 15 min prior to liver perfusion. Perfusate concentrations of urea and other guanidino derivatives were measured with high-pressure liquid chromatography. After the initial 30 min of perfusion, net uptake of arginine was lower, and net release of guanidino-succinic acid (GSA) was higher in the livers of acutely uremic rats. Net release of urea was also higher in uremia but the results did not achieve statistical significance. In uremia, the percent conversion of 14C arginine to 14C urea was significantly higher (79 +/- 5 [SE]%) than in controls (58 +/- 7%). These results demonstrate increased GSA production by livers of acutely uremic rats and suggest that acute uremia may be associated with increased arginine utilization and increased production of urea.


Use of a wedge cuvette in thin layer photometry and its application to oximetry. A wedge cuvette was constructed by fixing 2 glass plates at a known angle with a spacer at one end. This resulted in a thin layer with thickness varying from 0 to 250 micrometer. By measuring the intensity of a beam of light through the thin layer as a function of distance along the wedge (and thus layer thickness), the absorption coefficient at the light wavelength used could be obtained without a separate measurement of I0, the reference light intensity. In addition, the difficult problem of determining accurate layer thickness as encoutered in conventional thin layer photometry has been avoided. Tests of the wedge cuvette method with Evans Blue and Malachite Green serial dilutions as well as with haemoglobin solutions at several oxygen saturations demonstrate that accuracy of the order of 1% can be obtained. Application of the wedge cuvette in experiments on oxygen uptake by layers of haemoglobin solution are discussed.


Reduction by thiopental of the slow-channel-mediated action potential of canine papillary muscle. The negative inotropic effect of thiopental was examined on the canine papillary muscle. The slow-channel-mediated action potential was induced by 5mM of caffeine in high-K (27 mM) Tyrode solution. The drug reduced the slow action potential and the twitch tension, suggesting a reduction in the slow inward current.


Oxygen affinity of hemoglobin in postmenopausal women. In a group of 12 postmenopausal women the P50-value (i.e. half saturation tension of oxygen) and other parameters of the red blood count were determined and compared with values of a male group of the same age. A small but significant difference could be found between the hematocrit values but no other values differed. In particular, the sex difference in oxygen affinity reported earlier does not exist in men and women on this age group.


Capnostat and oxystat. Electronic devices to automatically maintain the end-tidal PCO2 and PO2 of a subject connected to a closed respiratory circuit at adjustable levels. In respiratory physiology it is often desirable to maintain the end-tidal PCO2 and PO2 at adjustable levels independent of each other, e.g., when taking steady-state CO2 or O2 response curves, or when studying the ventilatory effects of exercise or drugs at constant levels of PCO2 and PO2. Based on the closed respiratory circuit described by Folgering et al. (1974), a new version was designed. The main new features of this version are that end-tidal PO2 instead of inspiratory PO2 can be kept constant, and that the correcting activity of both controllers (capnostat and oxystat) is proportional to the magnitude of the difference between the actual and the adjusted end-tidal PCO2 or PO2. An optic as well as an acoustic alarm is provided and will be switched on whenever no end-tidal PO2 is detected for an adjustable time.


[Rabbit testosterone-binding globulin and its use in concurrent protein-binding analysis]. The existence of testosterone-binding globulin (TBC) homogeneous by the association constant (of the 10(8) M-1 order) and sedimentation characteristics (sedimentation coefficient--4S) was demonstrated in various groups of rabbits (mature males and females, pregnant females and fetuses, immature males). The level of the TBG binding capacity failed to show any marked differences in all the ontogenetic groups. The TBG level was rather close in the rabbit mother and fetus. Estradiol, estron, progesterone, cortizol possessed no affinity to this protein. Dehydrotestosterone affinity was about three times greater than that of testosterone. When TBG was used in the competitive protein-binding analysis of testosterone and other protein-bound androgens in the blood plasma of men, women and rabbits (male and female) there were obtained results coinciding with those of other authors. This permitted to recommend TBG for wide practical use in the competitive protein-binding analysis.


Short- and long-term effects of intraventricular 6-hydroxydopamine in rats pretreated with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Bilateral intraventricular injections of high dose (2 X 250 microgram) of 6-hydroxydopamine to rats pretreated with nialamide produced a pronounced hyperactivity persisting for several hours and induced permanent aggressiveness. Only 50% rat survived the treatment for longer than a week, the explorative activity of the survivors was inhibited for over 2 months. The brain catecholamine content was depressed for at least 15 months, while no long-term changes of serotonin level were observed. The hyperactivity, aggressiveness and hypothermia produced by apomorphine were enhanced in centrally chemosympathectomized rats, while the hyperactivity produced by D-amphetamine or amantadine remained inaffected. The results confirm the development of dopamine receptor supersensitivity following central chemosympathectomy, and indicate a possibility of employing the supersensitivity model for distinguishing between pre- and postsynaptic action of dopaminergic stimulants.


Effect of prostaglandin A1 infusion in hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis. Clinical data, arteriographic findings, peripheral and renal vein plasma renin activity (PRA) studies and responses to prostaglandin A1 infusion are presented from observations in seven hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis. PGA1 infusion caused an increase in PRA and urine sodium excretion but no significant change in blood pressure. Exaggerated increases in PRA were observed in five patients. With cessation of PGA1 infusion PRA returned toward pre-infusion levels. In two patients bilateral renal and peripheral vein PRA's were determined before and during PGA1 infusion. PGA1 caused a greater increase in renal vein PRA than in peripheral vein PRA indicating a direct enhancement of renin secretion. These studies indicate possible relationships between the vasoactive prostaglandins and the renin-angiotensin system in the pathogenesis of hypertension due to renal artery stenosis.


A study of prostaglandin F2alpha as the luteolysin in swine: III effects of estradiol valerate on prostaglandin F, progestins, estrone and estradiol concentrations in the utero-ovarian vein of nonpregnant gilts. Polyvinyl catheters were placed into the right and left utero-ovarian veins and saphenous vein and artery of three control (C) and four estradiol valerate (EV) treated gilts on Day 9 after onset of estrus. The EV treated gilts received 5mg EV/day on Days 11 through 15 after onset of estrus. On Days 12 through 17 utero-ovarian vein blood samples were collected at 15 min intervals from 0700 to 1000 hr and 1900 to 2200 hr and single samples were taken at 1100 and 2300 hr. Peripheral blood samples (saphenous vein or artery) were taken at 0700, 1100, 1900 and 2300 hr from Day 12 until the control gilts returned to estrus or until Day 25 for EV treated gilts and used to measure plasma steroid hormone concentrations. Utero-ovarian vein prostaglandin F (gf) concentrations (ng/ml, n-1,177) were measured by RIA. Status (control vs EV treated gilts) by day interactions were detected (P=.10). Curvilinear day trends were detected for plasma PGF concentrations in control (P less than .01) but not EV treated gilts. PGF concentrations (X +/- S.D.) for control and EV treated gilts were 1.20 +/- 2.08 and .26 +/- .84 ng/ml, respectively. PGF peaks (concentrations greater than X + 2 S.D.) occurred with greater frequency in control gilts (X2 =4.87; P less than .05). The interestrus interval (X +/- S.E.) for control and treated gilts was 19.0 +/- .6 and 146.5 +/- 74.8 days, respectively. Data indicate tht t estradiol valerate may exert its luteotrophic effect by preventing PGF release from the uterus.


Bone cells: a serum-free medium supports proliferation in primary culture. Bone-cells isolated from embryonic rat calvaria increase in number two-to threefold when cultured at high, but not at low, population densities in a serum-free medium that contains albumin. Cultured cells respond to parathyroid hormone and exhibit a marked rise in alkaline phosphatase activity during proliferation, which suggests the progressive differentiation or preferential growth of osteoblast-like cells.


Adiaspiromycosis in Czechoslovakian mammals. The examination of 46 mammalian species in Czechoslovakia revealed adiaspiromycosis caused by the Emmonsia crescens in 22 species of free living animals; E. parva was the etiological agent in 3 species. The disease was most frequently found in carnivores of the family Mustelidae.


Colonization of hospitalized patients with yeast-like organisms. The pharyngeal, fecal and skin carrier rates of yeast-like organisms was determined in 126 patients on the day of admission to a larger Veterans Administration Hospital. None of these patients had been hospitalized or received anti-microbial agents during the previous year Candida and Torulopsis species were most common. A small percentage of patients were carriers of various species belonging to the genera Trichosporon, Rhodotorula, Saccharomyces, Leucosporidium and Endomycopsis. Fifty of the original 126 patients remained hospitalized for a sufficient duration to permit repeat cultures on days 7 and 14. Twenty-five of these patients served as controls and did not receive antibiotics; the other 25 received at least a 4-day course of antibiotic therapy for an underlying infection. Although there was no significant difference in the carrier rates in these 2 groups, organisms other than Candida continued to be isolated from the 50 patients who remained hospitalized for 2 weeks.


