Seasonal variations in fat body metabolism of the green frog Rana esculenta (L.).

Rana esculenta (L.), kept under natural conditions, show almost constant body weights in the annual cycle. Fat body weight, however, has a distinct maximum in October decreasing continuously to a May minimum which is also evident in the fat body index. The triglyceride and protein contents show the same course. Suprisingly high amounts of glycogen are found, which reach a maximum in August.     

Comparison of cutaneous hyperemia in cattle elicited by larvae ofBoophilus microplus and by prostaglandins and other mediators

Summary Blood flow has been measured in bovine skin following the injection of tick antigens and a number of pharmacological mediators; including histamine, prostaglandins and slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis. The greates increase in blood flow (20 times normal) was recorded with tick antigens and with prostaglandin F2. This mediator may therefore influence blood flow during immune reactions to ticks and during the rapid ingestion of blood by the ticks.Acknowledgments. This work was supported by the Australian Meat Research Committee. We would like to thank J. M. Gough for her technical assistance.     

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone does not inhibit lysine vasopressin-induced growth hormone secretion in normal men

Summary In order to establish whether thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) inhibits lysine-vasopressin (LVP)-induced growth hormone (GH) release, six normal men were tested with LVP alone or in combination with TRH. LVP strikingly increased serum GH levels; this response was not altered by TRH. These results indicated that in man TRH is not involved in the control of GH secretion in response to LVP.     

Dendritic reticulum cells in AIDS-related lymphadenopathy

Summary One of two cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome-related persistent generalized lymphadenopathy revealed a profoundly altered pattern of dendritic reticulum cells as demonstrated by immunoreactive acid cysteine proteinase inhibitor. The alterations could be related to totally or partially destructed lymphoid secondary follicles.Acknowledgments. This work has been partially supported by the grant from the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Finland.     

Evaluation of O2 availability during glucose transport in everted sacs of rat small intestine

Riassunto Misurando il consumo di O₂ in funzione della pO₂ nel mezzo di incubazione è stato dimostrato che i sacchetti di intestino tenue rovesciato di ratto si trovano in condizione di parziale anaerobiosi nel corso dell'incubazione in liquido fisiologico contenente glucoso. Ciò viene posto in relazione con la notevole produzione di acido lattico da parte dell'intestino isolato mantenuto in tali condizioni.     

Effects of 2-Br-α-ergocryptine on plasma prolactin level and milk yield in cows

Zusammenfassung An 5 Kühen wurde der Effekt eines spezifischen Prolaktininhibitors (2-Br--ergokryptin=CB 154, SANDOZ, Basel) auf den Plasmaprolaktinspiegel und die Milchleistung untersucht. Bereits mit einer Dosis von 80 mg CB 154 pro Tag konnte eine sichere Hemmwirkung der Prolaktinausschüttung erreicht werden. Im Gegensatz zu dem starken Prolaktinabfall war die bestehende Milchleistung überhaupt nicht oder nur um 10–20% vermindert. Prolaktin dürfte somit beim Rind nicht als maßgeblicher oder ausschließlicher galaktopoetischer Faktor anzusehen sein. Dagegen zeigte sich in einem vorläufigen Versuch, daß mit CB 154 nicht nur der bekannte Prolantinpeak um den Geburtstermin unterdrückt, sondern auch die einsetzende Laktation wesentlich beeinträchtigt werden kann.     

Aktivität einiger Transaminasen in den mit SO2 behandelten Erbsen-Keimpflanzen

Summary Fifteen-day-old green pea seedlings were intoxicated 48 h by 1% gaseous sulphur dioxide and in their individual organs the activity of glutamate-oxalacetate (l-aspartate: 2-ketoglutarate-aminotransferase) and aspartate-pyruvate (l-alanine: oxalacetate-aminotransferase) transaminases estimated. The activity of glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase in the intoxicated seedlings was lowered in shoots by 77.8% and in roots by 78,9% as compared with the control plants. The activity of aspartate-pyruvate transaminase was lowered in shoots by 33.5%, in roots by 76% and in cotyledons by 54.5% in comparison with the control plants.