Neuropeptide Y in the female reproductive tract of the rat. Distribution of nerve fibres and motor effects

The spontaneous firing of single neurones in the region of the lateral reticular nucleus was the subject of a pharmacological study employing microiontophoretic and systemic application of adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists. Both iontophoretic noradrenaline and systemic clonidine depressed neuronal firing. The depressions were consistently reversed by the alpha-2 antagonist RX781094. Other adrenergic antagonists, prazosin and sotalol, were ineffective. The results suggest the existence of alpha-2 receptors in this region of the brain.     

The effect of Corynebacterium parvum in influenza infected mice

This paper is the continuation of earlier studies on the effect of the killed suspension of Corynebacterium parvum in influenza virus infected mice. Our investigation showed the normalized effect of these drugs on disturbed function of cell mediated immunity during experimental influenza infection especially in phagocytic and bactericidal activity of granulocytes. The present experiments concern the explanation of these infection mechanisms. Intraperitoneal injection of Corynebacterium parvum stimulated spleen index. Foot pad test is higher than in comparatively treated BCG group. The pathomorphological analysis of the spleen, thymus and peritoneal lymph nodes points out to the multiplication of multiple lymph nodes sinus cells. Generally, C. parvum possessed protective effect in experimental influenza infection. We tested the following parameters: phagocytic and bactericidal activity of granulocytes, liberation of leukocytes migration inhibition factor (LIF).     

Change in sympathetic activity,cardiovascular functions and plasma hormone concentrations due to cold water immersion in men

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not repeated short-term cold water immersions can induce a change in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and, consequently, in cardiovascular functions in healthy young athletes. Changes in some plasma hormone concentrations were also followed. A single cold water immersion (head-out, at 14°C, for 1 h) increased sympathetic nervous system activity, as evidenced by a four-fold increase (P < 0.05) in plasma noradrenaline concentration. Plasma adrenaline and dopamine concentrations were not increased significantly. Plasma renin-angiotensin activity was reduced by half (P < 0.05) during immersion but plasma aldosterone concentration was unchanged. Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system during immersion did not induce significant changes in heart rate, but induced peripheral vasoconstriction (as judged from a decrease in skin temperature) and a small increase (by 10%) in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. No clear change in reactivity of the sympathetic nervous system was observed due to repeated cold water immersions (three times a week, for 6 weeks). Neither the plasma renin-angiotensin activity, aldosterone concentration nor cardiovascular parameters were significantly influenced by repeated cold water immersions. A lowered diastolic pressure and an increase in peripheral vasoconstriction were observed after cold acclimation, however. Evidently, the repeated cold stimuli were not sufficient to induce significant adaptational changes in sympathetic activity and hormone production.     

Histamine liberation and membrane fluidisation of mast cells exposed to the beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug propranolol

Propranolol liberates histamine from isolated mast cells and decreases the uptake of extracellular histamine in a dose-dependent way. Histamine liberation due to propranolol is accompanied by calcium displacement from intracellular storage sites. The significant increase in membrane fluidity due to propranolol is temperature dependent. The perturbation of membranes is most probably the explanation of propranolol's interaction with isolated rat mast cells which results in altered histamine transportation.     

An enzymatic cow immunity-targeted approach to reducing milk somatic cell count: 3. A comparative field trial

The effectiveness of lysosubtilin and lysozyme, a combination thereof and a combination of these enzyme preparations (each alone and in combination) with vitamins as possible coimmunostimulants, which reduced the milk somatic cell count (SCC), were compared in a field trial. Seventy second to third lactation Lithuanian Black and White cows with a similar milk SCC ([750±200]×10³?cells?ml^?1) and of a similar weight (550±50?kg) were involved in the trial and were randomly allocated into seven groups (n=10). Lysosubtilin and/or lysozyme at doses of 0.02?g?kg?wt^?1 and 0.2?g?kg?wt^?1, respectively, and vitamins A, C and E (if any) at doses twice as high as required for nutritional adequacy were given, except for control group cows, once daily with feed for ten successive days. After four-, seven-, and ten-day periods of giving enzymes (with or without vitamins) a significant reduction of SCC (p<0.001) was observed in the milk of cows that received a combination of lysozyme with vitamins. On the tenth day a significant reduction of SCC (p<0.001) was also observed in the milk of cows that received lysozyme and lysosubtilin (each alone; without vitamins) or lysosubtilin in combination with vitamins. At the end of the trial (on the 15th day) SCC in milk of cows of all of the study groups was significantly lower (p<0.001) when compared with that of the control group.     

