Heterotopic gastric mucosa of the tongue and the oesophagus. A case of gastric heterotopia of the tongue and one of heterotopic gastric mucosa of the oesophagus are described. From a comprehensive review of the world literature it appears that the present case of lingual gastric heterotopia is only the eighth so far reported and the first occurring in a woman. The site of the polypoid formation medially in the body of the tongue and its presence since birth indicate a congenital malformation. As to the observation of heterotopic gastric mucosa in the oesophagus, it is worth noting that the aberrant tissue was located in a wide area between two sites of squamous carcinoma of the oesophagus. Primary adenocarcinoma of the upper third of the oesophagus is extremely rare and its histogenesis becomes even more controversial when consideration is given to some of the features of the case presented. In particular, the hypothesis that adenocarcinoma may arise from heterotopic gastric epithelium is doubtful and does not explain the origin of all adenocarcinomas in the upper third of the oesophagus. The assumption that it may arise from oesophageal glands and/or from tracheobranchial rests remains well-founded.


Reconstructive surgery in chronic otitis media. Statistical analysis of long-term results. Success or failure of tympanoplasty depends on the following factors: (1) the anatomic and functional state of the tympanic membrane and the ossicles; (2) type, extension and activity of chronic otitis media at the time of surgery; (3) permanent restoration and drainage of the middle ear, and (4) surgical technique. In the present long-term study 440 cases of tympanoplasty have been followed up for 2-10 years. The anatomic and functional results were evaluated statistically by a computerized data processing procedure. Thus, multiple correlations between the factors influencing the anatomic and functional results could be investigated.


Ultrasonic nebulizer in local anesthesia for bronchoscopy. A method of utilizing an ultrasonic nebulizer (De Vilbiss 35 A) in local anesthesia for bronchoscopy is described. 10 ml of 4% Licocaine without adrenaline was used as anesthetic agent. Blood levels of Lidocaine were determined on 12 patients. The maximum blood levels were reached 6-8 min after the end of anesthesia. Blood lelvels ranged from 0.37 to 3.28 mug/ml being so in the nontoxic dosage range. A satisfactory anesthesia was achieved in 95% of the 1,043 patients subjected to bronchoscopy, while 5% felt that laryngeal anesthesia was not complete. In no case was it necessary to use the conventional way to complete the anesthesia. Nebulizer anesthesia was preferred by 100 persons who had been anesthetized by both the conventional method and the ultrasonic technique.


Nippostrongylus brasiliensis: further properties of antibody-damaged worms and induction of comparable damage by maintaining worms in vitro. When adult Nippostrongylus brasiliensis were maintained in vitro they became damaged. Using the criteria of ultrastructural morphology, acetylcholinesterase isoenzyme pattern and the behaviour of the worms after transfer to a normal rat, this damage appeared to be similar to that produced by the in vivo action of antibodies. Antibodies were shown to be responsible for the anterior migration of adult worms which occurs during primary infections in mature rats and in the prolonged infections seen in lactating and immature rats. Antibody damaged worms and worms unaffected by antibodies were equally able to stimulate the immune response required for worm expulsion. Apparently antibody damage is not required for the initiation of the second immune component necessary for expulsion of this parasite.


The influence of Nematospiroides dubius on subsequent Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infections in mice. The fecundity and longevity of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis was prolonged in mice previously infected with Nematospiroides dubius only when the former developed from the larval stage in those mice. Such worms appeared to be less immunogenic than worms which developed in mice never exposed to N. dubius. It is proposed that prolonged fecundity and longevity resulted from an adaptation undertaken by the worms in the face of host antibodies which had been developed against the pre-existing N. dubius infection.


Electron microscopical investigations on the glycocalyx of cultivated cells after incubation with extracts from rapidly growing normal and tumour tissues. Electron microscopical investigations by means of the ruthenium red method on Huggin-tumour cells cultivated in vitro resulted in a different thickness of the glycocalyx depending on the fixation of the cells in monolayer or, after mechanical detachment, in suspension. Cells fixed in suspension display a thicker glycocalyx, which is supposed to be due to a contraction of the cells before fixation. Tissue extracts from rapidly growing tissues (mammary gland of pregnant cows, tumour tissue) cause a significant reduction of the glycocalyx in transformed hamster fibroblasts and Huggin-tumour cells after an 18-hour period of action. These findings are in accordance with previous findings on the glycolytic effect of tissue extracts on sections of cartilaginous tissue. It is discussed whether the action of the tissue extracts on the glycocalyx is due to its detachment or to an inhibition of its renewal.


[Ecological significance of the dilation of the distal portion of the uterus of some trematodes]. Many trematodes parasitic in the oral cavity, pharynx or oesophagus of snakes and birds or in the cloaca of birds possess a sac-shaped dilation of the uterine distal portion or the organ itself is sac-shaped. Trematodes possessing such uterus lay periodically more or less portions of eggs. The time of egg laying depends on the frequency of some functions of the host's organs (food capture by the host, swallowing the food, defecation), which the trematodes inhabit.


Peritubular transport of urate in rat kidneys. Measurement in the rat of renal artery-to-vein transit times permitted evaluation of movement of 14C-labelled urate and of other solutes out of the peritubular inulin spaces in the renal cortex. No interaction between urate and PAH could be demonstrated at this level. Provided the peritubular disappearance may be equated to cellular uptake a mean unidirectional urate flux across peritubular membranes equal to about 1/3 of total renal load may be calculated. This value greatly exceeds the net secretory flux of urate. Such a fact can be explained by the likelihood of significant post-proximal reabsorption of secreted urate, and/or by the conclusion that peritubular urate permeability exceeds that of the luminal side. Assignment of the limiting step in urate secretion to the luminal cell membranes, in contrast to a determining role played by peritubular membranes in PAH transport, can account for the lack of interaction between PAH and urate at the peritubular membrane in rats.


[Role of mollusks as benthos components in the purification of water bodies from the eggs of Ascaris suum]. Fresh water mollusks Galba palustris and Bithynia tentaculata feed on ascaris eggs, destroy them (10 to 20%) and hinder their development as compared to control ones. Thus, this mollusks participate in the purification of water bodies from ascaris eggs. Eggs swallowed by mollusks of the genus Radix develop normally. Consequently Radix serve for scattering eggs over the bottom of the water body.


The hydraulic conductivity of the rat proximal tubular wall determined with colloidal solutions. The hydraulic conductivity of the rat proximal tubular wall was determined using colloidal solutions perfused in short (50--200 mum) (SMP) or long (90--200 mum) (LMP) proximal tubular segments. In SMP human serum albumin (HSA) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was added to raffinose solutions. A Lp of 0.019 nl-min-1-mm-1-mm Hg-1 was found when high colloid concentrations were used while values of 0.055--0.092 were found when low colloid concentrations were used. In other experiments, the Lp was determined by perfusing short tubular segments with pure raffinose solutions. A value of 0.015 nl-min-1-mm-1-mm Hg-1 was found. This is twice the value found when raffinose solutions were perfused through long tubular segments and it is concluded that the short microperfusion technique overestimates Lp with a factor of two. When microperfusions of long tubular segments were conducted, PVP was added to an equilibrium solution consisting of NaCl (110 mM) and raffinose (80 mM). Lp was found to be 0.018--0.021 when high colloid concentrations were used, while a value of 0.029 was found when a low colloid concentration was used. As found in both SMP and LMP a decrease in Lp's with increasing colloid concentrations indicates that a significant influence of radial concentration differences is highly probable. It is therefore suggested that the highest Lp derived when using the lowest colloid concentrations represents the best estimate. With this Lp value (0.03--0.05 nl-min-1-mm-1-mm Hg-1) and the existing transtubular hydrostatic and oncotic pressure difference it can be calculated that these passive forces might constitute the driving force for 1/3 of the fluid reabsorbed in the proximal tubule.


A tungsten electrode insulated by a concentric arrangement of glass-pipettes for iontophoresis. A method is described by which electrolytically sharpened tungsten wires were coated with a coaxial assembly of 5-8 glass-capillaries. This glass coating provides good insulation and high rigidity of the tungsten electrodes. The glass pipettes were used for electrophoretic ejection of test substances and the tungsten electrode for extracellular recording of neuronal activity.


Isometric strength, endurance, and the blood pressure and heart rate responses during isometric exercise in healthy men and women, with special reference to age and body fat content. The relationship of sex, age, and body fat content were assessed on the maximal voluntary strength (MVC), the endurance of a sustained contraction held at 40% of the subject's maximal strength, and the associated changes in blood pressure and heart rate. Isometric hand-grip strength was, as expected, greater in men than in women; however, in both sexes, age was inversely related to isometric strength, particularly in women. Body fat content, however, was directly related to strength. In contrast, in both male and female subjects aging was directly related to isometric endurance while body fat content was now inversely related to isometric endurance. The increase in heart rate throughout a fatiguing contraction at 40% MVC was strikingly similar in men and women. Heart rate, which always increased during exercise, attained its highest magnitude during exercise in the subjects who had the highest resting heart rates. However, older subjects displayed a smaller increase in exercising heart rates than younger subjects. The blood pressure at the end of the 40% MVC was directly related to the resting blood pressure. However, aging and body fat content both increased the resting systolic blood pressure in men and women; this aging effect was further exaggerated during the exercise.


The genesis of the pulse contours of the distal leg arteries in man. In order to clarify the genesis of the human pressure and flow pulse contours of the distal leg arteries, in particular the posterior tibial artery, pulse recordings were performed with transcutaneous techniques under normal conditions and in the state of strong vasodilatation (reactive hyperaemia) in the distal parts of the lower legs. From the experimental results it is concluded that the contour of the incident pressure wave arriving in the leg arteries is very similar to the pressure pulse contour of the abdominal aorta, while the resulting contour in the leg arteries is determined by this incident wave and superimposed reflected waves. The latter arise from positive reflection in the periphery of the lower legs. The travel in retrograde direction, are reflected negatively in proximal regions, particularly in the abdominal aorta, and appear again, with opposite sign, in the leg arteries. In addition, retrograde waves reflected positively at the aortic valve and then traveling in antegrade direction also influence the pulse contours. By considering this wave travel, the genesis of the characteristic contours of the pressure and flow pulses of the lower leg arteries is explained in a satisfactory way. This is demonstrated by a simplified graphical pulse construction as well as by the calculation of pulse contours on the basis of a theoretical tube model of the arterial system with the aid of a digital computer. The results of these calculations are discussed with respect to the findings of previous investigators who used analog and digital models of the arterial system.


