A daily rhythm in hCG binding to ovarian follicles of the cyclic hamster

On each day of the estrous cycle hCG binding to follicle increased from 09.00 to 21.00 h; then hCG binding was static until 09.00 h of the next day. FSH binding did not exhibit rhythmicity. This pattern of hCG binding may be related to the pulsing of LH on each cycle day.     

Are there cyclic variations in estradiol secretion in the non-pregnant rabbit?

Summary Plasma estradiol-17 (E2) concentration was measured in 5 adult non-pregnant rabbits each in 3 different seasons (January, April and September). Blood samples were taken from each rabbit every other day. There was a considerable variation in plasma E2 levels from one sampling day to another, irrespective of the season. The pattern of variation in E2 levels in individual rabbits tended to be cyclic and this cycle was roughly of the order of 8 days. There was no correlation between changes in E2 levels and those in the vaginal appearance. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A2025089 00013This study was supported by the Ford Foundation, and the Swedish Medical Research Council (project No. 4781).     

Nuclear progestin receptor in the chimpanzee sex skin

Summary We describe for the first time the presence of a nuclear progestin receptor in the sex skin of the chimpanzee, which is possibly involved in the anti-estrogen action of progestins in the sexual swelling.This work was supported by NIH grants RR-00165 and HD-13083 to the Yerkes Primate Research Center, Emory University.     

Ectopic human chorionic gonadotropin in breast carcinoma

Summary Immunoreactive human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was found in 9 of 65 surgically removed malignant breast tumors. Concentrations ranged from 5 to greater than 500 mIU hCG/g tumor. hCG was measured by a -chain specific radioimmunoassay. In further study of these specimens, an immunoperoxidase staining technique was used to stain for hCG in formalin-fixed sections. The hCG was shown to be localized within the cytoplasm and on the surface of the malignant cells.     

Circadian rhythm in the subcommissural organ of the frog,Rana arvalis Nilsson,under natural conditions

Summary A circadian activity of SCO ependymal cells, judged by changes in the nuclear volume, has been found in juvenile frogs (Rana arvalis) under natural summer conditions. The nuclear volume reaches its maximum at 12.00 h and a minimum at 24.00 h. A significant increase in activity occurs between 06.00 and 09.00 h and a gradual decrease is observed from 12.00 to 24.00 h.     

Cell kinetic studies in the epidermis of the mouse. I. Changes in labeling index with time after tritiated thymidine administration

The changes in the labeling index (LI) with time after a single injection of tritiated thymidine (3HTdR) at each of 4 different times of the day have been studied. Slight differences occur in the shape of these LI curves, (e.g. in the timing of the peaks) depending on the time of day when the initial injection was given. Thus, the time of day influences not only the number of cells in DNA synthesis but also determines the subsequent behavior of the labeled cells. The curves show 3 distinct peaks from which estimates of the cell cycle time can be made. The technique permits the cell cycle time to be estimated. From the data as a whole a minimum cell cycle time of 90 h for basal cells in the epidermis on the back of a mouse is obtained. The technique also provides estimates for the duration of S + G2 + M which varies depending on the time of day that the label is given. The LI curves can best be understood if the basal layer is assumed to contain 2 cell populations with differing cell cycle times; one having a long cell cycle (about 180 h) but short S-phase and containing the stem cells, the other having a short cell cycle (about 90 h) and a long S-phase duration and consisting of transit cells.     

Inhibition of human chlorionic gonadotrophin-induced ovarian and uterine growth in the mouse by synthetic arginine vasotocin-1.

21-day-old Swiss-Webster female mice were injected with 1 IU HCG at 09.00 h. Injection of freshly prepared arginine vasotocin (2 mug/0.1 ml/injection) every 12 h inhibited the HCG-induced hypertrophy of the ovaries at 36, 48, 60 and 72 hr after HCG-treatment while the uterine weight was depressed at 60 and 72 h.     

Periodicity of S35 uptake in rat femurs

Résumé Du radio-soufre a été administré intraveineusement à des rats à 09.00 h et à d'autres à 21.00 h, et ils ont été sacrifiés 2–3, 4, 8 et 12 h après l'injection. L'analyse microdensitométrique d'autoradiographies des fémurs a indiqué que la concentration et la rétention du traceur dans le cartilage de conjugaison étaient plus grandes dans les rats traités à 09.00 h. Les tissus non-cartilagineux n'ont pas montré de changements pareils.

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This work was performed under the auspices of the Atomic Energy Commission.     

Effects of weak electromagnetic fields onPhysarum polycephalum: Mitotic delay in heterokaryons and decreased respiration

Summary Continuous exposure ofPhysarum polycephalum to a 75 Hz, 2.0 G, and 0.7 V/m electromagnetic field results in a depressed respiration rate and a lengthening of the mitotic cell cycle. If unexposedPhysarum are mixed with exposedPhysarum the onset of synchronous mitosis in the mixed culture is delayed, occurring at a time between those of the 2 parent cultures.Acknowledgment. This work was supported by the Naval Electronics Systems Command through an Office of Naval Research Contract and a grant from Parkside's Center for the Application of Computers.     

The effect of homogenization temperature upon the apparent cellular compartmentalization of unoccupied estrogen receptor

Homogenization of rat uterus at elevated temperatures results in an increased nuclear localization of unoccupied estrogen receptor. This is a nonlinear effect which is accounted for by an increased population of KCl-resistant nuclear binding sites at the elevated homogenization temperatures.This work was supported by NSF Research Grant PCM-8409586.     

