Activation of adrenal function in fetal sheep by the infusion of adrenocorticotropin to the fetus in utero

We determined whether ACTH1-24, infused into fetal lambs at a rate that is known to cause premature labor, elicits changes in the responsiveness of the fetal adrenal glands, and alters the pattern of corticosteroid output. Plasma cortisol (F), corticosterone (B) and progesterone (P4) were measured during 72 h of infusion of saline or ACTH (10 micrograms/h) beginning on Day 127 of pregnancy. Adrenals were then dispersed into isolated cells, and the output of F, B and P4 after exogenous ACTH determined in vitro. Plasma concentrations of F and B were higher in ACTH-treated fetuses. The increment in F (5-to 7-fold) was greater than that in B (2-fold) such that the F:B ratio in plasma of ACTH-treated fetuses on Days 2 and 3 of infusion was 2.5 times higher than in controls. After 72 h of infusion, the adrenal weights in ACTH-treated fetuses (741 +/- 38 mg, +/- SEM; n = 4) were greater than in the control animals (349 +/- 11 mg). There was a significant effect of ACTH pretreatment in vivo on F output by isolated adrenal cells in vitro. Mean increments in F output after addition of ACTH1-24 (5000 pg/ml) in vitro rose from 368 +/- 235 pg/50,000 cells in controls, to 64,639 +/- 19,875 pg/50,000 cells after ACTH in vivo. There was no significant effect of ACTH in vivo on B output in vitro; the ratio of F:B output, either in the absence or presence of ACTH in vitro, was significantly higher in cells from ACTH-pretreated fetuses. There was a significant effect of in vivo ACTH on in vitro P4 output. After ACTH treatment in vivo there was an increase in the vitro output ratio of F:P4, but no change in the output ratio of B:P4. We conclude that ACTH treatment of the fetal lamb in vivo results in activation of fetal adrenal function, increased fetal adrenal responsiveness to ACTH, and directed corticosteroid biosynthesis towards cortisol. Our results are consistent with an increase in fetal adrenal 17 alpha-hydroxylase activity after ACTH treatment.     

Elytrigia turcica sp. nova,an octoploid species of theE. elongata complex

Elytrigia turcica sp. nov., (Poaceae) (2n=8x=56), a member of the polyploid complex related toE. elongata (Host) Nevski, (2n=2x=14), is described and distinguished fromE. pontica (Podp.) Holub, (2n=10x=70), which it most resembles.     

Enucleation eliminates a differentiation-specific surface marker from normal and leukemic murine erythroid cells

Mammalian erythropoiesis includes a step in which the nucleus is extruded through the cell membrane. We have investigated the relationship between concanavalinA (conA) plasma membrane receptors, which are known to leave the incipient reticulocyte during enucleation, and regions of the plasma membrane which bind merocyanine 540, a differentiation-specific marker of hematopoietic cells. The distribution of these two fluorescent probes was examined on living cells from the spleens of neonatal mice and on erythroleukemia cells induced to enucleate in culture. In both cases, the region of the membrane extruded with the nucleus preferentially binds conA and merocyanine 540, whereas the plasma membrane which is left behind retains the capacity to bind another lectin, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to the mechanism by which markers are eliminated from the erythrocyte cell surface.     

Drug-Induced Changes in Blood Pressure Lead to Changes in Extracellular Concentrations of Epinephrine, Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid, and 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla of the Rat

