C-Type Virus Released from Cultured Human Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells

RD-114 virus, released from human rhabdomyosarcoma cells, has all the characteristics of a mammalian C-type virus. Immunological tests indicate that it differs from all known C-type viruses and is the most likely candidate for a human C-type virus yet described.     

Adoptive transfer of the entire gld (generalized lymphoproliferative disease) syndrome in nude beige mice by a single gld thymocyte graft.

C57BL/6 nude beige mice (B6 nubq; no T cell, no NK activity) were used as recipients for the adoptive transfer of thymocytes from B6 gld mice (generalized lymphoproliferative disease) which are a model of systemic lupus erythematous. The [gld----nubg] chimeras showed several similarities with gld control mice including the T cell disorders (lymphoproliferation and Con A-response deficiency of splenocytes) and B cell disorders (hyperglobulinemia and elevated anti-single-stranded DNA antibody titers). This suggests that the gld lymphoproliferative disorder has a thymic origin (and does not result from an abnormally extrathymic T cell development) and that the gld T cells have an essential role for the emergence of the disorders of both the T and B cells.     

Prostaglandin induction of spawning behavior in Cichlasoma bimaculatum (Pisces cichlidae)

Prostaglandin (PG) stimulates female spawning behavior in goldfish and in some other teleosts in which female reproductive behaviors consist of postovulatory oviposition acts. This study examined the effects of PG on female sexual behavior in a teleost fish, Cichlasoma bimaculatum, in which female reproductive behaviors involve both preovulatory courtship and substrate cleaning behaviors, and post-ovulatory oviposition behavior. In females of established pairs, PGF2 alpha injection (5 micrograms, im) at any stage of the spawning cycle, or in the parental phase, rapidly induced substrate cleaning which soon merged into oviposition behavior (without egg release). These results support a role for PG in oviposition behavior of Cichlasoma. However, indomethacin (1 mg, ip), a PG synthesis inhibitor, did not block oviposition in ovulated females which had begun to spawn. Indomethacin may not have lowered PG levels sufficiently. Alternatively, as shown by J.J. Polder (1971, Neth. J. Zool. 21, 265), oviposition behavior may be induced or maintained by other factors associated with the spawning situation.