[Studies on the true amino acid digestibility in pigs of various wheat varieties from the Soviet Union]. Studies were carried out with pigs for determining, with classical methods, the true digestibility of amino acids contained in 5 intensively grown wheat varieties imported from the Soviet Union and in one wheat variety grown in the GDR. Of all the varieties tested the variety Mironovskaya 808 exhibited the best characteristics. An extremely low true lysine digestibility was established for the variety Avrora (68%). If this variety is to be more extensively grown and used for feeding purposes further studies will have to be made to see whether this low lysine digestibility is really characteristic of this variety.


[The effect of addition of formic acid to the rations on the energy metabolism of sheep and young bulls]. Total metabolism trials were carried out with 8 fattening bulls and 4 male sheep receiving rations supplemented with formic acid. Comparative trials were performed with lucerne conservates. The following results were obtained: Formic acid supplements of up to 0.7 gm/kg liveweight per animal/day did not influence the ruminal fermentation and the digestibility of the food beyond ordinary dissimilation processes nor did they influence the energy turnover in the animals. Already in the rumen, the added HCOOH was largely broken down into CO2 and CH4. Higher levels of N retention were observed if the animals were fed fresh lucerne silage supplemented with formic acid as compared with dried green feed and the other types of silage.


[The protozoa population in the rumen of fattening bulls fed varying feed and the effect of artificial transfer of protozoa]. High protozoa concentrations were found in the ruminal fluid of fattening bulls weighing 400 kg which were raised for the first five months of age in a large-size calf-raising plant. The ruminal fluid of these bulls, however, contained no protozoa of the group Holotricha. If the animals were fed a mixture of concentrates and pelleted straw (pH 6, 12.5 mMole of volatile fatty acids per 100 ml) 1 ml of the ruminal fluid was found to contain 827,000 protozoa whereas if the animals received rations rich in concentrates (pH 5.8, 14 mMole of volatile fatty acids) 1 ml of ruminal fluid contained only 578,000. Through protozoa transfer carried out by infusing 41 of a mixture of ruminal fluid from other cows per animal it was possible to settle other species, viz. Isotricha, Dasytricha and Ophryoscolex; this, in turn, produced a concomitant decrease in the number of Entodinium and a noticeable decline in the total protozoa population. Further work will be necessary to find out whether it would be advisable to influence the protozoa population of growing cattle kept in large-size cow plants in similar ways as described above.


[The effect of straw in ground and pelleted form on the rumen fermentation and protozoa]. Cows possessing a large ruminal fistula were fed straw meal and pelleted wheat straw to investigate its effect on ruminal fermentation (concentration of NH3 and volatile fatty acids (FFS), pH, molar proportions of FFS, rates of FFS production) and on the protozoa population. The straw-concentrate mixture used in the present trial contained 40% of straw. The feeding of pelleted straw produced a significant rise in FFS concentrations (from 8.8. to 12.3 mMole/100 ml) and a corresponding decline of pH (from 6.7 to 6.1). With high molar proportions of acetate (72 mole%) the influence of the straw diet on molar FFS proportions was low. The NH3 peak observed 1 hr after feeding was higher with the pelleted straw than with the straw meal. The feeding of finely gound straw produced a higher level of FFS production (by 10%) than that of straw pellets. (3.88 and 4.29 mMole per gm DM). The number of protozoa (per ml of ruminal fluid) was 335,000 (straw meal) and 121,833 (pellets). The number of large infusorial cells (Isotricha, Diplodinium, Ophryoscolex) decreased correspondingly from 70,000 (straw meal) to 18,870 per ml (pellets). These results suggest that the feeding of pelleted straw-concentrate mixtures to cows as sole feed will not bring about optimum conditions for ruminal fermentation (FFS formation, protein synthesis) and for the layering of ruminal contents.


[Protein utilization of mixed feed rations in the lactating pig with reference to the essential amino acid content of the feed proteins. 1. Report. Description of the study methods for protein utilization in the use of peanut extraction residues and dry skim milk in the ration]. A method is discussed which has been used to investigate protein utilization in lactating sows. Two N balance trials were carried out to establish the degree of protein utilization of mixed feed rations. The rations contained barley, oats and flaked potatoes. Extracted pea nut meal or, for comparison, dried skim milk, were added as protein sources. The average biological value achieved was 42% if extracted pea nut meal was fed and 59% if dried skim milk was added. The corresponding PPV data were 33% for the rations containing extracted pea nut meal and 49% for the dried skim milk rations. Balances made for the rate of dietary amino acid intake and amino acid excretion in the milk showed that lysine deficiency occurred when rations were fed containing the extracted pea nut meal.


[The effect of proteinase inhibitors in rats. 1. Report. Effect of a short-term application on the N balance, the free amino acids in liver and muscles and the biological half-life of the intestinal tissue proteins]. Short-term trials with a triazin derivative and a peptide aldehyde were carried out to investigate the in-vivo administration of proteinase inhibitors in rats for improving the N balance of the animals. The results of N balances suggest that the peptide aldehyde may be regarded as a promising substance that may be used to increase the rate of utilization of the absorbed N in the intermediary metabolism. The short-term use of both active compounds did not affect the true N digestibility. The two compounds did not influence the concentration of free amino acids in the liver and muscle tissue under the experimental feeding conditions used. Similarly, tests of the biological half-life of proteins taken from the small and large intestine did not reveal any changes due to the presence of the inhibitors. Animals receiving a protein-free diet exhibited longer half-life periods for proteins from the small and large intestine compared with animals of the other groups. A protein-free nutrition of the animals caused a general increase in the levels of free non-essential amino acids in the liver. This was accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in essential amino acids. The same type of nutrition led to a general decline in the concentration of free amino acids in muscular tissue, particularly of the essential amino acids. High-protein nutrition led especially to an increase in the concentration of branched-chain amino acids in both types of tissues investigated.


[The nitrogen metabolism of broiler chickens with 15N-labeled wheat. 2. Report. 15N concentration in the gastrointestinal tract and its contents]. 17 broilers received a wheat-soya bean meal-pea nut ration containing an excess of 15N atom% (6.54%). The birds were slaughtered 3, 6, 12, 36, 60 and 108 hours after the last 15N'-intake. Up to 12 hrs after slaughtering the contents of the crop and the stomachs were found to contain a higher excess of 15N atom% than the food. The contents of the small intestine at that time contained only 1/4 of the 15N concentration present in the crop and the stomachs (2.7%). Later on the excess of 15N atom% decreased to 1.7%, 1.4% and 0.8% and was 4 times as high as that found in the crop and the stomach. Higher 15N' concentrations, compared with those in the small intestine, were found in the contents of the caecum, the colon, and the rectum, for a period of up to 12 hrs after administration of the last portion of labelled food. The 15N' concentrations in the crop and the stomachs are due to a more prolonged storage of wheat relative to that of the extracted meals. The interrelationship between the contents of the small intestine and the contents of the higher sections of the gastro-intestinal tract suggests that a secretion of N-containing substances takes place, although it was not possible to determine these substances quantitatively. Values for the excess of 15N atom% in the crop and oesophagus and in the muscular stomach were found to be in close correspondence both with regard to their level and time pattern. The decline in the glandular stomach was more rapid than in the muscular stomach. A very close correlation (r=0.99) was found between the 15N atom% in the contents of the intestine and in the intestinal wall. The N content of the small intestine (expressed as mg) was significantly higher after 3 hrs and 6 hrs of fasting than after a fasting period of 12 hours. Theoretical aspects of the involvement of the intestine in the process of metabolism are discussed in some detail.


Study of the lymphocyte in vitro response to rubella antigen and phytohemagglutinin by a whole blood method. A whole blood culture method was used to study lymphocyte in vitro responses to rubella antigen and to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in rubella infection. The acute phase of infection in four cases was characterized by high spontaneous incorporation of 14C-thymidine in the cultures, unresponsiveness of lymphocytes to rubella antigen, and absence of response, or relatively low response, to PHA. Cells showing vigorous in vitro response to rubella antigen appeared at about two weeks after the onset of rash. Lymphocyte PHA response returned to normal by day 31. Three rubella vaccinees exhibited a similar response. The use of whole blood lymphocyte cultures stimulated with multiple doses of mitogen and with antigen appears to be a promising technique for studies of "general" and "specific" cell-mediated immunity in viral infections.


[Problems of pathomorphology of generalized Sanarelli-Shwartzman phenomenon in endotoxic shock]. On the basis of 52 sectional observation on post-delivery and post-abortion complications the clinico-morphological picture of endotoxin shock, which proceeded according to the type of the generalized phenomenon of Sanarelli-Schwartzmann, is discussed. The condition was characterized by an acute onset, signs of shock with a drop of arterial pressure, the hemorrhagic syndrome. Morphologically, disorder of the microcirculation was observed: hyperemia, stases in many organs, disseminated microthrombosis in capillaries. The thrombosis was complicated by origination of necroses of the adrenal cortex and adrenals, hypophysis, by ulcers in the stomach and intestine. The "coagulopathy of consumption" was the cause of appearing multiple hemorrhages and bleedings.


[Acute renal insufficiency in exogenous poisoning (problems of classification and pathogenesis)]. Acute renal insufficiency (ARI) -- one of the most frequent manifestations of many exogenous intoxications. On the ground of a morphological investigation of 625 kidneys in poisoning with various poisons, the authors have come to the conclusion that the acute nephrotic syndrome is the basis of ARI in a "toxic" kidney". A morphological classification of the nephrotic syndrome is given: necrotic nephrosis hydropic nephrosis (glycolic nephrosis), cortical necrosis of the kidney, excretory nephrosis, acute lipid nephrosis. Morphological characteristics of the nephrotic syndrome forms referred to above are presented. Lesions of the kidney in exogenous intoxications are caused first of all by the direct toxic action of a poison. Toxic shock is an important factor in the development of ARI.


[Desmoid tumors and their mitotic system (morphological diagnosis and problems of prognosis)]. Results of histological studies of desmoid tumours of various localisation and determination of their mitotic regimen are presented. the mitotic regimen of nonrelapsing desmoids is characterized by an extremely low mitotic index (on the average 0.9 mitosis per 1000 cells), a normal ratio of phases of mitosis and by the presence of only individual pathological mitoses. In the group of relapsing desmoids the mitotic index on the average is 2.4%; the analysis of the percentage ratio of mitosis phases reveals predominance of metaphases, the frequency of pathological mitoses being increased. These changes apparently reflect the trend of these tumours towards the unlimited growth, which is confirmed by their clinical course.


