Immunohistochemical localization of LH-producing cells in the adenohypophysis of the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica

The cells that produce luteinizing hormone (LH) in the adenohypophysis of the Japanese quail were identified immunohistochemically using anti-chicken LH serum and horseradish peroxidase-labeled goat anti-rabbit gamma globulin serum. The LH cells are localized in the caudal lobe of the pars distalis. They are elongate in shape shape and are polarized toward the sinusoids, especially in their active states. Alterations in size of LH cells are directly related to changes in circulating LH levels as induced by castration or photostimulation. The LH cells identified immunohistochemically were only stained by alcian blue with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), alcian blue and orange G. PAS-positive gonadotropic cells in the cephalic lobe were stained immunohistochemically only slightly if at all using anti-chicken LH serum and consequently may be FSH producing cells. In the cephalic lobe another type of basophilic cell was stained with alcian blue. These cells were also stained immunohistochemically with anti-chicken LH serum. These cells may possibly be identified as TSH cells due to the characteristics of the anti-chicken LH serum used in this study which cross react with LH and TSH but only slightly with FSH, and also on the basis of previous light and electron microscopic studies.

Effects of hyperosmolarity on the cyclic AMP concentration and lipolysis of the adipocyte stimulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone

The effects of ACTH on 3',5'-cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels and lipolysis were examined on isolated adipocytes incubated in either isosmolar or hyperosmolar media. The ability of ACTH to induce intracellular cAMP accumulation was greatly enhanced by incubating cells in hyperosmolar sucrose (100 to 400 mM) solutions. Hyperosmolar solutions prepared by the addition of either NaCL, glucose or mannitol enhanced the ACTH effect on cAMP to the same extent as did the hyperosmolar sucrose solution, but hyperosmolar urea solutions did not have such an effect. The effect of hyperosmolarity was shown only in cells stimulated by lipolytic hormones, and the effects were still evident in the presence of high concentrations of theophylline, indicating the effect of hyperosmolarity is to facilitate hormone action on the receptor-coupler system of the adipocyte membrane. The action of glucagon on cAMP was augmented much less than the actions of ACTH and isoproterenol. Basal as well as ACTH or exogenous cAMP stimulated lipolysis was lower in hyperosmolar sucrose solutions. Some mechanism by which hyperosmolarity interferes with the metabolic sequence beyond the accumulation of cAMP was suggested.

Experimental studies on the antiarrhythmic action of a lidocaine analog

The electrophysiologic properties of a lidocaine analog (Kö 1173) was experimentally studied in 41 mongrel dogs. The threshold for occurrence of repetitive ventricular extrasystoles was significantly raised by the administration of 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg of the drug, while atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction times were not affected. After ligation of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery, the threshold for occurrence of repetitive ventricular extrasystoles was significantly lowered before the administration of Kö 1173 but it returned to control values after the administration 1 mg/kg of the drug. The strength-interval curve shifted profressively to the right when the dose was increased from 2 to 4 and 8 mg/kg. These results indicate that Kö 1173 prevents the decrease in threshold for occurrence of repetitive ventricular extrasystoles in acute coronary insufficiency at a dose which does not affect the conduction system.

Body surface isopotential mapping in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: noninvasive method to determine the localization of the accessory atrioventricular pathway

The body surface isopotential maps of 22 patients with WPM syndrome were obtained from the 85 unipolar lead ECG's using the on-line minicomputer system newly devised by the author's group. The map patterns were classified into three types-I, II, and III (Type I, eight; Type II, seven; Type III, three; and unclassified, four cases). In Type I, the back surface displayed the negative potential throughout the entire ventricular activation, and at the terminal stage the lower precordial area displayed the positive potential and the upper precordial area, the negative one. Type II was characterized by two longitudinal lines, one staying at its place on the back and the other moving right to left on the precordial area following the process of ventricular activation. In Type III, the right precordial area displayed negative potential in the early stage, and in the terminal stage the upper part of the right side of chest surface displayed positive potential and the lower part, negative potential. It was surmised from these patterns that the pre-excited area was located at the posterior region of the ventricles in Type I, at the right ventricle in Type II, and the right ventricular base near the posterior margin of the ventricular septum in Type III. Type A patients in the conventional ECG classification fell under Type I; Type C patients, under Type III; Type B patients under either Type I or Type II.

Cell types in the adenohypophysis of the Japanese quail and effects of injection of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone

The cells of the adenohypophysis of the Japanese quail were studied by both light and electron microscopy after exposure to long photoperiods or injection of lutenizing hormone-releasing hormone (LRH). Six cell types were identified in the adenohypophysis by examining alternate thick and thin sections by light and electron microscopy. In the cephalic lobe, there are four types of glandular cells. They are the prolactin cells, ACTH cells, TSH cells, and gonadotropic cells (FSH?). In the caudal lobe, there are two types of cells, STH cells and gonadotropic cells (LH?). After exposure to long daily photoperiods, gonadotropic cells in both lobes were strongly activated. They became larger and accumulated many granules. ACTH cells became vacuolated; granules were sparse. Synthetic LRH injection (10 mug/0.2 ml/day) for 10 days to the non-photostimulated quail stimulated certain numbers of the gonadotropic cells in the both lobes, although the response of the cells was less than that induced by photostimulation. No response was seen in the other cell types.

A case report of Turner's syndrome with ring X chromosome

A case of Turner's syndrome with short stature and 45, XO/46, XXr mosaicism in chromosome study was presented. With special emphasis on endocrinological study, the size of the breasts was normal in contrast to the poor development of the breasts in most of types of Turner's syndrome. She showed normal thyroid function, slightly low level of urinary 17-OHCS, decreased 17-KS, poor response in metopirone test and poor response of HGH to insulin.

