Somatic afferent regulation of plasma luteinizing hormone and testosterone in anesthetized rats

The effects of cutaneous stimulation on plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone were examined in adult male Wistar rats anesthetized with pentobarbital. Under the resting condition without somatic sensory stimulation, plasma LH and testosterone measured every 30 min between 1400 and 1730 h revealed no significant fluctuations. Nociceptive mechanical stimulation of bilateral hindpaws by pinching for 10 min significantly increased plasma LH and testosterone. Plasma LH was increased 30 and 60 min after stimulation, while plasma testosterone was increased 60-150 min after stimulation. However, innocuous mechanical stimulation of bilateral hindlimbs by brushing for 10 min did not significantly change either plasma LH or testosterone. These results indicate that, when emotional factors were eliminated by anesthetization, cutaneous nociceptive information led to the increased secretion of LH from the anterior pituitary, resulting in an increase in testosterone secretion from the testes into the plasma.

Effects of olfactory stimulation with jasmin and its component chemicals on the duration of pentobarbital-induced sleep in mice

The effect of olfactory stimulation with jasmin and its component chemicals on pentobarbital sleep time was investigated using mice. In the present study we sought to determine which component of jasmin influences pentobarbital sleep time via olfactory stimulation. Sleep time was defined as the time elapsed between intraperitoneal pentobarbital administration and the first time that the animal was able to spontaneously right itself. Sleep time was significantly decreased by olfactory stimulation with jasmin, and also by one of the fractions obtained by fractional distillation at 150 degrees C and 0.1 mmHg. The fraction which influenced the sleep time was found to consist of benzyl benzoate, isophytol, geranyl linalool, phytol and phytyl acetate, which were identified using gas chromatography with mass and infrared spectrometry. In experiments using authentic samples of these components, phytol significantly shortened the pentobarbital sleep time, while the others had no effect. We conclude that phytol is the component of jasmin which reduces the duration of pentobarbital-induced sleep.

Somatic afferent stimulation-plasma corticosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone responses in aged male rats under anesthetization

Our previous studies have demonstrated that somatic sensory stimulation can produce increases in secretions of corticosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone in young male Wistar rats of 13-22 weeks old even after emotional factors are eliminated by pentobarbital-anesthetizing of the subjects. In the present study, we examined the effects of somatic sensory stimulation on plasma corticosterone, LH, and testosterone using aged male Wistar rats (24-27 months old) under the same anesthetizing condition as employed in our previous studies. We compared the reflex responses in aged rats with those previously measured in young rats. Nociceptive mechanical stimulation of both hindpaws by pinching for 10 min significantly increased plasma corticosterone levels in aged rats. The magnitude and time-course of this response were equivalent to those in young rats. On the other hand, neither plasma LH nor testosterone levels were changed by nociceptive mechanical stimulation of the hindpaws of aged rats. This is in sharp contrast to the increase in both plasma LH and testosterone caused by the stimulation of young rats. These results indicate a functional dissociation induced by aging between the secretory responses of the anterior pituitary, testes on the one hand and the adrenal cortex on the other hand, to nociceptive somatic sensory stimulation. Aging does not alter corticosterone release from the adrenal cortex to nociceptive somatic sensory stimulation; however, LH secretion from the anterior pituitary and testosterone secretion from the testes to nociceptive somatic sensory stimulation are subject to dysfunction with aging.

Sequential change of hemodynamic reserve in patients with major cerebral artery occlusion or severe stenosis

To identify regional vasodilatory capacity and its sequential change, we evaluated prospectively a total of 78 acetazolamide tests in 51 patients with occlusion or greater than 75% stenosis of the carotid or middle cerebral arteries. The relative distribution of cerebral blood flow was determined by single photon emission computed tomography using N-isopropyl-p-[123I]-iodoamphetamine before and after intravenous injection of acetazolamide. Reduced vasodilatory capacity was demonstrated in 20 patients (38%), including 5 patients with hemodynamic transient ischemic attacks or infarction. Follow-up acetazolamide tests revealed asymptomatic progression of the arterial lesion (from stenosis to occlusion) in 1 patient and almost complete improvement of vasodilatory capacity in 5 patients, including 3 without surgical intervention. During an average follow-up period of 18.5 months, 4 patients died from cardiac causes or neoplasm; no neurovascular events occurred. Much larger numbers of patients with longer observation periods will be necessary to clarify the contribution of chronic hemodynamic failure to subsequent stroke. However, the present data indicate that the acetazolamide test is useful for assessing the course of high grade stenosis or occlusion of major cerebral arteries.

