Glycolitic enzymes in the human amniotic fluid

Riassunto È stata messa in evidenza nel liquido amniotico di donne a termine di gravidanza la presenza di alcuni enzimi glicolitici. Sono riportati i dati quantitativi ottenuti per l'attività della fosforiboso-isomerasi, aldolasi, fosfoesoso-isomerasi e lattico-deidrogenasi. È stato determinato inoltre il contenuto proteico dei campioni di liquido amniotico presi in esame.     

Immunoactive TSH in the amniotic fluid of the rat

Summary Amniotic fluid was obtained from 19-day-old rat fetuses by aspiration. Pooled samples measured at 4 different dilutions demonstrated parallelism with standard rat TSH. It is concluded that rat amniotic fluid has TSH immunoactivity.This work was supported by Hong Kong University Research Grant No. 335/034/5727.The authors wish to acknowledge with thanks the gift of rat TSH RIA kit from Dr A. F. Parlow and the Rat Pituitary Programme of NIAMDD.     

Thyroid hormone in serum of fetal calf and pregnant cow during the last trimester of pregnancy

Summary Considerably higher thyroxine and triiodothyronine concentrations in sera of bovine fetuses than in maternal samples were found during the last trimester of pregnancy.Acknowledgment. We wish to thank Miss.R. Fajkoová for skilled technical assistance.     

Diagnosis of the presence of meconium in amniotic fluid by dispersion curves of the longitudinal relaxations of protons]

Dispersion curves of the longitudinal relaxation T1 of protons in healthy amniotic fluid in a meconium solution are distinct at low Larmor frequencies (V0 less than 100 kHz). We are thus able to distinguish these fluids by T1 measurements in this range.     

The effect of pinealectomy on serum progesterone and oestradiol levels during the last stage of pregnancy in rats

Summary Pinealectomy leads to significantly higher levels of progesterone (on days 19 and 20 of gestation) and oestradiol (on days 21 and 22) in the serum of pregnant rats. These results indicate that during the last phase of pregnancy the pineal gland may be modifying the levels of gonadal hormones, although not affecting the sequence of the physiological events.Acknowledgment. The authors wish to thank Miss Ute Schmidt for her invaluable technical assistance.     

Immune phenomena during experimental schistosomiasis in the rat: role of specific and non specific factors]

Partial immunity to Schistosoma mansoni in the rat can be obtained by injection of a bilharzian antigen together with Freund's complete adjuvant. The results are the same no matter what form of the parasite is used (infecting cercariae or adult). This immunity is the result of both specific and non-specific mechanisms, as is proved by the fact that a lesser but still quite clear degree of resistance to infestation can be obtained by injection of Freund's adjuvant alone.     

Half-life of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS) during pregnancy]

During pregnancy the half-life of DHAS was measured after non tritiated DHAS infusion. At 30 weeks, the mean value obtained for DHAS half-life was 3.64 h +/- 0.74 and it was 3.67h +/- 0.38 at 38 weeks. The half-life of DHAS is shorter in pregnant than in non-pregnant women. Among 14 pathological pregnancies that we studied, 13 cases exhibited a DHAS half-life significantly longer than the average value obtained in normal pregnancies. In retarded fetal growth, the half-life of DHAS was more closely related to fetal than to placental weight.     

Variations in alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport during in vitro differentiation of cultured myocardial cells from newborn rats]

The transport of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid has been studied as a function of age in heart cell cultures derived from new-born Rats. The specific rate of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid transport decreased slightly once confluency had been reached and then, from day 8 on, increased abruptly. This last phase may be related to the expression of specialized functions encountered in older cultures.     

The development of the amylase activity in blood and its behaviour in the amniotic fluid in rats

Zusammenfassung Die Amylaseaktivität im Blut von Wistarratten steigt bis zum Ende der Säugeperiode an. In der Amnionflüssigkeit fehlt sie zunächst, nimmt oberhalb eines Fötalgewichtes von 2 g auf ein Vielfaches der Blutwerte zu und fällt mit schwindender Amnionflüssigkeit am Ende der Gravidität stark ab.     

Sex steroids in the rat submaxillary gland during the estrus cycle

Relatively high progestagen levels were found in female rat submaxillary glands, with a maximum in the proestrus stage at 22 h and 2 minima; in proestrus between 10 and 14 h, and in estrus at 14 h. Estrogen and androgen concentrations in the gland were undetectable during most of the cycle except in the proestrus stage, when the highest level was determined at 14 h for estrogens and at 17 h for androgens.     

Permeability of the isolated human amniotic membrane to divalent cations]

Membrane potential and resistance recordings, in vitro, show that Mg++ does not pass through the amnion from the inside of the amniotic compartment to the outside of the amniotic membrane. Mg++ may become fixed on the surface or in the midst of the amniotic membrane. However, Mg++ diffuses in the opposite direction. Ca++, Ba++, Sr++ diffuse in both directions across the amniotic membrane.     

Peritoneal exudate, with mononucleated cells, during normal pregnancy in different species]

A peritoneal cell rich fluid, containing mononucleated leukocytes, macrophages, monocytes, mast cells and lymphocytes, was observed during normal pregnancy in animals belonging to various species. These cells might be concerned in a homograft-like, mother-foetus, relationship.     

Immunological reactivity during pregnancy in the mouse

Riassunto Le reazioni allergiche da contatto indotte dal cloridrato di picrile e le risposte anticorpali agli eritrociti di montone sono state quantitativamente valutate in topi femmine nel corso della gravidanza. Mentre le reazioni allergiche sono diminuite nelle femmine gravide rispetto alle vergini, le risposte anticorpali risultano significativamente aumentate. Tali dati fanno supporre l'esistenza nel corso della gravidanza di un controllo ormonale delle risposte immunitarie che potrebbe influenzare positivamente le reazioni meterno-fetali.