[Topography of changes in the mucosa of the gastro-duodenal region in chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer]. Topographic studies of 789 gastro- and duodenobiopsies obtained from 493 patients with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer and from 37 individuals without gastro-duodenal pathology obtained various regions of the stomach and the duodenum were carried out. It was found out that investigation of only one piece of the tissue not in all cases reflected a histological state of the mucosa of the certain regions of the gastro-duodenal area. An isolated gastritis in the body of the stomach in patients with chronic gastritis was found to occur 3 times as seldom as in its distal region. The mucosa of the duodenum was affected almost equally often both in peptic ulcer of this organ and in chronic gastritis. In a number of patients the clinical picture diagnosed as chronic gastritis in reality turned out to be caused by morphological changes in the mucosa of the duodenum, but not of the stomach. At the same time, in a duodenal localization of ulcer not infrequently there were observed histological changes in the gastric mucosa aggravating the course of the main pathological process.


[Morphological diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma. Histo-cytological parallels]. A detailed parallel histo-cytological investigation of 100 observations on renal cell carcinoma showed that these tumours had a various macro- and microscopic structure. For the substantiation of correct diagnosis material should be taken from several places of the tumour of different microscopic structure. In diagnosis all detected variants of the structure of the tumour and the degree of cellular anaplasia should be mentioned. A clear-cell variant in the pure form was revealed in 52% of cases, other one-type variants were very rare (7%). In tumours of a mixed structure (41%) there were observed various combinations of all the variants occurring in the order: clear-cell, granular-cell, sarcoma-like, glandular. Collation of Histological and cytological data showed that in the overwhelming majority of cases (97%) there was a complete coincidence in determination of the morphological type of renal cell carcinoma.


[Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans].

[Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans]. Observations were conducted on 26 patients with protruding dermatofibrosarcoma of the skin. Histological and histochemical characteristics, as well as the mitotic regimen of these tumours, were investigated. Protruding dermatofibrosarcoma is a fibroblastic tumour characterized by a slow growth, usually a big size, persistent multiple reoccurrence, late metastases into the lymphatic nodes and lungs. No regularities concerning periods and frequency of developing of reoccurrences could be established. Clinico-anatomical collations failed to show correlation between the mitotic activity of dermatofibrosarcomas and the degree of their malignancy and rate of growth of the tumour.


[Enzymohistochemical and immunomorphological study of experimental thyroid gland carcinoma]. A total of 8 medullary carcinimas, 134 adenomas of C-cells, 32 solid focal over-growths of C-cells, and 124 normal thyroid glands of rats were investigated by histochemical, immunomorphological and histological methods. Modullary carcinomas were characterized by a high enzymes of hydrolysis of ethers of carboxylic acids, tissue respiration, and by a moderate or low activity of enzymes of the initial link of glycolysis, oxidative deamination, synthesis of amino acids, hydrolysis of monoethers of orthophosphoric acid, pentose and citric acid cycles. In medullary carcinomas, as well as in normal C-cells and adenomas of C-cells, there was revealed the phenomenon of occult metachromasia with the absence of a microsomal tissue-specific antigen and direct reaction to amyloid. The authors consider medullary carcinomas to be analogues of solid carcinoma with amyloidosis of the stroma of the human thyroid gland, differing from the latter by specific metabolic reactions, and therefore, they may serve as an experimental model in studies of these diseases.


[Histochemical characteristics of mast cells in hemangiomas]. Mast cells of hemangiomas localized in the skin and in the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, have a similar histochemical characteristics of protein and carbohydrate components. The histochemical characteristics of the carbohydrate component indicate either a high (as compared with the norm) degree of sulfating of heparin molecules, or quantitative accumulation of its molecules in the mast cells cytoplasm. Moreover, in mast cells there were revealed protein and a neutral carbohydrate component. An assumption is put forward that histochemical changes in mast cells in hemangiomas were of compensatory-adaptive character and were directed to prevent the thrombogenesis in hemangiomas.


[Vascular changes in genesis of necrotic and inflammatory lesions of the lungs in Wegener's granulomatosis]. Clinico-morphological and histochemical studies of changes in the lungs were carried out in 15 fatal cases of Wegner's granulomatosis. Morphological manifestations of the lesions consisted in bilateral extensive destructive-productive panangiitis in the system of bronchial, was well as pulmonary arteries and veins. As a rule, there developed an extremely polymorphic granular tissue which subsequently underwent necrosis with resulting cavern formation. Deep and sometimes irreversible changes observed in the vessels of the microcirculatory bed led to alveolar-capillary blockade and hypoxia, the latter culminating with circulatory crisis. Drastic dyscirculatory disorders were complicated with auto- and superinfection: development of destructive-suppurative bronchitis, peribronchitis, interstitial and also confluent pneumonia with "motley" exudate in alveoli, not infrequently with an abscess formation, sometimes with formation of hyaline membranes. The whole complex of these changes play a significant part in pathogenesis of pulmonary-cardiac insufficiency occurring in the majority of patients with Wegener's granulomatosis and often is responsible for fatal outcomes.


[Carcinosarcoma of the larynx].

[Carcinosarcoma of the larynx]. Sometimes in the larynx tumours develop having the structure of carcinosarcoma and growing in the form polyp. Histologically they consist of squamous-cell carcinoma and sarcomatous stroma. An observation in which contrary to the cases described earlier, the tumour consisted not of two, but of three tumour components, is discussed.


[Possibilities of studying 3-dimensional structure of the arterial wall with help of scanning electron microscope]. A complex of methods for investigation of the architectonics of the vascular wall is suggested. It was established that an elastin carcass of all the layers of the arterial wall was formed of laminar membranes consisting of cylindrical elastic fibers with a diameter 1.5--3 mcm having a fibrillar structure. The window-like structure of the laminas was due to separation of bibers. In the laminar membranes of the intima and media, including internal ones, elastic fibers had circular, and in adventitia--longitudinal distribution, which ensured radial and longitudinal elasticity of the wall of arteries. Smooth muscle cells, that had spiral orientation, were attached with their ends to the adjacent membranes thus regulating their tonus. They are surrounded with elastic and collagenous fibrillas, which cover also membranes and connect all the layers of the wall of arteries into one morpho-functional system with a high structural stability and plasticity.


[Nature of diverse molecular diseases in man]. The article comprises the literature data on a new group of enzymopathies in man associated with the defect of the cell reparative mechanisms, which in the norm restore damages of DNA induced by factors of a different character. Special attention is paid to molecular processes observed in the hereditary disease in man--xeroderma characterized by a high sensitivity of the patient to ultraviolet irradiation and by a high incidence of cancer of the skin. Experimental evidences are presented testifying to an elevated sensitivity of cells of such patients to carcinogens, some viruses, and illustrating peculiar features of formation of structural mutations of chromosomes induced by physical, chemical and biological agents. Defects of individual enzymes of reparation in progeria, Fanconi's anemia and some other human diseases are described. The author recommends to simulate defects of reparative enzymes on diploid human cells infected with the virus of leukemia.


[Morphologic changes in the parathyroid glands in primary hyperparathyroidism]. On the basis of studies of the histological structure of 7 parathyreoadenomas removed in connection with primary hyperparathyroidism three types of their structure (trabecular, acinose, and solid) were singled out. As to their cellular composition, the adenomas could be divided into clear-cell and dark-cell adenomas (of main cells), oxyphilic adenomas, and adenomas of C-cells. The same cells (predominantly main clear cells) were found in the 9 studied hyperplastic parathyroid glands. Certain differences between the ultrastructure of cells of parathyreoadenomas and that of the hyperplastic parathyroid glands were established.


[Dynamics of necrotic changes in skeletal muscle in the prolonged crush syndrome]. Forms, dynamics of and relationships between necrotic changes in the skeletal muscles in the early period of the crush syndrome, following 9-hour compression of the soft tissue of the dog's thigh and 2 -- 7 hours after removal of the press are considered. Two interdependent forms of necrosis of muscles have been established -- diskoid and coagulative. Electron-microscopy studies showed that discoid necrosis of muscular fibres began with the lysis of the myofilaments of isotropic disks and Z-strips with subsequent destruction of myofibrils and outcome into myolosis. The peculiar feature of this form of necrosis was nearly complete absence of lysosomes. In a light microscope discoid necrosis was revealed as clear-cut transversed streaky fibres. Morphologically, coagulation necrosis was manifested on the ultrastructural level by formation of myofilic conglomerates consisting of overcontracted myofibrils, these being subjected to gradual fragmentation and splitting by hydrolases of leukocytes and macrophages. Discoid necrosis predominated in the muscles prior to the removal of the press and apparently developed because of ischemia. Coagulation necrosis of myofibrils was observed mostly following re-vascularization and might be one of outcomes of discoid necrosis.


[Pathomorphology of the nervous system in beta-thalassemia major]. Pathomorphology of symmetrical areas of various departments of the central nervous system was studied in 8 children aged 3--8 years who had died of beta-thalassaemia major. In 5 patients transient cerebral vascular disorders occurred against the background of hemolytic crisis, in 2 -- phenomena of polyradiculoneuritis, in 1 -- spinal desorders with lower flaccid paraparesis. Vessles were found to be damaged by the pathological process first. Impairment of permeability of vascular membranes, hemorrhages and edema of the brain substance were observed. As to neurons lesions, along with normal neurons there were nerve cells with reactive and dystrophic changes. In pulpous nerve fibres periaxonal alterations and Wallerian degeneration predominated. The combination of the erythroblastic process with secondary impairment of the metabolism, toxicosis, hypoxaemia contributed to the mixed character of the morphological changes, which accounted for the polymorphism of neurological symptoms.


[Morphology and pathogenesis of peritonitogenic pancreatitis]. Morphological studies of the pancreas in patients who had died of peritonitis at various periods of its development were carried out. Moreover, an experiment was fulfiled on reproducing peritonitis on 41 dogs. In the pancreas in all sectional observations there was observed a picture of acute inflammatory process of a various degree of intensity (peritonitogenic pancreatitis) depending upon the form of peritonitis. It was established that in pathogenesis of acute peritonitogenic pancreatitis an important role was played by direct transfer of the inflammatory process to the tissue of the gland on the side of the abdominal cavity. At the same time, of great importance were also regurgitation of the intestinal content into the system of the excretory ducts of the gland and hemodynamic disorders. The morphological picture of the reproduced in the experiment on dogs acute peritonitogenic pancreatitis was similar to that in the section observations. Both sectional and experimental data confirm the duct-enzymatic theory, or the theory of "common canal", of the pathogenesis of pancreatitis in general of and peritonitogenic pancreatitis in particular.


