[Immunologic study of pleural neoplastic effusions: Detection of immune complexes and complement activation]. Occurrence of immune complexes in malignant pleural effusions has been investigated by the 125I-c1q binding test. 55% of the pleural effusions had C1q binding activity levels higher than those found in transudates used as controls. The levels of C1q binding activity in effusions were significantly higher than those found in the serum of the same cancer patients. High levels of C1q binding activity were found in malignant effusion independently of type or differentiation of the tumors involved. The C1q binding material had properties of immune complexes. The levels of CH50 and C3d, i.e. the degradation product of C3, in malignant effusion were similar to those of transudates. These observations show a high incidence of immune complexes in malignant effusions and a slight activation of complement inadequate for its local consumption. The persistence in major quantity of immune complexes in malignant effusion suggests local formation or decreased clearance.


[Significance of noradrenaline in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Preliminary report]. The pathogenic role of the sympathetic system in essential hypertension was evaluated by combined analysis of urinary and plasma catecholamine levels and pressor sensitivity to endogenous noradrenaline. The latter was estimated indirectly by the ratio between percentile changes in blood pressure and plasma noradrenaline following adrenergic neuronal blockade with the agent debrisoquine. In normal and mildly hypertensive (141/91 to 160/105 mm Hg) subjects, supine or upright plasma levels and excretion rates of noradrenaline correlated (p less than 0.01) with age and were comparable; no correlation was present in patients with moderate to severe hypertension (greater than 160/105 mm Hg) who tended to have supernormal noradrenaline levels under the age of 40 years. Adrenaline values were normal in essential hypertension. Pressor sensitivity to noradrenaline was comparable in normal and mildly hypertensive subjects (0.03 +/- 0.08 [SE] and 0.17 +/- 0.04, respectively) but increased (p less than 0.001) in moderate to severe hypertension (0.62 +/- 0.11). These findings suggest that moderate to severe essential hypertension may be maintained, at least partly, by the inappropriate association of normal plasma noradrenaline levels with increased noradrenaline pressor sensitivity. This may also provide a rational basis for the use of pharmacologic adrenergic inhibition in the treatment of moderate to severe essential hypertension.


[Toxicity and blood concentration of thiocyanate during sodium nitroprusside treatment]. In 25 patients receiving sodium nitroprusside (SNP) infusion for hypertension, the influence of SNP on renal function, thiocyanate (SCN) concentration, half-life of SCN and hemolytic actions or methemoglobinemia was measured. Creatinine clearance showed a slight increase while plasma creatinine was unchanged. There was no definite relationship between creatinine clearance and SCN clearance. For the individual patient there was no relationship between the SCN concentration at a constant dose of SNP and the degree of renal function. Independently of the grade of renal insufficiency, toxic concentrations of SCN were never seen if less than 100 gamma/min/SNP were infused for less than 5 days ( = less than 720 mg total dose). There was a linear relationship between half-life of SCN and the degree of renal function. Signs of hemolytic action could not be demonstrated. There was no methemoglobinemia. Although SCN concentration in relation to dose of SNP and renal function cannot be predicted, it is proposed that plasma SCN be checked only in patients receiving more than 100 gamma/min for more than 5 days.


[Thorotrast kidney as a precancerous condition]. 9 cases of "thorotrast kidney" after retrograde pyelography with reflux are presented. In 6 patients carcinoma of the renal pelvis developed 47--31 years after thorotrast pyelography. Because of this high rate of carcinoma induction, thorotrast kidney must be classified as a precancerous condition with high-rate tumor manifestation. Thorotrast kidney is diagnosed on X-ray by very opaque linear densities following the calices and pyelon. Early ureteronephrectomy is the treatment of choice in unilateral thorotrast kidneys. If uretero-nephrectomy is not possible, the patient should be followed up regularly with urinary cytologic examinations for early detection of malignancy.


Chemical stimulation of single human fungiform taste papillae: sensitivity profiles and locus of stimulation. Psychophysical responses to chemical stimulation of single human fungiform taste papillae were obtained from 40 papillae in four subjects. Effects of solution concentration and locus of stimulation were examined for nine test compounds. Sensitivity profiles constructed for individual papillae showed that single fungiform papillae mediate more than a single taste quality. In addition, the chemical sensitivities of individual papillae were reflected in their thresholds for all compounds, and correlation coefficients between recognition thresholds were no greater for similar than for dissimilar tasting compounds. No differences in mediation of quality were found as a function of locus of stimulation on the papilla, although sensitivity was found to be greater on the dorsal surface than on the sides. The data were discussed within the context of previous studies of response characteristics of single papilla.


Olfactory self- and cross-adaptation: effects of time of adaptation on perceived odor intensity. The time-course of self- and cross-adaptation of the olfactory system was investigated for two constant concentrations of three odorous substances. The substances (hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, and pyridine) were matched, in a pilot experiment, with regard to perceived odor intensity. The time of adaptation was controlled by the number of inhalations (1-10). A two-step scaling method, involving cross-modality matching and numerical scaling of the matching continuum, was used for measuring perceived odor intensity during adaptation. The results show that the time-course function for self-adaptation seems to be an exponential function for two of the substances (H2S, DMDS), while for the third (pyridine) the form of the function is less distinct. Cross-adaptation between substances was found for the high concentrations, while for the low concentrations, hydrogen sulfide and dimethyl disulfide gave rise to pronounced cross-facilitation. The latter effect increased with time of adaptation.


Perceived odor intensity as a function of air flow through the nose. The relationship between perceived odor intensity and flow rate during inhalation was studied. Thirty subjects, mainly students of psychology, participated. The odor from a solution of pyridine and water (0.5 ml/liter of H2O) was inhaled at five different flow rates, ranging from 75 to 1000 ml/sec. Three different conditions of sniffing were used, i.e., constant-duration sniffing (2 sec), constant-volume sniffing (1000 ml), and three successive short sniffs. The perceived odor intensity, expressed with a magnitude-estimation method, was found to increase with flow rate under all sniffing conditions.


Temperature-touch interaction: Weber's phenomenon revisited. The six experiments reported here stemmed from Weber's (E. H. Weber, In R. Wagner (Ed.), Handwnörterbuch der Physiologie, 1846. Vol. 3, pp. 481-588) report that cold objects on the forehead feel heavier than warm ones, implying an effect of temperature on the touch modality. The experiments arrived at first-order answers to how temperature, force of stimulation, areal size of stimulation, and body locus might influence the magnitude of touch sensation. Typically, concomitant cooling greatly intensifies touch magnitude as perceived via the forehead and the forearm. Warning has little or no effect via the forehead but gives a significant intensification (less pronounced than that of cooling) on the forearm. When the areal size of the stimulation becomes very small, the intensification effects cannot be reliably demonstrated. The findings are reviewed in the light of what is known about the physiology of the cutaneous nerves.


Referred thermal sensations: warmth versus cold. The present study investigates further the phenomenon of thermal referral, in which thermal sensations are "referred" to the site of nearby tactile stimuli. First demonstrated with three stimulators (Green, B.G. Perception and Psychophysics, 1977, 22, 331-337), the present experiments show that referral also occurs between two contact stimuli. Measurements with two stimulators reveal that (1) on the arm and fingers, warmth refers more strongly that cold, and (2) referral of warmth is affected relatively little by increasing the distance between stimulators; (3) on the fingertips, referral is greater when the thermal sensation refers away from rather than toward the first digit; and (4) the pattern or referral across fingers differs for warmth and cold and appears unrelated to the pattern of peripheral innervation. The phenomenon of referral illustrates that information about locus gathered through the tactile sense is available to the thermal senses, which means that information about stimulus locus and quality can be carried on separate nerve fibers.


Psychophysical tuning curves in vibrotaction. The frequency-response characteristics of channels used in human vibrotaction were studied by using a psychophysical tuning-curve paradigm derived from auditory research. Sinusodial 200-msec vibratory bursts delivered to the thenar eminence of the hand were detected in the presence of sinusodial maskers delivered to the same skin area either continuously or pulsed in forward masking. Psychophysical tuning curves were obtained by determining the intensity of maskers of varied frequency necessary to mask a 10-dB SL test stimulus of fixed frequency. The results support the notion that at least two independent channels operate in human vibrotaction. There was no evidence for frequency selective mechanisms other than those at the periphery. Psychophysical tuning curves were similar to neural tuning curves for individual cutaneous mechanoreceptors.


Serological study for antibodies to toxoplasma gondii in Jakarta, Indonesia. A total of 280 sera from medical students, laboratory personnel from the University of Indonesia and other persons living in Jakarta were tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by the indirect hemagglutination test. Antibody titers equal to or greater than 1:256 were considered positive and were detected in 35 or 12.5% of the persons tested. The sero-positivity rates were not significant between 178 males (13.5%) and 102 females (10.8%) but were significantly different between persons of Indonesian ancestry (14.3%) and those of Chinese ancestry (2.3%). No correlation could be found between ownership of domestic cats and eating habits and positive titers.


Clinical features of timorian filariasis among immigrants to an endemic area in West Flores, Indonesia. Fifty-nine persons, who immigrated into a Brugia timori endemic area from non-filarial areas on the island of Flores, Indonesia were examined for filariasis after residing in the village for 2 to 10 years. Six persons had B. timori microfilaremia and 31 had filarial disease. The disease seems to affect immigrants from non-filarial areas severely within a relatively short period. Among those residing in the village, for 2 years, the microfilaria rate was 5% and the elephantiasis rate 21%. Selective treatment using 50 mg diethylcarbamazine per Kg body weight was given to all microfilaria (Mf) positive persons. Approximately one year later the Mf-rate by finger stick and Nuclepore filtration was 9% and 18% respectively. There was indirect indications that the Mf-rate might increase with the passage of time. However, the total filarial disease rate remained constant during the one year period. The relationship between these findings and American servicemen exposed to filariasis during World World II is briefly discussed.