Autolytic transition of mu-calpain upon activation as resolved by antibodies distinguishing between the pre- and post-autolysis forms

A novel method to observe the autolytic activation of a mammalian cytoplasmic calcium protease, mu-calpain, was developed using a set of antipeptidic antibodies capable of distinguishing between the pre- and post-autolysis forms of the enzyme. Antibodies raised against synthetic peptides designed to match the N-terminal sequences of the pre- and post-autolysis forms of the mu-calpain large subunit reacted specifically with the corresponding form of calpain and not with the other. The antibodies were specific and sensitive enough to detect the antigens in crude cell lysates. The relevance of the immunochemical detection of calpain activation was confirmed by the observation that proteolysis of a substrate protein by purified mu-calpain paralleled autolysis at various pCa as probed by these antibodies and that autolysis preceded substrate proteolysis. We also observed calcium-dependent autolysis of calpain accompanying subsequent proteolysis of substrate in intact cells using the antibodies. The method will provide a novel approach to assess the physiological targets of the enzyme by determining the local intracellular sites of calpain activation.

Evaluation of biocompatibility, based on quantitative determination of the vascular response induced by material implantation

The biocompatibility of nine different materials, including positive and negative references, 4 polyurethane based and 3 latex based materials was investigated by (1) cytotoxic assay using V79 chinese hamster cells, (2) the thickness of inflammatory layer at 3 and 7 days after intramuscular implantation test, and (3) the course of the blood flow in tissue reaction around subcutaneously implanted materials using Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) over 14 days following implantation. In addition, for some materials, different modes of sterilization were compared. Although the three methods explore different reactive systems, the material ranking obtained was highly similar for the three methods, suggesting a relative accuracy between them. For one latex however, an absence of cytotoxic effect in culture and a highly intense response by LDF investigation of the same order of magnitude as for the positive reference implant suggest that bioincompatibility may result from the material itself and cannot be exclusively investigated by the leaching of toxic components.

Effects of pulsing electromagnetic fields on cultured cartilage cells

In order to evaluate the effects of pulsing electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on cell proliferation and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis and to study the action site of PEMF stimulation in the cells, we performed a series of experiments on rabbit costal growth cartilage cells and human articular cartilage cells in culture. A PEMF stimulator was made using a Helmholz coil. Repetitive pulse burst electric currents with a burst width of 76 ms, a pulse width of 230 microseconds and 6.4 Hz were passed through this coil. The magnetic field strength reached 0.4 mT (tesla) on the average. The syntheses of DNA and GAG were measured by 3H-thymidine and 35S-sulfuric acid incorporations. The effects on the cells treated with lidocaine, adriamycin and irradiation were also measured using a colony forming assay. The PEMF stimulation for the duration of 5 days promoted both cell proliferation and GAG synthesis in growth cartilage cells and intermittent stimulation on and off alternatively every 12 h increased them most significantly, while, in articular cartilage cells, the stimulation promoted cell proliferation, but did not enhance GAG synthesis. PEMF stimulation promoted cells treated with lidocaine more significantly than with other agents. These results present evidence that intermittent PEMF stimulation is more effective on both cell proliferation and GAG synthesis of cartilage cells than continuous stimulation, and that the stimulation could exert effects not by nucleus directly, but by the cellular membrane-dependent mechanism. This study provides further basic data to encourage the clinical application of PEMF stimulation on bone and cartilage disorders.

