Observation of the in situ contracting heart of guinea pigs infected with Pichinde virus

The in situ beating hearts from anesthetized control and Pichinde virus-infected strain 13 guinea pigs, between days 7 and 19 postinoculation, were directly observed and video recorded. Although some hearts from Pichinde virus-infected animals were visually depressed and had altered contraction patterns, such a pronounced cardiac dysfunction was not associated with any marked histopathological changes in the cardiac tissue. The manifestations of cardiac dysfunction were limited mainly to the right side of the heart and occurred only from days 11 to 19 postinoculation. We suggest that certain biochemical "lesions" in the heart after lethal Pichinde virus infection may be present, which may have been caused by the actions of endogenous pathogenic mediators and an overall metabolic deficiency of the infected body.

Characterization of ciprofibrate and clofibric acid as peroxisomal proliferators in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes

We have determined the comparative activities of peroxisomal proliferators, ciprofibrate and clofibric acid on various hepatic parameters associated with endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and peroxisomes in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. We have measured the activities of carnitine acetyltransferase and fatty acylCoA oxidase, and the amount of 60 and 80 kD polypeptides as biochemical markers of the peroxisomal function; laurate hydroxylase and cytochrome P-450 as markers of the endoplasmic reticulum; and carnitine palmitoyltransferase as a marker of mitochondria in primary cultures of hepatocytes. Ciprofibrate (0.01 to 0.3 mM) and clofibric acid (0.1 to 3 mM) produced similar changes in several components of cultured hepatocytes within 72 hr. Increases of protein (18 and 11%), carnitine palmitoyltransferase (23 and 97%), cytochrome P-450 (37 and 49%), carnitine acetyltransferase (484 and 614%), fatty acylCoA oxidase (529 and 931%) and laurate hydroxylase (624 and 671%) were obtained in hepatocytes after a 72-hr exposure to 0.1 mM ciprofibrate and 1.0 mM clofibric acid, respectively. In cultured hepatocytes, ciprofibrate was about 30-fold more active than clofibric acid for the stimulation of carnitine acetyltransferase, laurate hydroxylase and fatty acylCoA oxidase activities. Ciprofibrate was also more potent than clofibric acid as an inducer of the 60 and 80 kD proteins in hepatocytes. The maximal drug-induced increases in carnitine acetyltransferase activity were not additive, and the induction of carnitine acetyltransferase by ciprofibrate was blocked by addition (1 micrograms per ml) of cycloheximide or actinomycin D. Changes in protein and RNA synthesis preceded the drug-induced increases of carnitine acetyltransferase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evidence for the involvement of sulfidopeptide leukotrienes in the pathogenesis of Pichinde virus infection in strain 13 guinea pigs

Strain 13 guinea pigs inoculated subcutaneously with Pichinde virus developed fever, lost body weight, decreased water and food consumption, and died at 14 +/- 0.6 days. After FPL-55712, a leukotriene D4 antagonist, was administered beginning on PID (post-inoculation day) 3 for 18 days, the magnitude of body weight loss decreased and food intake increased, despite a persistent fever. The treated guinea pigs also survived significantly longer than infected animals receiving placebo injection (21 vs 14 days). Using guinea pig ileum bioassay and radioimmunoassay, we detected significant levels of plasma leukotrienes in Pichinde virus-infected guinea pigs on PID 11 and possibly PID 14. These findings strongly suggest that leukotrienes play a role in the pathogenesis of arenavirus infection and may account in part for the observed cardiac depression, pulmonary edema, and eventual death.

Inhibition of overall protein and RNA synthesis as a mechanism for the tunicamycin induced decrease in cytochrome P-450 in rat hepatocytes

In rat hepatocytes maintained in culture, cytochrome P-450 and NADPH cytochrome c reductase activities were decreased by tunicamycin in a dose and time dependent fashion. The effect of tunicamycin was mainly due to inhibition of protein synthesis. Tunicamycin decreased L-[35S] methionine incorporation into many proteins, including a 52 kDa cytochrome P-450 isozyme. Tunicamycin also reduced RNA synthesis. These results indicate that tunicamycin decreased cytochrome P-450 levels in hepatocytes by inhibiting protein and RNA synthesis.

