Plasma levels of beta-endorphin in white-tailed deer: seasonal variation and the effect of thyroxine, GnRH, dexamethasone and ACTH administration

1. A distinct seasonal cycle of beta-endorphin (beta-E) was detected in plasma of four intact, male white-tailed deer. Peak levels (around 11 pg/ml) were observed in August and minimal concentrations (around 5 pg/ml) were detected in January and February. 2. The seasonal variation (which corresponds to intensity of antler growth) was more pronounced in the two mature bucks, as compared to the immature ones. 3. Intramuscular administration of synthetic thyroxine (in doses of 500, 750 and 1000 micrograms/deer) and GnRH (100 micrograms/deer) had generally no significant effect on the beta-E levels. 4. I.v. administration of dexamethasone (5 mg/deer) as well as i.m. injection ACTH (20 Int. Units/deer) significantly reduced beta-E levels.

In vivo biochemical indices of nephrotoxicity of platinum analogs tetraplatin, CHIP, and cisplatin in the Fischer 344 rat

In vivo biochemical indices of nephrotoxicity were investigated in Fischer 344 rats treated with a new platinum analog, tetraplatin [tetrachloro(dl-trans)1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum(IV), NSC-363812], in comparison with rats receiving equimolar dosages of cisplatin and CHIP [cis-dichloro,trans-dihydroxybis-isopropylamine platinum(IV), NSC-256927]. The goals of this study were to assess the comparative nephrotoxicities and to determine which battery of tests might be useful for the assessment of platinum analog-induced nephrotoxicity in future clinical investigations of these drugs. An iv bolus injection of 6.7, 13.3, 26.7, and 53.3 mumol/kg of each drug in saline was administered and assessment of biochemical parameters was conducted for 15 days postinjection. A combination of urinary enzyme and protein excretion rates along with blood urea nitrogen (BUN) determinations was used to assess the nephrotoxicity of these compounds. At equimolar dosages, tetraplatin appeared to be less nephrotoxic than cisplatin, and CHIP was not nephrotoxic. At all dosages tested, cisplatin increased the rate of urinary excretion of protein, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) between Days 1 and 5. Tetraplatin did not affect these parameters until the 13.3 mumol/kg dosage. Cisplatin had little effect on the excretion rates of the brush border enzymes alkaline phosphatase and maltase, whereas tetraplatin caused an initial elevation with delayed onset of peak excretion rates at 8 days postinjection. Changes in BUN were not evident until after the 13.3 mumol/kg dosage of cisplatin and the 26.7 mumol/kg dosage of tetraplatin. BUN was useful for ranking the relative toxicities of the three compounds tested, but was not as sensitive in detecting the onset of injury that correlated with early histopathological changes. Tetraplatin appeared to be less nephrotoxic than cisplatin on an equimolar basis and the specific manifestations of its toxicity were different from those observed with cisplatin. Urinary excretion rates for LDH, NAG, and protein proved to be sensitive indicators of platinum analog-induced nephrotoxicity. These indices, combined with BUN determinations and functional assessments, facilitated comparisons of the nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin and tetraplatin in rats.

Comparative toxicity and renal distribution of the platinum analogs tetraplatin, CHIP, and cisplatin at equimolar doses in the Fischer 344 rat

