Serum progesterone and corpus luteum function in pregnant pigtailed monkeys (Macaca nemestrina)

Corpus luteum (CL) function and control during pregnancy and early lactation in the pigtailed macaque was investigated. Peripheral concentrations of progesterone (P) on day 10 of pregnancy were 12.98 ± 2.21 ng/ml and decreased progressively to 7.96 ± 1.27 ng/ml by day 21 of pregnancy. The concentration of P increased around day 27 of gestation and reached peak levels of 18.48 ± 2.45 ng/ml on day 37, there-after gradually decreasing to a nadir at about midgestation. Ten days before parturition P concentrations increased again (P < 0.05). Concentrations of P decreased from 6.62 ± 1.48 ng/ml on the day of delivery to 2.16 ± 0.43 ng/ml on day 2 of lactation and remained low thereafter. Ovariectomy on day 35 did not affect the normal course of gestation or the patterns of P secretion during pregnancy. However, in these ovariectomized animals, in spite of suckling, P was not detectable after parturition. In intact monkeys, serum concentrations of P in the uteroovarian vein at days 80 and 159 of pregnancy were higher relative to the uterine vein. Incubation studies utilizing ³H-cholesterol as a substrate revealed that the CL were capable of synthesizing P on days 35 and 159 of gestation. Histologically, the CL contained active luteal cells at late pregnancy.Low serum concentrations of chorionic gonadotropin were detected on day 10 of gestation; concentrations of this hormone reached high levels between days 18 and 24 and the titers were nondetectable after day 40 of pregnancy. Luteinizing hormone was present in constant amounts in the circulation during pregnancy and lactation.These data suggest that the CL of pregnancy in the pigtailed monkey is functional or capable of functioning during various stages of pregnancy. However, the fetoplacental unit is the primary source of P during the latter 4.5 months of gestation. As in other primates, a functional CL is not required for maintenance of pregnancy after implantation nor for lactation. Thus, the physiological significance of CL function during pregnancy is unclear.     

Partial purification and characterization of human erythrocyte phosphoglycollate phosphatase.

Human erythrocytes contain a phosphatase that is highly specific for phosphoglycollate. It shows optimum pH of 6.7 and has Km 1 mM for phosphoglycollate. The molecular weight appears to be about 72000. The enzyme is a dimeric molecule having subunits of mol. wt. about 35000. It could be purified approx. 4000-fold up to a specific activity of 5.98 units/mg of protein. The activity of the enzyme is Mg2+-dependent. Co2+, and to a smaller extent Mn2+, may substitute for Mg2+. Half-maximum inhibition of the phosphatase by 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate), EDTA and NaF is obtained at 0.5 microM, 1 mM and 4 mM respectively. Moreover, it needs a univalent cation for optimum activity. Phosphoglycollate phosphatase is a cytoplasmic enzyme. Approx. 5% of its total activity is membrane-associated. This part of activity can be approx. 70% solubilized by freezing, thawing and treatment with 0.25% Triton X-100.     

The morphology of the eyes of Limulus

Summary The Limulus ommatidium consists of 4 to 20 retinula cells surrounding the dendrite of the eccentric cell. Adjoining membranes are differentiated into the microvillous rhabdome in the central area of the ommatidium. Three types of pigment cells envelop the sensory cells. The distal pigment cells cover the periphery of the distal half of the ommatidium; proximal pigment cells (beneath the base of the ommatidium) and intraommatidial pigment cells provide glial wrapping for the sensory cells, the partitions between them, and the peripheral loose framework. Processes of the overlying cone cells penetrate into the ommatidium and lie at the edges of the rhabdomal fins. Numerous neurosecretory axons terminate at all levels of the ommatidium on pigment cells, conveyed there either by enveloping pigment cells or by separate neuroglial cells. Tight junctions in the ommatidium are confined to the contacts between rhabdomal miorovilli. The periphery of the rhabdome is surrounded by continuous adhering junctions except at the tip and exit of the eccentric cell dendrite. The discussion centers on possible correlations between known neurophysiological characteristics of ommatidial cells and significant morphological aspects of the ommatidium, such as distribution of supporting cells, extracellular space, and junctional specializations.This study constitutes publication No. 329 from the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, supported by Grants FR00163 and NB07717-01 from the National Institutes of Health and by a Bob Hope Fight-for-Sight Grant-in-Aid of the National Council to Combat Blindness, Inc.The author wishes to thank Mrs. Audrey Griffin for patient and excellent technical assistance, Mr. Joel Ito for the execution of the drawing, and Dr. C. J. Russell for constructive criticism.     

