Constant absolute ethanol intake by Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats independent of ethanol concentrations

The present study was designed to evaluate ethanol drinking behaviour in Sardinian alcohol-preferring (sP) and Sardinian alcohol-non-preferring (sNP) rats in the presence of different ethanol concentrations. Ethanol intake was tested under the two-bottle, free-choice regimen and continuous access schedule. Ethanol-naive sP and sNP rats were initially given ethanol solution at the standard, constant concentration of 10% (v/v) for 8 consecutive days (Phase 1). As expected, daily ethanol intake in sP rats rose from 4 to approximately 6 g/kg; in contrast sNP rats consumed < 10 g/kg/day ethanol. Subsequently, an ascending series of ethanol concentrations, ranging from 3 to 60% (v/v), was presented to sP and sNP rats over a 28-day period (Phase 2). At concentrations varying from 7 to 30%, sP rats consumed constant amounts of absolute ethanol per kg of body weight (approximately 6.0 g/kg/day). Daily ethanol intake in sNP rats remained constantly lower than 1.0 g/kg, irrespective of the ethanol concentration. Data from Phase 2 demonstrate the ability of sP rats to precisely adjust daily ethanol intake and support the hypothesis that voluntary ethanol drinking in sP rats is sustained by specific pharmacological effects of ethanol.

Age and weight relationship in Boophilus microplus (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae) larvae

The study of the age of free-living stages of ticks is not a frequent subject in acarology research. Baseline knowledge and some possible applications both in research and in tick control are to be considered. Sixty engorged females were incubated at 28 +/- 1 degrees C and 100% relative humidity. Age zero of larvae was established at 10 days after the beginning of eclosion. Larvae were weighted in paper envelopes in groups ranging from 150 to 400 each. Live weight means (LWM) and dry weight means (DWM) were obtained. All larvae have defecated at age zero. Maximum survival was 57 days. Larval age was also expressed as effective temperature summings (ETS). LWM declines slightly with age. DWM has a linear relationship to age from 0 to 504 degrees C-day with a determination coefficient of 0.95. Absolute water content increases from 0 to 504 degrees C-day; further water content diminishes. Dry matter weight declines just to 504 degrees C-day of age. It might be theoretically possible to estimate the age of larvae in pasture by weighing groups of them.

Nuclear pattern recognition by two-parameter texture analysis

The present paper describes a simple procedure for the analysis of chromatin texture. High-resolution digitized images of nuclei are first standardized to render gray values invariant to staining and illumination conditions. Subsequently, the nucleus is subdivided by a square grid into 0.4 x 0.4 microns2 quadrats and standard deviations of gray values within each quadrat are estimated. Finally, the overall mean and standard deviation of quadrat standard deviations are calculated. These values may be considered as pure descriptors of the nuclear texture, as they represent the distribution of chromatin changes, disregarding any absolute densitometric and morphometric feature. Using the above descriptors it is possible to recognize at least seven chromatin patterns in a mixed population of developing and degenerating neurons. Results are visually verified by mapping the original pictures at the corresponding bivariate plot points. Comparison with the Markovian texture analysis is discussed.

Oral self-administration of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in the rat

The present study describes the induction of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) preference over water in rats. GHB solution (1% w/v in water) was initially offered as the sole fluid available for 14 consecutive days. Subsequently, rats were given a free choice of GHB solution and tap water for 20 consecutive weeks. Under the free-choice regimen, all rats showed periods of preference for GHB solution over water and periods of voluntary abstinence from GHB. On GHB-preference days, GHB was ingested at pharmacologically relevant doses. GHB intake occurred in 2-3 discrete episodes during the nocturnal phase. The development of an animal model of GHB self-administration may constitute a useful tool in the investigation of the neurobiological substrates of GHB-reinforcing properties.

