The effects of sodium and amiloride on the motility of the caudal epididymal spermatozoa of the rat

Summary The forward motility of the rat caudal epididymal spermatozoa has been studied in different Na⁺ concentrations. When spermatozoa were suspended in a completely Na⁺-free solution, the forward motility suffered a progressive fall and after 3 h was completely suppressed. This effect was fully reversible on resuspending the spermatozoa in a solution containing Na⁺. Amiloride caused a fall in motility and the effect was similar to that of Na⁺ removal. The inhibition by amiloride of the motility was concentration dependent and the dose response curve showed an IC₅₀-value of about 5×10^–5 M. The role of Na⁺ influx in the maintenance of sperm motility was discussed.This work was supported by the World Health Organization.The technical assistance of Mr C.M. Li and the gift of amiloride from Merck, Sharp and Dohme are gratefully acknowledged.     

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.     

Sleep and monoamines: differential radioautography of central neurons after systematic injection of tritiated 5-hydroxytryptophane (5 HTP 3H) or of dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA 3H)]

In normal cats 90 min. after the intravenous injection of 5 mg/kg of 5 HTP and 3H 5 HTP or DOPA and 3H DOPA a few reactive nerve cell bodies were identified by radioautography. On the contrary, 48 hrs. after p-chlorophenylalanin or subtotal lesion of raphe nuclei, these tracers showed numerous reactive neurons inside or outside the central monoaminergic systems.     

An evidence for decrease of energy production in thiamine deficient failing rat heart

Résumé La combinaison des substrats — acides pyruvique et fumarique — inhibent le gonflement de mitochondries isolées du coeur de rat, en accord avec le maintien de l'intégrité de la structure mitochondriale par l'adénosine triphosphate produite. On constate la diminution successive de cette inhibition dans des rats déficients en thiamine, par suite du blocage au niveau de la décarboxylation pyruvique. De plus cette carence vitaminique provoque une décroissance graduelle du nombre des mitochondries dans le tissu cardiaque.

---

---

Supported by the Grants H-4012 from the National Heart Institute and K62-3 from the Hospital Division, U.S. Public Health Service. We thank MissV. Meyer for the heart size deteminations.     

Lipogenesis in rats adapted to intermittent starvation or continuous underfeeding

Zusammenfassung Albinoratten, bei denen zwischen die Fütterungstage 1–2tägige Hungerperioden eingesetzt wurden, zeigten nach 3 Wochen eine wesentlich erhöhte Inkorporation von 1-C¹⁴-Acetat in die Fettsäuren der Leberschnitte. Selbst bei Herabsetzung der Kalorienzufuhr um ca. 50% stieg hier, im Gegensatz zu kontinuierlich unterernährten Tieren, der prozentuale Körperfettgehalt. Die Resultate sprechen für eine Steigerung der Lipogenese.