Quantification of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for analysis of whey proteins. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of whey proteins has been quantified by standardization of the separation and staining procedure. During each electrophoresis experiment, a standard solution of whey proteins was separated and stained under the same conditions as the test material. In this way, proteins in the standard solution were subjected to identical processing conditions as the test samples. Densitometric scanning of the stained protein-containing gels followed by peak area determinations was carried out. By comparison with the standard peak areas, individual protein concentrations of the test samples were determined.


Parish clergy and the aged: examining stereotypes. Hypotheses concerning clergymen's enjoyment of their pastoral contacts with older parishioners are examined using data from a national probability sample of 654 American Baptist parish ministers. The hypotheses test the ideas that ministers do not enjoy pastoral contacts with the elderly and that these contacts reflect the clergymen's ageist preferences and concern with instrumental over expressive values. The findings suggest that: (1) the majority of the clergy studied do not seem to have an aversion to ministering to older people; while not among the most enjoyable of their activities "ministering to the aged" clearly is not among the least enjoyable either; (2) there is some support for the view that clergy respond to the elderly in an ageist manner; comparing activities involving different age groups, the clergy prefer the young and adults to the aged; (3) those clergy who share with the elderly an interest in expressive activities are more likely to enjoy ministering to the aged.


Relationships between hearing loss and cognition in normally hearing aged persons. The relationships between mild hearing losses and cognitive functioning were studied for two independently selected samples of aged subjects whose hearing was within normal limits. One group had 47 males of mean age 71.5 (SD 4.8) who were selected for their excellent health status. The second group consisted of 38 females of mean age 75.9 (SD 5.3), all of whom had some significant physical pathology. Hearing losses at various frequency levels (from 125 to 8000 cps) were correlated with performance on cognitive tests such as the WAIS, with age effects then being partialled out. The results reveal substantial associations between hearing losses and scores achieved on the intellectual measures for both samples. Verbal type tests show these relationships much more extensively than the performance tests. The findings imply that aged subjects may be more intellectually capable than their test performances suggest and that hearing is an important variable to be considered in the assessment of their cognitive functioning.


The effect of corticosteroids on human IgG synthesis. The effect of prolonged, high-dose corticosteroid therapy on total IgG synthesis rates by human bone marrow and splenic leukocytes was studied in patients with immune thrombocytopenia. Marrow IgG production rates begin to decrease 3 weeks after beginning therapy and reach levels approximately one-fourth of pre-treatment rates after 6 weeks. No effect of corticosteroids on splenic IgG production rates could be shown. Marrow IgG synthesis rates in these patients were on the average from 3 to 10 times greater than corresponding splenic production rates and, in addition, appeared to correlate with serum IgG levels. These data suggest that the marrow is an important contributor to the total body IgG pool; and since corticosteroids appear to suppress marrow IgG production, this may be one reason for their therapeutic usefulness in antibody-mediated diseases.


Influence of different antigen doses on number and properties of antigen binding cells. The number of antigen binding cells, as revealed by capping experiments, is strongly influenced by the concentration of antigen used. At high concentrations of antigen an additional population of cells of the size of lymphocytes can be detected, which is not stained after incubation with low doses of antigen. These cells bear immunoglobulin on their surface and can be removed from the spleen by carbonyl iron treatment.


A comparison of the effects of neonatally administered testosterone, testosterone propionate and dihydrotestosterone on aggressive and sexual behaviour in the female golden hamster. Female golden hamsters received one of the following treatments on the day following birth: (i) 300 mug testosterone propionate in arachis oil, (ii) 300 mug testosterone in oil, (iii) 300 mug dihydrotestosterone in oil, or (iv) oil alone. As adults all animals, underwent three tests for behaviour. First, while intact, females were observed in aggressive interactions with males. Secondly, after ovariectomy, females were primed with oestrogen + progesterone and tested for receptivity with a stud male. Thirdly, all ovariectomized females were primed with testosterone propionate and tested for male patterns of behaviour with a receptive female. Compared with the effects of oil administration (control), testosterone propionate administration resulted in increased aggressiveness and the capacity to show male patterns of sexual behaviour, together with a decreased capacity to show female patterns of sexual behaviour. Testosterone increased aggression and male sexual behaviour, but had no effects on receptivity, while dihydrotestosterone decreased some components of receptivity but had no effects on aggressiveness or the capacity to show male mating behaviour.


RNA and protein metabolism in the oviduct and endometrium of the ewe at pro-oestrus: Regulation by oestradiol and progesterone. The effects on RNA and protein metabolism in the oviduct and endometrium at pro-oestrus of oestradiol and progesterone secreted during the oestrous cycle were examined, using the ovariectomized, hormone-treated ewe as a model system. Thirty ewes received hormone injections during a period of 13 days, according to schedules designed to simulate endogenous ovarian secretion of oestradiol and progesterone during the oestrous cycle. Hormone effects on RNA:DNA ratios and on rates of synthesis of protein and methylated RNA in vitro, as well as effects on oviducal and uterine weight, were examined. The results obtained suggest that endogenous ovarian hormones have the following effects in the intact ewe. The secretion of oestradiol at pro-oestrus rapidly increases rates of synthesis of protein and methylated RNA, and mean cell content of RNA in both the endometrium and oviduct. Oestradiol secreted during the previous luteal phase of the oestrous cycle markedly increases mean cell content of RNA and amounts of protein and methylated RNA synthesis occurring in both tissues at pro-oestrus. In the endometrium, progesterone secreted during the luteal phase increases the RNA:DNA ratio, and probably also the amounts of protein and methylated RNA synthesized at pro-oestrus, but there are no significant interactions between the effects of oestradiol and progesterone. Progesterone had no effect on either the amounts or rates of synthesis of protein or methylated RNA in the oviduct. The results are discussed in relation to the hormonal regulation of physiological functions of the oviduct and endometrium during the first few days after the onset of oestrus.


Effects of pinealectomy on the rat oestrous cycle and pituitary gonadotrophin release. In 4-day cyclic rats kept in a room with the lights on from 05.00 to 19.00 h, sham pinealectomy or pinealectomy on the morning of pro-oestrus did not alter the length of the oestrous cycle for 44 days or the time and magnitude of the rises in LH, FSH and prolactin in the circulation in the afternoon on pro-oestrous days 0, 20 or 44. On day 45, the light schedule was set forward 4 h to run from 09.00 to 23.00 h. The rats continued to have seven additional consecutive 4-day oestrous cycles. On day 27 after the resetting of the light schedule, the pro-oestrous rises in serum LH, FSH and prolactin were delayed 4 h in all rats and a normal quota of eggs was ovulated that night. Other 4- and 5-day cyclic rats which had been made persistently oestrous by anterior deafferentation of the medial basal hypothalamus (AC) underwent pinealectomy. These AC-pinealectomized rats were ovariectomized 60 days later and histological examination of the ovaries revealed no evidence of recent ovulation. Five to six weeks after ovariectomy, sequential blood samples were withdrawn through indwelling atrial cannulas in the AC-pinealectomized-ovariectomized rats and in ovariectomized, pinealectomized-ovariectomized and AC-ovariectomized rats. Regular pulsatile rhythms in plasma LH were measured in all rats. Subcutaneous injection of 50 mug mug oestradiol benzoate in oil lowered plasma LH levels in all four groups but caused an LH surge in the afternoon 2 days later only in the ovariectomized and pinealectomized-ovariectomized rats. The results indicate that the pineal gland in rats kept on a 14 h light: 10 h darkness schedule does not play an active or premissive role in the timing or magnitude of LH, FSH or prolactin release at pro-oestrus, the length of the oestrous cycle, or LH release in ovariectomized rats.


Androstenedione and the control of luteinizing hormone in the ewe during anoestrus. Androstenedione and oestradiol were measured by radioimmunoassay in the utero-ovarian venous plasma of two ewes during anoestrus. The concentrations of both steroids were significantly higher than the corresponding concentrations in peripheral plasma, indicating that androstenedione and oestradiol are secreted by the ovary during anoestrus. The concentration of LH during anoestrus was measured by radioimmunoassay in jugular venous plasma of control ewes, ewes immunized against 11alpha-OH-androstenedione-bovine serum albumin and ewes that had been ovariectomized and hystrectomized 9 months previously. During a 12 h sampling period, discharges of LH occurred more frequently in the immunized ewes than in the control group but less frequently than in the ovariectomized group. The frequency of discharge was positively correlated with the titre of androstenedione antibodies in the immunized animals. After injection of 25 mug oestradiol benzoate (OB) all controls, 3 out of 5 immunized and 4 out of 5 ovariectomized-hysterectomized ewes showed positive feedback. No positive feedback occurred in the two ewes with the highest antibody titres to androstenedione, but negative feedback in response of OB apperaed to function normally in all the androstenedione immunized sheep. It is postulated that androstenedione, or one of its metabolites, normally modulates the effects of oestradiol in the control of gonadotrophin secretion in the ewe.


Endocrine changes associated with luteal regression in the ewe; the secretion of ovarian oestradiol, progesterone and androstenedione and uterine prostaglandin F2alpha throughout the oestrous cycle. The concentrations of oestradiol, androstenedione, progesterone and prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) were measured in utero-ovarian autotransplants. The secretion of oestradiol was closely correlated with that of androstenedione (r = 0-67, P less than 0-001) indicating a common origin from the Graafian follicle. The concentration of these two steroids fluctuated at random throughout the luteal phase with the maximum secretion occurring about 2 days before the onset of oestrus. Functional regression of the corpus luteum, as indicated by a fall in the secretion of progesterone, began on day 12 or day 13, i.e. about 4 days before the onset of oestrus. In five of the six cycles the first significant rise in the secretion of PGF2alpha occurred on days 12-14 at the time of decline of progesterone secretion, although the release of PGF2alpha was maximal on the day before the onset of oestrus. There was very little release of PGF2alpha from the uterus before day 12. The temporal relationship of these events suggests that the uterus will only release PGF2alpha after it has been primed for 7-10 days with progesterone. The initiation of luteal regression is independent of secretion of oestradiol by the pre-ovulatory follicle which may, however, stimulate the further release of PGF2alpha responsible for irreversible structural luteolysis on the day of pro-oestrus.