Tetraplatin [tetrachloro(dl-trans)1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum(IV), NSC-363812] is a new anticancer platinum drug analog targeted for clinical development because of its effectiveness against cisplatin-resistant tumor cell lines and its improved formulation. The toxicity of tetraplatin was compared at equimolar doses to that of cisplatin [cis-diamminedichlorophatinum(II)] and CHIP [cis-dichloro,trans-dihydroxybis-isopropylamine platinum(IV), NSC-256927]. Adult male Fischer 344 rats received an iv bolus injection of 6.7, 13.3, 26.7, or 53.3 mumol/kg of one of these drugs in saline and were killed on Day 1, 3, 5, 8, or 15 postinjection for assessment of toxicity with emphasis on evaluation of nephrotoxicity. Rats to be killed on Day 15 were housed in metabolism cages for daily urine collection. Tetraplatin was less nephrotoxic than cisplatin at equimolar doses; CHIP was not nephrotoxic at these doses. Renal platinum contents were similar after all three drugs and did not appear to be related directly to the nephrotoxicity. Nephrotoxicity was detected 4-5 days after 6.7 mumol/kg cisplatin, was localized to the corticomedullary junction, and progressed with time and dose. Tetraplatin-induced alterations of renal function were first observed after 13.4 mumol/kg on Day 4 as an elevation of urine volume (up to 10-fold) and a smaller elevation of urinary glucose excretion. Tetraplatin lesions were localized in the mid- and outer cortex and, even at the highest dose, were less severe than those observed with cisplatin. There were other prominent toxic effects of tetraplatin, such as gastrointestinal toxicity and myelosuppression, which indicate that factors other than comparative nephrotoxicity may impact the clinical potential of this new agent.

Cooling prevents ischaemic testicular damage after spermatic cord clamping in rats

A controlled trial was conducted on four groups of seven rats to evaluate any beneficial effect of cooling to 15 degrees C on testicular ischaemia induced by clamping of the spermatic cord for 2, 4, 6 or 8 h. At operation the microscopic appearance of the testes on unclamping was a poor guide to ultimate viability, whereas by the third day macroscopic and microscopic appearances concurred. When killed on the third day, testicular histology demonstrated that increasing periods of clamping led to gross ischaemia and infarction when testes were maintained at 37 degrees C, and this was reduced greatly by testicular cooling. For each period of clamping, maintenance of spermatogenesis, expressed in terms of Johnsen's histological scores, was significant (P less than 0.01), being 2 (37 degrees C) vs 5.3 (15 degrees C) for 8-h clamping. It is proposed that testicular cooling should be used during autotransplantation of testes in humans.

Evidence that post-transcriptional changes in the expression of mitogen regulated protein accompany immortalization of mouse cells

Primary mouse embryo fibroblasts passed in culture go through a period of declining growth rate and then after a period of minimal proliferation begin to grow again, generating, under appropriate conditions, an immortal 3T3 line. The 3T3 cells, but not the primary mouse embryo fibroblasts, are able to synthesize and to secrete mitogen regulated protein (MRP, also known as proliferin). We report here that the level at which the change in gene expression occurs during this spontaneous immortalization process is post-transcriptional, reflecting a change in either RNA processing or transcript stability. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an alteration at the post-transcriptional level of gene expression that accompanies immortalization.

Low human fetal heart rate variation in normal pregnancy

The fetal heart rates of 340 normal singleton pregnancies at 30-33 weeks gestation were screened using a microprocessor system on-line. Eleven fetuses (3.2%) with a heart rate variation less than the 5th centile were identified, of whom 10 were studied longitudinally. At 30-33 weeks the mean minute range of pulse intervals (a measure of fetal heart rate variation) was 31.4 (SE 1.5) ms compared with 51.0 (SE 3.4) ms in a randomly selected control group. The study group continued to have significantly lower fetal heart rate variation than controls on each of three subsequent occasions until delivery. There were no significant differences between the two groups in fetal outcome, which was good. This demonstrates that a small proportion of normal fetuses have consistently low heart rate variation, and helps to define the lower limit of the normal distribution of fetal heart rate variation. After delivery, there were no significant differences between heart rate or its variation between the two groups. We conclude that the lower prenatal heart rate variation in the study group was a consequence of the uterine environment.