[So-called empty liver cell nuclei in hepato-cerebral dystrophy and other diseases]. The frequency of identification of "empty" nuclei of hepatocytes was investigated in 65 patients (25 patients with hepato-cerebral dystrophy, 18 patients with cirrhosis of the liver, 15 patients with chronic diseases of the extrapyramidal nervous system and other diseases) with the help of fluorescent and electron microscopy, cytophotometric determination of DNA, and on the basks of bioptic material (in 60 patients) and autopsy findings (in 5 cases). The so-called "empty" nuclei of hepatocytes are not specific for hepato-cerebral dystrophy, although in this disease they were observed in a greater number than in other diseases. Their dependence on the degree of portal hypertension and on some endocrine factors was noted. "Empty" nuclei were identified most often in the periportal regions and were characterized by a considerable increase in the volume, invaginations of the membrane, intranuclear inclusions, polyploidy. The study of polyploidy of the ordinary nuclei of hepatocytes in hepatocytes in hepato-cerebral dystrophy, bearing in mind the reduplicated DNA, revealed the predominance of diploid nuclei.


[Functional morphology of vessels in the distribution of the pulmonary circulation of people adapted to the Northeast USSR]. Studies of the contrasted vessels of the lungs in practically healthy men who had lived in the north-eastern region of the USSR over 3 years and who had died of casual causes in Magadan were carried out by stereoroentgenogrammetry and morphometry. The studies revealed a rearrangement of the distribution arteries of the lesser circulation according to the hypervolemic type: a reliable dilatation of the lumen, thinning of the walls of the right pulmonary artery, superlobar trunk, branches of the segmentary arteries of the superior and middle lobes of the lung. The pronounced desorganization and perish of elastic laminae in the wall of the stretched arteries were compensated by the appearance of layers of the smooth muscles -- by the so-called hypermuscularization of arteries of the elastic type. The enlarged capapcity and intensification of the blood flow in the arteries of the superior and middle lobes of the lung represented an important mechanism of adaptation of the lesser circulation in man under extreme climatic conditions in the north-eastern region of the USSR.


[Ultrastructural changes in the arterioles of rats with experimental salt hypertension]. The ultrastructure of arterioles in experimental salt loading in rats was studied. It was established that prolonged feeding with salt-rich diet led to stable hypertension in some experimental animals, and ultrastructural changes in arterioles were noted only in rats which had developed stable hypertension. The changes in arterioles in experimental salt hypertension in principle were similar to those observed in other chronic forms of hypertensive states, but they developed slower and were less pronounced. The present study does not confirm the views advocated by some authors about a direct effect of salt on the ultrastructure of the arteriolar wall. The mechanism responsible for the changes in the arterial wall occurring in experimental salt hypertension remains unclear.


Presentation and detection of chronic renal disease in children and adults. Chronic renal failure develops slowly and insidiously in most patients. Prevention depends on the early detection and full assessment of the patient at risk. Indications for investigation in children and adults with glomerulonephritis and urinary infection are outlined.


Investigation of urinary infection in childhood. The first proven urinary infection in both girls and boys should be investigated with an IVP and micturating cystourethrogram. If both investigations are normal, recurrent infections will not produce renal scars. Renal scars will develop in 10 per cent of children with reflux, unless renal infections are prevented by appropriate drug or surgical treatment.


SI units in clinical pathology.

SI units in clinical pathology. By now, most doctors in Australia will have had some experience with the new SI units which are being used for pathology test results, especially chemical pathology. While the usage of SI units has spread rapidly through public hospitals in Australia, spread in the non-hospital sector has been slower. However, the change will occur, and so the following is presented to assist general practitioners to understand the reasons for the change, and to interpret results expressed in the new system.


Survey of general practice--1971.

Survey of general practice--1971. In this survey an attempt has been made to document a profile of certain aspects of the work carried out by a general practitioner in Australia. This includes the type of practice, and especially the range and frequency of the procedures he carries out. It is realised that, as this survey was conducted in 1971, some of the facts may have become dated. However, a proportion of the information given is unobtainable elsewhere, and it is believed that through publishing the survey, interested readers may be prompted to seek additional information from the author.


Effects of the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal medullary hormones on dog hind limb blood flow after haemorrhage. The contributions of the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal medullary catecholamines to the response of dog hind limb resistance vessels to haemorrhage were examined. Anaesthetized dogs were bled either 30% or 45% of blood volume. There was little difference between the vascular conductance response in untreated hind limbs and sympathectomized limbs. Conductance in limbs that had been both sympathectomized and alpha-adrenergically blocked with phenoxybenzamine was markedly above that of untreated limbs. Blood flow in both the untreated limbs and the sympathectomized limbs was closely similar to that predicted from the pressure-flow curve for the hind limbs obtained in non-bled dogs. Flow was higher than predicted in the limbs with combined sympathectomy and alpha-adrenergic blockade. It is concluded that the sympathetic nervous system exerted little vasoconstrictive influence after haemorrhage, but that circulatory catecholamines exerted a strong vasoconstrictive influence that was opposed in the normal limbs by an almost equally powerful vasodilatory force of undetermined origin.


Release of gastrin by vagal stimulation in the acid secretory response to food. Gastric pouches were constructed in 8 dogs; in 4 they were of denervated type and in 4 the innervation was intact. An oesophageal fistula was then prepared in each dog. The acid secretory response to oral, tube and sham feeding was determined before and after denervation of the pyloric antrum. The results support the view that vagal release of gastrin makes a relatively small contribution to the total acid secretory response to food.


The origin of immunoglobulins in salivary secretion of sheep. A comparative study was made on the secretion of IgG1 and IgA into parotid and submaxillary saliva of sheep. The purpose of the study was to examine the suggestion that in the external secretory organs of ruminants there is an inverse relationship between the capacity to selectively transfer IgG1 and the development of the IgA secretory system. Despite a marked difference in the secretion of IgA between the parotid and submaxillary salivary glands, the magnitude of selective transfer of IgG1 was similar. Thus, there appears to be no relationship between the selective transfer of IgG1 and the secretion of IgA into the saliva of sheep.


Relationship between vasoconstriction and histamine induced vasodilation. Histamine produced significantly greater vasodilation in rabbit ear arteries constricted by noradrenaline than when the same arteries were constricted by either caffeine or barium. Histamine dilation in the presence of caffeine was also significantly greater than that in the presence of barium. These results suggest that histamine may produce vasodilation through at least two different modifications of intracellular calcium mobilisation.


An evaluation of selective broths based on the bi-selenite ion and on hypertonic strontium chloride in Salmonellae detection in egg products. Of the 104 isolations of Salmonella sp. from egg pulp, 97 were obtained from strontium chloride M broth, 42 from strontium selenite broth and 57 from strontium selenite A broth. The results suggest that the first medium may be used more successfully than bi-selenite based media for enrichment and subsequent detection of salmonellae in egg products; however, the growth of S. pullorum was not satisfactory in strontium chloride M broth.


Passive transfer of immunity to infection with Nematospiroides dubius from immunised mice to their offspring. The results given below show that, whilst it is not possible to transfer immunity to infections with Nematospiroides dubius passively with serum from immune mice to normal adult mice, young born to immune females are resistant to this infection. The immunity is dependent on an intake of immunoglobulin via the milk for a period longer than 24 h. The passive transfer of immunity from immune mothers to neonatal mice does not appear to be dependent on a specific class of immunoglobulins.


Intrahepatic microvascular changes in carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhotic livers in the rat. Liver cirrhosis was produced in the rat by combined carbon tetrachloride-phenobarbitone treatment, and the microcirculation in the cirrhotic liver was observed by a quantitative in vivo transillumination technique. The total sinusoidal flow in the observed region of the cirrhotic liver did not differ significantly from that in the normal liver, despite the reduced number of sinusoids and the increased portal venous pressure. The cirrhotic liver also presented a fast-velocity population of portal and hepatic venules and sinusoids in addition to the normal slow-velocity population. The possible mechanism of these "arterialized" microvessels is discussed.


Effect of the ligation of hepatic artery on the microcirculation in the cirrhotic liver in the rat. The significance of the hepatic arterial supply in the intrahepatic microcirculation in normal and carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhotic livers was studied by dye injection method and by ligation of the hepatic artery. The in vivo distribution of dye injected into the hepatic artery evidenced the presence of arterio-venous shunts in the cirrhotic liver. When the hepatic artery of the cirrhotic liver was ligated, the elevated portal venous pressure dropped significantly, and the fast-flowing population of microvessels and sinusoids in the bimodal frequency distribution plot disappeared. The fast-flowing microvessel and sinusoids appeared to be the "arterial" microvessels and sinusoids, and they were converted into the slow-flowing venous channels after hepatic arterial ligation. The transmission of arterial pressure via the A-V shunts may be of greater significance in the pathophysiology of portal hypertension than previously believed.


Serological evidence of inter-epidemic infection of feral pigs in New South Wales with Murray Valley encephalitis virus. The sera of 617 feral pigs, collected from three widely separated areas of northern and central New South Wales, were examined for antibody to Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) virus and to Ross River virus. Haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody was detected to MVE in 58% of sera and to Ross River virus in 15% of sera. Neutralization tests suggested that the MVE HI antibody resulted from infection with MVE virus in the summers of 1971-1972 and 1972-1973 when the virus was not known to be active in New South Wales. These same tests suggested that more than one flavivirus infected the feral pigs in the summer of 1973-1974 and that Kunjin virus was active in the summer of 1975-1976.


Basophil leucocytes in cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions in nematode-infected guinea-pigs. Cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions were elicited in guinea-pigs infected with the parasitic nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis by injecting them with a crude extract of T. colubriformis fourth-stage larvae. The reaction was characterized by early oedema and pronounced cellular infiltration, initially with neutrophils but later with mononuclear cells, basophils and variable numbers of eosinophils. Because basophils have been implicated as effector cells in the protective immune response of guinea-pigs to this nematode, the capacity to elicit a basophil-rich cellular infiltrate in infected animals might be a useful assay for T. colubriformis protective antigen(s).


