The relative distribution of soluble and insoluble cholinesterases in rat excitable tissues. Three ratios were studied here: bound to free AChE (R1), bound to free BChE (R2), and the ratios between these two (R3). The first one proved relevant in that it contributed to the division of the cholinergic tissues into 3 classes: high values (nicotinic tissues: skeletal muscle), low values (muscarinic tissues: small intestine, uterus, heart), and middle values (mixed, nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic innervation: brain). The third ratio (R3) showed different values in the muscarinic tissues studied; no significant differences could, however, be found between the ratios of brain and skeletal muscle. Further exploration of this ratio should indicate whether it is of some importance for the characterization of excitable tissues.


[Pharmacological study of a non-steroid compound with progestin-like activity (M.G. 6236)]. The detailed pharmacological study of 1-acetyl-4-phenylcyclohexanol (isomer with equatorial hydroxyl - M.G. 6236 - see formula) is reported. This compound was found to have progestin-like activity particularly as regards increase in carbonic anhydrase activity and increase in the proliferative activity of the mucosa of the rabbit uterus.


Prematurity and orgasmic coitus during pregnancy: data on a small sample. Nineteen mothers of premature infants were interviewed in an attempt to determine a possible relationship between prematurity and orgasmic coitus during pregnancy. Although the limited number of subjects precludes tests of statistical significance and definite conclusions, the findings do suggest possible associations. While there appeared to be no relationship between prematurity and coitus per se during pregnancy, the association of frequent or intense orgasm with prematurity does raise some questions that further investigation might answer. Because of the hazard of prematurity to the subsequent development of the child, further exploration of the possible relationship of prematurity to orgasmic coitus during pregnancy appears warranted.


In vitro response of rabbit utero-ovarian ligament to catecholamines. The response of the rabbit utero-ovarian ligament to catecholamines has been studied in vitro, with contractile activity being recorded isometrically from whole rabbit ligaments obtained under various hormonal conditions. Both the catecholamines norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) produced dose-dependent (10(-2) mug/ml threshold; 10(2) mug/ml maximum) tetanic contractions of rabbit ligament. There was no difference (P less than 0.05) between estrous and ovulatory ligaments either in terms of the dose-response curves or maximal force of contraction. Both agonists were 100% antagonized by the alpha-blockers, phentolamine and phenoxybenzamine. The beta-agonist, isoproterenol, had little effect on ligament tonus but did inhibit spontaneous activity and attenuated the response to both NE and EPI. Propranolol, a beta-blocker, slightly (less than 10%) potentiated the stimulatory effects of NE and EPI. It is concluded that the utero-ovarian ligament of the rabbit contains predominately alpha-stimulatory and possibly weak beta-inhibitory receptors analogous to receptors in ovarian and oviductal smooth muscles.


Use and abuse of topical steroids.

Use and abuse of topical steroids. Review of the history of topical steroid treatment, explaining the high acceptance and discussing the complications. Special attention is drawn to the fact that-though extremely rare- sensitization to various steroids is described. In 1 patient cross-sensitization occurred against six different corticosteroids, all fluorinated.


Non-parenteral vaccines for veterinary use in the United Kingdom. The first vaccine specifically formulated for non-parenteral administration was licensed for use in the United Kingdom over 15 years ago. Since that time there has been a dramatic increase in the use of this type of product, particularly within the last five years, and at present no fewer than 46 of the 220 currently licensed vaccines are recommended for administration by the non-parenteral route. The majority (42) of these products are for use in poultry with the remainder being for cattle, pigs and mink (1 vaccine each). All except two  of the products are viral vaccines, the exceptions being a cattle helminth vaccine and the pig vaccine which is used for the control of intestinal E. coli infections in the young animal. Administration is principally by mouth, the vaccines being given either directly by the oral route to individual animals or incorporated in drinking water or feedstuffs for mass medication purposes but spray and eye-drop administration methods  are also used.


Newcastle disease. Environmental and host influences on immunity induced by non-parenteral vaccination. Many millions of doses of Newcastle disease vaccine have been given to chickens by two non-parenteral routes; in aerosols and in drinking water. These vaccines, that reach either or both the respiratory and digestive tracts, have afforded protection against disabling disease for millions of chickens but not without irregularity in the adequacy and duration of the response induced. Among the factors that affect the response are the nature of the delivery system  (i.e. aerosol particle size), the dose received, the  time involved in delivery, the environmental circumstances (i.e. ambient temperature) and the precondition of the host from the withholding of feed and water and from handling and crowding. The site of initial replication is critical, presumably because by inducing nonspecific or specific blockage of other replication sites, it shapes the immune response. Most events in the development of a vaccine-induced infection are dependent upon both thresholds and inherent periodicities. Individual host responsiveness is an interplay between the virus, environmental factors and intrinsic systems of the host.


Immune response to orally administered calf reovirus-like agent and coronavirus vaccine. Twenty 6-to 7-hour-old gnotobiotic  calves inoculated orally with attenuated calf diarrhea reovirus-like agent and challenge-inoculated with virulent virus 48-72 h post-inoculation (PI)  remained clinically normal during the post-vaccination observation period; one developed mild diarrhea after challenge inoculation. Four non-vaccinated challenge control calves developed severe diarrhea. Twenty 6-to 7-hour-old gnotobiotic calves inoculated orally with attenuated calf diarrhea coronavirus and challenge inoculated with virulent virus 96 h later remained clinically normal during the post-vaccination and post-challenge observation period. Four non-vaccinated challenge control calves developed severe diarrhea and 2 of these died. Five-foot long isolated loops prepared in the lower ileum (Thiry-Vella loop) of newborn colostrum-deprived calves were inoculated with attenuated coronavirus. Daily loop washings were cultured for virus and tested for neutralizing antibody. Peak viral titers of 10(6.5) to 10(7) occurred 3-4 days PI and descended rapidly to 0 between 6 and 8 days PI.  Neutralizing antibody was first detected in the washings 6-8 days PI and reached a titer of 128-256 7 to 9 days PI. Loop immunoglobulin separated by gel filtration and identified by immunodiffusion were primarily IgM and IgA. Initial resistance to virulent viral infection is thought to be due to an interference phenomenon, with later resistance due to local antibody.


Puberal status and sex differences: activity and maze behavior in rats. This study assessed sex differences in spontaneous wheel running and maze performance in relation to puberal status in rats. No sex differences were found prepuberally in either task whereas, postpuberally, females exceeded males in wheel running and males made fewer maze errors than females. Postpuberal males and females were less active than independent groups of prepuberal males and females, respectively. Although mature females made more errors than prepuberal females, no differences were found between independent groups of pre- and postpuberal males.


The behavioral effects of prenatal hypoxia in the rat. Pregnant rats were exposed to an oxygen depleted atmosphere (13% oxygen in nitrogen) at normal pressure in 2-hr daily sessions extending over approximately the last 14 days of pregnancy. Their progeny were compared with control progeny in terms of age of eye-opening, open-field behavior, and Hebb-Williams maze problem solving ability. The groups were not distinguishable by their performance in the open-field, but the experimental animals opened their eyes significantly earlier and made significantly more errors on Hebb-Williams maze problems.


Peripheral nerve maturation in English, West Indian and Turkish newborn infants. The ulnar and posterior tibial conduction velocities were measured in a group of normal full-term English, West Indian and Turkish infants. The English infants had a faster mean ulnar nerve conduction velocity than the West Indian and Turkish infants, but when the sex of the infants was taken into account only the male West Indian infant was found to have slower mean velocities. By three months of age the velocities were similar between the West Indian and English infants. This study emphasises the importance of taking account of the sex of infants in any developmental study.


"Play mobile" for blind infants.

"Play mobile" for blind infants. The "Play Mobile" has been designed to help develop cognitive and motor skills in blind infants. It consists of an expandable metal rod which fits varying widths of cot, play-pen or doorway. Two hollow, ridged tubes are attached to the rod by springs, and from these are suspended four interchangeable objects which vary in shape and texture. The function of the "Play Mobile" is to provide a stimulating environment for the infant and to encourage him to expolre and to learn from the different properties and structures in his environmetn.


Scintillation splenoportography: hemodynamic and morphological study of the portal circulation. The intrasplenic injection of 99mTc-labeled albumin microspheres, followed 30 sec later by an injection of 99mTc-labeled red blood cells with recording of the progression of the two tracers, were performed in 110 patients. This also enabled the plotting of activity versus time curves on splenic, hepatic, cardiac, and pulmonary areas of interest, there by giving access to several hemodynamic variables. Scintillation image demonstrated splenoportal obstruction in 8 cases. Intrahepatic obstruction with reflux via collaterals were observed in 53 cases, 14 with umbilical reflux. In 13 cases, the patency of surgical portacaval anastomoses were verified. The splenoportal blood flow velocity was not significantly different in patients with cirrhosis (V = 10.1 cm per sec +/- 3.0 SD) and in normal subjects (V = 13.2 cm per sec +/- 5.8 SD). The fraction of shunted splenic flow in the case of cirrhosis varied from 0 to 100%; there was no relationship between this percentage and the seriousness of the clinical status. In 3 cases, the presence of intrahepatic shunts was detected. There was a very significant difference between mean transit time (MTT) of red blood cells in patients with cirrhosis (t = 12.2 sec +/- 4.4 SD) and those without cirrhosis (t = 19.9 sec +/- 3.7 SD). Among patients with cirrhosis, those with a history of jaundice had a shorter MTT than those without such a history. On the other hand, the MTT was not significantly different whether the patients with cirrhosis had or did not have hemorrhage, ascites or encephalopathy. There was a positive correlation (P less than 0.01) between MTT and plasma albumin concentration,and between MTT and prothrombin (P less than 0.01). Finally, there was a high negative correlation (P less than 0.001) between MTT and total serum bilirubin. Scintillation splenoportography is a useful technique for assessing hepatic hemodynamics and for demonstrating abnormalities of the intrahepatic circulation.


[Hyperprolactinemic amenorrhea. Clinical relevance, endocrine features, therapy (author's transl)]. 1. Hyperprolactinemia was found in 73 out of 445 patients as the underlying cause of primary or secondary amenorrhea, There was only in 65 cases both amenorrhea and galactorrhea. 2. Pituitary tumors were found in 21 cases. The causes of hyperprolactinemia in the other patients remained unclear. 3. Concentration of LH and FSH in serum was normal or lowered. Stimulation of LH and FSH by LHRH was possible only in part. 4. Regardless of the cause of hyperprolactinemia in all patients hPRL-levels were lowered significantly by 2.5 mg CB 154 within 4 hours. 5. Longtime suppression of hPRL by CB 154 normalized LH- and FSH- concentrations in serum and its response to LHRH. 6. Ovulatory cycles were observed in all cases treated by CB 154 (N = 25), 11 patients became pregnant.