The influence of the victim on shock induced aggression in rats. In two studies, free-roaming male rats (aggressors) were shocked in the presence of male target rats restrained in either an upright or a supine posure. In addition, in Experiment II, two levels of aggressor shock intensity (0.8 mA or 2.0 mA) were used while targets received one of three levels of shock (0.5 mA, 1.5 mA, or 2.5 mA). In both studies, upright targets were attacked less than supine targets. Frequency of aggression was directly related to level of aggressor shock intensity in Experiment II. Also, attack by 0.8-mA aggressors against supine targets was inversely related to level of target shock intensity. The low level of attack against upright targets was interpreted in terms of a threat diaplay. Similarily, it was concluded that the target shock-intensity effect in Experiment II was due to specific threat behaviors displayed by those supine rats that received the highest-intensity shocks.


Influence of conceptus number and weight on the amount of foetal fluid in the mouse. The relation of extra-embryonic fluid weight to litter number and foetal and placental weight was studied in mice on the 18th day of pregnancy, in litters both of experimentally reduced and of normal number. Partial regression analysis showed that litter number and foetal weight both exerted a negative effect on fluid weight; placental weight had no significant effect. Increased foetal weight reduced weight locally; on the other hand the effect of litter number was exerted systemically, throughout both horns of the uterus.


Diploid parthenogenetic mouse embryos produced by heat-shock and Cytochalasin B. Swiss albino and C57BL/10 eggs from induced ovulations, and spontaneously ovulated A eggs, were activated in vitro by a heat shock of 44 degrees C for 5 to 7-5 min and cultured in the presence of 10 mug/ml of Cytochalasin B (CB) for 5-8 h. The activation rate was about 70% in Swiss albino, 40% in C57BL and 90% in A eggs. CB suppressed second polar body (2P.B.) formation in over 90% of activated eggs, with the majority containing two pronuclei. When eggs were placed in CB-free medium their surface became wrinkled and they formed protrusions of various sizes, which in some eggs detached to form enucleate or pronucleate cytoplasmic fragments; some eggs broke down completely into fragments. In most eggs, however, the surface smoothed out in a few hours and suppression of 2P.B. appeared to be permanent. The rate of development of these eggs after transplantation to the oviduct was delayed in terms both of cell divisions and of the time of blastocyst formation. Out of 41 implants collected on the 8th-10th day of pregnancy only two healthy looking egg-cylinders were found on the 8th and 9th day; both were retarded, at the stage characteristic for the 7th day of normal development. The reasons for delayed preimplantation development and low implantation rate are discussed. The present experiments corroborate earlier observations that parthenogenetic mouse embryos, even if diploid, rarely survive in the uterus beyond the egg-cylinder stage.


Effects of interactions with older males on behavior and reproductive development in first-year male red-winged blackbirds Agelaius phoeniceus. Male red-winged blackbirds Agelaius phoeniceus in their first year normally do not establish territories or breed. To investigate the possibility that interactions with older males might inhibit reproductive development of young males, we compared the behavior of first-year males in the presence and absence of older males. For three months during the first half of the breeding season, we studied mixed- and single-age groups of three males in standardized outdoor aviaries: two groups of three first-year males (FFF groups), two groups of one older and two first-year males (AFF groups), and one group of three older males (AAA group). In all groups one male established clear dominance, invariably the older male in AFF groups. The dominant male in FFF groups displaced subordinates less frequently than did the dominant older male in AFF groups early in the season, but equally frequently later. In May the largest testies weights of males in FFF groups were significantly lower than those of dominant older males in AFF groups. First-year males in the absence of direct interactions with older males can achieve levels of aggressive behavior comparable to those of a dominant older male in similar social environments but the seasonal development of their aggressive behavior occurs later and their testes in May are smaller than dominant adults'. This delay in the seasonal development of aggressive behavior in first-year males, independent of the immediate social environment, suggests that the age-dependent territoriality of males in this species is not strongly regulated by effects of older males on the development of younger males.


The effect of thymectomy at different stages of larval development on the immune response of the clawed toad to sheep erythrocytes. The role of the thymus during the first three weeks of larval life in the maturation of humoral immunity in the amphibian, Xenopus laevis, is examined. Thymectomy throughout this period dramatically affects the heterologous red cell response of young adults. Sheep erythrocyte (SRBC) administration elicited haemolytic antibody production in the blood and in the spleen (measured by the appearance of plaque forming cells) of control animals, but failed to do so in all thymectomized toadlets. Moreover, use of the immunocyto-adherence assay, which proved to be a sensitive test for SRBC reactivity in control Xenopus, indicated a complete absence of induced responsiveness to this antigen in the spleens of thymectomized toadlets, even in those animals thymectomized as late as 22 days of age. In contrast to allograft immunity in Xenopus, Which is suppressed only by thymic ablation during the first two weeks of larval life, the development of reactivity to heterologous erythrocytes therefore requires an additional period of thymic influence during ontogeny. These experiments support a concept of thymus-dependent cell heterogeneity in amphibians.


Further studies on the arginine requirement of the rabbit. The arginine requirement of young, female rabbits was reassessed using body weight gain, serum arginine concentration and expired 14CO2 following administration of 14C arginine as criteria of adequacy. With a diet that provided the indispensable amino acids at the previously estimated requirement level the arginine requirement was estimated at or near 0.6% of diet by all three of the criteria studied. When an amino acid pattern based on isolated soy protein was fed, a significantly lower serum arginine level was observed with 0.6% dietary arginine corroborating that the arginine requirement may be higher when this pattern is fed than when the requirement pattern is fed. Liver arginase and kidney transamidinase levels were normal and were not influenced by dietary arginine levels over the range used. Serum creatine phosphokinase, which has been studied in other species in relation to muscular dystrophy, showed a significant increase with increasing dietary level of arginine. No signs of this disorder however, were observed. Adult male rabbits maintained body weight and showed no change in serum arginine concentration when both arginine and glycine were completely omitted from the diet.


Determination of antitrypsin activity on agar plates: relationship between antitrypsin and biological value of soybean for trout. A new method is described for determination of antitrypsin activity based on inhibition of trypsin solubilization of calcium caseinate in agar plates. The method was applied to analyze soybeans after graded heat treatments for their antitrypsin content. Biological determination of protein and energy values of the soybean samples showed direct correlation of these values with the destruction of antitrypsin as measured by the new method, using rainbow trout.


Enterocolitis in low-birth-weight infants associated with milk and soy protein intolerance. Two low-birth-weight infants developed a syndrome of vomitting, distension, septic appearance, and bloody diarrhea. Both infants developed symptoms after ingestion of cow milk-based formula initially, and, later, soy-based formulas. These symptoms resolved with intravenous fluids and alimentation. Vomiting, diarrhea, melena, and polymorphonuclear leukocytosis recurred with reintroduction of either milk- or soy-based formulas. This sensitivity persisted throughout the neonatal period and was still present at seven to eight months of age. It appears from these data that intolerance to whole protein formulas can cause a syndrome similar clinically to neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.


Menstruation, reattribution, and competence. Experiment 1 tested whether performance is influenced by the reattribution of task-relevant emotional arousal. Arousal was manipulated by level of anticipated shock and test anxiety. Tasks included the digit symbol substitution test, the Stroop Color-Word Interference Test, anagram solution, and unsolvable puzzles. Aroused subjects who were either given a pill attribution for their arousal or correctly warned that shock and test anxiety might upset them performed significantly better than aroused subjects who were given no manipulated attribution. Experiment 2 compared the performance of menstruating women complaining of moderate or severe symptoms with others not currently menstruating. It was expected that the latter two groups would not have a salient alternative attribution for task-relevant arousal and that women with stronger symptoms would. Experimentally aroused, high-symptom menstruating women performed significantly better than the other two aroused groups. The results suggest the beneficial effects of predictability and perceived normative standards upon performance, and the reattribution phenomenon was reconsidered within that context. The implications of these findings for competence during menstruction were also also discussed.


Age spacing in firstborns and symbiotic dependence. Conflicting results concerning the affiliative personality of firstborns and later borns can be explained by considering the importance of the birth of a sibling and the age spacing between the siblings. It is particularly important to determine whether the sibling was born before or after the firstborn was 3 years old, since this age represents the period during which his individuation-separation process is completed. The birth of a sibling before this age would give rise to affiliation and succorance needs, which we propose to consider together under the name of "symbiotic dependence." Comparisons between the responses to the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule given by 32 pairs of firstborns, 17-19 years old, revealed that firstborns having siblings less than 3 years younger show greater affiliation and succorance needs than firstborns not having close siblings.


Reinitiation of sensitivity to naloxone by a single narcotic injection in postaddicted mice. In mice implanted with a morphine pellet for 3 days and subsequently withdrawn for various periods of time, a single injection of morphine results in a rapid and marked sensitization of abstinent mice to naloxone-induced jumping behavior when compared to abstinent mice pretreated with saline or to placebo-withdrawn mice given a single morphine injection. Maximum sensitization of abstinent mice occurs at morphine doses of about 10 to 30 mg/kg and peaks at 0.5 to 2 hours after morphine administration. The ability of morphine to sensitize abstinent mice to naloxone declines with time after pellet removal and appears to consist of two components, one with a short T1/2 and one with a much longer T1/2. Abstinent mice are also sensitized to naloxone by levorphanol and methadone, but not by dextrorphan. It is proposed that the administration of a narcotic drug to abstinent mice uncovers a latent, pre-existing state of physical dependence and restores the responsiveness of this state to naloxone.


The effect of pargyline and other monoamine oxidase inhibitors on blood acetaldehyde levels in ethanol-intoxicated mice. Pargyline (100 mg/kg i.p.) administered to Swiss-Webster mice prior to the injection of ethanol (4 g/kg i.p.) elevated blood acetaldehyde levels to a mean of 20 mug/ml, compared to less than 1 mug/ml in control mice treated with ethanol alone. Elevated blood acetaldehyde was observed when ethanol was given at 15 minutes, 2 or 5 hours after pargyline; the action of pargyline had largely disappeared after 18 hours. The magnitude of the increase in blood acetaldehyde levels was dependent upon the dose of pargyline between 20 and 100 mg/kg; however, the elevation was relatively independent of the ethanol dose between 1 and 6 g/kg. Of the other monoamine oxidase inhibitors tested, Lilly 51641 showed a strong elevation in acetaldehyde (mean 13.3 mug/ml), whereas deprenyl and clorgyline gave modest elevations (2.9 and 2.6 mug/ml, respectively), and nialamide and tranylcypromine were only weakly active (1.4 and 1.2 mug/ml, respectively). Blood acetaldehyde levels in mice treated with pargyline and ethanol were strongly depressed (85%) by pyrazole, an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, and moderately to strongly depressed (49-71%) by pretreatment with phenobarbital, an inducer of liver aldehyde dehydrogenase.