Oxygen supply and uptake in the liver and the intestine. The oxygen supply to the liver was found to be dependent on the total blood flow only and not on the ratio of arterial to portal contribution. The mean value of O2-uptake in the liver, related to a blood flow of 110 ml/min - 100 g liver, amounted to 6.08 +/- 0.2 ml O2/min - 100 g liver (mean +/- S.E.M.). O2-uptake of the intestine was found to be 1.95 +/- 0.13 ml O2/min - 100 g tissue, related to a normal blood flow of 50 ml/min - 100 g tissue. With low oxygen supply O2 extraction in the liver reaches values of 97%, whereas the intestinal extraction does not surpass 75%. A rise in oxygen supply surmounting normal values does not increase the O2-consumption. Contrary to the intestinal circulation the liver showed no postocclusive vasodilatation. The oxygen debt was payed back by a greater extraction. The portal oxygen supply to the liver can markedly increase due to intestinal metabolic hyperemia. High O2-extraction capacity, rather than vasodilatation, is the main mechanism for matching hepatic oxygen supply with requirements. The hepatic venous blood may leave the liver with an extremely low O2-content.


Effects of certain diuretics on the electrophysiological characteristics of the nephron in the rat kidney. Electrophysiological micropuncture techniques were used to study the effect of certain diuretics on transtubular transport of electrolytes in the rat kidney. The mercurial diuretic novurite caused a reduction of active sodium transport in the proximal tubule, measured by short-circuit current and increased permeability of the tubular wall to ions which led to a considerable drop in transtubular potential and transepithelial resistance. Ethacrynic acid decreased the short-circuit current in the proximal tubule, without changing the permeability characteristics of the nephron. Xanthine diuretic euphylline did not reduce the short-circuit current in the proximal segment of the nephron; however, it increased the transepithelial potential of the renal tubule. In the distal tubule, euphylline and ethacrynic acid increased the difference in transtubular potential, whereas novurite reduced the transtubular potential. An increase in the electrical gradient of the distal tubule as a result of euphylline and ethacrynic acid action may be responsible for increasing potassium excretion. A decrease of the transtubular potential in the potassium excretion under mercurial diuretic action. The reduction of tubular reabsorption as a result of diuretic action is due to drug effect on different levels of the transtubular-ion transport system.


An analysis of the dose-response curve at voltage-clamped frog-endplates. The agonist concentration--endplate conductance relation was examined for a number of agonists (such as carbachol, alkyl trimethylammonium salts, choline and decamethonium). The endplate current evoked varied as Imax [a/(a + K)]2, where a is the agonist concentration and Imax and K are agonist-specific parameters. This finding suggests that the endplate receptor has 2 equivalent subunits which bind agonist approximately non-cooperatively. The liganded subunits then switch to an active conformation with a probability that depends on the nature of the agonist. Both subunits must adopt the active conformation for the channel to open, but the transitions of the subunits could be either independent or concerted.


Drug interactions at the motor endplate. The effect of bath applied agonists and reversible and irreversible antagonists upon the endplate currents produced by agonists applied either iontophoretically or in the bath was studied quantitatively. Agonist-agonist interaction (both potentiation and inhibition) can be accounted for satisfactorily by postulating independent binding and conformation change in 2 equivalent receptor subunits. With tubocurarine only slight deviations from competitive inhibition of agonist binding were detected. The action of bungarotoxin was in good agreement with this model and was studied kinetically.


Changes of ribosomal capacity for protein synthesis, contraction and histochemical properties of muscle after implantation of fast nerve into denervated and into self-reinnervated slow soleus muscle of the rat. The ribosomal capacity for protein synthesis in the fast extensor digitorum longus muscle of the rat is markedly higher than in the slow soleus muscle. Implantation of the "fast" peroneal nerve into the denervated or into the self-reinnervated soleus muscle results in transformation (increase) of capacity of isolated ribosomes for protein synthesis into that of the fast muscle type. The degree of transformation is higher after implantation into the self-reinnervated than into the denervated soleus muscle. A high degree of recovery of weight and tetanic tension output is recorded after the "fast" nerve implantation. The effect of transformation with respect to contraction properties is considerably more marked in the case of heteroinnervation of the denervated muscle and persists even after 5 months of heteroinnervation. Transformation of the histochemical muscle fibre pattern is also more pronounced after heteroinnervation of the denervated than self-reinnervated soleus muscle; the muscle acquires the fibre pattern of the fast extensor digitorum longus muscle. The acquisition of the reciprocal pattern of oxidative and glycolytic enzymes suggests that the activation of protein synthesis induced by the foreign "fast" nerve supply is coupled with the operation of specific RNA species.


The influence of innervation on the differentiation of contractile speeds of developing chick muscles. 1. The role of innervation of the differentiation of contractile speeds was studied in the slow anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD) and fast posterior latissimus dorsi (PLD) muscle of the chick. 2. These muscles become innervated during the 12th and 15th day of embryonic development. At this time both muscles contract and relax extremely slowly and their contractile speeds are very similar. By the 18th day their contraction and relaxation becomes more rapid. It is at this time that the contractile characteristics of both muscles also become very different from each other, ALD being about 3 times slower than PLD. Thus innervation percedes differentiation of contractile speeds by several days. 3. The influence of innervation on the contractile characteristics of developing slow and fast muscles was studied during muscle regeneration in adults. When a slow ALD muscle was minced and implanted in place of a fast PLD the newly regenerated ALD became innervated by a PLD nerve and resembled a fast PLD. Conversely, when PLD muscles were minced and replaced ALD the regenerated PLD was innervated by ALD nerve and became slow. 4. Histological examination revealed that the regenerated ALD became focally innervated, and the regenerated PLD multiply innervated. 5. Thus, the contractile speeds are not predetermined properties of the muscle fibre. Both contractile characteristic and the pattern of innervation of developing muscles are determined by the motor nerve.


A simple method for the sampling of respiratory gas in conscious dogs. A method is presented for the sampling of respiratory gas in conscious animals, using a catheter with the tip implanted in the roof of the nasal cavity and the other end exteriorized beyond the external protuberance of the occiput. The operation procedure is simple and serious postoperative complications have not been encountered. The method has been used extensively for the continuous measurement of Po2 and PCO2 in respiratory gas of conscious dogs.


Humoral transmission of sleep. IX. Activity and concentration of the sleep peptide delta in cerebral and systemic blood fractions. 1. In order to obtain information about production and activity of the "sleep factor delta", characterized as oligopeptide with MW approximately 860, the peptide concentration (in nM/g dry dialysate) and the EEG delta activity of the corresponding dialysate (delta percent and integral of delta increase) were determined for cerebral blood from the dural venous sinus, systemic blood from the femoral vein and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from sleeping and alert rabbit donors. 2. Before hypnogenic or walking stimulation all hemodialysates exhibit a basic peptide concentration (26 nM/g dry dialysate) and a corresponding basic delta activity (231 muV X sec delta integral within 6 sec). 3. The electric thalamic stimulation of donors, with parameters inducing orthodox delta-sleep, parallely increases the delta peptide concentration (160 nM/g) and its activity (543 muV X sec delta integral) in cerebral blood dialysate. 4. The cerebral blood plasma dialyzed in vitro after hypnogenic thalamic stimulation exhibits a still higher peptide concentration (197 nM/g) and delta activity (804 muV X sec), increased at will by using a steeper diffusion gradient in the dialyzer (possibility of extracting more peptide). 5. By contrast, the systemic femoral blood plasma, similarly dialyzed in vitro develops a weaker delta activity (646 muV X sec) than cerebral blood plasma, in spite of a higher peptide concentration (275 nM/g). This dissociation suggests an activity marked by concomittant waking factors added to the cerebral blood during passage through the hindlimbs musculature. 6. The fact that cerebral blood dialyzed in vivo in walking donors has no delta activity (-313 muV X sec) in spite of a minimal delta peptide concentration (10 nM/g) confirms the assumption that walking factors may mask the peptide activity. Additionally, it shows that they may also antagonize the peptide production. The sleep cycle seems to be regulated not only by neural, rapid acting antagonistic mechanisms, but also by humoral, slower acting antagonistic factors. 7. Cerebrospinal fluid withdrawn from sleeping donors induces insignificant changes in recipients, probably because of too small a peptide concentration in this fluid.


Influences of chronic denervation of the carotid bifurcation regions on panting in the sheep. The respiratory response of conscious sheep subjected to severe heat stress has been assessed before and up to 17 weeks after bilateral denervation of the carotid bifurcations. The characteristic response of the intact animal comprises an initial phase of rapid, shallow panting, superseded by panting of a slower, deeper form which results in a severe respiratory alkalosis; this was not significantly altered by the denervation. However, during recovery from heat stress, denervated animals developed a marked hypoxaemia and tachycardia. Blood pressure was much more labile in denervated animals. After denervation, resting arterial PCO2 was higher, PO2 was lower, and blood pressure and heart rate were higher; with the lapse of weeks, these parameters returned towards pre-denervation levels although the carotid bodies remained inactive. It is concluded that the carotid bodies do not play a significant role in control of the biphasic pattern of panting during severe heat stress, but that they normally prevent post-hyperventilation hypocapnic hypoxaemia during recovery. Further, the respiratory pattern during heat stress is the results of an overwhelming thermoregulatory drive, whereas the pattern during recovery is the result of a balance between arterial and medullary chemoreceptor activity, Finally, the carotid bodies normally play a significant role in determining the 'set-point' for CO2 regulation, but in their absence respiratory control mechanism adapt over a considerable time period.


