Enzyme immunosorbant assay of oestradiol in unextracted plasma using penicillinase as label

An enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) for measuring oestradiol directly in plasma without extraction utilizing antibodies raised against oestradiol-3-(O-carboxymethyl) ether-bovine serum albumin conjugate, and oestradiol-6-(O-carboxymethyl) oxime linked to penicillinase (EC 3.5.2.6) as a marker was developed. Polyvinyl 96-well microtitre plates were used for immobilization of anti-oestradiol IgG. Standards of oestradiol (92 to 9,190 pmol/l were prepared in oestradiol-free plasma and 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulphonic acid (8-ANS, 5 mg/ml of 10 mmol/l PBS) was added to the microtitre plate wells to displace oestradiol from plasma binding proteins. The assay had a lower limit of detection of 92 pmol/l plasma and could be performed within 4 h. Comparison of oestradiol values of 51 plasma specimens obtained by ELISA with those of radioimmunoassay (RIA), in which oestradiol was extracted with diethyl ether, showed good correlation (y = 0.786x + 0.03; r = 0.900).

Enzyme immunosorbent assay of prolactin with penicillinase as label

This competitive, rapid, and sensitive enzyme immunosorbent assay for measuring human prolactin in plasma involves penicillinase (EC 3.5.2.6) as label. Microtiter plate wells coated with goat anti-rabbit gamma globulin are filled with antibody to prolactin and plasma sample or reference prolactin and incubated with penicillinase-labeled prolactin for 1 h at 37 degrees C. The enzyme activity of the bound complex is then measured. The assay is as sensitive as radioimmunoassay, the detection limit being 2.5 ng of prolactin per milliliter of plasma. The plasma prolactin values obtained by enzyme immunoassay correlated well with those determined by radioimmunoassay: r = 0.98, slope = 1.00, intercept = 1.11 ng/mL (n = 53).

Enzyme immunosorbent assay of prolactin with penicillinase as label

This competitive, rapid, and sensitive enzyme immunosorbent assay for measuring human prolactin in plasma involves penicillinase (EC 3.5.2.6) as label. Microtiter plate wells coated with goat anti-rabbit gamma globulin are filled with antibody to prolactin and plasma sample or reference prolactin and incubated with penicillinase-labeled prolactin for 1 h at 37 degrees C. The enzyme activity of the bound complex is then measured. The assay is as sensitive as radioimmunoassay, the detection limit being 2.5 ng of prolactin per milliliter of plasma. The plasma prolactin values obtained by enzyme immunoassay correlated well with those determined by radioimmunoassay: r = 0.98, slope = 1.00, intercept = 1.11 ng/mL (n = 53).

Hormonal control of implantation in guinea pigs

In the guinea pig, for which implantation is supposedly progesterone-dependent, actual hormonal requirements were assessed by measuring the levels of circulating estradiol and progesterone and correlating them with their content in the ovaries and uterus, and uterine concentrations of their receptors prior to, during, and immediately after implantation. Ovarian and uterine content and plasma levels of estradiol and progesterone, as well as uterine cytosolic receptors of these two hormones, were high at proestrus. Up to day 3 of pregnancy, estradiol remained high in peripheral plasma, ovarian and uterine tissues, but reached low levels at the time of implantation. The levels of progesterone showed a gradual increase in plasma and ovaries till the time of implantation, with the embryonic site of the uterus accumulating more of progesterone compared to estradiol. As pregnancy progressed, a gradual translocation of cytosolic to nuclear receptors occurred, both with estradiol and progesterone receptors. Comparing the receptor values for estradiol at each uterine site showed no significant alterations between embryonic and interembryonic cytosolic receptors. While significantly high levels of nuclear estradiol receptor were found at the inter-embryonic site on day 9 of pregnancy, the cytosolic and nuclear progesterone receptor concentrations were greater at the embryonic site on the same day. These findings demonstrated that the uterus is adequately exposed to estradiol and progesterone prior to ovulation and again in early pregnancy (day 1-3), thus facilitating implantation in the guinea pig (on days 7-8).