Toxicological studies of insecticides on Cullex quinquefasciatus Say and Aedes aegypti (L.). Toxicity tests carried out on the larvae of A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus showed the former to be more tolerant of all insecticides tested, the order of toxicity being temephos greater than DDT greater than DDVP greater than malathion greater than lindane greater than carbaryl; also the second instar larvae of A. aegypti were more susceptible than fourth instar larvae. Enzyme kinetic studies on the total non-specific esterases and CarEs of adults and larvae of both species showed the Km values for total esterases of adult A. aegypti to be 0.333 mM vs 0.233 mM for C. quinquefasciatus; for adult CarEs it was 0.250 mM vs 0.220 mM. For total larval esterases of A. aegypti it was 0.112 mM vs 0.175 mM for C. quinquefasciatus: and for larval CarES it was 0.159 mM vs 0.213 mM respectively. Although some correlation between in vivo toxicity (LD50 values) and in vitro esterase inhibition (I50 values) between species could be discerned, overall correlation could not be established.


Co-existence and attempted hybridization between Anopheles litoralis (King) and Anopheles sundaicus (Rodenwaldt) in Sabah, Malaysia. Anopheles (Cellia) litoralis King and Anopheles (Cellia) sundaicus Rodenwaldt, vectors of malaria, were collected from the same brackis and sea-water habitats in six localities in Sabah. They share the same breeding habitats with predominance of one species over the other. The two species although distinct have small morphological differences and are taxonomically separated by certain wing characters. Hybridization between the two species was successful. Reciprocal crosses produced viable progeny which appeared to develop normally to adults. Hybridized females laid fewer viable eggs in comparison with the parents. The F1 hybrids resembled the litoralis parent in most characters. Backcrosses of both litoralis and sundaicus parents with the F1 hybrids yielded no eggs. F1 male hybrids were thus assumed to be sterile. The results obtained from cross matings between the two species suggested something more than subspecific status.


Lead concentrations in breast milk at various stages of lactation. A total of 164 breast-milk samples from Thai mothers in different stages of lactation, from one day to over nine months postpartum, and 35 samples of infant milk formulas commercially available were analyzed for their lead concentrations using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean lead concentration in breast milk was 0.0846 +/- 0.0332 microgram per ml which is in the low range and is safe for infants, whereas the mean lead concentration in commercial infant mild formulas was 0.1587 +/- 0.0232 microgram per ml which can become a potential health hazard to infants.


Teratologic evaluation of styrene given to rats and rabbits by inhalation or by gavage. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand white rabbits inhaled 0, 300 or 600 ppm of styrene 7 h/day from days 6 through 15 (rats) and 6 through 18 (rabbits) of gestation. Additional groups of rats were given styrene by gavage at dose levels of 0, 90 or 150 mg/kg twice daily (0, 180 or 300 mg/kg, respectively) from days 6 through 15 of gestation. Embryotoxicity and fetotoxicity were not evident in rats or rabbits inhaling styrene or in rats given the compound orally. Maternal effects (decreased body weight gain and decreased food consumption) were noted in all groups of rats given styrene but none were observed in rabbits. No teratogenic effect was detected in either species inhaling styrene or in rats given styrene by gavage.


The effects of paraquat on prostaglandin synthesis of guinea pig lungs. The effects of paraquat treatment (10 mg/kg i.p.) on the prostaglandin synthesizing ability of guinea pig lungs were examined in the present study. It was observed that paraquat-treated animals, as compared to controls, had a significantly reduced ability to synthesize PGF2 alpha and "PGE2" at 24 and 48 h after the treatment. Paraquat, however, failed to have any effect on prostaglandin synthesis in vitro. A decrease in the ability of prostaglandin synthesis in paraquat-treated guinea pig lung was attributed possibly to a decrease in the amount of lung microsomal protein.


Protective role of ascorbic acid in fishes exposed to organochlorine pollution. Protective role of ascorbic acid on the toxic effect of aldrin pollution in an air-breathing fish Channa punctatus Bloch is reported. Fishes fed with aldrin mixed diet at 0.25% showed 25% mortality in 30 days. Mortality is preceded by certain changes in peripheral blood such as polycythemia and leucocytosis with increased thrombocyte but decreased neutrophil population. However, a massive dose of ascorbic acid (500 mg/100 g diet) was found to considerably neutralize the toxic effect as evidenced by 10-fold decrease in mortality and significantly lowered haematological response. The significance of these studies in the light of physiological role of ascorbic acid as a micronutrient for protection against pollution stress is discussed.


Urinary catecholamine excretion and blood sugar response during acute poisonings with dinitrobenzenes. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with 0.015 mmol of p-dinitrobenzene/kg, 0.15 mmol of m-dinitrobenzene/kg and 0.45 mmol of o-dinitrobenzene/kg body wt. The dinitrobenzenes induced methaemoglobin concentrations of 86%, 60% and 49%, respectively, as well as increases of urinary catecholamine excretion and blood sugar concentration. Due to hyperglycaemia the glycolysis may be stimulated as mechanism for energy production in methaemoglobin-induced oxygen deficiency and as mechanism for reduction of methaemoglobin, that means as responses favouring survival after poisoning.


Interaction of endosulfan and metepa in rats. Repeated administration of endosulfan or metepa or their mixture did not induce any significant histological changes in the organs examined in male rats. Similarly, the activity of different enzymes assayed here showed no significant alterations. The level of endosulfan did not differ significantly in presence or absence of metepa in the samples of blood, brain, fatty tissue, kidney, liver and testis. The observations do not suggest any kind of additive or antagonistic effects or potentiation of each compound in presence of the other, at the doses and duration studied in male rats.


Arthropod-borne virus infections in Western New Guinea (Irian Jaya): a serological retrospection. A serological investigation, covering many localities throughout Western New Guinea (Irian Jaya) in 1958-1961 showed that: A general endemicity of arbovirus infections rather than sporadic epidemics, exists in the southern lowlands--large differences exist in geographical distribution of these viruses especially when comparing coastal areas of the southern, with those of the northern and north western parts of the island--in both arbovirus groups noticeable differences in altitude were observed corresponding with the epidemiology of malaria in Irian Jaya--in one locality there was a specific virus prevalence, notably Sindbis virus, within a group--historical and serological evidence suggests that antibody detected to Dengue 2 virus, merely in adult humans, in the coastal area was due to exposure before migration from Indonesia to New Guinea--comparable results were archieved with similar surveys by other workers in Papuan New Guinea and Northern Queensland.


Endemic goitre in  Kenya: the pattern of iodine excretion. A national random sample survey of iodine excretion among primary schoolchildren in Kenya was carried out in 1974/75, in order to monitor the endemic goitre situation and its control more accurately and to gain more insight in the geographical distribution of iodine deficiency in the country. Urine samples were collected in 59 randomly chosen primary schools in 32 districts from which the individual iodine/creatinine ratios were determined. The results are analysed and presented per school, per district and per province, showing areas of normal, moderate and low iodine intake, and latter coinciding with the known goitre areas in Kenya. Although some doubts have been cast on the methods used in this survey and the consequent reliability of its conclusions, the authors consider its publication yet justified.


Diabetes and its vascular complications in Malaysia. One hundred and thirty-two newly diagnosed Asian diabetic patients (39  Malay, 30 Chinese and 63 Indians) have been studied in Kuala Lumpur. The highest proportion of diabetic patients were Indian and the lowest were Chinese. Vascular complications were equally common in Asian diabetic patients as in Europeans; coronary heart disease was relatively more common in Indians and cerebral vascular disease in Chinese. Twenty percent of all Asian diabetic patients requiring admission to hospital also had coronary heart disease, 9% had cerebral vascular disease and 8% had gangrene or ulceration of the feet. In Kuala Lumpur, diabetes is a very important risk factor for coronary heart disease: 17% of all patients admitted to the General Hospital with coronary heart disease were already diabetic.


Acute haematogenous osteomyelitis in Nigeria. Acute haematogenous osteomyelitis formed less than a quarter of the 125 consecutive cases of osteomyelitis seen by the authors and followed up for a minimum of six months and an average of one year and four months. Of the twenty-nine cases of acute osteomyelitis a third occurred in patients with normal haemoglobin genotype (AA); a third of homozygous S disease (SS disease) and sickle cell haemoglobin C disease (SC disease); a quarter in sickle cell trait (AS) and haemoglobin AC trait, while in the remaining cases the haemoglobin genotype was not known. The sex incidence was equal, and children aged 1 to 15 years predominated. Most patients presented late with florid disease. Gram negative bone infection and multiple, entire diaphysial involvement were significantly commoner in SS and SC disease than in the other haemoglobin genotype. There was a high incidence of resistance of the infecting organisms to the commonly available antibiotics. Treatment was mostly conservative. There were no deaths, but the incidence and severity of complications were quite high. The significance of these results are discussed and the need for establishing the sensitivity of the infecting organism in every case and for early surgical exploration in non-sicklers are stressed.


Geographical distribution of Burkitt's lymphoma in Nigeria. Eight hundred and eighty cases of Burkitt's lymphoma recorded in the Cancer Registry, University College Hospital (U.C.H.) Ibadan during a fifteen-year period (1961-1975) were reviewed. The geographical locations ascertained represent 87 cities or towns. No case of Burkitt's lymphoma has been reported from areas above latitude 11 degrees north of the equator which are essentially desert areas. There is no explanation for the yearly and monthly variations in the number of cases reported. A case-detection programme probably will give a true picture of the geographical distribution of the disease including possible 'clustering of cases in space and time'.


Sarcoidosis in Africans.

Sarcoidosis in Africans. Four cases of sarcoidosis seen within ten months in Nigerians by the author are reported. The clinical picture did not differ from those described in temperate countries. Histological confirmation was obtained in all the cases. The rarity of this disease among Africans as reported in the literature might be more apparent than real.


Pulmonary function studies in sickle cell anaemia. Pulmonary studies including the measurements of single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DL); Forced Vital Capacity (FVC); Residual Volume (RV) and Total Lung Capacity (TLC) were carried out in forty normal subjects; twelve patients with homozygous sickle cell anaemia and five patients with iron deficiency anaemia due to hookworm infestation. Normal subjects had a mean haemoglobin content of 13.4 g per 100 ml and a mean DL value of 28 ml/min/mmHg. In the patients with hookworm anaemia, the mean haemoglobin was 4.9 g per 100 ml while the mean DL value was 9 ml/min per mmHg. Patients with sickle cell anaemia had a mean haemoglobin content of 6.2 g/100 ml yet the mean DL value was 20 ml/min per mmHg. The study showed that patients with homozygous sickle cell anaemia have a disproportionately high DL value in the presence of severe anaemia which might be due to a chronically expanded pulmonary capillary blood volume as a compensatory mechanism to maintain an appropriate level of DL.