[Post-operative respiratory management of patients with ventricular septal defect with pulmonary hypertension (VSD+PH)]

Post-operative respiratory management was evaluated in patients with VSD+PH. Comparison was made between Group I (6 patients under 6 months) and Group II (10 patients 6 months or above). Oxygenation after surgical operation in Gp I was poor and the patients needed longer period of mechanical ventilation (MV), while Gp II patients required shorter duration of MV. In Gp I, the duration of MV after the cardiac surgery correlated with the length of cardiopulmonary bypass. In conclusion, cardiopulmonary bypass may influence the post-operative pulmonary function and patients who require longer period of MV are younger infants or newborns whose pulmonary function is immature and PH is severe.

[Clinical observation of hemodynamic changes during anaphylactic reaction]

Four cases of anaphylactic shock are reported. In two patients who underwent A-C bypass operation, we evaluated hemodynamic changes systemically when the anaphylactic reaction occurred. At that time it was observed that arterial pressure, central venus pressure, left atrial pressure and systemic vascular resistance decreased and that cardiac index increased. In other two patients it was not possible to evaluate hemodynamic changes during reaction. But one of these two patients developed coronary spasm accompanied with anaphylactic shock and the other patient who had depressed cardiac function and had developed cardiogenic shock, died of cardiac failure after 47 days. It is suggested that hemodynamic changes in anaphylactic reaction varies depending on different general conditions of the patient.

Eosinophilia caused by administration of L-tryptophan to animals with adrenal dysfunction

We have investigated an animal model of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS), a disease that occurred in various parts of the United States in 1989, with a view to determining its cause. We speculated that adrenal dysfunction might have potentially contributed to the occurrence of EMS and studied the effects of adrenal dysfunction on the eosinophil count in peripheral blood by using rats and mice whose adrenals had been excised or that had been metyrapone-treated, and giving them L-tryptophan. As a result, a significant increase in the eosinophil count was observed in both animal species. The results suggest that EMS may have been caused, not by L-tryptophan alone, but by the combined effects of adrenal dysfunction and L-tryptophan ingestion.

Effect of partial Na pump and Na-H exchange inhibition on [Ca]i during acidosis in cardiac cells

This study investigated the effects of partial Na pump inhibition and Na-H exchange inhibition on contractile function, intracellular pH (pHi), and intracellular Ca concentration ([Ca]i) during intracellular acidosis, using the fluorescent dyes 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein and fura-2 in isolated cardiac cells of adult rabbits. Intracellular acidosis with normal extracellular pH was induced by an NH4Cl (10 mM) prepulse technique. A nontoxic concentration (0.5 microM) of ouabain was used to inhibit the Na pump. 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA) was used to inhibit Na-H exchange. In both the absence and presence of ouabain, pHi fell transiently and then recovered after removal of NH4Cl. Ouabain did not alter the pHi changes observed after removal of NH4Cl. Diastolic and systolic [Ca]i increased during acidosis after NH4Cl removal. In the presence of ouabain, the increase in [Ca]i during acidosis was greater than that in the absence of this drug. Ouabain enhanced the recovery of contractile function during acidosis. In both the absence and presence of ouabain, Na-H exchange inhibition by EIPA reduced the recovery of pHi and mechanical function and the increase in [Ca]i, which were normally observed after NH4Cl removal. These data suggest that in adult rabbit myocytes the Na pump inhibition enhances the increase in [Ca]i during acidosis, and the Na-H exchange inhibition reduces it. The [Ca]i increase during acidosis may be in part due to the altered Na-Ca exchange, which in turn results from the increased Na-H exchange.