Ischemic heart disease and hyperlipidemia

Studies on lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities which are associable with ischemic heart disease were presented. None of the subjects studied for this report had clinical signs or symptoms characteristic to "familial or sporadic" hyperlipoproteinemia. Only few showed gross abnormalities in lipid chemistries which are compatible with these clinical entities. Lipid abnormalities characteristic to the majority of ischemic heart patients were modest to moderate increase of serum total and free cholesterol and triglyceride; either independent increase or combined increase of these lipid fractions. Determination of free cholesterol may favor to detect such minute abnormality in modest hyperlipidemia as seen in ischemic heart patients. As expressed by our lipoprotein PAG electrophoresis pattern, B and Bp pattern (Fig. 1) seemed to be important lipoprotein abnormalities because of high incidence of ischemic heart disease (60 to 65%). Another feature of these hyperbeta lipoproteinemic state without (B pattern) or with (Bp pattern) moderate prebeta lipoprotein is highly suggestive of premature onset of ischemic heart suggestive premature onset of ischemic heart disease in the subjects with these lipoprotein patterns. Pb battern (hyperpre-beta lipoproteinemic state) was the next, because of frequent occurrence of this pattern (approx. 30%) among the cardiovascular patients and relatively high incidence (approx. 40%) of ischemic heart disease. PB pattern (combine hyperpre-beta and hyperbeta lipoproteinemic state) occurred rarely but incidence of ischemic heart disease in the subject with this pattern was high (approx. 40%). Midband lipoprotein which is one of the unique lipoprotein species detected by PAG electrophoresis may possibly reflect disordered lipoprotein metabolism. However, its association with ischemic heart disease seemed highly unlikely. However, further studies on this and other unusual lipoproteins detectable with PAG electrophoresis seems productive. Extensive studies on cine coronary angiographically established subjects (well characterized study subjects) with this new method in addition to the others would be highly productive to obtain more reliable conclusion on this subject, and hence, to obtain more effective guide line for early identification or for prevention of coronary atherosclerosis.

Observations on the structure of the protonema of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. undergoing cell division following white-light irradiation

The structure and distribution of cell organelles were observed in the gametophytes of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. undergoing the first cell division induced by white-light irradiation. Under continuous red light, the nucleus is spindle-shaped, encased in a sheath of chloroplasts, and located some distance back from the tip. The apical pole of the nucleus has an invagination which contains microtubules. Two types of chloroplasts, both of which have starch and prolamellar bodies, may be distinguished. One is cigar-shaped and may be "anchored" at the cell membrane. The other is smaller, and more pleiomorphic. Two populations of microtubules may be distinguished within the cortical cytoplasm, one set aligned parallel to the long axis of the cell, the other set aligned circumferentially around the cell at the region of the dome except for the extreme apex. Some of these microtubules do not run for long distances. If cell division is induced by irradiation of the gametophytes with white light the vacuolation and swelling of the tip region begin at least 2 h after the induction and continue till 8-10 h, by which time the nucleus has reached the neck of the protonema. Very elongated and rather abnormal forms of mitochondria were noted during this period. During cell division, mitochondria aggregated at the poles of the spindle and at the equatorial plane of the spindle margin. After cytokinesis the vacuole system becomes fragmented and is redistributed uniformly throughout the tip cell, the daughter nucleus rounds up and becomes surrounded by oil droplets.

Sequential change in the different of potential distribution between a normal subject and simulated torso model

Isopotential map was obtained every 3 msec after the onset of ventricular activation from 85 unipolar lead ECGs of a normal subject (Measured map) and similar map at the corresponding instant (Simulated map) was also obtained by means of mathematical calculation under the assumption that the cardiac electromotive force can be represented by a single electric dipole fixed at the heart center. These 2 maps were quantitatively compared and difference was delineated on a map (Difference map). Although, in major aspect, there was a fairly good agreement between Measured and Simulated maps during early stages of ventricular activation, a remarkable difference of potential distribution began to appear between them around the time of occurrence of epicardial breakthrough of the ventricular activation front. From that t me on, it became impossible to represent the cardiac electromotive force into 2 or more electric dipoles in Difference map. Difference maps around the instant of epicardial breakthrough of the ventricular activation were supposed to be helpful for the estimation of the spread of ventricular activation.

Production of D-alanine by Corynebacterium fascians

A strain identified as Corynebacterium fascians was found to accumulate extracellular D-alanine from glycerol. Cultural conditions for the accumulation of D-alanine were investigated and, as a result, a yield of 7 g of D-alanine per liter was obtained after a 96-h incubation in a medium containing 5% glycerol, 4% (NH(4))(2)HPO(4), and 0.3% corn steep liquor. Optical purity of D-alanine was dependent upon the concentration of corn steep liquor. At the optimal condition, almost optically pure D-alanine was formed and readily isolated (5 g/liter) from the fermentation broth. The product was not contaminated with any detectable amount of other amino acids, except for glycine which was present at a concentration of less than 1 percent.

Phytochrome action on the timing of cell division in adiantum gametophytes

When filamentous protonemata of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. precultured under continuous red light were transferred to the dark, the apical cell divided about 24 to 36 hours thereafter. The time of the cell division was delayed for several hours by a brief exposure to far red light given before the dark incubation. The effect of far red light was reversed by a small dose of red light given immediately after the preceding far red light. The effects of red and far red light were repeatedly reversible, indicating that the timing of cell division was regulated by a phytochrome system. When a brief irradiation with blue light was given before the dark incubation, the cell division occurred after 17 to 26 hours in darkness. A similar red far red reversible effect was also observed in the timing of the blue light-induced cell division. Thus, the timing of cell division appeared to be controlled by phytochrome and a blue light-absorbing pigment.