Relationships between dietary protein, dietary energy, rearing environment, and nutrient utilization by broiler breeder pullets

The relationship between dietary energy and protein and their interaction with method of restriction and environment were studied. In Experiment 1, two isocaloric diets (2750 kcal/kg) formulated to contain either 13.5% or 15.5% protein were fed to broiler breeder pullets from hatching through 21 weeks of age. There were no significant differences in body weight due to dietary protein but chicks fed the 13.5% protein ration did require a significantly greater quantity of feed to produce an equivalent body weight. Sexual maturity, peak egg production, and egg size were not affected by the level of dietary protein but total egg production was significantly decreased in pullets fed the 13.5% protein diet. In Experiment 2, 2970 kcal/kg ration containing 15.5% protein was fed to pullets that were reared under two different lighting environments, natural daylength or 24 hr light for the first 7 days and 8 hr light per day thereafter. Pullets housed in the controlled environment and reared on an every-other-day restriction program had significantly improved feed utilization compared with similarly restricted birds kept under natural light. Environmental effects on feed utilization were not as great in the every day restriction treatment. Chicks exposed to natural daylight and fed 15.5% protein diets had similar caloric efficiencies (kcal/g) at 15 weeks of age in both experiments despite dietary density differences of 220 kcal/kg. This supports a hypothesis that above some minimal level of protein intake, caloric intake has the greatest control over body weight gain in restricted pullets, particularly where every-other-day feeding is used during part of the growing period.

Molecular cloning of a tumor promoter-inducible mRNA found in JB6 mouse epidermal cells: induction is stable at high, but not at low, cell densities

From the mouse JB6 epidermal cell line C122 we have isolated a cDNA clone representing a 1.6-kilobase mRNA, called 2ar, that exhibits a biphasic induction in response to 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The first phase of induction in subconfluent cells is transient, peaking at 6 h after the addition of TPA and returning to noninduced levels by 24 h. When the cells reach plateau density, in the continued presence of TPA, this mRNA is reinduced and remains so upon continued exposure to the tumor promoter. Serum and certain growth factors also induce 2ar mRNA in serum-deprived quiescent fibroblasts. In vitro nuclear "run-on" transcription experiments indicate that the induction of 2ar mRNA is controlled at the transcriptional level.

The development of a system for transillumination computed tomography

A transillumination computed tomography system has been developed for studies of the breast, testes, neonatal skull and peripheral limbs. Initial experiments on test objects have emphasised the problems of scattering and geometrical dependence of lesion detection that are likely to be encountered in conventional diaphanography, but have demonstrated the feasibility of computed tomography as a means of improving the sensitivity of the transillumination technique. The problems of transillumination computed tomography have been addressed and further areas of research identified.

Posttraumatic ulnar translation of the carpus

Ulnar translation of the carpus is a rare posttraumatic carpal instability pattern, in which the entire carpus is displaced ulnarward on the radioulnar surface. No previous formal reports of this problem have been located although it has been described in general discussions of wrist instability. Seven men and one woman were diagnosed with this condition although the diagnosis was delayed from 2 to 23 months, an average of 7.3 months. Three patients were treated surgically before diagnosis; the other five patients were treated conservatively before diagnosis. At the time of definitive diagnosis the radiographs showed an ulnar translation of the carpus, which was quantified on the radiographs in all eight patients by the method of Chamay. Four patients had an attempt to repair the radiolunate and radiocapitate ligaments. One patient had a ligamentous augmentation of the radiocapitate ligament complex. Two patients had ligamentous repairs of a scapholunate dissociation; one of these had simultaneous radiocarpal ligamentous augmentation. The eighth patient had a radiolunate arthrodesis. Follow-up averaged 32 months. Three patients had formal wrist arthrodeses at 10, 13, and 26 months after initial ligamentous repair, which were considered treatment failures. In the remaining five patients, four had partial recurrent ulnar shift, which was seen radiographically. Of these, three patients rated the result as good, with near normal strength and returned to full activities while two obtained fair results, with minimal pain but decreased range of motion and decreased strength. One patient has shown progressive degenerative radiocarpal changes and may become a candidate for a limited or formal wrist arthrodesis.

