Electrocardiographic studies in the Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) with special reference to the effect of anesthesia with barbiturates

The electrocardiograms of 157 healthy Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata), covering a wide range of ages in both sexes, were recorded under light pentobarbital (Nembutal) anesthesia. Although results were generally similar to those reported for other macaque species, some quantitative differences were observed.The heart rate was about 160 per minute in all monkeys examined; the P-Q interval was 0.11±0.06 sec.; the duration of QRS was 0.04±0.01 sec.; the Q-T interval was 0.24±0.06 sec. The mean axis of QRS was +59° and the pattern of the QRS complex was qR type in most cases.The comparison with the human electrocardiogram shows that the heart rate ofM. fuscata is about twice that of man, while the P-Q, QRS, and Q-T intervals were about one-half of those found in human subjects. In the monkey, however, the P wave was sharp and the T wave flat.In order to estimate the effect of anesthesia on the electrocardiogram, the records of several monkeys before, during, and after intravenous administration of barbiturates were compared. Although some animals showed extrasystoles after barbiturate was administered, generally no essential changes were noted in the records, except for the retardation of the rate and proportional prolongation of intervals.This work was presented at the 10th Annual Meeting of the Primate Research Association held in Inuyama, March 13, 1966.     

Distribution and serological specificity of sialidase produced by various groups of streptococci

The occurrence of a streptococcal sialidase (designated St-sialidase) in culture fluids of various streptococci was investigated. St-sialidase was found to occur in strains belonging to groups A, B, C, E, G, H, and L, and the unclassified strains, Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus uberis. St-sialidase of group A was confined predominantly to types 4 and 22. St-sialidases, extracted from the culture fluids of some selected strains, were antigenic, eliciting the formation of antibody which effectively neutralized the enzymatic activity of the enzyme. Antisera to the St-sialidases of groups A, B, C, E, G, and L, and Streptococcus sanguis were produced in rabbits. The St-sialidases of groups A, B, and E streptococci were serologically distinct and group-specific. The St-sialidases from groups C, G, and L were serologically homologous, but distinct from St-sialidases of the other groups. Antiserum to the enzyme of strain 10557 (S. sanguis) cross-reacted with the St-sialidase of strain 9927 (S. uberis).