Actions of peptide YY and neuropeptide Y on chief cells from guinea pig stomach

Peptide YY (PYY), found in intestinal endocrine cells, and neuropeptide Y (NPY), a structural analogue of PYY found in neurons, inhibit gastric, pancreatic, and intestinal fluid and electrolyte secretion. We examined the effects of these peptides on dispersed chief cells from guinea pig stomach. PYY and NPY, but not pancreatic polypeptide, starting at nanomolar concentrations, caused a 40-50% inhibition of secretin-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, prostaglandin E2-, and forskolin-induced increases in chief cell adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) content and pepsinogen secretion. These inhibitory peptides did not alter pepsinogen secretion caused by cholecystokinin, carbamylcholine, A23187, 8-bromo-cAMP, or a phorbol ester. The inhibitory effects of PYY on chief cell cAMP production occurred within 30 s, were independent of phosphodiesterase activity, and did not affect the actions of cholera toxin. However, the inhibitory effects of PYY were abolished when chief cells were preincubated with pertussis toxin, an agent that uncouples inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding (G) proteins from their receptors. In gastric chief cells, PYY and NPY attenuate the stimulatory effects of secretagogues whose actions are mediated by changes in cellular levels of cAMP. PYY-induced attenuation of chief cell adenylate cyclase activity appears to involve activation of inhibitory G proteins.

A slow intravenous infusion of N-methyl-DL-aspartate as a seizure model in the mouse

A seizure model involving slow i.v. infusion of the excitatory amino acid N-methyl-DL-aspartate (NMDLA) in the mouse is described. It allows determination of the threshold doses of NMDLA required to elicit clonic and tonic seizures in individual mice. The NMDA receptor antagonists MK-801, CPP, ifenprodil and 7-chlorokynurenic acid (7-CLK), and diazepam dose-dependently increased the dose of NMDLA required to elicit a tonic seizure. CPP, 7-CLK and diazepam also increased the dose of NMDLA inducing clonic seizures. In contrast, ifenprodil at doses which antagonised tonic seizures had no effect on clonic seizures. The glycine and polyamine modulatory site agonists, D-serine and spermidine respectively, dose-dependently reduced the dose of NMDLA required to induce clonic and tonic seizures. The NMDLA infusion model appears to be more sensitive than the classical bolus injection test and can detect both anticonvulsant and proconvulsant actions mediated by the NMDA receptor complex.

Exendin-3, a novel peptide from Heloderma horridum venom, interacts with vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors and a newly described receptor on dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas. Description of exendin-3(9-39) amide, a specific exendin receptor antagonist

Exendin-3 increased cellular cAMP levels and amylase release from dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas. Low concentrations (0.1-3 nM) caused a 12-fold increase in cAMP, whereas higher concentrations (0.3-3 microM) caused an additional 24-fold increase in cAMP. Maximal cAMP with the highest concentration tested was the same as the maximal response with secretin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), peptide histidine isoleucine, helodermin, or helospectin-I. In terms of amylase release, exendin-3 had the same efficacy but was the least potent of these peptides. Exendin-3-induced increases in amylase release were inhibited by VIP receptor antagonists and the new peptide (greater than 0.1 microM) competed with radiolabeled VIP for binding sites on dispersed acini. Increasing concentrations of an exendin-3 fragment, exendin-3(9-39) amide, did not increase cAMP or amylase release but inhibited the increase in cAMP observed with 0.1-3 nM exendin-3. The fragment did not alter the effects of other peptides that are known to increase acinar cAMP. We conclude that exendin-3 interacts with at least two receptors on guinea pig pancreatic acini; at high concentrations (greater than 100 nM) the peptide interacts with VIP receptors, thereby causing a large increase in cAMP and stimulating amylase release; at lower concentrations (0.1-3 nM) the peptide interacts with a putative exendin receptor, thereby causing a smaller increase in cAMP of undetermined function. Exendin-3(9-39) amide is a specific exendin receptor antagonist.

Prostaglandins do not mediate the actions of cholera toxin on pancreatic acini or gastric chief cells from the guinea pig

Recent reports suggest that prostaglandins, rather than cAMP, play a major role in mediating cholera toxin-induced water and electrolyte secretion from rabbit intestinal loops. We examined the role of prostaglandins in mediating toxin-induced pancreatic and gastric exocrine secretion. In these tissues, indomethacin, a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, did not alter the stimulatory effects of cholera toxin on increases in cellular cAMP or enzyme secretion. Moreover, the addition of cholera toxin did not alter prostaglandin E2 release from either tissue. In contrast to their effects in rabbit intestinal loops, prostaglandins do not regulate cholera toxin-induced enzyme secretion from the guinea pig pancreas or stomach.