Relationship between perfusion pressure and renin release in the isolated rat kidney. Isolated rat kidneys were perfused with either a modified Krebs-Henseleit solution containing a gelatine preparation (Haemaccel, 35 g/1) or with a suspension of washed bovine red blood cells (RBC). Wh en perfusion pressure (PP) was varied repeatedly in the range between 30 and 210 mm Hg autoregulation of renal plama flow (RPF) was almost complete in RBC perfused kidneys. Changes of PP by steps of 20 mm Hg at intervals of 5 min resulted in an incomplete autoregulation of RPF and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Renin release (RR) was inversely related to PP in the range between 50 and 150 mm Hg, while perfusion at a pressure below or above that range had no further effect on RR. The most marked increase in RR was obtained, when PP was reduced from 90 to 70 mm Hg. After reduction of PP, an increase in RR was measurable within 1 min, and a maximum was reached after 5 min. In kidneys perfused with a cell-free medium at a PP of 45 mm Hg for up to 30 min, RR remained elevated for the entire period of pressure reduction. Injection of microspheres into the renal artery resulted in a prompt decrease of RPF, GFR and urinary sodium excretion, but the values returned towards control levels within 15 min; RR increased only transiently after a short initial fall.


An analysis of calcium-magnesium antagonism in contractility and ionic balance in isolated trabecular muscle of rat ventricle. The influence of elevated Mg (20mM) on mechanical response fibre electrolyte composition and Ca-exchange, as a function of external Ca concentration, has been studied in an isolated trabecular muscle column of rat ventricle. At [Ca]o 2.5 mM, cellular Mg-content increased in 20 mM [Mg]o without effect on contractility or fibre content of other electrolytes. As [Ca]0 was reduced from 2.5 mM, 20 MM Mg caused progressive inhibition of contractile response of muscle to electrical stimulation. In both resting and stimulated trabeculae the intrafibre Mg-content rapidly increased and Ca-content fell in the initial 20 min incubation in reduced (1.5 or 0.75 mM) Ca, as the contractile response declined. Subsequent restoration of [Ca]0 to 2.5 mM restored contractile response in the presence of high Mg concentration. Exposure of trabeculae to high Mg also caused a significant decrease in 45-Ca exchange in a muscle calcium-pool exchanging with t1/2 7 min when [Ca]0 was 1.5 mM, but had no effect on Ca-exchange when [Ca]0 was 2.5 mM. The effect of high Mg on exchange of Ca indicated that displacement of a fraction of superficially-bound muscle Ca was responsible for the diminished contractile response in Mg-loaded trabeculae.


Application of fluorescamine to the study of protein-DNA interactions. The reactivity of alpha-amino groups of basic proteins towards fluorescamine is essentially abolished if salt linkages with DNA phosphate groups are formed. This observation prompted the elaboration of a very general assay which allows the determination of binding parameters for the interaction of proteins with DNA and chromatin. Protamines, labeled with fluorescamine prior to their binding by DNA appear to be useful probes to monitor the formation and nature of DNA-protein complexes.


Proof of mycotoxicoses being a field problem and a simple method for their control. A field trial in which moldy caked feed was removed from the feed delivery truck, storage bins, conveyors, and feeding troughs by scrubbing and disinfecting resulted in improved body weight, pigmentation, and carcass grade of broiler chickens. This improvement which occurred despite the presence of only small and infrequent quantities of aflatoxin and ochratoxin suggest that mycotoxicoses, as yet undefined, can have a deleterious economic effect and further suggests that the mycotoxicoses can be partially controlled by simple preventive measures.


Changes in relative aggressiveness and social dominance associated with selection for early egg production in chickens. We tested the hypothesis that artificial selection for early reproductive performance of chickens kept under competitive conditions increases aggressiveness and social dominance. Two populations subjected to long-term selection for number of eggs laid before 40 weeks of age and the unselected control population from which they derived were used. Results generally supported the hypothesis but indicated that increased aggressiveness associated with such selection may characterize the adolescent period only. For one of the selected strains, rank for aggressiveness and social dominance between adolescence and full maturity was reversed, relative to the control population. Associations between increased aggressiveness (and social dominance) and decreased age at sexual maturity are discussed, along with implications as to the role of social status and reproductive performance when different genetic strains compete within flocks.


The role of interferon in the spontaneous regression of Friend virus induced leukemia. The spontaneous regression of leukemia induced by RFV (the regressing strain of Friend MuLV) does not involve interferon. Inducers of interferon do not affect regression. Interferon activity in sera from infected or regressed animals is the same as that found in control sera.


Adrenal gland involvement in synchronizing the preovulatory release of LH in rats. In this study we have demonstrated that acute adrenalectomy (1000 hr proestrus) has no effect on the release of LH on proestrous afternoon. However, chronic adrenalectomy results in the loss of some factor responsible for synchronizing the preovulatory LH surge. Since this investigator has shown previously (15) that progesterone can influence the timing of LH release in ovariectomized and ovariectomized-adrenalectomized animals, it is most likely that adrenal progesterone is involved in synchronizing this event.


High glucose concentration and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity in human and rat fetal liver cultures. In cultures of human and rat fetal liver, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity increases during the first 24 hr of culturing. This increase can be suppressed by adding cycloheximide to the culture medium or by adding a high glucose concentration. This, however, applies only to human fetal liver and to fetal liver from rats obtained just before term. In younger rat fetal liver, glucose, on the contrary, increases the activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. A high glucose concentration in the medium also leads to higher citrate cleavage enzyme activity and to lower alpha-glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase (cytoplasmic) activity in rat fetal liver cultures.


[Effect of the chemical nature of the carbon source in the medium on the makeup of the biomass]. The yeast Candida tropicalis, Candida utilis, Trichosporon cutaneum were cultivated on the synthetic medium containing additions of group B vitamins (biotin, thiamin) and glucose, glycerol of lactic acid as the sole source. The protein content, amino acid composition, nucleic acids and complex B vitamins were identified in the resultant biomass. The carbon source in the medium affected these indices. The protein and nucleic acid content also depended on the yeast strain.


Influence of parental lead exposure on subsequent learning ability of offspring. This study was designed to assess the learning ability of rat offspring following the exposure of one or both parents to lead acetate (Pb) from 30-90 days of age. At that time, parents were mated to yield four groups: Group Pb-Pb, both parents had received Pb; Group Pb-N, only the mother had received Pb; Group N-Pb, only the father had received Pb; Group N-N, the control parents. Mothers were continued on their respective treatments throughout gestation and nursing. Testing of offspring began at 30 days of age, employing a black-white discrimination water T maze. Analysis of results revealed that the three Pb groups made more errors than the controls, but did not differ from one another. However, offspring in Group Pb-Pb had longer swimming times than those in Groups Pb-N and N-Pb, who, in turn, had longer swimming times than Group N-N. Thus dual parental exposure was more severe than single parental exposure, which, however, still exerted a detrimental effect compared to control performance.


Effect of selective lesioning of brain serotonin or catecholamine-containing neurons on the activity of oral steroid contraceptives in rats. The effect of different dosage combinations of lynoestrenol and mestranol were studied in rats that have been subjected to selective lesioning of brain serotonin or catecholamine-containing neurons. Lesions of the midbrain raphe, which cause a marked decrease of serotonin in the forebrain, were without any effect on the estrus cycle, fertility and activity of the steroids under study. An intraventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine, which causes a selective decrease of noradrenaline and dopamine in the forebrain, produced a transient effect only on the estrus cycle but did not significantly change the fertility or the activity of the substances investigated. The data indicate that the integrity of monoaminergic neurons in the brain is not an essential condition for the aspects investigated in the present study.


Sexual preference in female rats during estrous cycle, pregnancy and lactation. Choice of a male or female social contact was studied in intact female rats in a runway-choice apparatus during estrous cycle, pregnancy, and lactation. The male was chosen significantly more often during proestrus/estrus than during the diestrous days of the cycle. During pregnancy this preference in choice declined only to reappear gradually during the lactation period. The shifts in the level  of motivation to seek out the male support previous studies and point to the significance of estrogen in producing the preference for the male.


Ethanol dependence in the rat: a parametric analysis. Rats were maintained on liquid diets as their sole source of calories and fluid for 10, 15, 20, and 30 days. The diets consisted 35-40% of total calories in the form of ethanol. This procedure resulted in substantial ethanol intake leading to behavioral intoxication. Blood ethanol concentrations were found to be elevated throughout the day with a peak during the dark phase of the light cycle. The removal of ethanol resulted in evidence of physiological dependence, including behavioral manifestation of autonomic and somatic dysfunction and an increased susceptibility to audiogenic convulsions. Ten days of ethanol exposure was found to be sufficient for the reliable induction of ethanol dependence. Further increases in ethanol exposure resulted in increased hyperexcitability as measured by susceptibility to audiogenic convulsions. The severity of withdrawal behavior was found to be correlated with the blood ethanol concentration measured upon ethanol removal. A behavioral rating scale for the evaluation of alcohol withdrawal intensity in rats is described.


Light-dark rhythms in aggressive behavior of the male golden hamster. A nocturnal rhythm in aggressive behavior in the male golden hamster is described. The peak frequency of aggression occurs shortly after the time of dark onset (Experiments 1 and 3). Results suggest that the rhythm is likely to be independent from similar rhythms in non-hostile social behavior and locomotor activity. The aggression rhythm is not dependent on the illumination conditions during the 10 min testing period, but is instead a function of the time of testing relative to the LD 12:12 cycle (Experiment 2). The rhythm persists for over a week in  continuous illumination and requires between 2 and 4 weeks to reentrain to a 12 hr phase shift (Experiment 4). These results support the hypothesis that the aggression rhythm is endogenous to the animal. The functional significance of the aggression rhythm and its implications for future research in aggression are also discussed.


Differential effects of d- and l-amphetamine on mouse-killing behavior in rats. Muricidal behavior in rats was selectively antagonized by both the d- and the l-isomer of amphetamine. However, d-amphetamine was approximately 8 times as potent as l-amphetamine as an inhibitor of mouse killing. The results of this study suggest that amphetamine antagonizes muricidal behavior in rats primarily via noradrenergic mechanisms. In addition, these results, as well as those in previous reports, imply that agents which modify the level of activity at central noradrenergic receptors may significantly alter the mouse-killing response of rats.


Aggressive behavior and brain serotonin and catecholamines in ants (Formica rufa). Serotonin, adrenaline and noradrenaline were analyzed in brains of the ants, Formica rufa. Experiments demonstrated that concentrations of both serotonin and adrenaline were higher in ants that displayed aggressiveness (interspecific and intrageneric) while concentrations of noradrenaline was decreased.