Techniques for isolation and performance of the perfused guinea pig working heart

This study demonstrated new approaches which enabled evaluating the work performance in both ventricles of an isolated guinea pig heart. By changing the right atrial filling pressure (RAFP, preload) from 6 to 20 mm of Hg at a constant aortic pressure (Pa, 20 mm of Hg), cardiac output, stroke volume, aortic flow, coronary flow, cardiac work, O2 consumption, CO2 output, as well as end-diastolic ventricular, and pulmonary arterial pressures increased. Cardiac contractility and both ventricular systolic pressures reached peak values between 12 and 14 mm of Hg of RAFP and then gradually decreased. With graded increases of Pa (afterload) from 10 to 45 mm of Hg at a fixed RAFP (8 mm of Hg), coronary flow, cardiac contractility, cardiac work, cardiac O2 consumption, glucose utilization rate, and pulmonary arterial and both ventricular systolic pressures increased. Although aortic flow decreased with an increase in Pa, cardiac output, stroke volume, and coronary resistance did not show significant changes. Furthermore, cardiac mechanical efficiency decreased with an increase of pre- or afterload of the perfused isolated heart. These findings indicate that the total working heart model is suitable for studying cardiac functions.

Inhibition of protein synthesis: a basis for tunicamycin-induced decrease in rat liver cytochrome P-450

Tunicamycin caused a dose and time dependent decrease in cytochrome P-450 in rat liver. A dose of 50 micrograms/kg caused a decrease of about 50% in 72 hours. A similar decrease in the activities of rat liver microsomal aniline hydroxylase, aminopyrine N-demethylase and ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase were also seen after the tunicamycin treatment. Tunicamycin also suppressed food and water intake but the decrease in cytochrome P-450 was not related to these effects. NADPH cytochrome c reductase was not markedly decreased by tunicamycin. A decrease in cytochrome P-450 was also observed in cultured rat hepatocytes treated with tunicamycin. It decreased incorporation of [35S]-methionine into total proteins as well as into various cytochrome P-450 isozymes of rat hepatocytes. This indicates that a decrease in protein synthesis may be responsible for the tunicamycin-induced decrease in cytochrome P-450 and drug metabolism.

Placentas in pregnancies complicated by maternal diabetes

PDMs tend to be large and the size is generally in proportion to fetal size. Infarcts are both more numerous and more common in PDMs than in normal placentas. These reflect the in utero hypoxia found in IDMs. Placental infarcts are increased not only in cases of severe DM (classes D, F-R) but also mild and early DM (class A). We infer from this that maternal vascular disease may be present functionally long before pathologic changes can be detected by direct examination of vessels. More subtle evidence of hypoxia in PDMs, such as an increased number of syncytial knots, has been suggested by qualitative data but has not been confirmed by morphometric analysis. Other qualitative observations in PDMs include thickened basement membranes, flattened microvilli on trophoblasts, ectasia of capillaries and villous stromal edema; changes in intracellular organelles and structures include enlarged mitochondria, increased pinocytotic vesicles, and dilated profiles of endoplasmic reticulum. Quantitative morphometric analysis shows no differences between normal placentas and PDMs with regard to these changes. The transport and secretory functions of the placenta, especially important in pregnancy complicated by DM, are not addressed here. As our understanding of placental physiology enlarges, it will be useful to relate each function with its structural counterpart. Perhaps this review will in part provide rational data from which to proceed with the task.

Two lethal chondrodysplasias with giant chondrocytes

Two infants, each with a different form of sporadic lethal chondrodysplasia, had multinucleated giant chondrocytes in resting cartilage. Both patients also had severe laryngeal stenosis and normal chromosomes. The radiographic abnormalities in one patient conformed to the recently delineated entity, atelosteogenesis (spondylohumerofemoral hypoplasia or giant cell chondrodysplasia); the other patient had an unclassified type of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. The findings in these two patients and the previously reported observations in spondylohumerofemoral dysplasia confirm that chondrocytic giant cells are a causally nonspecific phenomenon.

