Serum concentrations of oestradiol-17beta, progesterone, relaxin and chorionic gonadotrophin during blastocyst implantation in natural pregnancy cycle and in embryo transfer cycle in the rhesus monkey

The present study was undertaken to assess the temporal association between the profiles of serum concentrations of oestradiol-17beta, progesterone, chorionic gonadotrophin (CG) and relaxin in pregnancies established naturally, and after embryo transfer, as well as in failed pregnancies in rhesus monkeys. In naturally mated cycles (group 1) a conception rate of 75% was obtained. In group 1, the mean day of CG detection in serum was 11.5 +/- 1.9 day post-ovulation, and for relaxin, 9.0 +/- 2.5 day post-ovulation. In group 2, embryo transfer to synchronous, non-mated surrogate recipients was performed; seven embryo transfer cycles yielded three pregnancies which were allowed to continue to term and normal infants were delivered. In embryo transfer cycles the mean day of CG detection was 14.8 +/- 1.8 day post- ovulation, and for relaxin, 11.4 +/- 2.6 day post-ovulation. A delay of about 3 days was observed in the appearance in circulation of CG (P < 0.05) and also of relaxin (P < 0.05) between natural mated and embryo transfer conception cycles. Significant differences (P < 0.05 for progesterone and P < 0.03 for oestradiol) were obtained for the areas under the curves for progesterone and oestradiol between days 12 and 16 in conception cycles compared with failed pregnancies. These data provide the first observation of the normal hormonal signals associated with maternal recognition of transferred embryos during the peri- implantation period, and suggest that the use of such an experimental primate embryo transfer model may help to elucidate components of maternal and embryonic signal-response mechanisms during embryo implantation.      

Systemic Macrophage Mobilization and Granulomatous Response to BCG in the Protein-Deficient Rabbit

In view of increased susceptibility to tuberculosis in protein malnutrition, the phenomenon of accelerated granulomatous response by the macrophage was studied in rabbits immunized and subsequently challenged with BCG. Dietary protein depletion resulted in marked retardation of macrophage mobilization and granuloma formation in various organs. The granulomatous index was low in most organs. The granulomas were few, small, abortive and ill-formed by loosely knit epithelioid cells and giant cells. This deficiency of macrophage function might limit the effectiveness of BCG vaccination in the malnourished host.     

The role of size, sequence and haplotype in the stability of FRAXA and FRAXE alleles during transmission

Factors involved in the stability of trinucleotide repeats during transmission were studied in 139 families in which a full mutation, premutation or intermediate allele at either FRAXA or FRAXE was segregating. The transmission of alleles at FRAXA, FRAXE and four microsatellite loci were recorded for all individuals. Instability within the minimal and common ranges (0-40 repeats for FRAXA, 0-30 repeats for FRAXE) was extremely rare; only one example was observed, an increased in size at FRAXA from 29 to 39 repeats. Four FRAXA and three FRAXE alleles in the intermediate range (41-60) repeats for FRAXA, 31-60 for FRAXE) were unstably transmitted. Instability was more frequent for FRAXA intermediate alleles that had a tract of pure CGG greater than 37 although instability only occurred in two of 13 such transmissions: the changes observed were limited to only one or two repeats. Premutation FRAXA alleles over 100 repeats expanded to a full mutation during female transmission in 100% of cases, in agreement with other published series. There was no clear correlation between haplotype and probability of expansion of FRAXA premutations. Instability at FRAXA or FRAXE was more often observed in conjunction with a second instability at an independent locus suggesting genomic instability as a possible mechanism by which at least some FRAXA and FRAXE mutations arise.      

The role of pancreatic venous sampling in the localization of occult insulinomas

The palpation and enucleation of occult insulinomas (less than 15 mm) can be a difficult surgical problem even with good arteriographic localization. In the authors' limited experience, confirmation of arteriographic findings by pancreatic venous sampling provided little additional localizing information. However, if arteriography is negative or equivocal, venous sampling can indicate the segment of pancreas to be "blindly" resected if the adenoma is not palpable. Venous sampling may be misleading in polyendocrine syndromes because of the frequency of multiple adenomas and variable hormone production.     

Takayasu''s aortitis with renovascular hypertension

We report a case of Takayasu's disease with severe renovascular hypertension in a girl from Eritrea. In the "burn-out" phase after the erythrocyte sedimentation rate had normalized, reconstructive vascular surgery was performed as further progression of the disease seemed unlikely. However, probably due to her growth, the graft rotated and a second operation was successfully performed.