Elevated plasma enteroglucagon alone fails to alter distal colonic carcinogenesis in rats

The effect of physiologic increases of plasma enteroglucagon, induced by massive bypass or resection of small bowel, on large bowel cell turnover and carcinogenesis was studied in rats in which the distal colon was isolated as a mucous fistula. After injections of azoxymethane, either 85% end-to-side jejunoileal bypass, 85% jejunoileal resection, or sham bypass was performed. Controls underwent colonic transection and resuture, azoxymethane treatment, and then sham bypass. Thirty weeks later the plasma enteroglucagon level had almost trebled after jejunoileal bypass (p less than 0.001) and almost doubled after jejunoileal resection (p less than 0.002) when compared with sham bypass; sham values did not differ from controls. The median number of tumors per rat in the distal (defunctioned) colon fell from 2 to 0 (p less than 0.05). Segmental weight fell by 45% (p less than 0.001) and crypt cell production rate by 75% (p less than 0.001). Neither tumor yield nor adaptation was affected by jejunoileal bypass or jejunoileal resection. Plasma enteroglucagon has no effect on colonic cell turnover or carcinogenesis in the absence of luminal content.

Ileal carcinoma and tuberculous ileitis

A 76 year old woman presented with abdominal pain and weight loss. At laparotomy she was found to have an adenocarcinoma of the ileum arising in a segment of tuberculous ileitis. The possible significance of this association is discussed.

Rising detection rate of symptomatic Dukes' A colorectal cancers

All 197 patients admitted to the Bristol Royal Infirmary during the 16 year period 1970-1985, and diagnosed as having Dukes' A colorectal cancers, were studied. The numbers diagnosed per year by 1985 were 20, compared with 9.4 per year for the period 1970-1979. This represented an increase in the percentage of Dukes' A cancers of all the colorectal cancers diagnosed from 8.3 to 15 per cent. The increase was largely due to better quality double contrast barium enemas and increased use of flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. The operative mortality dropped from 17 to 3 per cent in the last 6 year period. The recurrence rate was 9.6 per cent of which 1 per cent were locally resected and crude 5 year survival was 90.4 per cent up to 1981.

Pathogenesis of Sarcocystis falcatula in the budgerigar. I. Early pulmonary schizogony

Sarcocystis falcatula is a protozoan parasite which obligatorily alternates its definitive host, the opossum (Didelphis virginiana), and a uniquely wide range of avian intermediate hosts. The disease produced by this coccidian parasite in intermediate hosts was studied in the budgerigar bird (Melopsittacus undulatus). The ultrastructure of pulmonary sporozoites, meronts and merozoites of this Sarcocystis species is described. Early schizogony occurs progressively in pulmonary capillary and in venular and venous endothelial cells.

Pathogenesis of Sarcocystis falcatula in the budgerigar. II. Pulmonary pathology

Sarcocystis falcatula is a protozoan parasite which obligatorily alternates its definitive host, the opossum (Didelphis virginiana), and a uniquely wide range of avian intermediate hosts. The disease produced by this coccidian parasite in intermediate hosts was studied in the budgerigar bird (Melopsittacus undulatus). Early schizogony occurs in pulmonary endothelial cells, resulting in endothelial cell hypertrophy, capillary obstruction preceding endothelial lysis, acute endophlebitis, and chronic periphlebitis. These impede outflow of the pulmonary vascular system resulting in interstitial, subpneumocytic, and then air-space edema. The edema is associated with retraction and degeneration of squamous pneumocytic processes, loss of the myelinoid "surfactant" covering over the pneumocytes, and atelectasis of the respiratory labyrinth. Epithelial repair is effected by migration of granular pneumocytes (normally confined to the parabronchi and their atria) down the infundibula and into the respiratory labyrinth. This pattern of injury and repair is comparable to diffuse alveolar damage (acute interstitital pneumonitis) of mammals despite the markedly different structure of the avian lung. The implications of this peculiar tissue tropism are discussed.