Changes in body fluid compartments, tissue water and electrolyte distribution, and lipid concentrations in rhesus macaques with yellow fever

Rhesus macaques were inoculated subcutaneously with 40 plaque-forming units of yellow fever (YF) virus. To identify pathophysiologic mechanisms of YF, rectal temperatures and evidence of viremia were observed daily; physiologic and biochemical changes were studied on postinoculation day (PID) 5. Marked viremia was detected on PID 2 through 5, and fever was first observed on PID 4. On PID 5, blood and plasma volumes and circulatory K+ values increased, whereas RBC volume, PCV, and plasma cholesterol concentration decreased. Total lipids (mainly triglycerides) accumulated in the liver of inoculated macaques; alterations in hepatic content of water, electrolytes, and trace metals were also observed. Certain parts of the CNS, skeletal muscle, skin, heart, diaphragm, and renal cortex were affected, with changes noticed in water, electrolyte, trace metal, and lipid concentrations. These tissue changes indicated that cellular metabolism was altered and that the transport mechanisms of cell membranes of certain tissues were modified by YF virus or the disease process caused by the virus. Terminal hypoglycemia (57.6 +/- 12.1 mg/dl) was observed. The YF-induced intracellular dehydration of the medulla oblongata at the later stage of illness may depress the cardiovascular and respiratory centers, thus contributing to death of rhesus macaques infected with YF virus.

Effect of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in rats on hepatic water content, electrolyte concentration, and chemical composition

Total hepatic water content, dry weight, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, RNA, DNA, and electrolyte concentrations were determined in control and Streptococcus pneumoniae-infected rats. During infection, there was a significant (P = 0.001) increase in total liver weight. This increase was the result of increased total liver water content and increased total liver dry weight. Intracellular water content, diameter of hepatocytes, and all measured constituents of hepatic dry weight, excluding DNA, increased significantly (P varied from 0.05-0.001) during infection. Concentrations of liver Na+ and Cl- increased significantly (P varied from 0.05-0.005), whereas the concentration of liver K+ decreased significantly (P = 0.01). Seemingly, there is an enlargement of hepatocytes due to increased intracellular water and increased dry weight during pneumococcal infection in the rat. The mechanism of these liver changes may be due, in part, to a shift of Na+ and K+ across liver cell plasma membranes.

Electrolyte metabolism in rhesus monkeys with experimental salmonella sepsis

Prior investigations in the human indicate that alterations occur in electrolyte balance and serum concentration during infectious diseases. In order to explore these alterations in greater detail, electrolyte metabolism has been investigated in rhesus monkeys with a sublethal illness induced by intravenous inoculation with Salmonella typhimurium. The response to this illness was evaluated by a variety of measurements including serum and muscle electrolyte composition and renal function studies. In the animals with ad libitum dietary intake, a loss in muscle and serum potassium concentrations was evident within 24 h after inoculation. This was reflected in increased urinary potassium losses during the febrile phase of illness. Serum and muscle K concentrations returned to normal after 5 days of illness. Sodium and water content of muscle responded to infection in a more complex pattern. During the febrile phase, muscle sodium and water increased and sodium concentrations in serum and urine were elevated. During convalescence, renal retention of sodium was marked and overlapped the period of weight loss and the increased urine volume. This asynchrony in recovery of normal renal function appeared to be the cause of relatively large swings in plasma sodium concentrations during the early convalescent period. These investigations indicate that the altered serum concentrations in infectious diseases are the sum of renal and extrarenal factors controlling electrolyte metabolism, and that some of the most remarkable alterations occur during early convalescence as renal function returns to normal.