Cytogenetics of ditelotetrasomics for short arms of four chromosomes of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Plants with a pair of extra homologous telocentric chromosomes in addition to the normal chromosome complement are called ditelotetrasomics. Six types of ditelotetrasomics of barley have been obtained. Four types obtained in the selfed progenies of telotrisomics (Triplo 2S, Triplo 5S, Triplo 6S, and Triplo 7S) are reported in this paper. The ditelotetra 2S showed a stronger expression of the diagnostic characteristics of Triplo 2S. It was weak and small, with narrow, short, dark-green leaves, and was almost completely pollen and seed sterile. However, three other ditelotetrasomics (ditelotetra 5S, 6S, and 7S) did not show specific diagnostic characteristics and were similar to normal diploid plants, with the exception of ditelotetrasomic 5S, which showed some effects. At meiotic diakinesis and metaphase I, these ditelotetrasomic plants showed chromosome configurations of 6II+1IV, 7II+1 teloII, 6II+1III+1teloI, or 7II+2 teloI. Most of the sporocytes at anaphase and telophase in the first and second meiotic divisions showed almost normal chromosome behavior. Quartets were mostly normal with no micronuclei. Approximately 30% of the selfed progenies of these three ditelotetrasomics were ditelotetrasomics and almost 50% were telotrisomics, indicating a high percentage of male and female transmission of the extra telocentric chromosomes.

Ultrasonography in congenital dislocation of the hip. Simultaneous imaging of both hips from in front

We describe a new technique for examining the infant hip using ultrasound. Both hips are imaged simultaneously via an anterior approach. The examination can be done with the hip either extended or flexed and abducted. The method has three advantages: 1) since both hips are imaged simultaneously, lines can be drawn to assist in determining the relationship between the femoral head and the pelvis; 2) proximal, anteroposterior and lateral displacement of the femoral head can all be demonstrated; 3) the method is applicable to the infant in a harness or a plaster cast to demonstrate maintenance of reduction of a dislocated hip. The usual direction of dislocation of the femoral head was anterior and lateral. Proximal migration was also observed in cases with more severe dislocation. In flexion, the dislocated head of the femur often moved posterior to the acetabulum. Of 1276 hips, in 638 infants aged from three weeks to one year, 49 showed congenital dislocation. The accuracy of our anterior method of sonography in diagnosing congenital dislocation of the hip compared well with the method of Graf and with radiography.

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide as a mediator of acetylcholine-induced coronary vasodilation in dogs

To investigate the role of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) in regulation of the tonus of the coronary artery system in vivo, the effect of NG-mono-methyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), a specific inhibitor of the synthesis of NO from L-arginine, on acetylcholine (ACh)-induced coronary vasodilation was examined in open-chest, anesthetized dogs. At baseline, the infusion of ACh and adenosine into the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) increased the LCX blood flow. Continuous infusion of L-NMMA (2 mumol/min, for 20 min) into LCX significantly attenuated ACh-induced increase in the LCX flow: percentage increases in the LCX flow by ACh (10 and 100 ng/kg) before L-NMMA were 42.0 +/- 8.7 and 137.3 +/- 12.5%, respectively, whereas those after L-NMMA were 14.0 +/- 4.9 (p less than 0.02) and 88.9 +/- 10.9% (p less than 0.005), respectively. L-NMMA showed no effect on adenosine-induced increase in the LCX flow. After the L-NMMA infusion was terminated, the effect of ACh partially returned to the baseline level. In other dogs, L-arginine (3 mg/min, for 20 min) was administered just after the L-NMMA infusion, which completely reversed the inhibitory effect of L-NMMA on ACh-induced vasodilation. Endothelium-derived NO is a mediator of ACh-induced vasodilation of the coronary resistance vessels in dogs.

Characterization and mapping of a major Na+/H+ antiporter gene of Escherichia coli

Using in vivo assays, we show that the Na+/H+ antiporter activity of the Escherichia coli mutant HIT-1 is reduced dramatically compared with activity in wild-type cells. An isogenic nhaA (formerly antA) deletion strain, however, is not significantly different from wild type in this respect. We call the locus affecting Na+/H+ antiporter activity of the HIT-1 mutant nhaB. The nhaB activity exhibits no pH dependence in the range between 7.0 and 8.5, whereas that of the nhaA gene increases considerably at pH levels above 8.0. Mutants with defects in nhaB grow normally on agar media containing 0.5 M NaCl, but nhaA mutants are sensitive to 0.5 M NaCl. We have mapped the nhaB mutation of HIT-1 to 25.6 min on the E. coli map. It is unlinked to the nhaA region, which is located at about 0.5 min. Since a cell with a mutation in nhaB alone is essentially Na+/H+ antiporter negative up to pH 8.0, we conclude that nhaB is required for the major Na+/H+ antiporter activity in the usual physiological pH range.