Prostaglandin-macromolecule interactions. I. Noncovalent binding of prostaglandins A1, E1, F2alpha, and E2 by human and bovine serum albumins. The binding of tritiated prostaglandins (PGA1, PGE1, PGF2alpha, and PGE2) to human and bovine serum albumins was studied by equilibrium dialysis and batchwise gel equilibration with Sephadex G-25. During equilibrium dialysis (36 hours, 4 degrees C), about half of the PGEs, but not PGA and PGF2alpha, were transformed into dehydration products; by contrast, equilibration of the prostaglandins was attained in less than a half-hour by the batchwise use of Sephadex G-25 at 25 degrees C, with no detectable ligand instability. The values of the apparent association constants for albumin-prostaglandin interactions were inversely related to the protein concentration in the assay systems. "True" apparent association constants (NKo) were measured by extrapolation to zero protein concentration. The NKo values were estimated to be 9.4 X 10(4), 2.7 X 10(4), 9 X 10(3) and 6 X 10(3) M-1 for the interaction of human serum albumin with PGA1, PGE1, PGF2alpha and PGE2, respectively. Very similar values were found for the corresponding bovine serum albumin-Prostaglandin interactions. When comparable, the data obtained by both methods were in excellent agreement. Our results were also in agreement with published values for PGA1 and PGF2alpha, both of which are relatively stable in neutral aqueous phase. Batchwise gel equilibration appears to be a useful method, if thermodynamically valid data are desired in the presence of possible ligand and/or "receptor" instability. We conclude that albumin binding probably affords circulating PGA1 a modest protection from its clearance mechanisms.


Receptive fields of unmyelinated ventral root afferent fibres in the cat. 1. The receptive fields were determined for 118 afferent fibres in the S2, S3 and Ca (caudal) 1 ventral roots of the cat. Of these fibres, ninety-three were unmyelinated, another eleven were probably unmyelinated, and fourteen were myelinated, according to estimates of their conduction velocities. 2. Confirmation that the recordings were from ventral root filaments came from electron microscopic inspection of ten of the filaments from which recordings of the activity of unmyelinated afferents were made. 3. Receptive fields were demonstrated for twelve unmyelinated afferent fibres in the distal stumps of the S2 and S3 ventral roots which had been sectioned 3 weeks previously, indicating that the cell bodies giving rise to these fibres were not in the spinal cord. 4. The action potentials of some of the unmyelinated ventral root afferent fibres were complex, suggesting branching of the afferents within the ventral root. 5. One third of the unmyelinated ventral root afferents had receptive fields in somatic structures: the skin and deep tissues. 6. Two thirds of the unmyelinated ventral root afferents had receptive fields in the viscera of the pelvis: the bladder, urethra, vagina, and lower bowel. 7. Many of the unmyelinated afferents in the ventral roots, especially those with cutaneous receptive fields, had high thresholds and may participate in nociception. 8. It is concluded that the cat ventral root contains a major sensory component and that the Law of Bell and Magendie is not an accurate description of the organization of the ventral root in this animal.


Dinoflagellate evolution: speculation and evidence. Nuclear features of dinoflagellates that were used originally to support the Mesocaryota concept are reviewed. The fibrillar diameter of dinoflagellage chromatin, low level of chromosomal basic proteins, membrane attachment of chromosomes and swirl pattern observed in sectioned chromosomes are features that support a prokaryotic affinity. The presence of repeated and highly complex DNA, a S-phase of DNA synthesis in the cell cycle, presence of basic proteins, and the reinterpretation of extranuclear microtubules as a spindle support the contention that dinoflagellates are eukaryotes. This combination of prokaryotic and eukaryotic features suggests that dionflagellates are a geologically old group and that perhaps they diverged from the higher eukaryotic lineage before evolution of eukaryotic chromatin but after the evolution of repeated DNA. The 2 patterns of carotenoid composition exemplified by the presence of peridinin or fucoxanthin suggest separate origins of dinoflagellate plastids, perhaps by prokaryotic and eukaryotic capture. It is suggested that the species possessing fucoxanthin obtained their plastids by capture of photosynthetic eukaryotes.


In-vitro fertilization of hamster eggs in different media and the stimulating effect of heterologous and homologous spermatozoa. Hamster eggs with follicular cells were fertilized by epididymal spermatozoa in two chemically defined media. The proportion of penetrated eggs was significantly higher in a medium for rabbit (16%) than in a medium for rat eggs (6%), but much lower than in Tyrode's solution containing follicular fluid or blood serum as reported by others. The optimal sperm concentration for sperm penetration ranged from 0.5 to 5 X 10(6)/ml but penetration of denuded eggs failed in these media. When exposed to hamster spermatozoa in the rabbit medium containing living or dead spermatozoa of guinea-pig, rat, mouse or hamster, high proportions of denuded eggs (24-96%) and eggs with follicular cells (93%) were penetrated. By exposure of denuded hamster eggs to hamster spermatozoa in supernatant fluid of frozen-thawed guinea-pig spermatozoa, 97% of eggs were penetrated in 8 hr compared to 0% in the control group. Sperm capacitation was also efficiently induced by preincubation of hamster spermatozoa in the supernatant fluid. The fertilizing capacity of hamster spermatozoa was maintained for 12 hr during incubation with frozen-thawed guinea-pig spermatozoa when the concentration of hamster spermatozoa ranged between 10 and 20 X 10(6)/ml. The beneficial factor of guinea-pig spermatozoa appeared to be from spermatozoa themselves, not from the vasal or epididymal fluids. The presence of follicular cells, blood serum, bovine serum albumin, or even polyvinylpyrrolidone in the media is essential for the capacitation and acrosome reaction of hamster spermatozoa. The components of guinea-pig spermatozoa appear to maintain the fertilizing capacity of hamster spermatozoa and stimulate the process of capacitation.


Studies on a male eland X kudu hybrid.

Studies on a male eland X kudu hybrid. An accidental mating between a male eland and a female kudu produced an animal with primarily eland phenotypic characteristics. Despite pronounced male behaviour the animal was azoospermic. Histological examination of the testis showed complete lack of germ cells. Chromosome studies with analysis of Giemsa bands showed that the parental karyotypes differed by two reciprocal translocations and one pericentric inversion, involving chromosomes 1 and 3, 5 and 11, and 9 respectively. All other chromosomes had identical banding patterns.


The oestrous cycle of the ewe after active immunization against prostaglandin F-2 alpha. Six ewes were immunized against a prostaglandin F-2alpha-protein conjugate. Between 24 and 82 days after immunization the regular cyclic occurrence of oestrus was abolished in all six ewes. Further investigations of the immunized animals revealed that the blockade of oestrus was due to a persistence of the CL and the constantly elevated (greater than 2 ng/ml) blood levels of progesterone. Surgical enucleation of the persistent CL was promptly followed by a fall in progesterone concentrations (less than 0-5 ng/ml), normal oestrus and a subsequent return to a state of constantly elevated blood progesterone levels. These results show that neutralization of the biological activity of PGF by active immunization against PGF-2alpha results in a failure of luteal regression and provide evidence that endogenous PGF is involved in normal luteal regression in this species.


The sperm acrosome reaction and fertilization in the guinea-pig: a study in vivo. Female guinea-pigs were naturally or artificially inseminated before or after ovulation and the distribution of spermatozoa in the oviducts and the time of sperm penetration into the eggs were determined. When animals were inseminated before ovulation, the spermatozoa stayed in the distal half of the oviduct until about the time of ovulation. Only a very few spermatozoa were present in the proximal half of the oviduct at the time of ovulation, but these were sufficient to effect fertilization. When animals were inseminated after ovulation, the spermatozoa ascended the oviduct faster than when animals were inseminated before ovulation, and fertilization commenced in 4 hr. Regardless of the time of insemination, the spermatozoa participating in fertilization appeared to undergo the acrosome reaction after they reached the proximal part of the oviduct or when they were very near the eggs.


A comparison of in-vitro fertilization of rabbit eggs using spermatozoa recovered from the uterus or vagina. Spermatozoa were recovered from the uterine horns or vagina of mated rabbit does 12-20 hr p.c. and their fertilizing capacity tested in an in-vitro system. Uterine spermatozoa gave consistently high fertilization (93-100%) throughout. Vaginal spermatozoa gave good results (81-85%) 12-14 hr p.c. but fertilization then declined with time. Vaginal spermatozoa recovered from mated females with or without ligation of the uterine horns were equally able to fertilize eggs. Fragmentation of uncleaved eggs was noted in experiments with vaginal spermatozoa, but never with uterine spermatozoa. The former were slower in penetrating eggs and the zygotes were correspondingly slower in cleaving. Triploidy, possibly due to ageing, was found in approximately 15% of the embryos fertilized by vaginal spermatozoa.


The effects of prostaglandin E-1 and F-2 alpha on maturation of mouse oocytes in vitro. The direct effects of prostaglandin E-1 (PGE-1) and F-2 alpha (PGF-2alpha) on isolated mouse oocytes were examined in a microtube culture method. In oocytes exposed to PGE-1, meiotic resumption was suppressed at the anaphase I stage, presenting an irregular arrangement of the chromosomes along with the spindle fibres which were characterized by nondisjunction of the tetrads. PGF-2alpha was less potent in suppressing oocyte maturation than PGE-1. The critical time of the action of PGE-1 was between 7-5 and 12 hr of incubation.


Use of high-pressure liquid chromatography for quantitative structure-activity relationship studies of sulfonamides and barbiturates. Retention volumes for a group of sulfonamides obtained on three different HPLC columns were correlated with log P, pKa, and biological activity. Depending on the chromatographic system, good correlations can be obtained with log P or with biological activity, but not necessarily both, using the same chromatographic data.


Diester derivatives as apomorphine prodrugs. A series of diesters of apomorphine was synthesized to serve as prodrugs. They were converted in vivo to free apomorphine, which could be detected in the brain. Stereotyped gnawing behavior and unilateral rotation similar to that produced by apomorphine were induced by all of the diesters but the time course of action of the latter was prolonged. The duration of action generally increased with the size of the ester substituent and appeared to correlate inversely with the rate of hydrolysis of the esters by liver extracts. It is concluded that the diesters serve as prodrugs of apomorphine and their prolonged duration is partly explained by a decreasing rate of hydrolysis attributable to increased steric hindrance at the acyl carbon atoms.