The anticonvulsant action of CI-977, a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist: a possible involvement of the glycine/NMDA receptor complex

The selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist CI-977, stereoselectively antagonised clonic seizures induced by slow i.v. infusion of N-methyl-DL-aspartate in the mouse. It was found to be more efficacious and 10-fold more potent than the competitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor antagonist CPP (3-(+/-)-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid). The anticonvulsant action of CI-977 was antagonised by norbinaltorphimine indicating a specific interaction with the kappa-receptor. The effect of CI-977 but not that of CPP was also antagonised by the glycine/NMDA receptor agonist D-serine. These results provide evidence for a possible interaction between the kappa-receptor and the glycine/NMDA receptor.

Purification and structure of exendin-3, a new pancreatic secretagogue isolated from Heloderma horridum venom

An amino-terminal histidyl structure (His1) is characteristic of most peptides in the glucagon superfamily. An assay for His1 peptides performed by amino-terminal amino acid sequencing was used to screen venom from the Gila monster lizard, Heloderma horridum. Two His1 peptides were identified: helospectin and a new His1 peptide that has been named exendin-3 to indicate that it is the third peptide to be found in an exocrine secretion of Heloderma lizards which has endocrine activity, the first two being helospectin (exendin-1) and helodermin (exendin-2). In the lot of H. horridum venom tested, exendin-3 was 5-10-fold more abundant in molar concentration than helospectin. The structure of exendin-3 was analyzed by amino acid sequencing and mass spectrometry. Exendin-3 is a 39-amino acid peptide with a mass of 4200. It contains a carboxyl-terminal amide and has a strong homology with secretin at its amino-terminal 12 amino acids. The complete structure of exendin-3 is His-Ser-Asp-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Leu-Ser-Lys-Gln-Met-Glu-Glu-Glu-Ala- Val-Arg - Leu-Phe-Ile-Glu-Trp-Leu-Lys-Asn-Gly-Gly-Pro-Ser-Ser-Gly-Ala-Pro-Pro-Pro- Ser- amide. It is 32 and 26% homologous with helospectin and helodermin, respectively. It has greatest homology with glucagon (48%) and human glucagon-like peptide-1 (50%). Exendin-3 (3 microM) stimulated increases in cellular cAMP and amylase release from dispersed guinea pig pancreatic acini.

The pharmacological properties of the imidazobenzodiazepine, FG 8205, a novel partial agonist at the benzodiazepine receptor

1. The pharmacological properties of the benzodiazepine receptor ligand, FG 8205 (7-chloro-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-3-(5-isopropyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol++ +-3-yl)-4H- imidazol[1,5a][1,4]benzodiazepine) have been examined. 2. FG 8205 potently displaced [3H]-flumazenil binding in rat cortical membranes with a Ki of 3.3 nM, but was inactive at 13 neurotransmitter recognition sites. 3. Consistent with a partial agonist profile, the affinity of FG 8205 for the benzodiazepine recognition site was increased in the presence of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA, 300 microM) by a degree (-log [IC50 in the presence of GABA/IC50 alone] = 0.34) significantly less than found for diazepam (0.46). FG 8205 also potentiated the inhibitory potency of the GABAA-receptor agonist, isoguvacine, on the hippocampal CA1 population spike and, again, the maximum shift (-log dose-ratio = 0.2) was significantly less than that seen with diazepam (0.4). 4. In anticonvulsant studies, the ED50 doses of FG 8205 and diazepam needed to antagonize seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) or by sound in audiogenic seizure prone mice were similar with values of 0.2-0.3 mg kg-1, i.p. However, even high doses of FG 8205 (50 mg kg-1) did not protect against seizures induced by electroshock. 5. FG 8205 released responding suppressed by footshock in a rat operant conditioned emotional response task over the dose range 0.5-50 mg kg-1 (i.p.). Similar doses of FG 8205 had a marked taming effect in cynomolgus monkeys. However, measures of sedation and ataxia (as measured by rotarod in the mouse, climbing behaviour in the rat, and by scoring arousal and co-ordination in primates) were slight and only transiently affected by FG 8205, and FG 8205 significantly antagonized the rotarod performance deficit induced by diazepam in the mouse. 6. While the potentiation by FG 8205 of the response to isoguvacine in the rat hippocampal slice and the anxiolytic-like effects of the compound in both rats and primates were reversed by the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, flumazenil, high doses of the antagonist were able only marginally to block the protective effects of FG 8205 against seizures induced by PTZ in the mouse. 7. Thus, FG 8205 does not show the marked motor impairment characteristic of full agonists at the benzodiazepine receptor, consistent with its partial agonist profile in in vitro assay systems. Nevertheless, the compound has sufficient intrinsic activity to maintain high efficacy in anticonvulsant and anxiolytic tests.