Somatic cell genetic assignment of the human gene for mitochondrial NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase to the long arm of chromosome 15. A double-immunodiffusion method has been developed to detect human mitochondrial NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.42; designated as IDH-2) using rabbit antiserum against the relevant enzyme. The method allows one to distinguish human IDH-2 from its mouse counterpart in extracts from human-mouse somatic cell hybrids. A correlation was found between the expression of human IDH-2 and the presence of human chromosome 15 in a "panel" of eight independent hybrid clones. Analysis of human marker enzymes for 37 different clones revealed a syntenic relationship between IDH-2 and mannose phosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.8; MPI), which has been assigned to chromosome 15 (1). These results permit the assignment of the structural gene for human IDH-2 to human chromosome 15. IDH-2 and human cytoplasmic IDH (IDH-1) were found to be asyntenic. Evidence from hybrid clones carrying a human X/15 translocation chromosome indicates that the human IDH-2 gene can be localized to the q11-qter region of chromosome 15.


Mitotic segregation of cytoplasmic determinants for chloramphenicol resistance in mammalian cells. I: Fusion with mouse cell lines. The segregation of cytoplasmically inherited chloramphenicol (CAP) resistance in mouse cells was investigated in fusions between CAP-resistant cells or cytoplasts (enucleated cells) and CAP-sensitive cells of varying tissue origin. All hybrids formed in cell-cell fusions were initially CAP-resistant, indicating that CAP resistance is dominant. Hybrids from fusions of cells of the same tissue origin (homologous) were stably CAP-resistant, whereas the hybrid population from fusions of different origins (heterologous) showed a rapid diminution of average CAP resistance. Individual hybrid clones from these heterologous fusions also showed an overall loss of CAP resistance, and a wide variation in CAP resistance which is consistent with a large number of genetic determinants (possibly mitochondrial DNA molecules) contributing to the CAP phenotype. Similar results were obtained from cytoplast-cell fusions, so the observed CAP segregation is not the result of nuclear-nuclear interactions. This segregation of CAP resistance constitutes a second criterion of cytoplasmic inheritance in mammalian cells.


Intrachromosomal gene mapping in man: the gene for tryptophyl-tRNA synthetase maps in region q21 leads to qter of chromosome 14. A gene for tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.2), the enzyme which attaches tryptophan to its tRNA, has previously been assigned to human chromosome 14 by analysis of man-mouse somatic cell hybrids. We report here a method for the electrophoretic separation of Chinese hamster and human tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetases and its application to a series of independently derived Chinese hamster-human hybrids in which part of the human chromosome 14 has been translocated to the human X chromosome. When this derivative der (X),t(X;14) (Xqter leads to Xp22::14q21 leads to 14qter) chromosome carrying the human gene for hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase was selected for and against in cell hybrid lines by the appropriate selective conditions, the human tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase activity was found to segregate concordantly. These results provide additional confirmation for the assignment of the tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase gene to human chromosome 14 and define its intrachromosomal location in the region 14q21 leads to 14qter. Our findings indicate that the genes for tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase and for ribosomal RNA are not closely linked on chromosome 14.


Biochemical genetics of Chinese hamster cell mutants with deviant purine metabolism: characterization of Chinese hamster cell mutants defective in phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase and phosphoribosylglycinamide synthetase and an examination of alternatives to the first step of purine biosynthesis. Activities of the first three enzymes in the de novo purine biosynthetic pathway have been measured in cell-free extracts of the Chinese hamster ovary cell (CHO-K1) and two purine-requiring auxotrophs of this cell. Ade-A has been found to be defective in phosphoribosylpryophosphate (PRPP) amidotransferase while Ade-C has been found to be defective in glycinamide ribonucleotide (GAR) synthetase. Neither enzyme deficiency is due to the presence of an excess of diffusible inhibitor, and mixed extracts of Ade-A and Ade-C are capable of performing both enzymatic steps in a coupled assay. Assays of GAR formyltransferase show that it is present in Ade-A and Ade-C, indicating that these cell types are defective in only one enzyme each of the early purine biosynthetic enzymes. Using the Ade-A mutant, analysis of alternatives to PRPP plus glutamine as substrates for the first step in the purine biosynthetic pathway showed that a common genetic unit must direct the synthesis for both PRPP plus glutamine and PRPP plus ammonia activities. Although ribose-5-phosphate plus ammonia can be used in cell-free extracts to perform the first step in purine biosynthesis, it is shown that this activity is apparently not used by intact CHO-K1 cells.


Localization of acid phosphatase in microfilariae of Loa loa and Dipetalonema perstans from Cameroun. The histochemical pattern of acid phosphatase activity in the microfilaria of L. loa showed a diffuse red staining all over the body, with conspicuous staining of the excretory and anal vesicles, Innenkörper, amphids and phasmids. In D. perstans, the enzymatic activity was localized chiefly in four regions corresponding to the excretory and anal vesicles, amphids and phasmids of the microfilariae. A considerable loss of enzyme activity was observed in microfilariae that had been stored in a refrigerator for somedays prior to their fixation.


[Phenols as toxic metabolites of benz(a)pyrene]. The effect of benzo(a)pyrene and two its phenolic metabolites 3-hydroxybenzo(a)-pyrene and 6-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene--on the cultures of normal and transformed fibroblasts has been studied. In was shown that unlike the parent carcinogen its phenolic metabolites exerted only toxic (but not transforming) effect on cultured cells, and this effect has been developed at a faster rate than that produced by benzo(a)pyrene. 6-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene was more toxic than 3-hydroxybenzo(a) pyrene. It was concluded that both metabolites produced their effects without preliminary activation by microsomal enzymes.


[Septic shock in the urologic patient. III. Microbiological problems (author's transl)]. From a microbiological point of view, the onset of septicemia in urology is related mainly to nosocomial germs; germs acquired outside of the hospital play a lesser role. The special problems caused by this kind of germ are analyzed in terms of our own cases. The limulus test as a possible method for the early diagnosis of gram negative septicemia is discussed critically. Chemotherapy as well as prophylactic measures is discussed.


Intraurethral thrombosed varix: unusual cause for hematuria. A case of an intraurethral thrombosed vein as a cause for painless hematuria is presented. In contrast to previous reports, the thrombosed varix was located in the midurethra rather than at the urethral meatus. The necessity for biopsy to differentiate from tumor is emphasized.


Premature ejaculation: new electrophysiologic approach. A new diagnostic investigation for premature ejaculation is described. Although the neurophysiologic basis of the test is unknown, it could be a good method for differentiating organic from psychologic ejaculatory dysfunction.


[New findings in the epidemiology of viral hepatitis]. At present there is not yet a causal therapy of hepatitis. The modern state of knowledge on the mode of transfer, on the persistence of the causative organisms and the immunological reactions evoked by the causative organisms gives the possibility for new ways in prevention. The HBs Ag-carriers are a reservoir of causative organisms in the sense of chronic carriers. In a particular degree they endanger the personnel of public health. A supplementation of the general hygienic preventive measures by the immunoprophylaxis is desirable.


A new group of mitogenic lectins from invertebrate sources. In the haemolymph of the Tridacnid bivalve clams anti-galactans occur which do not have only glycosubstance precipitating and cell agglutinating properties, but also show mitogenic activity with respect to the blast transformation of human peripheral lymphocytes. This new property can be inhibited in a specific way by galactans and is destroyed by the degradation of the mitogenic lectin into subunits by polymer bound pronase. Quite a number of invertebrate haemolymph samples and snail albumin gland extracts, containing agglutinin activity, proved to have no mitogenic potency. The only exception was found in an extract of the snail albumin gland of Ampullaria canaliculata which contained a strong mitogen of the lectin type.


Immunofluorescent localization of thyroglobulin--autoantibody producing cells in various organs of obese strain (OS) chickens. The Obese strain (OS) of White Leghorn chickens develops a spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis with circulating thyroglobulin-autoantibodies (Tg-AAb) similar to human Hashimoto thyroiditis. The paper describes attempts to localize the site of Tg-AAb production in various organs of these animals using the immunofluorescence method. Tg-AAb producing plasma cells and germinal centers could be detected in the infiltrated thyroid glands but not in spleen, bone marrow, coecal tonsils, thymus, bursa of Fabricius and Harderian glands.


[Effect of a therapeutic and prophylactic diet enriched with thiamine and calcium pantothenate on the acetylating capacity of the body of workers engaged in the manufacture of phenol-formaldehyde resins]. The present investigation uncovered certain changes in the intensity of the acetylating processes, in the blood and urine levels of the pyruvic acid and in the urinary excretion of thiamine in a number of persons engaged in the production of phenol-formaldehyde resins. An enrichment of medico-prophylactic ration No 4 with thiamine and calcium pantothenate led to normalization of the study characteristics. The results thus made available bear proof to the prophylactic effectiveness of a supplementary vitaminization of the special diet accorded to workers handling phenol-formaldehyde resins.