[Spontaneous and induced mutagenesis in a culture of Chinese hamster cells]. Spontaneous and nitrosoguanidine (NG)-induced rate of reversions to glutamine independence was studied in cultured temperature-sensitive glutamine auxotrophs of Chinese hamster cells. In 3 experiments the spontaneous rate of reversions varied from 0.8-10(-6) to 3.84-10(-6) per cell per generation. A dependence of the yield of NG-induced back mutations upon the time interval between the mutagenic treatment and the transfer to selective conditions (glutamine deficient medium, 40 degrees C) was established. No induced revertants were detected when cells were transferred to selective conditions immediately after the treatment with NG. After 2--3 days cultivation in glutamine containing medium at 36 degrees C and the sunsequent transfer to selective conditions the frequency of induced reversions varied from 0.56-10(-4) to 10.55-10(-4) in different experiments; after 6 days -- from 0.05-10(-4) to 4.0-10(-4). In all cases where induction was detected, the difference, between the frequency of glutamine prototrophs in treated and control plates was significant. Glutamine independence proved to be stable after prolonged cultivation under non-selective conditions, the degree of prototrophy being greatly unequal in different clones. No differnce in this respect was detected between spontaneous and NG-induced revertants. The proposed system of reverse mutations can be used for studying diverse problems of somatic cell genetics.


[Genetic analysis of the rate of sexual maturation in female mice]. In studies of the female progeny of complete diallel crossing of BALB/c, C3H/He, C57BL/6, AKR/J mice a considerable influence of the genotype on the variability for such characters as the age of the vagina opening and the weight at that time, the age of the first oestrus and the weight at that time, the weight at 6 weeks was observed. The analysis of the effects of the general and specific combining ability demonstrated that non-additive gene effects play the major role in the determination of the day the begining oestral activity and the weight on this day. The age and the weight on the day of vaginal opening are inherited additively. It is demonstrated that the females of BALB/c and C3H/He (mammary tumour susceptible strains) are characterized by higher rate of sexual maturation than those of C57BL/6 and AKR/J in which the tumours of this localization are rare.


[Mechanism of the contracting actions of K, acetylcholine and Ba on the isolated rat rectum, with special reference to its relationship to Ca]. The contractile mechanism of K, ACh and Ba were investigated in relation to the mobilization of Ca in the rat's isolated rectum. Contractions by K, ACh and Ba consisted of the phasic contraction and the subsequent tonic contraction. From the effects of metabolic inhibition (anoxia, DNP) and Ca removal from bath solution on the contractions by these three agents, the following assumptions have been made: the phasic contractions by K and ACh are iduced by the release of Ca from the store sites and the passive influx of Ca, whereas that by Ba is induced by the release of Ca. Tht tonic contractions by K and ACh are maintained mainly by the active influx of Ca, whereas that by Ba is maintained by the active influx of Ca and the release of Ca. In addition, the direct stimulation to the contractile elements of muscle is partly concerned with the Ba-induced contraction. In the muscle cell membrane, three divisions of Ca store; the first is the store where Ca is most easily released, the second is the store where Ca is comparatively easily released and the third is the store where Ca is not easily released. K releases Ca from the first store, ACh does so from the first and second stores, and Ba does so from these three stores for producing contraction. These assumption were further supported by the analysis of the concentration action curves of the influence of Ca removal from bath solution on the phasic contractions and the tonic contractions induced by the three agents.


[Neuropharmacological studies of perimetazine]. Neuropharmacological studies were undertaken to investigate the mode of action of perimetazine. 1) Sedation, hypothermia, muscle relaxation and other signs of central depressant effects were observed after perimetazine administration in the rabbit. 2) Neuro-muscular transmission was not affected by intravnous injection of perimetazine, but was slightly facilitated by a large dose of intraarterial injection of the drug 3) Perimetazine slightly depressed spinal reflex potentials in the spinal cat and markedly reduced them in the anaesthetized cat and the decerebrate cat. 4) Permetazine reduced decerebrate rigidity in the rabbit, and decreased muscle spindle discharges in the decrebrate cat. 5) Perimetazine had no effect on the response of superior cervical ganglion but suppressed the response of the cat nictitating membrane. 6) In the rabbit, perimetazine elicited a drowsy pattern in the spontaneous EEG and inhibited the EEG arousal response induced by auditory stimulation, but failed to depress the EEG arousal response induced by electric stimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation. These results suggest that perimetazine has central nervous system depressent effects such as sedative and muscle relaxant effects, and its mode of action is similar to that of chlorpromazine.


[Mechanism of catecholamine release from the sympathetic nerve endings, particularly in its relation tovacetylcholine an experiment on the isolated vas deferens of rats]. The mechanism of catecholamine (CA) release induced by transmural stimulation (TS) and the participation of acetylcholine (ACh) in this mechanism were studied using isotonic contraction of excised vas defernse of rats. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of bretylium (Br) on sympathetic activity was observed. 1) The effects of various kinds of drugs on isotonic contractions induced by TS, exogenous ACh and exogenous noradrenaline (NA) were observed with the results shown in Table 1. The following has been concluded: (1) TS-induced contraction is due to stimulation of the endings of hypogastric nerve (sympathetic nerve), resulting in CA release from adrenergic fiber (AF) and ACh release from cholinergic fiber (CF) in this nerve. (2) The participation of ACh is not indispensable in the CA release from AF induced by TS. (3) Endogenous ACh release from CF by TS brings about CA release under eserine application. (4) CA release by exogenous ACh is not inhibited by ganglion blockade, but is inhibited by atropine, indicating the muscarinic receptor to be in AF endings. 2) Br exerted preferentially the irreversible inhibition on CA release from AF rather than that on ACh release from CF, while it caused a mild reversible inhibition on CA release by exogenous ACh. 3) On the TS contraction that had been abolished irreversibly by Br, NA incubation showed a mild lasting recovery, while methamphetamine (MAP) or calcium (Ca)  incubation showed a strong lasting recovery. Furthermore, in this recovery of TS contraction, the incubation with NA or MAP exerted only the recovery of CA release while the Ca incubation exerted the recovery of both CA release and ACH release. It would appear that Br blocks both AF and CF by inhibiting the transmitter-releasing action of Ca.


[Protective effect of tocopheryl esters on pulmonary edema induced by epinephrine]. The present study was performed in order to determine protective effect of dl-alpha-tocopheryl nictonate (EN) and dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (EA) on pulmonary edema induced by epinephrine (Epi) in mice. The tocopheryl esters were orally administered once a day for 10 days. Epi was then infused to induce pulmonary edema 3 hr after the final dosing. One or three min infusion of 0.01% Epi at a rate of 0.1 ml/min provoked toxic syndromes as pilorection, exophthalmos and salivation. Some animals died of respiratory failure. The lung weight either wet or dry increased after the EPi infusion and diffuse hemorrhage into alveoles was microscopically recognized in untreated animals. However, these findings were of lesser degree in animals receiving NE (20, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day) and Ea (corresponding doses with EN in molecular weight basis). When comparing the effect of EN with that of EA on the increase of lung weight and death from the Epi infusion, EN was more protective than EA. Although the mechanism of protecting action of these tocopheryl esters remains obscure, the interpretation is that these compounds did not affect the pressor response to Epi.


[Acute toxicity and the central effect of 1-(m-chlorophenyl)-3-N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl-5-methoxypyrazole (PZ-177)]. In a previous paper, we reported that PZ-177 had potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. In the present work, acute toxicity and action of PZ-177 on the central nervous system were tested in comparison with PZ-222, one of metabolites of PZ-177, and mepirizole. Acute toxicity of PZ-177 was slightly less than that of aminopyrine and the same as that of mepirizole in mice and rats. PZ-177 produced from sedation to loss of righting reflex with the increase of dose. At a low dose with which the righting reflex was hot lost, PZ-177 decreased spontaneous locomotion of mice in the Animex test, produced muscle relaxation in rotarod and inclined screen tests, produced sleeping-pattern in electroencephalogram of rabbit, potentiated hypnosis of barbiturates and exerted an anti-convulsive effect in mice. In these depressive effects on the central nervous system, PZ-222 was very much lower and mepirizole slightly lower than PZ-177. It would thus appear that PZ-177 has more potent analgesic, antipyretic and anti-tussive actions than do PZ-222 and mepirizole.


[General pharmacological actions of l-(m-chlorophenyl)-3-N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl-5-methoxypyrazole (PZ-177)]. PZ-177 was found to have potent analgesic, anti-inflammatory and mild central depressive actions. In the present work, the general pharmacological actions of PZ-177 were tested in order to investigate other significant actions and to determine the side effects. PZ-177 showed no significant pharmacological activities on the respiratory and cardiovascular system, on the renal function, on the autonomic nervous system, on the sugar level and coagulation in blood and on local irritation. Volume and acidity of gastric juice were decreased and turn over was not inhibited in the connective tissure. Thus PZ-177 was considered to have no ulcerogenic action on the gastric mucosa. The compound relaxed the tonus of isolated small intestine, tracheal muscles and uterus and stopped spontaneous movement. Moreover the contraction of those smooth muscles by such spasmogens as acetylcholine, histamine serotonin, BaCl2 and oxytocin was inhibited by PZ-177 and the activity was almost the same with each spasmogen. It was found therefore to have spasmolytic activity and no specific antagonistic action on the chemical mediators. PZ-177 showed also wear relaxant activity on the skeletal muscle. Those actions on the muscles may have a curative effect on inflammation in bronchotracheal and gastrointestinal tracts or on pain with contraction of skeletal muscle. From the above results, it may be considered that PZ-177 is a relatively safe and useful analgesic and anti-inflammatory compound.


[Effects of drugs on leukocyte migration]. The effects of various drugs on chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN's) in vitro have been studied. Response of rabbit PNM's in vitro to the chemotaxis was found to be suppressed by hydrocortisone succinate, chloroquine hydrochloride, cytochalasin B, colchicine and dibutyl cyclic AMP. On the other hand, 8-bromo-cyclic GMP enhanced the chemotaxis of PMN's.