The discriminative stimulus properties of (+)-HA-966, an antagonist at the glycine/N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor

Using a two-lever operant drug discrimination paradigm, rats have been trained to discriminate between the administration of saline and R-(+)-HA-966 (R-(+)-3-amino-1-hydroxypyrrolid-2-one, 30 mg/kg i.p.) an antagonist at the glycine modulatory site on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor/ion channel complex. Drug-appropriate responding was not induced in stimulus generalisation experiments when the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, phencyclidine (PCP, 1-8 mg/kg i.p.) was substituted for (+)-HA-966. Similarly, (+)-HA-966 (6-50 mg/kg i.p.) did not induce drug-appropriate responding in animals trained to discriminate PCP (3 mg/kg i.p.) from saline. The results suggest that the behavioural profile of compounds attenuating the actions of NMDA via blockade of the glycine modulatory site may be substantially different from those acting at the ion channel of the NMDA receptor complex.

Modulation of seizure susceptibility in the mouse by the strychnine-insensitive glycine recognition site of the NMDA receptor/ion channel complex

1. In order to determine whether the strychnine-insensitive glycine modulatory site on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor/ion channel complex is fully activated in vivo, the ability of the selective glycine receptor agonist, D-serine, to modulate seizure susceptibility in the mouse has been examined. 2. D-Serine (10-200 micrograms per mouse, i.c.v.) dose-dependently increased the potency of NMDLA in inducing seizures in Swiss Webster mice by approximately 3 fold. L-Serine was without significant effect. 3. The potency of pentylenetetrazol in inducing seizures was also enhanced by D-, but not L-serine, although the magnitude of the shift (1.6 fold) was considerably less than for NMDLA. 4. Similar doses of D-serine were also able to block the anticonvulsant effect of the non-selective glycine receptor antagonist, kynurenic acid, against seizures induced by NMDLA, but were without effect on the anticonvulsant effect of the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, 3-((+)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP). 5. D-Serine completely antagonized the protective effect of the selective glycine receptor antagonist, 7-chlorokynurenic acid, against sound-induced seizures in DBA/2 mice, but was less effective in this model against the less selective antagonist, kynurenic acid. 6 The results indicate that in vivo, NMDA receptors are not maximally potentiated by endogenous glycine and suggest an important involvement of the glycine modulatory site on the NMDA receptor/ion channel complex in the pathophysiology of epilepsy.

Evidence against an involvement of the haloperidol-sensitive sigma recognition site in the discriminative stimulus properties of (+)-N-allylnormetazocine ((+)-SKF 10,047)

1. The involvement of the haloperidol-sensitive, sigma recognition site and the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor in the mediation of the discriminative stimulus properties of (+)-N-allylnormetazocine [+)-NANM, (+)-SKF 10,047), has been investigated in the rat by use of a two-lever, operant drug discrimination paradigm. 2. Six compounds with nanamolar affinity for the sigma recognition site [+/-)-pentazocine, (+)-3-(hydroxyphenyl)-N-propylpiperidine [+)-3-PPP), ditolylguanidine (DTG), haloperidol, (-)-butaclamol and BMY 14802) were investigated for their ability to generalise or antagonise the (+)-NANM discriminative stimulus. Each drug was tested at doses found in an ex vivo radioligand binding assay to displace [3H]-DTG from the central sigma recognition site by more than 40%. 3. While (+/-)-pentazocine (in the presence of naloxone) generalised and (+)-3-PPP partially antagonised the (+)-NANM cue, the other putative sigma ligands were ineffective either as agonists or antagonists at doses clearly occupying the sigma site in vivo. 4. Dose-dependent generalisation to the (+)-NANM cue was seen with the selective non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801, a compound devoid of significant affinity for the sigma recognition site. 5. (+/-)-Pentazocine was found to antagonise seizures induced in the mouse by NMDLA, a model reflecting antagonism of central NMDA receptors, and a strong correlation was found between the rank order of potency of compounds to generalise to the (+)-NANM discriminative stimulus and their potencies as anticonvulsants. 6. In conclusion, no evidence was found to substantiate the contention that the discriminative stimulus properties of (+)-NANM are mediated by the haloperidol-sensitive sigma recognition site. On the other hand, the results are consistent with the interoceptive stimulus being mechanistically based in the NMDA receptor complex.