[Parent structures of influenza virus in infected cells]. The fate of influenza virus (A/FPV/Weilbridge) parental structures was studied in permissive (chick fibroblasts) and nonpermissive (Ehrlich ascitic carcinoma cells) cell systems. The cells were infected with the virus labeled with 3H-precursors of RNA of the pulse label and by polymerase reaction in vitro. In the cytoplasm, the functionally active parental structures were found in the area of nucleocapsids (40-50 S). Upon recentrifugation in cesium chloride gradient, some of these structures showed nucleocapsid density of 1.34 g/cm3, and some a higher density (1.40-1.41 g/cm3). In the nucleoplasm, the functionally active structures 2 hours after infection sedimented in the zones of 20-35 S and 3 hours postinfection in the zone of 70-90 S. Both in the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm the parental structures were unstable, undergoing rapid deproteinization. Similar parental structures were found in permissive and nonpermissive cell systems.


Social organization and mating success in local song populations of village indigobirds, Vidua chalybeata. Behavioral interactions among color-marked individual Vidua chalybeata that shared common song dialects were observed for 5 years in two populations at Lochinvar National Park, Zambia. Social interactions involved males visiting and competing for mating sites and female visiting male in an apparent sampling of potential copulating partners. Differences in mating success among the polygynous males were compared with male behavior and territory resources, and criteria were developed to test the importance of intrasexual male competition and female mate choice in explaining the mating system of the populations. Song behavior best explained differences in mating success of males, with lesser effects of neighboring males and the defensible resources around the call-sites. The social organization of song populations resembles that of a dispersed lek with females visiting many males but mating with few males. We discuss the observations on indigobirds in relation to behavioral selection, sexual selection, and mating systems. Mating systems of certain populations and species are compared using statistics of individual mating success.


[Ontogeny and function of rank order in a sibling group of greylag geese (Anser anser L.)]. Between the siblings of a family of greylag geese (Anser anser L.) a rank order is established by fighting during the first days after hatching, and also by other, more complex interactions. The position of each goose in the rank order can be defined by three groups of behaviour patterns (aggressive behaviour, "greetings", escape responses). A clear-cut ranking relation between two individuals is a prerequisite for their close cohesion. The survival function of rank order lies in diminishing the intensity and frequency of agonistic interactions, in diminishing social stress situations and in guaranteeing the close family cohesion.


[Antibody formation during use of heterologous trypsin]. A five-fold administration to Wistar rats of crystalline bovine trypsin in a dose of 0.01 mg per 100 g of body weight stimulated formation of rosette forming cells (RFC) and antibody forming cells (AFC) in the spleen in injection of the antigen 2 hours after the termination of trypsin treatment, but failed to influence the immune response in case of immunization 48 hours after the terminal injection of the enzyme. The blood serum of rats, obtained 2 hours after the last trypsin injection stimulated in passive homologous transfer the RFC and the AFC formation and also accelerated tha antibody production. As to serum obtained 48 hours after the termination of trypsinization, it had no effect on the development of the immunological response.


[Disorder of selectivity in the structure of speech behavior in schizophrenic patients]. The author considers disturbances of 2 types of speech activity--processes of identification of speech stimuli and speech reproduction, associated with the change of the factor of selective actualization that is determined by the past experience in schizophrenic patients. The expressiveness of speech pathology was different and it was determined by the role and significance of this factor in the structure of the studied processes. The obtained data point to a special type of disturbances of speech activity, and it associates with the change of one of the forms of determination of the selectivity of speech processes.


Functional role of an adrenergic sphincter in the female urethra of the guinea-pig. By means of a microtransducer catheter, the urethral pressure profile was recorded in female guinea-pigs. The maximum urethral pressure averaged 24 mmHg (range 18-27 mmHg) and was found 4 to 7 mm from the vesico-urethral junction. Fluorescence microscopy of the urethra showed an irregular distribution of fluorescent nerve terminals in the most proximal part of the organ. In a distal direction, there was a continuous increase in the number of adrenergic nerves, with a maximum 4 to 6 mm from the internal meatus, corresponding to the maximum intraurethral pressure point. In this region, a dense plexus of nerves supplied thick muscle coats of smooth muscle having an outer circular and an inner longitudinal orientation. The findings suggest that a specific region of the female guinea-pig urethra may serve as an "internal sphincter".


Infravesical nerve resection for detrusor dyssynergia. The Ingelman-Sundberg operation. In 1959 a paper was published in Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand (38:487, 1959) by Axel Ingelman-Sundberg (1) entitled "Partial Denervation of the Bladder--a new operation for the treatment of Urge Incontinence and similar conditions in women". The basis for the operation was stated in the initial sentence: "The function of an autonomous neurogenic bladder is usually superior to that of a neurogenic bladder, where higher centers are still partially in function." His operation consisted of transection of the preganglionic pelvic nerves near the inferior surface of the bladder and involved division of both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nerves.


Variations in plasma steroid and prostaglandin concentrations during human pregnancy. Radioimmunoassay of sex steroids and prostaglandins was performed on plasma obtained from 10 uncomplicated primigravid subjects at a stated time of the day at varying stages of gestation. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), oestrone and oestriol concentrations reached a peak a few weeks before term and then declined. Progesterine, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and oestradiol increased during pregnancy particularly after 32 weeks. In two normal patients repeated blood samples were taken throughout the day at weekly intervals in late pregnancy for sex steroid assays to evaluate the variation of concentrations with the time of sampling and the significance of changes in mean concentrations of different steroids with approaching parturition. Marked variability was found in the levels of different steroids during the day. Plasma oestriol values were lowest at 8.00 a.m. in one patient sampled frequently. A marked decrease in oestriol, oestrone, oestradiol and 17-hydroxyprogesterone was found in one patient prior to the onset of spontaneous labour. In another subject there was no decrease in concentrations of oestrogens or progestogens prior to induction of labour at term.


Intra-urethral and intra-vesical pressure in continent women. Two age-groups of continent women were examined regarding the pressures in the urethra and the bladder, using a standardized recording technique with a microtransducer catheter elaborated in 1974 by Ulmsten-Asmussen. The two groups of women (mean age 28 and 54 years respectively) were examined concerning their urethral pressure profile at every 100 ml bladder filling until the maximal bladder capacity had been reached. The functional length of the urethra and the bladder pressure were the same for all women but the maximal urethral pressure decreased significantly with age (mean 61.5 and 39 mmHg in the two groups respectively). At increasing bladder filling only the younger group was able to respond with an increase in the maximal urethral pressure. The bladder volume at which severe tenesmi occurred was significantly higher in the elderly group.


Cyclic and steroid-induced changes in adrenergic neurotransmitter level of guinea-pig uterus. The uterine neurotransmitter, noradren,line, was examined histochemically and fluorometrically in guinea-pigs during the estrous cycle and after pretreatment with sex steroids. In diestrous animals noradrenaline values were higher than in the estrous state. Treatment with estradiol or progesterone alone did not markedly influence the level of uterine adrenergic transmitter, whereas combined estradiol and progesterone administration caused a clear-cut reduction in uterine noradrenaline. The quantitative changes in transmitter level did not reflect the marked alterations in weight during the various experimental conditions, and even inverse noradrenaline-weight relationships were observed. The findings offer further support for the concept of a steroid-mediated influence on uterine neurotransmission, where the uterine adrenergic nerves constitute a separate target for endocrine control, distinct from the rest of the uterus.


Urethral pressure profile before, during and after pubococcygeal repair for stress incontinence. In two groups of women the urethral pressure profile was recorded using a microtransducer catheter. Both groups were of approximately the same age, one consisting of continent women, the other of women with severe stress incontinence. Sixteen stress incontinent woman were examined before and after pubococcygeal repair and 10 of these were also examined during the operation. The two groups were compared for differences in the urethral pressure profile in the continent and incontinent states. The stress incontinent women had a significantly shorter functional length of the urethra (10 mm) but the same maximal urethral pressure as continent women. Remarkable changes in these parameters were seen during the operation. However, at the examination 3 months postoperatively, they had totally disappeared. The only change in the urethral pressure profile which persisted after the operation was a higher pressure in the proximal part of the urethra so that a urethral maximal pressure plateau had been established. This plateau was also seen, on a higher level, in the continent state.


Some methodiological aspects on the measurement of intraluminal pressures in the female urogenital tract in vivo. This short survey presents some methodological aspects on intraluminal pressure recordings in vivo from the female urogenital tract. The importance of adequate calibration is stressed and a calibration unit for different types of recording equipments is described. Calculations of measuring errors are outlined. The selection of recording catheters is disucssed from both the theoretical and the practical point of view. Finally some practical aspects are considered on pressure recordings in vivo from the ureter, the bladder, the urethra and the uterus. This discussion is illustrated by pressure diagrams obtained with different recording techniques from the actual organs.


Prediction of success or failure in birth planning: an approach to prevention of individual and family stress. Following the view that individual future time perspective is an outcome of the socialization process, it was hypothesized that good contraceptors would display significantly longer future time extension than poor contraceptors. In a Planned Parenthood agency, 25 subjects from each group, constituting nearly the whole clinic population in these categories for a 3-month period, were given the Future Events Test during their clinic visits. The major hypothesis was confirmed, and also a significant tendency towards viewing future events more negatively was found among the poor contraceptors. Demographic data did not discriminate clearly between the two groups, though the poor contraceptors were somewhat younger and had a somewhat higher weekly family income. Use of personality variables in predicting birth-planning success or failure seems more promising than continued reliance solely on the sociocultural approach. Implications for screening and prevention in the interest of the individual, the family, and the community are discussed.