In vitro and in vivo activities of reduced-size antagonists of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone

A novel series of octapeptide LHRH antagonists was designed on the basis of the structure of the (2-9) fragment of a LHRH agonist. By adopting a systematic SAR study, we were able to improve first the in vitro activity and then the in vivo LH suppression, raising them up to the range of the decapeptide antagonists NalGlu (51) and A-75998 (50), resulting in A-76154 (49). The octapeptide antagonist A-76154 is the most potent reduced-size LHRH antagonist reported. It suppresses LH in the castrated rat by over 80% for a period of 4 h following sc bolus administration of 30 micrograms/kg.

Nuclear patterns of apoptotic and developing neurons of superior cervical ganglion of newborn rat

Superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons of female rats aged 3, 5 and 7 days revealed conspicuous nuclear changes in neurons undergoing postnatal cell death. Several qualitative and quantitative data such as nuclear size and shape, the presence of atypical chromocenters and chromatin textural features discriminated well neurons candidate to degeneration and those advancing in the direction of adult maturation. At least on morphological grounds, postnatal death of SCG neurons appears to be of apoptotic type. The sequence of nuclear events observed enables the recognition of the early stages of involution which prelude neuron degeneration.

Dental development in Sardinian children

A cross-sectional study of tooth maturation was carried out in a group of 382 healthy children (178 boys and 204 girls) from Sardinia. A single orthopantomogram was examined for each patient and the development of permanent mandibular canines, premolars, and molars was evaluated according to Moorrees' method [Moorrees CFA, Fanning EA, Hunt EE: J Dent Res 42:1490-1502, 1963] Dental maturity scores and chronological ages were processed by linear regression analysis. Significant differences were observed in the timing of tooth development between boys and girls. A visual comparison with North American children revealed appreciable differences between the two populations, accounting for a delayed dental maturation in Sardinian children.

Effect of N-methyl substitution of the peptide bonds in luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists

Each peptide bond in leuprolide (1), deslorelin (13), and nafarelin (24) was separately substituted with N-methyl. The synthesized compounds were tested for in vitro receptor binding, LH release, and stability against chymotrypsin and intestinal degradation. The NMe-Ser4 (30), NMe-Leu7 (33), and Sar10 (35) analogues of nafarelin had pD2 values 2-, 20-, 9-fold higher than their respective parent. All the other N-methyl agonists were less active. For the first time, conversion of LHRH agonists to antagonists was observed as a result of N-methyl substitution in the peptide backbone. [NMe-Phe2,DLeu6,Pro9NHEt]LHRH (4), [NMe-1Nal3,DLeu6,Pro9NHEt]LHRH (6), [NMe-His2,DTrp6,Pro9NHEt]LHRH (14), [NMe-Phe2,DNal6]LHRH (27), and [D2Nal6,NMe-Arg8]LHRH (34) exhibited antagonist responses. Substitutions of NMe-1Nal3, NMe-Ser4, or NMe-Tyr5 in leuprolide rendered the 3-4 peptide bond in these compounds completely stable to chymotrypsin. Examination of the three-dimensional structure of leuprolide when bound to the active site of chymotrypsin, reveals the NH's of residues 3 and 5 are involved in hydrogen bond interactions with the enzyme. N-Methylation at these positions is not only disrupting the hydrogen bond interactions, but is also sterically preventing the substrate from fitting in the enzyme's active site. All the compounds in the leuprolide series were also tested against intestinal degradation using an in vitro rat jejunum sac assay. In this model the pattern of stabilization was similar, but not identical, to that against chymotrypsin. The pharmacokinetics of all the analogues in the leuprolide series and of several others in the deslorelin and nafarelin series were determined. The clearance values of all the three NMe-Tyr5 analogues, 8, 20, and 31 were lower than their respective parents. These slower clearances suggest lower rates of metabolism.

Heterogeneity and stability characteristics of Candid 1 attenuated strain of Junin virus

Fourteen clones of Candid 1 strain of Junin virus were studied in terms of their attenuation and stability for 9 days-old mice. The cluster analysis of the efficiency of lethal infection, namely the virulence (lethality) indicates (PFU/LD50) of the clones showed that the strain population is heterogeneous. It is constituted by subpopulations with lower and higher virulence as compared to the parent strain. Moreover, one or two passages through mice and Calomys musculinus, the main Junin virus reservoir of this strain produced changes of its virulence meanwhile the in vitro passages did not affect its attenuation level.

