Beta 2-receptors in the rat anterior pituitary mediate adrenergic stimulation of prolactin release

As previously shown, the beta-adrenergic agonists isoproterenol, epinephrine and norepinephrine stimulate prolactin (PRL) release from superfused rat anterior pituitary cell aggregates. In order to further characterize the beta-adrenergic response in this tissue preparation, the effects of various beta-adrenergic agents were investigated. The beta 2-agonist, zinterol, stimulated PRL release at concentrations more than 4 orders of magnitude lower than prenalterol, a beta 1-agonist with high potency in rat heart. The order of potency of the antagonists IPS 339 (beta 2), ICI 118.551 (beta 2), propranolol, sotalol, practolol (beta 1), metoprolol (beta 1) and H 35/25 for inhibition of beta-agonist-stimulated PRL release provided additional support for a beta 2-stimulatory effect. beta-Agonists were also capable of stimulating PRL release from superfused intact pituitaries. The beta-adrenergic response desensitized rapidly during prolonged exposure of the aggregates to beta-agonists.     

Modulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity in the normal and regenerating rat liver by different doses of hydra peptide morphogen

The authors studied the anabolic effect of peptide morphogen of the hydra undecapeptide on normal and regenerating rat liver. Ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) activity served as a marker. Intraperitoneal injection of the peptide into intact animals stimulated ornithine decarboxylase activity in a dose-dependent manner. In partially hepatectomized rats the peptide stimulated ornithine decarboxylase activity in the dose of 20 micrograms/kg body weight while greater doses inhibited the enzyme activity.     

Spatially resolved cytosolic calcium response to angiotensin II and potassium in rat glomerulosa cells measured by digital imaging techniques

The response of cytosolic calcium [Ca2+]i to angiotensin II (AII) and potassium (K+) in individual rat glomerulosa cells was determined using the calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye, fura-2 and digital imaging. Control (4 mM K+) cytosolic calcium levels were generally in the 80-120 nM range and increased monotonically as [K+] was increased from 4 to 12 mM. There was no delay in the onset of the response. In most cells the [Ca2+]i decreased from its peak after 3-4 min, even in the presence of superfusate containing elevated K+. The time course of the change in [Ca2+]i in response to AII stimulation, on the other hand, was more variable. It was most often characterized by an early decrease followed by a large delayed increase. The response also was observed to decline during sustained AII stimulation. The majority of the cells showed some response to one or the other secretagogue with a sizeable minority (25%) having an increase in [Ca2+]i in excess of 200%. While the majority showed a response, the cell to cell variation was substantial. Finally, the pattern of cytosolic calcium increase sometimes showed a marked dependence on the secretagogue used, with different regions of the same cell being more strongly affected by one agent or the other. A few cells (10%) responded to AII only at one pole, establishing a large concentration gradient of calcium across the cell. Because of differences in time course, pattern, and degree of responsiveness, it is likely that the mechanisms underlying the Ca2+ elevation with K+ and AII are different.     

PATTERNS OF REPRODUCTION IN THREE SANDY BEACH WHELKS OF THE GENUS BULLIA GRIFFITH

The breeding cycles of two species of sandy beach whelk (Bulliadigitalis and B. pura) are presented and compared with a thirdspecies (B. rhodostoma). In all three species, egg maturationand copulation occur in spring while summer marks the depositionand spawning of egg capsules. B. digitalis and B. pura migrateoffshore to lay their eggs, the juveniles of both species restrictingthemselves to beyond the breaker zone. Newly hatched snailsof B. rhodostoma appear in the intertidal towards late summer.The discovery of a penis-like structure on females of B. rhodostomais investigated. The pseudopenis was also found on B. pura butnever on B. digitalis. The possibility of a sex-change was eliminatedon the histological investigation of the gonads of a range ofsnails and the examination of sex-ratios over a period of fivemonths. General trends in reproductive behaviour are also discussed. (Received 18 March 1984;     

Controlled trial of methylprednisolone pulses and low dose oral prednisone for the minimal change nephrotic syndrome.

In a multicentre, randomised, prospective trial 89 patients (67 children and 22 adults) with the minimal change nephrotic syndrome were treated with three intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone followed by low dose oral prednisone for six months (group given methylprednisolone) or with high dose oral prednisone for four weeks followed by low dose oral prednisone for five months (control group). Five patients in the group given methylprednisolone and one in the control group did not respond initially. The time to response was shorter in children treated with methylprednisolone. No significant differences between the two groups were observed in the number of patients who relapsed or number of relapses per patient per year. Patients given methylprednisolone tended to relapse earlier than patients in the control group. Side effects related to treatment were significantly fewer in the group given methylprednisolone than in the control group. These data suggest that a short course of methylprednisolone pulses followed by low dose oral prednisone is only marginally less effective than a regimen of high dose oral steroids but can improve the ratio of risk to benefit associated with treatment of the minimal change nephrotic syndrome.     

Structure of the spectrin-actin binding site of erythrocyte protein 4.1

The complete primary structure of the functional site of erythrocyte protein 4.1 involved in spectrin-actin associations has been determined. The sequence of this domain, which contains 67 amino acids and has a molecular mass of 8045 daltons, has been obtained by NH2-terminal sequence analysis of an 8-kDa chymotryptic peptide, three endoproteinase lysine C-cleaved peptides and two peptides obtained by Staphylococcus aureus protease V8 cleavage. All peptides including the 8-kDa domain peptide were purified by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Antibodies against two different synthetic peptides of the 8-kDa domain are able to inhibit the association between protein 4.1, spectrin, and F-actin, corroborating that the 8-kDa domain is responsible for the formation of a ternary complex. A computer search of the 8-kDa sequence with the National Biomedical Research Foundation database did not detect any significant homologies to known sequences. Protein 4.1 is not related to any known proteins and may represent a new protein superfamily.     

Monosomy 21: a new case confirmed by in situ hybridization

Summary A new case of total monosomy 21 in a newborn is described. The diagnosis was first made using the cytogenetic data; it was then confirmed by the dosage of copper-superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) which showed a 50% decrease. In situ hybridization with a probe previously assigned to chromosome 21 was used to rule out the possibility of a partial monosomy with an unbalanced reciprocal translocation.