Inherited combined deficiency of factor V and factor VIII: report of a case with normal factor VIII antigen and ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation. A patient with inherited combined deficiency of factor V and factor VIII is reported, who demonstrated normal levels of factor VIII antigen and plasma cofactor for ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation. The relationship of this condition to classical hemophilia and von Willebrand's disease is discussed. The data presented suggest that multiple loci on at least 2 chromosomes are necessary for the normal expression of factor VIII activity.


Treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura by exchange transfusion. Three successive patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) were treated by exchange transfusion on a total of 5 occasions in addition to receiving more conventional therapy such as corticosteroids, platelet inhibitors, heparin, and splenectomy. Dramatic relief of symptoms and objective improvement in hematologic values occurred within 24 hours of each exchange. One patient subsequently died of complications resulting from a massive hemorrhage, but in hematologic remission. The remaining 2 are now apparently well. These observations appear to confirm recent reports of a beneficial effect of exchange transfusion in TTP. Although the reason for its effectiveness is not yet known, exchange transfusion may be a highly useful adjunct in the treatment of this disorder and further evaluation of this form of therapy appears warranted.


Free testosterone concentration in serum: a method for determination. Two procedures for quantifying serum levels of testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin (TeBG) have been evaluated. Both procedures utilize indirect methods for assessing the extent of protein-steroid interaction for the purpose of devising a clinically feasible procedure for estimating serum free testosterone. In the first method serum protein concentration was varied by dilution until 50 per cent of steroid binding was obtained at a given concentration of steroid. Dextran-coated charcoal was used for separating TeBG-bound steroid from the unbound fraction. In the second procedure DEAE-cellulose filtration was used to isolate the TeBG-steroid complex for quantitation. Having a sufficiently accurate measure of TeBG levels together with a knowledge of the total endogenous testosterone permitted the estimation of serum free testosterone based on the binding affinities of serum proteins. The preferred DEAE-cellulose filtration method has proved useful for routine clinical evaluation of physiologically effective androgen levels.


Epidermal acantholysis induced in vitro by pemphigus autoantibody. An ultrastructural study. Suprabasilar acantholysis can be produced in organ culture of normal human skin in the presence of pemphigus IgG autoantibody. We have examined this in vitro system by electron microscopy. The earliest ultrastructural changes at 12 hours included widening of the intercellular spaces and disruption of the intercellular cement substance in the nondesmosomal areas. After 24 to 48 hours in culture, the tonofilaments retracted from the cell periphery, desmosomes were lost, and extensive cell surface digitation occurred. By 72 hours, isolated cells without noticeable desmosomes were seen in the suprabasilar areas, whereas basal cells, with intact hemidesmosomes, remained attached to the basal lamina. Control cultures which were grown in the presence of normal IgG or F-10 medium alone did not manifest these changes. The ultrastructural features support the conclusion that the acantholysis produced in this system is similar and probably identical to that of naturally occurring pemphigus.


Idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis in the elderly. In a 24-month period, 27 patients with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS), ages 65-80 years, were observed. Diagnoses were made by echocardiography (24 patients), cardiac catheterization (one patient), and both methods (two patients). The most common symptoms were angina (17 patients), dyspnea (13 patients), and syncope (11 patients). Two patients were asymptomatic, while another complained only of vague retrosternal chest discomfort with exertion. One asymptomatic patient had a completely normal physical examination, but electrocardiography (ECG) demonstrated a pattern of left ventricular hypertrophy. Another patient had an inconsistent apical holosystolic murmur. Two patients had alpha streptococcal endocarditis; neither was known to have pre-existing valvular disease. Fourteen patients had ECG criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Three patients were known to have associated aortic valve disease. The symptoms of IHSS may be nonspecific; asymptomatic patients with and without cardiac murmurs may be observed. Coexisting valvular disease, coronary artery disease, and bacterial endocarditis were documented. Patterns of myocardial infarction on ECG were not seen in these 27 patients.


Ovarian sex cord tumors with annular tubules: an ultrastructural study. The ultrastructural features of two "sex cord tumors with annular tubules" are presented. The findings are compared with the reported fine structure of ovarian and testicular stromal cells and the cells of gonadal stromal neoplasms. The predominant cell in the "sex cord tumor with annular tubules" has some of the ultrastructural features found in gonadal stromal cells of either ovarian or testicular type; however, no Charcot-Bottcher crystals, lamellar bodies, crystalloids of Reinke, abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum or complex plasma membrane interdigitations are observed in the tumor cells to suggest wither Sertoli or Leydig cell origin. The striking similarity between the predominant cell type and granulosa cells, as well as the presence of fibrillary material of the type seen in Call-Exner bodies, suggests a granulosa cell origin for these neoplasms. However, the presence of a sparsely distributed second cell type which closely resembles the dark cells in normal nonluteinized ovarian stroma indicates these tumors may arise from the nonspecialized ovarian stroma.


Ice crystal distortion of formalin-fixed tissues following freezing. The inability of slowly frozen formalin-fixed tissues to reimbibe water normally on thawing accounts for the persistence of extracellular ice crystal spaces in such tissues and renders them useless for diagnostic microscopic examination. This phenomenon may be encountered by the surgical pathologist when tissues obtained for diagnosis are placed in formalin for fixation and the inadvertently frozen. The same type of ice crystal distortion was produced when formalin-fixed tissues were slowly frozen under laboratory conditions. The freezing artifact was not produced when formalin-fixed tissues were frozen in non-formalin-containing aqueous media.


Loss of differentiation features in trypsin separated heart muscle cells. Loss of maturation features is demonstrated for 8-day-old chick embryo heart myocytes, once they have been completely dissociated by trypsin. In support of this statement a total of 65 sections of six isolated cells, fixed while still spherical or during early flattening, were examined under the electron microscope. Trypsin-separated heart muscle cells, even though originating from already differentiated embryonic heart tissue, can therefore in principle be used for differentiation experiments in culture. However, the same cell suspensions also yielded an appreciable quantity of nonisolated cells. In such cell complexes, one can find areas showing well-ordered fibrils and intercalated disks. From 27 sections of a cell pair incidentally transferred into culture undissociated and then fixed while still in the globular state, the fourth and fifth sections, starting from the substrate side of the culture, showed an intercalated disk. Because of its small diameter, this cell complex would hardly have been retainable by a gauze with meshes likely to allow passage of only single cells. Thus the availability of differentiation experiments in culture, starting with already differentiated heart tissue, is restricted to cases where, in a selected territory, each cell has been established without doubt as isolated.


Agonistic behaviour in domestic hens: the influence of housing method and group size. The incidence of agonistic behaviour was recorded over 1 year in laying hens of two strains, housed either in battery cages or in deep-litter pens in groups of either three or six birds. Aggressive head-pecking was more frequent in pens than in cages and in groups of six than in groups of three. Threats were more frequent in pens and in groups of six light-hybrids. Other pecking at the plumage was more common in cages in groups of six and in the light-hybrid than in the medium-hybrid strain. Observations showed that hens occupy a considerable area when engaging in threat displays: this suggests that the physical restraint of crowding may play an important part in limiting this behaviour. Two reasons for the reduction of aggressive head pecking in caged birds were suggested: firstly, inhibition of the subordinate hens' behaviour because they were constantly in the sphere of influence of the dominant bird and secondly, because agonistic encounters may be triggered only by the entry of other birds into an individual's 'personal space' and not by continuous proximity.


The variability of some motor components of social play and agonistic behaviour in infant eastern coyotes, Canis latrans var. The duration and stereotypy (in terms of duration) of three actions, stand-overs (SO), generalbites (GB), And scruff-bites (SB), were measured during social play and agonistic interactions in infant eastern coyotes (Canis latrans). The rate of biting was also calculated. We found: (1) SO's and GB's lasted a significantly shorter time during play; (2) when performed during playful interactions, all three acts showed more stereotypy; (3) there was no significant difference between the rates of occurrence of biting during the two situations. A discussion of the 'exaggerated' nature of play behaviour is presented, particularly concerning the form of motor actions that are used during this activity.


Influence of maternal stress on offspring sexual behaviour. During the last trimester of gestation, pregnant rats were exposed to crowded living conditions, or to immobilization combined with intense illumination. In adulthood, male offspring of mothers exposed to either condition of stress showed increased readiness to display feminine sexual behaviour (lordosis) while no deficits were observed in their masculine sexual behaviour. It was concluded that prenatal stress adversely affects sexual differentiation by causing a feminization but not a demasculinization of male offspring.