Prolactin and growth hormone do not interfere with the response of mouse testes to hCG in vitro

Summary In incubations of decapsulated mouse testes with a maximally stimulating dose of hCG, the accumulation of testosterone was not affected by the addition of PRL at concentrations from 0.1 to 50 μg/ml or GH at concentrations from 0.5 to 25 μg/ml. This work was supported by NIH through grants HD 12642 and HD 12671. We thank NIAMDD for the supply of pituitary hormones and Dr B.V. Caldwell for antiserum to testosterone.     

Inducement of blood vessel formation by ovarian extracts from mice injected with gonadotropins

Summary Ovarian extracts prepared from immature mice injected with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) were assayed for angiogenic activity. The assay method consisted of implanting a film coated with ovarian extracts to the lateral wall of the m.rectus abdominus of a mouse for 20 days and examining the site for vascularization. The higher angiogenic activity obtained with PMSG-treated extract may be related to its follicle stimulating activity.Acknowledgment. Part of this work was supported by a grant from The Ministry of Education, Japan (No. 576165).     

Laboratory observations on pupae on the medflyCeratitis capitata (Wied.)

Summary Laboratory observations on pupae ofCeratitis capitata showed that most adult emergence took place in the morning between 06.00 and 09.00 h. Pupae succeeded to emerge when covered with sand up to a depth of 30 cm. It was not possible to differentiate between sexes by pupal weight.     

Increase in muscle fibres in the lateralis muscle (white portion) of Mugilidae (Pisces,Teleostei)

Summary A cycle of postlarval growth is described in the white portion of the lateralis muscle of Mugilidae. The cycle was identified histochemically by the myosin-ATPase reaction.This work was supported by a CNR grant (Oceanografia e fondi marini project).     

Beta-adrenergic stimulation of androgen production by fetal mouse Leydig cells in primary culture

The responsiveness of fetal mouse Leydig cells to catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine), a beta-agonist agent (L-isoproterenol) and hCG was investigated in vitro. Fetal Leydig cells when freshly isolated were unable to respond to L-isoproterenol (10(-5) M). However, L-isoproterenol, epinephrine and norepinephrine significantly stimulated androgen production by fetal Leydig cells after 24 h of primary culture. Androgen production was increased in both conditions and to a greater extent by hCG. Propranolol blocked the stimulatory effect of L-isoproterenol and epinephrine. It is concluded that catecholamines can regulate fetal testosterone biosynthesis.     

Are there cyclic variations in estradiol secretion in the non-pregnant rabbit?

Plasma estradiol-17 beta (E2) concentration was measured in 5 adult non-pregnant rabbits each in 3 different seasons (January, April and September). Blood samples were taken from each rabbit every other day. There was a considerable variation in plasma E2 levels from one sampling day to another, irrespective of the season. The pattern of variation in E2 levels in individual rabbits tended to be cyclic and this cycle was roughly of the order of 8 days. There was no correlation between changes in E2 levels and those in the vaginal appearance.     

Ontogeny of the sex steroid and prolactin receptors in the male rat adrenal gland

Summary Cytosolic estrogen and androgen receptors and membrane prolactin-binding sites in the male adrenal glands showed a definite pattern during sexual development. The level of sexual steroid receptors paralleled adrenal growth, whereas prolactin binding reached its maximum value in mature rats.Lüthy, I. A., Predoctoral Fellow from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas and Calandra, R. S., Research Career Awardee from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina.Acknowledgments. We would like to thank Mrs D. Bas and Mrs D. B. Destéfano for the skillful technical assistance and the secretarial work, respectively. This work was partially supported by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina (CONICET), and the Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica.     

Species-dependent stereospecific serum protein binding of the oral anticoagulant drug phenprocoumon

Summary 13 mammalian species are classified into 3 clearcut groups with respect to the stereospecific serum proteinbinding of phenprocoumon: 2 groups showing opposed stereospecific binding characteristics and a 3rd group exhibiting no stereospecific binding. Structural differences in the albumin molecule account for these stereospecific differences in serum protein-binding.This research was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ja/185/6).     

Cytological effect of some medicinal plants used in the control of fertility

Summary The effects induced upon the cell cycle of Allium cepa meristems by 2 medicinal plants used in the control of fertility were studied. Infusions of Aristolochia triangularis induces typical c-mitotic figures. On the other hand, Stevia rebaudiana have no specific toxicological effects upon the cell cycle.This work was supported by a research grant from the Instituto para el Estudio de la Reproducción Humana, Asunción (Paraguay).     

The complexity of parathyroid hormone-related proteinsignalling

Our understanding of the mode of action of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) has changed profoundly during the last decade. Most PTHrP activities are mediated by membrane receptors through autocrine/paracrine pathways. However, both endogenous and exogenous PTHrP also appear to have intracrine effects through translocation into the nucleus. The present review proposes unconventional PTHrP signalling, based on novel clues. First, PTHrP binding to its membrane receptor triggers internalization of the whole complex, mediated by beta-arrestin. There is growing evidence that the receptor and arrestin are the effectors of biological responses, rather than the ligand (or in addition to the ligand). Second, the existence of putative PTHrP targets within the cytoplasm is beginning to be supported. Recent findings of interactions between a COOH-terminus of PTHrP and beta-arrestin and between the PTHrP receptor and 14-3-3 proteins represent the starting point for identification of intracellular partners of both the hormone and its receptor.Received 19 June 2003; received after revision 10 July 2003; accepted 21 July 2003