Heterotransplantation of two human tumours in athymic mice and asplenic-athymic mice.

The growth in athymic mice (Balb/c nu/nu mice) and athymic-asplenic mice (BALB/c nu/nu Dh/ + "lasat" mice) of two human tumour lines (one nasopharyngeal carcinoma and one testicular germ cell tumour), established in athymic mice, were compared. No significant difference in take rate was observed: 13 of 16 inocula grew in athymic mice and 11 of 12 inocula in lasat mice. Estimated by the square root of the relative tumour size related to time, the tumour growth was slightly, but insignificantly, less in lasat mice than in athymic mice.

Laser conization versus cold knife conization.

This prospective, randomized study compares, for the first time, measured blood loss at conization and within 24 hours after using either the cold knife technique or the carbon dioxide laser scalpel. One hundred and ten consecutive patients were evaluated. The median blood loss in the laser group of 55 patients was 4.

Immunohistochemical evidence of peptide hormones in endocrine tumors of the rectum.

Twenty-five endocrine tumors of the rectum (rectal carcinoids) were examined immunohistochemically for various pancreatic and gut neurohormonal polypeptides. Twenty-one of the tumors were found to contain cells displaying pancreatic polypeptide (PP), glucagon, somatostatin, insulin, substance P, enkephalin or beta-endorphin immunoreactivity. At least 11 of the tumors contained more than one peptide hormone.

Outgrowth of cholinergic nerves in the rat urinary bladder either partially denervated or partially denervated and decentralized.

Unilateral excision of the pelvic ganglion caused a loss in the number of AChE-positive nerves in the rat urinary bladder both on the operated side and on the contralateral side, thus indicating a bilateral intramural distribution of cholinergic nerves derived from the pelvic nerve. In the course of the subsequent observation period (3-28 days) the AChE-positive nerves increased in number and in staining intensity and further, the nerves became ramified and twisted. Similar events were found to occur in the urinary bladder decentralized on one side and denervated on the other.

What - if any - is the role of adrenergic mechanisms in histamine release from mast cells?

The effects of catecholamines on histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells, was studied in an in vitro system. It was found that norepinephrine (10(-5)-101(-3) M) exerts a significant, dose related, repressive effect on compound 48/80-induced histamine release. This effect is greatly potentiated by beta-antagonists and is noticeable throughout the concentration range 10(-11)-10(-3) M norepinephrine.

A case of papillary-cystic epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas.

A 16-year-old girl presented with a left-sided abdominal mass. X-ray examination and computed tomography disclosed a well-defined tumor close to the tail of the pancreas, stretching the pancreatic branches from the splenic artery as demonstrated by arteriography. Ultrasonography suggested a partly cystic character.

Enkephalin-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the feline genito-urinary tract.

Besides the classical neurotransmitters acetylcholine and norepinephrine the genito-urinary tract contains also neuropeptides. The distribution of substance P- and VIP-containing nerve fibers have earlier been described. Also enkephalin-immunoreactive nerve fibers occur in the male and female genito-urinary organs of the cat.

Effects of norepinephrine on transmembrane calcium transport in rat mast cells.

The effect of norepinephrine on transmembrane passage of calcium in rat peritoneal mast cells, was studied in an in vitro system. It was found the histamine release from mast cells induced by the ionophore A 23 187 in normal calcium medium and compound 48/80 in a calcium-free medium was suppressed by 10(-3) M norepinephrine but not at concentrations in the range 10(-5)-10(-4) M. When the secretory process is totally dependent on the presence of calcium in the incubation medium, i.

Anomalous effects of disodium cromoglycate. A study on two secretory systems.

The effects of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) on in vitro histamine release from peritoneal and pleural mast cells, and a possible interference with adrenergic mechanisms was studied. Parallel to this study, the effects of DSCG on the well-established adrenoceptor-mediated amylase release from parotid glands were investigated. It was found that DSCG in low concentrations potentiates histamine release from peritoneal mast cells.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide nerves in the human female genital tract.

VIP, a recently recognized neuropeptide, has been demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in nerves of the human female genital organs. Such nerves were most numerous in the isthmic part of the fallopian tube and in the cervix. They were found in smooth muscles, around blood vessels, and beneath the epithelium.

Origin and distribution of VIP (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide)-nerves in the genito-urinary tract.

VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide)-immunoreactive nerves were found throughout the genito-urinary tract of the cat; they were less numerous in the guinea pig and in the rat. In the cat, VIP nerves were particularly numerous in the neck of the urinary bladder and proximal urethra, in the uterine cervix and in the prostate gland. The nerves were found in smooth muscle, around blood vessels and in the connective tissue immediately beneath the epithelium.