The relationship between the transfer of immunoglobulins, sodium and potassium into mammary secretion of the parturient ewe. The experiment comprised two sections. First, radiotracer techniques were used to study the metabolism of IgG1 and IgG2 in 5 non-pregnant and 4 pregnant ewes. In the pregnant ewes, the rates of synthesis for IgG1 and IgG2 were similar to the rates observed in non-pregnant animals. However, the irreversible loss of IgG1 was significantly greater than IgG2 in pregnant ewes and IgG1 in non-pregnant ewes. Additionally, it was found that most of the IgG1 and virtually all of the IgG2 in mammary secretion was serum derived. Secondly, the levels of sodium, potassium and lactose and the selective index for IgG1 in mammary secretions of 5 pregnant ewes were monitored over the parturient period. The values of all the measures remained relatively constant until one day before parturition. From one day pre-partum, the levels of potassium and lactose in mammary secretion began to increase and had risen 2-3 fold by 5 days post-partum. Over the same period, the selective index for IgG1 decreased 20 fold, wehreas the level of sodium fell from approximately 32 mmol/l to 18 mmol/l. The concentration of IgG1 in plasma slowly declined from approximately 23 g/l to 15 g/l over the last 10 days of pregnancy. During the parturient period, the decline in plasma IgG1 levels, in comparison with IgG2, without alteration in the rates of synthesis of either immunoglobulin, supports the hypothesis that selective transport of IgG1 into mammary secretion occurs without degradation. The results also indicate that the transport of sodium and potassium into mammary secretions are altered over the parturient period.


Fibrinogen-like proteins and fibrinolytic proteins in a saline eluate from sucrose washed bovine erythrocytes. Plasminogen and a spectrum of fibrinogen-like proteins are found in a saline eluate of sucrose washed bovine erythrocytes. It seems probable that these proteins are membrane bound in vivo, and, as such, their physiological significance is discussed.


Inhibition of intestinal uptake of amino acids by unconjugated bile salt. The unconjugated bile salt, sodium deoxycholate, at a concentration of 0.5 mM was shown to inhibit the intestinal uptake of the amino acids L-glycine, L-leucine, L-proline, L-lysine and L-tyrosine in rats in vitro. This effect was acutely reversible except for the basis amino acid L-lysine and is therefore not simply due to tissue damage. These results, and the recent finding that sodium deoxycholate inhibits intestinal absorption of amino acids in vivo, suggest that impaired intestinal amino acid transport may contribute to hypoproteinaemia in patients with bacterial overgrowth in the upper small intestine in whom deoxycholate is present in the small intestinal lumen in excessive concentrations.


The effects of 2-phenylalanine 8-lysine vasopressin (octapressin) on blood vessels in the rat tail. Isolated perfused segments of the ventral rat tail artery have been used in this study to investigate the effects of octapressin on vascular smooth muscle and its interaction with other vasoconstrictor agents. It was found that repeated octapressin administration was associated with tachyphylaxis and that the onset and rate of development of this phenomenon could be modified by cocaine. The constrictor action of catecholamines, electrical stimulation and serotonin on the rat tail artery was potentiated by octapressin. Mechanisms which may be involved in octapressin tachyphylaxis are discussed.


The induction of parturition using dexamethasone. Premature parturition was successfully induced with a preparation containing 2 dexamethasone esters in 709 out of 716 cows and heifers of gestational periods ranging from 3 to 8 months. A mortality rate of 38.5% was experienced among calves produced by induced cows, while only a 2.7% mortality rate occurred among 4,330 calves from normal parturitions. Approximately 50% of all treated cattle retained foetal membranes, but with apparently no ill-effect. The treatment apparently did not affect milk production, post-calving fertility, and the overall incidence of dystocias in cows and post-calving diseases. Three deaths occurred among induced cattle, but they could not be attributed to the treatment. It was concluded that the technique may prove to be of great value in dairy cattle, in seasonal milking areas.


Infection rates and outbreaks of disease due to Babesia argentina in unvaccinated cattle on 5 beef properties in south-eastern Queensland. Serums from unvaccinated groups in 5 herds of beef-cattle in South-East Queensland were tested for antibodies to Babesia argentina at intervals while the cattle were increasing in age from about 6 months. An indirect fluorescent antibody test was used. Infection rates, indicating the proportions of the groups that had been exposed to tick-transmitted infection were 49.2, 56.9 and 69.1% for cattle aged approximately 6, 12 and 18 months, respectively. The degree to which cattle were infested with the vector, Boophilus microplus, was estimated. There appeared to be a strong correlation between infection rate and tick incidence. Four serologically negative animals died of either confirmed or suspected babesiosis during the sampling period. Sickness was observed in 5 others. The serological status of 57 changes from negative to positive without symptoms being observed, indicating relatively low mortality and morbidity rates in the enzootic situation studied.


Vaccination with Babesia argentina in 5 beef herds in south-eastern Queensland. Observations on the use of a vaccine containing Babesia argentina in 5 partly susceptible beef herds in south-eastern Queensland were made on 1,029 female breeding cattle over a period of 4 years. Groups averaging about 20 heifers were given 0, 1, 2 or 3 vaccinations. Incidence derived from groups experiencing clinical attacks were 17.9% for unvaccinated cattle and 1.2% for vaccinates. Increasing the number of vaccinations did not appear to increase protection. The one clinical manifestation of infection with B. bigemina was associated with a concurrent reaction to vaccination with Anaplasma centrale. There were no cases of haemolytic anaemia in new-born calves. No severe reactions followed primary vaccination, but 2 revaccinated animals became sick.


Tuberculosis-like granulomas in cattle caused by Actinomycetes. From 280 lesions from normal cattle at slaughter, 10 were found to contain thin, branching, Gram-positive organisms belonging to the Nocardia/Streptomyces group and this was confirmed by culture in 3 cases. Macroscopically the older lesions were similar in appearance to those of tuberculosis. Microscopically, all lesions contained numerous foreign body giant cells and thin, branching organisms. The older lesions also contained areas of necrosis, caseation, mineralisation and fibrosis.


A pathological and bacteriological study of the mammary glands of beef cows in north Queensland. Pathological and bacteriological studies were made of a total of 507 udders from slaughtered beef cows originating from various locations in northern Queensland. Incidence of supernumerary tests was 28%, their distribution being caudal (80%), intercalary (8%), ramal (5%) and anterior 1%; 6% had both caudal and intercalary teats. They were seen most frequency in British breed and British-Brahman crossbreds (each 29%) and less frequently in Brahmans (22%). Gross lesions were found in 11.4% of cows; these lesions comprised cysts (2.8%), leech infestation (1.0%), mastitis (0.6%), teat occlusionsion (3.9%), papillomatosis (1.2%), cutaneous horns (0.4%), teat fistulas (0.4%), teat trauma (0.6%) and udder fibrosis (0.6%). Mastitis was obviously low in occurrence, while leech infestation and teat occlusion were relatively frequent in cows from one area. Bacteriological examination of single quarters in 364 cows, revealed infection in 154 (42.3%). A total of 199 isolations were made of which 3.5% were recognised mastitis pathogens. Pathological conditions were found, and bacterial isolations were made more frequently in aged than in mature or young cows.


Polyarthritis of pigs in western Australia: the role of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. A 3-month survey of polyarthritis in pigs was carried out at 3 metropolitan abattoirs in Western Australia. The incidence of total carcass condemnations for polyarthritis was 0.46% and partial condemnation for "arthritis" 1.66% of 15,919 pigs. It was demonstrated that the majority of joint lesions found in either total or partial condemnations were identical pathological conditions, usually differing only in the number of joints involved. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated from the joints of 63% of pigs condemned for polyarthritis; it appears that this organism is the most significant aetiological agent of polyarthritis in Western Australia. The role of mycoplasmas has not been determined. The groww and microscopic lesions seen in affected joints were those of a non-suppurative proliferative polysynovitis. The stifle and elbow joints showed the highest incidence of the most severe lesions. Pigs condemned for polyarthritis over a 6-month period were traced back to 125 farms. Eighty per cent of pigs that had been condemned for polyarthritis had not been vaccinated against erysipelas or were of doubtful vaccination status. Only 3% of pigs had been vaccinated as recommended. The results would suggest that erysipelas vaccine is not directly implicated in the pathogenesis of polyarthritis. The majority of pigs condemned for polyarthritis originated from poorly managed small piggeries run as sideline enterprises. There was no significant pattern to the geographical distribution of polyarthritis cases in Western Australia. Likewise, no significant realtionship was established between polyarthritis condemnations and either breed, sex or bodyweight of thepigs involved.


Complications following a ruptured bladder in a 60-day-old foal. The death of a 60-day-old foal due to massive haemorrhage associated with erosion of the left umbilical artery into the left ureter is reported. Surgical repair attempts are described together with post-mortem findings.


Congenital bovine epizootic arthrogryposis and hydranencephaly in Australia. Distribution of antibodies to Akabane virus in Australian Cattle after the 1974 epizootic. At the end of the 1974 epizootic of bovine congenital arthrogryposis and hydranencephaly in south-eastern New South Wales, an Australia-wide serological survey (about 4,000 serums) was made to determine the ditribution of cattle possessing serum neutralising antibodies against Akabane virus. Eighty per cent of the serums from cattle in northern Australia (Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Queensland) were positive. A detailed study in the epizootic area in New South Wales (particularly around Bega) showed that 80 to 100% of serums from cows in herds in this area possessed neutralising antibodies. The animals possessing antibodies extended as far south as Genoa in north-eastern Victoria, and as far west as Darlington Point on the Murrumbidgee River. There were no positive herds along the Murray River, where an outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease Murray Valley encephalitis occurred in 1974. Serums tested from cows in the rest of Victoria, South Australia, south-western Western Australia, and Tasmania were negative. Arthrogrypotic calves born in Tasmania and south-western Western Australia were not associated with the presence of Akabane virus. In Papua New Guinea, serums collected from cattle at Boroka, Lae, and Goroka did not possess neutralising antibodies. The distribution of cattle possessing antibodies in Australia would fit a spread of the virus by Culicoides brevitarsis, a biting midge from which Akabane virus had been isolated on three occasions. The possibility of other vectors, as well as C. brevitarsis, was suggested by the presence of cows possessing antibodies at Alice Springs, where this biting midge has not been found. Possibly most cattle in northern Australia become infected early in life. The epizootics in New South Wales could occur when seasonal conditions allow a southerly extension of virus-infected C. brevitarsis which feed on susceptible pregnant animals. C. brevitarsis also bites sheep, and both neutralising antibodies to Akabane virus and congenitally deformed lambs have been observed in the epizootic area. An understanding of the distribtuion of Akabane virus and C. brevitarsis, a possible Australian vector for bluetongue virus, may prove useful if bluetongue should enter Australia.