Excreted urine, bladder urine, and the delay of sexual maturation in female house mice. A series of experiments tested effects of excreted and bladder urine of group- and singly-caged female house mice (Mus musculus) on sexual maturation of young female mice caged alone or in groups of eight. Puberty was determined by vaginal smears. A maturation-delaying pheromone was present in bladder urine of all female mice and excreted urine of group-caged females, but not in excreted urine from singly-caged females. Test mice treated with bladder urine homogenized with urethras from singly-caged females matured at the same age as controls. Apparently the urethras or associated glands of singly-caged females produce a substance which deactivates the maturation-delaying pheromone contained in bladder urine.


[Evaluation of a method of study of platelet aggregates using formol fixation]. A new approach for testing platelet aggregates by formol fixation (Wu and Hoak) is presented. The investigations are made either in vitro by the study of aggregation in the presence of ADP, or in vivo after thrombin ADP perfusion in the rabbit. The calculation of an index of aggregability comparing fixed and non fixed platelets permits an evaluation of the presence of aggregates.


[Experimental research in the rat using chronobiologic methods simulating various work shifts of man]. Certain diseases associated rightly or wrongly with the exposure to excessive burdens, physical or emotional, have been claimed to be more frequent among shiftworkers, notably when work involved conditions with different interacting loads. As an example, one could focus upon apparent contradictions in the literature concerning shiftwork and ulcers: Doll and Jones report on a total of 4871 workers, either shiftworkers or not, that the incidence of ulcers was slightly lower, rather than higher, in shiftworkers. By contrast Duesberg and Weiss, comparing shiftworkers and employees working in a regular work day, found higher incidence of ulcers in shiftworkers. Bonnevie compared night-workers and day-workers and found that the ulcer incidence for the first type was 15% and for the second 5%. Moreover he points out that some individuals cannot cope with the shiftwork and show signs of gastric ulcer more often. Ulcerogenesis was investigated on a sperimental model (rats), following chronobiological methods. It was found that there is a statistically significant difference on the gastric sensibility between rats treated with multiple loads at first morning hours or evening; there is a large sensibility during morning hours that is during the rest period of rats.


A comparison of growth in twins and singleton controls of matched age followed longitudinally from 10 to 18 years. A sample of 323 pairs of twins (94 MZ pairs, 133 DZ like-sexed pairs and 97 DZ unlike-sexed pairs born in 1954/55) were studied longitudinally from 10 to 18 years for boys and 10 to 16 years for girls. Height, weight, age at menarche and peak height and weight velocities (PHV and PWV) were studied. No significant differences occurred between twin categories in any two of these varieties, so in each sex the total twin group was compared with a group of matched singleton controls (380 boys and 360 girls). There were very small differences between the twin boys and their controls in height, weight and PWV-age. PHV occurred somewhat earlier in twin boys than in the controls. The height and weight peaks were significantly lower for the twin boys. For twin girls, however, a height and weight deficit was found during puberty and they also matured a little later than their controls according to both PHV, PWV and menarche. The height and weight peaks were also somewhat lower for the twin girls. One reason for the observed sex differences could be a proportionally higher mortality for twin boys, thus an effect of selective survival.


[On the morphology of Syphacia callosciuri n. sp., pin-worm parasite of a Malaysian squirrel and on the origin of Rattus pin-worm, Syphacia muris (Yamaguti, 1935) (author's transl)]. Description of a new species of Oxyurid: Syphacia (Syphatineria) callosciuri n. sp. parasite of a Sciurid rodent Callosciuris caniceps in Malaysia. In rodents belonging to the genus Callosciurus in Malaysia two species: S callosciuri n. sp. and S. owyangi Quentin, 1975, show morphological characteristics which are intermediate between the primitive Syphacia and two different lines of species parasite of recent rodents. These observations appear to indicate that the adaptation of Syphacia of Sciurids to the modern rodents has occured in South-East Asia.


Intra-pair similarity in physical growth of monozygotic and of dizygotic twins during puberty. The growth of 323 pairs of twins (94 MZ pairs, 133 DZ like-sexed pairs and 97 DZ unlike-sexed pairs) born in 1954/55 was studied longitudinally from 10 to 18 years for boys and 10 to 16 years for girls. Within-pair comparisons for height and weight have been made for MZ twins and DZ like-sexed twins. A significantly higher concordance in height was found for MZ pairs than for DZ pairs during puberty, for both boys and girls. Yearly height increments were also more similar for the MZ pairs, showing that the height spurt occurs more simultaneously for MZ twins in comparison to DZ twins. Height seems to be a strongly genetically regulated variable. The MZ twins also show a high concordance in weight during the whole investigation period. The DZ pairs, however, became progressively less similar in weight. This is most pronounced for the DZ girls, the intra-class correlation for weight decreasing from 0.66 at 10 years to 0.23 at 16 years. This could imply stronger interactional effects for girls than for boys with regard to weight during puberty.


Development of D. (A.) weissi, a macroscelid's filaria, in Ornithodoros erraticus (author's transl). The microfilariae of D. (A.) weissi parasite of Elephantulus rozeti in North Africa evolved in Ornithodoros erraticus (Vellozo strain from Casablanca) where they reach the infective stage. The Filaria D. (A.) viteae, parasite of Gerbillid Rodents, is closely related to D. (A.) weissi but has some clear differential characters; on the contrary the infective stages seem to be undistinguishable.


Notes on Dipodascus, Endomyces and Geotrichum with the description of two new species. The genus Endomyces is restricted to E. decipiens Reess, characterized by asci formed directly on hyphae and hat-shaped ascospores. The species forming asci from conjugating gametangial cells and having ellipsoidal ascospores are transferred to Dipodascus. A strain isolated from cladodes of Opuntia in Australia is described as Dipodascus australiensis von Arx et Barker and strains isolated from Armillaria mellea are classified as Geotrichum armillariae von Arx.


Production of extracellular enzymes in mutants isolated from trichoderma viride unable to hydrolyze cellulose. Mutant strains not producing cellulases were induced and isolated from the cellulolytic fungus Trichoderma viride. Enrichment of mutants was carried out with the aid of nystatin selection. Mutants were shown to lack the ability to hydrolyze both soluble and crystalline cellulose. Mannanase and xylanase activities were also absent, indicating a common regulation for all these enzymes in T. viride. In some strains aryl-beta-glucosidase activity was also missing. Mutants grew normally, but the amount of proteins secreted into the medium was very low, and in most cases these proteins were qualitatively different from the proteins of the parent strain.


Residual viruses in pork products.

Residual viruses in pork products. Partly cooked canned hams and dried pepperoni and salami sausages were prepared from the carcasses of pigs infected with African swine fever virus and pigs infected with hog cholera virus. Virus was not recovered from the partly cooked canned hams; however, virus was recovered in the hams before heating in both instances. Both African swine fever virus and hog cholera virus were recovered from the dried salami and pepperoni sausages, but not after the required curing period.


High concentrations of horse serum inhibit growth of corn stunt spiroplasma. Corn stunt spiroplasma (CSS) grew faster and achieved higher titers in liquid or agar medium containing 5 or 10 percent horse serum than it did in medium containing 20 percent horse serum. When growth in liquid medium was initiated with a small inoculum, CSS achieved excellent growth in the presence of 5 percent serum but did not grow in medium containing 0 or 20 percent serum. Addition of arginine to liquid or agar medium supplemented with 20 percent serum stimulated CSS growth, but addition to that containing 5 percent serum did not.


[Muscle meat quality in swine. 4: Response of fattening pigs to removal from pigsty and transport to slaughterhouse]. Blood was sampled through indwelling catheters from pigs taken to places for slaughter by various means of transport. Sampling took place at different measuring points between removal from pig pens and actual slaughter. The blood was tested for haemoglobin, haematocrit, glucose, and lactate. The following results were obtained: Removal and transport led to strong Hb and medium Hk rises. The levels, however, returned to normal after one-and-a-half to two hours rest. Stresses caused prior to and during anaestheria led to considerable rise of Hk and Hb as well as to maximum lactate deflection. The latter excitations superimposed all the preceding reactions of the organism. The increased of Hb, Hk, and lactate recorded from animals slaughtered as little as 20 minutes after arrival were higher than those established from animals that had been allowed some rest in between. Transport losses were reduced when the animals were moved in containers due to less motoric stress. However, no mitigation of pork quality setback can be expected as long as strong excitation continues to be caused in the animals before slaughter.


[Study of ECG in lactating cows. 2nd communication: ECG compared to behavior of various parameters of mineral and carbohydrate-fat metabolism]. Metabolism checks were carried out on eight dairy cow stocks, with 155 high-performance cows in first lactation being electrocardiographically and biochemically tested. Determined with the blood-borne concentrations of glucose, ketone body, calcium, magnesium, and inorganic phosphorus. The electrocardiographic recording were compared with behaviours of the blood parameters, and PQ conduction was found to be shortened in hypoglycaemic animals. Changes in calcium and magnesium serum concentrations were found to produce tbe most unambiguous effects on a number of ECG components, and reciprocal influence of these two components was as well observed. No correlation with ECG were recordable from the other parameters.