Correlation of physicohemical and antigenic properties of human leukocyte interferon subspecies

Summary Human leukocyte interferon produced in primary cultures of buffy coat cells and human fibroblast interferon from cultures of the FS-4 foreskin cell strain were subjected to isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels. Leukocyte interferon could be resolved into three major components (pI 5.5, 6.2 and 6.6, respectively) and one minor component (pI 7.0). Fibroblast interferon activity focused in a broad pH range of 6.8–7.8.The isoelectrically distinct subspecies of human leukocyte interferon were isolated and compared as to their antigenic nature, heterospecific antiviral activity in cultures of bovine cells, and apparent molecular weights upon electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels (SDS-PAGE). The three major subspecies (pI 5.5, 6.2 and 6.6) were similar in their neutralization by antiserum against whole leukocyte interferon and in their relative heterospecific activities on bovine cells. When analyzed on SDS-PAGE, the component focusing at pH 5.5 migrated to a position corresponding to a molecular weight of 17,500 (Le _f), the component with the pI of 6.6 had its major peak corresponding to a molecular weight of 23,000 (Le _s), while the pI 6.2 component contained a mixture of the two molecular weight species. The minor isoelectric component focusing at pI 7.0 contained interferon with the antigenic specificity of fibroblast (F) interferon. It is concluded that the two major antigenic species of human interferon (Le andF) and two known subspecies of human leukocyte interferon (Le _s andLe _f) can be resolved by isoelectric focusing.With 3 Figures     

Sexual dimorphism of the extraorbital lacrimal glands in SF-1 knockout mice

Sexual dimorphism (SD) represents all the differences between males and females of the same species. SD of the murine lacrimal gland and the major effect of testosterone on its formation are well documented. Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1, NR5a1) is a nuclear receptor essential for the fetal development of steroid hormones producing organs and SF-1 knockout mice (Sf-1 KO) are therefore born without gonads and adrenal glands. The aim of this study was to investigate whether SD in lacrimal glands is present in the absence of exposure to sex hormones during development. Lacrimal glands from adult Sf-1 KO male and female mice without hormonal exposure, and from males that were treated with testosterone propionate (TP) prior to sacrifice, were examined. After sacrifice, glandular tissue was processed using standard histological procedures. Paraffin sections were analysed by stereology and immunostained against the androgen receptor (AR). Our results showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the mean volumes of acini, connective tissue or ductal system between males, females, and males on TP. The same pertains to the mean length of the ducts in all three groups. In the absence of sex hormones, sex chromosomes proved to be insufficient in inducing sexual dimorphism in LG. However, nuclei of the acinar cells in males on TP were positive for AR, whereas in males without TP no expression of AR was detected. Administration of TP induced the expression of AR in the nuclei of acinar cells of males but did not affect the morphology of LG. We conclude that SD in the lacrimal gland is not present in Sf-1 KO mice and this suggests that sex hormones have a major role in the development of SD in the lacrimal gland.     

Increased central adiposity is associated with pro-inflammatory immunoglobulin G N-glycans

Background

Increased body fat may be associated with an increased risk of developing an underlying pro-inflammatory state, thus leading to greater risk of developing certain chronic conditions. Immunoglobulin G has the ability to exert both anti- and pro-inflammatory effects, and the N-glycosylation of the fragment crystallisable portion is involved in mediating this process. Body mass index, a rudimentary yet gold standard indication for body fat, has been shown to be associated with agalactosylated immunoglobulin G N-glycans.

Hepatitis B virus proteins expressed by recombinant vaccinia viruses: influence of preS2 sequence on expression surface and nucleocapsid proteins in human diploid cells

Summary Translation of poliovirus RNA is initiated by entry of ribosomes into the nucleotide sequence (internal ribosomal entry site; IRES) within the 5-untranslated region (5-UTR). Efficiency of this translation initiation in rabbit reticulocyte lysates (RRL) was very low and was greatly enhanced by addition of the ribosomal salt-wash fraction (RSW) prepared from HeLa cells. This stimulating activity in the RSW was partially purified by gel-filtration column chromatography and its molecular weight was estimated to be higher than 240 000. Several proteins that bind specifically to the poliovirus IRES were detected in the active fraction. Among those, a 57 kDa protein, recognized by antibodies against polypyrimidide tract-binding protein (PTB), was found. In addition, La protein (52 kDa) which is a human antigen recognized by antibodies from patients with autoimmune disorders was also detected. Further purification on a hydroxylapatite column resulted in considerable loss of the stimulatory activity, accompanied by a reduction of the apparent molecular weight of active component(s). These results suggest that fully active HeLa cell stimulatory factors for the translation initiation on poliovirus RNA function in RRL as a large complex consisted of several components including PTB and La protein.