Custom collection and processing of bull semen. Three systems of custom collection and processing of semen are reported. In the first system, semen was collected, evaluated and partially diluted and returned to a central Government laboratory for final dilution and freezing. In the second system the procedure was similar to the first except the semen was returned to the author's laboratory for final dilution and freezing. System 2 reduced the failure to process rate from 20.4% to 6%, but did not significantly improve fertility (64% v's 68% for systems 1 and 2 respectively). A single-stage diluent was used in system 3 and the time from collection to freezing in the author's laboratory was reduced. Both the failure to process rate (0.1%) and the fertility rate of the semen (76%) improved over the other 2 systems.


Control of reproductive function of cattle using cloprostenol. Two intramuscular injections of cloprostenol were given 12 days apart to synchronise oestrus in a group of 47 heifers and following the second injection, 38 were found in oestrus in 2 to 6 days, 1 in 11 days and 8 in 22 to 27 days. The conception rate of the synchronised animals was 24 of 38 (63%). Twenty-nine heifers were given injections of cloprostenol in late pregnancy and parturition was induced with a latent period of 6 +/- 3 days when injected at 266 to 267 days. When injected at 254 to 262 days, 3 of 16 heifers (19%) were unresponsive and the remainder calved with a latent period of 12 +/- 6 days. The survival rate of calves from induced heifers was 71% with 80% survival from controls. Approximately 50% of the induced heifers, and none of the controls, retained their foetal membranes.


The incidence of dystocia in Dorset Horn ewes. The incidence of dystocia was recorded in flocks of Dorset Horn ewes lambing in winter, spring or summer and grazed at 8, 12 or 16 ewes per hectare over a ten-year period. The mean incidence of dystocia was 34% of ewes lambing. Significantly more ewes experience a difficult birth at winter (35%) and spring (39%) than summer (26%) lambings. Neither stocking rates nor pre-lambing ewe bodyweight were related to the incidence of dystocia. The incidence of dystocia was significantly greater in 2-year-old ewes than in any other age group. Foetal size was of major importance in the occurrence of dystocia. Approximately 60% of single and twin born lambs that had birth weights greater than 4.5 kg had a difficult birth whereas in lambs weighing less than 3.2 kg only about 10% were affected. Thirty-six per cent of all perinatal mortality was attributable to dystocia. Approximately 27% of single and 73% of twin presentations in assisted births were abnormal, 31% of all lambs assisted had 1 or both legs retained, 4% had posterior (including breech) presentations and the remaining 8% were of varied forms of malpresentation. Significantly more single male than female lambs experienced a difficult birth and the mean birth weights of single, twin and triplet born lambs that had a difficult birth were greater than the birth weights of singles, twins and triplets born normally.


Simulated natural infection of chickens with Australian lentogenic newcastle disease virus and subsequent challenge with virulent virus. A total of 291 eight-week-old chickens were exposed to chickens infected with either of two Australian lentogenic strains (V4 and AVL NDV-1) of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). At 3 weeks after exposure, all chickens exposed to V4 infected chickens had developed haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody. All chickens exposed to AVL NDV-1 virus infected chickens had developed HI antibody 5 weeks later. This sudden late appearance of HI antibody, to titres higher than those observed with V4 chickens, was explained by V4 virus being introduced to the AVL NDV-1 group of chickens. When groups of these chickens were challenged with Roakin virus (mesogenic NDV) at 3 weeks and Fontana 1083 virus (viscerotropic velogenic NDV) and Texas GB virus (neutrotropic NDV) at 3, 5, 10 and 21 weeks only three chickens developed clinical illness one of which died. These chickens were one AVL NDV-1 chicken contact challenged with Fontana 1083 virus at 3 weeks, one V4 chicken oronasally challenged with Texas GB virus at 5 weeks and one V4 chicken challenged oronasally with Fontana 1083 virus at 10 weeks. Susceptible non-vaccinated chickens died soon after challenge. Challenge by oronasal infection with 10(7.0) ELD50 of virus or contact with susceptible infected chickens enabled virulent virus to be isolated from most chickens and was accompanied by a large anamnestic increase in serum HI antibody.


Some factors affecting the measurement of blood inorganic phosphorus in cattle. Sixty cows were studied over 3 days, to determine the effect of site of sampling, handling stress and the tranquilliser xylazine hydrochloride, on blood inorganic phosphorus (P). Jugular venous and coccygeal mixed arterial and venous blood were compared. Saliva was also analysed for P. Buffered and unbuffered trichloracetic acid (TCA) were compared as deproteinising agents. Tail blood P was consistently 12% (range 7-17%) higher than that from the jugular vein (P less than 0.01). This difference decreased when jugular blood was sampled first but increased following administration of the tranquilliser. The drug significantly (P less than 0.01) increased the concentration of P in the saliva on 2 out of 3 days. The possible role of salivary P in affecting jugular P values, is discussed. The buffered TCA analyses gave consistently lower P readings than the unbuffered analyses. The magnitude of this effect was time dependent, being greater when the samples were left for 4 days (P less than 0.05) than when analysed the next day. There was a very strong correlation between plasma and whole blood P. It was concluded that the tissue of choice in phosphorus studies is tail blood (plasma or serum) treated with buffered TCA.


A study of nephritis of beef cattle in North Queensland. The incidence of subclinical nephritis in beef cattle slaughtered at a Townsville abattoir during the period 1970-73 was 3.8 percent. A rising incidence coincided with the wet summer of 1973-74 reaching a peak of 8.2 percent thereafter in June 1974. All but 1 of 100 cases macroscopically identified as nephritis and studied histologically proved to be of interstitial type in which lymphocytic infiltration predominated. Follicular lymphoid hyperplasia was also a common feature. The exceptional case showed proliferative glomerulonephritis. Leptospires were isolated from 16 percent of cases cultured, and observed in 8 percent of specimens examined histologically. All of the 8 isolates subjected to serogrouping were L. pomona. Of the animals tested serologically against 2 serotypes 66.2 percent were positive to L. pomona (33.8 percent), L. hardjo (18.9 percent) or both (13.5 percent). The total incidence is significantly higher than in other random surveys carried out in the region. These findings suggest that Leptospira sp. are a major cause of bovine nephritis. Since other pathogens endemic in the area, for example, Babesia and Theileria sp., may be capable of causing nephritis in cattle an accurate assessment of the aetiology of that form of renal disease in north Queensland cannot yet be made.


Anthelmintic treatment of young beef cattle in the Wallum region of south-eastern Queensland. An anthelmintic treatment trial on 125 Brahman-British crossbred 2 to 4 month old calves was undertaken on Wallum country in south eastern Queesland. The calves were divided into 5 experimental groups, grazed together and treated as follows for 17 months: Group 1--Untreated controls; Group 2--Monthly levamisole--niclosamide on 4 occasions; Group 3--Monthly levamisole until 1 month after weaning; Group 4--Levamisole 3 to 6 weeks after saturating rains; Group 5--No levamisole--niclosamide as for Group 2. The mean body weight gains for cattle in Groups 1 to 5 were 95, 124, 105, 121 and 97 kg respectively. Four cattle were lost from each of Groups 1 and 3 and five from Group 5. Most of these losses occurred towards the end of the second summer rainfall season. Faecal egg count maxima were recorded around weaning in untreated groups and during the summer rainfall period of both the first and second summer in all groups. The most prevalent nematode species encountered were H. placei, Cooperia spp and O. ostertagi. It is recommended that in this region cattle under 2 years of age should receive anthelmintic treatment at least in autumn and spring.


Humpy back of sheep. Clinical and pathological observations. Humpy back, a disease of Merino sheep in western Queesland, occurs during mustering for shearing. It is usually seen in summer 6-10 weeks after substantial rainfall and is thought to be caused by the ingestion of a toxic plant. The disease is characterised clinically by a short-stepping, stilted gait of the hind limbs, followed by lowering of the head, arching of the back and inability to continue walking. Histopathological examination of 8 cases from 5 properties revealed a Wallerian degeneration of the white matter throughout the length of the spinal cord with the ventral and lateral columns most severely affected. A similar degenerative change was seen in the posterior cerebellar peduncles of 3 of the sheep. A more severe hind limb incoordination with more extensive degeneration of the white matter of the spinal cord, medulla and cerebellum was seen in a case of humpy back of two years duration. Similar, but much milder, spinal cord lesions were found in apparently unaffected sheep from the same group as the sheep affected with humpy back on 2 properties. Severe myodegeneration of hind limb muscle groups was seen in 3 affected sheep. It was thought to be associated with the long rail journey (1500 km) to the laboratory after the sheep were affected in the field.


Studies on the prevalence of ringworm among horses in racing and breeding stables. A survey of 568 horses in training and 2,535 horses on breeding farms has shown 32 percent of the horses in training to be clinically affected while only 1.1 percent of breeding horses were affected with pathogenic dermatophytes. The majority of lesions on racing horses were located on the girth areas. Trichophyton equinum var. autotrophicum, M. canis and M. equinum were found to be restricted to racing horses only. M. gypseum occurred in racing, riding and breeding horses.


A standardised haemagglutination inhibition test for porcine parvovirus antibody. Basic variables of the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test for porcine parvovirus antibody were investigated. Nonspecific serum inhibitors were satisfactorily removed without loss of specific antibody when undiluted serum was adsorbed with 25 percent kaolin in borate saline at pH 9.0. Natural haemagglutinins in test serums could be completely removed using 0.1 ml of packed erythrocytes to 0.6 ml of kaolin treated serums. Adsorption of prediluted serum resulted in a depression of specific antibody titres. Highest HI titres were obtained using guinea pig erythrocytes, following incubation of virus-serum mixtures for 18 hours at 4 degrees C, 3 hours at 25 degrees C or 2 hours at 37 degrees C. Micro- and macro-tests gave comparable HI titres.