Enantiomers of HA-966 (3-amino-1-hydroxypyrrolid-2-one) exhibit distinct central nervous system effects: (+)-HA-966 is a selective glycine/N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, but (-)-HA-966 is a potent gamma-butyrolactone-like sedative

The antagonist effect of (+/-)-3-amino-1-hydroxypyrrolid-2-one (HA-966) at the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor occurs through a selective interaction with the glycine modulatory site within the receptor complex. When the enantiomers of (+/-)-HA-966 were resolved, the (R)-(+)-enantiomer was found to be a selective glycine/NMDA receptor antagonist, a property that accounts for its anticonvulsant activity in vivo. In contrast, the (S)-(-)-enantiomer was only weakly active as an NMDA-receptor antagonist, but nevertheless it possessed a marked sedative and muscle relaxant action in vivo. In radioligand binding experiments, (+)-HA-966 inhibited strychnine-insensitive [3H]glycine binding to rat cerebral cortex synaptic membranes with an IC50 of 12.5 microM, whereas (-)-HA-966 had an IC50 value of 339 microM. In electrophysiological experiments, (+)-HA-966 selectively antagonized NMDA receptor responses in rat cortical slices, whereas the (-)-enantiomer was much weaker. On cultured cortical neurones (+)-HA-966 inhibited glycine-potentiated NMDA responses with an IC50 = 13 microM compared with (-)-HA-966, which has an IC50 = 708 microM. In agreement with findings with racemic HA-966, even high concentrations of (+)-HA-966 did not completely inhibit NMDA responses, suggesting that (+)-HA-966 is a low-efficacy partial agonist. (+)-HA-966 produced parallel shifts to the right of the glycine concentration curve for potentiation of NMDA responses, resulting in an estimated pKb = 5.6. In mice, (+)-HA-966 antagonized sound and N-methyl-DL-aspartic acid (NMDLA)-induced seizures with ED50 values of 52.6 mg/kg of body weight (i.p.) and 900 mg/kg (i.v.), respectively. The coadministration of D-serine dose-dependently (10-100 micrograms into the cerebral ventricles per mouse) antagonized the anticonvulsant effect of a submaximal dose of (+)-HA-966 (100 micrograms administered directly into the cerebral ventricles) against NMDLA-induced seizures. The sedative/ataxic effect of racemic HA-966 was mainly attributable to the (-)-enantiomer, which was greater than 25-fold more potent than the (+)-enantiomer. It is suggested that, as in the case of the sedative gamma-butyrolactone, disruption of striatal dopaminergic mechanisms may be responsible for this action.

The behavioural effects of MK-801: a comparison with antagonists acting non-competitively and competitively at the NMDA receptor

The selective non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801, potently blocked convulsions induced in the mouse by N-methyl-DL-aspartic acid (NMDLA) with an i.v. ED50 dose of 0.2 mg/kg. Similar doses of MK-801 were also effective in blocking seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), electroshock and by sound in audiogenic seizure-prone animals. Other less selective non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonists including phencyclidine (PCP), thienylcyclohexylpiperidine (TCP), (+)-N-allylnormetazocine [+)-NANM, (+)-SKF 10,047) and ketamine also blocked NMDLA-induced seizures with a rank order of potency of MK-801 greater than PCP greater than TCP = (+)-NANM greater than ketamine. The competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) blocked NMDLA-induced seizures with an ED50 of 4.5 mg/kg, 22- and 560-fold more potently than the competitive antagonists, 2-DL-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (2-APH) and 2-DL-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (2-APV), respectively. MK-801 was the most potent of the non-competitive antagonists to induce a motor syndrome including head weaving, body rolling, increased locomotion and ataxia, characteristic of the behavioural response to PCP in the mouse. The syndrome was also present following injection of the competitive NMDA receptor antagonists, although they were generally less potent (probably a reflection of poor brain penetration) and less efficacious than the non-competitive antagonists. For all compounds except CPP, the anticonvulsant ED50 dose was close to the minimum effective dose to induce motor stimulation: CPP was 5- to 10-fold more potent as an anticonvulsant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Breast cancer, prostaglandins and patient survival

