Effect of calf removal on serum luteinizing hormone and cortisol concentrations in postpartum beef cows

Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and cortisol concentrations were measured in ten fall calving, Angus cows averaging 38 +/- 8 days postpartum. Calves from five cows were weaned at the beginning of the study. Blood samples were collected at 20 min. intervals for 48 h after weaning and for 8 h on day 4 and day 6 postweaning. Mean serum LH concentrations increased (P<0.01) in weaned cows (W) from 0.55 +/- 0.01 ng/ml at time of calf removal to 1.3 +/- 0.04 ng/ml 48 h afterwards. Comparable LH concentrations for suckled cows (S) were 0.65 +/- 0.08 ng/ml and 0.62 +/- 0.03 ng/ml respectively. Average serum LH concentrations at 48 h after weaning were greater (P<0.01) for W cows than S cows and a treatment by time interaction occurred (P<0.01) with serum LH concentrations increasing (P<0.01) from time of calf removal to 48 h after calf removal in W cows. Frequency of LH peaks increased (P<0.01) in W cows and by 48 h after weaning was greater (P<0.01) in W cows than in S cows. Magnitude of LH peaks did not differ between the two groups. Serum cortisol concentrations were not different between W and S cows except for a transient elevation (P<0.01) in W cows from 7.6 +/- 0.9 ng/ml to 11.9 +/- 1.0 ng/ml 9 to 12 h after calf removal. Since serum LH concentrations were increased in W cows but not in S cows at 48 h and serum cortisol concentrations increased transiently in W cows we suggest that circulating cortisol levels may not be a physiological inhibitor of LH secretion in the suckled postpartum beef cow.     

Auxin action: the search for the receptor

Abstract. The molecular specificity of the substances which have auxin activity implies the existence of specific receptors. There have been many efforts to identify and isolate these receptors on the assumption that they should bind auxins with affinities coordinate to their activities in bioassays. However, the known complexity of auxin uptake and metabolism make this assumption seriously deficient. Although several such binding sites have, in fact, been identified, proof of a connection between these sites and auxin action has been lacking. Definite proof would include a requirement that the site be reconstituted, together with the appropriate macro-molecular machinery, to construct a model of an auxin response. At the moment, our ignorance of the biochemistry and molecular biology of auxin growth responses makes such a proof difficult. However, two avenues of research promise to accelerate the rate of progress. The increasingly potent tools of molecular biology should soon allow the dissection of auxin-regulated gene expression, while improved knowledge of plasma membrane proton pumps and the mechanism of cell wall biosynthesis should produce, in parallel, an understanding of the auxin regulation of acid growth.     

Cation-dependent gonadotropin releasing hormone activation of guanylate cyclase

Summary Gonadotropin releasing hormone enhanced guanylate cyclase [E.C.4.6.1.2] two- to threefold in pituitary, testis, liver and kidney. Dose response relationships revealed that at a concentration of 1 nanomolar, gonadotropin releasing hormone caused a maximal augmentation of guanylate cyclase activity and that increasing its concentration to the millimolar range caused no further enhancement of this enzyme. There was an absolute cation requirement for gonadotropin releasing hormone's enhancement of guanylate cyclase activity as there was no increase without any cation present. Gonadotropin releasing hormone could increase guanylate cyclase activity with either calcium or manganese in the incubation medium but more augmentation was observed with manganese. The data in this investigation suggest that guanylate cyclase may play a role in the mechanism of action of gonadotropin releasing hormone.     

人体肝癌细胞系(SMMC-7721)的糖皮质激素受体以及糖皮质激素对酪氨酸转氨酶的诱导

本文以[~3H]Dex为配体,采用完整细胞GCR和核特异结合百分率的测定方法检测了人体肝癌细胞系(SMMC-7721)的GCR。实验表明,该细胞具有高亲和力、低容量、能与GC进行特异结合的Dex结合部位,该结合部位与[~3H]Dex结合后可向核内转位,因而具备了作为GCR的基本条件。但该细胞的GCR与正常细胞的GCR相比较亦有些差别,GC与受体结合后不能诱导TAT的生成。本文对上述改变的可能机理进行了讨论。     

Critical roles for juvenile hormone and its esterase+ in the prepupa of Trichoplusia ni

In the caterpillar Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) it has been demonstrated by allatectomy that the appearance of juvenile hormone during the prepupal stage is crucial for the successful larval-pupal ecdysis of most larvae. Application of juvenile hormone or juvenile hormone esterase inhibitors at key times disrupted normal development as well. Thus the subsequent disappearance of juvenile hormone is regulated by degradation by juvenile hormone esterase in addition to a hypothetical reduction in biosynthesis. This reduction in juvenile hormone titer in the prepupa is just as critical for normal development as was its previous appearance. These observations on the critical role of juvenile hormone in the prepupa are in contrast to observations in some other species. For instance, in the case of Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), juvenile hormone is considered only supplementary to the action of prothoracicotropic hormone in the postwandering stage and primarily is required for normal pupal development. It thus appears that even within the Lepidoptera the role of juvenile hormone in prepupal development can vary dramatically.     

