Isolated deficiency of follicle-stimulating hormone: Further studies

We record further studies over the past 2 yr on a unique female subject with isolated follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH) deficiency, who developed human anti-gFSH antibodies after treatment with exogenous urinary gonadotropins. Administration of LRH resulted in a significant rise in serum hLH, but hFSH levels remained undetectable, "alpha Subunit" (the common alpha chain of the glycoprotein hormones) was detectable in basal samples obtained from our patient, and rose sharply after LRH. This is concordant with the hypothesis that the defect in our subject may be in the synthesis of the beta chain of hFSH, but it does not exclude other possibilities. The concentration of hFSH antibodies in the patient's serum has been monitored and her response to a further course of exogenous gonadotropins is recorded. The anti serum exhibits specificity for the hFSH molecule; the alpha and the beta chains of hFSH are virtually inert in competing with tracer 125-I-hFSH for binding to the antibody.

Alpha subunit of glycoprotein hormone: presence in peripheral serum after LHRH

A method is described for the selective measurement of human luteinizing hormone (hLH) and alpha subunit. The assays employ highly purified tracers of hLH and of subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCGalpha) and a "mixed population" of antibody: Population I (directed against determinants on beta subunit of hCG) and Population II (directed against determinants on alpha subunit of hCG). The former is present in greater concentration than the latter. When the mixed antibody is used at higher dilution (1:1.2x10(6)), Population II is effectively diluted out, and using 125I-labelled hLH as tracer, the assay recognize hLH, hCG and their beta subunits 20-50 times more sensitively than hCGalpha. When the mixed antibody is used at fivefold higher concentration, Population I is present in relative excess and acts as a "sink" for hCG, hLH and their beta subunits. Under these conditions, using 125I-hCGalpha as tracer, the assay recognize the alpha subunit 20 to 50-fold more sensitively than hLH and hCG. These assays have been employed in the study of sera which have been filtered over Sephadex G-100. Alpha subunit was detected in serum within minutes after intravenous injection of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) in four subjects tested.

Organ regeneration after median bisection of the sepal primordia of tobacco

Young, newly emergent sepal primordia of tobacco were halved vertically and left attached to their floral meristem. Sterile culture of these meristems on a Linsmaier and Skoog medium for 8 days facilitated regeneration of a new sepal primordium from each original half. Sepal rudiments thus exhibited regulative behavior and are structurally labile.

Sex, SIN, and dirty books

The paper discusses various creative approaches used to involve faculty in library operations and to expand service both to faculty and students in an academic health sciences library.