Diurnal changes in rectal and body surface temperatures of conscious, chair-restrained rhesus macaques

A system has been established for continuous recording of rectal and body surface temperatures in conscious, chair-restrained rhesus macaques. Diurnal changes in rectal temperature and body surface temperatures of head, back, abdomen, and inner thigh were recorded for 24 hours under conditions of intermittent or constant light. When lights were on for 8 hours (0800 to 1600 hours) and off for 16 hours, maximal rectal temperatures (37.6 +/- 0.3 C) were observed at 0900 hours, whereas minimal rectal temperatures (36.7 +/- 0.4 C) were demonstrated between 0200 and 0400 hours. Mean rectal temperatures varied 0.9 C during a 24-hour period. A trend of diurnal changes in body surface temperatures was also observed with low surface temperatures recorded between 0400 and 0800 hours. The surface temperatures (33.8 to 36.5 C) were markedly lower than rectal temperatures (36.7 to 37.6 C) under the same experimental conditions. When macaques were subjected to constant light, high rectal temperatures were recorded between 0900 and 1700 hours and low rectal temperatures were observed between 2400 and 0300 hours with a mean variation of 0.7 C (36.3 +/- 0.15 to 37.0 +/- 0.2). Diurnal body surface temperature changes during constant light were less pronounced than those of rectal temperatures. Furthermore, low surface temperatures of abdomen and inner thigh recorded between 0200 and 0800 hours were similar to those obtained with macaques exposed to the light-dark condition.

Achondrogenesis: a review with special consideration of achondrogenesis type II (Langer-Saldino)

We describe two dwarfed infants with large head, short neck and chest, prominent abdomen, and short limbs. Both died neonatally. Radiographic and morphologic characteristics identified the Langer-Saldino form of achondrogenesis (type II). Review of type II achondrogenesis documented distinctive clinical and anthropometric manifestations (fewer stillbirths, longer survival time and gestation period, larger size of the baby, longer limbs, and characteristic craniofacial features) as compared with type I achondrogenesis (Parenti-Fraccaro).

Idiopathic arterial calcification in infancy. Report of a case in a premature fetus

A case of advanced idiopathic arterial calcification occurred in a macerated male fetus, 29 weeks' gestational age, delivered of a 22-year-old primigravida. The aortic valve, aorta, coronary arteries, ductus arteriosus, and pulmonary, mesenteric, periadrenal, and renal arteries were calcified and were detected on postmortem roentgenogram. Myocardial calcification and endocardial fibroelastosis were also present. The mother's calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase levels were normal. Vitamin D intake was not excessive. A maternal febrile illness at 18 to 19 weeks' gestation was the only untoward event during pregnancy.

Effects of intravenous and aerosol administration of crude Shigella toxin to rhesus macaques: preliminary study

Experiments were conducted to determine the dose response, survival time, blood biochemical changes, and cardiohepatic responses to a single IV injection of crude Shigella toxin in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Circulatory shock, hepatic falure, respiratory depression, dyspnea, convulsions, and coma were observed before death. The survival time was inversely related to the administered toxic dose, which ranged from 20 to 200 microgram/kg of body weight. However, the severity of lesions in the heart and gastrointestinal tract was directly correlated with the amount of the injected dose. Macaques exposed to aerosols of crude Shigella toxin did not show any signs of toxicosis within 7 days after exposure and were considered permanent survivors. Seemingly, an IV crude preparation of Shigella toxin is lethal to rhesus macaques, but an aerosol crude preparation of Shigella toxin is not.

Modification of lethality induced by staphylococcal enterotoxin B in Dutch rabbits

Intramuscular injection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) at a dosage level of 50 microgram/kg of body weight caused death in Dutch rabbits. Lethality was not modified markedly by morphine pretreatment or by hyperthermia, thyrotoxicosis, propylthiouracil feeding, thyroparathyroidectomy, water deprivation, or fasting. The administration of acetylsalicylic acid to the SEB-inoculated rabbit also failed to protect the rabbits from the effect of SEB. Seemingly, the SEB molecular destruction was not markedly modified by alteration of cellular metabolism, and lethal effects of SEB remained unchanged in the morphine- or acetylsalicylic acid-treated rabbits. When SEB was given to six rabbits 3 days after total-body X-irradiation, fever persisted and three rabbits survived. An identical dose of SEB to nonirradiated rabbits produced fever initially, followed by hypothermia and death of all six rabbits.

