Characteristics of the febrile response in Pekin ducks

We measured body temperature in Pekin ducks for 22 h after intravenous injection of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of gram negative bacteria at doses of 0, 1, 10, and 100 μg · kg body mass⁻¹. The ducks developed monophasic fevers showing increases in peak temperature reached and duration of fever with increases in dose of LPS. Body temperatures of unrestrained telemetered ducks without access to food and water were similar to those of saline-injected controls in the fever experiments, but were lower in the morning than when the same birds had access to food and water. This nocturnal hypothermia may have resulted from energy restriction imposed by lack of food and water. The dose of LPS required to elicit a fever of over 18 h duration (100 μg · kg⁻¹) will elicit a biphasic fever of 5 h duration in rats. Pekin ducks did not exhibit biphasic fever even at the highest LPS dose administered, indicating that while fever is superficially similar in the two homeothermic classes, there may be differences in details of the mechanism. The similarities of the dose/response characteristics to that of mammals lends support to the theory that fever in vertebrates has a common phyletic origin. Accepted: 5 January 1998     

Ambient temperature modulates the magnitude of LPS-induced fevers in Pekin ducks

The consequences of variations in environmental temperature on innate immune responses in birds are by and large not known. We investigated the influence of ambient temperature on the febrile response in female Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). Ducks, implanted with temperature data loggers to measure body temperature, were injected with lipopolysaccharide (100 μg kg⁻¹) to evoke febrile responses and kept at ambient temperatures higher, within, and lower than their thermoneutral zone (n=10), and in conditions that simulated one day of a heat wave (n=6). Compared to the febrile response at thermoneutrality, at low temperatures, febrile responses were significantly attenuated; fevers reached lower magnitudes (from basal body temperature of 41.2±0.3 °C to a peak of 42.0±0.3 °C). In contrast, at high ambient temperatures, ducks rapidly developed significantly enhanced fevers, which reached markedly higher febrile peaks (from basal body temperature of 41.6 °C to a peak of 44.0 °C in a simulated heat wave when ambient temperature reached 40 °C). These results indicate that ambient temperature affects the febrile response in female Pekin ducks. Our findings reveal a key difference in febrile mediation between ducks and mammals, and have implications for avian survival because high environmental temperatures during febrile mediation could lead to febrile responses becoming physiologically deleterious.     

Excitatory action of the bird antidiuretic hormone vasotocin on neurons in the subfornical organ

The responsiveness of spontaneously active neurons in the subfornical organ (SFO) of adult ducks to angiotensin II (ANGII) and the bird specific anti-diuretic hormone, arginine vasotocin (AVT), the analog of the mammalian arginine vasopressin (AVP), were investigated in brain slices with extracellular recording technique. 65% (n = 66) of the neurons increased their activity after superfusion with ANGII, the rest were unresponsive. Application of AVT activated 52% (n = 68) of the investigated neurons and like ANGII never caused an inhibition of the spontaneously active SFO neurons. A close correlation exists between the ANGII and AVT sensitivity of duck SFO neurons, because 29 out of 33 neurons were excited by AVT as well as ANGII. The relatively weak antagonistic effect of the V₁-type receptor antagonist Pmp-Tyr (Me)-Arg⁸-vasopressin on the AVT induced excitation suggests a different pharmacology of the bird AVT receptor as compared to the mammalian AVP receptor. The excitatory response of ANGII and AVT on the very same neurons suggest a similar function of both peptides on SFO mediated effects in vivo, such as an increase in water intake. However, peripheral AVT concentrations, unlike ANGII concentrations in the blood are not high enough to activate SFO neurons from the blood side of the blood brain barrier. Therefore AVT is presumably released from synapses of neurons originating within or projecting to the SFO. The identity of the ANGII and AVT reactive neurons suggests that synaptically released AVT should facilitate SFO mediated drinking.Abbreviations _a CSF artificial cerebrospinal fluid - ANGII angiotensin II - AVT arginine vasotocin - AVP arginine vasopressin - ADH antidiuretic hormone - SFO subfornical organ - AVP _4–9 arginine-vasopressin fragment 4–9 - BBB blood-brain barrier     

Evaluation by capacitance measurements of antidiuretic hormone induced membrane area changes in toad bladder

A technique for estimating effective transepithelial capacitance in vitro was used to investigate changes in epithelial cell membrane area in response to antidiuretic hormone (ADH) exposure in toad bladder. The results indicate that transepithelial capacitance increases by about 30% within 30 min after serosal ADH addition and decreases with ADH removal. This capacitance change is not blocked by amiloride and occurs whether or not there is a transepithelial osmotic gradient. It is blocked by methohexital, a drug which specifically inhibits the hydro-osmotic response of toad bladder to ADH. We conclude that the hydro-osmotic response of toad bladder to ADH is accompanied by addition of membrane to the plasmalemma of epithelial cells. This new membrane may contain channels that are permeable to water. Stimulation of Na⁺ transport by ADH is not related to membrane area changes, but appears to reflect activation of Na⁺ channels already present in the cell membrane before ADH challenge.     