Monozygotic twins discordant for sex.

Monozygotic twins discordant for sex. A pair of monozygotic, adolescent twins is discordant for sex. The phenotypic female twin has chromosome constitution of 46, XY/45, X. She displays many signs of Turner's syndrome, including typical facies, webbed neck, malformed left kidney, high plasma gonadotropins, and streak ovaries. However, her height is 154 cm which exceeds the height usually reported in Turner's syndrome. The male twin has a karyotype of 46, XY and normal sexual development. Only two other reports of pairs of monozygotic twins of opposite sex have been published.


You known who and what's her name: the woman's role in sex therapy. As sex therapy becomes an established mode of treatment, the original Masters and Johnson model of cotherapy is its most common form. The complex issues in the relationship between cotherapists who are doing sex therapy have not received adequate attention. Differences in status, experience, and training combine with aspects of the personal relationship between therapists to make cotherapy a substantial problem. Whether the cotherapists are married, otherwise involved in a personal relationship, or even when they are a physician and his nurse or two independent therapists, the sexual content of their work inevitably raises issues that need to be resolved. These issues include erotic fantsies and power struggles between the therapists that can affect the outcome of treatment.


RNAs of influenza A, B, and C viruses.

RNAs of influenza A, B, and C viruses. The nucleic acids of influenza A, B, and C viruses were compared. Susceptibility to nucleases demonstrates that influenza C virus, just as influenza A and B viruses, possesses single-stranded RNA as its genome. The base compositions of the RNAs of influenza A, B, and influenza C virus are almost identical and comparative analysis on polyacrylamide gels shows that the genome of influenza C/GL/1167/54 virus, like that of the RNAs of influenza A and B viruses, is segmented. Eight distinct RNA bands were found for influenza A/PR/8/34 virus and for influenza B/Lee/40 virus. The RNA of influenza C/GL/1167/54 virus separated into at least four segments. The total molecular weights of the RNA of influenza A/PR/8/34 and B/Lee/40 virus were calculated to be 5.29 X 10(6) and 6.43 X 10(6), respectively. A minimum value of 4.67 X 10(6) daltons was obtained for influenza C/GL/1167/54 virus RNA. The data suggest that influenza C viruses are true members of the influenza virus group.


Functional and tonometrical investigation of bladder and urethra in patients with stress incontinence. During 1974, 80 women with symptoms of relative stress incontinence underwent cystotonometric, sphincterometric and urethrometric examinations. The average basal bladder pressure, sphincter resistance, urethral length with the patient in the lying position and functional urethral length (difference between urethral length in the lying and the upright positions) were measured. We tried to separate objectively stress from urge incontinence (about one-fourth of the patients). After statistical analyses of the data we concluded that there is neither correlation between sphincter resistance and urethral length, nor between sphincter resistance and functional length of the urethra but there is a correlation between sphincter resistance and basal bladder pressure. The functional length is the best method to separate patients with stress incontinence from thoses with urge incontinence, while sphincter resistance is of less importance. The functional length is also the best indicator of the seriousness of incontinence. The objective sign of a successful operation is the extension of the urethral length and the fixation of the functional length to 0 mm. In such cases sphincter resistance is slightly increased and inversely related to the size of the correction of functional urethral length.


Multinucleated giant cell formation in BHK-21-528 cell monolayers infected with Japanese encephalitis viruses. Formation of prominent multinucleated giant cells (MGC) was observed in monolayers of a clonal line of BHK-21 cells (BHK-21-528) when infected with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). MGC were first observed 3 to 4 days after infection and cytopathic changes proceeded thereafter. Formation of MGC is a typical cytopathic change in this clonal cell line. Virus titer in 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) equaled that in 50% MGC-forming dose. Virus titer in TCID50 was approximate to plaque-forming units (PFU) in the same host cells. An ability of JEV to form MGC was maintained at least for six serial passages in BHK-21-528. It was inactivated by heating at 56 C for 3 min. All JEV strains, except an attenuated live vaccine strain, induced formation of MGC in BHK-21-528 cells. Red blood cells of several animal species were not adsorbed to MGC induced by JEV. The MGC-forming ability of JEV was specifically neutralized by anti-JEV serum. By fluorescence antibody technique, the MGC were specifically stained by anti-JEV antibody conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate. Immunization of animals with lysates of the MGC resulted in production of antibodies against JEV, but no antibody against other viruses which have been reported to induce MGC formation. From these evidences, it was concluded that JEV induced formation of MGC in BHK-21-528.


[Cardiac defibrillation with the aid of ultrasound]. It was established in 15 canine experiments that ultrasound with a 500 kcps frequency and 10 W/cm2 intensity exerts a defibrillating and antiarrhythmic effect and arrests cardiac fibrillation in 27.7% of the cases. Electrophysiological studies on isolated right ventricles of rabbits in oxygenation chambers demonstrated that the antiarrhythmic action of the ultrasound manifests itself via a prolongation of the refractory period of the myocardial cells. Ultrasound of a 4 W/cm2 intensity and 30 sec duration increases the refractory period up to 37%. Any further increase of intensity and duration of the ultrasonic action results in a shortening of the refractory period and inhibition of the electrical activity of the myocardial cells.


Circadian pattern of prolactin and growth hormone levels in female rats of two strains. Plasma growth hormone and prolactin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay at intervals of 2 hr during the light phase of a controlled light-dark cycle in virgin female (COBS F/Crl BR) and [Sch:SPD(SD)BR] rats. Peak prolactin concentrations were observed in the afternoon during proestrus and estrus in both rat stocks. Growth hormone exhibited wide fluctuations in the Sch:SPD rat, attaining peak levels at 1300 hr, but no apparent periodicity was observed in the COBS rats.


Anthelmintic efficacy of mebendazole for pinworm infection of mice. A series of 6 experiments was conducted to test the efficacy of mebendazole in eliminating naturally occurring pinworm infections from mice. Subjects treated with from 40-500 mg/kg of the drug harbored markedly fewer parasites than untreated controls. Treatment at 10 mg/kg appeared to be less effective. No mortality or overt signs of toxicity were observed in any of the experimental subjects.


Current status of the urethral pressure profile as a urodynamic test. The urethral pressure profile is a manipulation test of the bladder neck, urethra, and its sphincters. It measures the balance of pressure at each point along the urethra while a small amount of distending fluid is instilled continuously. The urethral pressure profile probably represents a perfusion pressure, a minimal distension pressure, or a minimal opening pressure that is altered by the caliber of the urethra and the compliance of its walls along its proximal course. The test is meaningful when each point along the traverse is compared, in succession, with all the other points and as long as the assumption holds that changes in bladder configuration, pressure, and filling are incosequential during performance of the test.


Human infection with Dermatophilus congolensis. Dermatophilosis is a skin disease in animals and humans caused by the actinomycete Dermatophilus congolensis. This microorganism causes the skin disease in sheep commonly referred to in Australia as "lumpy wool" or mycotic dermatitis. One proven case of human dermatophilosis and two cases with features which are clinically highly suggestive of the disease from South Australia are described. There has been only one previous report of human infection caused by D. congolensis, which was from the United States in 1961. A brief account of the history, characteristics and life cycle of D. congolensis is given. Human infection in Australia may be not uncommon. A diagnosis can be made by direct microscopy of scab material from the lesions. For this purpose, dry scabs should be sent to the laboratory.


An approach to genetic transformation in the Xiphophorine fish. The particular suitability of the Xiphophorine fish system for achieving genetic transformation is presented, and it was analyzed whether information carrying donor DNA might be available to the propigment cells of embryos of Xiphosphorus helleri, which are the target cells for the transformation. Heterologous 2H3H-labelled donor DNA from E. coli, which was taken for technical reasons instead of homologous fish DNA, undergoes degradation both after injection into the neural crest region and after injection into the yolk sac (molecular weight at O h: 50 X10(6); at 2 h: 1 X 10(6); at 5 h: less than 3 X 10(5); at 10 h: less than 1 X 10(4)). It is concluded therefore, that informative donor DNA is present for about 2 to 3 hours after injection. The DNA of the recipient embryo is labelled radioactively during that time at which informative DNA is present only, if the donor DNA is injected into the neural crest region. The probability that a foreign gene might become available to the propigment cells and might induce transformation is discussed.


Medical ethics and torture.

Medical ethics and torture. There is growing evidence of widespread use of torture among political prisoners throughout the world. Medical personnel frequently become involved, sometimes directly, sometimes peripherally as in the examination or treatment of such prisoners. Physicians themselves may become victims of torture when the state attempts to subvert the doctor-patient relation for political purposes. Furthermore, recent studies demonstrate long lasting medical and psychologic effects of torture. For these reasons, physicians have a special opportunity and ethical obligation to resist and oppose torture as well as to support physicians whose lives or professional careers are jeopardized by their refusal to participate in torture. Codes of medical ethics need strengthening to provide clear guidance for the physician who becomes aware of or actively involved in these brutal practices.


Evidence for role of m7G5'-phosphate group in recognition of eukaryotic mRNA by initiation factor IF-M3. 7-methylguanosine 5'-monophosphate inhibits protein synthesis in a fractionated, messenger-dependent, reticulocyte cell-free system. This compound also inhibits binding of histone mRNA to reticulocyte ribosomes as well as interaction of VSV mRNA and histone mRNA but not EMC virus RNA with purified initiation factor IF-M3. These studies provide evidence that the role of 7-methylguanosine in the mechanism for initiation of eukaryotic mRNA translation may be related to specific recognition of mRNA by initiation factor IF-M3.