[Influences of deviations of thyroid functions on the effects of MAOI in rats--changes of 5-HT, 5-HIAA and norepinephrine contents and tyramine uptake by the brain and fluctuation of the rectal temperature]. Influences of hyper- and hypothyroidism on MAOI (tranylcypromine) were studied by measuring the effects on rectal temperature and 5-HT, 5-HIAA and norepiniphrine levels and tyramine uptake in the brain. Hyperthyroidism was accomplished in rats injected with triiodothyronine 0.2 mg/kg i.p. every two days for 70 days (long period group) or every day for 5 days (short period group) and hypothyroidism induced by feeding rats a diet to which 0.3% propylthiouracil had been added for 70 days (long period group) or 30 days (short period group). Those controls were treated with a triiodothyronine vehicle 1.0 ml/kg i.p. and fed a normal-balanced diet for each period. All the long period groups were decapitated on the last day and the brains were used for the determination of steady levels of above-cited monoamines. The 5-HT content in hypothyroid rats was considerably higher than euthyroid rats but other determinations in both hyper- and hypothyroid rats did not differ significantly in comparison with euthyroid controls. Each short term group was treated with tranylcypromine 10 mg/kg i.p. on the last day. Tranylcypromine brought about a marked hyperthermia in hyperthyroid rats but conversely hypothermia in hypothyroid rats, while "MAOI-induced 5-HT and norepinephrine increase, 5-HIAA decrease and tyramine uptake inhibition in the brain" of hyper- and hypothyroid rats were almost to the same in degree as in euthyroid rats.


[Influence of denervation on metabolism of phospholipid in the rat vas deferens]. Influence of denervation on phospholipid metabolism in the vas deferens and effect of phospholipase C treatment on sensitivity of the vas deferens for noradrenaline were studied. The incorporation of 32P-orthophosphate into phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine was markedly increased by denervation. Incorporation of 32P-orthophosphate into proteolipid was accelerated more than that of 3H-leucine. Sensitivity of the denervated vas deferens for noradrenaline was strongly reduced by phospholipase C treatment. These data suggest that the supersensitivity of the denervated vas deferens for noradrenaline was mainly due to the increase in phospholipids.


[Studies on antitumor activities of Basidiomycetes-antitumor activity of polysaccharides and sex factors]. We have already reported antitumor activities of fungal and bacterial polysaccharides on mice. In the present experiment, the influence of the sex on antitumor effects on such material  from Grifola umbellata, Coriolus versicolor Fries or Sargassum thumbergii and the immunity of mice against tumor were investigated. The growth velocities of Sarcoma 180, Ehrlich solid carcinoma, Pulmonary tumor 7423 and MF-sarcoma bearing mice both without treatment and those treated with polysaccharides were more rapid in males than in females. The regression rates in mice with the above tumors were higher in females than in males. However, a few DS Mie mice with Sarcoma 180 and A/Jax Mie mice with Ehrlich solid carcinoma regressed spontaneously. The growth velocity of Shionogi carcinoma 42 was not influenced by the sex. On other hand, both males and females which had experienced a regression of ascites tumor after the administration of polysaccharides rejected the re-implanted Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, Sarcoma 180, NF-sarcomma and Shionogi carcinoma 42. These results suggest that a strong ehancement of immune response occurs in the tumor implanted in the host animal by the administration of polysacchrides. The combination of X-ray irradiation Ehrlich ascites cells and polysacchrides strengthens the antitumor effect of NF-sarcoma and Shionogi carcinoma 42. Peritoneal exudate cells and lymphocytes were compared between the male and female mice after being treated with ATSO and P.GU-1. Such cells were present to a much greater extent in females.


[Mechanism of the contracting actions of K, acetylcholine and Ba and of the antispasmodic actions of Cd and Mn in the pyloric antrum strip of the rat, with special reference to their relationship to Ca]. Action mechanisms of the contractile agents, K ACh and Ba and of the antispasmodics, Cd and Mn were investigated. The contractions by K,ACh and Ba are exponential in shape, but consisted of phasic contraction (PC) and the subsequent tonic contraction (TC). PC by K and ACh are inititated by the release and the passive influx of Ca, whereas the PC by BA is due to the release of Ca. On the other hand, TC by these three agents is maintained by the active influx of Ca requiring energy. Since only the contraction by Ba remains constant in Ca(-) bath solution, it is assumed that the direct stimulation to muscle contractile elements without the mediation of Ca mobilization is also partly related to the contracting mechanism of Ba. Storage sites of Ca in the cell membrane of this preparation are distinguished into three divisions, the first, the second and the third, which contains loosely-, less lossely-, and tightly-bound Ca, respectively. K releases Ca to elicit contraction from the first divisions, ACh does so from the first and the second divisions, and Ba does so from all of the three divisions. The following assumption was obtained on the antispasmodic action of Cd and Mn, on the basis of the influence of Ca removed from bath solution and of addition of high K to bath solution and the analysis with concentration-action curves. The antispasmodic mechanism Cd and Mn is due to inhibition of cell membrane (competitive inhibition of influx and then release of Ca and subsequently competitive and non-competitive inhibition of influx and release of Ca) followed by the non-competitive inhibition of muscle contractile system, with the increase of dosage.


Production of antisera to synthetic benzyloxycarbonyl-C-peptide of human proinsulin. Antisera to the C-peptide of human proinsulin were obtained by immunizing guinea pigs with synthetic benzyloxycarbonyl-C-peptide conjugated to human albumin with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide. In three series of 10, the animals were injected with C-peptide conjugated to albumin in the molar ratio of 23 : 1, 15 : 1, and 4 : 1, respectively. Antibodies to human C-peptide were present in all the surviving 25 animals. Fifteen of the antisera were suitable for measuring C-peptide concentrations lower than 0.10 pmol/ml. The antisera demonstrated an increasing immunogenicity with increasing molar ratio of C-peptide to albumin in the conjugate. In the fourth series, ten guinea pigs immunized with benzyloxycarbonyl-C-peptide ionically bound to QAE-Sephadex A-25 did not produce detectable antibodies to C-peptide. A qualitative evaluation of the radioimmunoassay by use of the antiserum with the highest titer and sensitivity, "M 1230", revealed a mean intra-assay and inter-assay coefficient of variance of 3.2 and 9.6%, respectively.


Multiple forms of human acrosin: isolation and properties. Human acrosin was purified to electrophoretically homogeneous forms by acidic extraction of washed ejaculated spermatozoa and gel filtration of the acidic extracts on Sephadex G-75, followed by affinity chromatography on p-amino-benzamidine Sepharose. Human acrosin exists in at least four molecular forms. The apparent molecular weights of three forms were determined to be 64 000, 38 000 and 25 000, respectively. The high molecular weight form is transformed to the low molecular weight forms by incubation of the acrosin preparation obtained from freshly ejaculated spermatozoa in solutions of pH near 7. Like boar acrosin, human acrosin is also a glycoprotein and therefore reversibly bound to Concanavalin A-Sepharose. The amino acid composition of the 25 000 molecular weight form is similar to that of human trypsin. Rabbit anti-boar-acrosin gamma-globulins form a precipitate with human acrosin, but not with porcine trypsin or human plasmin. The relationship between the occurrence of multiple acrosin forms and proenzyme activation by limited proteolysis is discussed.


Possible assignment of the glyoxalase I (GLO) gene to chromosome 6 using man-mouse somatic cell hybrids. A correlation between the expression or absence of human glyoxalase I and chromosome 6 (as well its markers ME1, IPO-B, and PGM3) was observed in man-mouse somatic cell hybrids. This segregation pattern indicates that the GLO gene is situated on chromosome 6.


A twin study of the structure of human hair medulla. The genetic basis of hair medulla was studied by the twin method. Hair samples from 17 pairs of monozygotic (9 female and 8 male), 23 pairs of like-sex dizygotic (6 female and 17 male) and 8 pairs of unlike-sex dizygotic twins were utilized and the number of hair strands examined was 9,600. The mean intrapair differences indicate the presence of a strong genetic basis of the character concerned.


Morphological and genetic study of seam figures in the hallucal area. The seam figure was defined in this paper as a number of ridges ending on the same line in right-angled relation to a part of the system. This characteristic occurs in various types of hallucal patterns and most frequently in whorls. In Japanese material, the frequency of the seam figure on the left sole (16.7%) is significantly higher than on the right sole (8.2%), but no sex difference was found. It is revealed from twin material that the presence of this trait is genetically controlled. Similar phenomena in areas other than the hallucal and in the 'ridges-off-the-end' syndrome were discussed.


Defined nutrient medium for the in vitro maintenance of Xenopus laevis oocytes. A procedure is described for the isolation and culture of large numbers of follicle cell-free Xenopus laevis oocytes in all stages of development. The isolation procedure involves the incubation of pieces of ovary in a calcium-free solution OR2 containing 0.2% collagenase. A defined nutrient medium for the maintenace of the oocytes in vitro is presented. It is shown that this medium, referred to as DNOM, can maintain certain morpological and functional characteristics of oocytes for periods up to 3 weeks.


Chemically-defined medium for growth and differentiation of mixed epithelial and connective tissues in organ culture. The effect on tissue differentiation and growth in vitro of certain of the factors implicated in collagen synthesis (ascorbic acid, alpha-ketoglutarate and oxygen) and the influence of hydrocortisone was studied using organ cultures of fetal mouse mandible as a mixed epithelial and connective tissue system. Using serum-free Waymouth's MB 752/1 chemically-defined medium, addition of high levels of ascorbic acid (300mug per ml), hydrocortisone (1mug per ml) and oxygen (95%) enhanced differentiation in a number of tissues, in particular skin and appendages, tooth germs and bone, while osteoid and dentine production were noticeable promoted. It is suggested that an essential aspect of media design for organ culture involves the incorporaation of collagen-promoting factors to the in vitro enviornment particularly with regard to the controlling role implicated for collagen in a variety of biological processess.


Rosette plaques with lymphoid cells from heterozygous rabbits. Ani-hapten antibody-forming cells displaying either one or both b locus surface allelic markers. A rosette-plaque model was employed to test for the expression of b locus allelic markers at the surface of lymph node lymphocytes (LNL) from heterozygous (b4,6) rabbits, 5 days after immunization with NIP-diphtheria toxoid. Before immunization, in all animals examined, LNL displaying both b4 and b6 determinants at the surface (range 5-20 per cent) were detected, the remainder consisting of cells exhibiting only one or the other determinant. After immunization, five of the thirteen heterozygotes apparently had gone into allelic exclusion as LNL from these animals showed only b4 or b6 rosettes which secreted anti-NIP antibody in the plaque. The eight remaining rabbits remained in allelic inclusion. Since cytophilic uptake of allotype might have contributed to double expression, LNL from immunized animals were treated with pronase to remove surface immunoglobulin. When the stripped cells were cultured overnight in serum-free medium, reappearance of b4, b6, and b4 plus b6 expressing cells was seen. When pronase-stripped cells were incubated in cycloheximide (20 mug/ml) for 5 hr, no allotype synthesis was found but inhibition was relieved when the cells were washed free of the antibiotic. Regrowth resulted in rosette levels similar to those found originally in the three allotype-bearing populations. Stripping the cell surface allotype with pronase, and allowing regrowth of allotype overnight also resulted in one of four animals regaining the ability to express both allotypes at the surface in the plaque-forming situation. Lymphocytes from homozygous controls (b4,4 and b6,6) displayed their own individual allelic markers either when the cells from each were tested alone or in combination, unimmunized or immunized. An additional finding was the apparent lack of allelic preference for NIP in the heterozygotes as approximately similar numbers of cells were found bearing the b4 and b6 marker at the surface in the NIP plaque.