Effect of formulation adjuvants on gastrointestinal absorption of leuprolide acetate

Leuprolide acetate, [D-Leu6-desGly10]LH-RH ethylamide, a highly potent superagonist of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH), was administered by intraduodenal (ID) injection to male castrate rats in a saline solution. Absorption was low, approximately 0.01% and 0.08% by oral (PO) and ID administration respectively, compared with intravenous (i.v.) controls. An aqueous formulation and a water in oil emulsion of a lipophilic salt, a decane sulfonic acid derivative of [D-Leu6-desGly10]LH-RH ethylamide gave ID bioavailabilities of approximately 0.2% and 1%, respectively. Evaluation of formulation effects on the oral absorption of leuprolide showed that lipophilicity, surfactant and vehicle properties significantly affected ID absorption of leuprolide. Absolute bioavailability of the drug in typical emulsion systems ranged from approximately 3 to 10% and represent an improvement of about 100 fold in gastrointestinal bioavailability of this peptide. The implications of these findings relative to the effect of formula adjuvants on oral absorption of leuprolide and other peptides following ID administration are discussed.

Collagen fibril ultrastructure alters after glycanolytic digestion

Fixed fragments of bovine nasal septum cartilage were digested for six hours either with testicular hyaluronidase or streptomyces hyaluronidase or flavobacter chondroitinase ABC, and observed with a transmission electron microscope. Collagen fibril diameters (D) were measured to evaluate the effect of enzymatic digestion on the fibril size. This resulted in an increased frequency (17% to 47%) of "thin" fibrils (80 to 32 nm), followed by a decrease (65% to 31%) of the frequency of "mid" fibrils (32 to 64 nm). The frequency of "thick" fibrils (over 64 nm) showed a moderate increase (18% to 22%). Considering the relationship between fibril diameter, fibril volume and collagen content, the apparently relevant increase in number of the "thin" fibrils corresponds to an alteration of only 4% of the total collagen. On the other hand the increase of the "thick" fibrils implies a conspicuous alteration of 20% of the total collagen. The observed fibril rearrangement after digestion may be explained in terms of the wrap of matrix proteoglycans around each fibril. The enzymatic removal of the proteoglycans could make "mid" collagen fibrils free to regress into "thin" as well as to merge together into "thick" fibrils.

Substitution of a single bacteriophage T3 residue in bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase at position 748 results in a switch in promoter specificity

The bacteriophage T3 and T7 RNA polymerases (RNAP) are closely related, yet exhibit high specificity for their own promoter sequences. In this work the primary determinant of T7 versus T3 promoter specificity has been localized to a single amino acid residue at position 748 in the T7 RNAP. Substitution of this residue (Asn) with the corresponding residue found in T3 RNAP (Asp) results in a switch in promoter specificity, and specifically alters recognition of the base pairs (bp) at positions -11 and, possibly, -10 in the promoter. A complementary mutation in T3 RNAP (T3-D749N) results in a similar switch in promoter preference for that enzyme. The hierarchy of bp preference by the mutant and wild-type enzymes for bp at -10 and -11, and the results of previous experiments, lead to a model for specificity in which it is proposed that N748 in T7 RNAP (and D749 in T3 RNAP) make specific hydrogen bonds with bases at -11 and -10 on the non-template strand in the major groove. The specificity determining region of T7 RNAP does not appear to exhibit homology to any known sequence-dependent DNA binding motif.

Stabilization of the N-terminal residues of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists and the effect on pharmacokinetics

To stabilize leuprolide (1) against chymotrypsin and intestinal degradation several agonists of LHRH (2-12), modified at position 1, 2, or 3 and/or containing N-alpha-methyl at positions 1, 2, or 4, were synthesized by SPPS. These agonists were tested in vitro for (a) rat pituitary LHRH receptor binding, (b) LH release from rat pituitary cells, (c) stability against chymotrypsin, and (d) stability against rat intestinal degradation. The clearances of the compounds in the rat were determined using a RIA. Complete stabilization against chymotrypsin (t1/2) and lumenal degradation (T1/2) was achieved with substitution of NMe-Ser4 in leuprolide; however, with an increase in clearance. Substitution with 1-Nal3 increased both t1/2 and T1/2, while substitution with NAc-Sar1 increased only T1/2. [NAcSar1,NMeSer4,D-Trp6,Pro9NHEt]LHRH (12), the doubly stabilized analogue, was tested in the rat by both iv and id administrations, and its bioavailabilities were measured. No significant improvement in id absorption over leuprolide was observed.

