Preparation and properties of primary maintenance cultures of adult rabbit hepatocytes

Static and rotary cultures of adult rabbit hepatocytes can be produced reproducibly following their isolation by means of a simplified, inexpensive recycling perfusion system. Light and electron microscopic examination of the cultures showed that these hepatocytes retained the morphological characteristics of fully differentiated hepatic parenchymal cells for up to 5 days in static culture and for up to 10 days in rotary culture, after which time they progressively degenerated and were replaced by other cell types. These hepatocytes exhibit several major metabolic functions characteristic of liver in vivo, including bromsulphthalein uptake, albumin synthesis, bilirubin conjugation, lipid synthesis, urea production and responsiveness to insulin. The xenobiotic metabolising capability of the cultured hepatocytes was much more stable than that of rat hepatocytes and the mixed function oxidase activity was typical of cytochrome P-450, rather than cytochrome P-448 as indicated by the metabolite profiles of biphenyl, aminopyrine, ethylmorphine, benzo[a]pyrene and 7-ethoxycoumarin. Treatment with phenobarbitone led to drug metabolising enzyme induction: SKF525A and alpha-naphthoflavone were effective inhibitors of drug metabolising activity.

The effects of dimethylnitrosamine and allyl alcohol on primary maintenance cultures of adult rabbit hepatocytes

Cultures of adult rabbit hepatocytes have been used to study the early toxic effects of 2 model hepatotoxins, dimethylnitrosamine and allyl alcohol. Leakage of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase into the cell culture medium was a sensitive indicator of plasma membrane damage by these compounds and a dose-response relationship was observed. By contrast, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase were insensitive markers. The effects of dimethylnitrosamine were slower to develop. Dimethylnitrosamine also produced a dose-related inhibition of protein synthesis after 4 h, a decrease in NADPH diaphorase and an increase in non-specific esterase after 20 h. Dimethylnitrosamine, unlike allyl alcohol, caused extensive disruption of ribosome association with the endoplasmic reticulum.

Uniform data recording for head and neck cancer

A uniform method of recording data on head and neck cancer patients is presented. This has been shown to work well in the clinical field. The records are always completely up to date and immediately available at any time for data analysis.

Productivity of ospreys in Connecticut--Long Island increases as DDE residues decline

Nesting success of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) breeding in the Connecticut--Long Island area has increased since 1973 and is now approaching the levels recorded prior to the 1950's. Simultaneously, DDE and dieldrin residues have declined in unhatched eggs. Levels of polychorinated biphenyls have shown no changes over the period 1969 to 1976. The increase in productivity is attributed primarily to lower levels of DDE contamination. Detrimental effects in the past on ospreys in the Connecticut River estuary are attributed to local contamination with dieldrin.

Bytheway's statistical trap

In accordance with JBS policy, Mrs Poole was offered the opportunity of replying to Mr Bytheway, for simultaneous publication with his paper. Her comment, which has been seen by Mr Bytheway, appears below. So far as JBS is concerned, the discussion is now closed.

Family size and ordinal position: correlates of academic success

The National Survey of 1960 Graduates, which included every woman and every other man who graduated from British universities in 1960, provided a unique opportunity to further our knowledge of the correlates of academic success measured in terms of the gaining of a university degree. A relatively large family appeared to be no impediment to the educational achievements of middle-class children, but for those with less privileged home circumstances a small family was an essential ingredient for success. First-born children were over-represented among this sample, though only children were not particularly favoured. In general, the likelihood of graduation appeared to decrease with each later position in the birth order.

Marriage and family-building patterns of university graduates

The findings relating to marriage and fertility of the National Survey of 1960 Graduates show that highly-educated people are on the whole no exception to the generally observed principle of social and educational endogamy. Those from working-class homes, however, marry overwhelmingly into the middle class, so that marriage here constitutes a means of consolidating newly-won status. Respondents on the whole tended to delay marriage and family building while still engaged in full-time study, but more graduates are ultimately marrying and are doing so at younger ages than ever before. There are also certain consistent differences between the sexes, which indicate that women graduates are much more susceptible than men to the delaying influences on marriage and family building of the continued exposure to higher education.