Platelets and leukocytes in the lungs after acute hypobaric hypoxia

To determine if decompression from sea level causes aggregation and embolization of platelets or leukocytes to the lungs, we have measured the accumulation of 51Cr-labeled platelets or 111In-labeled leukocytes in the lungs of rabbits decompressed to 440 or 350 Torr for 18 or 40 h. To be certain that any increased accumulation of labeled platelets (or leukocytes) in the lungs was not just caused by an increased pulmonary blood volume we also labeled the rabbits red blood cells with 59Fe. There was no detectable accumulation of labeled platelets in the lungs on decompression. In control animals there were 22 times as many labeled leukocytes in the lungs as could be accounted for by the volume of blood in the lungs. In experimental animals at 326 Torr for 18 h this figure was reduced to 13.6. Hypobaric hypoxia caused an increase in circulating granulocytes from a mean of 3.3 +/- 1.6 X 10(9)/l to 5.3 +/- 2.1 X 10(9)/l. (P less than 0.005). Our results suggest that decompressions to 6,100 m for 18 h does not cause platelet sequestration in the lungs but does cause a significant reduction in leukocytes in the lungs and a peripheral granulocytosis.     

ELECTRIC TISSUE : RELATIONS BETWEEN THE STRUCTURE,ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS,AND CHEMICAL PROCESSES OF ELECTRIC TISSUE

In the main electric organs of the electric eel, the cross-sectional area, the thickness of the electroplaxes, and certain electrical characteristics of the tissue vary widely between the anterior and posterior ends. However, a transverse layer of the organs one electroplax thick has certain characteristics which are roughly uniform along the organs. These are its volume, its maximum voltage, its maximum current per unit area, and the resistance of unit area at the peak of the discharge. Measurements of the voltage developed by a segment of the organs across different external resistances at different instants during the discharge are all rather well described by representing the segment, with the adjacent non-electric tissue, as a simple combination of E.M.F. and ohmic resistance. The internal resistance of the tissue varies during the discharge. Its E.M.F. appears to be practically constant, at least during the greater part of the discharge. Estimates made of the total electric energy show it about equal to the energy supplied by the decrease of phosphocreatine and the formation of lactic acid.     

Solitary hypothalamic neurons inherently express vasopressin and tyrosine hydroxylase

Hypothalamic neurons were grown as single cells in three-dimensional culture. Solitary neurons lacking cell contacts were immunocytochemically examined for inherent expression of vasopressin (VP), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). Immunoreactive VP and TH were detected within a day. Sixty to eighty-five percent of neurons displayed homogeneously distributed reaction product for VP or TH. One percent exhibited intense punctate staining of somas and varicosities. Few neurons stained for LHRH. Results indicate that hypothalamic neurons can express appropriate neuropeptides and transmitter-specific products without contacting other neurons or nonneuronal cells. Thus, this culture system may provide a useful model to study intrinsic neuronal processes.     

Problems Determining the Phylogenetic Position of Echiurans and Pogonophorans with Limited Data

The phylogenetic position of Echiura and Pogonophora was recently reconsidered using 346 bp of elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α). On the basis of these results alone it was suggested that the relationships of Anne lida be reconsidered and that the systematics of the group changed accordingly. An examination of these data, however, reveals difficulties in the original analysis that relate to weighting and the relative inclusion or exclusion of available characters and of taxa. Wholesale revision of the systematics of Annelida or of groups therein awaits the availability of more comprehensive work.