Female sex hormones and lysosomal stability in gingival polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

In a group of 5 women taking oral contraceptives, the concentration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes along the gingival margin and the activities of cathepsin D, beta-glucuronidase and elastase were found to increase significantly during the intermenstrual phases.     

Suppressed collagenolytic activity in polymorphonuclear leucocytes from diabetic humans

Summary Extracts of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) from diabetic human exhibited less collagenolytic activity than extracts from normoglycemic control subjects. Partially purified control extracts produced ^A and ^B collagen breakdown products of the type generated by mammalian collagenase; the diabetic preparation produced decreased amounts of the same products. The diabetic PMNLs may synthesize abnormally low levels of collagenase or contain inactive forms of this enzyme.Supported by a grant (No. DE-03987) from the National Institute of Dental Research (N.I.H.), USA. This study forms part of the Ph.D. thesis of G.A. Nicoll.Acknowledgments. The authors wish to thank Ms Salema Karim and Mr F.R. Singh for excellent technical assistance.     

Prostaglandin production by human polymorphonuclear leucocytes during phagocytosis in vitro

Summary Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes were found to be able to synthetize and release substantial amounts of PGE₂, when stimulated by a phagocytic stimulus such as zymosan particles coated with complement. Hydrocortisone, at a concentration of 10^–5 M, which proved to be effective in other biological systems, failed to inhibit phagocytosis and PG release.     

Protein synthesis in polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the presence of diphtheria toxin

Résumé La toxine diphthérique n'inhibe pas l'incorporation de lal-leucine-1-C¹⁴ dans les protéines des leucocytes polymorphonucléaires de l'homme et de la souris; on sait que l'homme est très sensible à la toxine et que la souris est très résistante. La synthèse protéique dans le même type de cellules du cobaye a été fortement inhibée dans les mêmes conditions expérimentales.     

Reduced bactericidal capacity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes in nephrotic syndrome and effect of steroid therapy

Zusammenfassung Es wird der Nachweis erbracht, dass die bakterizide Wirkung der polymorph-kernigen Leukozyten bei Patienten mit nephrotischem Syndrom vermindert ist und dass Prednisolon einen günstigen Einfluss auf die Bakterizidie polymorph-kerniger Leukozyten beim nephrotischen Syndrom hat.     

Steroid sex hormones as inhibitors of aflatoxin metabolism in liver homogenates

Zusammenfassung Die im Zytoplasma der Vogel- und Kaninchenleber enthaltene NADP-abhängige 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase beteiligt sich wahrscheinlich am extramikrosomalen Stoffwechsel des Aflatoxins. Die enzymatische Reduktion des von Aflatoxin B₁ stammenden Cyclopentenons bildet den sekundären Alkohol Aflatoxikol. Diese Reaktion wird durch Androstendion und Oestron gehemmt.     

Effect of sex hormones on uric acid metabolism in rats.

The effects of sex hormones on purine metabolism were investigated in rats. No influence on purine synthesis was shown by the injection of estrogen and androgen. The plasma urate levels were significantly lowered from 2.43 +/- 1.04 mg/100 ml to 1.53 +/- 0.57 mg/100 ml by the injection of progesterone. Urinary excretion of uric acid plus allantoin was slightly reduced. These results suggested that progesterone may influence age and sex differences in human plasma urate levels.     

Effect of sex hormones on plasma cholesterol in castrated and noncastrated male rats

Summary The administration of estradiol to both castrated and noncastrated male rats was associated with significantly increased plasma cholesterol levels as compared to controls, the estradiol in the noncastrated rats overriding the tendency of testosterone to lower plasma cholesterol.Acknowledgement. This work was supported by USPHS Grant NHLBI 17721.     

Effect of sex hormones on plasma cholesterol in castrated and noncastrated male rats

The administration of estradiol to both castrated and noncastrated male rats was associated with significantly increased plasma cholesterol levels as compared to controls, the estradiol in the noncastrated rats overriding the tendency of testosterone to lower plasma cholesterol.     

The action of sex hormones on endometrial secretion in spayed rats sensitized to oestradiol

Zusammenfassung Ligatur der distalen Enden der Uterushörner von adulten, kastrierten, mit Östradiol sensibilisierten Ratten hat eine Ansammlung der uterinen Flüssigkeit zur Folge. Die Wirkung von Östradiol, Testosteron und Progesteron auf die Eigenschaften dieser Flüssigkeit wurde untersucht. Während Östradiol in verschiedenen Dosen keinen signifikanten Effekt aufweist, zeigt Testosteron und besonders Progesteron eine ausgeprägte Wirkung. Sie reduzieren die Menge der Flüssigkeit, erniedrigen das pH und steigern die Viskosität. Diese Veränderungen könnten für die Hemmung der Fertilität durch diese Substanzen von Bedeutung sein.     