The rarity of urinary calculus in Nigeria. An epidemiological survey of urinary calculous disease has been carried out in Nigeria. This involved the use of questionnaires, personal interview of doctors and clinical and autopsy reviews in several large medical centres in the country. It is evident that urinary calculi are rare among Nigerians in spite of the high temperature and high carbohydrate diet. There does not appear to be any particular tribe or geographical location that is more predisposed to stone formation than the others. It is possible that the low calcium content of Nigerian waters, the minimal consumption of dairy products, the physically active life and some other unknown factors protect Nigerians against urinary calculus formation.


Simple gastric lavage cytology in carcinoma stomach; its relevance to developing countries. Fifty patients suffering from stomach carcinoma and other non-malignant abdominal disorders, comprising the study group and the control group respectively, were subjected to simple saline lavage for obtaining exfoliated cells from the gastric mucosa. A positive cytological diagnosis was made in 40% cases of carcinoma stomach while the control group gave only 5% false postive results.


Serum calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphate during lactation. Serum calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphate concentrations were determined in lactating Ghanaian women up to the twelfth month after delivery. The mean serum calcium and magnesium were found to be very significantly lower than the corresponding means of non-lactating non-pregnant women, although most of the serum calcium and magnesium values of the lactating women were within the normal ranges. The changes in serum calcium concentrations were not accounted for by the levels of serum albumin. There was only a slightly significant reduction in the serum inorganic phosphate concentrations of the lactating women.


Fly borne Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Calcutta. V. parahaemolyticus has been detected from flies in all months of the year in Calcutta. The mean percentage of isolation is: housefly 14.1, blue bottle fly 18.5, external washing 10.1, viscera 22.6, flies of sweet shops 9.7 and those from fish market 22.7. Flies revealed higher (4.4%) isolation of Kanagawa postive V. parahaemolyticus strains than those of water and fish specimens (0.8%) studied previously. Strains negative to Kanagawa test but simulating enteropathogenic serotypes are recorded in 8.0% isolates. Possibility of fly borne contamination from the sources like human faeces, sewage and fish is discussed.


Agents affecting health of mother and child in a rural area of Kenya. X. Haemagglutination inhibiting antibodies against influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B virus in sera from children living in the Machakos District of Kenya. In the framework of the Machakos Project bloodcollections from random samples of children under 5 years of age and living in a rural area of Kenya were done with regular intervals, Serum samples of two collections were tested for haemagglutination inhibiting antibodies against influenza A and B viruses. The children had been exposed to the Hong Kong/1/68 (H3N2) virus or its variants during one, two or three episodes of circulation and probably to only one epidosde of B/Hong Kong/8/73 virus. The results can be explained by the assumption that 30-40 percent of non-immune children were infected per epidosde of exposure to influenza A and not more than 12 percent per episode of influenza B circulation.


Two new leptospira serovars belonging to the Hebdomadis serogroup. Two new serovars in the leptospira Hebdomadis serogroup are described following parallel investigations by the "classical" comparative cross-agglutinin absorption test method and by a method derived from factor analysis. The serovar names nyanza with reference strain Kibos and dikkeni with reference strain Mannuthi are proposed.


[Proteolysis intensification during influenza virus interaction with plasma membrane of sensitive cells]. The possibility of the proteolotic enzymes incorporation into the viral particle and the changes in proteolysis during interaction of the purified influenza virus (A2 Hong-Kong (1)68) with isolated plasmatic membranes of the mice lungs were studied. The presence of trypsin-like protease in the purified influenza virion was found. It is established that proteolysis intensifies during a short-term interaction of the isolated plasmatic membranes with the influenza virus.


[Changes in mitochondria energy function under the effect of eserine and picrotoxin]. Intoxication caused by intramuscular injection of picrotoxin and eserine (5 and 10 mg/kg) to albino rats is found to increase the degree of coupling of oxidation to phosphorylation and the rate of succinate oxidation. The conclusion may be drawn that the reaction of the oxidative phosphorylation system to the injection of the above pharmacological agents is not specific but reflects the compensatory shift in the microchondria functioning in response to hypoxia and seizures accompanying the intoxication.


[Peculiarities of alkyl tin effects on respiration and oxidative phosphorylation of rat liver mitochondria]. Electron transfer and oxidative phosphorylation were studied as affected by tinalkyls. It is shown that all of them inhibit effectively respiration of the rat liver mitochondria. The action of bis(tributyl tin)oxide and dibutyl diisooctyl thioglycolate tin on the mitochondria in a state of dissociation is localized in the terminal step of the respiration chain. The other alkyls act in the site located before cytocrome c. The effect of bis (tributyl tin) oxide on both the ADP-activated respiration and DNP-activated ATPase of intact mitochondria is similar to that of oligomycin. These effects might be explained by the presence two electrophilic centres in a molecule of this compound.


[Free amino acid content of tissues of rats which prefer either water or ethanol solutions]. The content of free amino acids is determined in tissue of rats which prefer either water or 5% water solution of ethanol. The rats which prefer ethanol have a higher content of taurine, threonine and urea in the liver, a larger amount of lysine and beta-aminobutyrate in the brain, less of ornithine in blood plasm and a larger amount of taurine, aspartate and urea in urine. Significant differences are supposed to be in the amino acids metabolism in rats which prefer either water or ethanol.


[Squalene and sterols of rat stomach tissue and the effect of acetylsalicylic acid on their content]. The contents of squalene, free and esterified sterols (metastenol, lathosterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol, cholesterol) in tissues of the rat esophageal and glandular stomach were studied in normalcy and under the effect of acetyl salicylic acid. The tissue of different stomach regions differs in the content of squalene, free and esterified sterols. Under the effect of acetyl salicylic acid the content of squalene and free sterols in tissues of the both stomach regions lowers. The amount of esterified sterols rises in the tissue of glandular stomach and lowers in the tissue of esophageal region. The data obtained are discussed taking into account the function of sterols in biological membranes.


[Simple technic for multiple small sample lyophilization]. This simple and easily reproducible technique does not pretend to be new in principle but is still very convenient for drying numerous samples. The advantage of the technique is based on preliminary sample freezing just before dessication. The tubes must be sealed with needle punctured cellophane to avoid the samples squeezing out by ice-entraped air bubbles. This approach is especially convenient for protein structure investigations when it is necessary to dry and accumulate peptides from the maps on high-voltage electrophoresis and chromatography. In a 1.5-litre dessicator some 20 ml of sample can be dried out without reloading.


[Characteristics of energy metabolism in tissues of edible frog in different seasons]. The lowest content of glycogen (2540 mg%) in the vigil frog liver tissue is found in March, soon after hibernation, the maximum content (8000 mg%) is marked in November, before hibernation. In autumn the highest level of nonesterified fatty acids is observed in blood (0.33 muequiv./ml), that of creatine phosphate (64.3 mg%) and ATP (66.6 mg%) in the brain tissues. In December-January, in the period of a week an one-and-a-half month hibernation (2-4 degrees C) the content of glycogen in the liver is 5.5-3.2 times as low, in the brain tissues and femur muscles it increases. The content of glucose in the liver, blood, muscles (but not in the brain) also increase; the level of fatty acids in blood lowers slightly. The content of macroergic phosphates in the brain tissues becomes 5.4-2.1 times as low. Awakening does not lead to a decrease in the content of glycogen in the tissues, the content of fatty acids increased by 110%.


[Blood glycoprotein composition of thyroidectomized rats in the presence of L-thyroxine]. The effect of L-thyroxin on the content of different glycoproteid components in blood serum was studied in thyroidectomized albino male rats. Changes in this index connected with the absence of thyroid hormones in the organism of thyroidectomized rats may be removed by means of the mentioned hormone. The dose and period of its application should be taken into account. The normal content of the glycoproteid components in blood may be completely restored by applying L-thyroxin in small doses for 48 days, in average doses for 36 days and in large doses for 24 days.


Definition of a seasonal infertility problem in pigs. A summer infertility problem was investigated on a large intensive piggery in a warm temperate climatic zone in Eastern Australia. The period of infertility correlates with the period of summer heat stress. The infertility problem was manifest as a delayed return of sows to oestrus after mating and an increase in the number of sows found non-pregnant when due to farrow. Litter size was apparently not adversely affected. Gilts and first parity sows were most frequently involved. The subsequent breeding performance of sows affected by this infertility problem was quite normal. There was no apparent effect of heat stress on the boars. It is proposed that the infertility is caused by heat stress imposed more than seven days after mating causing whole litter loss and the return of the sow to oestrus.


Antigens associated with canine spontaneous mammary carcinoma. Soluble proteins were prepared from canine spontaneous mammary carcinoma (CSMC) cells by extraction with 3M KCl or limited hydrolysis of isolated cell membranes with papain. These preparations were assayed for tumour-associated antigens by inhibition of fully absorbed rabbit antisera. Organ-specific reactivity was demonstrated and antigenic specificity indicated the possible involvement of fetal components. Exclusion chromatography showed that antigenic activity was associated with macromolecules of different sizes in each of the protein preparations which allowed partial purification of tumour-associated antigens. Antigens were also prepared from circulating immune complexes in the serum of tumour-bearing animals. These studies provide a basis for the development of serological markers of malignancy in CSMC.


Transcervical transfer of bovine embryos. Six-to nine-day-old embryos collected either surgically or nonsurgically from superovulated donor cows were transferred transcervically to recipient cows. Polyethylene tubes and plastic insemination pipettes were used to transfer the embryos. When embryos were transferred under controlled conditions (laboratory transfer) to 12 recipients, 10 (83.3 per cent) and eight (66.7 per cent) were tested pregnant at 45 and 90 days after transfer respectively. When transfers were made to 12 recipients under field conditions (paddock transfer), nine (75 per cent) and five (41.7 per cent) were tested pregnant at 45 and 90 days after transfer respectively. The difference in pregnancy rates between laboratory and paddock transfers was not statistically significant.