Effects of adrenalectomy on rhythmic and non-rhythmic aggressive behavior in the male golden hamster. Male golden hamsters, adrenalectomized and maintained by subcutaneous implants od deoxycorticosterone-acetate (adx-DOCA), show a loss of the nocturnal rhythm in aggression seen in sham operated (sham-op) animals. A similar loss of the nocturnal aggression rhythm is evident in hamsters adrenalectomized and implanted with separate pellets of DOCA and cortisol-acetate (adx-DOCA-cortisol). However, while Adx-DOCA animals do not differ from sham-op animals in the level of aggression summed over all tests (overall aggression), the overall aggression levels of the adx-DOCA-cortisol animals are significantly higher than the levels of either the adx-DOCA or sham-op animals. Nocturnal rhythms in locomotor activity persist in all three groups. It is suggested that circadian rhythms of the pituitary-adrenocoritcal axis are important for the expression of the aggression rhythm. A possible mechanism of action is discussed.


Technique for producing and measuring territorial aggression using laboratory mice. A method was developed for producing and measuring territorial aggression in male CF-1 laboratory mice using a simple apparatus. The technique is based on data collected from approximately 1000 CF-1 mice in order to establish the parameters and optimize the procedures. In this technique the mouse takes up lone residence for 24 hr in a 60 cm square box attached by a tubular runway to a standard mouse (home) cage with food, water, and bedding. After this interval, a naive intruder male CF-1 mouse of the same age is introduced. Under control (no treatment) conditions, 85-90 percent of the resident mice will attack the intruder with a latency of about 5 min and all residents attacking the intruder are dominant. Dominance or submission is typically decided within the first 20 min of the test. Data on 10 pairs of mice can be collected simultaneously by one observer. Treatments can be assessed in terms of their effects on the production of aggression (percentage of animals attacking) in either the resident or the intruder, and on the level of aggression produced by recording the latency to attack, the frequency of attacks, and the number of animals wounded (showing blood) during the 20 min observation period. The advantages of the technique include the use of a naturally occurring aggressive behavior (as opposed to techniques empolying long periods of isolation, shock, or drugs), the highly reliable occurrence of aggression, the ability to study animals exposed to either aggression or defeat, the clear and valid measures of aggression produced, the simple and sturdy apparatus, and the convenience and economy of data collection.


The mechanism of anti-muricidal effects of chlordiazepoxide. Muricidal activity of rats is suppressed by chlordiazepoxide (CDP). At appropriate doses the CDP effect is reversed by repeated testing, by pretreatment with CDP, and by concomitant dosing with caffeine. This points to the general behavioral depressant action of CDP which undergoes tolerance as being primarily responsible for the anti-muricidal activity of CDP.


Facilitated shock-induced aggression following antidepressive medication in the rat. Rats were tested for changes in shock-induced fighting following treatment with antidepressants of both the dibenzazepine and monoamine oxidase inhibitor classes of drug. Rats were retested for shock-induced fighting 3, 4, and 5 days after initial injections of imipramine (10 mg/kg IP bid), or saline. All three dibenzazepine groups showed increased levels of shock-induced fighting (p less than 0-01). In addition, rats were retested for shock-induced fighting 6, 30. 54, and 78 hours following the initiation of treatment with daily injections of saline, or the monoamine oxidase inhibitors: nialamide (100 mg/kg/day), iproniazid (150 mg/kg/day), and pargyline (20 mg/kg/day). All three monoamine oxidase inhibitor groups showed increased levels of shock-induced fighting after 30 hr (p less than 0.001). There was no difference in the jump threshold of rats treated with pargyline or saline.


Effects of prior aversive experience upon retrograde amnesia induced by hypothermia. Two experiments examined the extent to which retrograde amnesia (RA) is attenuated by prior learning experiences. In Experiment 1, rats initially received either passive avoidance training in a step-through apparatus, exposure to the apparatus, or noncontingent footshock. When training on a second but different passive avoidance task was followed by hypothermia treatment, RA was obtained only in the latter two groups. In Experiment 2, one-way active avoidance training, yoked noncontingent shocks, or apparatus exposure constituted the initial experience. Subsequent step-down passive avoidance training and amnestic treatment resulted in memory loss for the prior apparatus exposure group, but not for either of the preshocked conditions. These experiments demonstrate that certain types of prior aversive experience can substantially modify the magnitude of RA, and, in conjunction with other familiarization studies, emphasize a paradox for interpretations of RA based solely upon CNS disruption. The possibility that hypothermia treatment serves as an important contextual or encoding cue necessary for memory retrieval was considered. It was suggested that prior experience may block RA by enabling rats to differentiate training and treatment conditions.


Brain glycine and aggressive behavior.

Brain glycine and aggressive behavior. Intraperitoneal glycine reduced aggressiveness caused by water deprivation or forebrain septal lesion in the rat. Nalorphine and mephenesin, drugs previously shown to elevate central glycine levels, acted in the same way as systemically administered glycine. In mice made aggressive by prolonged isolation, glycine and mephenesin acted as tranquilizers, but nalorphine failed to act. Aggressiveness in mice, induced by L-dopa or clonidine was enhanced by nalorphine and mephenesin, but was left unaffected by systemically administered glycine. Behavioral effects of glycine extend to other forms of excitation.


Effects of septal-fiber knife cuts on rat open-field social behavior. Rats that received various septal fiber knife cuts were observed in an open-field to assess preoperative and postoperative social behaviors. Ventral septal fiber knife cuts isolated septum knife cuts and anterior-lateral knife cuts result in increases in contact time; in decreasesin aggressive behaviors/100 sec contact time; and in no change in the number of contacts. Anterior, posterior, or dorsal fiber knife cuts failed to produce significant changes in contact time, aggressive or submissive behavior, number of contacts, and activity. A postoperative decrease in initiating aggressive behaviors may explain increases in contact time following ventral septal fiber, isolated septum, and anterior-lateral knife cuts. The ventral-septal fiber tracts were critical in mediating social behavior, imply that - in relation to social behavior - there is a functional connection through the ventral fibers between structures beneath the septum (hypothalamus) and the septal nuclei.


Dopamine-B-hydroxylase activity in rat hypothalamus during the estrus cycle. This experiment provides a direct test of our previous suggestion that estradiol regulates dopamine-B-hydroxylase (DBH) activity in hypothalamic loci. Anterior, medial and posterior hypothalamic slices from triplets of rats were taken during estrus and diestus and assayed for DBH activity using the technique of Molinoff et al. [15]. DBH activity was measured in hypothalamic slices on three different occasions from three triplets during the estrous phase of the cycle and also from separate triplets during the diestrous stage of the cycle. Results showed a significant increase in DBH activity during the estrous phase of the cycle. Increased activity did not appear to be anatomically localized within the tissue slices. Explanation of the results has been discussed in terms of possible mechanisms of action.


Pineal influence on intermale aggression in adult house mice. Previously isolated, adult male mice of a wild-derived strain were sham-operated or pinealectomized (pinx) and 14 days later were paired for 15 min, then grouped three per cage for 7 days. During 15 min pairings, mean latency to initiation of fighting was increased twofold and duration of fighting was reduced 35 to 41 percent in pairs comprised of one or both pinx animals. Although pinealectomy failed to influence which pair member initiated fighting, sham males were ranked as dominant in 75 percent of sham-pinx pairs. Pinealectomy reduced adrenal gland weights among isolated animals and increased in general the effects of social subordination in grouped males. Compared to sham subordinates, pinx subordinates experienced adrenal enlargment and twofold greater wounding and had lighter thymus glands and final body weights. Additionally, however, pinealectomy prevented atrophy of seminal vesicles among subordinates. Thus, present results suggest a role of the pineal gland in influencing intermale aggression and linking social stimuli with testis dysfunction in adult house mice.


Theoretical review: a model of hormones and agonistic behavior. A model of the interaction between endocrine function and agonistic responding was developed that incorporates three specific hypotheses about the relationship between hormones and agonistic behavior: (1) The baseline hormonal state of the organism contributes to the determination of whether, in what way, and how intensely the animal will react when it is exposed to appropriate environmental stimuli. (2) One function of the hormonal responses to environmental stimulation and behavioral experiences is to modify the continuing and future behavior of the individual in the same or similar situations. (3) Another function of these hormonal responses is to modify the individual's stimulus qualities so that other individuals' agonistic reactions to it will be modified. The data on hormones and agonistic behavior were reviewed in the context of this model, and some directions for future research were proposed.


Induction of physical dependence upon ethanol and the associated behavioral changes in rats. This paper reports findings relative to a simple, rapid and reproducible technique for the induction of physical dependence upon ethanol in the rat. The dependence was induced by intragastric intubation of 20% (w/v) ethanol solutions at 9-15 g/kg in 3-5 fractional doses daily for 4 days, maintaining blood ethanol concentrations above a threshold level sufficient to sustain observable sedation throughout the entire period of intubation. Two phases were distinguished during the withdrawal period: 1. Prodromal detoxication, characterized by a spectrum of signs and responses of diminishing severity, related to the decline in blood ethanol concentrations (mg/dl): death, greater than 640; coma, 780-460; loss of righting reflex, 640-400; ataxia 3-1, 570-250; sedation 340-190; neutrality, 220-130; 2. Ethanol dependence, characterized by a spectrum of withdrawal signs and reactions of progressively increasing severity as blood ehtanol concentration approached 100 mg/dl: hyperactivity, tremors, akinesia, spastic rigidity, and induced and spontaneous convulsions. A rapid sucession of two diverse clusters of signs and reactions represents a reversal of the central nervous system function from the extremes of ethanol intoxication (CNS depression) to the extremes of ethanol dependence (CNS hyperexcitability) during the withdrawal period. Both extremes may terminate in death.


Differentiation by morphine of two types of aggressive behaviour in the convict cichlid (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum). Morphie sulfate (5 mg/l and 10 mg/l) significantly decreased the amount of territorial aggression in the convict cichlid (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum). The same doses had no effect on predatory aggression (ingestion of brine shrimp). The data suggest that previously demonstrated morphine receptor in the fish has functional properties.