[Selective quantitative determination of single endogenously liberated nonesterified fatty acids in the blood of surgical patients]. Under defined external conditions of metabolism, a selective and quantitative determination of the single nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) in serum allows the characterization of the interrelationship between the adipose tissue as a deposit of substrates for longterm energy production and the energy consumpting cells on the one side, as also the estimation of the extent of the stress itself. Compared with the amount of the whole lipidfraction, the very low concentrated NEFA may indicate the status of the endogenous delivery of energy-substrates only when analyzed with a high efficient selective, quantitative and direct method. The main question of the presented investigations on 14 surgical patients was the influence of an acute event of aggression on quality and quantity of fatty acid mobilization. After detailed characterization of experimental methodological conditions, the concentration-profiles and amounts of the mobilized NEFA and their modifications by the stress-reaction are reported.


[Preparation for colonoscopy with a new fully balanced bulk-free peptide diet]. A new, totally balanced bulkage-free peptide diet was imposed on 20 patients preparing ror coloscopy. Because of the entire absorption of the oligopeptides by way of the intestinal mucous membrane, the application of this diet brings about the same good results as the administration of the bulkage-free diets containing pure L-aminoacids ("astronaut's nutrients"), which so far were provided for this purpose. Apart from a lower osmolarity and lower costs, the bulkage-free peptide diet offers, above all, the advantages of a definitely better flavor. Therefore, new possibilities for a long-term nutrition with a bulkage-free diet are seen.


[Diet in urinary calculi].

[Diet in urinary calculi]. After some prefactory notes on the import, effectiveness and the exacting of an imposed diet as a supporting expedient for the attempt at urolitholysis, respectively for the prevention of recidivation, some general recommendations regarding fluid supply and nutrition for urolith patients are given. Apart from reference to special medicaments, it is discussed for the diverse calculi which liquid- and nutrients-intake should be recommended, respectively decreased. It is discussed, too, how the effectiveness of the varying methods is to be explained.


Importance of progesterone in DNA synthesis of pregnancy-dependent mammary tumors in mice. Hormone responsiveness of pregnancy-independent mammary tumors in SHN mice and pregnancy-dependent tumors in GR/A mice and in F1-hybrids between these strains was studied. Force-bred female mice with palpable mammary tumors were given subcutaneous injections of several hormones singly or in combination twice daily from 1 day before to 1 day after parturition. One group received a graft of three pituitary glands under the kidney capsule (3AP) during days 12-14 of pregnancy. One day after parturition, the in vivo incorporation of 3H-thymidine into DNA of normal and neoplastic mammary glands was determined as the index of DNA synthesis. Plasma prolactin in some groups of GR/A mice was assayed by radioimmunoassay. In GR/A mice, estradiol benzoate (EB: 0.5 mug X 2/day) or 3AP had no effect on either normal glands or tumors, despite an increase in plasma prolactin level. Progesterone (P:100 or 1,000 mug X 2/day) significantly increased DNA synthesis of both normal and neoplastic glands when compared to the controls, while the plasma prolactin level in this group was low. The administration of human placental lactogen (HPL: 100 mug X 2/day) stimulated DNA synthesis of normal glands only. P plus HPL promoted DNA synthesis of tumors more than P alone, but not P plus EB. While DNA synthesis of the tumors of SHN was never affected by these hormone treatments, the hormone responsiveness of tumors of F1-hybrids was almost the same as that of GR/A mice; the effect of P was prominent. Correlation of DNA synthesis between pregnancy-dependent mammary tumors and normal glands was significant only in groups treated with P alone or in combination with other hormones.


Related issues in childbearing and work: two clinical studies of professional women. A common structure is described in two women's experience in central aspects of their professions and in their thoughts and feelings about motherhood. For example, a scientist's fascination in experimentation with cells in developing embryos is linked with wishes to experiment with the fertility of her own body, and an artist describes connections between the conflicts in finishing and showing her paintings and the conflicts in allowing her infant to separate from her body in the birth process. Historical clinical material from once-weekly psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy is used to trace some of the dynamics common to the major themes.


"Pop" psychoanalysis, kitsch, and the "as if" theater: further notes on Peter Shaffer's Equus. This paper is intended as an examination of Dr. Stamm's (1975) paper and of Dr. Jules Glenn's discussion of Peter Shaffer's previous work. Its premise is the futility of subjecting Equus to a traditional psychoanalytic investigation, as a product of the playwright's unconscious, when the play represents a skillful, highly conscious use of analytic cliches to manipulate the audience. This phenomenon, however, and the play's great popularity prompt some reflections on the nature of kitsch, or false art, and its differences from authentic drama. The experience of kitsch can be identified when the spectator feels coerced by exaggerated, unconvincing theatrical devices, and fails to experience genuine empathy with the characters in a play. In the experience of authentic tragedy there is some element of voluntary surrender, of suspension of disbelief with full consent of will, as in the Aristotelian concept of catharsis. Shaffer's play is discussed as an illustration of this distinction and its relation to pseudoemotionality, the impostor syndrome, and the "as if" personality. In conclusion, the play's failure to evoke a genuine emotional response is explained by interpreting Equus as an "as if" tragedy.


Uptake of microperoxidase by segmenting rat ova in vitro. Uptake and incidence of microperoxidase (Sigma) in the rat ova during cleavage at the 1-, 2-, 8-cell and blastocyst stages were studied after 30 min incubation with the enzyme (molecular weight of 1,900 and size of molecule of 2 nm). Evidence was furnished of the presence of a small amount of reaction product of microperoxidase in the zona pellucida and its local concentration in some parts of the perivitelline space. The larger part of surface of the ovum, however, was free of microperoxidase. In the cytoplasm microperoxidase was found in pinocytotic vesicles, less frequently in large vascuoles and starting with the eight-cell stage in secondary lysosomes. The largest amount of microperoxidase was ascertained at the stage of blastocyst, chiefly in the cells of the trophoblast. In the cells of the embryoblast, on the contrary, microperoxidase was found but occasionally. The reaction product of microperoxidase was also present in the intercellular space of ova in negligible amount, and likewise on the side of blastocysts' cavity. In comparison with the ingestion of horseradish peroxidase the incidence of microperoxidase in the segmenting rat ova was less frequent.


Noninfectious canine arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis. Chronic unremitting, generally symmetric, erosive polyarthritis was studied in 8 dogs. The disease had clinical, serologic, radiographic, and pathologic changes similar to those of rheumatoid arthritis of man. The condition occurred mainly in smaller breeds of dogs, with time of onset from 8 months to 8 years of age, Characteristic radiographic changes were seen in the joints several weeks to several months after the appearance of the initial lameness. Synovial fluid contained an increased number of neutrophils, and synovial fluid and synovial tissues were sterile for anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, mycoplasma, chlamydia, and viruses. Corticosteroids were therapeutically ineffective in all of the cases; however, corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and azathioprine were effective when used in combination in several dogs.


Embolic pulmonary aneurysms in yearling feedlot cattle. Throughout all of 1974, we surveyed, for illnesses and deaths, about 407,000 yearling feedlot cattle. Of 1,988 cattle necropsied, 25 (1.3%) had ruptured pulmonary aneurysms and an additional 4 had gross pulmonary emboli without rupture. The emboli originated from thrombi in the caudal vena cava where that vessel closely applies to the left border of the liver and where parenchymal abscesses had developed. The emboli had lodged in the pulmonary artery, weakened its wall, and led to saccular aneurysms. Infection weakened and blood pressure ruptured the saccule and opened the adjacent bronchi. Extravasated blood dissected the tunica adventitia, formed hematomas, poured into the bronchus, and was expelled from the larynx. A portion was swallowed into the rumen, and some was coughed and blown from the nose and mouth. Deaths were attributed to exsanguination and pulmonary incapacitation.


Esophageal elastance in awake and anesthetized recumbent dogs. Esophageal elastance was measured in trained dogs placed in the prone, supine, and left lateral postures before and during sodium thiopental anesthesia. Esophageal elastance was measured from static pressure-volume curves and during spontaneous breathing at functional residual capacity. There was a significant decrease in esophageal elastance, estimated from the pressure-volume curves, during anesthesia in both prone and lateral positions but not in the supine posture. Changes in vagal tone produced by stimulation of the vagal nerves did not alter esophageal elastance. Therefore, underlying mechanisms for these changes in esophageal elastance are not fully understood. There was an increase in esophageal elastance when lung volumes increased from 55 to 80% total lung capacity. However, we did not find a significant change in esophageal elastance between awake and anesthetized conditions or between positions during spontaneous breathing at functional residual capacity.


Ineffective and non-nodulating mutant strains of Rhizobium japonicum. Mutant strains of Rhizobium japonicum that were unable to allow the Corsoy cultivar of soybean to reduce acetylene or fix N2 were isolated. These strains grow as well as the wild type in a variety of media. Mutant strains SM1 and SM2 did not form nodules on the host plant; however, they reduced acetylene in the nonsymbiotic assay. Strains SM3 and SM4 produced nodules that did not have the characteristic pink pigment caused by leghemoglobin. The nodules formed by these strains also were small. One mutant strain, SM5, produced large pink nodules. The lesion in this strain seems to be in the gene that specifies nitrogenase component II.


Midpoint potentials of the mitochondrial cytochromes of Crithidia fasciculata. The midpoint potentials of the mitochondrial respiratory chain cytochromes of the protozoan Crithidia fasciculata at pH 7.2, Em7.2, show great similarity to those measured in higher organisms. Values of Em7.2 for cytochromes a and a3 are +165 and +340 mV. Both c cytochromes have Em7.2 = +230 mV. There are two b cytochromes with the same spectral characteristics with Em7.2 = -20 and -135 mV. These values are compatible with two sites of energy conservation for oxidative phosphorylation in these mitochondria. All cytochrome components show potentiometric titrations with n = 1. There is a fluorescent flavoprotein in these mitochondria with Em7.2 = -40 mV and n =2, whose function is not known.