Diseases of chelonians: (2) necropsy survey of terrapins and turtles. A total of 122 terrapins (freshwater chelonians) of 36 species and seven turtles (marine chelonians) represented by three species, all of which had died in captivity, were necropsied. In terrapins, bacterial infections were a common cause of death (15.5 per cent). Although salmonella infections appear to be less common in Great Britain than in the USA, terrapins are a potentially important source of infection to humans. Fungal infections amounted to only 3.3 per cent. Nutritional disorders, especially hypovitaminosis A and osteodystrophies, were common (19.7 per cent), particularly in pets. Parasitism appeared to be less prevalent than in tortoises. Nematodes were found in 18.9 per cent. No other helminths were found. Protozoan infections amounted to at least 33.6 per cent, but most protozoa are seldom pathogenic. In 33.6 per cent of cases, no diagnosis was made. Bacterial and fungal diseases were diagnosed in turtles.


[Effect of freezing, high temperatures and drying on the eggs and larvae of Nematodirus spathiger Railliet, 1896]. A series of laboratory experiments were carried out to test the effect of freezing (--8 to --10 degrees C), high temperatures (15 to 20 degrees C, 26--28 degrees C, 36--37 degrees C, and 58--60 degrees C) on the eggs and larvae of N. spathiger in water, in a dry state, and in the faces. It was found under freezing the eggs retained their viability in water up to 260 days (5.4%), in a dry state up to 330 days (2.8%), and in the feces up to 373 days (5.3%). Embryonated eggs at --8 to --10 degrees C retained their viability up to 440 days. Infective larvae under freezing remained viable in water up to 150 days (4.6%), in a dry state up to 195 days (3.3%), and in the fecal mass up to 230 days (5.2%). Live larvae were detected in the fecal mass on the 450th day (4.6%) when kept at room temperature, on the 395th day (3.5%) at 26--28 degrees C, on the 186th day (5.5%) at 36--37 degrees C, and at the 180th minute (0.8%) at 58--60 degrees C. Frequent wetting and drying of larvae did not produce any unfavourable effect on their viability. A bioassay revealed that infective larvae frozen at --8 to --10 degrees C in the course of 150 days as well as dried at 15--20 degrees C for 166 days remained intact.


Serological study of ovine toxoplasmosis in Colombia: prevalence of haemagglutinating antibodies to toxoplasma in sheep. A total of 1655 ovine sera from the six principal sheep rearing areas of Colombia were examined for toxoplasma antibodies using the indirect haemagglutination test. It was shown that 58 per cent of these samples had titres of 1/16 or greater. Seropositive animals were distributed throughout all the areas studied. The possible factors affecting the distribution of seropositive sheep in one of the areas are discussed.


[Immune reactivity of piglets vaccinated at an early age with a live vaccine against erysipelas]. Studies were carried out on the immune response in pigs that had been treated at various intervals following birth with a live vaccine against erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. The pigs originated from sows that had been vaccinated against the disease on the 80th day of pregnancy. Both biologic and morphologic investigation were performed. It was found that passive immunity protected the small pigs against an experimental infection up to the age of 45 days, inhibiting during this period being the action of the vaccine applied. The young pigs built up an active immunity against swine erysipelas after their vaccination at the age of 2 months, which protected them against control challenging, while the nonvaccinated animals reacted with a rise in temperature and reddening at the site of scarification. The morphologic studies confirmed the results of the biologic experiments.


[Live vaccine against salmonellosis in swine]. A live vaccine was produced against salmonellosis in pigs, using a mutant strain 3--297 of Salmonella cholerae suis. The vaccine proved fully innocuous at the rate of 1 cm3 to guinea pigs and at 2-5 ml to pigs, and 15 days following injection the vaccinal strains was no longer isolated from the test animals. Guinea pigs injected singly at the rate of 1cm3 of the vaccine and infected on the 12th day with a pathogenic Salmonella cholerae suis strain died up to 12 per cent (the control ones up to 91 per cent). Pigs vaccinated singly or twice at the rate of 2 cm3 and infected on the 20th day (i/v) with a pathogenic strain of Salmonella cholerae suis died up to 14 per cent (the control ones up to 80 per cent).


[Experiments with vaccination against infectious epididymitis in rams]. Two killed vaccines were produced, differing by the adjuvant used--a hydroxide one and an oil one--employing four strains of Brucella ovis. They were applied twice at an interval of 20 days to rams under experimental conditions as well as to rams in filed conditions. On the 45th day following vaccination the experimental rams were challenged with a virulent Brucella ovis strain. To determine the acquired resistance the rams were investigated after the complement-fixation test, hemagglutination reaction, and agar gel immunodiffusion as well as through clinical and bacteriological examination of sampled semen for the presence of bacteria. It was established that rams treated with an oil vaccine built up a solid immunity. The postvaccinal antibodies disappeared after the third month of vaccination. It is suggested to carry out vaccinations with rams of the infected flocks each 6 months. The infected animals can be identified by means of serologic examination three months following vaccination. Vaccination makes it possible to use valuable animals for a longer period, which, though infected are not hazardous in spreading the infection in the flock. A programme is referred to for the curing of flocks by means of vaccination applied to the intact rams and gradual elimination of the infected animals.


[Comparative studies of the virulent and immunogenic properties of the Toxoplasma strains isolated from domestic animals]. Comparative investigations were carried out on the virulent and immunogenic properties of 5 cytogenic Toxoplasma strains (3 isolated from rabbits and 2--from fetuses of ewes that had miscarried). It was found that at shortening the interval of passage to 7--10 days and increasing the amount of the inoculate the virulence of the strains rose. Particularly virulent for albino mice proved the oocysts of T. gondii obtained after the feeding of kittens with cysts. The role was confirmed of Toxoplasma organisms in the etiology of abortions observed in experimentally infected guinea pigs and sheep. There were in the placenta and the brain of aborted fetuses characteristic histopathologic changes. Immunologic studies revealed that the isolated strains were immunologically identical.


[Respiratory enzootics in sheep caused by Pasteurella haemolytica]. Bacteriologically in 25 per cent of the materials taken from lambs, weaned lambs, and adult sheep Pasteurella haemolytica was invariably isolated. Serologic typing revealed that serotypes A2 and A6 were mostly widespread. The remaining serotypes proved to be encountered. Widely occurring were likewise the carriers of Pasteurella haemolytica both among the diseased animals and among the normal contacts--30 and 6 per cent, respectively. The serotype of the isolated strains (swab samples) was shown to be identical with the serotype of the strains isolated from pathologic materials on the same farm. This spoke of the symptomless existence of the infection in the flock and the important part played by such stress factors as movement, transportation, etc. in the outbreaks and the aggravation of the P. haemolytica infections. The isolated strains were apathogenic for albino mice and were sensitive in vitro penicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and streptomocin.


[Use of peroral DL-methionine in the prevention and treatment of ketosis in highly productive cows]. Pregnant cows in the dry period were given methionine at the rate of 0.5 cent of the dry matter of the ration 20 days before parturition. It was shown that such animals manifest no ketosis and other disturbances in the liver. High-producing, lactating cows that were offered DL-methionine orally at 0.6 per cent in the first 90 day of the lactation period did not likewise develop ketosis and other liver troubles, while animals that were deprived from this amino acid were affected up to 10 per cent. The blood levels of sugar, ketone bodies, total lipids and protein, bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, LDH, and aldolase were influenced positively by the administration of methionine to high-producing cows. The total amount of amino acids in the blood of lactating cows rose, methionine reaching 80 per cent above the ordinary level when diets containing synthetic methionine were fed to the animals.


Remarks on the pathogenic significance of HBsAg subtypes. The frequent controversies concerning the possible different pathogenic significance of antigenic hepatitis B virus subtypes determined the authors to analyse the mean values of some biochemical tests in two groups of acute viral hepatitis patients. The results obtained show that a more marked alteration of these values is correlated with the presence of HBsAg/ay in one of the groups (89 patients) and with that of HBsAg/ad in the other group (33 patients). Some explanations of these findings are suggested.


Prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis in patients with gynecologic diseases and abortion in the 2nd--3rd month of pregnancy. The presence of Mycoplasma hominis was investigated in 100 patients with gynecologic diseases, 20 infertility cases and 50 cases of abortion in the 2nd--3rd month of pregnancy. M. hominis could be isolated from the vaginal secretions of 20 patients with gynecologic diseases and of 3 infertility cases. Eighteen M. hominis isolates were recovered from 13 patients with abortion (8 strains from the placenta and 10 from vaginal secretions). High titers (1/64--1/512) of complement fixing antibodies to M. hominis were found in 16 patients with gynecologic diseases, 12 infertility and 17 abortion cases.


[Differences in the polypeptide composition of virulent and avirulent strains of Newcastle disease virus in reproduction in chick embryo fibroblast culture]. The loss of the capacity for secondary infection of the cells in reproduction of avirulent Newcastle disease virus strains in chick embryo fibroblast cultures was found. This loss was shown to be associated with changes in the polypeptide composition of the virions. In virions of the avirulent Queensland strain incapable of infection CEF cultures an additional polypeptide was found with molecular mass of 67,000 daltons which was lacking in virions of the virulent Beaudette strain and corresponded to F0 protein of paramyxoviruses.


[Study of the virus carrier state in chicken influenza]. The problems of virus carrier state in influenza are connected with two aspects of the disease: the duration of virus antigen persistence in convalescents and changes of influenza virus properties in the course of persistence. In the present study, natural influenza infection in chickens caused by influenza A/chicken/USSR/336/74 virus (Hav6H3--N2) was used to determine the duration of virus antigen persistence (up to 60 days) and the entire period of virus isolation from the survivers (up to 30 days). Administration of hydrocortisone on the 50th day of convalescence permitted to obtain from the chickens several influenza A virus isolates antigenically unrelated to the epizootic strain either in hemagglutinin or in neuraminidase. Cultivation of isolate No. 42 (Hav7Neq1) in the presence of the homologous serum yielded strain 42' which was neutralized by the serum to Hav6H3--N2 virus. The isolates differed from the epizootic virus by their biological properties: the eluting activity, pathogenesis and morphology. The above facts of antigenic variability are  considered in the light of the antigenic heterogeneity of the natural virus population and the possibility of virus activation by the provoking effect of extreme conditions on the carriers of latent infection.


