Capillary blood flow in the testes and testosterone secretion in the starved rat

Summary The average capillary blood flow in the testes was found to be 181 l/min/g testis tissue (n=19) in rats starved for 5 days and 273 l/min/g (n=18, p<0.01) in the control group. Plasma testosterone was significantly decreased in the starved animals (1.00±0.06 ng/ml vs 5.43±0.63 ng/ml). When starved and control rats were stimulated with human chorion gonadotropin, testosterone values in plasma were greatly increased in both groups. The capillary blood flow was not altered. The data indicate that human chorion gonadotropin can stimulate testosterone production in the starved rat without influencing the reduced capillary blood flow.     

Substance P-induced fibrinolysis in the forearm of healthy humans

Physiological saline with or without substance P (50 ng/ml) was infused into the humeral artery in 6 healthy males. Indices of fibrinolytic activity (whole blood diluted lysis time, euglobulin lysis time, lysis areas in non-heated fibrin plates produced by plasma or euglobulin precipitate, plasminogen plasma levels, ₂-macroglobulin, Cl-inhibitor, and ₂-antiplasmin) were evaluated in the homolateral antecubital vein before and after 5 min of substance P or saline infusion. After substance P the fibrinolytic activity increased, as can be seen from the shortening of lysis times (p<0.01) and enlargement of the lysis areas (p<0.01). A reduction of plasminogen plasma levels (p<0.01), associated with a decrease in ₂-anitplasmin (p<0.01), was also found. Alpha₂-macroglobulin and Cl-inhibitor were instead unaltered by the peptide. The saline infusion, on the other hand, was unable to modify any of the examined indices. We concluded that exogenous substance P given intra-arterially increases fibrinolytic activity in locally-sampled venous blood through a mechanism which remains to be elucidated.     

Proteases of Antarctic krill—a new system for effective enzymatic debridement of necrotic ulcerations

Summary The Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) possesses an over-dimensioned digestive system, which is of vital importance for the survival of this euphaucean shrimp in the extreme marine environment. The isolated enzymes contain a well-balanced mixture of both endo- and exopeptidases, assuring fast and complete breakdown of proteinaceous material. These unique properties have now been shown to be extremely valuable for the effective removal of necrotic debris, fibrin or blood crusts in vitro. Therefore the krill enzymes should be considered as an important resource in the future management of necrotic wounds.     

The oxidative metabolism ofα-chlorohydrin and the chemical induction of spermatocoeles

Summary -Chlorohydrin (I) is oxidatively metabolized to -chlorolactic acid (III) and oxalic acid (IV). Deposition of calcium oxalate within the renal tubules is responsible for the toxic effects of-chlorohydrin and a similar action on the epididymis or epididymal blood vessels could initiate the formation of spermatocoeles from this and other male antifertility agents.     

A historical review of the problem of mitogenetic radiation

Summary The miracle of caryokinesis was the starting point that stimulated Alexander G. Gurwitsch to carry out his famous mitogenetic experiments in 1923. The results obtained confirmed his hypothesis of a weak radiation from cells, which is able to trigger the growth of other cells. Extensive experimental work within the first two decades after this discovery indicated that the problem of mitogenetic radiations is generally related to the biological significance of UV-radiation. Both energetic and informational aspects have to be considered, namely radiation effective in activating molecules, and that involved in arranging them into larger units.The molecular organization of biological structures is evidently governed by nonequilibrium conditions needing the uptake or emission of radiation. These concepts of A. G. Gurwitsch can be linked with modern approaches based on hypotheses of coherence in biology, synergetics and dissipative structures. However, the question of causal interrelationships between this part of non-equilibrium radiation and biological matter on different levels of evolution has to be solved now.     

Immunology and functional genomics of Behçet's disease

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic inflammatory disorder. Although the cause and pathogenesis of BD are still unclear, there is evidence for genetic, immunologic and infectious factors at the onset or in the course of BD. This review focusses on the functional genomics and immunology of BD. HLA-B51 is the major disease susceptibility gene locus in BD. An increased number of T cells in the peripheral blood and in the involved tissues have been reported. However, the T cells at the sites of inflammation appear to be a phenotypically distinct subset. There is also a significant T cell proliferative response to mycobacterial 65-kDa heat shock protein peptides. Homologous peptides derived from the human 60-kDa heat shock protein were observed in BD patients. There is evidence that natural killer T cells may also play a role in BD.Received 27 November 2002; accepted 4 March 2003     

Central venous pressure: Normal value and length of body

Summary The CVP ranges between 2 and 12 cm H₂O, and has an error of 2 l of blood. In 172 normal persons, we found a correlation between the CVP and the length of the body.     

Alpha-crystallin: an ATP-independent complete molecular chaperone toward sorbitol dehydrogenase

-Crystallin, the major component of the vertebrate lens, is known to interact with proteins undergoing denaturation and to protect them from aggregation phenomena. Bovine lens sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) was previously shown to be completely protected by -crystallin from thermally induced aggregation and inactivation. Here we report that -crystallin, in the presence of the SDH pyridine cofactor NAD(H), can exert a remarkable chaperone action by favoring the recovery of the enzyme activity from chemically denaturated SDH up to 77%. Indeed, even in the absence of the cofactor, -crystallin present at a ratio with SDH of 20:1 (w:w) allows a recovery of 35% of the enzyme activity. The effect of ATP in enhancing -crystallin-promoted SDH renaturation appears to be both nonspecific and to not involve hydrolysis phenomena, thus confirming that the chaperone action of -crystallin is not dependent on ATP as energy donor.Received 28 October 2004; received after revision 22 December 2004; accepted 10 January 2005     

Chelate aus Diarylborinsäuren undβ-Ketosäureestern

Summary Diarylborinic acids form stable chelates with-keto acid esters. Borinic acids, when being synthetized, can be stabilized in compounds resulting from the combination with-keto acid esters. The chelates so formed are suitable—like the free borinic acids or their anhydrides—for further transformation. These chelates have several advantages in comparison with those formed with-amino ethanol.     