[Studies on the determination of optimal insemination time using electrometric resistance measurements in heifers and young cows after estrus synchronization]. Studies were conducted on how to use under the conditions of industrialised production in the GDR an electrometric method proposed by Soviet scientists to determine oestrus and ovulation date in oestric-synchronised heifers and cows. "Oestrometer-2", an instrument developed in the USSR, was used for 4,818 measurements of electric resistance in 700 oestric-synchronised heifers and 39 oestric-synchronised cows. The typical course of the resistence curve was confirmed by the results. Individual data variation together with unsatisfactory data reliability of the instrument, when applied to measurement at vaginovestibular mucosa, were likely to suggest that the method could not be used with good effect for high-accuracy determination of the ovulation date and therefore, was not useful in helping to save semen pellets after oestric synchronisation.


[Concentrations of cortisol, glucose and free fatty acids in the blood plasma of swine in relation to age and in sows close to farrowing]. The glucose concentration in sows tends to undergo slight rise within 24 hours from farrowing, while the concentration of free fatty acids declines from the onset of lactation. Cortisol went up on the day of farrowing and dropped afterwards, but neither movement was secured. The plasma values of newborn piglets were compared to those of their dams Cortisol was higher (15.0 +/- 6.4 and 9.7 +/- 3.7 microgram/100 ml), but glucose concentrations were lower (50 +/- 9 and 78 +/- 9 mg/100 ml), while the average levels of free fatty acids were in good agreement. In the nursing period, cortisol dropped to one fifth of the original value within 24 hours from birth and stayed at that level. Glucose increased to a maximum within twelve hours and declined continuously along with progressing nursing period. The level of free fatty acids, too, rose significantly up to the fifth day after birth. Cortisol, glucose, and free fatty acids in store pigs, aged 28 days, were lower than in nursed piglets of the same age.


[Effect of anticoagulants on the change of blood parameters in diestric gilts]. The above problem was studied by furnishing four groups of six gilts each with ear catheters for the following intravenous catheter treatment: 2,500 IU heparin per die over ten days, supported by two daily oral applications of 1 g Falithrom, or 2,500 IU heparin plus two daily applications of 1 g Falithrom, all intravenously. The last group remained untreated for control. One day of the dioestrus was chosen for catheter bleeding of all animals at 6 a.m., 8 a.m., noon, and 4 p.m. and subsequent determination from the plasma of free fatty acids, copper, inorganic phosphorus, total protein, albumin, globulin, chloride, urea, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, blood sugar, and beta-lipoproteides. Significant differences regarding these parameters between the various groups were not even established, if alpha = 0.25. The anticoagulants used in the study may be used without any reservation for catheter rinsing and clearing and will not cause any significant change in the levels of the blood parameters.


[Effect of high-carbohydrate diet in the form of sugar beet on glucose and ketone body levels in the blood serum of highly pregnant and freshly lactating cows]. In an experiment using 24 high-yielding cows (3rd and 6th lactations), group II was fed sugar beet as carbohydrate source (2 kg DM per animal and day) for 4 weeks before and for 4 weeks after parturition, whilst group I was given the equivalent amount of dried spent beet pulp. Sugar beet feeding during the dry period caused the glucose level in the blood to rise significantly from 48 to 55 mg/100 ml. On the 21st day of lactation the glucose concentration in group II (27 mg) had declined more strongly than in group I (37 mg). Feeding large amounts of easily soluble carbohydrates during the dry period obviously inhibits gluconeogenesis during early lactation. The ketone body level of group II was found to rise to 14 mg/100 ml by the 21st day of lactation (group I--4 mg), a level indicative of ketosis. The ketogenous action (strong formation of butyric acid in the rumen) of sugar beet enhances this effect, too. The daily milk yield did not vary much coming to 26.8 and 27.8 kg in the control and in the experimental group, respectively. The results allow to conclude that feeding fresh sugar beet to high-yielding cows just before and shortly after parturition is not advisable.


Human tear osmotic pressure: diurnal variations and the closed eye. Using a micro-osmometry technique, 450 nonreflex tear samples were collected hourly from six subjects throughout their waking hours, and on initial opening of the eyes following six to eight hours of sleep. While the waking day mean found for this population agreed closely with current values  in the literature, considerable variation did occur among individuals, both in their mean as well as in their hour-to-hour levels. The prolonged lid closure condition resulted in a considerable decrease in tear osmotic pressure and was found to be significantly different from the open-eye condition (P less than .001). No significant differences could be shown however between findings for men and women for either condition, and no consistent impact of food or fluid intake could be demonstrated.


The management of vaginismus.

The management of vaginismus. Vaginismus may be defined as an involuntary spastic contraction of the musculature investing the outer third of the vagina. This spasm is produced by imagined or real attempts at vaginal penetration. Though vaginismus may be suspected from the history, the definitive diagnosis is made on vaginal examination. Preparation and positioning of the patient for this examination are important. Where anxiety of the patient precludes examination, the patient may be first desensitized to penetration using behavioural modification techniques. The patient is then shown how to overcome the spasm using daily digital vaginal examination. When digital vaginal dilatation can be painlessly carried out, intercourse is attempted. In some women, vaginismus appears to be a somatic manifestation of unconsious psychological conflicts. These women may benefit from more intensive psychotherapy.


Cellular changes in the intestinal lymph of sheep infected with the enteric nematode, Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Some changes produced in the cell populations of intestinal lymph by infection with the enteric nematode, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, were studied in sheep regularly re-infused with all discharged lymph. Lymphocyte traffic through the intestinal lymphatic duct was reduced until day 35 of primary infection, mainly due to the absence of lymphocytes with smaller cell volumes, but was increased two-fold after day 70 and in immune sheep. Antigen-reactive lymphocytes in blood and lymph were assayed by the uptake of 3H-thymidine in cell culture stimulated by extracts from the larvae of T. colubriformis. Cells from the blood and lymph of immune sheep were highly reactive to worm antigen. A relatively smaller reactivity was present in the blood of worm-free sheep and was abolished during the first 12 days of primary infection. Antigen reactive cells were not detected in intestinal lymph until 12 days after primary infection, and in vitro antigen reactivity in intestinal lymph of immune sheep was increased after challenge with infective larvae. Responses to the mitogens, concanvalin A and phytohaemagglutinin, in cultures of cells from both intestinal lymph and blood were depressed on days 7 and 12 of primary infection. It is proposed that the diminished traffic of lymphocytes in intestinal lymph and the reduced numbers of mitogen and nematode antigen-reactive lymphocytes in both blood and intestinal lymph during the early stages of infection with T. colubriformis is closely related to the slow development of protective immunity to this parasite.


The effect of drugs on mass transport across capillaries and venules. 1. The single vessel occlusion technique has been applied to venules to investigate the effect of drugs on mass transfer. 2. The filtration coefficient in venules is greater than that in capillaries and in both types of vessel the filtration coefficient is negatively correlated with hydrostatic pressure. 3. Vasoactive drugs have no effect on capillary filtration coefficient. 4. Acetylcholine and isoprenaline do not increase vanular filtration coefficient but histamine, bradykinin, 5-Ht and SPF do and may do so independently of protein leakage.


[Paraplegia as a risk following catheterization of the umbilical artery. Report of a case and bibliographic review]. A case of paraplegia in a female newborn in whom an umbilical catheter was inserted for treatment of fetal maternal isoimmunization with exchange transufsion is presented. Paraplegia was diagnosed in the fifth day after the procedure was performed. A left transfemoral angiography demonstrated the absence of the segmentary artery of Adamkiewicz at the level of T-11, which is responsible of circulation of the lower segment of the spinal cord; paraplegia was considered to be secondary to spinal cord infarction due to thrombosis; other causes of spinal block were ruled out. Review of the literature shows several reports of manifestations of thrombosis after catheterization of umbilical vessels.


Serum antiimmunoglobulins reactive with human and rabbit IgG in rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions. IgG, IgA, and IgM antiimmunoglobulins reactive with human and rabbit IgG were measured in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), patients with rheumatic fever or osteoarthritis, and normal individuals. Values of all antiimmunoglobulins were significantly evaluated in RA patients as compared with other groups and depended upon activity and stage of the disease. IgM antibodies with specificity for human IgG predominated quantitatively over others in sera of RA patients with high titers of RF, whereas most of those reactive with rabbit IgG in latex negative or positive RA patients belonged to IgG class. The reaction with human IgG included thermostable and thermolabile IgM antiimmunoglobulins but in that with rabbit IgG only thermostable antibodies were active.


[Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children. Therapeutic evaluation]. Twenty-two children who filled the criteria established for thrombocytopenic purpura chronic idiopathic, were reviewed for this study. The greatest incidence of the disease showed up between 10 to 14 years of age and there were no differences as to sex. Hemorrhagic manifestations were insidious, but all cases shewed petechiae, ecchymoses and epistaxes. There yere no cases of central nervous system hemorrhage or deaths. Splenectomy was practiced to 15 patients with evolution greater than 6 months. Full remission was obtained in 80% of the cases, which is one of the highest reported. Patients showing a platelet count above 100.000 x mm3 on the first postoperative day went into remission; therefore, we con


Enzymic analysis of endomyocardial biopsy specimens from patients with cardiomyopathies. Myocardial biopsies have been obtained from patients with hypertrophic or congestive cardiomyopathies. Marker enzymes for the principal subcellular organelles of the myocardium were estimated using highly sensitive assay procedures. The results were compared with those obtained in tissue from patients with valvular heart disease with good or poor left ventricular function. Left ventricular myocardial tissue from patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy showed essentially normal levels of enzymic activities. In congestive cardiomyopathy, right ventricular tissue showed reduced levels of mitochondrial enzymes with increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase. Left ventricular tissue from patients with congestive cardiomyopathy showed reduced levels of mitochondrial and myofibril enzymes but high levels of lactate dehydrogenase. The reduced levels of myofibril Ca++-activated ATP in congestive cardiomyopathy is similar to that found in patients with impaired left ventricular function secondary to valvular disease. It is suggested that defective mitochondrial function is a characteristic feature of congestive cardiomyopathy and that the increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase reflect a compensatory response.


Dermatitis rhabditidosa in an 11-year-old girl: a new cutaneous parasitic disease of man. Rhabditiform larvae of Rhabditis (Pelodera) strongyloides caused pruritic lesions in an 11-year-old girl, and persisted for 2 1/2 months. Larvae were found in skin scrapings from the child and in the family dog's hair.


Interferon inducing activity of (A)n.(U)n complexes of varying chain length. Evidence is presented that the interferon-inducing activity of (A)n.(U)n in primary rabbit kidney cells with respect to the chain length of the constituting (A)n and (U)n strands is governed by the following criteria: (1) the activity increases with the length of the uninterrupted double-stranded segment in the complex whereby both chains are equally important and the number of such segments for complex molecule is without effect, (2) at a constant total concentration of constituting nucleotides, the activity increases with the number of double-stranded molecular entities available to the cell, and (3) complexes with the (U)n strand considerably overlapping the (A)n strand are inactive due to the formation of triple stranded structures.


Chromatography of different forms of DNA on immobilized histone columns. Histones 1, 2A, 2B, 3, 4, and 5 from chicken erythrocytes have each been covalently immobilized on agarose beads and tested for their ability to bind DNA. Both calf thymus DNA and PM-2 viral DNA (form II, a nicked circle) bind to columns of immobilized histone at low ionic strength and can be eluted with 0.2--0.8 M NaC1, depending on the histone column. The strength of DNA binding by histone columns is in the order H5 greater than H1 greater than greater than H2B approximately H3 greater than H4 approximately H2A. About 70% of a heat-denatured calf thymus DNA sample and 100% of a supercoiled (form I) PM-2 DNA sample bind very tightly to histone columns and are released only by strong protein denaturants.


Prevention of G:C pairing in mouse DNA by complete blocking of guanine residues with glyoxal. Availability of cytosine, adenine and thymine for hydrogen bonding with added unmodified polynucleotides. We have developed conditions for the reaction of single-stranded DNA with glyoxal which permit blocking of essentially all guanine residues. This procedure effectively prevents base pairing involving these guanine residues, yet permits cytosine, thymine and adenine residues in the DNA to pair with added polynucleotides. Modification of DNA with glyoxal greatly reduces intrastrand helical regions, resulting in a very low binding to hydroxyapatite, as compared to unmodified DNA. Annealing of modified DNA with some synthetic polynucleotides of restricted composition (but not others) leads to a significant increase in binding, presumably because mouse DNA has sequences not containing guanine which are capable of hydrogen bonding to the added polynucleotides. This relatively simple procedure may allow isolation and further study of these guanine-free sequences in DNA.


Changes in properties of DNA caused by gamma and ultraviolet radiation. Dependence of conformational changes on the chemical nature of the damage. Changes in the pulse-polarographic behaviour and circular dichroism spectra of DNA were investigated after gamma and ultraviolet irradiations and after degradation by DNAse I. It was found that moderate doses of radiation cause local conformational changes in the double helix, which are dependent on the chemical nature of the damage. Only the accumulation of structural changes after high doses of the radiations or after extensive enzymic treatment may cause formation of single-stranded regions in DNA.


The relative contribution of propionate, and long-chain even-numbered fatty acids to the production of long-chain odd-numbered fatty acids in rumen bacteria. 1. The relative contribution of propionate, and long-chain even-numbered fatty acids to the production of long-chain odd-numbered fatty acids in six pure cultures of rumen bacteria were studied, using single and double isotope procedures. 2. Both propionate and even-numbered fatty acids were converted to odd-numbered fatty acids, presumably by elongation of 2-C atoms and alpha-oxidation reactions, but even-numbered fatty acids were much more effective. 3. The occurrence of alpha-oxidation was further confirmed by relatively large quantities of 14CO2 produced when [1-14C]palmitate was used in the incubation medium. 4. The incorporation of propionate into odd-numbered fatty acids was markedly reduced in the presence of palmitate, or stearate. 5. The significance of the operation of alpha-oxidation is discussed in relation to the energy conservation in rumen bacteria.


Studies on lectins. XLI. Isolation and characterization of a blood group B specific lectin from the role of the powan (Coregonus lavaretus maraena). A B-specific lectin from the roe of the powan (Coregonus lavaretus maraena), a fish of the Salmonidae family, was isolated by affinity chromatography on O-alpha-D-galactosyl polyacrylamide gel. From 630 g of the lyophilized roe, 346 mg of pure lectin was obtained in a single isolation step. The lectin is electrophoretically homogeneous, its sedimentation coefficient s20,w is 2.9S and molecular weight 25 000. The molecular weight of the subunits estimated by electrophoresis in the presence of dodecyl sulfate is 27 000 for both reduced and nonreduced substance. The lectin contains a large amount of cysteine, has a small content of aromatic amino acids, 10.4% of neutral sugar and 0.145% of Zn. It agglutinates specifically human B-group erythrocytes; the agglutination is stimulated by Zn2+ and Mg2+ ions and partially inhibited by EDTA. The most efficient carbohydrate inhibitors are methyl alpha-L-rhamnoside (6 micrometer), L-rhamnose (12 micrometer) and raffinose (0.1 mM). The association constant of the complex lectin . L-rhamnose is KA = 9.5 . 10(2) M-1, as determined by fluorimetric titration.


The separation of the myosin light chains on agarose beads. The myosin light chains from rabbit skeletal muscle and bovine and human hearts are separated according to their molecular weights by filtration on agarose beads. The purity of the isolated components and the yield of such columns are compared to the results obtained by other techniques of separation.


Purification and chemical characterization of polysaccharides obtained from Lampteromyces japonicus by concanavalin A-sepharose affinity chromatography. Two classes of neutral polysaccharide which could not be separated from each other by conventional methods were isolated from the fungus, Lampteromyces japonicus, by affinity chromatography using concanavalin A-Sepharose. The polysaccharide retained on the concanavalin A-Sepharose column was eluted with 0.05 M methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside and appeared to be alpha-mannan, while that which passed through the column was virtually all beta-glucan. Both polysaccharides were subjected to Smith-type degradation, methylation, acetolysis and glucosidase treatment. The results indicated that the alpha-mannan contained predominantly alpha-(1 leads to 2)-linked side chains branching from an alpha-(1 leads to 6)-linked backbone at the (1 leads to 2,6)-linked mannopyranosyl residues. Galactose was attached to approximately one-quarter of the non-reducing mannose terminals. The beta-glucan seemed to contain mainly (1 leads to 6)-linked side chains branching from a (1 leads to 3)-linked backbone at the (1 leads to 3,6)-linked glucopyranosyl residues.


The role of blood clotting factor V in the conversion of prothrombin and a decarboxy prothrombin into thrombin. Purified PIVKA-II exhibits some factor II (prothrombin) activity in the one-stage coagulation assay and this factor II activity does not come from residual amounts of factor II but originates from PIVKA-II itself. It is shown that PIVKA-II is converted by a normal prothrombinase complex (factor Va and factor Xa adsorbed onto a phospholipid interface) more readily than by phospholipids and factor Xa alone. This suggests that binding between PIVKA-II and factor Va is an essential feature in the formation of the enzyme . substrate complex and from this we infer that a direct interaction between factor Va and prothrombin plays a rôle in the prothrombinase . prothrombin complex.


Structure of a beta-galactan isolated from the nuclei of Physarum polycephalum. A sulfated and phosphorylated beta-D-galactan ([alpha]D+8degrees) was isolated from the nuclei of the acellular slime mould Physarum polycephalum. The polysaccharide was isolated from cesium chloride gradients during the preparation of ribosomal DNA and purified. The purified galactan contained 89% galactose, 2.5% phosphate and 9.6% sulfate groups and had an average degree of polymerisation of 560. Periodate degradation and permethylation studies indicated the presence of mainly (1 leads to 4)-, but also of (1 leads to 3)-, and (1 leads to 6)-linked galactose units with one branch every 13 units. These results suggested that the intranuclear galactan, apart from its higher sulfate content, is similar to the extracellular polysaccharide produced by P. polycephalum.