Mitochondrial function and excitation-contraction coupling in the development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy. The effect of prolonged adminstration of ehtanol on cardiac metabolism, contractility, and ultrastructure was investigated. Dogs received 400 ml of a 25 percent solution of ethanol during a period of 3-6 months. Repeated heart muscle biopsied revealed a significant diminution in the activity of intramitochondrial NAD-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase in the animals exposed to alcohol. Oxidative, phosphorylation of mitochondria was measured polarographically using a vibrating oxygen electrode; respiratory control index and mitochondrial oxygen consumption were markedly reduced (p less than 0.001). Myocardial ATP content was significantly diminished (p less than 0.025). Electron microscopic changes observed consisted of mitochondrial degeneration, dehiscence of intercalated discs, and dilatation of intercellular spaces. The average force velocity curve was shifted downward and to the left in afterloaded contractions with a significant depression of Vmax (p less than 0.01). Both calcium binding and calcium uptake of mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum were inhibited. These results suggest that a disorder in the generation of energy and a defect in calcium binding by subcellular membranes may be the determinant events leading to impaired myocardial function in the course of chronic alcoholism.


In situ physiological study of the developing heart. Studies on cardiac muscle and whole heart isolated from the fetal and newborn lamb and adult sheep reveal striking age-dependent differences in cardiac ultrastructure, passive and active length-tension properties, force-velocity relationships, the compliance characteristics of both ventricles, myocardial energetics, and in the development of myocardial autonomic control. Isometric force development and both the extent and velocity of shortening at any load are reduced in the fetus when compared with the adult because of age-related changes in the proportion of myocardial tissue consisting of myofilaments. The distensibility characteristics of both the left (LV) and right ventricles (RV) are comparable in the fetal lamb close to term. In the early newborn period the RV has compliance characteristics similar to the RV of the fetus, whereas the LV alters its stress-strain characteristics to resemble the adult. Most recently, methods have been developed for the chronic evaluation of fetal left ventricular function. Internal LV dimensions and pressures are monitored continuously from midgestation beyond delivery.


Early polyribosomal and lysosomal changes in the liver of rats poisoned with Amanita phalloides or phalloidin. 30 min after poisoning with Amanita phalloides extract or phalloidin, rat liver polyribosomes appear strongly dissociated, and a small increase of free phosphatase activity is evident. A cycloheximide pretreatment prevents the polyribosome dissociation, without protecting against the lysosomal change. This indicates that the polysomal derangement is not due to a hydrolytic breakdown of messenger RNA. Phalloidin, added in vitro either to a liver cell-free system, or to isolated hepatocytes, does not inhibit their amino acid incorporating activity. The polysome dissociation, therefore, is dependent on changes induced by phalloidin when the liver cell is "in situ".


Differential effect of cannabinol and cannabidiol on THC-induced responses during abstinence in morphine-dependent rats. The same dose of cannabinol (CBN) or cannabidiol (CBD) further increased the attenuation of precipitated abstinence signs observed in morphine-dependent rats that also received an acute dose of delta 9-THC. By contrast, rotational behavior (turning), which is observed concomitantly in THC-treated rats during morphine abstinence, was not increased by CBN, but was potentiated by CBD. These data illustrate differences between psychoinactive cannabinoids in their interaction with delta 9-THC that might be relevant to possible clinical use of Cannabis in narcotic detoxification.


Inter- and intra-laboratory variation of haemoglobin measurement. The preparation of a stable and inexpensive equine haemoglobin solution for quality control of haemoglobin measurement is described. Twenty-one different batches of the preparation were analysed by 19 hospital laboratories during a 19-month period, and the results of 4457 determinations are evaluated. Systematic divergences between laboratories were found to contribute to the variability of haemoglobin measurement more than random variation. Interlaboratory variation was mainly due to different types of automated techniques, the frequency of the calibration of photometers, the use of different reagent solutions, and the qualification of laboratory staff. Intralaboratory variation was related to the frequency of the calibration of photometers and the qualification of the laboratory staff. The data reported in this study indicate the usefulness of the test preparation for the quality control of haemoglobin measurements.


Parietal eyes in lizards: zoogeographical correlates. Lizards without parietal eyes tend to be restricted to low latitudes, whereas lizards with parietal eyes are successful at higher latitudes also. These zoogeographical data, along with current theories of parietal eye physiology, strongly suggest that the overall significance of the parietal eye to lizards as a group is that it facilitates survival at higher latitudes, thus making possible the exploitation of a wider variety of habitats.


Makisterone A:a 28-carbon hexahydroxy molting hormone from the embryo of the milkweed bug. Makisterone A is the predominant ecdysone in the 96 +/- 4-hour-old embryo of the large milkweed bug and it is the first molting hormone with a C-24 alkyl substituent of the side chain to be isolated and identified from an insect. In addition, unknown compounds that may represent other C28 ecdysones were detected in very low concentrations. The milkweed bug could well possess a biosynthetic-metabolic pathway for C28 molting hormones instead of or in addition to known pathways for the C27 ecdysones.


Stage-specific switches in histone synthesis during embryogenesis of the sea urchin. Histones H2A and H2B of the sea urchin embryo have been resolved by new methods into components that are synthesized at different stages of development. One form of H2A and one form of H2B are synthesized only during the period from fertilization to the blastula stage. Subsequently, two other types of H2A and H2B molecules are synthesized. In addition, a histonelike protein was detected which is synthesized only from fertilization until the 16-cell stage when the synthesis of still another H2A-like protein begins. None of the late-appearing forms are derived from histone polypeptide chains synthesized earlier in development. Since the early components do not disappear after their synthesis stops, these modulations of histone synthesis lead to an increase in histone multiplicity, concomitant with the beginning of cell diversification and a decrease in cell division rate.


Infectious etiology of neuritic (senile) plaques in mice. Brains of inbred female VM mice infected with scrapie agent were studied with the use of the Bodian silver impregnation method and by electron microscopy. In brains affected with scrapie, after an incubation period of between 587 and 655 days, numerous primitive, classical, and amyloid plaques were found. No plaques of any type were seen in the control mice.


Effect of direct electrical current on chick nerve cells cultured in rose chambers. The effect of direct current on nerve cells from chick embryo cerebral hemispheres cultivated on collagen in Rose chambers was investigated. The following are the main results: (i) no orientation of the nerve fibres was ever observed; and (ii) depending on the current density and on the time of exposure to current, the nerve cells were either unaffected or destroyed.


A protein dietary supplement for the severe dumping syndrome. A protein dietary supplement has been developed for use in patients with severe dumping symptoms unresponsive to the usual medical regimens. The supplement, consisting entirely of casein and soy, is given three times a day and supplies 1,155 calories. This has not been associated with dumping symptoms or diarrhea. Three patients with severe malnutrition from the dumping syndrome were given the supplement over a six month period. They all evidenced rapid weight gain and maintained the weight gain even after the supplement was discontinued.


The comparative ultrastructure of fibrin induced by thrombin and by staphylocoagulase. Fibrin induced by the action of thrombin and by staphylocoagulase was studied by transmission electron microscopy. Periodic striations were consistently observed in the negatively stained preparations of both fibrins. When 4200 major periods in the thrombin fibrin system were measured the mean length was 228 A. For 3666 major periods in the coagulase fibrin system the mean length was 223 A. While the T test analysis of these values gave a value of 10, it is noteworthy that the differences are well within the scatter of periodicity reported in the literature for thrombin-induced fibrin. Gross inspection of the preparations indicated that the coagulase-induced fibrin had a knottier appearance and was accompanied by a greater amount of background debris than the thrombin-induced fibrin.


Determinants of the formation and activity of factor V-phospholipid complexes. I. Influence of phospholipid structure. Previous studies showed that factor V consists of multiple oligomeric forms including a minor component (form L) which contained lipid and was eluted in the excluded volume of a Sepharose 4B column. In the present and following study the hypothesis that factor V is a lipid requiring protein rather than a lipoprotein has been tested. Modification of a previous purification procedure resulted in the separation of factor V from lipoprotein. The lipid extracted from this lipoprotein was qualitatively similar to that previously isolated from form L. Removal of this lipoprotein by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation resulted in the isolation of factor V of high specific activity which contained no detectable phospholipid and less than 0.2% cholesterol. No component was excluded from Sepharose 4B after gel filtration of this purified preparation. It is concluded that factor V is not a lipoprotein, but rather a protein which requires lipid for its coagulant properties. To define this requirement further the ability of factor V-phospholipid complexes to accelerate the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin by factor Xa in the presence of calcium was tested. The rate of thrombin formation was highly dependent on the phospholipid employed with each active phospholipid exhibiting a characteristic optimal concentration. At 250 muM, the order of activity was phosphatidyl ethanolamine greater than phosphatidyl inositol greater than cardiolipin greater than phosphatidyl choline. Phosphatidyl serine was inert at all concentrations employed. No single fatty acid was consistently present in active lipid preparations, nor was a specific fatty acid absent from those which had no clotting activity. In comparing different lipid classes, a direct relationship between the overall degree of unsaturation and activity was not observed. However, bovine phosphatidyl inositol, which is highly unsaturated, is active, while plant phosphatidyl inositol, which contains only trace amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, were inert. At lipid concentrations below 300 muM, saturated phosphatidyl ethanolamine produced by hydrogenation of bovine phosphatidyl ethanolamine was less active than an equal concentration of the native lipid. In mixtures containing both lipids, artificially saturated phosphatidyl ethanolamine potentiated the activity of the native compound.


Standard for human thrombin.

Standard for human thrombin. Ten laboratories took part in an international study of the proposed standard for human thrombin. A freeze-dried preparation (coded 70/157) was shown, using clotting time tests, to be suitable to serve as a standard for the assay of human and bovine thrombin preparations. The study shows that assay variation within laboratories was much less than between laboratories. The preparation was stable, having a negligible estimated loss of potency after ten years under the recommended storage conditions (--20 degrees C in the dark). Each ampoule of the standard was assigned a potency of 100 units of thrombin activity, and one unit was defined as the activity contained in 0.0853 mg of the freeze-dried preparation. It was agreed by the participants in the study and by the International Committee on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (Vienna, 1973) that the thrombin preparation coded 70/157 is suitable to serve as an international standard for human thrombin.