Spectrofluorimetric techniques in the study of the interaction between fluorescent dyes and proteins or nuclear acids. After a review of the applications of spectrofluorimetric techniques to the study of ligand--biological substrate interactions, mention is made of the main fluorescent dyes used for the demonstration of structural characteristics and conformational alterations in proteins, nucleic acids, etc. The possibilities of using new compounds recommended in the literature (fluorescamine, fluoropa, a.o.) for the identification and study of proteins are analysed and original investigations with newly synthesized fluorescent compounds (anthraquinone dyes, anhydrides of peridicarboxylic acids, Tb3+ and Sm3+ complexes of the pyridine -2,6-dicarboxylic acid) are presented.


[Biological characteristics of influenza B viruses isolated during influenza B epidemics in 1976-1977]. Comparative studies of the antigenic structure of influenza B viruses isolated in 1976-1977 and in previous years demonstrated one-way relationship of the hemagglutinin of B/76 viruses with that of B/72 viruses. Antisera to new B/76 strains neutralized the hemagglutinating activity of all known reference influenza B virus strains beginning from 1972. Influenza B/76 viruses were divided into two groups depending on complete or partial neutralization by antiserum B/Hong Kong/7/75. The study of the antigenic structure of neuraminidase showed no significant differences between influenza B/76 and B/72 virus neuraminidase. All the influenza B viruses from different years under study had marked interferon-inducing properties and were sensitive to interferon. Unlike the Yamagata/1/73 strain, all the influenza B/76 viruses under study were resistant to thermostable inhibitors of normal horse, guinea pig, and rabbit sera.


[Laboratory and clinical study of biological activity of poly G-poly C complex]. Poly(G).poly(C) inoculated intravenously to mice in a dose of 100 microgram induced interferon in the blood in amounts comparable to those induced by poly(I).poly (C). In contrast to rapid accumulation (within 2 hours after induction) and rapid disappearance of interferon in response to poly(I).poly(C) inoculation, the interferon induced by poly(G).poly(C) reached the maximum titer by 6 hours and remained at a high level for 24 hours after inoculation. When given to human volunteers intranasally in a dose of 6 mg, the poly(G).poly(C) complex induced interferon in the blood serum in 70% of the subjects in a titer of 85 units/ml within 24 hours.


[Electron-microscopic study of the relationship between influenza A virus (H3N2) and human peripheral blood leukocytes]. The electron microscopic examinations of formed elements of human peripheral blood infected with a freshly isolated A/Sev/76 virus strain and vaccine A/Victoria/36/72 virus demonstrated that virions of both strains adsorbed on neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, thrombocytes and penetrated into the cells by phagocytosis and viropexis; most virus was concentrated in neutrophils and thrombocytes.


[Various properties of continuous culture of mosquito cells]. The possibility of cultivating a continuous line of Aedes aegypti mosquito cells in Mitsuhashi and Maramorosh medium and medium C-45 was studied. The results of morphological, karyological, and electron microscopic studies of these cells as well as the results of the study of isoenzymes of A. aegypti mosquito cells are presented. Replication of Sindbis, Okhotsky, and Baku viruses in these cells was demonstrated.


[Nonspecific resistance to heterologous viral infection after immunization with smallpox vaccine]. The level of development of nonspecific resistance to influenza virus infection after immunization with variola vaccine, the dynamics of changes in DNA synthesis in the spleen cells and concentration of nonspecific immunoglobulins in the blood serum of mice after immunization and infection with influenza virus were studied. A close correlation between DNA synthesis, concentration of immunoglobulins, and the level of nonspecific resistance to heterologous virus infection was found.


[Fragmentation of human adenovirus type 1 DNA by the specific endonucleases R. SaLI, R. EcoRI and R. BamHI]. The restricting endonuclease R. EcoRI hydrolyses human adenovirus type I (Adl) DNA with formation of three fragments with molecular weights of 17.5 x 10(6), 3.7 x 10(6), and 1.55 x 10(6) dalton. Under the effect of R. SaLI restrictase DNA Adl disintegrates into 5 fragments with molecular weights: 8.0 x 10(6), 6.0 x 10(6), 4.6 x 10(6), 4.0 x 10(6), and 0.2 x 10(6) dalton. Treatment of DNA with R. BamHI produces 4 fragments with molecular weights 10.0 x 10(6), 6.8 x 10(6), 4.0 x 10(6), and 2.2 x 10(6) dalton. Fragments of R. SaLI and R. BamHI form sequences BECAD and ACBD, respectively.


[Mapping of lengthy changes in the genomes of lambda-phages by using restriction endonucleases]. Fragmentation and mapping of DNA of two derivatives of lambda-phage, lambdapgal and lambda delta were done using restricting endonucleases R. EcoRI, R. BamHI, and R. SmaI. In DNA of lambdapgal phage a fragment of chromosome lambda of the wild type with molecular mass of 3.7--4.7 megadaltons to the left of the integration site was replaced with a fragment of chromosome of E. coli with the molecular mass of 2.3--3.3 MD containing a complete galactose operon. In the chromosome of lambda delta phage as compared with lambda-phage of the wild type there is a deletion of 5.2 MD in size. The localization of the deletion was determined. Possible ways of using DNA of lambdapgal in genetic engineering studies as the "pure" source of gal-operon for its transplantation using various restricting endonucleases are discussed.


[Antibodies to double-helical RNA and several viruses in medical personnel caring for systemic lupus erythematosus patients]. An average level of antibody to double-stranded RNA in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and medical staff taking care of these patients is higher than that in physicians from other institutions and donors. The level of antibodies to antigens of various viruses in lupus patients is elevated in comparison with that in the medical staff. No statistically significant differences in the levels of antibody to viruses in the staff of various institutions were found.


[Use of the plaque method to reveal the phenomenon of autointerference in influenza virus]. The paper describes a simple and convenient method for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the capacity of influenza virus for autointerference consisting in the lack or considerable reduction of the cytolytic effect of the virus under agar overlay at a high multiplicity of infection. Some experimental and theoretical arguments assuming the role of defective interfering particles in the formation of the observed phenomenon. It is assumed that the detection of autointerference under agar may be used as an additional criterion for detection of non-plaque-forming strains of influenza virus, tentative determination of their interfering capacity as well as for the establishment of biological relationships of viruses.


[Comparative study of the oncornavirus A and D proteins of human J-96 cells by the methods of isoelectric focusing and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis]. Three peaks of 14C-radioactivity with buoyant densities of 1.23--1.24, 1.26 and 1.29 g/ml were detected in a cytoplasmic extract of J-96 cells upon equilibrium centrifugation in sucrose gradient. Electron microscopy of the 1.23--1.24 g/ml buoyant density fraction revealed particles 60--80 nm in diameter showing morphology characteristic of oncornavirus A. Isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel showed polypeptides of extracellular D virus and oncornavirus A to differ in isofocusing points (pI). Proteins of extracellular D virus were localized in zones with pH 3.7, 4.0, 4.4, 4.7, 5.6, 6.5, 8.1, 9.45, and 10.0; polypeptide of intracytoplasmic oncornavirus A had the following isofocusing points: 4.0, 4.9, 6.7, 7.3, 9.0, 9.45 and over 10.0. Electrophoresis of polypeptides of D virus and intracellular oncornavirus A revealed differences in the molecular weights of the components. No proteins with molecular weights of 10,000, 12,000, 15,000, and 27,000 dalton characteristic of the extracellular D virus were found in oncornavirus A virions. The analysis of protein patterns obtained in parallel experiments of isoelectric focusing and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis suggests that oncornaviruses A and D of J-96 cells differ in the characteristics (pI and molecular weight) of the structural polypeptide components.


[Immunologic memory in influenza patients according to the blast transformation reaction to specific antigen]. One hundred-sixty patients with the laboratorily confirmed diagnosis of influenza were examined in the study on the capacity of T-and B-lymphocytes to retain immunological memory for influenza infection by the method of lymphocyte blast-cell transformation (LBT). The studies were carried out in the epidemic periods of influenza A2, A1, and B at various stages of the disease and convalescence. The LBT test was positive in 21--70% of tests depending on the time after the onset. Memory cells were detectable as early as by the end of the 1st week of the disease. The optimal results were found within 2--4 months after the disease. Early in the disease LBT was detected mostly in influenza A2, less frequently in influenza A1 and was practically absent in influenza B. The specificity of reaction in response to the stimulation with influenza A2 and B viruses was demonstrated. The accompanying bacterial pneumonia, a severe course of the disease, concurrent other viral infections did not prevent immunological memory formation.


Bacteremia due to Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium or Lactobacillus; twenty-one cases and review of the literature. Twenty-one cases of bacteremia due to Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium and Lactobacillus are described. Transient bacteremic episodes with these organisms may follow trauma to the mouth, intestine, or vagina. The majority of the patients were female and most had an underlying condition that may have predisposed to bacteremia. Ten of the patients died despite antibiotic treatment.


[Postnatal changes in the regions bordering the ventricle in the telencephalon of the cat]. In frontal, sagittal and horizontal series of sections through the telencephalon of 15 cats the postnatal development of the periventricular regions has been examined. Structure, distribution and postnatal changes of the matrix, of a zone of undifferentiated cells near the ventricle, and of packets of undifferentiated cells, so-called cell nests, are described in detail. In cats aged from postnatal day 1 to 84, the following findings have been obtained: 1. At term, almost the entire lateral wall of the lateral ventricle is lined by a matrix layer. After birth, it undergoes involution at rates varying at different sites.--In the medial wall of the lateral ventricle, a matrix occurs only in cats aged 1--5 days in a region rostral to the lamina terminalis. 2. In newborn and young cats a less compact layer of undifferentiated cells with dark nuclei was found to abut on the matrix. Near the album, this layer is characterized by a cell-rich outer zone, called the cell wall. The cell content of the layer of undifferentiated cells increases up to the 11th to 16th postnatal day. Later on it decreases. 3. The cell nests consist of groups of closely packed cells with small nuclei and scanty cytoplasm. The cell nests may be round, ellipsoid, elongated or irregular in form. They are often localized in direct contact to blood vessels. The cell nests occur in certain predilection areas, particularly in the region of the frontal white matter and in the centrum semiovale. In most regions of the cerebral cortex where cell nests occur, their number increases up to the 11th to 16th postnatal day and later decreases. At the 40th day most of the cell nests have disappeared. 4. Within the matrix and the layer of undifferentiated cells near the ventricle, and also within the cell nests, cell divisions and cell deaths occur. The structural changes described are discussed with respect to postnatal development of the cerebral hemispheres.