Effects of intravenous injection of leukocytic endogenous mediator on cardiohepatic functions in rhesus macaques

A crude preparation of leukocytic endogenous mediator administered IV over a 10-minute period into a rhesus macaque at a dosage of 10 ml/kg of body weight resulted in hypotension, tachycardia, vasodilation, hypoalbuminemia, and hypoproteinemia. Decreases in cardiac and hepatic functions and biphasic changes in peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes also were seen. All measured changes, except hepatic functions and plasma albumin values, returned to base-line values within 24 hours. Data indicate that presently utilized crude leucocytic endogenous mediator preparations contain a heretofore undescribed, and as yet unidentified, component. Induced early cardiovascular changes may be related in part to certain compounds likely to be in the crude preparation.

Distribution of tissue water and electrolytes in normal rhesus macaques

Techniques for the determination of water and electrolytes in individual tissues of normal rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are described. Base-line values are presented for intracellular and extracellular distributions of water and electrolytes in 14 tissues, including skin, skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius), cardiac muscle (left ventricle), lung, diaphragm, liver, renal cortex, outer medulla and inner medulla, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, thalamus-hypothalamus complex, medulla oblongata, and spinal cord.

Effect of staphylococcal enterotoxin B on cardiorenal functions and survival in X-irradiated rhesus macaques

Pretreatment of rhesus macaques with nonlethal total-body x-irradiation (400 R) prolonged survival time from an average of 15 hours to 101 hours after intravenous (IV) inoculation of 50 microgram of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)/kg of body weight. Radiation exposure per se did not produce detectable cardiorenal changes; however, the longer survival after SEB challenge exposure in x-irradiated rhesus macaques was associated with improved cardiorenal functions if compared with that of nonirradiated macaques given the same dose of SEB. Total-body radiation exposure 4 days prior to IV SEB inoculation prevented typical SEB-induced decreases (where measured at 5 hours) in cardiac output, stroke volume, TcH2O, CPAH, Cosm, and urine flow, as well as increases in total peripheral and renal resistance. A theory concerning the significance of radiation-induced leukopenia on modification of SEB-induced cardiorenal functions is postulated.

Alterations of body fluid compartments and distribution of tissue water and electrolytes in rhesus monkeys with rocky mountain spotted fever

Chair-restrained rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were inoculated subcutaneously with 10(2)--10(3) plaque-forming units of virulent Rickettsia rickettsii. The latent period for fever and rickettsemia was three to four days; death occurred six to eight days after infection. Total circulatory electrolyte levels and fluid volumes, including plasma, red blood cell, true circulatory blood, and extracellular fluid, increased. The expansion of the extracellular and plasma volumes resembled findings reported during severe Rocky Mountain spotted fever in humans, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Total water content of the liver also increased. Intracellular concentrations of K+, as well as total Na+ and K+, decreased in the diaphragm. Both the lung and medulla oblongata showed increased levels of intracellular Na+ and water with simultaneously decreased levels of extracellular Na+ and water. Such an intracellular overhydration of the medulla oblongata could contribute to death as a result of depression of the cardiovascular and respiratory centers. On the basis of the findings in monkeys, the intravenous infusion of fluids and electrolytes during clinical therapy of severe rickettsial infections should be considered extremely dangerous.

Effect of staphylococcal enterotoxin B on cardiorenal functions in rhesus macaques

Selected cardiovascular and renal functions were measured for 5 hours in conscious, chair-restrained, female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) after IV (0.05 and 1.0 mg/kg) or oral (1.0 mg/kg) administration of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). Cardiovascular functions, renal hemodynamics, and renal metabolism were also studied between 6 and 11 hours after IV SEB inoculation. Oral SEB produced few changes in cardiorenal functions. In contrast, IV SEB produced hypotension, tachycardia, increased total peripheral and renal vascular resistance, and decreased cardiac and renal functions. The early significant (P less than 0.05) renal depression was not associated with hypotension (mean arterial blood pressure greater than 100 mm of Hg). However, all measured renal functions except extraction ratio of PAH were positively correlated with decreased blood pressure (r = 0.52 - 0.71) in the later phase of SEB toxemia. It is concluded that the kidney is one of the organs affected by IV SEB. Renal impairment may partially contribute to death during SEB enterotoxemia in macaques.