Prostaglandins may have both undesirable and desirable effects in malignant disease. Their possible roles in breast cancer were studied by examining the relationships between different variables and the amounts of prostaglandin-like material (PG-LM) extracted from 141 breast carcinomas. Univariate analysis indicates a direct correlation with patient age and menopausal status, with a greater yield from cancers of post- compared with pre-menopausal women. Tumours up to 2 cm diameter yielded more PG-LM than those measuring greater than 2-5 cm. Although there was also a direct correlation with bone metastasis near to the time of surgery, this was because no positive bone scans occurred in patients whose tumours yielded little total PG-LM (less than 16 ng PGE2 equivalents per g tissue). Since tumour PG-LM did not predict later spread to bone, and yields of greater than 16 ng g-1 were similar in the positive and negative bone scan groups, tumour PG-LM appears to be unimportant for skeletal metastasis. There was no obvious relationship of tumour PG-LM to the grade of malignancy, tumour type, amounts of fibrous tissue (and therefore malignant cells), invasion of blood vessels and lymphatics or presence of plasma cells. Multivariate analysis indicates that disease-free survival is longest with an intermediate production of tumour total PG-LM. Of the 82 patients now dead, the cause was attributed to metastatic disease in 69 cases. No relationship of PG-LM to the length of survival was seen with univariate or multivariate analysis. However, when just the post-menopausal patients who died within the first 3 postoperative years were analysed, there was a highly significant inverse correlation between the tumour total PG-LM and the time to death. The reason(s) for these different findings on overall survival compared with just the patients who died are not understood, but the results may indicate that one or more other variables must co-exist with a high tumour PG-LM to hasten death.

Trace elements in the endometrium of infertile women

Some essential trace elements were estimated in endometrium of regularly menstruating fertile women and in women with infertility due to cervical factors. The distribution of the trace elements zinc, copper, iron, selenium and manganese at any particular phase of cycle remains more or less semilier between control (i.e. fertile) and infertile (primary and secondary) subjects.

In vivo labelling of the NMDA receptor channel complex by [3H]MK-801

An in vivo radioligand binding assay for the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channel complex in the mouse brain has been developed using the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist [3H]MK-801. In vivo binding of [3H]MK-801 was displaced by MK-801 (ED50 = 0.17 mg/kg i.p.), (-)-MK-801 (1.0 mg/kg), thienylcyclohexylpiperidine (1.8 mg/kg), etoxadrol (5.1 mg/kg) and (+)-SKF 10,047 (34.5 mg/kg). The potency of these drugs in this in vivo binding assay was highly correlated (r = 0.97) with their functional effects as antagonists of N-methyl-DL-aspartate-induced tonic convulsions.

Restriction fragment polymorphism in the sex-determining region of the Y chromosomal DNA of European wild mice

Using 32P-labeled probe consisting mainly of (GATA)n we have shown that a male specific Alu1 DNA blot pattern which defines the Y chromosome sex-determining locus in inbred mice is highly polymorphic in wild mice, indicating substantial sequence evolution in this region under field conditions. In all cases examined by in situ hybridization, the region concerned is paracentromeric. In contrast, the blot pattern of another probe (M 34) which detects repeated sequences specific to the mouse Y chromosome but outside the sex-determining locus, remains constant between different isolates.

The relationship between histological grade, oestrogen receptor status, events and survival at 8 years in the NATO ('Nolvadex') trial

A pathological review was carried out on 600 patients with breast carcinoma entered into the 'Nolvadex' Adjuvant Trial Organisation (NATO) study. The tumours were graded histologically and these results were compared with the oestrogen receptor (ER) status of the tumours, the numbers of recurrences and the length of survival of the patients. It was found that histological grading was predictive both in terms of events and survival, and correlates significantly with oestrogen receptor status; within histological grades I and II, patients receiving 'Nolvadex' had fewer events and deaths compared with patients in the control group. For patients with grade III tumours qualitatively it was in the same direction as the benefit obtained in patients with grade I and II tumours.

