Leu-enkephalin-stimulated growth hormone and prolactin release in the rat: comparison with the effect of morphine

The effect of Leu⁵-enkephalin on growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) release was studied $\text{in vivo}$ in the infant rat and compared to that of morphine. In 10 day-old pups, intracerebroventricular injection of Leu⁵-enkephalin (50, 75 and 100 μg) resulted in a dose-related increase in plasma GH; morphine was active as GH releaser at the dose of 5 and 10 μg, but not at 2.5 μg. Pretreatment with naloxone (2 mg/kg ip) suppressed the GH-releasing effect of either Leu⁵-enkephalin (100 μg) or morphine (10 μg). Leu⁵-enkephalin (75 and 100 μg) induced a rise in plasma PRL which was neither dose-related nor antagonized by naloxone; morphine (5 and 10 μg) was active as PRL releaser and its effect was antagonized by naloxone. These results indicate that: 1) Leu⁵-enkephalin stimulates both GH and PRL release; 2) the release of GH by Leu⁵-enkephalin but likely not that of PRL involves specific opiate receptors; 3) morphine releases GH and PRL through specific opiate receptors.     

Human gut neuroanatomy: methodology for a quantitative analysis of nerve elements and neurotransmitter diversity in the human "enteric nervous system"

After a few decad of neglect, the "enteric nervous system" has recently regained the attention of investigators. Indeed, various studies, such as those which led to the isolation from the gut of a number of neuropeptides, subsequently demonstrated throughout the nervous system, have prompted major advancements of modern neuroscience. In spite of a wealth of animal investigations and a number of human studies, however, available information concerning the human "enteric nervous system" is comparatively sparse. In the opinion that such lack of information was largely due to unavailability of appropriate techniques, we have initiated and developed a new comprehensive methodology. This way, a quantitative analysis was made possible of both nerve structure and transmitter status, point-to-point along the gut, as well as within the various, functionally heterogeneous components of the gastrointestinal wall itself. After a general introduction, the present review is intended to summarize such methodology, with the addition of a few illustrative examples of application and a practically-oriented guideline to its use, in the form of technical appendix.     

Relationships Between Cytoplasmic Filaments and Nuclear Envelope in Teleost (Pimelodus maculatus) Endothelial Cells

In the present report a characteristic pattern showed by cytoplasmic filaments (intermediate-sized and actin-like) in the perinuclear area of a freshwater teleost (Pimelodus maculatus) endothelial cells is described for the first time. Thus, many intermediate-sized filaments are directly inserted in the nuclear envelope, but others are connected to one another and to the nucleus through microfilaments. It is suggested that these particular relationships between the nucleus and cytoplasmic filaments are responsible not only for nuclear anchorage, but also for nuclear movements     

Specificity and regulation of the mutator transposable element system in maize

The Mutator transposable element system is exceptional in many of its basic attributes. The high frequency and low specificity of mutant induction are both unusual and useful characteristics of the Mutator system. Other basic features are at least equally fascinating: the existence of multiple Mu element subfamilies with apparently unrelated internal sequences; the lack of correlation between Mu element transposition and excision; the complex inheritance of Mutator activity; the tight developmental regulation of Afufaror‐conditioned events; and the coordinated processes of element modification/inactivation, to name a few.

Molecular and genetic studies over the last 10 years have begun to explain many of these interesting properties and have uncovered new mysteries of Mutator biology. Both positive and negative regulators of the system have been identified and characterized to varying degrees. Insertion specificity has been observed at several levels. Recent accomplishments include the isolation of an autonomous Mu element and the discovery of maize lines with altered developmental regulation of Mutator‐derived mutability. This review defines the Mutator system, describes the status of current experimentation in the Mutator field, proposes models that may explain some aspects of Mutator behavior, and details future studies that will help elucidate the nature of the Mutator phenomenon.     

