Herpes simplex virus: fetal and decidual infection

We report 2 cases of probable in-utero transmission of herpes simplex virus. Herpes viral antigen was localized in these cases to the decidualized endometrium, using an immunoperoxidase staining technique. Routine histology did not show herpes inclusions in the decidual or glandular cells. This finding suggests that herpes virus may infect endometrial cells during pregnancy.

Effect of amiloride on urinary and renal kallikrein in the rat

A single intraperitoneal injection of amiloride in the range of 2.7, 5.4, 10.9, and 21 mumol/100 g body wt in female adult rats produced, in the two successive periods of 4 h following its administration, a significant decrease in the urinary excretory rate of kallikrein. Amiloride, 10.9 mumol/100 g body wt, which significantly reduced active kallikrein, also decreased, but less significantly, the trypsin-activated kallikrein in the urine. The fall in the excretory rate of kallikrein cannot be explained by its enzymatic inhibition by amiloride, since the inhibition was only present at higher concentrations. In hyperhydrated rats amiloride did not change the kallikrein excretory rate in the urine collected within 4 h after the injection. Rats simultaneously injected with 7.6 mumol/100 g body wt furosemide and 10.9 mumol/100 g body wt amiloride excreted levels of kallikrein similar to those found in rats injected with furosemide alone. The kidneys of rats removed after 4 h of administration of 10.9 mumol/100 g body wt amiloride showed a significant lowering of the kallikrein activity compared with the respective controls. The decrease of renal kallikrein tended to be similarly pronounced in those rats that received amiloride and furosemide simultaneously. These results confirm the depressive effect of amiloride on kallikrein excretion, which may be explained by an inhibitory action on kallikrein release, activation, and synthesis by the renal cells.

A further characterization of Drosophila cuticular monoenes using a mass spectrometry method to localize double bonds in complex mixtures

Positions of double bonds of olefins of complex mixtures, such as those of Drosophila cuticular hydrocarbons, have been determined using a simple method combining methoxymercuration-demercuration of extracts and analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using ammonia for chemical ionization. Chemical similarities between cuticular monoenes of both sexes of Drosophila simulans and males of Drosophila melanogaster are specified: the major isomer is always in position 7.

The effect of age, pairing, copulation, and 2-Br-alpha-ergocryptine in the male Mongolian gerbil on the prolactin cells in the anterior pituitary identified by immunocytochemical and Herlant's tetrachrome methods

Near-adjacent, midsagittal sections of pituitaries of infantile and adult male Mongolian gerbils in several experimental groups (bachelor, paired, tartaric acid-injected, postcopulatory gerbil, and postcopulatory animal injected with 2-bromo-alpha-ergocryptine [CB-154]), were stained by a modification of Herlant's tetrachrome and by the peroxidase-labeled antibody method for prolactin. Cell counts of erythrosinophils and cells immunoreactive for prolactin were made. Sequential staining procedures and thin adjacent sections were used to correlate the staining results. Erythrosinophils were very rare in the infant pituitaries; they increased (P less than .01) in numbers in bachelor pituitaries, remained at the same level (P greater than .05) in paired animals, increased (P less than .01) in the postcopulatory gerbils that were injected with tartaric acid, and increased much less (P less than .05) in postcopulatory males that were injected with CB-154. Prolactin cells were present in modest numbers in infant pituitaries; they increased (P less than .01); in bachelors and reached their highest number in paired animals (P less than .001); they remained unchanged (P greater than .05) in tartaric acid-injected postcopulatory animals but declined (P less than .001) in CB-154-injected, postcopulatory animals. The number of prolactin cells was always significantly greater (P less than .001) than the number of erythrosinophils. Correlative studies revealed the erythrosinophils, some of the light blue cells, and some of the chromophobes gave positive immunocytochemical reactions for prolactin. Apparently, CB-154 inhibited the erythrosinophils and the immunoreactive prolactin cells in the postcopulatory male gerbil, as indicated by a reduction in the number, size, and staining intensity of the cells.

Visceral larva migrans-like syndrome caused by Angiostrongylus costaricensis

In two cases of ectopic localization of Angiostrongylus costaricensis adult worms and eggs were seen in the liver, causing a granulomatous inflammatory reaction with dense eosinophilic infiltration and necrosis. In the first case, although antibodies for A. costaricensis had been demonstrated, a clinical diagnosis of visceral larva migrans was recorded; however, further examination of a liver biopsy revealed eggs of A. costaricensis. In the second case, severity of the intestinal pathology masked the presence of lesions and an adult A. costaricensis that were discovered in a retrospective study of the liver 13 years later. A close similarity between the visceral larva migrans syndrome and ectopic localization (liver) of A. costaricensis is established.

Extracanalicular osteomas of the temporal bone

Extracanalicular osteomas of the temporal bone are rare neoplasms. Eight new cases are reported and a review of the literature is presented. These tumors are benign, slow growing, and composed predominantly of mature bone. Although they may occur anywhere in the temporal bone, they are prevalent in the mastoid and squama. Except for cortical lesions that are seen initially as cosmetic deformities, these tumors are usually unsuspected roentgenographic findings. Treatment is indicated for symptomatic osteomas. Mastoid lesions are readily excised. Tumors involving the middle and inner ear are most frequently small and tend to remain stable in size; consequently they are usually managed expectantly.