Effect of quinestrol on plasma and urinary gonadotropins of postmenopausal women.

Ten postmenopausal women were given a 4-mg load of quinestrol by mouth and plasma FSH and LH were serially determined at monthly intervals. By bioassay, total urinary gonadotropins were also measured at the same times. Plasma FSH and apparent total gonadotropin levels in the urine were depressed to very low levels up to 3 months, while plasma LH was slightly affected. Tentative explanations of this discrepancy are presented.     

The peripheral component during dynamic muscular exertion: study of a group of basketball players

The peripheral factor (PF), i.e. the ratio: artero-venous oxygen extraction to total peripheral resistences, has been studied in a total of 8 professional basket players under controlled work-load conditions. The results obtained by continuous monitoring heart rate, oxygen consumption, pulmonary ventilation, arterial blood pressure etc, have shown that from 0 to 150 watt work-load, the PF increases linearly showing a slope of 83 degrees, whereas from 150 to 200 watt the pendence reduces up to 45 degrees. The absolute value of PF from a resting value of 3.83 mlo2 X min-1 X mmHg-1 increases up to 21,64 (at 150 watt) and to a maximum of 23.45 mlo2 X min-1 X mmHg-1 at 200 watt. The slope of the first range of load (83 degrees) is quite similar to what previously observed in endurance athletes (cyclists) whereas the 45 degrees angular coefficient indicates that the increased energy demand in basket-players can be obtained only with a large cardiac load.     

Stress-induced Morphohistochemical and Functional Changes in Rat Adrenal Cortex, Testis and Major Salivary Glands

The effect of repeated stress (1 h of daily immobilization for seven consecutive days) on the adrenal cortex of young adult male albino rats was evaluated by morphohistochemical methods and plasma assays; at the same time, testes and major salivary glands, as steroid-producing and -depending organs, respectively, were examined. Morphological and histochemical changes were found in the adrenal cortex, testis and submaxillary gland, though varying in degree and extent depending on the gland examined. Corticosterone and progesterone plasma levels increased, in agreement with the lipid depletion observed in the zona fasciculata, while testosterone and androstenedione decreased, as confirmed by the less marked enzymatic activity in the Leydig cells. The study thus proves that repeated stress, even of temporary duration, is able to influence directly or indirectly the morphofunctional state of the three examined glands, suggesting a functional linkage.