Leptospiral agglutinins in dogs in Sydney. From June 1971 to June 1972, sera from 600 dogs in Sydney were tested for leptospiral agglutinins by a rapid slide agglutination method. The end-point titre was taken at 50 percent agglutination of the live organisms. Forty-one samples (6.8 percent) had a significant leptospiral titres (100 or greater) and 5 of these reacted to 2 serotypes. Thirty serums (5 percent) contained agglutinins against L. copenhageni, and 6 (1 percent) against L. pomona, while a few samples reacted against hardjo, tarassovi, australis, grippotyphosa or pyrogenes serotypes. No significant titres were found to L. canicola, L. hebdomadis, L. autumnalis or L. bataviae.


Evaluation of physical performance by rectangular-triangular bicycle ergometry and computer-assisted ergospirometry. A great deal of information about physical adjustment to work can be obtained from quantitative stress testing. Maximal stress limited by symptoms of exertional intolerance is the concept of the 2 min duration work increment test (rectangular-triangular exercise test). Compared to steady-state work tests strict observation of the standardized procedure- and computer assisted evaluation of ergospirometric parameters offer innovatory opportunities: (1) the test is of short duration (8-14 min), (2) the subjects recover rapidly, even from an exhausting test, (3) one is more likely to be able to observe plateauing of VO2, should determination of maximal VO2 be desired, (4) adaptation to increasing work rates and maximal work capacity is assessable, (5) computer technics provide on-line assessment of aerobic and anaerobic power in quantitative terms, (6) measurements proved to be highly reproducible, (7) the relationship between variables such as increments of heart rate and systolic blood pressure, respiratory minute volume, oxygen uptake during the early phase of the non-steady-state condition and the index of anaerobic power, and the influence of factors such as work load and work output, has been studied to derive standard values. Soft-ware programs have been designed to estimate deviation of parameters actually measured from standard values in terms of multiples of the standard deviation of the standard regression line. In particular, evaluating oxygen uptake during short time-intervals (0.5 min) provides information about adequate adaptational forces of the cardio-circulatory system. Energy that is not accounted for by reactions involving the VO2 measured is computed by substracting the caloric equivalent of oxygen uptake during work exceeding the steady-state level during rest from the energy demand to sustain a given work load aerobically. This index of anaerobic power is defined in kcal, cal/kg body wt., and as a percentage of the total amount of energy required (moderately trained athletes 350-500 cal/kg; sedentary people 200-300 cal/kg). A close relationship to parameters of metabolic acidosis (base excess) exists. It is concluded that the physical performance of sedentary people, athletes and patients with impaired cardio-pulmonary function can be more precisely qualified in quantitative terms by means of computer assisted rectangular-triangular ergospirometry. Results obtained in patients with diseased conditions must be carefully interpreted, their condition suggesting the use of more invasive investigations to reveal the pathophysiologic mechanism.


The influence of calcium and beta-sympathomimetics on force-frequency relationship and resting potentiation in guinea pig papillary muscle. The influence of various calcium concentrations and of the beta-sympathomimeticum orciprenaline (Alupent) on the force-frequency relationship and on the resting potentiation of isolated isometrically contracting papillary muscles of the guinea pig heart was studied. Elevation of Ca concentration and/or addition of orciprenaline augment the amplitudes of contractions elicited by rhythmical stimulation, but they diminish the amplitudes of test contractions elicited after a test interval of 1-2 s. It is suggested that calcium and orciprenaline strengthen the calcium loss from the sarcoplasmic reticulum out of the cell during a prolonged interval.


[A variant analysis of static body mass, height, surface area, radiological heart volume and aerobic capacity. Comparison findings between 200 high performance athletes with 80 untrained persons (author's transl)]. Static body mass and parameters of aerobic capacities were investigated in 200 high performance athletes and 80 untrained persons. The results were subjected to a variant analysis. A subdivision of the athletes into strength and endurance sports has been shown to be of value. The mean range in untrained persons, strength athletes, endurance sports athletes and other athletes is presented. Significant variations were observed. Body mass, height and surface area was measured and the findings in athletes and untrained persons were compared. From the variant analysis of absolute and relative heart volume, the statement can be made, that athletes have larger hearts and that differences between sports exist. On the average the maximal O2-Puls and maximal Wattpuls as a measure of the aerobic capacity are greater in trained than in untrained persons. A close correlation between maximal O2-Puls and Wattpuls was demonstrated. Between strength and endurance athletes significant differences in both parameters are observed. A comparison of several statistics from the West German sport medicine literature of recent decades has shown, that in spite of changes in training quality and quantity in high performances athletes no evidence could be found for an increase in the performance parameters of the aerobic capacity.


Maximal rate of pressure rise and time parameters in the right ventricle under isovolumic conditions. Investigations in the canine heart-lung preparation. In contrast to the left ventricle, the maximal rate of intraventricular pressure rise in the right ventricle does not occur within the isovolumic phase of the contraction. Occlusion of the pulmonary artery by inflation of a balloon during the diastole causes an isovolumic systole of the following heart beat. The canine heart-lung preparation was used to test whether dP/dtmax measured isovolumically and the peak ventricular pressure Pmax as well as the parameters derived are useful indices for the contractile state of the right ventricle. Changes only of the aortic pressure influence neither dP/dtmax, Pmax and the time values from the onset of contraction to dP/dtmax (t-dP/dtmax), nor the time to Pmax (t-Pmax). A rise in heart frequency leads to an increase in dP/dtmax and Pmax at lowered enddiastolic pressure. It does not influence the time interval t-dP/dtmax and t-Pmax. With augmented diastolic filling, dP/dtmax as well as Pmax increase, and t-dP/dtmax and t-Pmax are extended. The present study suggests that dP/dtmax and Pmax measured isovolumically provide accurate and practical measurements of right ventricular contractility, provided that changes in enddiastolic pressure and heart frequency are taken into account. The time parameters are found to be not useful.


The maximal rate of pressure rise in the right ventricle of isolated canine hearts in isovolumic and auxotonic systole under various hemodynamic and inotropic conditions. The influence of changes in pre- and afterload, heart frequency and inotropic state on the difference between right ventricular dP/dtmax measured isovolumically and auxotonically has been investigated in canine heart-lung preparations. Isovolumic systoles were obtained by occluding the pulmonary artery during diastole by balloon inflation. The mean difference between isovolumic and auxotonic dP/dtmax is 40 mm Hg/sec (15 to 80 mm Hg/sec) - i.e. about 10% of the value measured auxotonically. Neither hemodynamic (pre- and afterload changes) nor inotropic changes influence this difference. Heart rate increase from 140 to 200/min also has no effect. This corresponds with the unchanged time interval between pulmonary valve opening and right ventricular dP/dtmax under all these conditions. Only heart rates below 100/min seem to enhance the difference between isovolumic and auxotonic dP/dtmax. Since the difference is not altered at various inotropic states, the result of this study leads to the conclusion that the relative changes in contractility could be slightly overestimated by using the auxotonic dP/dtmax for inotropic assessment. Practically, this inexactitude is within the error range of the method. Therefore, the use of dP/dtmax measured auxotonically does not introduce a marked disadvantage related to isovolumic dP/dtmax for assessment of relative inotropic changes of the right ventricle in isolated hearts.


[The noninvasive determination of cardiac output by means of impedance cardiography. Comparative evaluation with a thermal dilution technique (author's transl)]. When a high frequency alternating current is passed through the thorax by means of tape-electrodes, the electrical impedance Z is changing synchronously with the cardiac cycle. The relation between the first derivative dZ/dt and the stroke volume is the basis for the application of impedance cardiography (IK) Determinations of cardiac output (CO) at rest during ergometer exercise using this noninvasive technique were compared with CO values obtained by the thermal dilution method. In 57 subjects simultaneous determinations using both methods were performed at resting conditions. The correlation coefficient was r = 0.63. In addition, in 48 of the subjects CO was measured with both methods during supine ergometer exercise. Comparison of the exercise values resulted in a correlation coefficient of r = 0.63. In all 48 cases there was a concordant change of the IK and thermodilution CO values. It is concluded that relative changes of CO are reliably detected by IK. The absolute values can be utilized only approximately.


A classification of tumor development based on an analysis of enzymes in tissue sections of hypernephroid carcinoma in man. Sections of hypernephroid carcinoma from 20 cases were investigated for aldolase isozymes A and B by a mixed aggregation immuno-cytochemical technique, and for the brush border membrane enzymes aminopeptidase and alkaline phosphatase by conventional histochemical techniques. It was found that the cases could be grouped into four types: type 1 (1 case) contained all 4 enzymes; type 2 (7 cases) contained all enzymes except aldolase-B; type 3 (7 cases) possessed aldolase-A and one brush border membrane enzyme; type 4 (5 cases) contained only aldolase-A. The aldolase-A concentration in all tumor cells was higher than that in proximal tubule cells, whereas the concentration of the two brush border enzymes was lower. In cases tydolase-B and/or higher amounts of the brush border enzymes than the surrounding cells. No correlation was observed between clear cell and granular cell hypernephroid carcinomas or the invasiveness or the nuclear polymorphism of the tumors on the one hand with their enzyme type on the other. These histological enzyme analyses suggest that most, if not all, hypernephroid carcinomas are derived from kidney proximal tubule cells and that the tumor cells then progressively lose aldolase-B, and subsequently the brush border enzymes, but at the same time producing more aldolase-A. The presence of the enzyme-rich patches suggest different patterns of proliferation and differentiation among the tumor cell population. Three tumors other than hypernephroid carcinoma were also examined in this way. The results suggest that histoenzymological analyses are of general applicability in studies of tumor progression. They should also be useful for biopsy and aspiration cytology.


Quantitative electron microscopic study of capillaries in diabetes mellitus. A systematic microscopic examination of all elements of the capillary wall was performed on quadriceps muscle biopsies from 9 diabetic patients and 8 controls. The capillary basement membrane (CBM) was markedly thicker in diabetics; it consisted of several lamellae and contained large vacuoles which were never observed in non-diabetic subjects. Large magnifications revealed fibrils in greater number and markedly larger in diameter in diabetics, these accounting for a considerable volume of the CBM and the adventitia and increased diameter and thickness of the capillary wall, without encroaching on the lumen. The intracellular fibrils in pericytes and endothelial cells were also larger and thicker in diabetic subjects. The prevalence of fibrillar material in the vascular disease of diabetes mellitus suggests the importance of research into possible measures to arrest fibril formation.