[What should we call this group of disease? (author's transl)]. In past several years in Japan, there were many reports on a certain group of cases which were called by many names such as abnormal vascular network in the cerebral basal region, spontaneous occlusion of the circle of Willis, Cerebrovascular Moyamoya disease, cerebral juxabasal telangiectasia and so on. The characteristics of this group are; 1. Angiographically, they show a narrowing at the distal portion of the internal carotid artery, horizontal portions of the anterior and/or middle cerebral arteries with extensively developed perforators, i.e. abnormal vascular network. 2. Nowadays, it is becoming possible to give accurate diagnosis by only clinical information. 3. The cause is not known and so this group has not yet been recognized as a clinico-pathological entity. This group of the cases was first recognized and mainly investigated by Japanese neurosurgeons. But they have used many names as shown Table 1. Such a variety of the names seems to be troublesome for investigator and a single appropriate name should be used. From the Japanese and other country's reports, the name of this disorder can be divided into 5 categories as follows; Category 1: from the viewpoint of clinical symptoms and sign. Category 2: from the viewpoint of only abnormal vascular network on angiograms. Category 3: from the finding of the arterial narrowing. Category 4: from the both findings of the abnormal vascular network and arterial narrowing. Category 5: miscellaneous. The annual changes in usage frequency of various designation about this disorder has investigated and it disclosed the difference between Japan and other countries. The questionairre about the naming was sent to 306 investigators who had reported the cases. And the summary of their response as follow: 1) Most of them agree with determination of a single name. 2) Their most favorite name belongs to Category 2. This means that the most impressive finding was not the obstruction but the vascular network shown in angiograms. 3) The name "Abnormal vascular network" and "Moyamoya" mean the same phenomenon. In spite of having many disputation such as unacademic, not including the idea of arterial obstruction, and difficulty to understand for foreigners, but the name "Moyamoya" was pointed out by many investigators that it has many advantages such as being short and humorous, Moyamoya also has a meaning of unknown origin in Japanese, and already very popular worldwide. In my opinion, this group must not be called as "Moyamoya disease", but simply "MOYAMOYA".


[Six cases of hydroencephalodysplasia (author's transl)]. Six cases of hydroencephalodysplasia were evaluated from the points of clinical signs and symptoms and neuroradiological procedures and diagnostic problems were discussed. All of our cases were characterized by extensive dysplasia of the brain and increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Deformity of the head and developmental arrest of the psychomotor function were observed in five cases. The side of the skull deformity was consisted with that of the brain defect. Pneumoencephalography and cerebral angiography are characteristic in this disease, but these procedures have to be carried out with caution in case of poor general condition. Transillumination and brain scan are also useful procedures and RI-cisternography is important for indication of shunting operation. Early rehabilitation for the motor dys function is main therapeutic trial, though the cases with increased intracranial pressure require cerebrospinal fluid shunt.


[Radiation therapy and surgical management of pineal tumors--follow-up study of 96 patients (author's transl)]. This is a follow-up study of 96 patients with pineal tumors, except for one patient who was lost to follow-up. 60 of these tumors were verified histologically either at operation or at necropsy, 6 were diagnosed by epitheloid cells existing in the cerebrospinal fluid, and 30 were diagnosed by clinical and ventriculographic findings. In agreement with Russell and Rubinstein, we have classified the histologically verified tumors into 3 groups, as follows; 1. True Pinealoma Group (Pineocytoma, Pineoblastoma), 2. Germinoma-Teratoma Group, 3. Others (Glioma, Cyst). The following points need to be emphasized in the planning of management: 1. Pinealoma (Two cell pattern pinealoma) responds favorably to radiation therapy. 18 of 43 patients of pinealomas who were treated with irradiation are functioning normally in various life situations for more than 5 years. Among them, 5 cases of pinealomas treated with irradiation alone have more than 10 years survivals. 2. There is a limitation in the efficacy of irradiation therapy in cases of spinal cord implantation, infiltration in adjacent structures or subependymal infiltration along the ventricular cavity. 3. Only 2 of 67 patients with pinealomas had spinal cord metastasis. It seems undesirable to subject all patients to complete cerebrospinal axis irradiation. 4. Successful removal were performed in 4 patients with teratomas and are now alive for 9-21 years. None of them, however, are doing well clinically with many neurological deficits. 5. Since adenocarcinoma, teratocarcinoma, teratoblastoma and others are not sensitive to radiation therapy, only the palliative treatments are available. 6. Therefore, the most promising treatments for pineal tumors is that irradiation, plus shunting operation when required, is a first choice and after irradiation, radical removal should be tried in the case of teratoma diagnosed by clinical and ventriculographic findings.


[Spinal cord arteriovenous malformation during pregnancy (author's transl)]. On May 7, 1973, a 23-year-old female, para ii, gravida ii, suddenly developed severe chest pain at 10th month of her pregnancy and soon after became paraplegic with sensory impairment lower than the level of 5th thoracic nerve and urinary incontinence. On May 8, she was admitted to our clinic and 4 days after, labour was induced by Caesarean section. Myodil myelography demonstrated "worm like defects" at the level of Th4-Th5, but sabarachnoid block was not found. Selective spinal angiography showed the image of typical arteriovenous malformation at the level of Th2-Th6. On June 26, about 1.5 months after delivery total removal of arteriovenous malformation (from Th2 to Th6)) was performed by the use of operative microscope. 10 months after operation, the patient could walk with her baby in her arms and no urinary incontinence was seen. We discussed the clinical characteristics and the treatment of spinal cord arteriovenous malformation during pregnancy.


[A trial of surgical management of brain edema in cerebral infarction--a review with our own experiences in 31 cases (author's transl)]. We have analyzed the clinical course of 31 cases with cerebral infarction for 4 years. Of the 31 patients, 6 cases (19%) showed the brain edema on the cerebral angiograms as manifested by the shift of the midline arteries. The patients were divided into two groups, normotensive (15 cases) and hypertensive cerebral infarction (16 cases). The clinical and angiographic findings in the normotensive groups have been differed significantly from those of the hypertensive groups. The findings of brain edema on the angiograms were prominent in the hypertensive groups, and the clinical course was generally good and fair in the normotensive groups. We have reviewed the literatures about brain edema associated with cerebral infarction and have discussed on the mechanisms. From the study of our cases, it was concluded  that systemic hypertension could be a facilitatory factor in the occurrence of brain edema in cerebral infarction. Furthermore, the management of massive cerebral infarction should be reduction of increased intracranial pressure and prevention of cerebral herniation. So, it will be necessary to perform a surgical treatment such as internal decompression; removal of the infarcted, necrotized area and excision of herniated tissue, and external decompression; removal of boneflap.


[Spontaneous cerebral ventriculostium (author's transl)]. Two cases of spontaneous cerebral ventriculostium are presented. The first case is that of a 3 year-old girl with a thumb-sized soft scalp tumor of the occipital region (dural hypertrophy) and hydroencephalodysplasia (Picaza). PVG revealed noncommunicating hydrocephalus with asymmetrical deformity of the lateral ventricle and agenesis of corpus callosum (Fig. 1). Ventriculoatrial shunt was performed. Three years passed under the useful life when she readmitted to our clinic complaining headache, nausea and vomiting. On the first hospital day she fell into respiratory arrest accompanied with coma after the tonic convulsion, and eventually, she died on the fourth hospital day. Postmortem examination revealed spontaneous cerebral ventriculostium which communicated with the posteromedial trigone of the left lateral ventricle (Fig. 3). Combined other malformations such as dysgenesis of the corpus callosum and only one anterior cerebral artery, etc. were found. The second case is that of a young adult, a 22 year-old male with rapidly progressing intracranial hypertension. PVG revealed marked dilatation of the lateral and the third ventricle, non-filling of the aqueduct and spontaneous cerebral ventriculostium which communicated with the posterior part of the third ventricle (Fig. 4). And insidiously he fell into akinetic mutism. After suboccipital exploratory craniotomy and ventriculo-peritoneal shunt akinetic mutism improved gradually, and he was discharged on foot after 7 months. PEG performed on June 8, 1973, showed no evidence of aqueduct obstruction and injected air passed from the fourth ventricle to the third one smoothly. He lives on now under a useful condition. These 2 cases are the first report on literatures in Japan, but presumably there must be many other cases. Since W. H. Sweet reported his own two cases of spontaneous cerebral ventriculostium on 1940, more than thirty cases have been published on literatures. However, there are found various expressions to describe the same condition (Table 1). We would like to propose that the most suitable expression is "ventriculostium" not only in deference to the originality of W. H. Sweet but also not to confuse this pathogenetic state with other similar conditions. The author's next interest is the chronological fact that from W. H. Sweet (1940) to A. Torkildsen (1948), all but one ostiums reported situated at the posteromedial trigone of the lateral ventricle, whereas after A. Torkildsen, they were found at the posterior part of the third ventricle in many cases. The reason is unknown. It would appear that three main conditions are necessary for the development of ventricluostium just beneath the tentorium. The first, there must be increased pressure within the lateral or the third ventricle. The second essential feature is the lack of any large space occupying lesion in the the infratentorial space. The third, there must be wider space between the tentorial incisura and the brain stem.


[Intracranial extradural liposarcoma in the posterior fossa--a case report (author's transl)]. A case of liposarcoma, which originated primarily in the left infraauricular area and infiltrated to the posterior fossa, was reported. The patient was a 25-year-old housewife, who was admitted because of symptoms of intracranial hypertension. She showed left facial palsy and deviation of the tongue to the left without any cerebellar signs. Neurological examinations suggested a mass lesion in the posterior fossa. Suboccipital craniectomy was performed and the tumor sized 4 X 4 X 3 cm in the extradural space was partially removed. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of lipoblasts and diagnosed as liposarcoma. Intracranial liposarcoma, whether primary or secondary, is very rare and only several cases have been reported.


[Intracranial aneurysm in a child--a case report and some considerations on etiology (author's transl)]. An operative case of 12-year-old boy with a saccular aneurysm at the anterior communicating artery was reported. He had episodes of occasional headache during one year before admission. He was attacked by a severe headache associated with nausea and vomiting, and was admitted to Ooita Pref. Hospital under the diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage four days later. On admission physical examinations revealed almost normal findings except for moderate dehydration and a blood pressure of 130/70 mmHg. Routine examinations (blood, serum including total cholesterol, urine, ECG and plain chest X-film) were normal. Neurologically there were lethalgic state, moderate nuchal rigidity and bilateral abducens paresis. Slightly hemorrhagic and xanthochromic CSF was demonstrated by a spinal puncture. An aneurysm was found at the anterior communicating artery on the right carotid arteriogram. The left carotid and the left vertebral arteriograms showed no pathologic findings. Operation via right fronto-temporal approach disclosed a berry aneurysm about 4 mm in diameter arising from the bifurcation of the right anterior cerebral and the anterior communicating artery. There was a plaque presumably an atherosclerotic change at the neck of the aneurysm. Clipping of the aneurysmal neck was done. The aneurysm was not visualized on the postoperative arteriogram, and the patient was discharged in good condition two weeks after the operation. It is true that this patient had a lesion which seemed to be an atherosclerotic plaque at the neck of the aneurysm macroscopically, but he did not have any evidence of generalized atherosclerosis or other metabolic disturbance. This plaque may be of special significance in etiological respect. In general, however, degenerative lesions like atherosclerosis occur predominantly in larger arteries than smaller arteries of the brain. Also the location of this aneurysm was at the anterior communicating artery which is reported to be implicated in anomalous vascularity on occasion. From these facts the authors considered combined congenital and acquired factors in the development of this aneurysm.