Immunologic studies on drug addiction: III. Antibodies reactive with cocaine metabolites and their use for drug detection

Antisera which react with the major metabolites of cocaine have been prepared in rabbits and a hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test which detects these metabolites in urine or serum in concentrations of 1 ng/ml is described. A comparison of this test with alternate detection procedures shows excellent agreement at comparable sensitivity levels. HI tests on simian and human biological specimens suggest that the use of cocaine remains detectable for at least 3 days after administration of a minimal pharmacologically active dose. Combination of physical separation of drug metabolites with immunoassay procedures indicates that benzoylecgonine and ecgonine are the immunoreactive cocaine metabolites found in human urine. While it was possible to apply the HI test at maximal sensitivity to human sera and to murine or simian urine specimens, interference was encountered with some human urine specimens. Preliminary data suggest that by reducing the sensitivity of the test to a threshold of 200 ng/ml this interference can be overcome.

Pulmonary functions in conscious and anesthetized rhesus macaques

Techniques for measurements of selected pulmonary functions for a period of 6 hours in conscious and lightly anesthetized rhesus macaques are described. Among all variables measured, only higher PaCO2 (367 +/- 32 mm of Hg) occurred in macaques breathing O2 as compared with those breathing room air. Tidal volume, respiratory rate, minute volume, O2 consumption, and specific ventilation in conscious and anesthetized monkeys were not significantly different. Further, respiratory and metabolic values from lightly anesthetized macaques in the present study agree well with the reports of others. However, differences were the higher values for O2 consumption, tidal volume, respiratory rate, and minute volume obtained with the presently described techniques as compared with certain reported data.

Cardiovascular and hepatic responses of rhesus macaques to staphylococcal enterotoxin B

Certain cardiovascular and hepatic functions were measured for a period of 6 to 14 hours in conscious, chaired, male rhesus macaques given (intravenously (IV) or orally) staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). In macaques orally given SEB (1 mg/kg), there was little change in the cardiovascular variables. The half-life of injected indocyanine green was apparently prolonged in macaques given SEB as compared with that in the controls. However, in macaques given SEB (0.05 or 1.0 mg/kg) by IV injection, there were tachycardia, increase in arterial resistance, and decreases in blood pressure, cardiac output, stroke volume, cardiac work, mean cardiac power, and central blood volume. In addition, mean transit time from caudal vena cava to ascending aorta was prolonged and a simultaneous reduction of hepatic removal of indocyanine green occurred.

Sequential changes in body composition during infection: electron probe study IV

Alterations occur in human muscle electrolyte and water composition in response to infection. There appear to be at least two basic mechanisms; the first is an exchange of sodium for potassium without alteration in water content of muscle. The second is an increase in cellular Na and water without a loss of K on a dry weight basis. In a series of studies in monkeys, Salmonella typhimurium sepsis was induced as an experimental model. Both patterns of muscle response to infection were detected. Electron probe microanalysis revealed that the loss of K concentration was due to an accumulation of intracellular saline which dilute the K content. The mechanism of this is unclear; however, a concomitant increase in undertermined osmoles in the serum suggests that there may be an increase in organic osmoles within the cell which leads to the dilution of intracellular K concentration.

Comparison of cardiorenal functions between women and female rhesus macaques

Selected cardiorenal functions for conscious and chaired rhesus macaques were compared directly and indirectly with corrections for body weights and surface areas to well-established base-line values for human subjects. Certain functional differences between species and conditions of measurement do not allow all experimental results from the rhesus macaque to be extrapolated to man. However, this comparative study provides evidence that can be useful in attempting to evaluate cardiorenal data from macaques in relationship to human studies.