The significance of DNA flow-through fluorescence cytophotometry for the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma. Flow-through fluorescence cytophotometric determination of nuclear DNA content was employed for the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma. Fine needle aspiration biopsy material from the prostate of 220 patients was used for study. A false negative rate of 11.4% and a false positive rate of 29.7% were obtained when the results of flow-through photometry were compared with those of traditional cytodiagnosis. It was found that 4.5% of the specimens were unsuitable for cytologic diagnosis and 10.9% for flow-through cytophotometry. False negative DNA histograms may be due to two factors: either the number of tumor cells is small or there are tumor cells whose nuclear DNA content does not differ from that of a normal cell population. False positive findings result from proliferating cells in inflammatory activation. Errors in preparation of the material and mechanical mistakes, such as cellular clumping and coincidences, are less likely causes. The greater percentage of specimens which were inadequate for cytophotometry was due to the large number of cells needed for a utilizable flow-through photometric histogram. The high rate of false negative and false positive results (11.4% and 29.7%, respectively) argues against using flow-through photometric nuclear DNA determination for the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma.


The influence of dihydroergotamine on adenosine-induced and reactive coronary vasodilation. Interaction of dihydroergotamine and coronary vasodilation. The influence of dihydroergotamine on adenosine-induced and reactive vasodilation after long and short periods of coronary artery occlusion was investigated in thoracotomized dogs. Adenosine-induced vasodilation (intracoronary administration) and vasodilation after long periods of coronary artery occlusion (25-35 beats) were similarly influenced, i.e. decreased by the i.v. administration of 10 mug/kg dihydroergotamine. By contrast vasodilation after short periods of coronary artery occlusion (4-7 beats) tended to be increased. This difference in response is thought to arise from two distinct mechanisms of coronary vasodilation after coronary artery occlusion depending on the duration of the occlusion period. The vasodilation after short periods of coronary artery occlusion possibly corresponds to physiological autoregulation. With longer periods of coronary artery occlusion an additional, consecutive mechanism is called into action.


Experimental hypothyroidism: depression of myocardial contractile function and hemodynamics and their reversibility by substitution with thyroid hormones. Hemodynamics and myocardial muscle mechanics have been studied in 22 euthyroid and 60 hypothyroid cats in which experimental hypothyroidism has been produced by thyroidectomy 61 days prior to the examination. Left ventricular to body weight ratio was altered due to a decrease in left ventricular weight and an increase in body weight. Heart rate, cardiac output and cardiac index were decreased (by 12-15 per cent), whereas stroke volume remained unchanges. Peak systolic pressure of the left ventricle was moderately decreased, the other pressures were in the normal range. There was a marked and significant reduction of isovolumic contractility indices indicating a depression of myocardial contractility in situ by 20-27 per cent. The isolated ventricular myocardium exhibited decreases of isotonic muscle shortening, of maximum isometric tension development and of the rates of both, isotonic shortening and isometric tension development by 12-35 per cent. Force-velocity relationships of contraction and relaxation were depressed to lower values of contraction and relaxation velocity as well as of maximum isometric muscle tension. The alterations in myocardial muscle mechanics and hemodynamics were completely reversible following substitution of the hypothyroid group with physiological doses of L-thyroxine (5 mug/kg/day for 8-18 days). Excess increases of parameters of myocardial performance were found following substitution of the hypothyroid group with L-thyroxine (500 mug/kg/day) in accordance with the induction of experimental hyperthyroidism in these animals. The results demonstrate impaired myocardial contractility and hemodynamics in experimental hypothyroidism. These changes are completely reversible by substitution with L-thyroxine in accordance with a reversible thyroid cardiomyopathy. The cellular mechanisms responsible for the altered cardiac activity in experimental hypothyroidism are discussed.


[Postmortem demonstration of portal vein collateral circulation (author's transl)]. Postmortem investigation of esophageal varices and the portal system is difficult, because veins are collapsed at autopsy. The demonstration of varices is possible by illumination of the isolated mucous membrane or by puncturing esophageal varices and filing them with different materials. We use a 15% aqueous gelatine solution (if needed with additional barium sulfate for x-ray examination) which is supplemented by 40% formaldehyde (40 ml in 1 1 gelatine solution). The superior mesenteric vein is catheterized and filled by a clyster-pump. The mixture of gelatine and formaldehyde hardens within a few minutes. The autopsy is delayed only about half an hour. Within this time the portal system is well outlined. This method can show exactly the drainage of the portal system into the inferior vena cava. In cases of portocaval shunt or of esophageal transsection the result of the operation can be verified. The localization of the bleeding source of esophageal varices can be demonstrated by escape of the filling mass.


Effects of fendilin hydrochloride (sensit) on systemic and coronary hemodynamics and on retrograde coronary blood flow in dogs. Fendilin hydrochloride was tested in 9 normal anesthetized dogs and in 7 anesthetized dogs with acute coronary artery occlusion. The compound (1 mg/kg i.v.) caused a slight short lasting increase in coronary blood flow together with an increase in cardiac metabolic rate for oxygen of similar magnitude. There was no measurable effect on collateral conductance. No noteworthy effects on systemic hemodynamics were observed.


Hemodynamic response to digitalization in patients with hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Twenty-eight patients with hypertensive cardiovascular disease (HCD) and incipient myocardial dysfunction underwent hemodynamic studies at rest and during exercise before and 30 minutes after administration of 0.6 mg beta-methyl-digoxin intravenously. Measurements were made during right heart catheterization with a balloon-tipped catheter. The hemodynamic changes after administration of digitalis did not demonstrate a consistent and uniform improvement of cardiac performance in all patients with HCD and myocardial dysfunction. When separating 11 patients with pervious myocardial infarctions or documented coronary artery disease (CAD) (= Group I) from the remaining 17 subjects without clinical and/or angiographic signs of CAD (= Group II), there were significant differences in the hemodynamic response to digitalis: In Group I, pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) after digitalis decreased only slightly and insignificantly from 8.7 to 7.4 mm Hg at rest and from 27.6 to 26.4 mm Hg during steady state exercise. Cardiac output (CO) remained essentially unchanged with a tendency to decrease after digitalis: 5.9 vs. 5.8 L/min at rest and 11.5 vs 11.1 L/min during exercise. At rest, even patients of Group II showed only minor decrease of PAWP from 8.8 to 7.2 mm Hg; during exercise these patients demonstrated marked improvement of cardiac performance with a significant decrease of PAWP after digitalis from 27.8 to 22.3 mm Hg (p less than 0.01). With one exception, there was a more or less pronounced reduction of PAWP after the drug was given. No significant change of CO after digitalis was measured in this group: 6.2 vs. 5.9 L/min at rest and 13.4 vs. 13.5 L/min during exercise. The different hemodynamic patterns of responders and non-responders to the glycoside will be discussed.


Studies on the regulation of myocardial blood flow in man. I.: Training effects on blood flow and metabolism of the healthy heart at rest and during standardized heavy exercise. In a comparative study 11 athletes and 11 untrained students were investigated at rest, of these 6 trained and 5 untrained individuals during exercise as well. Myocardial blood flow was measured by the argon method. Myocardial oxygen consumption, myocardial substrate uptake of glucose, lactate, and free fatty acids and cardiac output were determined by the direct Fick principle. Exercise was standardized according to 65% of an individual's maximal oxygen uptake (delta VO2 max). Coronary flow reserve was determined by dipyridamole injections. All measurements were made during hemodynamic and respiratory steady-state conditions with the subject in a supine position. At rest, myocardial blood flow and myocardial oxygen consumption were significantly lower in trained subjects compared to the untrained ones. These differences were more pronounced during heavy exercise. They cannot be explained completely by hemodynamic parameters. - During exercise, myocardial substrate uptake shifted to a predominant lactate uptake of almost 90% of total substrate uptake. Total substrate uptake as well as lactate uptake correlated significantly with myocardial oxygen. - Coronary flow reserve was lower in the trained group. It is concluded that the heart muscle of a trained individual requires less energy at a given work load than in the untrained state.


[Evaluation of arterial occlusive disease]. In giving an opinion on arterial circulation disorders, an arterial occlusion is predominant. As a rule, the diagnosis based on anamnestic data, clinical examinations and some functional tests causes no difficulties. An angiography simplifies the evaluation, but it should be carried out only to distinguish a generalized vasculopathy from a local one. The arterial occlusion is a chronic and progressive disease with coronary vessels being mainly involved. The muscular force of the patient is reduced, local infections and traumatisms menace him thus reducing his working capacity. Anticoagulants must often be given continuously, the vascular systems of the heart and the brain may be impaired. It is extremely difficult to elucidate causal relationships, especially in case of injuries suffered during military service. It is the general opinion nowadays that cold-injuries entail a limited angiitis but no generalized vasculopathy.


["Superficial spreading melanoma" within a psoriasis focus as a delayed sequela following arsenic therapy for psoriasis]. After a longlasting psoriasis (25-30 years) and after an arsenotherapy of psoriasis per os fifteen years ago an arsenic-caused injury occured with formation of a melanoma within the surrounding psoriasis. In examinating comparable Moselle vine dressers with late arsenic-caused injuries during the years 1972-1975, altogether 1600 examinations, precancerosis, basaliomas, morbus-Bowen, spinaliomas, and transitional epithelium carcinomas have been found and have been histologically confirmed. No melano malignom has been found. Al in eleven other cases of vine dressers with arsenic-caused late injuries showing keratosis, precancerosis, and basaliomas together with a long-lasting psoriasis vulgaris no melano malignom has been found.


Studies on live attenuated mumps vaccine. II. Follow-up study on the efficacy of Biken Vaccine. Clinical and serological follow-ups were made on 18 children for 3 years and on another 18 children for 4 years, after immunization against mumps by attenuated mumps vaccine; Biken vaccine. To evaluate the protective efficacy of the vaccine, matched controls were studied during the same period. Serological examinations revealed that 77% of the vaccinees and 93% of the controls were infected with mumps after close contacts with mumps patients. Regular mumps was contracted by 88% of the controls, but none of the vaccinees. There was no substantial decrease in the antibody titers in unexposed vaccinees after vaccination.