Fusion images and intramembrane particle aggregates during the action of antidiuretic hormone

Summary Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) causes the appearance of water-conducting particle aggregates in the luminal membrane of receptor cells in amphibian bladder and skin, and in the mammalian collecting duct. The aggregates originate from cytoplasmic tubules that fuse with the luminal membrane during ADH stimulation. We have studied the process of fusion and the structure of the particle aggregates by a rapid-freeze technique that renders chemical fixation and glycerol protection unnecessary. Our findings differ in some important respects from previously published work. Aggregate particles, in our study, partition equally between the external (EF) and protoplasmic (PF) membrane leaflets, rather than remaining in the protoplasmic leaflet exlcusively. By including the entire population of fusion images in our survey, we have found that aggregate delivery in ADH-treated cells proceeds preferentially from small fusion images whose diameter is significantly less than the 0.12 m characteristic of the carrier tubules themselves. We have also found that, even in unstimulated preparations, fusion images are numerous, being mostly of small diameter. ADH stimulation produces a moderate increase in the number of fusion images and a significant increase in fusion-image diameter. These findings indicate that the individual particles are mobile within the membrane, lacking interparticle linkage. In addition, contact of cytoplasmic tubules with the luminal membrane may take place even in the absence of ADH, producing small fusion images which are not associated with aggregate delivery to the luminal membrane.Faculty Scholar, Josiah Macey Jr. Foundation     

Detergent extraction of membrane proteins related to the action of antidiuretic hormone

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) induces, in the apical plasma membrane of target cells, the insertion of intramembranous particle aggregates that probably contain water channels. A mild attack of this membrane by a polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl detergent, which reversibly depressed ADH-induced water permeability, has been found to modify aggregate structure while extracting additional proteins. This simple procedure could be a valuable approach to the problem of aggregate isolation and characterization.     

Marked reduction in intramembranous particle clusters in the terminal portion of inner medullary collecting ducts of antidiuretic rats

Summary Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) induces an aggregation of intramembranous particles (IMP) into discrete clusters in the luminal plasma membrane of rat renal papillary collecting duct cells (Harmanci et al. 1978). The correlation between an elevated dose of ADH, increased urine osmolality, and greater IMP cluster frequency has led to speculation that the water permeability of the luminal plasma membrane is reflected by the IMP cluster density (Harmanci et al. 1980). The present study indirectly evaluated this water permeability by quantitating collecting duct IMP cluster frequency from freeze fracture replicas in two regions of the renal papilla, at its base and at its tip, in antidiuretic and in water diuretic rats. During antidiuresis there was a high frequency of IMP clusters (189/100 m² of luminal plasma membrane) in cells from the papilla base but not at the papilla tip (9.0/100 m²). During water diuresis there were few IMP clusters in either cells from the papilla base (5.9/100 m²) or at the papilla tip (1.4/100 m²). Most significantly these results suggest that the water permeability of the terminal portion of the inner medullary collecting duct of antidiuretic rats is significantly lower than that of the collecting duct epithelium higher in the papilla.Preliminary findings of this study were presented at the Second International Congress of Cell Biology, West Berlin 1980     

Prostaglandins modulate the renal actions of antidiuretic hormone in the Pekin duck

The present study was designed to determine whether the responses of the avian kidney to circulating arginine vasotocin (AVT), under different osmotic conditions, involve an interaction with prostaglandins (PGs). The renal effects of intravenously infused AVT at a dose of 0.1 ng.kg^–1.min^–1 for 45 min were compared in Pekin ducks given maintenance infusions of either 200 mosmol NaCl or glucose at 1 ml.min^–1, with and without PG inhibition by indomethacin. Birds infused with glucose responded with similar degrees of AVT-induced antidiuresis with and without indomethacin, however the urinary excretion of sodium was significantly reduced when PG production was prevented. In ducks receiving saline without indomethacin, the antidiuretic response to AVT was markedly less than that in the glucose-infused birds, however, indomethacin treatment increased the degree of antidiuresis to a level similar to that in the glucose-infused ducks. The results indicate that PGs have important renotropic actions in birds and in particular modulate the antidiuretic effect of AVT in salt- and volume-loaded animals.Abbreviations ANP atrial natriuretic peptide - AVT arginine vasotocin - PGs prostaglandinsCommunicated by I.D. Hume     