A role for receptors of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid in the discriminative stimulus properties of phencyclidine

Ketamine and (+)-N-allylnormetazocine ((+)-NANM) were found to generalize in a rat operant drug discrimination paradigm to the interoceptive stimulus induced by phencyclidine (PCP). Intraperitoneal administration of the non-competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, MK-801, and intracerebroventricular injection of the competitive antagonist, 2-DL-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (2-APH), also resulted in a dose-dependent generalisation to the PCP discriminative stimulus. The results suggest that NMDA receptor antagonism may play an important role in the mediation of the discriminative stimulus properties of PCP. The low potency of MK-801 and 2-APH to displace [3H](+)-NANM binding in vitro argues against an involvement of the haloperidol-sensitive sigma recognition site in the behaviour.

The use of probes for the Y chromosome in preimplantation embryo cells

The use of Y chromosome repeated sequence probes for the assignment of sex in individual human and mouse cells by in situ hybridization is described.

Testis development in a mouse with 10% of XY cells

Two mouse Y-chromosome-related DNA probes were used to show that an aspermic sterile male mouse with small testes contained only approximately 10% of normal XY cells dispersed among normal XX cells. Examination of testis sections by in situ hybridization revealed that XY cells were nonrandomly concentrated in the testis tubules when compared with the interstitial cell population. These observations are discussed in the context of primary sex determination and histological differentiation of the testis.

Behavioural evidence for an interdependence between GABAA receptors and beta 2-adrenoceptors

The possibility of a functional interdependence between central GABAA receptors and beta 2-adrenoceptors has been investigated using the ability of both types of agonist to potentiate the tic (head-twitch) response to 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in the mouse. At a dose which selectively antagonised beta 1- but not beta 2-adrenoceptors, ICI 118,551 abolished the effects of single doses of muscimol, diazepam and pentobarbitone. Conversely, bicuculline abolished the potentiation caused by the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist procaterol. Thus there is preliminary evidence that these two receptor types do show mutual interdependence.

The use of Y-chromosome-specific repeated DNA sequences in the analysis of testis development in an XX/XY mouse

A study, by means of Y-chromosome-specific repeated DNA probes, of mouse (ST) with small testes is reviewed. Mouse ST was shown to be a somatic mosaic of 10 % XY and 90 % XX cells. The cellular composition of the azoospermic testis reflected the overall proportions of XX and XY cells but it was found that XY cells predominated in the Sertoli cells of the testis tubules. These findings have been interpreted to indicate a fundamental role for the Sertoli cell in inducing testis organization in the indifferent gonadal rudiment, involving the expression of the Y chromosome.

Involvement of the locus coeruleus in the potentiation of the quipazine-induced head-twitch response by diazepam and beta-adrenoceptor agonists

Head-twitching in rats induced by quipazine was reduced by bilateral lesions of the locus coeruleus (LC) produced by 6-hydroxydopamine. Both beta 1-and beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists potentiated the head-twitch induced by quipazine in sham-operated controls. Lesions of the locus coeruleus increased the responses to the beta 1-adrenoceptor agonists, prenalterol and dobutamine, but reduced the response to the beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists, salbutamol and procaterol. Diazepam (0.25 mg/kg) also potentiated the response to quipazine and this was reversed to inhibition by lesions of the locus coeruleus. These results suggest that the beta 1-adrenoceptors involved are postsynaptic and the beta 2-adrenoceptors are presynaptic to neurones of the locus coeruleus and indicate a dual action of diazepam on the head-twitch induced by quipazine. Possible mechanisms for these effects are discussed.

Chronic antidepressant treatment reduces central beta-adrenoceptor sensitivity in a behavioural test

The ability of beta-adrenoceptor agonists to potentiate the head-twitch response to 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in mice was used to assess the in vivo sensitivity of beta-adrenoceptors 48 h after cessation of acute or chronic administration of desmethylimipramine (DMI) or iprindole (IPD). Neither acute nor chronic antidepressant administration significantly altered the head-twitch response to 5-HTP alone. Forty-eight hours after withdrawal from chronic but not acute pretreatment with DMI or IPD the potentiating effects of dobutamine, prenalterol and salbutamol were significantly decreased. This is consistent with a reduction in beta-adrenoceptor density and suggests that the 'spare' beta-adrenoceptor pool is small enough for this to result in functional subsensitivity. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Bkm sequences are polymorphic in humans and are clustered in pericentric regions of various acrocentric chromosomes including the Y