Isolation and purification of D-alanyl-meso-2, 6-diaminopimelic acid endopeptidase of Streptomyces L-3 enzyme using soluble substrates of known chemical structure from Lactobacillus plantarum cell wall digests. D-alanyl-meso-2, 6-diaminopimelic acid (D-Alanyl-meso-A2pm) endopeptidase was isolated and purified from a crude Streptomyces L-3 enzyme preparation by ion exchange chromatography and isoelectric focusing in a density gradient. During its purification, its hydrolytic activity was assayed on cell walls of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 and soluble glycopeptides and peptides, of known chemical structures, prepared enzymatically from these cell walls. A fraction with an isoelectric point of pH 7.9 cleaved the bond between the carboxyl group of the D-alanine residue at the C-terminal in one peptide subunit and one of the two amino groups of the A2pm residue in the neighboring peptide subunit. Unlike the crude enzyme, the endopeptidase in this fraction showed no N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidase, A2pm carboxyamide amidase or proteinase(s) activity and it was immunologically homogeneous.


Studies of the cell envelope of Vibrio para-haemolyticus A55: isolation and purification of bag-shaped peptidoglycan (murein sacculus). The peptidoglycan (PG) component of the envelope of Vibrio parahaemolyticus A55 was studied in relation to the salt dependency of the organism. A bag-shaped PG (murein sacculus) was isolated and purified by digestion of freshly harvested intact whole cells with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and then protease treatment. Whole cells lyze in salt-deficient or hypotonic conditions and this can be measured by turbidometry. Lysis is prevented by addition of 0.35 M NaCl or acidification to below pH 4.5. The isolated PG or murein sacculi did not seem to require salt for structural integrity. The PG obtained by the same method from subcellular fractions, that is, envelope fractions, prepared either with or without NaCl, was extensively fragmented. The main amino acids and amino sugars of the murein sacculus were glucosamine, muramic acid, alanine, glutamic acid, 2, 6-diamnopimelic acid (A2pm) in a molar ratio of 0.4:0.6:1.7:0.9:1.0. A polyglucose, which was only degraded by Pseudomonas isoamylase,and poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHBA) were found in the murein sacculus. The murein sacculus of the organism is discussed in comparison with PG of other gram negative bacteria and marine or halophilic microorganisms.


Genetic control of heat sensitivity and activity level of murine arylsulfatase B. BALB/c male mice possess twofold higher kidney p-nitrocatechol-SO4 arylsulfatase B than do A/HeJ male mice; however, their liver arylsulfatase activities are comparable. Twentyfold-purified kidney arylsulfatases B from these two strains have similar Michaelis constants, electrophoretic mobilities, pH optima, and inhibitor profiles; however, the BALB/c enzyme is more heat stable than the A/HeJ enzyme. BALB/c, C3H/HeJ, DBA/2J, and SWR/J mice share an autosomal allele, As-1a, which apparently determines the heat-stable arylsulfatase B, while A/HeJ and C57BL/6J mice possess the As-1b allele, which determines the heat-sensitive enzyme. A second autosomal locus, Asr-1, determines liver arylsulfatase B activity. C57BL/6J mice carry the Asr-1a allele, which results in high liver activities, while C3H/HeJ mice are homozygous for the low-activity allele, Asr-1b. Male mice generally have 30-40% higher kidney activities than females; however, female kidney arylsulfatase activities rise and actually surpass those of males during late pregnancy and lactation.


The enzymatic deficiency conditioned by the shrunken-1 mutations in maize. Evidence is presented to show that the Sh locus specifies sucrose synthetase in the developing endosperm of maize. The sh/sh/sh endosperm possesses less than 10% sucrose synthetase activity as compared to the normal Sh/sh/sh endosperm. The residual enzyme activity in five independently derived mutant genotypes is attributable to a protein molecule of different electrophoretic and immunochemical specificities that is presumably independent of the sh locus. Sucrose synthetase activity in the embryo in both the genotypes is electrophoretically indistinguishable from the one present in the mutant endosperm. Mutant endosperm has a reduced starch content as compared to the normal. This observation constitutes genetic evidence supporting a critical role for sucrose synthetase in starch biosynthesis.


Multiple structural genes for the alpha chain of canine (Canis familiaris) hemoglobin. There are two forms of the alpha chain of canine hemoglobin differing only at residue 130. One form (taualpha) contains threonine at this position, the other (Aalpha) contains alanine. Studies of two Labrador dog families strongly support the existance of multiple alpha-chain structural genes as the basis of the alpha-chain heterogeneity. There must be at least one gene locus for Talpha and one for Aalpha; the exact number of loci has not been determined. Two other dog breeds, the Basenji and the Beagle, also have both Talpha and Aalpha chains.


Analysis of repetitive DNA in three species of Gossypium. The rate of reassociation of denatured DNA was determined for two selected diploid species, Gossypium thurberi (D genome) and G. arboreum (A genome), and one allotetraploid species, G. hirsutum (AD genome). The relative genome size and DNA content of the chromosomes of the diploids were A greater than D. Renaturation curves indicated that the differences in genome sizes were due primarily to the repetitive DNA content.


Allelic expression in intergeneric fox hybrids (Alopex lagopus x Vulpes vulpes). I. Comparative electrophoretic studies on blood enzymes and proteins in arctic and silver foxes. Twenty-seven blood enzymes and proteins, whose structures are presumably controlled by at least 33 genes, were assayed in Arctic and silver foxes by starch gel electrophoresis. Two types of protein and enzyme electrophoretic patterns were distinguished: one exhibiting a single enzyme, the other several isozymes. The two fox species were found to differ in seven of the 27 enzymes and proteins studied: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, adenylate kinase, erythrocyte carboxylesterase, diaphorase, prealbumin, transferrin, and albumin. No differences were established between the species for the other enzymes and proteins. The data are interpreted as evidence for the existance of a set of enzymes and proteins differentiating the Arctic from the silver fox.


Chromosome number and flavonoid synthesis in Briza L. (Gramineae). Following a recent reidentification of the apigenin C-glycosides in diploid Briza media, the luteolin C-glycosides were reexamined and three acylated derivatives of a luteolin C-glycoside were found. In an attempt to identify the chromosome or group of chromosomes responsible for the change in flavonoid synthesis from 4'-hydroxy- in diploid plants to 3',4'-dihydroxyflavone C-glycosides in autotetraploid plants, leaf flavonoids of artificially produced aneuploids of B. media were examined. Among these plants three different leaf flavonoid profiles were recognized: diploid, tetraploid, and a "modified" tetraploid pattern. All the aneuploids with the normal or "modified" tetraploid pattern were trisomic for one of the small acrocentric chromosomes. Induced polyploids of other Briza species were usually found to have similar flavonoid patterns in the two chromosome races. Flavonoid sulfates were found in three South American species but are absent from all the European species.


Identification of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) chromosomes with genes controlling the level of nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, and acid proteinase using the Chinese Spring-Hope substitution lines. The levels of nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, and acid proteinase were compared in the primary leaves of 8-day-old wheat seedlings of Chinese Spring, Hope, and the 21 disomic substitution lines of Hope in Chinese Spring. Two chromosomes, 7B and 7D, were considered to contain genes controlling the level of nitrate reductase. Substitution of Hope chromosome 7B caused a highly significant increase in the in vitro stability of nitrate reductase. Nitrite reductase appeared to be controlled by two major genes, located on chromosomes 4D and 7D, and two minor genes, located on chromosomes 3D and 5A. In the case of acid proteinase, substitution of chromosome 1D caused a significant reduction in enzyme activity.


Genetic control and distribution of leucine aminopeptidase in the cultivated chenopods (Chenopodium) and related weed taxa. Isozymes of leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) in leaf tissue of the cultivated chenopods (Chenopodium quinoa and C. nuttalliae) and their sympatric weedy relatives (C. hircinum and C. berlandieri) can be electrophoretically resolved into a sum total of five anodally migrating bands. These are the products of two unlinked gene loci which apparently reflect genetic duplication via allotetraploidy. Accessions from the Andean and Mexican areas of cultivation are characterized by a lack of electrophoretically detectable variation. Andean weed and cultigen accessions appear to be genetically identical at both Lap loci, as do weed and cultigen material from Mexico. The two cultigens, and their sympatric weeds, can be differentiated by variation at the Lap-B locus, whereas they are monomorphic at Lap-A. This locus is, however, highly polymorphic in weedy C. berlandieri populations of western North America.


Correlation between structural variation and activity of murine kidney beta-galactosidase: implications for genetic control. Two closely linked regulatory genes have been reported to control activity levels of beta-galactosidases in murine tissues. The specific effects of these genes on murine glycolipid metabolism have not been elucidated. A/HeJ kidney 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-galactosidase exhibited lower thermostability than the corresponding C57BL/6J and SWR/J enzymes. This altered response to heat segregated with the Bgsh allele among progeny derived from backcrosses of F1 (A/HeJ; SWR/J) mice to the respective parental strains. Restriction of the heat-sensitive A/HeJ beta-galactosidase to kidney tissue suggests that it is not determined by the Bgs locus, since the latter appears to be expressed in all tissues. More likely, the Bgs region of chromosome 9 contains a gene cluster consisting of a number of regulatory and structural loci. The proposed structural genes share affinity for the artificial substrates commonly employed for their assay but may differ in their relative affinities for glycosphingolipid substrates. Presence of the Bgsh allele results in an increase of kidney GM1-ganglioside-beta-galactosidase; however, galactosylceramide-beta-galactosidase appears unaffected by this allele.


On the detection of functional and structural enzyme mutants by coordinated affinity chromatography and isoelectric focusing. A method of studying structural and functional heterogeneity of enzymes has been developed and tested on chymotrypsin. The enzyme, prepared from single mouse pancreata, has been fractionated with respect to function and charge content by a combination of affinity chromatography and isoelectric focusing. By comparing chymotrypsin isolated from isogenic strains, chymotrypsinogen of strains A/Sn and NZB was found to be genetically heterogeneous, thus not revealed as different chymotrypsin forms of a single zymogen. Chymotrypsinogen originating from two loci was investigated, and structural and functional differences of the corresponding enzymes were determined. At both loci, structural allelomorphism was indicated. At one locus, the structural heterogeneity was also found to be reflected in functional heterogeneity of the corresponding enzymes. By mating the two strains and fractionating the enzyme of the cross, the differences were shown to be inherited.