[Light and electron microscopic studies of the paraplacenta in the cat]. Even in the early stages of pregnancy microscopically demarcated zones were distinguished on the paraplacenta of the cat towards the poles and way from the zonary placenta. Along the zonary placenta there exists a transitional zone; this is characterized by having a uterine epithelium which possesses coral-shaped buddings or sprouts. In the main, the epithelium of the latter structures is decomposed apically and detritus is present. From the open-lying and partially injured capillaries there appears a ring shaped haematoma which is subsequently characterized as a marginal haematoma. In this, likewise, there grows a branched uterine epithelium with protruding buds. The chorion of the paraplacenta becomes immersed in the extravasated blood of the haematoma by means of long cell protrusions which bear clusters of microvilli. Polewards from the marginal haematoma there is a contact zone with adhesions between the chorionic and uterine epithelium. In the position of close contact with the chorion, the uterine epithelium is transformed into a maternal epithelial symplasma. Furthermore, the chorion develops a rosettelike epithelial proliferation. In addition, small and larger vesicles appear which could have developed from both epithelia. Finally there is an area on the dome-shaped poles of the placenta where there is no contact between the chorionic and uterine epithelium. The epithelium of the paraplacental chorion becomes almost entirely dissociated 1...2 days prior to birth. However, the uterine epithelium with the exception of the protruding buds on the margin of the zonary placenta remains intact. The post partum epithelialization of the wound area commences from this intact area. With the exception of a few short, deep lying tubuli the crypts and glandulae uterinae of the paraplacental disappear in the course of pregnancy. Through the stretching of the uterine wall they are widened and imcorporated into the uterine surface epithelium.


Histo-physiology of the salivary glands of the red cotton bug, Dysdercus koenigii (Pyrrhocoridae-Heteroptera)--histological, histochemical, autoradiographic and electron-microscopic studies. 1. Gross morphology, histology, histochemistry and ultrastructure of the salivary glands of Dysdercus koenigii have been studied. The mode of origin of saliva was investigated by tracer techniques. 2. Differences in histological structure of the glandular lobules, consistency and staining properties of the lumen contents, as also in their capability to incorporate materials from haemolymph have been observed, pointing to a possible division of labour among the different parts of the gland. 3. 3H-thymidine experiments showed that some of the nuclei of the gland cells incorporate the label asynchronously, indicating their polyploid growth or repair DNA synthesis or even specific gene amplification. 4. 3H-uridine incorporation patterns showed that the gland cell nuclei are the principal centres of RNA synthesis. The synthetic products move into the cytoplasm and then into the glandular lumen. The RNA exported into the lumen conjugates with the protein to form RNP which provides the material for the formation of the protective sheath around the mandibular, and maxillary stylets at the time of piercing and sucking. 5. Autoradiographic experiments with 3H-L-histidine showed that the site of heavy labelling shifts from outside inwards with progressive incubation times, indicating that the glandular epithelium is capable of transporting haemolymph materials (proteins?) into the lumen. Some of the haemolymph protein fractions could possibly be used as the precursors of salivary components, in addition to the endogenously synthesised materials. 6. Salivary histochemical studies revealed the presence of glycogen both in the lumen and in the granular epithelium. 3H-glucose labelling patterns are in agreement with the histochemical localization of glycogen and suggest that the blood sugar (trehalose) might be appropriated by the gland cell epithelium for the formation of glycoproteins. 7. Ultrastructural observations of the gland cells showed that the basal borders of the cells are highly folded to form pits. Pinocytotic uptake of the haemolymph materials may be facilitated by these pit formations. The apical borders of the cells facing the lumen develop numerous microvilli and the secretion granules escape into the lumen by pinocytosis, as revealed also by the autoradiographic studies with tritiated histidine. The distribution of golgi vesicles, mitochondria, microtubules is not uniform. They tend to show a higher density towards the apical border than towards the basal border of the cells. This difference may be related to the well-known functions of these organelles in packing the secretion products and to provide energy and channels for their transport. The rER exists in the form of numerous vesicles scattered evenly throughout the cytoplasmic space. But they also exist as stacks of membranes. Their proximity with golgi vesicles seems to be significant for the packing process of the secretion products.


[Quantitative electron microscopic studies of the environment dependent differentiation of synapses in the hippocampus (CA 1) of the rat]. The influence of environmental factors on synaptogenesis in the rat hippocampus (stratum radiatum of CA 1) was studied by the aid of quantitative electron microscopy. Three groups of newborn Wistar-rats were exposed to different environmental conditions (sensory deprivation and stimulation, respectively). The first group was raised in complete darkness while the second was exposed to permanent noise. The third group (controls) was reared under normal laboratory conditions. The animals were sacrificed either on the 15th or on the 35th postnatal day and prepared for electron microscopy. In the 15 day old dark raised animals the number of synapses in the stratum radiatum of CA 1 was significantly decreased by 24% in comparison with the normal. On the other hand, 15 day old rats exposed to permanent noise exhibit significantly more synapses (+ 28%) in the stratum radiatum of CA 1 (the mean number of synapses/25 micrometer 2 is 4,30 +/- 1,85 in the controls, 3,29 +/- 1,66 in the dark raised group and 5,52 +/- 2,35 in the animals subjected to permanent noise). No significant differences in the number of synapses between experimental animals and controls could be found in 35 day old rats. In accordance with earlier studies on the development of dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons the results of the present paper indicate an environment-dependent differentiation of synaptic structures in the hippocampus of the rat during the early postnatal period.


Ultrastructural features and glycogen distribution in the electric organ of the electric ray Torpedo marmorata L. The ultrastructural topography of glycogen in the electic organ of the fish Torpedo marmorata has been examined following Thiéry's method and the modified osmium tetroxide post-fixation of De Bruijn. Both methods reveal a high concentration of glycogen particles in the nerve terminals, particularly in pedunculate pouches issuing from the nerve endings and bulging into the intersyncytial area. A few sparse positive particles are scattered at random in the Schwann cells and in the cuff cells occasionally encapsulating the myelinated and ummyelinated subsynaptic axons. In the electric cell, glycogen occurs in the form of scattered particles homogenously distributed among all the cytoplasm. The structure and the size of glycogen granules in relation to the detection methods used and to previous parallel investigations are briefly discussed.


The structure of teleost epidermis with special reference to new qualitative and quantitative data from the guppy, Poecilia reticulata Peters. Scales from the midlateral body region of adult male guppies, Poecilia reticulata Peters, were investigated morphometrically by light and electron microscopy. The epidermis consists of one superficial layer and, in general, two basal layers of filament-containing cells and a number of mucous cells. There are scattered chemosensory cells and unmyelinated nerve fibres. Superficial cells are flattened and form apical ridges in a fingerprint-like arrangement. The volume density of mitochondria, granular endoplasmic reticulum, and numerical density of dictyosomes are higher in superficial cells than in basal cells. The superficial cells are secretorily active. Small electron dense vesicles are transported from the dictyosomes to the body surface and yield the glycocalyx material, which is not identical with the slime produced by the mucous cells.


[Ultrastructural studies of the duck cere with special reference to Grandry and Herbst bodies]. The results of the investigations into the cere of the domestic duck (Anas boscas domestica) and the mallard (Anas platyrhyncha) may be summarized as follows. The parts of ceroma are the epidermis and the corium. The epidermis is a laminated epithelium and the corium consists of fibrous connective tissues. The later one frequently contains mastocytes and pigment cells. There are many blood vessels, Schwann's cells, nerve fibres, Grandry's and Herbst's bodies. The sensory cells of Grandry's bodies are bodies with processes. They are characterized by the round nucleus, dense core vesicles, the small Golgi's complexes, the narrow endoplasmatic ducts and the cytoplasmatic fascicles. In the nerve fibre running between the sensory cells there are plenty of mitochondria but few clear vesicles and neurofilaments. The axolemma, cytolemma, and the empty space lying between these are sharply obvious. In Grandry's bodies with more than one sensory cells the nerve fibre ramifies. In the branches there are no mitochondria. These are replaced by clear vesicles. In Grandry's bodies with one sensory cell the axon ends in a disc growing narrow at its termination. Both of them are full of mitochondria. The terminal disc is characterized by the elliptical bodies and the thickenings of the membrane. Herbst's body consists of three parts. One of these is the inner knob, the other is the inner cavity, the third is the external capsule. The inner knob consists of two series of cells. The number of cells is ten in both rows each. From the cells, 20 to 50 lamina-like processes are originating. The laminar system of every cell is connected with the system of the cell before and behind it, as well as with the laminar system of the other side. In the nerve fibre running between the rows of cells mainly in its terminal part, some groups are formed by mitochondria, the dense-core vesicles, and the elliptical bodies. The inner cavity consists of laminae of different breadths, limited by cavities full of some meshwork. The laminae vary in form and extent. There are among them some ramifying ones, some forms terminating in a point and some of blunt ends. They are characterized by dense and long ribosomeseries, arranged close to one another. The external capsule consists of several parallel laminae, separated from one another by collagenous fibrin fascicles. The laminae are mostly narrow, their cytoplasm is spongoid, they are characterized by egg-shaped cysterns. There is no synaptic organization either in Grandry's or in Herbst's body. The junction between the membrane is to be regarded as a parallel contact in both places.


Calcitonin cells and unusual follicle in four month old wistar rats. 1. The thyroid gland of 4 month old Wistar rats (both sexes) were made into serial sections and investigated by means of haematoxylin-eosin, PAS-haematoxylin, Davenport's silver impregnation and lead haematoxylin stainings. Calcitonln (C) cells are easily discernible by these techniques. 2. These cells are unevenly distributed and randomly concentrated in the thyroid. They are completely absent from cephalic and caudal poles of thyroid and are generally present in its middle region. They are scare in peripheral follicles and plentiful among central follicles. 3. The isthmus and the parathyroid are completely devoid of C cells. 4. Secretory granules in these cells have a tendency to concentrate towards vascular pole. 5. The unusual follicle is lined by squamous cells and filled with desquamated cells. C cells are completely absent from its epithelial lining.


