Reproductive consequences of mega vitamin E supplements in female rats

Summary Female rats fed 0, 25, 2500 and 10,000 IU vitamin E/kg diet for 3 months were examined for reproductive performance. On 10,000 IU vitamin E/kg diet, the fertility of inseminated rats was significantly reduced as compared to rats given normal or nutritional levels of vitamin E.This work was supported by research grants from the National Research Council of Canada and the Research Committee of The University of British Columbia. We thank Mrs Virginia Green for her help in statistical analysis. Reprint requests should be addressed to Dr I. D. Desai, Professor of Nutrition.     

High noradrenaline content in the vas deferens of the cock and the tortoise

Zusammenfassung Der Noradrenalingehalt des Samenleitergewebes von Hahn und Schildkröte ist gleich hoch wie bei Säugetieren.     

Study of marine microvibrios of Roscoff (Microvibrio marinus roscoffensis)]

Marine microvibrios, predators of E. coli, have been detected worldwide, from equatorial waters to the polar regions. The morphology and behavior of two microvibrios have been studied. Their multiplication and aggressiveness in regard to their bacterial prevy are not impeded by dialysis membranes and manifest themselves, away from all direct contact between the predator and its prey.     

Fluorimetric assay of 3-o-methyldopamine and 4-0-methyldopamine in rat urine and o-methylation of dopamine]

A new method for the isolation and determination of 3-O-methyldopamine (3 MD) and 4-O-methyldopamine (4 MD) in the urine of Rat has been described. The administration of L-dopa enabled us to detect 4 MD in the urine with a molar ratio 4 MD/3 MD = 0.07. This ratio decreased with the simultaneous treatment of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). This result might explain the therapeutic L-dopa+SAM in the treatment of parkinsonism, 4 MD being neurotoxic. The low level of 4 MD compared with the level of isovanillic acid, found by other authors, seems to indicate that the 4-O-methylation pathway takes place via dihydroxyphenylacetic acid.     

Agglutinating antibrain antibodies in dogs with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Résumé Chez 19 chiens présentant des symptomes de EAE, on a trouvé des anticorps sériques anticerveaux pendant divers laps de temps.     

Differential effects of prostaglandins and isoproterenol on cAMP content and Na, K pump activity in rat submandibular acini

The beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol and prostaglandins E1 and E2 (but not F2 alpha) increased the cAMP content of rat submandibular acini in vitro, but only isoproterenol enhanced ouabain-sensitive 86Rb (K) uptake. These findings suggest that cAMP is not involved in the activation of the Na, K pump in salivary cells.     

The electron microscopy of fluorescent dextrans (FITC-dextrans) in thin sections of tissue

Summary Fluorescein-coupled dextrans (FITC-Ds) were detected in sections in the electron microscope using 4 different contrasting methods when tissue was postfixed in osmium tetroxide. Endogeneous glycogen was also stained by the methods used, but FITC-D particles appeared smaller and more irregular, and in other locations. In dextranase treated specimens glycogen was still visible, while FITC-D was not.Acknowledgments. The author is grateful to Susan Max-Jacobsen, Kjeld Stub and Sonja Fich for excellent technical assistance. The author was supported by a research fellowship from the Danish Medical Research Council (12–1688).     

Stimulation of human chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone secretion by tumor promoters,phorbol ester and teleocidin B,in cultured choriocarcinoma cells

Summary Both 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-1-acetate and teleocidin B stimulated the secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin by cultured choriocarcinoma cells. These tumor promoters also stimulated production of progesterone in the cells. However, the 2 tumor promoters did not exert a marked effect on the cellular binding of epidermal growth factor that also had a stimulatory effect on production of these hormones.     

Comparative evaluation of 7 helminth antigens in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (E.L.I.S.A.).

112 sera from Europeans with parasitologically proven helminthiasis were tested in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (E.L.I.S.A.) against 6 crude extracts of various helminths (2 of adult worms: Dipetalonema viteae, Fasciola hepatica; 3 of eggs: Ascaris suum, Toxocara canis, Schistosoma mansoni; and of Echinococcus granulosus scolices) and against bovine hydatid fluid. Each serum was tested simultaneously at a fixed dilution of 1:160 against all antigens. Extensive cross-reactions were observed, leading to the conclusion that non-purified helminth antigens, even in combination, are of limited value for reliable serodiagnosis in E.L.I.S.A.