Microscopic and submicroscopic anatomy of the parabronchi, air sacs, and respiratory space of the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)

The normal microscopic and submicroscopic structure of the lower respiratory tract of the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) is described and compared with other birds and mammals. Granular (type II) pneumocytes are confined to linings of air sacs, parabronchi, and their atria; however, their secretions (surfactant) cover the surfaces of the infundibula and respiratory space. Infundibula extend from the atria and give rise to the air capillaries, which branch and anastomose freely with those of adjacent infundibula and other parabronchi (interparabronchial septa are not found). Infundibula and the respiratory labyrinth are lined by a continuous epithelium of squamous pneumocytes, whose perikarya are concentrated in the infundibula and whose peripheral cytoplasm is markedly attenuated. The squamous pneumocytes of the respiratory labyrinth share a basal lamina with the blood capillaries that they envelop.

Patterns of Schistosoma haematobium egg distribution in the human lower urinary tract. II. Obstructive uropathy

In a series of 32 unselected consecutive autopsies of Egyptian male adults, we found a significant prevalence of schistosomal obstructive uropathy (SOU) and of precursor lesions of stenosis, fibrosis and induration of the ureters (62.5%). Lower urinary tracts with obstructive uropathy had a significantly higher total egg burden (TEB) than did lower urinary tracts with any other type of gross lesion (i.e., benign prostatic hypertrophy, other urethral outlet obstruction, or SOU precursor lesions). In turn, lower urinary tracts with any type of gross change had higher egg burdens than did tracts which appeared grossly normal. Lower urinary tracts with any type of gross lesion had significantly larger seminal vesicles than did tracts which were grossly normal. Moreover, relative weight of seminal vesicles could be correlated with the S. haematobium egg burdens in the seminal vesicles. In a series of lower urinary tracts taken from unselected consecutive American autopsies, seminal vesicle weight could be correlated with increase in prostatic weight in those tracts with prostatic hypertrophy; the same correlation could not be found in tracts without prostatic hypertrophy. Thus, seminal vesicle hypertrophy appears to correlate with obstructive uropathy in general, not solely obstructive uropathy of schistosomal origin. Digital evaluation of seminal vesicle size may be useful in the clinical evaluation of such patients.

Patterns of Schistosoma haematobium egg distribution in the human lower urinary tract. I. Noncancerous lower urinary tracts

Schistosoma haematobium egg burdens (eggs/g of tissue) of 17 anatomic segments of lower urinary tracts from 32 unselected Egyptian autopsies have been determined by tissue digestion and replicate counts of aliquots of the digestate. There were three anatomic patterns of egg distribution in these lower urinary tracts: apical, basal and diffuse. Regression of egg burdens of each of the anatomic segments as the dependent variable against egg burdens of the entire lower urinary burden yielded a good fit for 15 of 17 of these segments. Statistical analyses revealed that many of these equations for discrete anatomic segments can be combined, generally giving one equation for anatomic regions which are in continuity, indicating that the female worm lives and oviposits in specified venous plexes. These equations also suggest that there are differences in the rates, duration and onset of egg accumulation which may be responsible for schistosomal obstructive uropathy as a cause of death in fairly young individuals.

The relationship between age and genotype and the growth of commercial meat strain chickens

Sex-linked dwarf male (dw/dw) and female (dw/-) chickens from a commercial meat strain, grew significantly slower than genetically normal broilers (Dw/Dw). The differences were evident at 2 weeks of age and they remained constant with age, at least through 8 weeks. The dwarfs in turn grew significantly faster than genetically normal (Dw/Dw) but slow-growing roaster strain chicks. Heterozygous (Dw/dw) normal, fast-growing male broilers grew significantly faster than the normal and roaster chicks but weighed 8% less than the normal broilers at 8 weeks. Abdominal fat accretion was greatest in the dwarf chicks and least in the slow-growing roaster strain when comparisons were made at the same age and the same body weight. Pectoralis muscle growth was greater in the broiler strain when equal age and weight comparisons were made. Gastrocnemius muscle growth, however, was greatest in the slow-growing roaster chicks.