Probes of uncloned Bkm satellite DNA and a Drosophila clone 2 (8), consisting mainly of GATA repeats related to a major sequence component in Bkm, have been used to probe Southern blots of human male and female DNAs obtained from a Caucasian and an Australian aboriginal population and to human chromosomes in situ. Hybridization was observed to a distinct and an indistinct series of bands against a smeared background. The same distinct bands are identified in the DNA samples with both probes, but are most readily detected using the uncloned Bkm probe. Most restriction bands are common to both populations and some are polymorphic. However, certain bands appear to be characteristic of the Australian aboriginal samples. There are no distinct sex-linked patterns. However all of the small acrocentric human chromosomes, including the Y chromosome show hybridization to uncloned Bkm in situ.

The modulation of head-twitch behaviour by drugs acting on beta-adrenoceptors: evidence for the involvement of both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors

Drugs selective for either the beta 1- or beta 2-adrenoceptor have been investigated for their effects on the head-twitch behaviour induced by L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP) in mice. All four agonists, dobutamine and prenalterol (beta 1-), and salbutamol and procaterol (beta 2-), potentiated the effect of L-5-HTP although they were ineffective in inducing the head-twitch when administered alone. The corresponding antagonists, practolol and metoprolol (beta 1-) and butoxamine and ICI 118,551 (beta 2-), were without effect on the L-5-HTP head-twitch. The antagonists each significantly reduced the effect of the corresponding agonists but, while butoxamine and ICI 118,551 were inactive against dobutamine and prenalterol potentiation, both practolol and metoprolol reduced the effect of salbutamol and procaterol. Thus it is argued that dobutamine and prenalterol potentiation is due to an action at beta 1-adrenoceptors, while at least a component of the potentiating effect of salbutamol and procaterol is exerted through beta 2-adrenoceptors. The lack of effect of the antagonists alone is discussed.

Involvement of noradrenaline in potentiation of the head-twitch response by GABA-related drugs

The involvement of noradrenaline in the potentiation of head-twitching by drugs acting at GABA and related receptors has been examined in mice. The direct 5-HT agonist 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine was used to induce the head-twitch. The dopamine beta-oxidase inhibitor FLA-63 depleted whole brain noradrenaline by 90% and potentiated head-twitching when this was measured 4 h after injection. The GABAA-receptor agonists muscimol and 3-aminopropanesulphonic acid (3-APS), a low dose of pentobarbitone, diazepam and picrotoxin (PTX) potentiated control head-twitch rates but had no further effect when head-twitching had been potentiated by FLA-63. The potentiating action of FLA-63 was prevented by the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist metoprolol; the latter having no effect on control head-twitch rates. Muscimol and diazepam potentiation was examined and found to be blocked by metoprolol. The GABAB-receptor agonist baclofen reduced head-twitching. This was also prevented by FLA-63. The role of beta-adrenoceptors in modulating these actions of GABA-related drugs is discussed.

Modulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced head-twitch response by drugs acting at GABA and related receptors

The effects of drugs acting at the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors and other chloride ionophore-related sites have been studied for their ability to modulate the head-twitch induced by 1-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in the mouse. The GABAa receptor agonists, muscimol, imidazoleacetic acid and 3-aminopropanesulphonic acid, produced a dose-related potentiation, while bicuculline inhibited the head-twitch. The GABAb receptor agonist, baclofen, produced dose-related inhibition. Diazepam potentiated the head-twitch while the 'inverse' benzodiazepine receptor agonist ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate inhibited the head-twitch. The antagonist Ro15-1788 also produced inhibition. Ro05-4864, a ligand for the benzodiazepine 'acceptor' site, potentiated the head-twitch. Pentobarbitone and pentylenetetrazol potentiated the 5-HTP-induced head-twitch at low doses, changing to inhibition as the dose was increased. Picrotoxin in subconvulsant doses, produced only potentiation. More than one site may be involved in the action of these substances. GABA, amino-oxyacetic acid and 1-2-4-diaminobutyric acid inhibited the head-twitch, while the GABA-depletor, 3-mercaptopropionic acid potentiated it. Of all the agents tested, only muscimol produced head-twitching when given alone. It was concluded that both GABAa and GABAb receptors modulate the head-twitch response to 5-HTP.

