[Histophysiology of the pars distalis of Tiliqua rugosa (reptilia: scincidae) and the role of the gamma cells (author's transl)].

A histological study of the pars distalis of the lizard Tiliqua rugosa following a variety of experimental treatments revealed the presence of only five cell types. Castration or ovariectomy was followed by hypertrophy and degranulation of the beta (B2) cells and, to a lesser degree, the delta cells (B1), and a slight degranulation of the gamma cells (B3), and a net activation of the thyroid gland with a slight hypertrophy of the adrenals. Systemic injections of the enzymatic inhibitor metopirone were followed by a slight involution of the beta cells and a strong hypertrophy and degranulation of the gamma cells as well as hypertrophy of the adrenal tissue.

Difference in concentration of progesterone in plasma between pregnant and non-pregnant quokkas (Setonix brachyurus).

The plasma progesterone concentrations during pregnancy and the oestrous cycle of the quokka were measured daily after each had been initiated by the removal of pouch young. Progesterone levels ranged from 0.6 ng/ml in the early stages of the oestrous cycle to about 2.

Adrenocortical function and a field population of a macropodid marsupial (Setonix brachyurus, Quoy and Gaimard).

Concentrations of corticosteroids and aldosterone have been measured in the plasma and related to the maximum cortisol binding capacity, to the concentration of sodium and potassium of the plasma and to the condition of the animals, in a natural population of the quokka (Setonix brachyurus, Quoy & Gaimard) on Rottnest Island, Western Australia. A marked population in one area has been repetitively sampled at approximately 6 week intervals over a period of 2 years. Animals were found to be in significantly better condition during the hot-dry season.

Metaphor as a diagnostic tool.

A case study is reported wherein the patient's frequent use of metaphors was used as presumptive evidence that the patient had been misdiagnosed ten years earlier as having central nervous system disease. The ability to produce metaphors depends upon the capacity to condense several meanings into a word or two, and this in turn implies a rather active associative process. Concretism, not associative richness, characterizes central nervous system disease.

Effect of hypothalamic lesions on water metabolism of the toad Bufo marinus.

The rate of cutaneous water uptake after dehydration was significantly depressed in functionally neurohypophysectomized toads (Bufo marinus), which consequently regained weight much more slowly than intact toads when returned to water. Toads bearing hypothalamic lesions were able to develop an antidiuresis when removed from water to a saturated atmosphere, but the antidiuresis was solely glmerular in origin and was established more slowly than in intact animals. The fractional reabsorption of filtrate increased significantly and the relative free water clearance decreased significantly in intact toads after removal from water.

Blood corticosteroids in Australian marsupial and placental mammals and one monotreme.

Peripheral blood corticosteroid levels were determined in nine species of Australian marsupial (Eastern grey kangaroo, black-tailed, Bennett's and pademelon wallabies, quokka, wombat, koala and Western native and tiger cats), one species of monotreme (echidna) and one placental Australian mammal (dingo). Animals were obtained or bled with minimal disturbance and came from areas considered to have adequate sodium content of the vegetation. Aldosterone, corticosterone, cortisol, 11-deoxycorticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol were measured and levels found to be similar to five introduced eutherian species (sheep, cow, dog, fox and man) with the exception of the koala and the wombat.