Influences of some endocrine glands and of hormone replacement on the porphyrins of the Harderian glands of mice

There are marked sex differences in the Harderian gland of the C3H/He strain of mice. Female (but not male) glands contain large amounts of porphyrin, which are readily visible as solid depositions within the lumina. The histology and porphyrin content of the Harderian gland were examined in intact and in pregnant mice and in mice subjected to combinations of adrenalectomy, gonadectomy and administration of sex steroid hormones. In male mice, castration approximately doubled the amount of porphyrin in the Harderian gland. Castration plus adrenalectomy increased the levels over 30-fold, to levels similar to those found in female mice, although adrenalectomy alone produced no significant effect. Administration of testosterone to the male mice which had been castrated and adrenalectomized prevented the increases while progesterone treatment produced further increases in porphyrins. In intact females, the amount of porphyrin varied with the phase of the oestrous cycle; being lowest during metoestrus and highest during dioestrus. In ovariectomized-adrenalectomized females, the effects of administered sex hormones on the amount of porphyrin in the gland were the same as in males. In pregnant mice, the level was no significantly different from that in intact oestrous animals.

A direct effect of the pineal on the accessory sex organs in light deprived male rats

One day after surgery groups of pinealectomized and sham-pinealectomized animals were placed in continuous darkness, and killed 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 days later. The data revealed that the sham-pinealectomized group exposed to constant darkness differs from pinealectomized group by showing lower dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations, bw, accessory sex organ wt and levator ani muscle wt. No statistically significant differences were found in plasma LH, FSH and testosterone concentrations or pituitary or testes wt. The results indicated that the accessory sex organ wt were not correlated with the plasma gonadotropin and testosterone levels but they were with DHT. The data are consistent with the idea that some pineal principle acts directly on accessory sex organs in the rat.

Decrease of collagen content in the intraocular fluid of senile rats

The total hydroxyproline content in the intraocular fluid (vitreous body and aqueous chamber) of male rats clearly showed the same level throughout the developmental period; during the senile period, however, it remarkably decreased.

CArcinogenic activity of clivorine, a pyrrolizidine alkaloid isolated from Ligularia dentata

The carcinogenic activity of clivorine, a pyrrolizidine alkaloid isolated from Ligularia dentata, was studied in inbred ACI rats. Twelve animals in the experimental group received a 0.005% solution of clivorine in drinking water for 340 days and survived beyond 440 days after the beginning of the experiment. Of this group, 8 developed tumors in the liver; 2 developed hemangioendothelial sarcomas, and 6 developed neoplastic nodules. The hemangioendothelial sarcoma showed metastasis in the lung of one rat. No tumors were observed in the liver of the control animals.

Comparative blood values of Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis

Hematological and clinical biochemistry values of two species of monkeys (Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis) were measured by using auto-analyzers. WBC and RBC counts of M. fascicularis were high and Hb, MCV, MCH and MCHC values of M. fascicularis were low in comparison with those of M. mulatta. Albumin and creatinine levels of M. fascicularis were lower than those of M. mulatta. Total protein and A1P values of female M. fascicularis were higher than those of female M. mulatta. Differences between the sexes were observed in MCV, inorganic phosphorus, total protein, albumin and creatinine in M. mulatta, whereas in M. fascicularis, such differences were demonostrated as to creatinine, phospholipids and triglycerides.

Mutagenicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the Salmonella/mammalian-microsome test

The mutagenicities of 7 pyrrolizidine alkaloids to Salmonella typhimurium TA100 were demonstrated by a modified Ames's method. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids found to be mutagenic were clivorine, fukinotoxin, heliotrine, lasiocarpine, ligularidine, LX201 and senkirkine. Pre-incubation of these alkaloids with S9 mix and bacteria in a liquid medium was essential for demonstration of their mutagenicities.

Induction of hepatic tumors in rats by senkirkine and symphytine

The carcinogenicity of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids senkirkine and symphytine was studied in male inbred ACI rats. Animals were divided into 3 groups: Group I received ip injections of freshly prepared senkirkine at a dose of 10% of the median lethal dose (LD50) twice weekly for 4 weeks and then once a week for 52 weeks. Group II received ip injections of symphytine at a dose of 10% of the LD50 by the same injection schedule as in group I. The control group was given ip injections of a 0.9% NaCl solution following the same injection schedule as in experimental groups. All group I rats survived for more than 290 days after the start of injections, and 9 of 20 rats developed liver cell adenoma. All group II animals survived for more than 330 days after the start of injections. Of 20 rats, 4 had liver tumors, 3 had hemangioendothelial sarcomas, and 1 had liver cell adenoma. The hemangioendothelial sarcomas showed metastasis in the lungs of 2 rats. The control group had no liver tumors.

Physiological reaction of men under excercise to radiant heat

To investigate the effect of the radiant heat on the human body in a hot environment, the subjects exposed their nude back to a radiant heat of 1.3 and 2.6 cal/cm-2. min, using the exsiccating infrared illuminators under a hot ambient condition of a temperature 31 degrees C, with a relative humidity of 55% and a 0.5 m/sec air flow. The 8 subjects were healthy male college students aged 20 to 25. The following results were obtained by estimating the physiological reactions to different degrees of radiant heat at rest for 60 minutes and during exercise for 30 minutes on a bicycle ergometer by 272 kg. m/min (or 600 kp. m/min). 1) The mean skin temperature, heart rate, respiration rate and body weight loss rate increased at rest in parallel with the degree of the radiant heat, and during exercise the mean skin temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, body weight loss rate and respiratory volume increased, but the NA+ LOSS RATE DECREASED. The regression equation was obtained to show the quantitative relationship between the degree of the radiant heat and the physiological body reactions. 2) By computing the Heat Tolerance Index by Inoue et al., it was clarified that the higher the degree of the radiant heat was, the smaller was the index. And as there was a close correlation between the indices both at rest and during exercise, it was suggested that for the evaluation of heat tolerance, the radiant heat by the infrared illuminators is applicable as additional heat loading besides hot water bathing or staying in a hot chamber.