Dot-immunobinding assay in the detection of IgG antibodies against farmer's lung antigens

Circulating antibodies against Faenia rectivirgula, Thermoactinomyces candidus, T. vulgaris and Aspergillus fumigatus were studied in the sera of 14 clinically proven farmer's lung patients and 10 normal controls using three immunological methods. These methods were agar gel double diffusion (DD), biotin-avidin-linked immunosorbent assay (BALISA) and dot-immunobinding assay (DIBA). Agar gel diffusion, the least sensitive of the three methods, failed to detect antibodies in some of the patients, while BALISA detected antibodies even in the normal controls. However, the sensitivity of dot-immunobinding assay was in between DD and BALISA while the specificity was comparable to DD to all the antibodies except against A. fumigatus antigens. Dot-immunobinding assay gave faster results than DD and the blots can be stored as record for longer periods of time without fading.     

WIREWORM POPULATIONS IN RELATION TO CROP PRODUCTION: IV. POPULATION CHANGES DURING A BARE FALLOW

Changes in wireworm populations during a bare fallow were studied on twenty-three fields in 1943 and 1944. In every case populations were much reduced, sometimes to less than 10% of the original level. Wireworms of all sizes were affected, but the larvae less than 5 mm. in length were practically eliminated from the populations.
Evidence is presented that the reduction achieved is greater in fields ploughed in February and March than in fields ploughed in May.
As the populations in the grass 'controls' decline during the same period the entire reduction cannot be attributed to the fallow. The reduction in the bare fallow, however, differs from that in the controls in that it is permanent and continues through the autumn when the counts on the 'controls' are rising.
The practical implications of the results are discussed.     

THE USE OF TOXIC POLYNITRO DERIVATIVES IN PEST CONTROL

3:5-Dinitro- ortho -cresol ( d.n.c. ) and stock emulsions of this substance in petroleum oil are available commercially and winter washes based on d.n.c. -petroleum are becoming increasingly popular with the fruit grower. These washes can replace the separate application of tar and of petroleum-oil emulsions, while the risk of bud injury which attends the use of combined tar-petroleum washes is avoided (Kearns & Martin, 1941). In view of the increasing importance of d.n.c. the chemistry of this substance becomes of interest and further, suitable methods of analysis, both for the compound itself and as a constituent of oil emulsions, are urgently required. In this paper a number of molecular compounds and derivatives of d.n.c. , and two simple methods of analysis are described. The application of the methods to the estimation of d.n.c. in compounded products will be communicated at a later date.     

Closing the Gap between the Inside and the Outside: Interoceptive Sensitivity and Social Distances

Humans’ ability to represent their body state from within through interoception has been proposed to predict different aspects of human cognition and behaviour. We focused on the possible contribution of interoceptive sensitivity to social behaviour as mediated by adaptive modulation of autonomic response. We, thus, investigated whether interoceptive sensitivity to one''s heartbeat predicts participants'' autonomic response at different social distances. We measured respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) during either a Social or a Non-social task. In the Social task each participant viewed an experimenter performing a caress-like movement at different distances from their hand. In the Non-social task a metal stick was moved at the same distances from the participant''s hand. We found a positive association between interoceptive sensitivity and autonomic response only for the social setting. Moreover, only good heartbeat perceivers showed higher autonomic response 1) in the social compared to the non-social setting, 2) specifically, when the experimenter''s hand was moving at boundary of their peripersonal space (20 cm from the participant''s hand). Our findings suggest that interoceptive sensitivity might contribute to interindividual differences concerning social attitudes and interpersonal space representation via recruitment of different adaptive autonomic response strategies.     

Serosadeckzellen und Histiocyten

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Comparative efficacy of amphotericin B,clotrimazole and itraconazole againstAspergillus spp.

The susceptibilities of two isolates ofAspergillus flavus, one from a human case of recalcitrant mycotic keratitis, and an environmental isolate ofA. fumigatus, to itraconazole, clotrimazole and amphotericin B were measured. Observations of macroscopic growth and microscopic evaluations of conidia germination both indicated that the two isolates ofA. flavus were markedly more resistant to amphotericin B than to itraconazole and clotrimazole. Itraconazole was more effective than clotrimazole for all isolates. Ourin vitro susceptibility results suggest the use of itraconazole should be a primary consideration in the treatment ofAspergillus keratitis.