Ultrasonographic assessment of the endometrium in rhesus monkeys during the normal menstrual cycle

This study was undertaken to determine whether cyclical changes in the endometrium of the rhesus monkey could be observed by using ultrasound. Three indices of endometrial size were examined: the antero-posterior (or ventro-dorsal), longitudinal, and transverse diameters. Changes in the ultrasonic reflectivity of the endometrium were also assessed. We have attempted to correlate these endometrial parameters with the hormonal status of the animal. Ultrasonography was performed for an average of 12 consecutive days during 19 menstrual cycles. All ultrasonic recordings were normalized to the day of the estradiol (E2) peak (Day 0). We found that the reflectivity of the endometrium was dependent on the stage of the cycle: during the follicular phase, the endometrium appeared less echogenic (darker) compared to the myometrium; in the luteal phase, the endometrium was more echogenic (lighter). During the follicular phase (Days -9 to 0), there was a linear increase in the antero-posterior (p less than 0.001), longitudinal (p less than 0.05), and transverse (p less than 0.001) diameters. In the luteal phase (Days 1-15), no significant changes were observed in these diameters. An estimated endometrial volume (EEV) was obtained by the product of the antero-posterior, longitudinal, and transverse diameters. Each animal observed during the follicular phase (n = 14) exhibited a peak in the EEV, which correlated with the day of the E2 peak (p less than 0.01). From this study, we conclude that the sonographic appearance of the endometrium of the rhesus monkey reflects the cyclical changes that occur during the menstrual cycle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Structure of Cu2(indomethacin)4 and the reaction with superoxide in aprotic systems

The copper complex of indomethacin (1-(p-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-indole acetate), a common anti-inflammatory drug, was prepared and characterized. Crystal structure determination revealed the dimeric form of the 1:2 complex, namely Cu₂(indomethacin)₄ · L₂, in the unit cell. Suprisingly, the copper-copper distance (263 pm) was very close to metallic copper (256 pm). The two coordination sites in the copper-copper axis can be readily replaced by superoxide. An intriguing similarity to Cu₂(acetate)₄ was seen.Due to the lipophilic nature of the indomethacin ligand, this copper complex reacted with superoxide in aprotic solvents. The superoxide dismutating activity was successfully demonstrated in Me₂SO/water and acetonitrile/water mixtures using the nitro-blue tetrazolium assay and pulse radiolysis. The second-order rate constant of 6 · 10⁹ M^?1 · s^?1 in strictly aqueous systems dropped only slightly to 1.1 · 10⁹ M^?1 · s^?1 when aprotic solvents were used. This is the fastest rate constant ever observed for a copper-dependent dismutation of superoxide. The KO₂-induced lipid peroxidation in both erythrocytes and liver microsomes was suppressed by 70% in the presence of 1 · 10^?10 mol · ml^?1 of Cu₂(indomethacin)₄. The inhibitory action dropped to 25% when Cu₂Zn₂superoxide dismutase was employed. The formation of copper · indomethacin in rat serum after administration of indomethacin was shown in vitro and in vivo.     

Particle-bound glutathione-S-transferases.

The incubation of liver microsomes or mitochondria with glutathione, in the presence of electrophilic compounds, decreased the glutathione concentration in the incubation medium. Product analysis revealed that glutathione conjugates were formed.     

Water-soluble polysaccharides from Ginkgo biloba leaves.

The water-soluble polysaccharides from dried Ginkgo biloba leaves were isolated after exhaustive extraction with organic solvents. The polysaccharide mixture could be separated into a neutral (GF1) and two acidic (GF2 and GF3) polysaccharide fractions by ion exchange chromatography. According to the Mr distribution GF1 and GF3 seemed to be homogenous, whereas GF2 could be further fractionated into two subfractions (GF2a and GF2b) by gel permeation chromatography. GF1 (Mr 23,000) showed the structural features of a branched arabinan. The main chain was composed of 1,5-linked arabinose residues and three in 12 arabinose molecules were branched via C-2 or C-3. GF2a (Mr 500,000) consisted mainly of 1,2,4-branched mannose (29%), 1,4-linked glucuronic (32%) and galacturonic (8%) acid as well as terminal rhamnose (25%). After removal of ca 70% of the terminal rhamnose the remaining polysaccharide showed a decrease in 1,2,4-branched mannose and an increase in 1,2-linked mannose indicating that at least half of the rhamnose residues were linked to mannose via C-4. GF3 (Mr 40,000) consisted of 1,4-linked galacturonic (30%) and glucuronic (16) acid, 1,3,6-branched galactose (15%), 1,2-linked (5%) and 1,2,4-branched (3.5%) rhamnose as well as 1,5-linked arabinose (11%). Rhamnose (5%) and arabinose (10%) were present as terminal groups. Mild acid hydrolysis selectively cleaved arabinose and the remaining polysaccharide showed an increased amount of 1,6-linked and terminal galactose and a decreased quantity of 1,3,6-branched galactose. These results indicated that the terminal as well as the 1,5-linked arabinose were mainly connected to galactose via C-3. The GF3 polysaccharide appeared to be a rhamnogalacturonan with arabinogalactan side chains.     

Identification of hydrogen selenide and other volatile selenols by derivatization with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene

A procedure is described for the trapping and identification of hydrogen selenide and methyl selenol ( CH3SeH ). The volatile selenols were generated by reducing selenious acid or dimethyldiselenide with Zn dust and hydrochloric acid under a stream of nitrogen and passing into a trapping solution composed of 50 mM 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene plus 83 mM sodium bicarbonate in 67% dimethylformamide:33% water. The selenols react rapidly to form stable dinitrophenyl (DNP) selenoethers that can be extracted into benzene; these are easily identified by TLC, HPLC, or mass spectrometry. Hydrogen selenide is trapped in 90-99% yield, primarily as the di-DNP- monoselenide with a trace of di-DNP- diselenide .