[Autoradiographic studies of the neurogenesis and morphogenesis of the cingulate region in the rat. I. Proliferation patterns in different pre- and postnatal stages]. The proliferation of the matrix-cells in the limbic cortex of 219 embryonic rats has been investigated by means of autoradiographs, after injection of tritiated thymidine at different stages of foetal life. The course of the labeling index indicates that matrix-cells represent a cell population in which cell multiplication is both rapid and continuous. Moreover the number of labeled cells decreases following the migration of labeled neuroblasts to another site. Because the beginning of migration retards after a division a proliferative compartment and a differentiating compartment were found in the subventricular and the ventricular zone. The migration appears in waves not before 24 hours after division of cells. We have found that, between the second and the third day and between the third and the fourth day after injection, migrating cells arise with 1/2 or 1/4 of the number of silver grains respectively. Cell division and migration both indicate in the brain a sequential nature; after each mitosis only one of the daughter-cells retains their proliferative capacity, the other becomes differentiated into neuroblast and leaves the proliferative compartment.


[Glands in the skin of the fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina(L.); Discoglossidae, Anura): type, number, size and distribution under natural and experimental conditions]. 1. In the skin of the fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina) 5 types of glands are found. By analogy with the comparable glands of the yellow-bellied toad and the grass frog, these are called the toxic, lumpy, mucous, callous, and small glands. The callous glands were omitted from the present study. 2. Lumpy glands are most numerous in the middle of the back of the fire-bellied toad, their numbers decreasing progressively over the sides to the middle of the ventral surface. Mucous glands are more common cranially than caudally. The toxic and small glands are uniformly distributed over the body. 3. On the average there are 700 glands per square cm of skin in the fire-bellied toad. Of these, in the male the lumpy glands represent less than 10%, while the toxic, mucous and small glands each account for 30%. In the females 50% of the total number of glands are mucous glands, and only about 10% toxic glands; lumpy and small glands occur in the same proportions as in the males. Following gonadotropin injection, no change in the number of glands was observed in the male. 4. The largest toxic and lumpy glands are located cranially; toward the tail their size is reduced. The mucous glands have the greatest volume on the sides of the body. Small glands are of similar size everywhere. 5. Glands of uniform size are arranged in longitudinal rows on this toad. The dorsally situated toxic, lumpy and mucous glands are larger, on the whole, than the more ventral glands of the same types. 6. All 4 gland types on the body of Bombina are larger in males than in females. 7. Following administration of PMS to the male there is a selective increase in volume of the toxic and lumpy glands on the dorsal surface, but no corresponding increase on the ventral surface. Mucous and small glands do not change in size after hormone treatment. 8. The capacity of all the glands in a cm2 of skin, in terms of mean volume, is 1.7 mm3 in males not treated with hormones. After PMS treatment of the male the gland volume per cm2 increase to 2.5 mm3. The total volume per cm2 in females is only 0.65 mm3.


[Projection of different ganglion cell classes in the albino rat retina. A study using horseradish peroxidase]. In order to demonstrate the central projections of the different ganglion cell classes in the albino rat retina horseradish-peroxidase was injected into the superior colliculus (CS) and into the lateral geniculate nucleus (Cgl). The study presents the following results: a) Injection into the CS: Labelled cells are only in the contralateral retina. Topistically, the retino-collicular projection is in good agreement with the findings of physiological methods. The nasal half of the retina projects mainly to the posterior part and the superior half to the lataral part of the CS. Taking into consideration our cell-size-classification among 500 labelled cells we found 63% of the small group (7...10 micrometer soma diameter), 35% of the medium-sized (11...14 micrometer) and only 2% of the large group (15...23 micrometer). The small cells (W-system)project mainly, but not alone and not exclusively to the CS. b) Injection into the Cgl: In the ipsilateral retina we found a few labelled cells in the superior, temporal region. Contralateral--as after CS-injection--only half of ganglion cells is labelled. The quantitative analysis of 500 labelled cells indicates: 32% belong to hte small group, 51% to the medium-sized and 17% to the large group. There are fibers of all three classes, but in the majority those of the medium-sized class terminating in the Cgl. It is discussed whether these results allow a comparison of the size classes with the W-, X- and Y-system. Our findings show that there is no clear agreement between cell-size and projection site as demonstrated in cats. There is a large overlapping of the cell classes with respect to their central projection. We found that with increasing soma-diameter the ganglion cells project more and more to the Cgl. It is known that in the Golgi-picture cells with different soma diameter are of the same neuron type. Therefore, a morphological comparison of the ganglion cells of the rat with the W-, X- and Y-system is only ingenious taking into consideration also the dendritic structure.


Seasonal variations in the parathyroid gland of the lizard, Uromastix hardwickii (Gray). Morphology, histology and seasonal changes in the parathyroid gland of the lizard, Uromastix hardwickii are reported. The lizard possesses a pair of glands consisting of a single type of cells. Parathyroid gland undergoes well defined seasonal changes. During breeding season (Summer) gland showed hyperactivity, whereas in winter, when lizard is quiescent, parathyroid gland shows degenerative changes. Though parathyroid gland from both male and female exhibited hyperactive phase during summer, plasma calcium and phosphorus concentration of female only has increased during this period suggesting that the changes in the parathyroid gland are not due to the endogenous circulating calcium level.


Micromorphology of the median eminence in the percoid fish, Trichogaster fasciatus (Bloch and Schneider). The pituitary of Trichogaster fasciatus is devoid of a distinct stalk and is closely attached to the floor of the brain. The third ventricle is in wide communication with the anterior neurohypophysis adjacent to the pars distalis. The subterminal region of the hypothalamus and the anterior neurohypophysis forms the median eminence. Structurally this region can be compared to the median eminence of tetrapods as it is differentiated into ependymal, fibrous and reticular layers. A close morphological contact between the stainable neurosecretory and silver positive axons with the capillary plexus and accumulation of neurosecretory material around the capillary network suggest the presence of an incipient tetrapodan type of median eminence in this species.


Corpuscles of Stannius in a hillstream teleost, Glyptothorax pectinopterus (McClelland). There is a pair of corpuscles of Stannius in the hillstream catfish, Glyptothorax pectinopterus. They are rounded or oval bodies visible to the naked eye, and situated ventrolaterally in the posterior mesonephros. Each CS is enclosed in a connective tissue capsule. Histologically, the CS have granulated secretory cells which stain positively with AF, PAS and CAH. They have oval or spherical nucleus with one or two nucleoli. Neural structures are present in the capsule as well as in the substance of the corpuscle.


[Karyovolumetric studies of postnatal differentiation of the amygdaloid complex in ovarectomized rats]. The caryovolumetrically definable prepubertal morphokinesis of the medial, cortical and basolateral amygdaloid nuclei in intact female rats (DOCKE and SMOLLICH 1978), which is probably related to the maturation of the ovulatory meachnisms, could not be demonstrated in females ovariectomized on the first day after birth and autopsied at 21, 26, 32, 36 or 39 days of age. Simultaneously, postnatal castration induced a specific stimulation of the metabolic activity of amygdaloid neurons. A distinct increase of cell nuclear volumes as compared to intact rats was recorded in the medial and basolateral amygdaloid nuclei and, to a lower degree, in the cortical amygdaloid nucleus. Neurons located in the parietal cortex did not respond in this way. The findings support the assumption that the mediocortical and basolateral amygdaloid regions belong to the cerebro-hypophyseo-gonadal axis and are involved in the differentiation and/or maturation of this axis.


Head-kidney thyroid in some Indian teleosts. Six species of fishes, with different habits and belonging to different habitats and families, have been investigated. Only four, namely Discognathus lamta, Carassius auratus, Glossogobius giuris and Polynemus sexfilis have shown the presence of heterotopic thyroid follicles in their head-kidneys. The heterotopic thyroid follicles of Discognathus lamta appear to be functional while those of the rest of fishes are in non-functional state.


[Normal structure and ultrastructure of the superior cervical ganglion cells in the rat]. It is surprising to ascertain, as did DE LEMNOS and PICK, that the fine structure of rat ganglia has not raised up more interest, If one considers neurons only, S.I.F. and satellite cells are not generally described. Relatively little information is available on the nucleus organization, except nuclear mambran folds (FORSSMANN). Cajal's intranuclear rod shaped inclusions have been omitted or imperfectly studied except by SEITE. However, the presence of the structures testifies the biochemical activity in neurons. In the present ultrastructural investigation, perticular attention was given to the perikaryon fine structure in neurons. Changes in neuronal appearance were estimated in cultures and grafts with reference to morphological features of the perikaryon.


[Effect of sensory deprivation on the lamina V pyramidal neurons in the rat cingulate gyrus]. Three groups of Wistar-rats were reared in the dark during different periods in their postnatal life: the first group was reared in the dark starting from birth for a period of four weeks, the second one from birth up to nine weeks of age and the third one from the fifth up to the ninth week postnatal. Two groups of control animals were reared under normal laboratory conditions from birth up to four or else up to nine weeks of age. The brains were processed according to a modified Golgi-Kopsch method. In lamina-V-pyramids of the gyrus cinguli there were evaluated lightmicroscopically for every group: length, number and distribution of spines on the main apical dendrites; on the apical oblique dendrites, too, these measures were made in the groups of four weeks of age (experimental and control animals). Main results are: 1. Rearing in the dark from birth up to the fourth week of age, i.e. during the early period of the postnatal brain development causes a growing-inhibition: the number of apical oblique dendrites (first order) was significantly decreased in comparison with the controls. The apical spines-values are not significantly altered. 2. Rearing in the dark from birth up to the ninth week of age as well as during the later postnatal development (from the fifth up to the ninth week) cause a statistically significant increase of spines values on the main apical dendrite. 3. These findings are discussed from a functional point of view and with the references.