Cardiovascular and renal functions in normal rhesus macaques

Techniques on measurements of cardiovascular and renal functions in conscious rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are described, and normal base line values are presented. The determinations included blood pressure, cardiac dynamics, total peripheral resistance, renal metabolism, renal concentrating capcity, acid-base balance, and renal handling of electrolytes.

Effects of DOCA on circulation, renal functions, body fluids and tissue electrolytes

Desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) was administered subcutaneously to 11 normal dogs (2 mg/kg/day) for 4 days. Few changes were observed in cardiovascular and renal functions except that the glomerular filtration rate was significantly increased. Total body water and plasma volume increased with a reduction of red blood cell volume. Hematocrit, plasma osmolality and total protein concentrations were decreased. The plasma K+ levels were lowered despite unchanged plasma concentrations of Na+, Ca++, Mg++, Cl- and phosphorus. The heart showed an increase in Na+ content and a decrease in K+, Ca++, phosphorus and total lipids. The skeletal muscle showed a decrease in Ca++ and an increase in Cl- and water content. The skin revealed a reduction of K+ and an elevation of Cl-. This study showed that a DOCA-induced depletion of K+ from skeletal muscle did not occur in normally fed dogs that did not receive a large sodium load.

Effect of staphylococcal enterotoxin B on body fluid compartments in conscious rhesus monkeys

Techniques for measuring changes in body fluid compartments after SEB injection i.v. in conscious rhesus monkeys are described and compared with base line values measured by identical techniques in normal monkeys. Although few changes were observed in body fluid volumes 3 h after i.v. staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB; 1 mg/kg), the F cell ratio and all fluid compartments except for RBC volume were decreased significantly by 5 h after i.v. SEB administration. Rapid intracellular dehydration and decreases in plasma and blood volumes appear to play a role in the development of circulatory shock during enterotoxemia in monkeys.

Determination of body surface area in the rhesus monkey

Body surface areas (BSA) of 31 apparently normal rhesus monkeys of both sexes weighing 3.2-5.3 kg were determined by the direct skinning technique. The range of measured BSA was 1,940-3,020 cm2 (mean = 2,430 cm2). The BSA values of male and female monkeys were not significantly different. The K value, calculated as the ratio of BSA (cm2)/body wt2/3 (kg), was 969 +/- 15 (SE). Based on the principle of least squares for goodness of fit between the measured and calculated BSA, the best equation was determined to be (see article). A nomogram was constructed for rapid determination of the BSA of rhesus monkeys with known body weight and lengths (head to anus). Monkey BSA could also be computed by multiplying the DuBois human BSA equation by a factor of 1.147 for the head-to-anus measure of length or by 0.891 for the head-to-heel measurement.

Cardiovascular and vomiting responses to a lethal intravenous dose of staphyloenterotoxin A in rhesus monkeys

Effects of a single intravenous dose of highly purified staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA; 0.5 mg/kg) were studied in conscious rhesus monkeys. The mean survival time for four of five experimental monkeys was 8.7 h. Vomiting, pallor, abdominal distension, occasional diarrhea and dehydration were observed. Tachycardia and sustained hypotension developed prior to death. During vomiting, transient hypertension was induced.

Changes in blood pH in rats after infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae

Acid-base alterations in Streptococcus pneumoniae infection were studied in 80 male albino rats. Hematocrit and concentrations of plasma electrolytes, glucose, and total protein were also measured. At 3-h intervals throughout a 27-h study, four control and four infected rats were anesthetized with ether, and blood samples were taken. Arterial blood pH, Po2, and hematocrit increased in the infected group, whereas arterial Pco2, HCO3-, and venous Po2 decreased. Plasma K+ concentration increased slightly and glucose levels decreased in the infected rats as the sepsis progressed. No significant changes were observed in venous blood pH, HCO3-, and Pco2. Plasma Na+, Cl-, and total protein remained unchanged. The increase in arterial blood pH and decrease in arterial Pco2 and HCO3- indicated respiratory alkalosis, which was present in rats infected with S. pneumoniae.