Morphometric analysis of the postnatal mouse optic nerve following prenatal exposure to alcohol

Pregnant female mice were divided on day 12 post coitum into a control and an experimental group. The experimental group was given a single intraperitoneal dose of 0.015 ml/g body weight of 25% solution of alcohol in distilled water while the control group was exposed to a similar weight related dose of normal saline. The optic nerves were isolated from the offspring of both control and experimental groups at wk 2, 3 and 5 (i.e. during the juvenile period of postnatal development) and analysed by light and electron microscopy. Although in both groups the optic nerve grew in size rapidly during the period studied, the rate of growth in the experimental groups lagged behind that of the controls. The difference was initially significant but tailed off, so that by wk 5 it was no longer significant. The time of initial onset and progression of myelinogenesis in the optic nerve of alcohol exposed mice also lagged behind that of controls. In both groups the size distribution of the myelinated nerve fibres in the optic nerve was unimodal with a positive skewing for all ages. The spectrum of size distribution of the nerve fibres was, however, broader in controls than in the corresponding experimental groups. With increasing age the proportion of small and medium size fibres was greater in the experimental group than in the controls, while for the large diameter fibres the reverse was observed. It is suggested that this study may shed light on the teratogenic effect of 'binge' drinking during pregnancy and that it is the critical period when exposure occurs that is more important than the duration of administration.     

Immunological development in infants of allergic parents

Serum immunoglobulins were determined every 4 months from cord blood to age 2 years in ninety-two infants of allergic parents. By 7 months of age, the concentration of IgA was significantly greater in infants who developed atopic dermatitis than those who did not. The IgA was also significantly greater than in matched non-allergic controls. The difference continued to the end of the 2-year study. No significant difference was found in the three groups for levels of IgG and IgM. These findings differ from the results of a previous report and possible explanations are presented.     

EFFECT OF INTRATHECAL DIAMORPHINE ON THE ADRENOCORTICAL, HYPERGLYCAEMIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO MAJOR COLONIC SURGERY

The effect of the intrathecal administration of diamorphineon the hyperglycaemic, adrenocortical and cardiovascular responsesto major colonic surgery were investigated, and the resultscompared with those obtained in a similar group of patientsreceiving low doses of fentanyl. In the group receiving intrathecaldiamorphine, the hyperglycaemic response was delayed, and theadrenocortical response decreased significantly both duringand following surgery; there were no significant cardiovascularresponses to incision, and analgesia was prolonged after operation. ^* Present address: Department of Anaesthesia, University CollegeHospital, Gower St, London WC1.     

Allergy in the newborn: skin test reactions confirmed by the Prausnitz-Küstner test at birth

Reaginic activity in cord blood with concomitant positive skin tests (confirmed by P-K testing) is reported for the first time (in a 3-hr-oId infant). This case illustrates that the atopic state may be present in the neonate.