Incorporation of a fatty acid containing a photosensitive group into lipids of cultured cardiac cells from chick embryo. Radioactive 12-(4-azido-2-nitrophenoxy)-stearic acid (NAP-stearate) was synthetized; it behaves as a competitive inhibitor of long-chain fatty acids for the entry into cultured cardiac cells from chick embryo. After uptake, [3H] NAP-stearate was incorporated by an energy-dependent process into neutral and polar lipids. Photoactivation as a function of time leads to a covalent labelling of the cells: up to 31 per cent of the radioactivity was recovered in the 105 000 g cell pellet, mainly in proteins. These experiments show that fatty acids containing photosensitive groups would potentially allow to localize the proteins involved in the binding and/or in the transport of fatty acids.


[Formaldehyde-induced tight binding of protein to RNA in particles of rod-like virus]. The formaldehyde-induced formation of tightly bound RNA-protein complexes of rod-like plant viruses was studied. The preparations of tobacco mosaic virus and closely related cucumber virus 4 were incubated with 1.5% formaldehyde for 20-50 hrs at 50 degrees C. Then the viral particles were disrupted, free protein was removed and viral RNA was centrifuged in the linear gradient of Cs2SO4. The RNAs from the formaldehyde-untreated viruses and RNA from the formaldehyde-treated tobacco masaic virus had the density of 1.65-1.66 g/cm3, while RNA from the formaldehyde-treated cucumber virus had the density of 1.57-1.42 g/cm3, depending on the incubation time. This is indicative of the protein binding to RNA. Treatment of the cucumber virus complex with pronase resulted in a liberation of free RNA with the density of 1.66 g/cm3; incubation for 2 min at 100 degrees C in a dissociating mixture (2% sodium dodecyl sulfate + 0.2% mercaptoethanol) did not cause the dissociation of the complex. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the most part of the protein molecules are bound within the complex not by covalent protein-protein cross-links.


[Preventive effect of lithium chloride on the development in rats of a preference for ethanol]. It was revealed in experiments on rats treated with a 5% ethanol solution with equal quantities of LiCl (experiment) and NaCl (control) for seven weeks as the only source of liquid that with li+ concentration in the blood plasma of approximately 0.6 meq/1 LiCl prevented the development of alcohol dependence. On studying the neurosecretory hypothalamic nuclei, hypophysis and adrenal cortex of the same animals a certain correlation has been demonstrated between the morphofunctional condition of the mentioned formations, the degree of ethanol preference development and the character of LiCl influence on the process.


[Changes in the cortical neuronal dendrites in experimental alcoholic intoxication]. The state of the cortical neuron dendrites was studied in rats at various stages of alcohol intoxication; two categories of changes occurred in dendrites--destructive and compensatory. These changes depended on the stages of alcohol intoxication and individual peculiarities of the central nervous system of the animals.


Effect of mecamylamine on the fate of dopamine in striatal and mesolimbic areas of rat brain; interaction with morphine and haloperidol. 1 The effects of the nicotinic cholinoceptor blocking drug, mecamylamine (alone or in combination with morphine or haloperidol) were investigated on the striatal homovanillic acid (HVA) concentration and on the alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (AMPT)-induced depletion of striatal or mesolimbic dopamine content in the brain of rats. 2 Mecamylamine (2 mg/kg) alone did not alter the striatal HVA concentration, but it reduced the probenecid-induced accumulation of HVA. Mecamylamine pretreatment reduced the morphine- and haloperidol-induced elevation of striatal HVA concentrations. Hexamethonium did not alter the striatal HVA concentration when given alone or in probenecid- or morphine-treated rats, whereas pempidine (8 mg/kg) clearly reduced the probenecid-induced accumulation of HVA in the striatum. 3 Mecamylamine (2 and 8 mg/kg) slowed the rate of AMPT-induced depletion of dopamine from the striatum and mesolimbic area both in the brain of control rats treated with morphine or haloperidol. 4 Mecamylamine slightly prolonged the cataleptic effect of morphine. 5 The results indicate that mecamylamine inhibits the release of dopamine both from the striatal and mesolimbic dopaminergic neurones.


The effect of baclofen on alpha-flupenthixol-induced catalepsy in the rat. 1 alpha-Flupenthixol (alpha-FPT; 0.2 mg/kg i.p.) when administered to rats produced catalepsy. 2 Baclofen (10 mg/kg i.p.) given 30 min after alpha-FPT had a biphasic effect on the catalepsy. Initially there was a potentiation of the effect, followed by a significant attenuation of the degree of catalepsy. 3 Possible mechanisms of action are discussed.


Changes in diurnal fluctuations of plasma thyroid stimulating hormone and corticosterone following anterior hypothalamic deafferentation in the rat. Systemic thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and corticosterone (B) levels were measured in serial plasma samples withdrawn from 8 adult female rats before and for several weeks after anterior hypothalamic cuts (FC), made with a modified Halász knife (1.5 mm radius). With lights on from 5:00 to 19:00 h the rats were bled by rapid venipuncture at 9:00 and 20:00 h 14 days before and 5 days after FC and by chronic intra-atrial cannulas at 9:00, 13:00, 17:00 and 20:00 h on days 25, 30 and 40 or 50 post-FC. The frontal cuts, localized later by histology to sites just rostral to the suprachiasmatic nucleus in 3 rats and just caudal to the nucleus in the other 5 brains, altered the charactersitic diurnal drop in plasma TSH and rise in B but did not eliminate marked fluctuations in hormone levels. The new hormonal platterns could not be related specifically to FC loci and appeared to be a dynamic process for each rat. At 5 days after FC the diurnal patterns were either obscured or shifted in phase. The most consistent finding at subsequent sampling intervals was that TSH and B plasma levels in each animal showed parallel fluctuations (during 9:00--20:00 h) as though synchronized in phase. The data suggest that interruption of anterior hypothalamic connections in the female rat is compatible with fluctuations in plasma TSH and B which are unique to a particular animal and may be obscured by group analysis.


Result of irradiation of intrathoracic metastases: the implication of associated extrathoracic metastases on the results. Thirteen patients with intrathoracic metastasis were treated with radiotherapy. Response was obtained in 75% (9/12) of cases and was complete in 50% (6/12). There was extrathoracic metastasis at time of radiotherapy in six patients. Complete disappearance of intrathoracic metastasis occurred only in patients without extrathoracic metastasis; only three of six had primaries known to be radiosensitive (Wilms' tumor and Ewing's sarcoma). In three patients the intrathoracic metastasis progressed after radiotherapy and all had extrathoracic metastasis. It is concluded that radiotherapy is an effective modality of treatment of intrathoracic metastasis and that favorable response is associated with the absence of extrathoracic metastasis rather than the known radiosensitivity of the primary.


Endocrine studies in testicular tumor patients with and without gynecomastia: a report of 45 cases. Prolactin (PRL), human placental lactogen (hPL), the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (betahCG), testosterone (T), estrone (E1), and estradiol (E2) were measured in blood samples from 45 patients with testicular tumors, 27 of whom had gynecomastia at some stage of their disease. Forty-two of the 45 patients had at least one abnormal hormone level. The most common abnormality was that of plasma estrone: it was elevated in 32 out of 42 (76%) patients in whom it was measured, suggesting a useful role for E1 as a testicular tumor marker. Prognosis was notably worse in patients with embryonal carcinoma, teratocarcinoma, and choriocarcinoma, in those with gynecomastia and, particularly, galactorrhea. Such patients also had the highest incidence of hormonal abnormalities as well as the most extreme absolute values. Hormonal mechanisms were implicated in the development of gynecomastia and galactorrhea. Prolactin, betahCG, E1, and E2 levels in all permutations correlated significantly among patients with gynecomastia, but not among those without, while estrogen to testosterone ratios were elevated in patients with galactorrhea.


In vitro interaction of L1210 cells with phospholipid vesicles. The in vitro uptake of phospholipid vesicles by mouse leukemia L1210 cells was examined. Liposomes were generated by prolonged ultrasonic dispersion of aqueous dispersions of mixed lipids in the presence of radiolabeled inulin. Multilamellar vesicles were separated from unilamellar vesicles by column chromatography. Vesicle populations were examined by electron microscopy. Neutral vesicles were generated from egg yolk phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol, and surface charge was introduced via either phosphatidylserine or octadecylamine. Uptake, measured as cell-associated radioactivity, was temperature dependent and was strongly decreased by metabolic inhibitors. These results suggested that liposomes are taken up to a major extent by an energy-dependent mechanism. The uptake of liposomes by cells of a young culture was about 2-fold higher than was the uptake of liposomes by cells of a stationary culture. The uptake of positively charged liposomes by cells was about 20-fold higher than that of either neutral or negatively charged vesicles. About one-half of the cell-associated radioactivity transferred by positively charged liposomes could be removed by cell surface treatment with trypsin or neuraminidase or by a short exposure to 0.6 N NaCl.