Direct effects of acryl bone cement monomer on isolated heart muscle. Experiments were carried out in isolated dog heart muscle to determine the direct effect of acryl bone cement monomer on the myocardial contractility. The monomer caused a dose-dependent decrease in the maximum velocity of shortening (Vmax) and the maximum force development (Fm), consequently resulting in a leftward shift of the force-velocity relation curves. There was also a concomitant decrease in work, power, the maximum rate of force development (max dF/dt) and time to peak force (TPF) from the onset of force development. These results indicate that acryl bone cement monomer exerts a direct negative inotropic effect on the myocardium and that the myocardial depression due to free monomer absorbed from the mixed bone cement into the systemic circulation during operation seems to be one of the major causes of the cardiovascular complications associated with the clinical application of bone cement.


The effects of GABA, Picrotoxin and bicuculline on the spontaneous bioelectric activity of cultured cerebellar Purkinje cells. Addition of GABA to the bathing medium in concentrations of 10(-6) to 10(-5) M abolished the spontaneous bioelectric activity of rat Purkinje cells in vitro. Lower concentrations of GABA (less than or equal to 10(-6) M) influenced the firing pattern of spontaneous discharges in such a way that the relative number of long interspike intervals increased. The inhibitory effect of GABA was reversible; the cells resumed normal activity after being transferred to a normal balanced salt solution. The action of GABA was antagonized by bicuculline and picrotoxin, whereas strychnine was unable to overcome the inhibition induced by GABA. Both bicuculline (10(-10) to 10(-6) M) and picrotoxin (10(-7) to 10(-4) M) exerted an excitatory effect on cultured Purkinje cells when added to the medium. This excitatory action suggests the existence of inhibitory synapses in cultures of rat cerebellum in which endogenous GABA is used as a transmitter. The ratio between the dose of picrotoxin and that of bicuculline necessary to produce maximal excitation was in the order of 10(3). Both substances showed an inhibitory action at high concentrations.


Intestinal helminths in dogs and cats on the Antillian Islands Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. An investigation into the prevalence, identity and size of population of intestinal helminths in dogs and cats was carried out in the Dutch Antillian Islands, Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba during April and May 1974. Ninety-one dogs and 83 cats were examined. In all, 4,824 helminths were isolated and identified. The following species were isolated from dogs: Dipylidium caninum (most frequent), Ancylostoma caninum (frequent in Curaçao), Toxocara, Taenia hydatigena and Ancylostoma braziliense. Species isolated from cats: Dipylidium caninum (most frequent) Ancylostoma tubaeforme (frequent in Curaçao), Oncicola canis, Taenia taeniaformis, Spirometra (mansonoides), Platynosomum (fastosum), Toxocara, Trichuris and Thelazia. The man-infecting hookworm species Ancylostoma ceylanicum was not found at all and A. braziliense was only found in dogs in Aruba in light infections. Remarkable differences in the prevalence of parasitic infections were demonstrated between Curaçao and the two other islands Aruba and Bonaire, especially regarding the frequency and worm burden of the hookworms. It was suspected that this was due to the recent increase in the number of dogs in Curaçao.


Testis tumors: review of 125 cases at the Cleveland Clinic. One hundred twenty-five cases of testicular tumor are reviewed. The prognostic significance of clinical features, certain laboratory test results, and histologic type are evaluated, and treatment results are presented. The most important prognostic clinical feature is the presence or absence of clinically evident metastases. The urinary gonadotropin levels are useful prognostically, but the intravenous pyelogram and lymphangiogram are statistically unreliable. The presence of tumor in retroperitoneal lymph nodes influenced survival only in the patients with embryonal carcinoma. Tumor type influenced survival more than any other pathologic factor. Vascular invasion, local extension, and Leydig cell hyperplasia did not correlate with tumor behavior in germinal neoplasms. Patients with clinical Stage IA or IB teratocarcinoma had an 85 per cent survival rate with a wide variety of treatment.


[Generalized protothecosis in a fruit bat (Pteropus lylei)]. Prototheca organisms, histologically resembling Prototheca wickerhamii, were found in a fruit bat as a cause of a massive granulomatous lymphadenitis and splenitis and a widespread granulomatous meningoencephalitis. Focal lesions were also present in the myocardium, in skeletal muscles, and in the kidneys.


[Interdependence of milk production and the occurrence of subclinical mastitis in cows]. Studied was the milk productivity (milk yield and butterfat percent) of 255 normal and 255 diseased cows with subclinical mastitis, both groups pertaining to the Bulgarian Brown breed within the region of the Sofia Pedigree Breeding Inspection. All animals were examined at one and the same time during the period of their third lactation, and the milk productivity data obtained referred to the same period. It was established that there were no statistically significant variations between milk productivity data of the healthy cows and those of the cows with subclinical mastitis for a 300 day period. The relative number of cows with subclinical mastitis showing a milk yield of up to 4000 kg was lower as compared with the same number of the negatively reacting cows. On the other hand, cows showed yields of more than 4000 kg milk manifested reverse trends.


[Study of some biological peculiarities of Argas persicus]. It has been found that temperatures ranging from 22 to 38 degrees C are optimal for the development of Argas persicus. Under such conditions the average duration of the whole cycle ranges within the limits of 41 to 133 days. Under conditions favourable for the development of the parasite certain irregularities in the nymph stage of the individual generations have been observed. In some of these up to 97 per cent of the second-stage nymphs transform into imago. This is said to be the main reason for the faster propagation and distribution of the ticks. Adult females that lay eggs for the first time are of considerably higher potential fertility than those that have already passed through several gonotrophic cycles. Under optimal conditions the biologic cycle of the parasite does not discontinue during the whole year. It has been demonstrated that in each feeding the adult ticks engorge about 30 mg of blood and can thus endure fasting for more than 8 years.


[Effect of N-nitroso compounds and aminoazo compound on organ cultures of human embryonal kidney]. It was shown that embryonal tissue of human kidney could be explanted into organ cultures during 3-4 weeks. In the immediate effect of N-methyl nitrosurea (NMU), dimethyl nitrosamine (DMNA) and orthoamino-azotoluole (OAAT) a considerable number of hyperplastic epithelial growths was revealed, various types of morphological changes: tubular epithelium hyperplasia, glomerular epithelium hyperplasia and mixed hyperplasia (simultaneous hyperplasia in tubular and glomerular epithelium) being noted. Their frequency increased as the experiment proceeded, and also was dependent on the carcinogen concentration in a nutrient medium. NMU mostly produced a hyperplastic growth in tubular epithelium, DMNA--in glomerular epithelium while OAAT resulted in enhancement of hyperplastic processes in tubular and glomerular epithelium.


[Transplantable cancer of the urinary bladder and hemangiopericytoma obtained by means of the ectopic transplantation of tissues of the fetal urinary bladder]. Organ-like cysts appear to develop after subcutaneous transplantation of minced tissues of fetal urinary bladder into adult syngeneic recipients. These are multilocular cysts lined with epithelium and filled with secretion. Many months later they undergo a spontaneous malignant tranformation. Transplantable strains of vesical cancer and hemangiopericytoma have been obtained.


A gravimetric adaptation of the filter paper press method for the determination of water-binding capacity. A gravimetric adaptation of the filter paper press method for the determination of water-binding capacity in meat was developed and its sensitivity was compared to that of the conventional planimetric technique of the method. Both the gravimetric and planimetric techniques were applied to samples of cooked fish treated with various water binders. The mean results of the samples were grouped and compared using an analysis of variance. In all comparisons, the gravimetric data produced higher F-values than did the planimetric data for the same samples. This indicated greater senstivity for the gravimetric technique.


[Ethology and phylogeny of the family Belontiidae (Anabantoidei, pisces)]. 1. The behavioural patterns of the following species of the family Belontiidae were qualitatively examined and compared with each other: Colisa lalia, C. fasciata, C. chuna, Trichogaster trichopterus, T. leeri, T. microlepis, Macropodu, opercularis, Pseudosphromenus (Macropodus) cupanus cupanus, Betta splendens, Trichopsis pumilus, T. vittatus vittatus, T. vittatus schalleri, Belontia signata and the hybrids Colisa fasciata X lalia. 2. Among other points the paper puts some emphasis on the description of the reproductive behaviour of the various species (nest building, mating, parental behaviour). In addition aspects of feeding and fighting behaviour are described. 3. The subfamilies established by Liem (1963) on the basis of osteological characteristics can also be substantiated ethologically. 4. Liem's conception of the phylogeny of Belontiidae is criticized. His system conceiving phylogeny as a process of branching off successively is contrasted with a phylogenetic fan. The subfamilies Belontiinae, Trichogasterinae and Macropodinae differentiated almost at the same time. 5. The genus of Macropodus has a very isolated position within the sub-family of Macropodinae. The remaining genera are on a higher level of development regarding their reproductive behaviour. As a result of the paper Pseudosphromenus (Macropodus) cupanus has to be eliminated from the genus of Macropodus.


[Unusual manifestation of lipocalcinogranulomatosis (Teutschländer) within the placenta (author's transl)]. Lipocalcinosis placentae is reported on a 27 years old primipara, who showed lipocalcinogranulomatosis since childhood. The absence of the typical granulomatous tissue with giant cells of foreign body may type be explained by the particular localization and with the absence of mechanical injuries. Despite of the widespread necrosis and calcinosis, abortion did not occur. The remaining chorionic villi have compensated the defect by hyperplasia and hyperaemia, which points to the fact, that a severe dystrophic placenta calcinosis may not necessarily result to abortion. The localisation of lipocalcinosis within the placenta points to a primary thesaurismosis and not to a circumscribed disturbance of lipid metabolism. It is reported on the result of lipid analysis of the placenta. Comparable changes in the different stages of atherosclerosis are discussed.


[Collateral circulation in the small pelvis after ligation of both internal iliac arteries]. In the course of a caesarean section the uterine vessels of one side are severed, the bleeding is stopped by bilateral ligation of the internal iliac (hypogastric) arteries. Sufficient collateral circulation in the true pelvis is proved by arteriography on the 6th postoperative day. The findings are discussed.


[Myoma and pregnancy].

[Myoma and pregnancy]. According to Kayser myomas occur in 20% of all women over the age of 35. Such patients require special attention from their obstetrician. Although the presence of small myomas may not necessarily interfere with the pregnancy, they can start to grow quite rapidly at this time. In such cases the rates of abortion and premature birth are enhanced and there are often serious puerperal complications. It is therefore recommended that the nodes are enucleated during early pregnancy. Here a 20% abortion rate is to be expected. In the case of large myomas it is necessary for postpartum to be supervised individually. Here two cases are reported, one conservative with long puerperium and one operative with twin pregnancy. Both patients were discharged with healthy infants.


