Tissue glycogen concentrations in hypophysectomized pig fetuses following infusion with cortisol

The role of cortisol as a factor controlling the deposition of glycogen in the pig fetus was examined by infusing either a low dose (1 mg/day) or a high dose (3 mg/day) of cortisol into chronically-catheterized hypophysectomized fetal pigs for five days beginning on day 100-104 of gestation. After infusion, liver glycogen was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) and lung glycogen significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than in uninfused hypophysectomized litter mates although concentrations were significantly different from intact litter mates (P less than 0.05). Although skeletal and cardiac muscle content increased after infusion this difference was not significant. Changes in tissue glycogen content were similar for both the low and high rates of infusion. These observations indicate that exogenous cortisol alone is able to stimulate liver glycogen deposition and reverse the effect of hypophysectomy. Although other factors may be necessary for maximal response this suggests that cortisol is an important stimulant for liver glycogen deposition in the fetal pig. The effect of cortisol on muscle glycogen was equivocal suggesting that other hormones may play a more important role in this tissue.     

The first record of the shore fly Paracoenia fumosalis (Diptera, Ephydridae) in the Palaearctic region

Paracoenia fumosalis Cresson previously known only from the USA and Canada is recorded in the Palaearctic Region for the first time. The adults were collected near a thermal hydrosulfuric spring in the Geiser Valley in Kamchatka. A key to species of the genus Paracoenia occurring in Russia is given.     

Morphological diversity of leaves of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudoprotophyllum</Emphasis> (Platanaceae) from the Turonian-Coniacian of the northern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk

Fossil plants of the Chingandzha flora were studied from volcanogenic sediments of the Chingandzha and Rond formations on the northern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. It was concluded that all platanaceous leaves earlier described in this flora as different taxa belong to one highly variable species, Pseudoprotophyllum cordatum Samyl. emend. Shczepetov et Golovneva.     

The effect of temperature on progeny allocation and short interval timing in a parasitoid wasp

Abstract The parasitoid wasp Trichogramma dendrolimi Matsumura sets the number of progeny allocated to its insect egg hosts according to the duration of its initial transit walk across the host surface. Although cooling the wasp reduces its walking speed, reduced temperature does not affect progeny allocation. By locally heating and cooling the wasps, the initial transit can be thermally uncoupled from the subsequent oviposition. Using this technique we show that the timing of initial transit duration is temperature-dependent. These findings suggest that short interval timing by Trichogramma differs physiologically from the temperature compensated clocks that have been described for other insects.     

Does vinblastine add to the potency of alpha interferon in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma?

The combination of alpha interferon and vinblastine has been reported to yield a response rate of 30-40% in previously untreated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. This combination was given to nine patients with advanced metastatic renal carcinoma after they failed or relapsed on alpha-interferon alone, to attempt to evaluate the role of vinblastine in this combination. Neither complete nor partial response was observed. Two patients had disease stabilization for two and seven months. Our preliminary results suggest that vinblastine did not add to the efficacy of interferon in this group of patients.     

Inactivation and oxidative modification of Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase by stimulated neutrophils: the appearance of new catalytically active structures.

Bovine superoxide dismutase (SOD) was inactivated during incubation with phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated neutrophils. In addition, stimulated neutrophils were able to disrupt the SOD structure. Inactivation and structural damage were dependent on the action of hypochlorous acid, an oxidant generated by the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-chloride system of neutrophils. Incubation of SOD with stimulated neutrophils lead to long-wavelength fluorescence (ex, 350 nm; em, 450 nm) and the appearance of new structural forms with other isoelectric points. These additional forms possess catalytic activity. Generation of catalytically active new forms of SOD demonstrates the inaccessibility of the active centre of SOD to hypochlorite and may be a reason for the successful application of SOD during anti-inflammatory therapy.