Presence of polyphosphate of low molecular weight in zygomycetes. Polyphosphate of average chain length corresponding to 10 phosphate units was detected in the mycelial extract of zygomycetes. Gel electrophoresis techniques commonly used for the separation and characterization of acidic mucopolysaccharides were successfully used for the detection, purification, and characterization of the polyphosphate.


Stereospecificity of conversion of uric acid into allantoic acid by enzymes of Canadida utilis. 1. Allantoinase [EC 3.5.2.5] was isolated from cells of Candida utilis and unpurified by chromatography on columns of DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-200 after treatment with urea to remove urate oxidase [EC 1.7.3.3.]. 2. The purified allantoinase catalyzed the hydrolysis of allantoin into allantoic acid. However, only half of the allantoin produced from uric acid by urate oxidase was converted. The rest of the allantoin was unchanged, and showed a negative optical rotation. 3. On the other hand, the combined action of crude urate oxidase and allantoinase resulted in nearly complete conversion of uric acid into allantoic acid. Furthermore, the unpurified allantoinase preparation hydrolyzed racemic allantoin to allantoic acid completely. 4. These results indicate that the urate oxidase produces racemic allantoin from uric acid and that the allantoinase attacks only allantoin of positive optical rotation. The results also suggest that allantoin racemase is present in the yeast cells.


Properties of liposomal membranes containing lysolecithin. Liposomes have been prepared with lysolecithin (1-acyl-sn-3-glycerylphosphorylcholine), egg lecithin (3-sn-phosphatidylcholine), dicetyl phosphate, and cholesterol. The ability to function as a barrier to the diffusion of glucose marker and the sensitivities of the liposomes to hypotonic treatment and other reagents which modified the permeability were examined. Generally, lysolecithin incorporation decreased the effectiveness of the membranes as a barrier to glucose and made the membranes more "osmotically fragile." Cholesterol incorporation counteracted the effect of incorporated lysolecithin. The more cholesterol incorporated into liposomes, the more lysolecthin could be incorporated into  the membrane without loss of function as a barrier. With more than 50 mole% of colesterol, lysolecithin alone could form membranes which were practically impermeable to glucose. The hemolytic activity of lysolecithin was affected by mixing with various lecithins or cholesterol. Liposomes containing lysolecithin, which have the ability to trap glucose marker, showed poor hemolytic activity, while lipid micelles with lysolecithin (which could trap little glucose) showed almost the same hemolytic activity as lysolecithin itself. There seems to be a close correlation between hemolytic activity and barrier function of lipid micelles.


Synthesis of elastin. A rapid formation of lysine-derived crosslinks by chick embryo aorta. Aortas of 13-day-old chick embryo were labeled for 0.5 hr with [14C]lysine and subjected to a serial extraction after chase for 1-24 hr with [12C]lysine. Substantial radioactivity was found in insoluble elastin after 3 hr chase. The effect of beta-amino-propionitrile on labeling with [14C]lysine was also examined. Each fraction was hydrolyzed and applied to a short column on an amino acid analyzer. Radioactivity was found in desmosine and isodesmosine of insoluble elastin as early as 1 hr after the beginning of chase. The radioactivity increased rapidly at 2 hr and very slowly thereafter. A large count, which was separated into five peaks on a long column, was observed in other lysine derivatives at 2 hr and increased steadily up to 24 hr, while the lysine count decreased from 1 : 0.5 to 1 : 6 against lysine derivatives and from 1 : 0.04 to 1 : 0.9 against quarter-desmosine after 24 hr. The oxidation of lysine residues incorporated during the 0.5 hr pulse was almost completed during the first 1 hr of chase, and these oxidized residues were incorporated into crosslinks during the following 1 hr. It is suggested that poorly crosslinked elastin accumulated in the soluble fractions. The presence of crosslinking derived from lysine residues was also indicated in the microfibril fraction.


Steroidogenesis in the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex. II. Distribution of cytochrome P-450 in the zona glomerulosa of the bovine adrenal cortex. Microsomes were obtained from the zona glomerulosa of the bovine adrenal cortex. Contamination of microsomes with other cellular organelles was examined using various marker enzymes and the electron microscope. Distribution of cytochrome P-450 in mitochondria and in microsomes was determined to be 0.73 and 0.32 nmol/mg protein, respectively. The CO difference spectrum was affected not only by the concentration of added deoxycholate but also by the incubation time after addition. Approximately 40-50% of cytochrome P-450 in the samples was converted to cytochrome P-420 within 20-30 sec of incubation with deoxycholate. The content of RNA, phospholipids, and cytochrome b5 in microsomes obtained from the zona glomerulosa is also evaluated in comparison to that in microsomes obtained from the zona fasciculoreticularis.


Quantitative ultrastructural autoradiographic studies of iodinated plasma membranes of lymphocytes during segregation and internalization of surface immunoglobulins. Rat spleen lymphocytes were iodinated (125 I) with lactoperoxidase. Quantitative autoradiographic studies on cells fixed immediately after iodination showed 19-24% of intracytoplasmic grains at 3HD and over from the plasma membrane. Normalization of grain density distribution and comparison of resulting curves with the universal curve of grain scatter of 125 I showed that a significant percentage of intracytoplasmic grains (36%) originates from intracytoplasmic labeled sources rather than from scattering from the heavily labeled plasma membrane. Damaged cells had a threefold grain density than intact cells. Radioactivity counts in sliced polyacrylamide gels of iodinated cells revealed 65-72% of total radioactivity in five peaks of apparent mol wt of 44, 50, 57, 90 and 195 thousand daltons. Segregation and internalization of anti-immunoglobulin-Ig-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) complexes from the iodinated plasma membrane proteins of lymphocytes was studied with quantitative autoradiography (125 I) and peroxidase cytochemistry; 64% of grains at 1.5HD (1,500 A) from the plasma membrane were within the cap zone, and 36% of grains remained outside the capped immunoglobulins; 45-57% of grains internalized together with Fab-anti-Ig-Ig-HRP, and 68% of grains internalized together with anti-Ig-Ig-HRP. These studies indicate that (a) iodination of rat spleen lymphocytes results in a significant internal labeling and that (b) immunoglobulins segregate into caps and internalize together with other iodinated plasma membrane proteins while a significant percentage of iodinated proteins (36%) are excluded from the immunoglobulin caps or internalization sites (32-55%).


Lipid vesicle-cell interactions. II. Induction of cell fusion. The ability of lipid vesicles of simple composition (lecithin, lysolecithin, and stearylamine) to induce cells of various types to fuse has been investigated. One in every three or four cells in monolayer cultures can be induced to fuse with a vesicle dose of about 100 per cell. At such dosages and for exposures of 15 min to 1 h, vesicles have essentially no effect on cell viability. Under anaerobic conditions, these cells lyse rather than fuse. Avian erythrocytes are readily fused with lipid vesicles in the presence of dextran. Fusion indices increase linearly with the zeta potential of the vesicles (increasing stearylamine content), indicating that contact between vesicle and cell membrane is required. Fusion indices increase sublinearly with increasing lysolecithin content. Divalent cations increase fusion indices at high vesicle doses. The data presented are consistent with the hypothesis that cell fusion occurs via simultaneous fusion of a vesicle with two adhering cell membranes.


A modified procedure for the isolation of a pore complex-lamina fraction from rat liver nuclei. A modified procedure for the isolation of a nuclear pore complex-lamina fraction from rat liver nuclei is described. Evidence is provided that the isolated lamina, a 150-A thick, proteinaceous structure, apposes the inner nuclear envelope membrane, connecting nuclear pore complexes and surrounding the entire nucleus.


Absorption of inorganic phosphate in the human jejunum and its inhibition by salmon calcitonin. The jejunal absorption of inorganic phosphate (P) was studied under basal conditions and during the intravenous infusion of synthetic salmon calcitonin (SCT) in normal subjects. Net P absorption increased as the intraluminal P concentration was raised. At intraluminal P concentrations equal to or above the plasma P level P absorption manifested first order kinetics. At intraluminal P concentrations below the plasma P level, net P absorption was non-linear presumably due to the movement of P from plasma to the lumen down a chemical gradient. A net secretion of water and electrolytes occurred in six normal subjects given SCT (250 ng/kg/hr) while saline infusion instead of SCT had no effect on jejunal absorption. Along with the secretory effect SCT reduced calcium and P absorption by 58% and 62% respectively, without any significant fall in the serum levels of calcium or P. The jejunal response to SCT was reproduced twice in a hypoparathyroid subject showing that endogenous parathyroid hormone was not involved in this effect. Calcium and P absorption were positively correlated with water movement suggesting that the observed changes in calcium and P absorption are due primarily to SCT-induced secretion of water. It is concluded that SCT induces a net secretion of water and ions while simultaneously reducing calcium and P absorption.


Fatty acid binding protein. Role in esterification of absorbed long chain fatty acid in rat intestine. Fatty acid binding protein (FABP) is a protein of 12,000 mol wt found in cytosol of intestinal mucosa and other tissues, which exhibits high affinity for long chain fatty acids. It has been suggested that FABP (which may comprise a group of closely related proteins of 12,000 mol wt) participates in cellular fatty acid transport and metabolism. Although earlier findings were consistent with this concept, the present studies were designed to examine its physiological function more directly. Everted jejunal sacs were incubated in mixed fatty acid-monoglyceride-bile acid micelles, in the presence or absence of equimolar concentrations of either of two compounds which inhibit oleate binding to FABP:flavaspidic acid-N-methyl-glucaminate and alpha-bromopalmitate. Oleate uptake, mucosal morphology, and oxidation of [14C]acetate remained unaffected by these agents, but oleate incorporation into triglyceride was inhibited by 62-64% after 4 min. The inhibition by flavaspidic acid was reversible with higher oleate concentrations. The effect of these compounds on enzymes of triglyceride biosynthesis was examined in intestinal microsomes. Neither flavaspidic acid nor alpha-bromopalmitate inhibited acyl CoA:monoglyceride acyl-transferase. Fatty acid:coenzyme A ligase activity was significantly enhanced in the presence of partially purified FABP, probably reflecting a physical effect on the fatty acid substrate or on the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex. Activity of the enzyme in the presence of 0.1 mM oleate was only modestly inhibited by equimolar flavaspidic acid and alpha-bromopalmitate, and this effect was blunted or prevented by FABP. We conclude that in everted gut sacs, inhibition of triglyceride synthesis by flavaspidic acid and alpha-bromopalmitate could not be explained as an effect on fatty acid uptake or on esterifying enzymes in the endoplasmic reticulum but rather can be interpreted as reflecting inhibition of fatty acid binding to FABP. These findings lend further support to the concept that FABP participates in cellular fatty acid transport and metabolism. It is also possible that FABP, by effecting an intracellular compartmentalization of fatty acids and acyl CoA, may play a broader role in cellular lipid metabolism.


