Steroid hormone (hydrocortisone, oestradiol and testosterone) uptake, storage or induced synthesis in tetrahymena.

After cyclodextrin-coated 10(-6) m steroid hormone treatment for 3 days (hormonal imprinting), Tetrahymena cells and their media were analysed by radioimmunoassay for the same hormone and for the presence of the other two. In the absence of hormone treatment, the cells contained no detectable levels of the three steroids. By 2 days in fresh medium following exposure of cells to a 72 h pretreatment of each specific hormone, correspondingly high quantities of hydrocortisone and oestradiol, but lesser quantities of testosterone, were found in both the media and the cells.

Comparison of some blood parameters of captured and farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) hinds.

In studies on the adaptation of red deer (Cervus elaphus) to farm conditions, some blood parameters of 3- to 9-year-old captured and farmed hinds were compared. The test variable included blood plasma creatine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, the concentrations of glucose, urea, total protein (TP), serum cortisol, haemoglobin (Hb), and the blastogenic transformation of lymphocytes upon stimulation by the nonspecific mitogens Phaseolus vulgaris (PHA) and Concanavalin A (ConA) in the lymphocyte stimulation test (LST). The effects exerted by probiotic preparation (Ascogen) on the same parameters were studied in farmed deer.

Relationship between serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and urinary 17-ketosteroid values.

To assess the validity of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DS) radioimmunoassay instead of urinary total 17-ketosteroid (17-KS) or individual metabolite (dehydroepiandrosterone + etiocholanolone + androsterone; D + E + A) determination to control adrenal androgen function, a comparative study has been performed. Mathematical analysis of simultaneous estimates revealed significant correlation when normal or above normal 17-KS or D + E + A excretion relative to serum DS were considered. Poor correlation was observed when below normal metabolite excretion and serum DS were related.

Isolation and quantitative determination of sex hormones in carps (Cyprinus carpio L.).

Changes in the oestrogen and progesterone level in the blood and ovarian tissue of mature carps from fish farms were examined using gas chromatographic method, before and after spawning as well as under wintering. Due to the high individual variation the observations cannot be regarded as quantitative. The highest oestrogen level was found before spawning, both in the ovaries and the blood, this level was somewhat lower after spawning and did not show any further change under wintering.

Free and solvolysable dehydroepiandrosterone and androsterone in blood of mammals under physiological conditions and following administration of dehydroepiandrosterone.

A gas chromatographic method has been empolyed for the determination of dehydroepiandrosterone (D), androsterone (A), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DS) and androsterone sulphate (AS) in the peripheral blood of human subjects and in various mammals under physiological conditions and after the administration of D or DS. Unconjugated D has been isolated and the resting level determined in the rat, rabbit, dog , sheep, pig and cow, while DS was detectable in the peripheral circulation of the rat, dog and pig. Unconjugated A was present in blood of the rodents and domestic ungulates studied, while the parent sulphate could be demonstrated only in rat, dog, pig and cow.