Extensive sympathetic denervation of the uterus during pregnancy as evidenced by tyrosine hydroxylase determinations in the guinea pig.

The capacity for neuronal NE synthesis in the guinea pig uterus was studied during pregnancy and postpartum utilizing animals with bilateral or unilateral pregnancies. The activity of the NE-synthesizing enzyme TH was measured in various parts of the uterus. The submandibular gland was used for comparison.

Adrenergic reinnervation of the denervated rat urinary bladder.

In rats undergoing unilateral extirpation of the pelvic ganglion, the adrenergic innervation disappeared on the ipsilateral side of the urinary bladder. It had reappeared after 6--9 weeks.

Adrenergic innervation of the human uterus. Disappearance of the transmitter and transmitter-forming enzymes during pregnancy.

The uterine adrenergic transmitter is in many animal species dramatically reduced during pregnancy, probably leading to a functional denervation near term. In order to clarify whether similar changes also occur in the human uterus, the adrenergic innervation of the isthmic myometrium during nonpregnant and pregnant conditions was analyzed by fluorescence histochemistry for demonstration of adrenergic nerves, and by quantitative measurements of norepinephrine and its synthesizing enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and dopa decarboxylase. At term pregnancy all fluorescent adrenergic nerves in the myometrium had disappeared, and the norepinephrine concentration had been reduced to almost zero.

Renal function in patients on lithium treatment.

A cross-sectional study was performed on 66 lithium-treated patients to investigate a possible changed kidney function, using [51Cr]-EDTA clearance, and urinary excretions of albumin and beta 2-microglobulin. Thirteen patients showed abnormal test results: seven had decreased glomerular filtration rate, four had increased albumin excretion and four had increased excretion of beta 2-microglobulin. There was no correlation between length of treatment with lithium or hypothyroidism (10 patients) and impaired renal function.

Uptake and metabolism of [3H]norepinephrine in uterine nerves of pregnant guinea pig.

Myometrial tissue slices from virgin, pregnant (uni- or bilateral pregnancy), and puerperal animals were incubated in media containing [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]NE), and the neuronal and extraneuronal uptake was estimated. The metabolic fate of [3H]NE was elucidated by the chromatographic separation of [3H]NE, [3H]normetanephrine and 3H-labeled acid metabolites. An early and extensive reduction in both total and neuronal uptakes occurred in the myometrial regions surrounding the fetuses, and at term pregnancy no neuronal [3H]NE uptake at all was found in tissue slices from the fetus-containing horns.

Adenylate kinase activity in cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenic and certain other psychiatric symptomatologies.

Adenylate kinase activity in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was investigated in 29 patients with psychiatric symptomatologies. Such activity was demonstrated in 18 of the 19 individuals with schizophrenic or other psychotic or borderline psychotic symptomatology. No activity was seen in the remaining 10 patients with non-psychotic nervous and/or functional somatic complaints, nor in the 20 persons whose CSF was examined in connection with spinal anaesthesia, nor in four who were treated with neuroleptic drugs on nonpsychiatric indications.

Pregnancy-induced alterations in the turnover rate of 3H-noradrenaline formed from 3H-tyrosine in guinea-pig uterus.

The rate of noradrenaline (NA) turnover in the non-pregnant and pregnant guinea-pig uterus was determined after the administration of the labelled precursor, tyrosine. Endogenous NA was determined fluorimetrically. In non-pregnant animals the turnover of 3H-NA was slower in the uterine horns (t1/2 = 10 h) and cervix (t1/2 = 9 h) than in the reference organ, heart (t1/2 = 6 h).

Effect of norepinephrine on in vitro histamine release from rat mast cells.

The effect of norepinephrine on compound 48/80-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells, was studied in an in vitro system. It was found that norepinephrine, within the concentration range 10(-5)--10(-3) M, exerts a significant, dose-related, repressive effect. This effect is greatly potentiated by the beta-antagonist practolol (10(-3) M), throughout the concentration range of 10(-11)--10(-3) M norepinephrine.

Ultrastructural evidence for adrenergic nerve degeneration in the guinea pig uterus during pregnancy.

In the guinea pig myometrium, the adrenergic nerves selectively demonstrated at the ultrastructural level after treatment with 5-OH-DA, show varying degree of degeneration during pregnancy. The changes are more extensive in a late gestational stage (40-45 days) than in an early one (20-25 days), and are particularly evident in the uterus overlying the conceptus as compared to the regions between the fetuses. Scattered degenerative changes were also observed in myometrial specimens from virgin animals, but probably reflect the normal continuous turnover of axons.