Palytoxin: effects on contractility and 45Ca2+ uptake in isolated ventricle strips

Palytoxin (PTX) inhibited phasic tension production and initiated tonic contracture in isolated paced ventricle strips at concentrations greater than 10(-10) M. PTX-induced contracture was associated with increased 45Ca2+ uptake. PTX-induced additional 45Ca2+ uptake was completely blocked by 2 mM La3+. All observed PTX effects were enhanced by elevation of [Ca2+] o from 1.9 to 6 mM and this threefold increase in [Ca2+] o resulted in a threefold increase in isotope-determined Ca2+ uptake in presence of 10(-8) M PTX. It is concluded that the observed effects of PTX could be mediated by an increase in calcium permeability of myocardial cells.

Cardiac output and its distribution during diving in the rat

The diving response was produced by submerging the head of the unanesthetized rat for 60 s, while it was confined in a mesh-wired cone. Heart rate and cardiac output decreased by 73% and 74% from the predive values, respectively, indicating insignificant change in stroke volume. Central systemic arterial blood pressure rose by 22% during diving and a fourfold increase in total peripheral resistance was observed. Blood flow to the coronary, cerebral, and bronchial circulations remained unchanged while a 95% reduction in the intestine and the spleen, a 97% reduction in the kidney, and greater than 99% reduction in the tail and skin were observed during diving. The blood flow reduction from predive values ranged from 50% for liver and skeletal muscle to 75% for the adrenals and 65% for the diaphragm. The redistribution of the drastically reduced cardiac output during head immersion in the rat is similar to that reported for diving mammals. It is suggested that the rat may serve as a useful cardiovascular model for further studies of the diving response in mammals.

Gastroesophageal dynamics during immersion in water to the neck

This investigation was undertaken to study the effect of hydrostatic pressure on gastroesophageal dynamics during immersion in thermoneutral water to the neck. In 5 healthy male subjects (normal end-expiratory), gastric pressure (PG), esophageal pressure (PE), location and pressure of distal esophageal sphincter (des), location of respiratory inversion point (RIP), and gastroesophageal pH gradient were measured standing in air (A), standing in water to the neck (B), and standing in air with abdominal compression (C). The pressure was measured with a Honeywell esophageal catheter (model 31) with built-in pressure transducer. A Beckman stomach pH electrode (no. 39042) was positioned adjacent to the pressure transducer. PG increased from 4.6 +/- 0.6 (SE) mmHg in A to nearly 20 mmHg in B and C, while PE increased from -6.0 +/- 0.8 mmHg in A to -0.8 +/- 1.0 and -3.4 +/- 0.9 mmHg in B and C, respectively. However, PDES was always 11-15 mmHg higher than PG. The superior limit of DES was displaced cephalad by indicating a stretching of DES and a shortening of the esophagus. Qualitatively similar findings were obtained in C. In all experiments, the esophageal pH remained above 6, and no alteration in the amplitude of primary peristaltic waves was seen. It is concluded that a head-out immersion with increased gastroesophageal pressure gradient predisposes to gastric reflux in the absence of a competent DES mechanism.

Androgens in the bovine fetus and dam (38567)

Umbilical arterial and venous blood, and fetal testes were taken from 38 bovine fetuses at 90, 180 or 260 days of gestation. Concurrently blood also was taken from the jugular, and from the uterine artery and vein of the dams. Testosterone and androstenedione were determined by radioimmunoassays. Fetal testicular homogenates had 0.96 and 0.35 mug/g of testosterone and 0.39 and 0.50 mug/g of androstenedione at 180 and 260 days of gestation, respectively. Males had five to tenfold more serum testosterone and about twofold more androstenedione than female fetuses at each trimester of gestation. Male fetal blood testosterone decreased (P less than 0.01) from 2.7 to 0.3 ng/ml between 90 and 260 days of gestation. But, maternal testosterone and androstenedione increased (P less than 0.05) during gestation in cows with males, but not in cows with female fetuses. Testosterone was higher (P less 0.05) in cows carrying males than in cows with female fetuses. Androstenedione was higher in blood leaving the placenta on both the maternal and on the vetal sides suggesting placental synthesis of androstenedione.

Effect of cardiac sympathectomy, reserpine, and environmental temperatures on the catecholamine levels in the chicken heart

Cardiac catecholamine levels were spectrofluorometrically determined in adult male chickens following two treatments: (1) denervation of the cardioaccelerator nerves or (2) reserpine administration after acclimatization of the birds to low, intermediate, or high ambient temperatures. Marked depletion of cardiac catecholamines (80 to 90%) was found 2 weeks after denervation and 24 h after injection of reserpine. Acclimatization did not alter the response to reserpine.