Serum proteins among Dusads of Bihar

Horizontal starch gel electrophoresis has been employed for the detection of haptoglobin, transferrin and albumin phenotypes among 88 Dusads of Bihar. No variant of the haptoglobins or transferrins has been found in this sample, whereas one individual showed bisalbuminemia.

Thermodilution cardiac output studies as a cause of prosthetic valve bacterial endocarditis

The injectate used for thermodilution cardiac output determinations is a potential source for direct bloodstream contamination, resulting in bacterial endocarditis after cardiac operations. An experiment simulating three techniques for obtaining injectate samples showed one of them to be clearly unacceptable.

The use of heparin as a simple cost-effective means of controlling background in nucleic acid hybridization procedures

The use of heparin as a simple, effective and cheap substitute for conventional methods of controlling background in hybridization procedures is described and illustrated with reference to the use of DNA probes in filter and in situ hybridization. Possible specific mechanisms for this heparin effect are discussed.

Reproductive performance of Bhotia women of Mana Valley

This paper reports the preliminary findings on the reproductive performance of 52 Bhotia women from the Mana Valley (Uttar Pradesh; elevation 10 560 ft.), who had approached menopause. The total amount of time available for reproduction and the total time used for effective reproduction as well as the period, which has been wasted as a result of sociocultural and biological factors, have been calculated. The total time available to Bhotia women for reproduction is found to be 1584 years, out of which 1563 years (98.67%) were used for effective reproduction. The reproductive wastage as a result of socio-economic and biological circumstances is calculated as 21 years only or 0.40 years per woman. All pregnancies as well as lactation operate to reduce fecundability. The various family limiting methods also lower the reproductive performance. A comparison has been made with the results of similar studies in other populations.

The conserved nucleotide sequences of Bkm, which define Sxr in the mouse, are transcribed

We have recovered a conserved transcribed component of the snake W chromosome satellite DNA (Bkm) from Drosophila and male mouse libraries. This consists of repeats of the tetranucleotide GATA that are concentrated in the sex-determining region of the Y chromosome of mouse, on the W chromosome of snakes, and in the proximal region of the X chromosome of D. melanogaster, and it appears to be transcribed in a sex-specific and developmentally regulated manner. Sequencing studies show that, unlike most other transcribed repeats, the GATA repeats potentially contain open reading frames. These encode mainly the amino acids leucine, serine, isoleucine, and tyrosine but with occasional variant codons that differ in different clonal isolates. Transcription is exclusive to the GATA strand in different tissues of the same organism and in different unrelated organisms. The complementary strand CTAT contains stop codons in all reading frames. The possible developmental significance of these sequences is discussed.

Age at menarche among the Bhotias of Mana Valley

The mean menarcheal age of the Bhotia girls of Mana Valley (Uttar Pradesh) has been found to be 16.38 +/- 1.53 years, which is the highest value so far reported from Indian populations. It is observed that altitude and nutritional status have a great bearing on the onset of menarche. The results obtained are compared with those from other Indian populations.

Ovarian cells participate in the formation of tubular structures in mouse/rat heterosexual gonadal cocultures: a direct demonstration by in situ hybridization

In situ hybridization of a mouse-specific satellite DNA probe has been used to identify mouse cells in heterosexual reaggregates of rat ovarian and mouse testicular cells. It has been shown that rat ovarian cells cooperate in forming testis tubules. The significance of this is discussed in terms of H-Y antigen.

Sex reversal in the mouse (Mus musculus) is caused by a recurrent nonreciprocal crossover involving the x and an aberrant y chromosome

Satellite DNA (Bkm) from the W sex-determining chromosome of snakes, which is related to sequences on the mouse Y chromosome, has been used to analyze the DNA and chromosomes of sex-reversed (Sxr) XXSxr male mice. Such mice exhibit a male-specific Southern blot Bkm hybridization pattern, consistent with the presence of Y-chromosome DNA. In situ hybridization of Bkm to chromosomes of XXSxr mice shows an aberrant concentration of related sequences on the distal terminus of a large mouse chromosome. The XYSxr carrier male, however, shows a pair of small chromosomes, which are presumed to be aberrant Y derivatives. Meiosis in the XYSxr mouse involves transfer of chromatin rich in Bkm-related DNA from the Y-Y1 complex to the X distal terminus. We suggest that this event is responsible for the transmission of the Sxr trait.