Effect of total parenteral nutrition on histamine in the rat brain and other tissues.

The effects of a constant infusion of total parenteral nutrition on the histamine content of the hypothalamus was studied in adult male rats. Histamine content of the stomach, kidney, liver, and heart was also determined. The relationship between tissue histamine levels and duration of the infusion was examined. Rats receiving intravenous infusions of total parenteral nutrition had significantly higher (p less than 0.001) histamine levels in the hypothalamus than did orally-fed control rats. No difference was observed in the histamine level in the remainder of the brain. Animals receiving parenterally infused nutrient solutions had a higher histamine content in the kidneys but lower histamine levels in the stomach than did the control rats. No changes in the histamine content of liver or heart were observed. It appears that increases in histamine levels in the kidney and hypothalamus of rats given total parenteral nutrition persist up to 5 days and 9 days, respectively. The mechanisms responsible for and the consequences of the alterations of histamine content of these tissues remain to be established.     

Highly resolving two-dimensional gels for protein sequencing.

Two-dimensional (2D) PAGE, using carrier ampholytes for the first-dimension separation, has provided a tool for the simultaneous analysis of cellular proteins. To extend the utility of 2D PAGE to the preparative level, we have investigated the use of immobilized pH gradients (IPG) for the first-dimension separation. The results we have obtained indicate that as much as 1 mg of cellular protein can be loaded onto a single IPG gel without loss of resolution. Mutant polypeptides previously detected in carrier ampholyte-based 2D gels were equally detectable in IPG-based 2D gels. With IPG gels several hundred cellular polypeptides can be isolated, from as few as 10 gels, in sufficient amount for sequencing with current sequencing technology. We therefore conclude that IPG greatly enhances the prospects for the large-scale sequencing of cellular proteins for the development of 2D gel-related protein data bases and for the identification of new polypeptide gene products, with the attendant implications for a genome sequencing effort.     

The Development and Teaching of the Ethical Principles and Guidelines for Family Scientists*

This article describes the development of the Ethical Principles and Guidelines for Family Scientists that the National Council on Family Relations Board of Directors unanimously approved. Furthermore, it discusses the importance of ethics education for family professionals and provides suggestions for educators. Finally, the ethical principles and guidelines are delineated. We argue that the development of a scholarship on ethics education is important for current and future family scientists.     

Bidirectional diode gate: application as a neural spike enhancer

Summary An inexpensive instrument has been described that may be used to eliminate noise in low-level nerve recordings. This electronic manipulation of such signals increases the reliability of digitising or illustrating neural events while eliminating ambiguous noise levels.     

Damaged chromatin does not prevent the exit from metaphase I in fused mouse oocytes

The presence of checkpoint mechanisms which are able to recognize damaged chromatin and thereafter to prevent exit from metaphase I has been investigated in giant mouse oocytes produced by fusion of a normal metaphase I oocyte with an equivalent oocyte with damaged chromatin. The presence of damaged chromatin did not prevent the onset of anaphase I in both sets of chromatin in the fused cells. Interestingly, fused or unfused cells containing only damaged chromatin failed to enter anaphase and persisted instead in a metaphase-like state. These results demonstrate the fragility of checkpoint controls in mammalian female germ cells.