Isolation and characterization of specialized regions of toad urinary bladder apical plasma membrane involved in the water permeability response to antidiuretic hormone

Summary Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) increases the apical (external facing) membrane water permeability of granular cells that line the toad urinary bladder. In response to ADH, cytoplasmic vesicles called aggrephores fuse with the apical plasma membrane and insert particle aggregates which are visualized by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Aggrephores contain particle aggregates within their limiting membranes. It is generally accepted that particle aggregates are or are related to water channels. High rates of transepithelial water flow during ADH stimulation and subsequent hormone removal decrease water permeability and cause the endocytosis of apical membrane and aggrephores which retrieve particle aggregates. We loaded the particle aggregate-rich endocytic vesicles with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) during ADH stimulation and removal. Epithelial cells were isolated and homogenized, and a subcellular fraction was enriched for sequestered HRP obtained. The HRP-enriched membrane fraction was subjected to a density shifting maneuver (Courtoy et al.,J. Cell Biol. 98:870, 1984), which yielded a purified membrane fraction containing vesicles with entrapped HRP. The density shifted vesicles were composed of approximately 20 proteins including prominent species of 55, 17 and 7 kD. Proteins of these molecular weights appear on the apical surface of ADH-stimulated bladders, but not the apical surface of control bladders. Therefore, we believe these density shifted vesicles contain proteins involved in the ADH-stimulated water permeability response, possibly components of particle aggregates and/or water channels.     

Circularly polarized,sinusoidal, 50 Hz magnetic field exposure does not influence plasma testosterone levels of rats

We exposed rats to circularly polarized 50 Hz magnetic fields to determine if plasma testosterone concentration was affected. Previous experiments indicate that magnetic fields suppress the nighttime rise in melatonin, suggesting that other neuroendocrine changes might occur as well. Male Wistar-King rats were exposed almost continuously for 6 weeks to magnetic flux densities of 1,5, or 50 μT. Blood samples were obtained by decapitation at 12:00 h and 24:00 h. Plasma testosterone concentration showed a significant day-night difference, with a higher level at 12:00 h when studied in July and December, but the day-night difference disappeared when concentrations were studied in April. In three experiments, magnetic field exposure had no statistically significant effect on plasma testosterone levels compared with the sham-exposed groups. These findings indicate that 6 weeks of nearly continuous exposure to circularly polarized, 50 Hz magnetic fields did not change plasma testosterone concentration in rats. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Acetylcholine-dependent potentiation of temporal frequency representation in the barrel cortex does not depend on response magnitude during conditioning

The response properties of neurons of the postero-medial barrel sub-field of the somatosensory cortex (the cortical structure receiving information from the mystacial vibrissae can be modified as a consequence of peripheral manipulations of the afferent activity. This plasticity depends on the integrity of the cortical cholinergic innervation, which originates at the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM). The activity of the NBM is related to the behavioral state of the animal and the putative cholinergic neurons are activated by specific events, such as reward-related signals, during behavioral learning. Experimental studies on acetylcholine (ACh)-dependent cortical plasticity have shown that ACh is needed for both the induction and the expression of plastic modifications induced by sensory-cholinergic pairings. Here we review and discuss ACh-dependent plasticity and activity-dependent plasticity and ask whether these two mechanisms are linked. To address this question, we analyzed our data and tested whether changes mediated by ACh were activity-dependent. We show that ACh-dependent potentiation of response in the barrel cortex of rats observed after sensory-cholinergic pairing was not correlated to the changes in activity induced during pairing. Since these results suggest that the effect of ACh during pairing is not exerted through a direct control of the post-synaptic activity, we propose that ACh might induce its effect either pre- or post-synaptically through activation of second messenger cascades.     