A comparative study of passive haemagglutination methods for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen in routine hospital practice. Two passive haemagglutination methods for detecting HBsAg were compared. In general, the method using turkey erythrocytes was found preferable to the method employing sheep cells since it is more rapid and more sensitive, and less frequently gave rise to false positive reactions with sera from staff, blood donors, and patients not receiving haemodialysis. The turkey cell test gives rise to more false positive screen tests than the sheep cell test when monitoring renal dialysis patients since approximately 10% of the sera of these patients were found to contain turkey cell agglutinins, but this presents no particular difficulty if the recommended absorption procedures are used.


Acetate utilization by the isolated perfused guinea-pig mammary gland. Acetate uptake by isolated perfused guinea-pig mammary glands was approximately 1.0 mg g-1 h-1 when perfusate acetate concentrations were in the physiological range (5-11 mg/100 ml plasma). At perfusate concentrations below this range (mean 3.62 mg/100 ml plasma) the uptake was not significantly different, but in one experiment in which the mean acetate concentration was 14.5 mg/100 ml plasma the uptake was markedly elevated. Radioactivity from Na (1-14C) acetate was incorporated into CO2 and milk and tissue fat, being largely present in C16 and C18 fatty acids. The guinea-pig is atypical of non-ruminants and similar to ruminants in respect of the blood concentration and mammary utilization acetate.


Effect of feeding fat to dairy cows receiving a fat-deficient basal diet. I. Milk yield and composition. The effects of supplementing a basal diet, in which the low level of fatty acids limited milk production, with soya oil, a palm oil/palmitic acid mixture and tallow, on the yield of milk and of its constituents, and on the composition of the milk, are reported. The yields of milk and milk fat were greatly increased by all the oil-supplemented diets; the mean daily yield of solids-not-fat (SNF) was also increased, but supplementation with soya oil caused the yield of crude protein (CP) to decrease, whereas the other fat-rich concentrate mixtures gave the same mean yield of protein as did the low-fat, control diet. All 3 oil-supplemented diets lowered the proportion of CP in the milk, but the SNF content was unchanged by any treatment. Dietary soya oil tended to lower the proportion of fat in the milk, whilst the palm oil/palmitic acid mixture raised it, with the tallow exerting no effect. The results are discussed in relation to previous work in which these dietary oils have been used, but in which the intake of fatty acids from the control diets did not limit milk production to the extent reported here.


Effect of feeding fat to dairy cows receiving a fat-deficient basal diet. II. Fatty acid composition of the milk fat. The effects on the fatty acid composition of milk fat of feeding various oil-enriched diets (soya oil, red palm oil/palmitic acid and tallow) to dairy cows receiving a fat-deficient basal diet are reported. It was found that a linear relation was obtained between the dietary intake of C18 fatty acids and their output in milk fat. A similar relation, applicable only to the oil-rich diets, was found for the C16 acids. The significance of these relations is discussed. Fatty acid compositions and yields are discussed and compared with literature examples in which similar oil-rich diets were fed, but in which the low amount of fat in the basal diet did not markedly depress milk yield. The proportion of trans-isomer in the octadecnoic acid was found to increase appreciably on feeding soya oil, and to a lesser extent with dietary tallow. A linear relation between the 18:0 and 18:1 contents of milk fat was found, and its significance is discussed.


The quantitative measurement of whey proteins using polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. A method is described for the quantitative estimation of a mixture of whey proteins by spectrophotometric scanning of the stained protein bands following polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The incorporation of beta-lactoglobulin A as an internal standard improves the accuracy of the technique. The method has been used to measure residual native whey proteins in milk after heating. Results are presented for whey protein denaturation in skim-milk after heat treatment at 130 and 140 degrees C for various periods of time.


Hormone induced lactation in the cow. IV. Relationships between lactational performance and hormone concentrations in blood plasma. Concentrations of progesterone, estrogen, and prolactin in plasma were compared among lactations induced in 29 cows by daily subcutaneous injections of .25 mg progesterone and .1 mg estradiol-17beta per kg body weight for 7 days. Superior, median, and inferior lactations were identified by ranking both weightage adjusted maximum milk yields in 7 consecutive days (average 144 +/- 9 kg) and days for milk yield to increase from 5 to 10 kg/day (15 +/- 3 days). Superior and inferior of the former averaged 189 and 101 kg, and their latter averaged 2 and 42 days. Plasma hormones were measured on day 0 before first treatment (day 1), and on days 7, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, and 35. Superior lactations were associated with below-average progesterone and estrogen in plasma on day 0, rapid decreases in progesterone after day 7 and in estrogen after day 14, and increased prolactin after 7. In comparison, median lactations were associated with elevated progesterone and estrogen after day 17, but prolactin was similar to that of superior lactations. Inferior lactations were associated with decreased prolactin in plasma from days 21 to 35. We hypothesized that (a) first treatment should start 3 to 8 days after estrus, (b) daily doses of estradiol-17beta should be decreased with progesterone unchanged for the 7 days, and (c) estradiol-17beta alone should be continued for 7 days to improve hormonally induced lactations.


Failure of soybean trypsin inhibitor to exert deleterious effects in calves. To evaluate nutritional effects induced in calves by feeding soybean trypsin inhibitor, 16 calves were fed 1) raw soybeans, 2) heated soybeans, 3) heated soybeans plus soybean trypsin inhibitor, 4) heated (raw soybeans plus soybean trypsin inhibitor). Ration 1 caused depression of growth and reduced digestibility of protein and fat as compared to Ration 2. No differences were significant in calves fed Rations 3 and 4. The weights and enzymatic activities of pancreas were similar in all groups. Soybean trypsin inhibitor plays a minor role, if any, in calf nutrition.


Plasma progesterone concentrations in cows and steers after Repositol Progesterone treatment. Repositol progesterone was injected intramuscularly into 4 steers and 17 postpartum cows at a dose of 2.2 mg/kg body weight. In steers the plasma progesterone concentration rose to 6.8 ng/ml 1 day postinjection and declined to a mean concentration of 2.1 ng/ml on days 3 and 4 postinjection. Postpartum, presumed anestrus, cows reached a lesser progesterone concentration of 2.9 ng/ml 1 day postinjection and then declined to a lower mean of .7 ng/ml on days 3 and 4 postinjection. These data suggest different rates of metabolism and/or excretion of progesterone by cows and steers.


Guidelines for determining and reporting food yields. The author discusses problems in compiling and evaluating data and recommends a standard protocol for determing yield of food. The recent extensive revision of Agriculture Handbook No. 102, Food Yields Summarized by Different Stages of Preparation, points up the urgent need for guidelines and a standard protocol.


Circadian rhythmic plaque-forming cell response of spleens from mice immunized with SRBC. Studies under controlled conditions of lighting and temperature revealed clear evidence of circadian periodicity with respect to the number of PFC present in the spleens of BALB/c mice 3 or 4 days after immunization with SRBC. Striking differences in proliferative responses of spleen lymphocytes to PHA or Con A were also observed at two different circadian times. Large proliferative responses occurred at the time when injection of antigen and/or sampling for PFC yielded a low PFC formation (early in the daily dark span) and small proliferative responses occurred at the time when antigen injection and sampling yielded high formation of PFC (early in the daily light span). These findings indicate that care should be taken to control the circadian timing of stimulation and sampling in studies of immune responses, and that rhythmically varying aspects constitute a new dimension of immunologic processes awaiting further analysis in both the circadian and weekly spectral regions.


In vitro evaluation of immunity to Coxiella burnetii. The rickettsial organism, Coxiella burnetii, is readily phagocytized by macrophages maintained in vitro. This phagocytosis does not lead to destruction of the organism but rather to intracellular multiplication within the macrophage. Specific antiserum added to the macrophage culture before or after infection, or reacted directly with C. burnetii organisms, fails to control subsequent intracellular replication. Macrophage cultures can be treated with lymphocyte products so that intracellular multiplication by C. burnetii is resisted. These lymphocyte products can be obtained from the culture supernatants of sensitized lymphocytes and antigens or from culture supernatants of Concanavalin A and normal lymphocytes. The activation activity of the lymphocyte supernatants paralleled their content of MIF.


Metabolism of L-threonine and its relationship to sclerotium formation in Sclerotium rolfsii. The activities of L-threonine dehydrogenase (I), 2-amino-3-oxybutyrate:CoA ligase (II), malate synthetase (III), isocitrate lyase (IV), glyoxylate dehydrogenase (V), glycine decarboxylase (VI), L-serine hydroxymethyltransferase (VII), glucan synthetase (VIII), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (IX) and succinic dehydrogenase (X) were detected in cell-free extracts prepared from the mycelium of the fungus Sclerotium rolfsii type R. Transfer of S. rolfsii to a threonine-containing medium resulted in a significant increase in the intracellular concentrations of L-threonine, glycine, serine and glyoxylate, and a decrease in oxalate. Incubation with 14C-labelled L-threonine resulted in an immediate output of 14CO2, and an accumulation of labelled glycine and serine in the mycelium. L-Threonine (10(-2)M) increased branching, favoured formation of sclerotia, and induced the formation of enzymes I to VIII, but not IX and X. Sodium oxalate (1-5 X 10(-2)M) inhibited branching, sclerotium formation and the activity of enzymes III and IV. Glycine (10(-1) M) inhibited branching, sclerotium formation and activity of I and II. Ammonium chloride (10(-1) to 10(-2) M) inhibited formation of sclerotia, threonine uptake and activity of III. Acetyl-CoA inhibited V and L-cysteine inhibited I as well as sclerotium formation and branching. It is suggested that hyphal morphogenesis and formation of sclerotia in S. rolfsii require an increased supply of carbohydrate intermediates and energy and that these are mainly supplied by the glyoxylate pathway.


[Chromosomal study of 65 couples with spontaneous abortions]. A Robertsonian translocation and two reciprocal translocations were found in chromosome analysis of 65 couples attending for fetal wastage. The possible pathological significance of hyperdiploid cells which were observed is discussed.