[Results of a standard value determination concerning newborn infants in the German Democratic Republic. IV. Methodological problems of the determination]. Proof of the data are characterized and recommended, which have been executed at the data of the newborns. Both definitions of the percentiles used in the similar measurements are compared with their advantages and disadvantages. The exactness of the results contained in the 1st and 2nd paper is presented in a table.


[Pregnancy and labor in juvenile primigravidae]. A report is given on 100 juvenile primigravidae delivered in the period from 1965 to 1973. Course of pregnancy, delivery, postpartum period, rate of premature infants, and perinatal mortality are evaluated. EPH gestosis was observed in juvenile primigravidae at a rate approximately twice that encountered in the total number of all pregnant women. This group of patients is characteristic in that intensive care for pregnant women is required in both out-patient and in-patient treatment. In addition, intensive care for pregnant women has the target of minimising the increased rate of premature infants and the associated elevated perinatal mortality.


[Studies on the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene in alveolar-macrophages. II. Kinetics of metabolism and characterization of the metabolites (author's transl)]. The purpose of this communication is to study the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene by alveolar macrophages from guinea pigs. A column chromatographic technique using a gradient elution (fig. 1) followed by thin layer chromatography has been employed to separate the metabolites. Alveolar macrophages in culture produce metabolites (fig. 2), which remain predominantly in the cells (tab. 1). The presence of serum in the medium modifies the kind of metabolites formed (fig. 3,4). In order to identify the metabolites, the products formed by liver microsomes from benzo(a)pyrene have been separated (fig. 5), and spectroscopically characterised. Unknown substances have been detected by thin layer chromatography (fig. 6,8). The spectra of 3-OH-benzo(a)pyrene 4,5-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene, 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene, 9,10-dihydro-9, 10-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene could be identified (fig. 7, 9, 10, 11). The characterisation of labelled metabolites formed by alveolar macrophages in culture has been achieved by comparison of their chromatographic behaviour with that of the reference metabolites obtained from liver microsomes (fig. 12). With the exception of the 4,5-diol all metabolites were present in extracts from alveolar macrophages. The results are discussed and compared with published data (tab. 2). The present knowledge about the pathways of metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene is summarized in a scheme (fig. 13).


Electrophoretic mobility test for lymphocyte sensitization using tanned sheep erythrocytes. The M.E.M.-test was modified by using tanned sheep erythrocytes in place of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages as indicator calls. This modification is named the tanned sheep erythrocyte electrophoretic mobility (T.E.E.M.)-test. The present study was undertake to compare the kinetics of the two indicator systems. The T.E.E.M.-test appears to be simpler to perform than the M.E.M.-test and may be widely applicable in clinical immunology for the estimation of lymphocyte sensitization.


[The effect of cold and hunger on the free fatty acid metabolism in the serum of newborn rabbits]. A tracer kinetic study with [14C]-1-palmitic acid was carried out to study the influence of acute exposure to cold and starvation on free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism in serum of newborn rabbits. The turnover rate of serum FFA was 10.20 mumol/min in well fed rabbits kept in a thermoneutral environment (normal conditions). Cold exposure as well as starvation either in a cold or thermoneutral environment resulted in a diminution of the turnover rate, being the consequence of a significantly reduced pool of FFA. It was 9.57 mumol under normal conditions. The disappearance rate (1.07 min-1), half time (0.65 min) and turnover time (0.94 min) of well nourished animals was slightly, but mostly not significantly, influenced by cold exposure and starvation. The cold induced increase in serum FFA concentration and the decrease following restoration of thermoneutrality did not run parallel with changes in the absolute turnover rate.


[Effects of L-dopa on FSH and LH secretion in men and women]. The behavior of plasma gonadotropins has been studied in amenorrhoic patients and in men suffering from disorders of spermatogenesis after L-DOPA administration. Neither clinical nor laboratory findings warrant hypotheses apt to interpret the different responses observed after the ingestion of the drug; nevertheless, keeping in mind the results reported in the literature, the relationship between L-DOPA and the hypothalamo-pituitary axis appears to deserve further study with the use of more accurate means of investigation and follow-up of the late effects observed in our research.


Female prostate in Arvicanthis niloticus and Meriones libycus. A female prostate is reported in Arvicanthis niloticus (field rat) and Meriones libycus for the first time, as a normal, constant and well developed bilateral sex organ.


[A 3-dimensional presentation of the functional liver unit]. The reconstruction of the liver parenchyma of a golden hamster after poisoning with allyl formate is described. Allyl formate primarily destroys the periportal areas and leads, following the microvascularisation of the liver parenchyma, to a necrosis of the hepatocytes progressing towards the terminal hepatic venule. The still intact parenchymal zones can be characterized by the positive PAS reaction. In this study the preterminal and the terminal portal branches as well as zone 3, situated in the vasculatory periphery, were reconstructed. By this method, a three-dimensional presentation of the acinar functional zones was possible for the first time.


Cardiac catheterization in small infants: the percutaneous approach. Cardiac catheterization of small infants can be performed by the percutaneous technique using materials readily available from commercial sources. Twenty infants averaging 3.0 kg (range 1.3 to 4.1 kg) underwent percutaneous sheath cardiac catheterization in a 12 month period. After refinement of the technique, cardiac catheterization in all small infants was attempted percutaneously with a 90 percent rate of success. This percutaneous approach has distinct advantages for the small infant because it is performed rapidly, preserves venous integrity and has a low rate of morbidity.


Benzalkonium chloride poisoning in infant twins. Infant twins sustained severe circumoral and pharyngeal burns from a concentrated solution of benzalkonium (Zephiran) chloride prescribed for treatment of candidiasis. This report emphasizes the unnecessary hazard accompanying use of a potentially toxic drug-especially when prepared in error by the pharmacist-when a safer drug (nystatin) is available for treatment of oral candidiasis. Risks from use of a prescription drug for other than the intended patient are also highlighted by this episode of poisoning.


Endoscopic removal of chicken gizzards by polypectomy snare in a patient with Nissen's fundoplication. A 59-year old white female swallowed chicken gizzards, without chewing, producing severe dysphagia. She was operated on for vagotomy, pyloroplasty and Nissen's fundoplication. A procedure is described where a polypectomy snare was used through the biopsy channel of a flexible fiberoptic esophagoscope to remove the foreign bodies.


Exogenous corneal ulcer caused by Tritirachium roseum. A 29-year-old white man developed a corneal ulcer following trauma to his left cornea by a piece of wire. Tritirachium roseum, a saprophytic fungus, was cultured from corneal scrapings and demonstrated in the corneal button by histopathologic examination.


Plasma renin activity during pentobarbital anesthesia and graded hemorrhage in dogs. Six dogs were implanted with chronic arterial and venous catheters and were trained to lie quietly on a padded table. The effect of pentobarbital anesthesia and of graded hemorrhage on plasma renin activity (PRA) was then examined in the absence of surgical stress. Pentobarbital anesthesia resulted in a fivefold increase in PRA within 15 min, followed by a slow decline to a level 3 times control at 1.5 h. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) fell transiently but returned to control values. In the unanesthetized dog, graded hemorrhage to 12 ml/kg resulted in a twofold increase in PRA with no change in MAP or heart rate. The same hemorrhage in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs resulted in a similar increase in PRA, accompanied by a substantial increase in heart rate. It is concluded that 1) pentobarbital anesthesia in the dog results in a rapid and sustained increase in PRA, and 2) in the conscious dog, increased PRA in response to graded hemorrage appears to be independent of an arterial baroreceptor mechanism and of generalized increased sympathetic nervous system activity.


Pulmonary ascariasis in tropical communities. To determine the incidence of Loeffler's syndrome in a tropical region, a survey was conducted over a 1-year period in two locations in Colombia, South America, one inland and urban (Cali), the other rural and coastal (Guapi). Among 700 hospitalized patients, 12,000 patients coming to health centers, and 44 families with 328 members, 4 cases of Loeffler's syndrome were found--3 during the survey and 1 before it began. Only one was typical and of some severity. None of the family members developed a perceptible reaction to larvae, though surveillance was close and 83 new intestinal infections were documented. Infection rates for intestinal ascariasis were 25% to 30% in Cali, and 80% to 90% in Guapi. When infections in 30 families were eliminated, previous levels of infection were reached within 10 months. When undisturbed by treatment, the levels of intestinal infection remained stable or showed fluctuations which were not linked to climatic changes. In view of the high prevalence of infection and year-round transmission, which was assumed to occur frequently in the population, it is noteworthy that symptomatic pulmonary ascariasis appeared to be rare and complications from adult worms in heavy infections were uncommon. The findings suggest that frequent and uninterrupted contact between Ascaris lumbricoides and its host results in a high degree of natural tolerance and control.


The epidemiology of hepatitis B antigen and antibody among Panamanian Cuna Indians. Previous studies of hepatitis B antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to it (anti-HBs) showed widely differing exposures between Panamanian Indian tribes. Cuna Indians living on islands appeared infrequently exposed to HBsAg; we found no one antigenemic and low age specific anti-HBs rates. In contrast, mainland dwelling Guaymi and Chocó Indians had a high prevalence of anti-HBs. We have now measured HBsAg by counterelectrophoresis and anti-HBs by radioimmunoassay in two Cuna Indian groups who live in the Darien forest. The prevalence of HBsAg among Darien Cuna was low, 3 positive of 239 tested, but 106 (44%) had anti-HBs. Darien Cuna thus evidenced greater exposure to HBsAg than island Cuna (8% had anti-HBs) and had an anti-HBs prevalence similar to the neighboring Chocó Indians (42%). The Guaymi Indians of western Panama had a lower frequency of anti-HBs (29%) than either Chocó or mainland Cuna but their frequency of chronic antigenemia was significantly greater. These data suggest that while exposure may be a function of village habitat, chronic antigenemia may reflect differences in host responses.