Influence of training on the response to exercise of adrenocorticotropin and growth hormone plasma concentrations in human swimmers

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the response of adrenocorticotropin ([ACTH]) and growth hormone ([GH]) concentrations to a typical aerobic swimming set during a training season. Nine top-level male endurance swimmers (age range 17–23 years) were tested during three training sessions occurring 6, 12 and 18 weeks after the beginning of the season. During each session, after a standard warm-up, the swimmers performed a training set of 15 × 200-m freestyle, with 20 s of rest between repetitions, at a predetermined individual speed. Blood samples were collected before warm-up and at the end of the training set. A few days before each session, the individual swimming velocity corresponding to the 4 mmol · l⁻¹ blood lactate concentration (v ₄) was assessed as a standard of aerobic performance. Aerobic training affected v ₄ levels, which were highest 18 weeks after the beginning of the season; at the same time, while [ACTH] response was attenuated, [GH] response was enhanced. These results could be considered as adaptations to the exercise intensity. In our training programme, these adaptations seemed to have occurred between the 12th and 18th weeks of the training season. Accepted: 21 April 1998     

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-immunoreactive structures in the brain of the domestic mallard

Summary The distribution of immunoreactive thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in the central nervous system of the domestic mallard was studied by means of the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. After colchicine pretreatment, the highest number of TRH-immunoreactive perikarya was found in the parvocellular subdivision of the paraventricular nucleus and in the preoptic region; a smaller number of immunostained perikarya was observed in the lateral hypothalamic area and in the posterior medial hypothalamic nucleus. TRH-immunoreactive nerve fibers were detected throughout the hypothalamus, forming a dense network in the periventricular area, paraventricular nucleus, preoptic-suprachiasmatic region, and baso-lateral hypothalamic area. TRH-containing nerve fibers and terminals occurred in the organon vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and in the external zone of the median eminence in juxtaposition with hypophyseal portal vessels. Scattered fibers were also seen in the internal zone of the median eminence and in the rostral portion of the neural lobe. Numerous TRH-immunoreactive fibers were detected in extra-hypothalamic brain regions: the highest number of immunoreactive nerve fibers was found in the lateral septum, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, and parolfactory lobe. Moderate numbers of fibers were located in the basal forebrain, dorsomedial thalamic nuclei, hippocampus, interpeduncular nucleus, and the central gray of the mesencephalon. The present findings suggest that TRH may be involved in hypophysiotropic regulatory mechanisms and, in addition, may also act as neuromodulator or neurotransmitter in other regions of the avian brain.     

Elevation of rhesus monkey plasma luteinizing hormone levels in response to E series prostaglandins

Experiments were carried out to assess the influence of prostaglandins (viz. PGE₁, PGE₂ and PGF_2α) on plasma concentrations of FSH and LH in the female rhesus monkey. Monkeys were ovariectomized and treated with estradiol benzoate to suppress endogenous gonadotropin levels prior to these experiments. Femoral venous blood was taken at intervals following a single carotid arterial injection of the PG in anesthetized monkeys. FSH and LH concentrations, determined by radioimmunoassay, were not significantly altered in 4 control animals receiving saline (2) or ethanol-saline (2), the vehicles for PGF_2α and for the E series PGs, respectively. PGE₁ (5mg) effected dramatic elevations of LH within 5 min in 3 animals and the high plasma concentrations were maintained at least for 60 min. Similarly, 5.0 mg of PGE₂ effected rapid elevation of LH concentrations, from 2- to 7-fold pre-injection levels in 3 animals. In contrast, FSH levels were not so markedly altered by PGE₁ and PGE₂, but in general, appeared to be somewhat decreased by these treatments. PGF_2α had no effect on plasma FSH and LH concentrations. These data demonstrate the ability of PGs of the E series to elevate plasma LH concentrations in the rhesus monkey and support studies in other species suggesting a modulating role for PGs on gonadotropin secretion or release.     

Antioxidant intervention does not affect the response of plasma erythropoietin to short-term normobaric hypoxia in humans.