Studies on the ovarian activity of the dromedary (Camelus dromedarius). Post-ovulatory corpora haemorrhagica and mature corpora lutea were seen in the ovary of non pregnant dromedary only during the spring season. Regressed corpora lutea were noticed in the pvaries all-over the year together with many follicles of different sizes. 2 or 3 corpora lutea in different stages of regression might be found in the same ovary. Premordial follicles in the ovary of the dromedary were found to be distributed under tunica albuginea and extend deeply for a short distance in the cortical tissue. Number of these follicles are intact while others are atretic. The ovary of the dromedary shows very few number of intact growing follicles all-over the year. The majority of the growing follicles were found to show different stages of atresia. A large number of Graafian follicles is noticed in the ovaries of the dromedary examined all-over the year. Some of these Graafian follicles are intact, others show signs of atresia. The most common type of atresia that affects the large antral follicles is the cystic atresia. Both granulosa and theca cells of the dromedary undergo luteinization after ovulation to form the corpus luteum. This occurs earlier in the granulosa cells than in the theca cells. Regression of the  corpus luteum was found to occur in the dromedary by 2 different ways, termed vascular and avascular types. Sometimes the 2 types of regression occur in the same ovary.


[Brain warts].

[Brain warts]. 26% of the brains studied (108) reveal warty extraversions which predominantly lie within the limits of the frontal lobe where they can be most frequently encountered on the lower frontal gyrus. Most of them occupy the crest of a gyrus. Only a few elongated ones can be found in the vicinity of the bottom of a sulcus. The various laminae of the cortex are subjected to variations. The molecular layer (I) contains a great number of ectopic nerve cells. Pigment-laden stellate cells and those devoid of pigment inclusions can be encountered besides a great number of various types of pyramidal cells. The nerve cells of the corpuscular layer (II) appear loosely arranged. The pyramidal layer (III) follows the curvature of the wart but appears attenuated towards its tip. Both the ganglionic layer and the multi-form layer show a lens-shaped thickening. If compared with an equal-sized part of the adjoining normal isocortex there is no numerical increase of nerve cells within the wart.


[Changes caused by ultrasound in the isolated rat heart and in the rat heart in situ]. 1. The morphological alterations of rat hearts were investigated on isolated and on in situ organs after exposure to ultrasound. The ultrasonic waves, at 850 kHz frequency, were administered for 2 to 4 minutes with an energy of 2 to 4 watts/cm2. 2. In the exposed area, the pathological modifications are occurring in four successive steps. At the initial stage, the myocardial cells swell, at the second one one they contract and still later they show cleared spots and breakage lines, which may lead to fragmentation of the fibres. At the fourth stage the cells undergo a granular, mottling and vacuolar degeneration. 3. The epicardium demonstrates spotted blebs and swollen areas. It sometimes disintegrates or disappears, and can also cover some bleedings. Similar changes are found in the endocardium. 4. The alterations of the connective and endothelial cells correspond to those of the myocardial cells. Where the latter are swollen or contracted, the blood vessels are enlarged. In the regions with fragmented or degenerated muscle cells they are frequently necrotic. 5. In the wall of the left ventricle, the ventral part demonstrate more alterations than the dorsal one. However an exception is made by the tissues immediately next to border zones. Cellular and tissular damages augmented by increase in exposure period or energy.


[Ultrastructure of hepatocytes is teleost fishes following food deprivation]. Liver tissue of nine teleost species has been investigated electron microscopically after periods of fasting. Ultrastructural changes tn the hepatocytes are described mainly from Haplochromis burtoni. 70 days of food deprivation have the following effects: the intercellular spaces are widened; the size of the hepatocytes is reduced; lysosomes are enlarged and reach the diameter of the nucleus and have increased in number; the amount glycogen is reduced; the endoplasmatic reticulum bears less ribosomes. All alterations are reversible. The comparison of different species mainly shows differences conceming to the amount of lipid, which may be reduced or enlarged.


[II. Ultrastructure of rat superior cervical ganglion cells in organ culture and grafts]. Ultrastructural modifications of neurons in organ cultures were more and less obvious, while remaining always identical in cultures at the same age. Between 5 and 6 days after culture, neurons showed numerous dense bodies, nuclear pockets, sparse Nissl's bodies broken into fragments, bundles of microfilaments, elongated mitochondria and a slightly distended Golgi apparatus. Sometimes, the nucleus was indented and the nucleolus was shaded off. S.I.F. cells had indented nucleus, dense bodies and bundles of microfibrils. Neurons from direct grafts presented modifications similar to those observed in cultures at short time intervals. Then the breaking up of Nissl's bodies and mitochondria and the hyalin transformation of dense bodies took place. A restoration, at first involving the nucleus, could occur in relation with immunological conditions. The evolution of S.I.F. cells was quite comparable to that of neurons. In either case, features of cellular degeneracy were always little marked and fugitive.


[Luminal surface of human esophagus during ontogeny]. The development of human esophagus epithelium was continuously examined from the 7th to the 23rd week post conception (p.c.) by transmission as well as scanning electron microscopes. Essential steps of the development are: 1. From the 7th to the 9th week p.c. the lumen of the esophagus is open along the whole length. Many superficial cells cease their mitotic activity and produce single cilia. 2. In the 9th week p.c. large low electron dense areas still exist in the cells. Most of the superficial cells are incapable of mitosis. 3. In the 11th week p.c. we found two possibilities for differentiation of the primary cells: ciliated cells and cells with glycogen. 4. In the 14th week p.c. there is the greatest amount of ciliated cells. At the same time, the transformation of ciliated cells to columnar cells begins. The reduction of mitochondria correlates with the migration of the nucleus. 5. After the 17th week p.c. no more glycogen-rich cells exist. The number of ciliated cells decreases discontinuously. 6. Polygonal shaped epithelial cells predominate in the 23rd week p.c. Stratified epithelium develops only after 23 weeks p.c. Thus, through the use of transmission and scanning electron microscopes, we found new aspects which are contrary to the known theories based on light microscopical investigations.


Scanning electron microscopy of the prostomium and anterior segments of the earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris L., Eisenia foetida Sav.). A scanning electron microscopic study of the epithelium of the prostomium, anterior segments, mouth and pharynx was performed in Lumbricus terrestris L. and Eisenia foetida Sav. Numerous ciliated areas (number of cilia up to 800) identified as receptor organs, were found scattered on the prostomium and 1st segment. From the 2nd segment on, the number of organs decreased and they were arranged in several rows. Receptor organs small in size and number, were also found in the buccal and pharyngeal epithelium. The cilia of the sensory organs stuck out of holes of different sizes of the epithelial cuticle thickened by a supracuticular matrix. In addition, there were groups of about 5 cilia scattered below the epithelial cuticle. Each cilium lay in a narrow groove of the subcuticular surface of the epithelium characterized by an abundance of short thick microvilli protruding into evenly sized holes of the cuticle. The cilia appeared to be identical with those of solitary sensory cells.


Responses of gill to various changes in salinity in fresh water teleost Colisa fasciatus (Bl. and Schn.). In the present study the effects of different osmotic conditions have been observed on the gills of a fresh water air breathing teleost Colisa fasciatus. 1. In control fishes two types of specialised cells (mucous gland and mast cells) are found in the gill. There is no special type of "chloride cell". None of the cells give AgNO3/HNO3 test. The size of the mucous cells varies from 5.50 micrometer to 5.94 micrometer. 2. After distilled water treatment, the epithelium is severely swollen and at some places completely desquamated from the lamellae, leaving only the blood capillaries and supporting pilasler cells, due to endosmosis. 3. After 40% salt water treatment the exhaustive stages in mucous glands and marked shrinkage of the entire respiratory epithelium is observed. The excess of salt causes exosmosis resulting in death of the fishes. 4. After 8% salt water treatment the number and the size of mucous prodicing cells of treated fish increases approximately four times as compared to controlled fishes during the first week of adaptation. In case of one month treated fish the gill surface area increases extensively and is occupied by the mucous cells. These mucous producing cells are AgNO3/HNO3 positive indicating their transformation into so called "chloride cells". The size of mucous cell increases upto 19.63 micrometer.


[Glia of median eminence. Electron microscopic studies of normal, adrenalectomized and castrated rats ]. The glia is investigated in an oral and middle region of the median eminence (EM). Both zones have in common that they can be subdivided in the ependyma and subependyma (with ependymal cells, tanycytes and some oligodendroglial cells, astrocytes and glia which cannot be further classified), internal zone (with astrocytes, oligodendroglia and microglia) and external zone (with astrocytic tanycytes, microglia and a few astrocytes). Quantitative differences exist between the oral and middle part of the EM since the area which is occupied by the glia decreases per section in the caudal direction. For the first time a new type of glia cells is described which are designated as astrocytic tanycyte; they posses the structural features of tanycytes as well as of astrocytes.--After adrenalectomy and castration the area of the glia is bigger in the external zone than in untreated animals. Under the same conditions the number and size of the lipoprotein granules of the glia increase. A general activation of the glia of the EM occurs which is considered to be a reaction which runs parallel with the stimulation of the neurosecretory systems.


Microbial fixation of nitrogen in presence of sodium tungstate. The effect of sodium tungstate in the culture media of three different species of Azotobacter, isolated from Allahabad soil, was studied. It was observed that the presence of tungstate in the culture media of bacterial sample A2 and A3 decreased the fixation of nitrogen, except in the bacterial sample A1.


Investigation of cerium and yttrium ions effects on microbial nitrogen fixation and determination of inhibition. Critical investigation of the effect of yttrium and cerium ions in culture media for nitrogen-fixing bacteria showed strong inhibition. There was a decrease in the amount of nitrogen fixed; simultaneously, in the samples containing cerium ions, carbon consumption values increased as the molarity of metal ion was enhanced. Inhibition rate was invariably maximum at the highest concentration of metal ions.


Microbial fixation of nitrogen in presence of lanthanum sulphate with sodium molybdate. The effect of lanthanum sulphate together with 100 micrometer of sodium molybdate show that there is considerable increase in nitrogen fixation and carbon consumption in the culture medium of nitrogen-fixing Azotobacter species A1 and A2, isolated from Allahabad soil. But these combination decrease the nitrogen fixation and carbon consumption in case of another species, Azotobacter A3, of the same soil.


Carbon and nitrogen nutrition of Aerobacter aerogenes for valine production. A number of carbon and nitrogen compounds were tested for their effect on growth of Aerobacter aerogenes and valine production. Sucrose was found to be the superior carbon source for valine production, while mannose supported maximum cellular growth with very poor yield of valine. Urea was found to be the adequate nitrogen source for valine production. Supplementation of the synthetic medium with complex nutrients lowered the yield of valine. No direct relationship between the growth of the organism and the formation of the amino acid was noticed. On the basis of this study, a suitable synthetic medium for valine production has been developed.