A novel mechanism of cation/substrate cotransport: Na+/H+/adenosine cotransport in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Adenosine is actively transported with Na+ in Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Sakai, Y., Tsuda, M., Tsuchiya, T. (1987) Biochim, Biophys. Acta 893, 43-48). The proton conductor carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, CCCP, strongly inhibited active transport of adenosine at pH 8.5 as well as at pH 7.0. This seemed peculiar because the driving force, an electrochemical potential of Na+, is established by the Na(+)-extruding respiratory chain at pH 8.5 in this organism, although it is established by the function of the Na+/H+ antiporter at pH 7.0. This suggested that H+ might be involved in the adenosine transport. We detected H+ uptake induced by adenosine influx in V. parahaemolyticus cells in the presence of Na+, but not in its absence, suggesting the occurrence of Na+/H+/adenosine cotransport. We isolated formycin A-resistant mutants which showed defective adenosine transport. The mutation resulted in simultaneous losses of Na+ uptake and H+ uptake induced by adenosine. In revertants from these mutants the Na+ uptake and H+ uptake were restored simultaneously. The frequencies of reversion were in the order of 10(-7), indicating that the mutations were single mutations; namely that Na+/adenosine cotransport and H+/adenosine cotransport took place via the same carrier. Thus, we conclude that adenosine is transported by the novel mechanism of Na+/H+/adenosine cotransport in V. parahaemolyticus.

[Role of bile and pancreatic juice in regulation of gut hormone secretion]

To elucidate the role of bile and pancreatic juice in regulation of gut hormone secretion, an experimental study was performed creating models of biliary and pancreatic juice diversion in conscious dogs with reference to gastric acid and pancreatic exocrine secretions. The results were obtained as follows. 1) Diversion of bile from the duodenum to the jejunum, the ileum and urinary bladder (UB) did not affect the postprandial gastric acid and gastrin secretion, except slight suppression of gastric acid in model of bile diversion to the ileum and UB. 2) Postprandial GIP secretion was completely diminished and total-GLI secretion was significantly increased after bile diversion to the ileum and UB, whereas the jejunal diversion did not affect both GIP and total-GLI secretion. 3) A marked hypertrophy of pancreatic acinar cells was seen in conventional histopathological investigation and hyperfunction indicated by microelectroscopical findings was observed after bile diversion to UB with significant hypersecretion of CCK. 4) In the model of bile diversion to UB, hypersecretion of insulin was observed after intravenous glucose infusion test. 5) Diversion of pancreatic juice from the duodenum to the jejunum induced significant postprandial hypersecretion of gastric acid and hyposecretion of GIP.

Improvement of postoperative hypocalcemia by repeated allotransplantation of parathyroid tissue without anti-rejection therapy

Long lasting postoperative hypocalcemia, an uncomfortable complication of a thyroid operation for hyperthyroidism, was treated with allotransplantation of parathyroid tissue. Small pieces of the parathyroid tissue offered from two unrelated donors were transplanted to an 18-year-old male with severe postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Prednisolone was given for 2 days, but no other immunosuppressive drugs were used. The remaining tissue was stored in frozen for the repeat transplantation. The functional activity of the frozen tissue was determined by the production of parathyroid hormone in the tissue culture medium adjusted to appropriate concentration of calcium. Loss of the graft function, probably due to rejection, was supplemented with repeated grafting. Hypocalcemia was improved by three times of transplantation using frozen tissue (once) and fresh tissue (twice). This preliminary trial demonstrates that the tissue transplantation of the parathyroid gland is effective to lessen the symptoms and medication of postoperative hypoparathyroidism.