Patterns of Schistosoma haematobium egg distribution in the human lower urinary tract. III. Cancerous lower urinary tracts

The distribution of S. haematobium eggs in urinary bladders containing tumors and removed at surgery has been studied; the majority of these tumors are well differentiated squamous cell carcinomas. The same three anatomic patterns of egg accumulation described in part I of this series (noncancerous lower urinary tracts) were found in these cancerous bladders, but, in addition, most of the tumors were surrounded by a collar of heavy S. haematobium egg deposition. The egg burdens in these collars were, on the average, twice the average egg burden in the remainder of the urinary bladder. These collars do not seem to be artifacts created by growth of the tumor and subsequent displacement of the adjacent normal tissue, creating a region of heavy egg concentrations; rather, these heavy S. haematobium egg concentrations seem to act as promoters of urothelial carcinogenesis.

The relationship between age and genotype and circulating concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and growth hormone in commercial meat strain chickens

The presence of the sex-linked dwarf gene (dw) in homozygous male (dw/dw) and female (dw/-) meat strain chickens is associated with a significant reduction in circulating levels of triiodothyronine (T3). Heterozygous (Dw/dw) male broiler strain chickens have T3 concentrations similar to those in homozygous (Dw/Dw) male broilers. Genetically normal (Dw/Dw) but significantly slower growing roaster strain male meat chickens had consistently higher T3 than the faster growing broilers at all ages in one experiment but only at 8 weeks in a second experiment. Age and not growth rate appears to have a greater influence on serum T3 concentrations in the slow- and fast-growing normal strains. Growth hormone levels were significantly higher in the dwarf chickens at all ages and in all three experiments. The heterozygous and homozygous broilers had similar GH levels and the slow-growing, genetically normal roasters had intermediate concentrations between the broiler and dwarf lines. GH was influenced to a greater extent by the rate of body weight gain than by increasing age in the genetically normal fast and slow growing strains.

A solution to declining autopsy rates--the Decedent Affairs Office

Can the decline in autopsy rates be reversed by solving logistical problems that impede or deter permissions and arrangements? The authors report an increase in the autopsy rate at their institution after a Decedent Affairs Office was established. Furthermore, the time between death and autopsy has been greatly narrowed, thus providing optimal tissue for diagnosis. As an additional benefit, the number of organ donations has also risen.

Growth and development of broiler breeders. 1. Effect of early plane of nutrition and growth rate

In two experiments, male and female broiler breeders were reared on two different planes of growth as a result of early nutritional treatment. The starter treatment(s) consisted of a 19.5% crude protein, (CP), 2970 kcal diet from 0 to 14 days and 15.5% CP, 2750 kcal ration from 2 to 10 weeks. The birds in the grower treatment were fed the latter diet from 0 to 10 weeks. Both treatments were ad libitum fed from 0 to 3 weeks and then restricted to meet the breeder's recommended body weight targets. In Experiment 1, the starter treatment resulted in significantly heavier body weights at 3 weeks of age but not at later ages. The initiation of feed restriction was necessarily more severe for those chicks fed the starter diet. This restriction resulted in a significantly smaller liver at 10 weeks of age in breeder cockerels and dwarf breeder females. Vaccination titers [Newcastle, Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD),] and response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) brachial vein injection were not affected by treatment. In a second experiment, there were no differences in bursa, spleen, or thymus weights between starter and grower treatments at 10 weeks of age, and the liver weights were again significantly larger in the grower treatment. One treatment of dwarf and normal pullets was overly restricted from 3 to 10 weeks (Grower-R), and lighter body weights were obtained at all ages. Only the spleen in the normal breeders was significantly smaller at 10 weeks of age in this treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)