RNA virus in Allomyces arbuscula: ultrastructural localization during the life-cycle. Strain Bali I of Allomyces arbuscula is infected with a RNA virus; strain North Carolina is not. The virus appears to be avirulent, for strain Bali I showed no signs of pathogenicity. Virus aggregates occurred mostly in the cytoplasm during different stages of the gametophytic and sporophytic generations. Small intra-nuclear aggregates were found only in differentiating gametophytic hyphae and immature gametangia. In motile cells (gametes and zoospores) the aggregates are exclusively contained within the nuclear cap. This represents a reliable mechanism of transmission throughout the life-cycle.


Effect of inhibitors on the morphology and growth of Allomyces macrogynus. The ability of 18 compounds to inhibit morphogenesis and/or growth of the diploid stage of Allomyces macrogymus was assayed. Of the three stages of development -- germination, vegetative growth, and sporogenesis -- germination appeared to be the most sensitive to inhibition and vegetative growth the least sensitive. Sporogenesis was sensitive to most of the inhibitors tested, but high concentrations were required for effective activity. Inhibitors could be grouped according to the stage of germination (cyst or rhizoid) at which they blocked development; those effective at the rhizoid stage, could be divided further on the basis of the resultant morphology of the germling.


Infectivity titration of guinea-pig inclusion conjunctivitis agent in irradiated McCoy cells. Estimation of the infectivity of the agent of guinea-pig inclusion conjunctivitis for irradiated McCoy cells, assayed as inclusion-forming units, was influenced by the age of cells after irradiation, the maturation time of the inclusions, the centrifugal force and the centrifugation temperature. Agent passaged through irradiated McCoy cells or guinea-pig conjunctivae showed a greater capacity to infect irradiated McCoy cells without centrifuging than agent grown in a chick embryo. The nature of the change and the mechanism of infectivity enhancement by centrifuging are discussed.


Presence of haemagglutinin in the envelope of extracellular vaccinia virus particles. The relationship of vaccinia haemagglutinin (HA) to extracellular enveloped virus (EEV) was examined. EEV banded in caesium chloride gradients at a density of 1.23 to 1.24 g/ml coincident with a peak of HA activity. EEV of an HA+ vaccinia strain showed greater than 90% adsorption to rooster red blood cells (RBCs) as detected by infectivity and 3H-thymidine labelling whereas intracellular naked virus (INV) of the HA+ strain and EEV of an HA- strain failed to show significant adsorption. The adsorption was specifically inhibited by antiserum to vaccinia. Adsorption kinetic experiments demonstrated a lack of temperature dependence on the total amount of EEV adsorbed. No elution of EEV from RBCs could be detected. The capacity of EEV to adsorb to RBCs was found to be stable at 56 degrees C for 30 min.


A factor analysis of creativity in fraternal and identical twins. The relationship between intelligence and creativity and their factorial structure have been extensively discussed, with little empirical evidence and less agreement as to the meaning. A study of 117 pairs of like sexed fraternal and identical twins was undertaken, with each twin participating in an extensive battery of creativity tests.A factor analysis indicated three factors for the fraternal twins and two for the identical twins, the results supporting both (a) the notion that the common variance of creativity measures may be accounted for by a general intelligence factor, and (b) the division of creativity into a verbal and a figural domain.


Effects of early severe malnutrition on heart and skeletal muscle lactate dehydrogenase. Following weaning, rats from litter sizes of 15 to 20 were subjected to severe food restriction for 10 weeks, and compared to rats from litter size 5 fed ad libitum. Percent M (muscle type) lactate dehydrogenase, M and H (heart type) subunit activity and lactate dehydrogenase activity (per g wet weight) determined both electrophoretically and spectrophotometrically were all significantly lower in separated left and right ventricles of the malnourished rats. There were no differences in skeletal muscle lactate dehydrogenase activity. Following 5 weeks of ad libitum feeding, the previously malnourished rats showed large increases in body weight. Now only the right ventricle showed slight decreases in H subunit and lactate dehydrogenase activity; other measurements in the right ventricle and all in the left ventricle had returned to control levels. Skeletal muscle lactate dehydrogenase activity was not different from controls.


Nitrogen retention in men fed isolated soybean protein supplemented with L-methionine, D-methionine, N-acetyl-L-methionine, or inorganic sulfate. The ability of various sulfur-containing compounds to replace L-methionine (L-Met) was investigated by metabolic balance studies in man. N-acetyl-L-Methionine (AcMet), D-methionine (D-Met), and sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) were used to supplement a diet deficient in sulfur amino acids. The daily diet contained 4.5 g nitrogen (N) from isolated soybean protein (SB) and 4.5 g from glycine and alanine (9 g total N). SB diet was given alone or supplemented to six adult men for periods of 9 days after a standardization period with an equal N eggwhite diet, preceded by a 2-day zero N adaptation period. Supplements provided equivalent amounts of sulfur to that present in 420 ml L-Met, the amount added to SB to bring the total sulfur amino acid content to 900 mg/day. AcMet was as benfeficial as L-Met in improving N balance but D-Met was not as effective as L-Met. Difference between balances obtained with L-Met and Na2SO4 was not significant due to large variation in response to Na2SO4. While addition of D-Met to SB did not result in significantly greater N retention than unsupplemented SB, NA2SO4 addition did cause increased N retention.


Plasma amino acids of infants consuming soybean proteins with and without added methionine. Fasting plasma free amino acids were determined in 54 convalescent malnourished infants: seven infants while consuming a diet based on isolated soybean protein, containing 4.0% to 5.3% of dietary metabolizable energy (calories) as protein (A), 20 at 6.4% to 6.7% protein calories (B), 23 at 6.4% to 6.7% protein calories with added DL-methionine (C), and four with 8.0% to 12.3% protein calories (D). There were no differences in total amino acid concentration (TAA) among the four groups; the molar fraction of essential amino acids (EAA:TAA) was lower for group A; there were no differences among the four groups in Lys:EAA or 1/2 cystine:EAA ratios or in Met concentration. Met:EAA was higher in C than B, with considerable overlap of individual values. In 10 of 13 infants who were represented in both B and C, Met concentration and Met:EAA ratio were higher in group C. Fasting plasma AA levels are not consistently reliable for field or clinical assessment of dietary Met adequacy. Fasting and postprandial (3- and 4-hour) plasma AA were determined in 29 infants: in 12 the preceding diet and the test meal were both Met-deficient with less than 6.7% protein calories (E), in five the preceding diet was milk-based but the test meal was Met-deficient at less than 6.7% (F), in five the preceding diet and test meal were based on isolated soybean protein at less than 6.7% with DL-Met added (G), and in seven the test meal was soy-based with greater than 9.0% protein calories (H). Plasma Met concentration and Met:EAA fell significantly at 3 and 4 hours in groups E and F, but not in groups G and H, suggesting that a postprandial fall in Met:EAA ratio can be used to identify dietary Met deficiency in field situations.


Platelet survival in childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in remission. Mean platelet survival was significantly decreased (P less than 0.01) in three children with chronic and five children with acute ITP in remission. Sera from these patients sensitized normal platelets, as demonstrated by increased phagocytosis by autologous granulocytes. These results may suggest that the remission in some patients with ITP is obtained by compensatory platelet production.


Adverse drug reactions leading to hospitalization in children. During a three-year period of prospective epidemiologic surveillance for adverse drug reactions in a pediatric population, 72 (2.0%) of 3,556 medical admissions were the result of adverse drug reactions. Antineoplastic drugs were most frequently cited as causing a reaction leading to admission. Approximately 40% of the reactions were severe, and four reactions contributed to death.


Further studies on the transmission of Hammonia hammondi in cats. Sporulated Hammondia hammondi oocysts were fed to 66 mice. Beginning the 1st day after feeding and continuing for 11 days, 6 mice were killed each day and fed to a different cat. Feces of cats fed mice were examined for oocysts. The first 9 cats, fed 6 mice each from day 1 to 9, did not shed oocysts within 50 days. Cats fed mice on days 10 and 11, shed H. hammondi oocysts after 6 days. These data indicate that tachyzoites are not infectious to cats and that the cysts are formed by the 10th day in mice fed oocysts. In other experiments, it was shown that in mice fed oocysts, H. hammondi occurred less frequently in the spleen, liver, lungs, and mesenteric lymph nodes than in the brain and muscle. Muscle was found to be more heavily infected than brain. Further, pregnant mice were fed H. hammondi oocysts and the mice delivered were raised by their mothers, weaned, and then fed to cats. The cats did not shed oocysts indicating the absence of congenital infection. H. hammondi oocysts were noninfectious to chickens.


Structure and function of the fibrillar coat of Leptorhynchoides thecatus eggs. Leptorhynchoides thecatus eggs in fish feces were discovered to lack a thin, outer membrane present on eggs removed from body cavities of freashly collected worms; and to possess external structures which, with a light microscope, appeared as numerous fibrils. Scanning electron microscopy revealed to fibrils to be portions of a broad band of unwound fibrillar coat exposed after loss of the outer membrane. Fibrillar bands can entabgle in filamentous algae, anchoring eggs at the feeding sites of amphipod intermediate hosts. Amphipods fed in containers of algae over which eggs with exposed fibrillar bands had been added developed a significantly greater prevalence and intensity of acanthocephalan infection than did those fed in containers to which eggs had been added before the algae.


Distribution and movement of infective-stage larvae of Dipetalonema viteae (Filarioidea) in the vector tick, Ornithodoros tartakowskyi (Argasidae). Histological sections and dissection of infected ticks, Ornithodoros tartakowskyi, showed that in the resting tick the 3rd-stage larvae of Dipetalonema viteae were distributed in clumps throughout the hemocoel. In the biting tick, larvae moved anteriorly and congregated especially in the capitulum; and the forward migration occurred even though no blood was ingested. This suggests that the act of biting and not the ingestion of blood is the critical factor in migration. The larvae may reach the buccal cavity through 4 possible avenues: 1) the junction of the pharynx with the buccal cavity; 2) the esophagus; 3) the salivary ducts; and 4) the roof of the hypostome. Developing forms produce direct injury to muscle fibers, and the migrating larvae further disorganize the muscles, affecting to some extent the normal activities of the ticks.