四川成都市郊正常成年男性血清生殖激素水平及其频数分布

本文用放射免疫测定法(RIA),测定了200～290例中国四川成都市郊30～73岁的正常成年男性血清睾酮(T)促黄体激素(LH).卵泡刺激素(FSH)及泌乳激素(PRL)的水平及其分布,进行了不同年龄水平差异显著性的观察,见到睾酮与泌乳激素水平无显著差异,促黄体激素及卵泡刺激素水平,随年龄之增加而升高,差异有显著性,并测得它们在血清中水平的分布:LH、FSH及PRL均为对数正态公布,T既非正态又非对数正态,但其频率分布较对称,接近正态分布。     

Administration of human pancreatic growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) analogs enhances responsiveness of cultured rat pituitary cells to GRF

The aim of this study was to investigate whether anterior pituitary responsiveness to human pancreatic growth hormone-releasing factor containing 29 amino acids (GRF-29) can be modulated by GRF-29 itself. Male rats were injected (sc) daily for 3 days with 50 ug of GRF-29, or were treated twice daily for 14 days with 5 ug of [D-Ala-2]-GRF-29 (a potent GRF agonist). Control animals were injected with saline. After the last injection, pituitaries were removed, dispersed, cultured for 96 h and then challenged with either GRF-29 or [D-Trp-6]-LHRH (a LHRH agonist). Cultured cells from analog-treated rats were more responsive to GRF-29 stimulation than were cells obtained from controls. In contrast, neither treatment altered the response to [D-Trp-6]-LHRH. These studies indicate that periodic administration of GRF analogs can increase hypophyseal GRF responsiveness. Such control may be an important component in the physiological regulation of GH secretion and has important implications for potential therapeutic uses of GRF analogs.     

Molecular cloning of DNA complementary to bovine adrenal P450scc mRNA

P450_scc is the rate-limiting hormonally regulated enzyme that cleaves the cholesterol side chain. Translation of bovine adrenocortical mRNA and immunoprecipitation with rabbit anti-bovine P450_scc indicates P450_scc mRNA represents 1% of the total. DNA complementary to bovine adrenocortical mRNA was cloned in the $\text{PstI}$ site of pBR322 by dC·dG tailing and high-efficiency transformation. A clone containing sequences complementary to P450_scc mRNA was identified by hybrid-selected translation only when plasmid DNA was first purified by CsCl gradient centrifugation. As is often the case with hybrid-selected translation, the clone identified contains a small insert.     

Factors responsible for the initiation of a second oöcyte maturation cycle in the ovoviviparous cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea

The factors responsible for the initiation of a second oöcyte maturation cycle were investigated by measuring oöcyte growth, vitellogenin titre, and corpus allatum activity after injection of juvenile hormone and/or removal of the egg-case from pregnant females and by performing ovary and corpus allatum transplant experiments.Egg-case removal in late pregnancy results in immediate oöcyte growth, whereas in early pregnancy oöcyte growth is resumed only after a lapse of time, even after injection of juvenile hormone. This, however, induces an immediate increase in the haemolymph vitellogenin titre. A single injection of 2 or 10 μg of juvenile hormone II first stimulates some oöcyte growth after this lapse of time and later activates the corpora allata, which in turn leads to completion of oöcyte maturation. A repeat injection of 10 μg stimulates continuous oöcyte growth without activating the corpora allata. In the presence of an egg case, activation of the corpora allata is suppressed, even after injection of 2 μg of juvenile hormone III, and the oöcytes do not grow. Injection of higher doses stimulates oöcyte growth and leads to expulsion of the egg case in up to 95% of the females. This, however, is not a direct consequence of the increase in size of the ovaries. Ovary transplant experiment show that in young pregnant females the second generation of oöcyte is not yet competent for growth and that ovaries which are competent can mature in young pregnant females, treated with juvenile hormone, whose egg case has been removed.The results are summarized in a model demonstrating the various factors involved in regulating corpus allatum activity in oöcyte maturation and pregnancy and after application of juvenile hormone. We prepose that the corpus allatum activating effect of exogenous juvenile hormone is mediated by the growing oöcyte and that this activation can be suppressed by the continuous presence of exogenous juvenile hormone.