[Hyponatremia following surgery for tumors in the hypophyseal or hypothalamic region (author's transl)]. Following surgery for tumors in the hypophyseal or hypothalamic region, low serum Na level (hyponatremia) is sometimes noted and causes clinical manifestations. Therefore, on the care of patients within 1 to 2 weeks following operation for tumors in this region, stabilization of serum Na level is one of the most important problems.


[Production and absorption rate of cerebrospinal fluid in the spinal subarachnoid space of the dog (author's transl)]. Adult mongrel dogs, weighing 10-17 kg. were anesthetized with Nembutal and cervical and lumbosacral laminectomy was performed. The spinal subarachnoid space was blocked by extradural ligation at the level of the C4 to interrupt CSF communication between the cranial and spinal space. Polyethylene catheters were placed in the cervical and lumbosacral subarachnoid space, and artificial Mock CSF buffer, pH 7.35-7.40, containing inulin of 25 mg/dl or 14C-inulin of 1.5-2 muCi/dl as a tracer was perfused in the sacro-cervical direction through the catheter. After a steady state of perfusion was acommplished, the CSF was collected from the outlet catheter. Production and absorption rate of the CSF were calculated after Pappenheimer and Heisey's equation. 1) Effects of CSF pressure on the rate of production (Vf) and absorption (Va) of CSF and on the difference between outflow fluid rate (Vo) and inflow fluid rate (Vi) were studied within the pressure range of -100 to +600 mmH2O. Then, regression lines were calculated by means of the least square method. See Article. Vf was little affected by changes in CSF pressure, while Va increased linearly as CSF pressure elevated. This suggests that the spinal subarachnoid space plays an important role as a site of CSF absorption when the intracranial pressure increases. Vo-Vi, that is difference between absorption and production rate, decreased linearly as the CSF pressure increased. 2) Under a constant CSF pressure of +200 mmH2O, the effects of glucocorticoids (dexamethasone, 0.25 mg/kg and hydrocortisone, 4.15 mg/kg) and a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (acetazolamide, 10 mg/kg) upon the production and absorption rate of CSF were determined 1/2, 1, 2 and 3 hours after intravenous administration. a) Effect of dexamethasone: The rate of CSF production was reduced to 60.5 +/- 2.4% (p less than 0.001) of the control level. The absorption rate of CSF also decreased to 59.2 +/- 6.09% (p less than 0.001) of the control. b) Effect of hydrocortisone: The production rate of CSF decreased to 67.4 +/- 6.61% (p less than 0.001), and the absorption rate to 76.5 +/- 3.94% (p less than 0.001) of the control level. c) Effect of acetazolamide: The production and absorption rate also decreased to 57.2 +/- 5.61% (p less than 0.001) and to 56.9 +/- 7.02% (p less than 0.001), respectively. 3) Pentration of tritiated dexamethasone and tritiated hydrocortisone from plasma to CSF. The penetration of tritiated dexamethasone and tritiated hydrocortisone from plasma to CSF in the spinal and cranial subarachnoid space was observed after the intravenous administration. The CSF/Plasma ratio of dexamethasone was 30.9% at 15 minutes and gradually increased to 91.5% and 93.5%, respectively, in the cranial and spinal CSF at 3 hours after the injection.


[The antero-posterior diameter of the cervical spinal canal in cervical spondylosis (author's transl)]. 1. The antero-posterior diameter (APD) of the cervical spinal canals in 96 healthy adults, 108 cases of radiological cervical spondylosis (asymptomatic) and 96 cases of cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy or radiculomyelopathy was measured for each vertebra by the method of Burrows. (Filmfocus distance was 1.2m). 2. The APD in patients with symptomatic spondylosis was found to be significantly narrower than those of without. 3. Since the upper limit of APD at C4 to C6 vertebrae in symptomatic spondylosis was 16 mm, while the lower limit of APD in asymtomatic spondylosis was 14 mm, the following conclusion appears justified. 1) When the APD is narrower than 16 mm, the osteophytes along the posterior border of the spinal bodies or degenerative disc protrusions may produce cervical radiculomyelopathy, although the cord and the roots may escape from compression by the spondylotic changes even when the APD is wider than 14 mm. 2) When the APD is narrower than 13 mm, it is almost always certain that the osteophytes or herniated discs compress the cervical cord and roots.


[Percutaneous revision of shunt with obstructed ventricular catheter (author's transl)]. Shunt dysfunction due to an obstructed ventricular catheter can be avoided, at least in part, by placing the of the catheter anteriorly to the Foramen of Monro. However, once the catheter is obstructed, surgical removal under general anesthesia is almost inevitable. Irrigation method for an obstructed ventricular catheter enables us to gain scarcely anything and accumulation of instilled fluid in the ventricle often causes the dangerously increased intracranial pressure. 1) Technique for placement of the ventricular catheter. The skin incision is a semicircular. After the skin flap is reflected, "8-shaped" burr hole is placed (Fig. 1 in the text). At first, two openings, large and small, are made in the skull. At 1/4 inch drill is used for making a small hole and a regular perforator for an adjacent large one, then, with a small Schlessinger roungeur, a thin wall dividing these two holes is removed. Two to 3 cm lateral from the midline and also posterior to the frontal hair line is usually chosen for placement of burr holes. A straight ventricular catheter with multiple small perforations at its tip is connected to the Rickham reservoir and inserted in the ventricle anteriorly to the Foramen Monro, through the small hole of the "8-shaped" burr hole. Rest of surgical procedure is performed according to a routine manner. 2) Technique for release of ventricular catheter obstruction by percutaneous management through the "8-shaped" burr hole. A 20-gaze modified spinal needle is inserted through the Rickham reservoir under fluoroscopic control and gradually progressed to the tip of the obstructed catheter. Simple aspiration through the needle may occasionally open the catheter by removing small obstruents, but in many instances, insertion of an another ventricular needle through the large hole and combined irrigation are indispensable. 3) Results. Ten of 72 patients who had placement of the ventricular catheter by this technique developed obstructions of the catheter. Percutaneous technique was successful in releasing the obstructions in 12 times of these 8 patients and remaining 2 patients were subsequently operated upon for the following reasons. One patient, because of dislodging of the reservoir cap after successful release of obstruction and the other, due to extraventricular location of the tip of the catheter prior to the percutaneous management. No serious complications has been encountered and the technique was proved to be safe and simple ensuring good functional return of the shunt in long-term follow-up.


[Familial occurrence of pituitary adenoma (author's transl)]. The familial occurrence of brain tumors are exceedingly rare except in cases with phacomatosis. We encountered pituitary adenomas in two sisters of a family, so far presenting no evidence of multiple endocrine adenomatosis (MEA). Case 1, K. O. a 26-year-old woman was admitted to our Hospital on September 10, 1970 with visual acuity and field disturbance, irregular menstruation and acromegaly. Neurological examination: Her visual acuity was Vd 0.6 and Vs 0.3, visual field was bitemporal hemianopsia, and ther was papilledema bilaterally. She had left exophthalmos and left abducens palsy. Roentgenogram of the skull, brain scanning, cerebral angiogram, pneumoencephalogram suggested the presence of a pituitary tumor. On Sep. 17, 1970, through a left frontotemporal craniotomy the tumor was removed subtotally. The pathological diagnosis was pituitary adenoma (chromophobe). Case 2, M. T. a 31-year-old woman, sister of case 1, was admitted to the Hospital on September 19, 1973, with mild headache, left visual field disturbance and amenorrhea. She had a child, and a past history of pulmonary tbc. Neurological examination: Her visual acuity was Vd 1.2 and Vs 0.03, and visual field of the right eye was temporal lower quandrant anopsia. There was optic nerve atrophy in the left eye. Plain X-ray craniogram, brain scanning, cerebral angiogram and pheumoencephalogram suggested the presence of a pituitary tumor. On Sep. 28, 1973, a right frontal craniotomy was performed. The tumor tissue with capsule was removed subtotally. The pathological diagnosis was pituitary adenoma (mixed type). In the literatures about familial brain tumors with histological diagnosis, glioma and glioblastoma are common, meningioma is relatively rare. Pituitary adenoma with no evidence of MEA is exceedingly rare. The two sisters presented in this paper, have no evidence of hyperparathyroidism, pancreas adenoma and peptic ulcer. So, we consider, at present, these cases should not be field in MEA.


[A cured case of hypertensive intracerebellar hematoma (author's transl)]. A case of hypertensive intracerebellar hematoma surgically treated and cured was reported. The 41-year-old male had two cerebrovascular attacks with headache and vomiting followed by left hemiparesis. Drowsiness and dysarthria appeared the next day. The patient was admitted to a hospital, where right facial palsy, loss of right gag reflex and paralytic hemiplegia on the left side were noted. On the 7th day, the patient's consciousness became clear byt the other neurological evidences did not change. On the 14th day, bradycardia and central hyperventilation appeared and he became drowsy again. The patient was transferred to the authors' clinic. When the patient was admitted, he showed typical cerebellar signs such as nystagmus, ataxia, and slurring speech with pyramidal sign on left side and cranial nerves paralysis on right side, and also showed the changes of vital signs as a medullary syndrome in the late stage of the course. The vertebral angiogram revealed a space taking process in the right cerebellar hemisphere. The old blood (30g) was removed by suboccipital craniectomy. The hematoma cavity had a communication with the IVth ventricle through a small perforation in the medial wall of the hematoma. Spontaneour intracerebellar hematoma including of hypertensive origin is not rare in the reports of autopsy but surgically treated case has only rarely been reported. The main reason of few survivals should be in its fulminate course.