Book reviews

Ohne Zusammenfassung

---

Book reviews

     

The morphology of the eyes of Limulus

Summary The dioptric apparatus of the Limulus compound eye is composed of the corneal cuticle with its internally projecting cuticular cones and the specialized underlying epidermis. The latter is composed of three distinct cell types. The guanophores, located between cuticular cones, contain guanine as a reflecting pigment. The distal pigment cells, which clothe the sides of the cuticular cones and form a sheath around the underlying ommatidium, contain massive bundles of microtubules, abundant pigment droplets and a large Golgi system. The cone cells are positioned between the flattened tip of the cuticular cone and the apex of the ommatidium. They serve to anchor the retinula cells to the cuticle and, by virtue of long processes along the periphery of the rhabdome, perform a glial function with respect to the interaction of adjacent retinula cells. The geometry and fine structure of the dioptric apparatus provide supporting evidence for the wide angle of acceptance and lack of polarized light perception by the ommatidia.This study constitutes publication No. 288 from the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, supported in part by Grants FR 00163 and NB 07717-01 from the National Institutes of Health and in part by a Bob Hope Fight For Sight Grant-in-Aid of the National Council to Combat Blindness, Inc. The author wishes to thank Mrs. Audrey Griffin for patient and excellent technical assistance.     

Zur Genetik und Klinik kleiner Chromosomenaberrationen

Summary A family is described wherein a G-chromosome carrying a structural anomaly within the short arm region, is transferred from each of both parents. In the mother, this chromosome has a secondary constriction on the enlarged short arm and in addition normal satellites (Gp+h); this maker chromosome is also found in the maternal grandfather. In the father, the aberrant G-chromosome presents giant satellites (Gs+). At least one of both marker chromosomes is transferred to all four children. Three of these are healthy, the fourth is retarded mentally and statically, and has a number of congenital anomalies. It is discussed whether these small chromosome aberrations range under normal variability or may be responsible for the developmental disorders exhibited in the proband.

---

---

Wesentliche Teile der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden von H. Lohmann als Dissertation der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Freiburg i. Br. vorgelegt.     

Über den lichtgeförderten Influx von Ionen in Blättern von Elodea densa. Vergleich der Influxe von K+- und Cl--Ionen

Summary The light-dependent influxes of K⁺ and Cl^- in detached leaves of Elodea densa were measured using ³⁶Cl^- and ⁴²K⁺ or ⁸⁶Rb⁺ as tracers.The K⁺ and Cl^- influxes were enhanced by light and also in the dark after a preillumination. The rate of influx decayed in the dark according to a first order reaction with a half-time of 25 or 27 sec.DCMU inhibits the light-dependent K⁺ influx more severely in the presence of CO₂ than in its absence in an atmosphere of N₂ containing a trace of oxygen. This is similar to the effect of DCMU on the Cl^- influx. CCCP¹, atebrin (quinacrine) and Dio-9 all affect the influx of K⁺ and Cl^- in a comparable way. CCCP exerts the strongest effect at low light intensities; atebrin and Dio-9 inhibit strongly even at high intensities when the ion influxes are light-saturated. The influence of these two inhibitors in attributed to an effect at the cellular membranes in addition to an effect on photophosphorylation. The effect of CCCP is ascribed to uncoupling of photophosphorylation, as photosynthesis is inhibited by about the same concentration as is ion influx.In far-red light the relative quantum yields of K⁺ and Cl^- influx drop to a similar degree as does the quantum yield of photosynthesis. Estimated values of the quantum requirement of ion influx are given. The quantum requirement in air is higher than in an atmosphere of N₂. It is a function of ion concentration and is lower at higher external concentrations.The results indicate that the K⁺ and Cl^- influxes are partially coupled. The linkage of the ion influxes with the energy sources in the light and a possible contribution of a pseudocyclic photophosphorylation are discussed.