Experimental neuroinvasiveness of wild and laboratory Junin virus strains

The neuroinvasiveness of Candid 1 and XJCL3 laboratory strains and CbalV4454 and CbaFHA5069 wild strains of Junin virus was studied in albino mice, guinea pigs, and a South American wild rodent, Calomys musculinus (Cm), of different ages inoculated by a non-neural route. Infectivity in brain, blood and organs, as well as lethality, were determined. The results with the 3 hosts indicate that Junin virus neuroinvasiveness is virus-strain-dependent, host species- and age-dependent, with the Candid 1 strain proving to be the least neuroinvasive of the strains studied. The lethal efficiency index (log PFU/LD50) in 2-day old albino mice and the neuroinvasiveness index (Log PFU/ND50) in 6 +/- 1 day-old Cm of the various strains using the intraperitoneal (ip) route could therefore be useful markers of Junin virus neuroinvasiveness. Moreover, different patterns of infection were established using the results of the presence of infectious virus in brain and viraemia in the 3 hosts. In nearly all cases, virus neuroinvasion was present without detectable viraemia (virus in plasma). Current evidence leads to the assumption that virus might reach the brain associated with the white cells in blood (undetectable by conventional isolation methods) or by another possible mechanism of neuroinvasion which is not haematogenous.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide in the human trigeminal sensory system at developmental and adult life stages: immunohistochemistry, neuronal morphometry and coexistence with substance P

The distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been examined by the indirect immunofluorescence technique in the Gasserian ganglion and spinal nucleus of the human trigeminal nerve. In the ganglion CGRP is present in almost 50% of primary sensory neurons, in varicose and non-varicose nerve fibres and in pericellular basket-like plexuses around non-immunoreactive ganglionic perikarya. Morphometric analysis reveals that the CGRP-positive neuronal population is heterogeneous in cell size. Observation of specimens from subjects at fetal, perinatal and adult life stages reveals that the percentage of CGRP-immunoreactive cells reaches a maximum at perinatal stages and then remains constant, declining only in old age. Pericellular basket-like nerve fibres are detectable only in fetal and pre-term and full-term newborn tissue. Coexistence between CGRP and substance P (SP) occurs, SP being present in about one quarter of the CGRP-immunoreactive neurons and CGRP being localized in a little more than half of the SP-immunoreactive neurons. However, perikarya, nerve fibres and pericellular fibres containing only one or other peptide are also present. Bundles of immunoreactive fibres and dot-like nerve terminals occur in the spinal tract and superficial and deep regions of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. A particularly dense plexus is present in the peripheral nuclear layers. Double immunostaining shows a similar regional distribution for SP. However, in inner substantia gelatinosa the density of CGRP-immunoreactive fibres is much higher than that of SP-immunoreactive ones. The results obtained add information to our knowledge of the organization of neurochemically identified neurons in the human trigeminal sensory system.

Immunohistochemical study of synaptophysin distribution in the superior cervical ganglion of newborn and adult rats

Intense synaptophysin immunoreactivity was observed around neuronal cell bodies and in the neuropil of the superior cervical ganglion of adult rats. In newborn rats synaptophysin was comparatively less concentrated and restricted to small interstitial spaces. In contrast, in newborns, consistent traces of positivity were found in the Golgi-like area of larger neurons, in agreement with the higher neonatal rate of synaptophysin synthesis. A few clusters of small neurons, numerically more expanded in adult rats, exhibited a dense reaction product filling the whole cytoplasm. No positivity was found in intraganglionic fibres.