[Treatment of acute subdural hematoma in infancy-tapping only method and a follow-up study (author's transl)]. Acute subdural hematoma in infants is characterized by convulsive seizure, disturbance of consciousness, vomiting and irritability soon after mild head injury. The majority of cases have tence or bulged anterior fontanel and preretinal hemorrhage. Eleven cases, all traumatic in etiology and male under the age of one year were reported. Nine of them were treated by percutaneous subdural tapping alone, i.e., "Tapping Only Method". For the first several days, tappings were carried out daily. The subdural content was liquefied old dark blood or liquefied fresh-appearing blood in most cases. After that taps were performed only in the presence of intracranial hypertension. Vomiting and irritability were fairly reliable indicaters of intracranial hypertension but the most consistent signs were the fontanel tension to palpation and the measurement of head circumference. As soon as it could be determined that increased pressure did not recur within ten days after the last tap or that dry tap was confirmed the infant was discharged and follow as an outpatient. Follow-up studies on this series by cerebral angiography, EEG, skull measurement and Denver developmental screening test revealed normal physical and mental development in nine cases, although three out of nine cases showed mild but persistent avascular area. The remaining two cases showed more or less physically and mentally retarded developments: the initial treatment for both of them was delayed more than ten days. Acute infantile subdural hematoma due to mild head injury should be divided into the following two types: "Fulminant type", which rapidly falls in coma and may be fatal. The another, "Mild type" manifests only signs and symptoms of mild intracranial hypertension. This mild type should be treated by tapping only method without delay. There is a possibility that some mild type cases are overlooked and later progress to chronic infantile subdural hematoma. For comparison, thirteen cases of acute infantile subdural hematoma treated by trephination and/or craniotomy were reviewed. Pathological study revealed that early formation of capsular membrane is one of the characteristic findings.


[Supratentorial extradural hematomas following posterior fossa craniectomy (author's transl)]. Five cases of the supratentorial extradural hematomas secondary to the posterior fossa craniectomy were reported. The site of the hematoma was far from the operative field and two cases showed acute course and three were rather mild. The symptoms of this complication were the unsuspected sensorium disturbance, anisocoria and the non-functioning ventricular drainage. Two cases died of this complication and two were severely disabled. The mechanism of this complication is not clearly understood. The lowering of the ventricular pressure by the ventricular tap during the operation may play significant role in the formation of the extradural hematoma. The younger age of the cases and the long history of increased intracranial pressure were stressed in the literature. The significance of the management of the ventricular pressure during the operation was emphasized. The prevention is the best treatment.


Suppression of mouse-killing in rats following irradiation. Suppression of mouse-killing was produced following pairings of mouse-presentations (CS) with 96 roentgens of ionizing radiation (US) at O ( less than 2 min.) and 30 min. US-CS interstimulus intervals. No suppression was found at CS-US intervals of 30 min., 1hr., and 2 hr., or at US-CS intervals of 1 hr. and 2 hr.


Replication of "speech fluency fluctuations during the menstrual cycle". This study tested the hypothesis suggested by our earlier research that the principal effect of heightened anxiety on speech fluency is an interference with language formulation. 20 women read contexual material aloud at ovulation (when the typical woman experiences her greatest feelings of well-being) and at premenstrution (when she experiences a significant increase in anxiety level). They were no less fluent at premenstruation than at ovulation. These data are consistent with the hypothesis tested.


Handedness in schizophrenia.

Handedness in schizophrenia. 26 schizophrenic patients (40 to 55 yr.), 21 non-schizophrenic patients (40 to 55 yr.), and 18 staff controls (25 to 40 yr.) from the same unit of a public psychiatric hospital were questioned about hand preference. Schizophrenics showed somewhat more confusion about hand preference than other subjects, but otherwise patterns of hand preference did not differ for the three groups. The inclusion of schizophrenics among those groups identified with laterality disturbances, then, was not supported.


Vasomotor response to thermal stimulation of the scrotal skin in rats. In 27 anesthetized rats arterial blood pressure and electrical activity of dorsal horn neurones were recorded during thermal stimulation of the scrotal skin. In 19 of these animals blood pressure increased during scrotal skin warming, showing a distinct threshold at about 37.5 degrees C in 16 rats. This effect was reproducible during the whole experiment although quantitative changes of the response occurred. In most experiments a transient response was seen at the beginning of the vasomotor reaction. The mean increase of blood pressure to a superthreshold warming step, derived from 11 experiments in which more than 3 temperatures were tested and in which the blood pressure was above 100 mm Hg, was 25 +/- 14 mm Hg. The observed threshold of the vasomotor response corresponds well with the threshold of activity increase in warm sensitive dorsal horn neurones to scrotal skin warming. It is suggested that the blood pressure reaction is mediated by scrotal skin warm receptors, which supports the notion that some organ specificity exists in thermoreceptors of the scrotal skin.


Studies on potassium induced coronary dilation in the isolated guinea pig heart. Changes of coronary flow in the isolated perfused spontaneously beating guinea pig heart were induced by elevation of potassium concentration in the perfusion medium (4-16 meq/l). Potassium caused a dose-dependent transient increase of diastolic coronary inflow. The response was inhibited by ouabain (1.4 X 10(-7) M) or reduced temperature. Rubidium ions elicited almost identical vasodilator effects which were also inhibited by ouabain. Autoregulation of coronary flow, reactive hyperemia, and hypoxic coronary dilation were not significantly altered in the presence of ouabain. The results support the hypothesis that potassium as well as rubidium cause vasodilation by activating a Na+, K+-ATPase. On the other hand, they do not favour the view of an essential involvement of potassium ions in local regulation of coronary flow under the conditions studied.


Ionic mechanisms associated with the depolarization by glutamate and aspartate on human and rat spinal neurones in tissue culture. The action of glutamate and aspartate was studied on the membrane potential of human and rat spinal neurones in tissue culture. Both amino acids caused a depolarization of the cell membrane, the size of which was dependent on the concentration of the amino acids in the bathing fluid. In order to study ionic mechanisms associated with the amino acid depolarization, the ionic composition of the extracellular fluid was altered. Removal of sodium ions from the bathing solution reversibly reduced or abolished the depolarization produced by glutamate and aspartate suggesting that the action of these amino acids is associated with an increased sodium permeability. Substituting lithium for sodium ions also reversibly abolished the depolarization by glutamate indicating that in contrast to the effect of lithium on the action potential, this ion cannot replace sodium for the glutamate depolarization. These experiments show that the method of tissue culture is a suitable model to study ionic mechanisms underlying the action of neurotransmitters in the mammalian and especially in the human CNS.


The influence of glucagon on hepatic glycogen mobilization in exercising rats. The significance of glucagon for the alterations in carbohydrate and fat metabolism during swimming has been evaluated. Fed, male rats were used. Blood was drawn by cardiac puncture for glucose analysis and either rabbit-antiglucagonserum (A-rats) or normal rabbitserum (N-rats) injected. Twenty-nine rats were then forced to swim (S-rats) with a tail weight for 60 min, while 16 rats were resting controls (C-rats). Subsequently blood was drawn and samples of liver and muscle tissue collected. In SN-rats glucagon concentrations increased from 152 +/- 18 (S.E.) pg/ml (CN-rats) to 332 +/- 61 (P less than 0.05), while liver glycogen decreased (P less than 0.001) and blood glucose increased (P less than 0.05). In SA-rats, however, the changes in liver glycogen and blood glucose were halved indicating that increased glucagon secretion enhances hepatic glycogen depletion during prolonged exercise. NEFA rose in SA-rats (P less than 0.005) as well as in SN-rats (P less than 0.05). Glycerol concentrations, however, only increased in SA-rats (P less than 0.05) indicating a shift towards lipid combustion in antibody treated rats. Muscle glycogen and plasma insulin diminished and blood lactate increased uniformly in exercised rats.


Inhibition of sodium transport by angiotensin II in the main duct of the rabbit mandibular gland isolated and perfused in vitro. The effect of angiotensin II on nett electrolyte transport by the main duct of the rabbit mandibular gland was investigated in vitro using a perfused duct preparation bathed in a Haemaccel -nutrient salt solution. In a bath concentration of 4 X 10(-10) M, angiotensin reduced nett absorption of Na+ and Cl- by about 8% and depolarized the transepithelial electrical potential difference (P.D.) by about 13%; the drug had no effect on ductal transport of K+ and HCO-3. In both lower (4 X 10(-11) M) and higher (4 X 10(-9) M) concentrations, angiotensin had qualitatively similar effects. After exposure to the hormone for about 30 min, Na+ transport and P.D. became unstable and gradually fell away towards zero. It is concluded that angiotensin in physiological concentrations has a specific inhibitory effect on Na+ absorption by salivary duct cells which could arise either from a change in the Na+ pump rate or from a conductance change in the apical or basal membrane of the epithelial cell.


The development of the electroretinogram in normal and light-deprived rabbits. 1. The development of the ERG of the pigmented Dutch Belted rabbits is completed before the age of 5 weeks. 2. The a-wave amplitude attains the adult value by the age of 40 days. 3. The b-wave amplitude development is fastest before the age of 40 days but continues to increase afterwards probably due to increase of eye size. 4. Both a- and b-wave peak-latencies decrease with increasing age to the age of 40 days. 5. The b-wave seems to originate from two processes, one leading to a "slow b-wave" showing low threshold, long peak-latency and in adult animals no oscillatory potentials, which dominates the low stimulus intensity response. The other, a "fast b-wave" of higher threshold, shorter latency, and showing oscillatory potentials, dominates the high stimulus intensity response. 6. Light deprivation does not retard the early development of the ERG in rabbits.


Effects of hypercalcemia on water and sodium excretion by the isolated dog kidney. The effects of acute hypercalcemia on hemodynamics and on water and sodium excretion were studied on the blood-perfused isolated dog kidney. This model advantageously eliminates various factors which modify medullary osmolality and intrarenal hemodynamics, as well as collecting duct permeability. Calcium ion directly inhibits sodium reabsorption in the proximal tubule and in the ascending limb of Henle's loop, leading to increased sodium excretion rate and to decreased free water generation. The vasoconstrictive action of calcium, leading to decreased glomerular filtration rate, may mitigate the strong natriuretic effect of this ion.


Template specific inhibitor of mammalian DNA polymerases. A study of the inhibition of mouse cellular DNA polymerases by poly-nucleotides and their vinyl analogs is presented. Poly(dT)-directed poly(dA) synthesis by representatives of all three classes of cellular DNA polymerase could be completely inhibited by poly(9-vinyladenine), although higher concentrations were required in the case of the gamma class enzyme. Studies on the mechanism of the inhibition using the alpha class DNA polymerase and different templates showed that the enzyme activity was inhibited in all cases where base-pairing between the vinyl polymer and the template occurred; poly(9-vinyladenine) did not interfere with the replication of templates to which it does not bind. The inhibition occurred shortly after addition of poly(9-vinyladenine) to ongoing reactions, yet the enzyme was not displaced from the template - primer complex.