Behavior of Dipetalonema viteae (Filarioidea) during escape from the vector tick, Ornithodoros tartakowskyi (Argasidae). To determine the behavior of Dipetalonema viteae in its tick vector, Ornithodoros tartakowskyi, the ticks were fed on jirds at successive intervals of 30 to 35 days after a single infective blood meal, and the number of larvae passing from the tick during each bite was determined by recovery of: 1) adult worms from the jirds' tissues; 2) larvae from skin snips taken at the feeding site immediately after the bite; and 3) larvae from serum and tissue after artificial feeding through a skin-membrane. All methods gave similar results. Ticks harboring few larvae released most of them (82%) during the first bite, and required only 2 bites to transmit all. Ticks with moderate or heavy infections required 3 or 4 bites to transfer all larvae. Factors which may explain this are: 1) relatively short duration of the bite of heavily infected ticks due to irritation and damage to the muscles of mouthparts and pharynx by the larvae; 2) resistance of the anterior alimentary tract to penetration by the larvae; and 3) retarding effects of crowding on development and migration of larvae. Aging of infection in the tick apparently did not influence the rate of transfer of larvae. Infection adversely affected the feeding and retarded the molting of young nymphs, but with the loss of larvae in successive bites the ability to suck blood was regained.


Genetic correlates and sex differences in Holtzman Inkblot Technique responses of twins. Holtzman Inkblot Technique (HIT) responses of 36 monozygotic (MZ), 18 dizygotic same-sex (DZ-S) and 29 dizygotic opposite-sex (DZ-O) college student twin pairs were analyzed. MZ group twins were significantly more alike across a variety of HIT response dimensions than DZ-S or DZ-O group twins. The following variables indicated a possible significant genetic contribution to response determination: Movement, Abstract Content, Hostility, Pathognomic Verbalization and Popular Responses. DZ-O groups data (representing a high degree of control for environmental influences) indicated significant sex differences on the following variables: M less than F -- Rejection, Form Appropriateness, Anatomical Content, and Balance; F less than M -- Human Content and Popular. The results are discussed in terms of (a) comparable genetic determination studies with Rorschach responses and (b) the necessity for separate male and female norms on several HIT scored response scales.


The effect of premenstrual anxiety and depression on cognitive function. The Depression Adjective Check List, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and a battery of factor analytically derived cognitive tests sensitive to anxiety or depression were administered to 50 women between the ages of 30 and 45 during the 4 days prior to the onset of menstruation and again 2 weeks later. Testing sessions were scheduled on the basis of a previously completed Menstrual Distress Questionnaire. There were significant increases in anxiety and depression during the premenstruum. However, no statistically significant differences were found in cognitive test performance, and correlation data failed to support any consistent relationship between premenstrual mood and cognitive function. Moreover, no significant correlations were found between premenstrual complaints on the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire and either cognitive test performance or mood scores obtained during the premenstrual testing sessions. It was concluded that the magnitude of the premenstrual mood change was not great enough to affect intellectual function. Alternative explanations of the absence of decrements in performance are discussed.


Functional characteristics of lateral interactions between rods in the retina of the snapping turtle. 1. Intracellular recordings were made of the slow hyperpolarizing light responses of single rods in the retina of the snapping turtle. Physiological criteria used to identify rods were verified by intracellular injections of Procion Yellow. 2. The amplitudes of the responses elicited by fixed intensity flashes increased as the stimulus was enlarged to a diameter of 300 mum. Scattered light was found incapable of accounting for this effect, which must result from summative interaction of rods with neighbouring receptors. Effects of summative interaction were observed even at stimulus intensities that produced maximal responses. Enlarging the diameter of the higher intensity stimuli from 100 to 300 mum increased the peak response amplitude by almost 50%; it also produced a distinct initial peak of the response which we term overshoot. The amplitude of this overshoot was graded with stimulus size. 3. Complete intensity-response relationships were determined using stimulus diameters of 100 and 750 mum for each rod. With the smaller stimulus the intensity response range was 4-5 log units, and with the larger stimulus this was increased to 5-0 log units. For intensities below about 60 quanta/mum2 per flash (514 nm) the amplitudes elicited by the large stimulus followed a sigmoid-shaped curve. However, at higher intensities an additional lobe appeared on the intensity-response relationship. The appearance of this lobe correlated with the emergence of the overshoot on the response wave form. 4. Determinations of rod flash sensitivity (mV per quantum per mum2) showed that it increased with stimulus size up to a stimulus diameter of about 300 mum. With diameters between 50 and 150 mum, a linear relationship existed between the flash sensitivity and stimulus area. Absolute quantal sensitivities increased with stimulus area by a factor of 26, from a value of 28 muV per photoisomerization per rod with a stimulus 25 mum in diameter, to 720 muV per photoisomerization per rod with a stimulus 300 mum in diameter. 5. By comparison, red-sensitive cones showed increased sensitivity as a function of stimulus size only up to a stimulus diameter of 120 mum. Their over-all sensitivity was lower than that of rods and proved linear with stimulus diameter rather than with stimulus area. 6. Simultaneous recordings were made from rod-cone pairs to determine whether the overshoot, and hence the lobe on the amplitude-intensity function, could result from a cone input to the rod response. The time course of the cone response proved much too rapid to fit the overshoot of the rod response. 7. The spectral sensitivity of the dark-adapted rod response closely followed the difference spectrum of the rod photopigment for wave-lengths greater than 450 nm. This was true throughout the intensity range of the response, including low intensities where response averaging was necessary. 8. At low response amplitudes (approximately 1 mV), about 70% of the 40 rods tested showed responses to long wave-length stimuli consisting of two components...


The influence of gastric distension and the duodenal infusate on the pattern of stomach (abomasal) emptying in the preruminant calf. 1. In the conscious calf it is possible to use duodenal re-entrant cannulae to measure the output of a gastric test meal directly from the proximal cannula placed near the pylorus. At the same time the duodenum can be isolated from the stomach and maintained under constant stimulus by a continual infusion at regulated pressure, volume and temperature into the distal cannula. 2. Under these experimental conditions the pattern of gastric emptying is exponential in form. Thus direct recording of gastric emptying validates indirect methods, such as the serial test meal, where volume markers are used. It appears likely that the exponential pattern of gastric emptying is common to man, dog, cat and calf. 3. When the isolated duodenum was infused with water, the exponential pattern of gastric emptying was maintained even when the volume of meal instilled was increased substantially from 1 to 41. 4. Distension of the stomach by larger test meals did not affect the relative rate of emptying so that the half-time of emptying of all meals was about the same. 5. When the isolated duodenum was infused with 0-06 M-HCl gastric emptying of the smaller meals was almost completely inhibited. The inhibition of gastric evacuation was accompanied by inhibition of the gastric e.m.g. 6. Infusion of the duodenum with acid also produced marked, but not complete, inhibition of emptying the larger test meals but the distension produced by the larger meals appeared to partially overcome the inhibitory effect of the acid duodenal infusate so that a small efflux occurred from the stomach. This small efflux was usually associated with some slight degree of gastric e.m.g. activity. 7. We are still investigating the mechanisms whereby the duodenum affects gastric emptying, but it is clearly demonstrable from our present results that the inhibitory effects of acid duodenal infusate are sufficiently powerful to overcome the forces, both physical and reflex, which normally aid gastric evacuation.


Mechanosensitive afferent units in the hypogastric nerve of the cat. 1. Recordings have been made from ninety single afferent units in the hypogastric and lumbar splanchnic nerves of the cat. 2. The majority of units examined had properties similar to those previously described in the splanchnic nerve: they were slowly adapting mechanoreceptors with one to six punctate mechanosensitive sites distributed mainly along blood vessels as they approached the viscera in peritoneal ligaments; they had a wide range of mechanical thresholds and conduction velocities in the range 0.5-24 m s-1. 3. Receptive fields were found over the bladder base or its peritoneal ligaments or both, on the uterus or broad ligament or both, on the colon or mesocolon or both, and in association with the ureter, vas deferens, prostate or pelvic fat pads. 4. Discharges from afferent units associated with the bladder were investigated during spontaneous (or reflex) bladder contractions, passive distensions, and tetanic contractions induced by electrical stimulation of the sacral spinal cord. The mean spike rates of the adapted (tonic) discharges, observed during distensions and induced tetani, differed over part of the range of intravesical pressures examined. Their behaviour is discussed in relation to the concept of 'in series' tension receptors within the bladder wall.


Electrical properties of the starfish oocyte membranes. The electrical parameters of both vitelline and plasma membranes have been measured in Marthasterias glacialis oocytes. Voltage-current relationship was studied by an original method using a single intracellular micro-electrode. The analysis of V-I curves obtained by this method reveals rectifying properties of the plasma membrane. Bath application of 1-methyladenine, the hormone wich controls meiosis reinitiation, triggers without lag a partial depolarization of the plasma membrane, whereas the total ionic conductance undergoes typical variations.


Dynamic studies of prostaglandin F-2 alpha in the utero-ovarian circulation of the sheep. The concentration of prostaglandin (PG) F-2alpha in ovarian arterial blood was compared to that in aortic and carotid blood at different stages of the ovine oestrous cycle, and its concentration measured in the ovarian artery following the infusion of radioactive PGF-2alpha to the uterine vein. In all cases the concentration of PGF-2alpha increased during passage through the ovarian artery, and the increase was proportional to the log of the concentration in the uterine vein. No such change was observed in the concentration of progesterone in the ovarian artery or of PGF in the uterine artery. It was concluded that PGF-2alpha can be and is normally transferred from the uterine vein to the ovarian artery. These results are compatible with the hypothesis that PGF-2alpha of uterine origin is the normal luteolytic agent in the sheep.


Serum-induced head-to-head agglutination of bovine spermatozoa. Addition of cow serum to diluted bull spermatozoa induced marked head-to-head agglutination which declined during incubation for 9 hr at 37 degrees C. Maintenance of the acrosomal cap during incubation was not adversely affected by serum. Agglutinating cells were those with intact acrosomal and cell membranes, as determined by differential interference-contrast and electron microscopy. Single cells in the same treatment groups experienced more rapid acrosomal deterioration than did untreated spermatozoa. Ultrastructurally, agglutinated cells were associated by a close apposition of the cell membranes in the acrosomal region. Structural integrity of the cell membrane and acrosome of agglutinated cells was the same after 9 hr of incubation as at the onset of the incubation period.


Fructose metabolism in the rat endometrium under normal and experimental conditions. Fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) hydrolysis, which was measured in tissue extracts from mature rat endometrium, was maximal during late dioestrus and early pro-oestrus and reflected the variations in the plasma levels of ovarian steroids. Treatment of ovariectomized animals with oestradiol or medroxyprogesterone acetate increased FDP hydrolysis when compared with control animals, although oestradiol was the more effective. FDP hydrolysis was greater in extracts of endometrial tissue from uterine horns containing a silk IUD or of deciduomal tissue from pseudo-pregnant rats, in which the peak was on Day 9, than in extracts of endometrium from the control contralateral horn. These findings are interpreted as linking glycogen metabolism in normal endometrium, IUD-containing horns, and decidual tissue to the role of FDP in gluconeogenesis and the promotion of glycogen storage.