Recent research has demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) participate in intracellular signaling processes initiated during hypoxia. We investigated the role of ROS in the response of plasma erythropoietin (Epo) to short-term normobaric hypoxia in humans. Twelve male subjects were exposed twice to 4 h of normobaric hypoxia (H; inspired oxygen fraction 12.5%) with a period of 6 wk between both experiments (H1 and H2). With the use of a randomized placebo-controlled crossover design, the subjects received orally a combination of the antioxidants all-rac-alpha-tocopherol (800 mg/day for 3 wk) and alpha-lipoic acid (600 mg/day for 2 wk) or placebo before H1 and H2, respectively. Three weeks before H1, the subjects underwent one control experiment in normoxia (N; inspired oxygen fraction 20.9%) without any treatment. Serum alpha-tocopherol was significantly higher after treatment with antioxidants compared with placebo. Capillary Po(2) declined during H without significant differences between antioxidants and placebo. Plasma peroxide levels were lower under antioxidant treatment but not affected by hypoxia. The response of Epo to H did not show significant differences between antioxidant [maximum increase (means, 95% confidence interval): +121%, +66 to +176%] and placebo conditions (+108%, +68 to +149%). Similarly, hypoxia-induced increase of Epo corrected for diurnal variations, as revealed during N, did not differ between antioxidants and placebo. Individual variability of Epo in response to H was not related to the individual degree of hypoxemia during H. Our results do not support the assumption that ROS play a major modulating role in the response of Epo to short-term normobaric hypoxia in humans.     

Juvenile hormone accelerates ovarian development and does not affect age polyethism in the primitively eusocial wasp,Ropalidia marginata

Juvenile hormone modulates post-imaginal reproductive division of labor in primitively eusocial species and promotes the production of queens (e.g., Polistes) while it modulates age polyethism and promotes the production of foragers in highly eusocial species (e.g., the honey bee). Ropalidia marginata is a primitively eusocial wasp that shows both post-imaginal regulation of reproductive division of labor as well as age polyethism. Hence, R.marginata is a particularly interesting model system to study the effect of juvenile hormone. We demonstrate here that a single, topical application of 100 micro g of juvenile hormone-III per female wasp accelerates ovarian development of wasps held in isolation. Similar application to wasps released back on to their natal nests has no effect on their rate of behavioral development as witnessed from the age of first performance of feed larva, build, bring pulp and bring food. We conclude therefore that in R.marginata, juvenile hormone has retained its function of modulating reproductive division of labor and has not acquired the function of modulating age polyethism.     

A moderate dose of cycloheximide does not prevent the febrile response to endotoxin but interfere with induction of pyrogenic tolerance in rabbit.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of cycloheximide (Cx)--inhibitor of protein synthesis, on the development of pyrogenic tolerance to LPS. It has been observed that Cx at a dose of 1 mg/kg given intravenously 1 h prior to LPS did not prevent fever response, however it modified the induction of pyrogenic tolerance. It was manifested in existence of the second phase of fever after the following administrations of LPS into rabbits pretreated with Cx. In control group of rabbits the induction of pyrogenic tolerance was accompanied with decaying of the second peak of fever visible as early as the second dose of LPS.     

Effects of time of l-ornithine administration on the diurnal rhythms of plasma growth hormone,melatonin, and corticosterone levels in mice

The synthesis and secretion of many hormones such as growth hormone (GH), melatonin, and corticosterone, exhibit temporal variations over each day and night. Oral administration of several nutritional factors, including l-ornithine, modulates these hormonal secretions and induces an acute increase in plasma GH levels. However, the impact of l-ornithine on the diurnal rhythms of hormone secretion remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated whether the diurnal rhythms of plasma GH, melatonin, and corticosterone secretion were altered by the daily administration of l-ornithine as well as the timing of the administration, in CBA/N mice. Our results showed that the plasma GH levels that peaked at light phase were amplified by l-ornithine (500?mg/kg) administered at Zeitgeber time (ZT) 22, but not at ZT10. Additionally, l-ornithine (1000?mg/kg) administered at ZT22 advanced the onset of the nocturnal rise of melatonin, which resulted in the elongation of the melatonin peak. On the other hand, l-ornithine (500 and 1000?mg/kg) administered at ZT10, but not at ZT22, suppressed the diurnal rhythm peaks of plasma corticosterone. The effects of l-ornithine on plasma GH rhythms lasted for at least 2 days after cessation of the daily administration. Running wheel activity during the active phase was slightly elevated by l-ornithine administration at ZT22, but the overall patterns were only slightly affected. l-Ornithine levels in the plasma and hypophysis after a single administration of l-ornithine at ZT22 were lower than those after administration at ZT10, suggesting that the metabolic rate of l-ornithine differs between day and night. In conclusion, our data suggest that a daily administration of l-ornithine regulates the diurnal rhythms of GH, melatonin, and corticosterone in a manner dependent on administration time, which might be related to the diurnal rhythms of l-ornithine metabolism.