Neurochemical changes in the extracellular fluid of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) were produced by changes in arterial blood pressure. Blood pressure was raised or lowered with systemic infusions of phenylephrine or nitroprusside and neurochemicals were recovered from RVLM by in vivo microdialysis. A dialysis probe 300 microns in diameter and 500 microns in length was stereotaxically implanted in the RVLM of the urethane-anesthetized rat. Sterile physiological Ringer's solution was perfused at a rate of 1.5 microliter/min. The perfusate was collected under ice-cold conditions every 15 min for the assay of epinephrine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), ascorbic acid, and uric acid. After stable baseline neurochemical concentrations were achieved, animals were infused with phenylephrine or nitroprusside intravenously to raise or lower the blood pressure. Increasing blood pressure 50 mm Hg above the baseline value by phenylephrine led to a significant reduction in heart rate and a reduction in extracellular epinephrine and DOPAC concentrations. The 5-HIAA concentration was increased during the hypertensive drug infusion. There were no changes in the concentrations of ascorbic acid or uric acid. Hypotension produced by nitroprusside (-20 mm Hg) led to neurochemical changes which were the reciprocal of those seen during hypertension. During hypotension, heart rate increased as did the extracellular fluid epinephrine concentration. The 5-HIAA concentration fell with hypotension and remained depressed following the nitroprusside infusion. Ascorbic acid and uric acid concentrations did not change during hypotension but ascorbic acid did increase after the nitroprusside infusion stopped. These data provide direct evidence that epinephrine release in RVLM is linked to changes in systemic blood pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A new species of Ionactis (Asteraceae: Astereae) from Southern Nevada and an overview of the genus

Ionactis caelestis Leary & Nesom is a new species known from a single population that occurs on the Aztec Sandstone near Bridge Mountain in the Spring Mountains of Clark County, Nevada. It is placed in the genus Ionactis (=Aster subg. Ianthe) on the basis of its crowded, multicipital crown, lack of persistent basal leaves and presence of densely arranged cauline ones, strongly carinate phyllaries, blue rays, disc style branches with linear-lanceolate appendages, asymmetric carpopodia, double pappus, and chromosome number of 2n = 9 II. A key to the four species of the genus emphasizes the distinction of the new species in its taproot, the abundant, large, glandular trichomes on its stems and leaves, and disc flowers with sterile ovaries. Ionactis is more similar to the goldenaster (Heterotheca) lineage than to Aster, with which it has been allied formerly. The core of the goldenaster genera differ from Ionactis primarily in their yellow-rayed heads, the crystal complement within cells of their disc corollas, and their primarily multinerved achenes.     

Quantitative PCR: Procedures and precisions

We develop a multitype branching-process model for the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). We apply the model to a comparison of three methods for estimating the initial number of molecules of target present in a PCR. These three methods are: one which uses a coamplified, internal control; one which uses an external control series; and one which uses simple extrapolation of log outputvs time (no control). We identify assumptions for each method which permit mathematical analysis of bias and precision. All three methods perform well if: (1) replication efficiencies are stable among reactions; (2) other method-specific conditions on efficiencies are met; and (3) product accumulates exponentially throughout the range where it is observed. When replication efficiencies vary among reactions but other optimal conditions for each method hold, the no-control and external-control methods lose precision relative to the internal control method, but they may still perform satisfactorily for many applications. The internal control method continues to perform well even if accumulation of product plateaus. This method depends, however, on a condition we call equivalence of replication efficiencies, the attainability of which in practice remains to be proven.     

Different relative abundance of neurotensin and neuromedin N in bovine ocular tissues.

Neurotensin (NT) and neuromedin N (NN) are regulatory peptides encoded by the same gene and located in tandem within a common precursor. Using specific radioimmunoassays for both peptides, their relative abundance in extracts of bovine ocular tissues has been examined. Within the retina, the molar concentration of NN was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) than that of NT. In contrast, within both choroid/sclera and iris/ciliary bodies, the molar concentration of NT was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) than that of NN. These data demonstrate that the theoretical molar ratio of 1:1, which would result from complete processing of both peptides from the common precursor, does not occur in any of the ocular tissues examined. Reverse phase HPLC of extracts of each ocular tissue confirmed the differential abundance of NT and NN. These data would suggest that the common NT/NN precursor is differentially-processed within bovine ocular tissues, a finding which may be of physiological significance.