Growth of Japanese encephalitis virus in Culex tritaeniorhynchus cell cultures. Ovarian cells from the mosquito Culex tritaeniorhynchus established in continuous tissue cultures have been found to support the growth of Japanese encephalitis virus with titers reaching as high as 10(7.36) MICLD50 per 0.03 ml. Virus-cell cultures were serially subcultured 60 times over 300 days and the virulence of the virus was determined after each passage. A gradual loss in virus titer was observed, with titers always higher in the medium than in the cells. Cytopathogenic effects were not observed in the infected cell cultures, either in primary or subsequent passages. However, the cell growth rate suggested that the cells may have been metabolically or mechanically damaged. The chromosome complement of the cells remained unchanged. Direct-fluorescent antibody studies during early and late passages revealed a loss in virus infectivity from chronically infected cells which may have been due to a gradual decrease in virus replication as the passages increased. The infectivity of virus particles, however, returned to previous levels after passage into fresh cell cultures. The loss of virus particles during serial passage may be correlated with the condition of the cells.


Laboratory animal dander allergy: I. An occupational disease. Data from 39 animal facilities established the prevalence and clinical profile of laboratory animal dander allergy (LADA). Twenty-eight percent of affected individuals changed jobs or specific animal contact; more than half of this group voluntarily resigned their employment, establishing LADA as a bona fide occupational disease.


Effect of photoperiod on reproductive activity and hair in mares. The effects of photoperiod on reproductive activity and hair changes in pony mares were studied in 2 experiments. In experiment I, the effect of a fixed daily photoperiod on the onset of the breeding season was studied in 36 mares from Nov 13, 1973, to June 13, 1974. The 4 treatment groups were as follows: daily photoperiod equivalent to the normal day length (control group); constant light 24 hours a day with no dark (L24:D0 group); 16-hour daily photoperiod with 8 hours of dark (L16:D8 group); and 9-hour daily photoperiod with 15 hours of dark (L9:D15 group). The intervals from beginning of experiment to 1st ovulation of breeding season, to shedding of hair in tufts, and to appearance of a smooth coat were shorter (P less than 0.05) for L16:D8 group (107.1 +/- 11.1, 56.0 +/- 0, and 145.8 +/- 4.0 days, respectively) than for control, L24:D0, and L9:D15 groups and were shorter (P less than 0.05) for L24:D0 group (less than 156.1 +/- 12.2, 99.5 +/- 9.5, and 173.9 +/- 9.9 days, respectively) than for control group (192.1 +/- 3.3, 134.9 +/- 8.9, and 205.0 +/- 0 days, respectively) or L9:D15 group (less than 200.3 +/- 5,8, 150.6 +/- 12.9, and 201.7 +/- 3.3 days, respectively). These intervals were not significantly different between the control group and the L9:D15 group, but fewer (P less than 0.05) mares in the L9:D15 group had at least 1 ovulation by termination of the project. In experiment II, the effect of photoperiod on onset of anestrus was studied in 3 groups of 7 mares each. Mares in group A, as part of a previous experiment, were induced to enter the breeding season earlier than normal by a gradual increase in daily photoperiod beginning on Oct 13, 1972. From Feb 16, 1973, to June 22, 1973, group A mares were maintained at a fixed daily photoperiod of 15 hours 23 minutes. Mares in group B, as part of a previous experiment, were kept under environmental conditions simulating normal conditions in southern Wisconsin. On June 22, 1973 (beginning of the present experiment), the following treatments began: groups A and B were exposed to natural day length. In addition, 7 mares (group C) were allotted from a band of mares that had been exposed to natural day length and were exposed to 15-hour 23-minute daily photoperiod from the beginning of the present experiment (June 22, 1973) to the end (June 22, 1974). The interval to onset of anestrus was longer (P less than 0.05) for group C mares (234.6 +/- 35 days) than for group B mares (133.6 +/- 16.5 days). Significant difference did not exist between group A (144.0 +/- 45.9 days) and group B. A fixed daily photoperiod of 16 or 24 hours induced early onset of the breeding season and early shedding of hair, with development of a smooth coat. A photoperiod of 9 hours retarded the onset of the breeding season. Mares induced to begin the breeding season earlier than normal did not become anestrous earlier than normal. Mares kept on a long daily photoperiod in the fall became anestrous later than normal.


Relationship of pasture rotation to acquisition of gastrointestinal nematodes by sheep. In a study of the relationship between pasture rotation in Illinois and acquisition of nematodes (mostly Haemonchus contortus) and body weight gains by lambs grazing with their ewes, 2 pasture rotation systems were tested. (1) Lambs and ewes were rotated through a series of 12 alfalfa-bromegrass-lespedeza pastures, each pasture being grazed for 3 to 4 days and rested for 5.5 weeks; 4 complete rotations were done during a 168-day grazing season. (2) Lambs and ewes were moved every 2 days, and 3 complete rotations of 50, 42, and 54 days, respectively, were done during the 146-day grazing season. The lambs under rotation had more nematodes and gained less weight than nonrotated control lambs, although rotation increased the amount of pasturage. Rotation is not recommended to control nematode parasitism of sheep in Illinois.


Combination chemotherapy with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone producing long-term remission of a transplanted canine lymphoma. Lymphoma developed in 6 neonatal pups inoculated with 1.0 to 2.06 X 10(9) cells of the 2nd in vivo passage of a canine lymphoma. Three to 4 weeks later (or 8 weeks after the pups had been inoculated), 3 of the 6 pups were started on a chemotherapeutic regimen consisting of vincristine, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide. Twelve to 19 days after combination chemotherapy was started, clinically efident lymphoma disappeared in the 3 pups. Period of treatment was 49 to 84 days. The dogs remained healthy and lymphoma was in complete remission approximately 2 years later. The 3 nontreated pups, used as controls, died of generalized lymphoma 45 to 86 days after inoculation. Seemingly, chemotherapy eradicated the bulk of the tumor, and the host immune response was capable of eliminating residual neoplastic cells. Also, transplanted canine lymphoma seems amenable to treatment and may be curable with combination chemotherapy--thus possibly serving as an experimental therapeutic model.


Effects of estrus and exogenous estrogen on circulating neutrophils and milk somatic cell concentration, neutrophil phagocytosis, and occurrence of clinical mastitis in cows. In a study involving 56 quarters (14 cows), it was seen that standing estrus did not affect circulating neutrophil and milk somatic cell concentrations, neutrophil phagocytosis, milk production, or occurrence of clinical mastitis. The subcutaneous injection of 17beta-estradiol (E2) (0.05 mg/kg of body weight 2 times daily for 2 consecutive days) did not affect neutrophil phagocytosis or milk somatic cell values. However, a significant increase in circulating neutrophils and a significant decrease in milk production were observed. The injection of E2 was followed by clinical mastitis in 4 uninfected quarters, in 7 quarters infected with Corynebacterium bovis, and in 1 quarter infected with Streptococcus uberis and Escherichia coli.


Ultrastructural demonstration of cilia and ciliary rootlets in mammalian uterine tube epithelium in different functional states. Tissue from the infundibulum region of the uterine tube (oviduct) of guinea pigs, cattle, sheep, and swine was examined by electron microscopy. In all specimens, cilia and ciliary rootlets were present in variable numbers in the ciliated cells during both the follicular and the luteal phases of the estrous cycle. True degeneration of cilia was not evident during luteal phase or pregnancy. The ciliary rootlets in ruminant and nonruminant species had structural similarities to those described in people and rhesus monkeys. These organelles measured approximately 1 mum long in most species studied, but in the cow, the rootlets, extending downward into the cytoplasm from the proximal end of the basal body, reached a length of 2 mum. The rootlets had a cross-striation of thick and thin bands, the period measuring 40 to 60 nm. Mitochondria were closely associated with the rootlets. The rootlets usually formed a small angle to the axis of the cilium. These organelles probably function as anchoring or stabilizing structures for the motile cilia. Results indicated that the rootlets are more widely distributed in mammalian uterine tube cilia than previously postulated. Polyribosomes, microfilaments, microtubules, and electron-opaque fibrous granules were frequently seen in the cytoplasm of the ciliated cells. The presence of fibrous granules in close association with the basal bodies indicate that these granules have a role in the development of cilia and rootlets. Cilia and precursor fibrous granules were also seen in porcine fetal uterine tube epithelial cells.


Ultrastructural effects of mestranol and norethindrone on guinea pig endometrial stromal cell. The effect of exogenous contraceptive steroids on the ultrstructural features of the endometrial stromal cells was studied in 64 guinea pigs allotted to 4 treatment groups. Four guinea pigs from each group were killed 14, 28, 56, and 84 days after treatment with mestranol (0.01 mg/day in 1 ml of oil) or with norethindrone (0.2 mg/day in 1 ml of oil) or with a combination of both (0.001 mg of mestranol/day and 0.02 mg of norethindrone/day in 1 ml of oil) or with 1 ml of vegetable oil (oil-treated controls). An additional 12 normal guinea pigs (nontreated controls) were killed during the follicular and luteal phases of the estrous cycle, and uterine specimens were immediately collected to determine base line characteristics. During estrus, the stromal cells of these 12 guinea pigs had abundant dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum. The interstitium was filled with collagen. During the luteal phase. the cytoplasm of the stromal cells of the 12 guinea pigs contained a prominent nucleus and rough endoplasmic reticulum with undilated cisterns. The interstitium contained sparse amounts of collagen. The stromal cells of the oil-treated control guinea pigs seemed similar in ultrastructure to the stromal cells of the 12 nontreated control guinea pigs at the luteal phase. Mestranol-fed guinea pigs had dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum and well-developed Golgi apparatus within 2 weeks of initial treatment. The interstitium of mestranol-treated guinea pigs had more collagen than that of the oil-treated controls and nontreated controls during the luteal phase. Prolonged treatment with mestranol caused extensive dilation of the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum. The interstitium was filled with abundant collagen. Pronounced alterations in the cytoplasmic organelles or extracellular connective tissue were not ovserved in guinea pigs given norethindrone alone or norethindrone in combination with mestranol for 14 days. The stromal cells closely resembled the cells of the mature animal at luteal phase. However, the dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum that occurred in cells after mestranol treatment was not seen in stromal cells after 84 days of treatment with norethindrone. Dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum was also observed when both the contraceptive steroids were given simultaneously for 84 days. The increased and extensively dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum seen during the follicular phase and after mestranol administration or after 84 days of treatment with mestranol and norethindrone probably indicates increased protein synthesis by the endometrial stromal cells.