Effects of female sex hormones on polyamine-oxidizing enzyme activities and polyamine concentrations in immature rat uterus and liver

17-estradiol (E₂) and progesterone (P) treatment of immature female rats (10 g/100 g body weight) respectively resulted in 1.38-fold (p<0.02) and 1.42-fold (p<0.02) increase in the uterine polyamine oxidase activity, and 2.45-fold (p<0.001) and 1.43-fold (p<0.02) increase in the uterine diamine oxidase activity, as compared to the controls. E₂ caused a 5-fold (p<0.05) and a 1.36-fold (p<0.05) increase in putrescine and spermidine concentration respectively in rat uterus. Increases of 1.7-fold (p<0.02) and 1.6-fold (p<0.05) in putrescine and spermine concentration were determined in the P-treated uterus, as compared to the controls. The spermidine/spermine ratio, which is regarded as an index of growth rate, was higher in the E₂-treated uterus and lower in the P-treated uterus than in the control uterus. No statistically significant hormonal effects were estimated in the immature liver. The data reported suggest the possibility of an involvement of polyamine-oxidizing enzymes in the modulation of polyamine concentrations in rat uterus by the female sex hormones.     

Effect of progesterone on male and female sex behavior induced by steroid hormones in adult ovariectomized ewes]

Ovariectomized adult Ewes daily treated with I/M injections of testosterone propionate (10 mg/day) or oestradiol benzoate (200 microgram/day) show male-like sexual behaviour and simultaneously a permanent female receptivity. Additional daily treatment with 100 mg of progresterone results in a rapid decrease in male sexual responses both when Ewes are treated with testosterone and with oestradiol. No effect is observed on the female receptivity. Cyproterone acetate (100 mg/day) given to Ewes in addition to daily injection of testosterone propionate (10 mg/day) has effects similar to those of progesterone. These results show that progesterone has antiandrogen and antioestrogen properties and that this hormone administered at high doses is able to inhibit male activity.     

RNA synthesis in the sex chromosomes of the opossum,Didelphis virginiana. I. Female

Résumé Pour une étude quantitative de la synthèse du RNA, nous avons utilisé des chromosomes sexuels d'Opossum, morphologiquement faciles à distinguer en prophase et possédant des caractères cytogénétiques inusuels. Les résultats suggèrent que les deux chromosomesX des lymphocytes femelles sont actifs génétiquement (quoique l'un d'eux le soit moins que l'autre) pendant une courte période du cycle de la cellule.     

Autophagy and lysosomal proteolysis in the liver

Autophagy is defined as any process whereby cellular macromolecules destined for degradation gain access to the lysosomes. A review is presented on the physiological significance, mechanisms and regulation of autophagy in hepatocytes, concentrating on the issue of regulation. The article ends by discussing techniques available for future research.     

Autophagy and lysosomal proteolysis in the liver

Summary Autophagy is defined as any process whereby cellular macromolecules destined for degradation gain access to the lysosomes. A review is presented on the physiological significance, mechanisms and regulation of autophagy in hepatocytes, concentrating on the issue of regulation. The article ends by discussing techniques available for future research.     

Action of rat uterine secretion on the corona cells of the ovum and its modification by sex hormones

Résumé La ligature des extrémités distales des cornes utérines de rates castrées et sensibilisées à l'stradiol (3 g/kg/jour, s.c.) permet de recueillir au bout de 21 jours la sécrétion utérine accumulée. Celle-ci renferme un facteur provoquant in vitro la dispersion des cellules de la couronne de l'uf. Cette action est inhibée par un prétraitement de progestérone (10 mg/kg/jour, s.c.) du 14^è au 21^è jour ou par de fortes doses de testostérone. L'stradiol, par contre, ne présente pas cette action inhibitrice.     

The effects in vivo of some sex hormones on the growth of tibias of normal and chondrodystrophic (Creeper) chick embryos]

Various sex hormones (testosterone, oestradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone), in the form of suspensions in oil, are injected into the allantois of normal and chondrodystrophic (Creeper) chick embryos of 6 days 1/2 incubation. Observations made on each of the phenotypes on the 12th day of incubation show that oil injected alone causes a significant decrease in the dry weight of the tibiae. This inhibitory effect is partially abolished when the oil is injected together with the sex hormones, testosterone being the most effective.