Variations in amino acids and sugars in different tissues of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) during the pathogenesis of Uromyces fabae (Pers.) de Bary

In response to infection by the rust pathogen Uromyces fabae the different tissues of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) showed varied pattern of amino acid metabolism; some of them being exclusively present in a particular region only. In the inflorescence tissue, for example, tryptophan, glycine, aspartic acid, serine, proline, and arginine were present. In the stem, however, the amino acids, present during and after infection, were tryptophan, serine, glutamine, homoserine, and dl-alanine. Post-infectionally induced amino compounds, lysine, histidine, vomoserine, proline, tyrosine and dl-threonine, were found in the leaves; in the petiole serine and histidine were the only two such amino acids. Out of these amino acids only histidine and proline, with their specific presence and activity, encouraged uredospore differentiation. L-cysteine, too, by being actively utilized, served as promoter of uredosporulation. Asparagine and methionine showed moderate to heavy depletion during bean tissue infection. On the other hand, l-leucine/isoleucine, beta-alanine, valine, and glutamic acid showed moderate to pronounced increase during pathogenic establishment. Concomitant to uredospore differentiation there was a drastic lowering in the amount of sucrose in leaf and petiole tissue. The amount of glucose also declined during pathogenesis.

Changes in the composition of free amino acids and sugars of leaf sheath and culm of wheat during uredospore and teleutospore formation of Puccinia graminis tritici

There were altogether fourteen amino acids in leaf sheath and culm of wheat infected with Puccinia graminis tritici, especially in and around uredial and telial pustules. Valine, tyrosine, and proline, due to their exclusive presence in uredial pustules on leaf sheath and culm of wheat, were involved in the eruption of uredospores of P. graminis tritici. Glutamic acid and dl-threonine were, however, involved in a different manner during uredospore differentiation; their amounts diminishesd parallel to sporulation. The other amino compounds, detected in and around uredial and telial pustules on leaf sheaths and culms, were l-leucine/isoleucine, beta-phenylalanine, beta-alanine, glycine, serine, aspartic acid, homoserine, and glutamine. The amounts of these amino acids either remained the same or were lowered during uredo- and teluto-spores formation, except for serine which increased in its amount. The depletion of these amino compounds indicated their metabolic activity and utilization for uredo- and teleuto-spores differentiation of P. graminis tritici. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose, among sugars, were also utilized as their amounts diminished, for uredo- and teleuto-spores formation.

Amino acid content in relation to growth of Helminthosporium maydis Nishikado and Miyake

During the growth period of thirty days, altogether thirteen amino acids showed their presence and activity in the developing culture of Helminthosporium maydis Nishikado and Miyake. Initiation of growth by the 5th day coincided with the appearance of profuse amounts of dl-alanine and serine, and moderate amounts of valine, threonine, and aspartic acid. The thirteen amino acids, which appeared in full complement by the 15th day, were actively engaged in accelerating mycelial accumulation. Beyond this growth period, there was a decline in the amino acids.

Varying spectrum of amino acids in relation to growth in Helminthosporium oryzae Breda de Haan

Fifteen amino acids were detected in the developing mycelium of Helminthosporium oryzae Breda de Haan. During the first fortnight of mat accumulation, which was more rapid, a marked influence of amino acids on the growth pattern was discernible. A high level maintenance of dl-alanine l-cysteine, l-leucine/isoleucine, threonine, tyrosine, glutamic, and aspartic acids, as well as an increase in the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid and proline during the first fortnight of culture development were effective in initiating growth and keeping it at a more rapid pace. Glutamine and methionine appeared in the latter half of fungal growth. During this slow pace of mycelial accumulation in the latter half period, there was a general and overall decline in the amount of most of the amino acids. The amino acids started disappearing from the mycelial extract from the 20th day onwards till the end of the 30th day. In the culture filtrate, aspartic acid and proline appeared during the rapid growth phase and dl-alanine and methionine during the slower phase.