Dielectric study of the interaction between DNA and an oligopeptide (lysine-tyrosine-lysine). Interaction between Na-DNA and the oligopeptide lysine-tyrosine-lysine (LTL) is studied by a dielectric method. The comparison between conductivities (at the frequence of 5MHz) of LTL alone and of the complex LTL-DNA allows us to show up an electrostatic interaction between LTL and phosphates sites of DNA. During the formation of the complex LTL-DNA, a certain fraction of Na+ counter-ions is ejected from the phosphates sites.


On the use of ultraviolet light to study protein-DNA crosslinking. Irradiation of Ehrlich ascites chromatin with ultraviolet light (u.v.) leads to protein-DNA crosslinking as determined by CsCl isopycnic ultra-centrifugation and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. At the most 4.5% of the chromatin proteins labelled with (14C)-lysine and (14C)-arginine can be crosslinked to DNA at u.v. doses between 3.6 X 10(4) to 10.8 X 10(4) ergs/mm2. We find however that the crosslinking reaction is hindered by protein breakage induced by u.v. light of wave length of less than 2950 A. Our results point out that caution must be used in the interpretation of studies on protein-nucleic acid interactions using u.v. light.


Isolation of single stranded DNA related to the transcriptional activity of animal cells. Single stranded DNA (s.s.DNA) comprising 1-2% of the total nuclear DNA was isolated by an improved method of hydroxyapatite chromatography from native nuclear DNA3 of embryonic chick cells, labeled for several cell generations with 3H-thymidine. Small quantities of 3H-DNA were annealed with a large excess of unlabeled DNA or polysomal RNA from chick embryos. Hybridization kinetics (monitored by the use of SI nuclease digestion, hydroxyapatite chromatography and thermalfusion), indicated that s.s.DNA belongs to the non repetitious fraction of the cell genome. One third represents DNA sequences engaged in the transcription of messenger RNA's.


Persistence of relapse of morphine-seeking behavior in rats: the relative role of certain biological variables. The theory that narcotic-induced protracted biological changes are responsible for relapse of opiate-reinforced behavior was examined in the rat. Groups of rats were conditioned to prefer a distinctive environment by pairing it with morphine doses from 1-200 mg/kg, and were retested for persistence of this preference after a 3-week abstinence period. They were then observed for protracted signs such as sensitivity to naloxone, tolerance to morphine analgesia, hyperaggression, or changes in endocrine activity. Acquisition and relapse of the preference, as well as long-term tolerance, were dose related. None of the purported protracted signs showed any consistent relationship to the tendency to relapse. However, relapse correlated significantly with original acquisition scores in all relapsing groups. The results suggest that original conditioning factors, rather than protracted changes, are responsible for the observed relapse.


A dose-response comparison between methadone and morphine self-administration. Rats were allowed to self-administer a solution of 0.9% saline, or 0.01, 0.03, 0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg/infusion of methadone hydrochloride or 0.03, 0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg/infusion of morphine sulfate. The results showed that number of infusions taken was an inverse function of unit dose, while amount of drug self-administered (mg/kg) was a direct function of unit dose. The data also indicated that more morphine than methadone was self-administered.


Resemblances of twins and their parents in pattern A behavior. A twin study was conducted to determine the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to the development of Pattern A behavior. Thirty-five sets of college-aged MZ twins and 21 sets of DZ twins completed the lenkins Activity Survey for Health Prediction. This self-administering questionnaire yields scales measuring Pattern A behavior and its related traits of Speed and Impatience, Job Involvement, and Hard-driving Competitiveness. Results showed a modest genetic component for the Hard-driving Competitive aspect of Pattern A. Data were also presented regarding resemblances between the twins and their parents on Pattern A.


Intraurethral pressure recording. A comparison betwen tip-transducer catheters and open-end catheters with constant flow. This paper presents the results of a comparative study of intraurethral pressure recording with two different catheter systems: (1) Open-end water-filled catheters with constant flow connected to conventional pressure transducers, and (2) Micro-transducers mounted in the tip of a dacron catheter. When open-end catheters were used, the best reproducibility of the urethra pressure profile was obtained, if the catheter dimensions 6-8 F were used and if the flow in the catheters was kept to approximately 1-2 ml/min. In addition, the withdrawal rate of the open-end catheters should not exceed 3-4 mm/sec. The best reproducibility of the intraurethral pressure was obtained with the micro-transducer. It was free from measuring artefacts and seemed from this investigation superior to the open-end catheter systems, both for clinical practice and for research.


Simultaneous urethro-cystometry with a new technique. A new technique for studying simultaneous intravesical-intraurethral pressure is described. The basic principle of our technique is pressure recordings with the aid of micro-transducers. These micro-transducers have excellent frequency response, are easy to calibrate and to sterilize and are free from artefacts induced by motion. They permit a more accurate study of the pressures within the bladder and the urethra than catheter-transducer systems described earlier. Using electronical subtraction the closure pressure can easily be measured under static and dynamic conditions. Typical pressure diagrammes obtained with this catheter system are presented.


Alpha-methylphenylalanine, a new inducer of chronic hyperphenylalaninemia in sucling rats. alpha-Methylphenylalanine reduces the phenylalanine hydroxylase activity of rat liver by 75 percent. Daily injections of this substance (plus phenylalanine) into rats from the 3rd to 15th day of age had no obvious toxic effects, and maintained a plasma concentration of phenylalanine comparable to that of phenylketonuric subjects.


Fertilization of sea urchins needs magnesium ions in seawater. When sea urchin eggs were inseminated in seawater free of magnesium, the fertilization rate was very low. Spermatozoa that had been treated with egg jelly to induce the acrosome reaction also failed to fertilize eggs in seawater free of magnesium. These results indicate that magnesium is indispensable for some process or processes at fertilization, such as membrane, fusion or sperm penetration.


The measurement of 18-hyroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone in human plasma by radioimmunoassay. A radioimmunoassay method for the measurement of plasma levels of 18-hydroxy-11 -deoxycorticosterone (18 -OH-DOC) has been developed. The antiserum against 18-OH-DOC was produced in rabbits immunized against 18-OH-DOC-3-oxime-bovine serum albumin. Plasma (1-2 ml) was extracted with dichloromethane and chromatographed on paper. The purified extracts were incubated with antiserum at a 1/22,000 dilution for 1/2 hour at 37 degrees C and for 2 hours at 4 degrees C. Saturated ammonium sulfate was used to separate free from bound 18-OH-DOC. 1,2-3H-18-OH-DOC was added to all samples to correct for losses and to determine the percent free. Pyridine (0.1%) was added to solvents to maintain the stability of 18-OH-DOC. Recovery after extraction was 58 +- 8 (S.D)%. The accuracy and precision of the method were acceptable, and a sensitivity of 2 pg per sample enabled the measurement of very low levels of 18-OH-DOC. High specificity was demonstrated by a low blank value (0 +- 0.2 pg) and by demonstrating that alternative paper chromatography separation systems gave results not differing significantly from those obtained by the present method. The mean 8AM plasma 18-OH-DOC level was 8.5 +- 1.2 ng per 100 ml in18 normotensive control subjects. There was a marked response of plasma 18-OH-DOC to ACTH stimulation and dexamethasone suppression and a significant increase after 3 hours upright posture.


Symptoms and signs in benign and malignant tumours of the breast. The diagnostic distribution and the relation between diagnosis and symptoms, symptom duration, tumour site, tumour size and breast size were studied in 1 244 women with breast symptoms examined at a special breast tumour clinic. 9% of the women had cancer, 62% fibroadenosis and 6% fibroadenoma. In 18% no breast disease was found. A painful tumour was experienced by 19% of all women with breast cancer, but by 54% of breast cancer patients below 50 years of age. 50% of the patients with fibroadenosis had a painful tumour. This symptom was thus not a discriminating feature between cancer and fibroadenosis in younger women. The reason that most breast tumours, both benign and malignant, are located in the upper outer quadrant is not known. It has been proposed that this might be due to the larger volume of this quadrant as compared with the others. The present results contradict this view.


Successful management of female stress urinary incontinence. The basic defect in most cases of stress incontinence is an abnormally short urethra when the patient assumes the erect position. The treatment is an operative procedure which prevents shortening of the urethra when the patient stands. Results in 74 patients selected for this operative procedure are presented and the procedure is described.


[Comprehensive arteriophlebographic study in the diagnosis of tumors of the female genitalia]. Complex arterio-phlebographic study was performed in 65 patients. The results obtained made it possible to determine diagnostic opportunities of pelvic arteriography and intrauterine phlebography employed in the same patients. It was found that the complex investigation is a valuable adjunct in establishing the differential diagnosis between tumors of the uterus and adnexa; it aids to determine exactly the localization of fibromatous nodes and their relationship with the uterine vessels in planning an operative intervention, and to elucidate the character of tumor process in the adnexa.


Sex-differences in the agonistic behavior of spiny-mice (Acomys cahirinus). Observations of 8 groups each containing three adult spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus) revealed that instances of chasing and physical displacement were quite common, while fighting and biting were rarely observed. The relationships between the most frequent behavioral categories were presented in a correlation matrix. In a second study, females tested in their home cages were dominant over males. In the males' home cages, however, no differences in the frequency of female vs. male aggression were observed. More instances of aggression were observed in the cages of the females than in the cages of the males.


Affiliation between the sexes in common grackles i. specificity and seasonal progression. Heterosexual affiliation involves behavioral mechanisms that limit bond membership and regulate partners interactions. Among Common Grackles, Quiscalus quiscula, two characteristic activities of partners, following and vocal answering, develop during group activities and promote the individual specificity of pair bonds. Pairs differ substantially in the durations and seasonal timing of the early stages of nesting activities and in the male's fidelity to his mate through incubation. After the relatively abrupt start of intensive nest-building, the seasonal course of a pair's behavior becomes more regular, an indication that this transition in the female's state is critical in pacing the pair's breeding activities. Aggression serves primarily to adjust the spatial relationships of individuals, both between partners and between unpaired birds. males that deserted their mates during incubation had earlier performed precopulatory displays to other males.