Zur Frage der glomerulären Permeation höhermolekularer Proteine

Summary Haptoglobin and isoagglutinin were found in the urine of diabetic patients, and their renal excretion was higher in patients with diabetic angiopathy. It is concluded from these results (the biological activity of the two polypeptides in urine was intact) that the mechanism of proteinuria can perhaps be explained only by an extension of pores of the renal glomerular filter.     

Reconstruction of a Greek table of chords

Summary R. R. Newton has shown that Ptolemy's table of solar declinations (Almagest I, 15) was not computed from Ptolemy's own table of chords. Newton explains this by assuming that Ptolemy copied his table of declinations from an earlier source, and that originally the table has been computed by means of a less accurate table of chords.In the present paper I shall venture a tentative reconstruction of the method of computation of this ancient table of chords. The clue to this reconstruction is a recursion formula which allows a rapid calculation of the chords belonging to arcs of 1°, 2°, ... in a circle. This recursion formula, which was suggested to me by a verse in the ryabhtya of ryabhata, can be deduced from a theorem of Archimedes concerning a certain sum of chords in a circle. I suppose that this recursion formula was used by Apollonius of Perga in order to obtain a table of chords, and that this table of chords was used by a Greek author (possibly Apollonios himself or Hipparchos) to calculate the table of solar declinations used by Ptolemy. If this hypothesis is adopted, the errors in Ptolemy's table can be explained.     

A new functional interpretation of the visual system of male scale insects (Coccida,Homoptera)

Summary In a flight position with vertical body axis, both the dorsolateral and the characteristic ventral lens eyes of male coccid insects are arranged in a horizontal ring around the head. The interpretation that they mainly serve for stabilizing the flight position with regard to the horizon can explain the extraordinary structural features known for these eyes.     

Funktion der Spermien in inkompatiblen Kreuzungen der StechmückeCulex pipiens L.

Summary After irradiating males of the incompatible crossC. pipiens Hamburg ×C. pipiens Paris with X-ray doses between 1 kR and 40 kR, it could be shown that in this cross the sperm has only the function of activating the egg. All the hybrid embryos develop from the haploid female pronucleus.Herrn Professor Dr.H. Laven danke ich für Unterstützung und wertvolle Diskussionen.     

Correlation between car ownership and leukaemia: Is non-occupational exposure to benzene from petrol and motor vehicle exhaust a causative factor in leukaemia and lymphoma?

Although there is widespread agreement that many cancers have environmental causes we are often unable to see associations between specific cancers and exposure to environmental chemicals. One might also speulate that the more widespread, common-place and normal a chemical exposure is perceived to be then the less likely it will be that the exposure is recognised, let alone be considered to cause cancer. Widespread contamination of air by chemicals associated with internal combustion may be an example of one such invisible carcinogenic exposure. Yet evidence is available which suggests that many leukaemia and lymphoma cases, as well as other cancers, may be caused by this mundane and ubiquitous environmental contamination. The hypothesis is developed that leukaemia clustering as well as national leukaemia incidence may be related to non-occupational exposure to benzene formed by petrol combustion and resulting from petrol evaporation¹. The possible association between exposure to fuel vapours, internal combustion products and cancer merits much closer examination than it receives at present.     

Unterschiedliche Empfindlichkeit verschiedener Angiotensinderivate gegen Abbau durch Plasma oder Nierenhomogenat

Summary -Asp¹-Angiotensin II had a more pronounced action on the blood pressure of nephrectomized rats than the corresponding-compound.-Asp¹-Angiotensins were more slowly destroyed by rat serum, rat kidney homogenate, and human plasma than-compounds, especially-Asp¹-Angiotensin II amide.     

Beweis des Steringerüstes von Ouabagenin

Summary Ouabagenin (I) has been degraded stepwise to the known 3-methoxy-17-carbomethoxy-^1,3,5:10-estratriene (XII). Thus the presence of a normal steroid skeleton and the -configuration of the butenolidering at C-17 is proven. The 14-configuration of the hydroxyl at C-14 was also proven. As a result of these and earlier findings, structure I can be definitely assigned to ouabagenin.

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Glykoside und Aglykone, 178. Mitteilung.     

Dopamine and cerebral cortical blood flow in the rat

Summary Dopamine topically applied to the cerebral cortex (1–20 g/ml) or administered i.v. (0.5–64 g/kg/min) has no effects on cerebral cortical blood flow in the rat.     

Influence of photoperiodism on high temperature-induced testicular recrudescence in the green frog

Summary In connection with the circannual testicular rhythmRana esculenta does not seem to be a strictly photoperiodic species. In fact testicular growth can be induced (at a favourable temperature) with a daily 2-h light pulse as well as with a daily 12-h light pulse.Work done under the CNR-finalized project Biologia della Riproduzione.