A study of the bone marrow precursors and hemoglobin of the blood cells of the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa rufa L.).

The hematological characteristics of the red-legged partridge are reported. In addition to morphological observations of the circulating blood cells, a hemoglobin (Hb) analysis and cytochemical and ultrastructural observations of the circulating blood cells and their precursors in the bone marrow are presented. Two types of Hb, major and minor, were found.

Familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: adverse prognostic significance of delayed diagnosis.

Familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FEL) is a rare disorder of the monocyte-macrophage system, for which an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance has been postulated. It is characterized by a dismal prognosis and is peculiar of early infancy. Three new cases of infants affected by FEL are reported.

Effect of acetyl-L-carnitine treatment on brain adenylate cyclase activity in young and aged rats.

The aim of the present study has been to evaluate the effect of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) on brain adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in adult and aged rats. In in vitro studies, ALCAR (1, 10 and 100 microM) did not exert any effect on frontal cortex basal AC activity. Acute and subchronic administrations of ALCAR were carried out in 4- and 25-month-old male Fisher rats and AC activity was determined in rat frontal cortex under both basal and stimulated conditions.

Norepinephrine and thyrotropin stimulation of [Ca++]i in PC C13 a rat thyroid epithelial cell line: effect of transformation by E1A gene adenovirus and polyomavirus middle-T antigen gene.

The effect of thyrotropin and norepinephrine on cytosolic calcium levels were evaluated in normal (PC C13) and transformed (PC E1A, PC Py and PC E1APy) rat thyroid epithelial cell lines. A different pattern of response to both norepinephrine and thyrotropin was observed among the distinct cell lines. In PC C13 the cytosolic calcium rise induced by norepinephrine, characterized by an early transient spike followed by a second phase of sustained calcium levels, was greatly enhanced by thyrotropin.

Modulation by GTP of basal and agonist-stimulated striatal adenylate cyclase activity following chronic blockade of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors: involvement of G proteins in the development of receptor supersensitivity.

Rats receiving injections of specific antagonists of dopamine receptors (SCH 23390 for D1, haloperidol for D2, and haloperidol+SCH 23390) once daily for 21 days develop a selective supersensitivity of the blocked receptors. To study the molecular correlates of these adaptive changes, we evaluated the involvement of GTP-binding proteins in the development of supersensitivity of dopamine receptors. By means of adenylate cyclase studies, we tested whether any of the treatments modified the functional response to GTP in striata dissected from control and treated rats.

[Darier-Ferrand dermatofibrosarcoma. General aspects and personal experience].

The Darier-Ferrand dermatofibrosarcoma is a cutaneous lesion with a clinic and recidivant progress that appears in both sexes in the same measure. The metastasis are rare. The authors describe a kind of treatment effected in 13 cases arrived to their observation.

Dopamine and somatostatin inhibition of prolactin secretion from MMQ pituitary cells: role of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels.

The sulfonylurea glibenclamide, which is known to block ATP-sensitive potassium channels, increases, in a dose-dependent manner, the release of PRL from MMQ pituitary cells. Glibenclamide does not reduce the dopaminergic inhibition of forskolin-stimulated PRL secretion; conversely it almost completely abolishes the inhibitory effect of somatostatin (SRIF) on this parameter. The sulfonylurea dose dependently increases basal [Ca++]i, without affecting the increase in [Ca++]i induced by high concentrations of extracellular potassium.

Molecular mechanisms mediating the effects of L-alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine, a new cognition-enhancing drug, on behavioral and biochemical parameters in young and aged rats.

The behavioral effects of the acute and subchronic administration of L-alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (alpha-GPC) on passive and active avoidance behavioral tasks were investigated. When administered IP after training together with scopolamine 2 h before retest, alpha-GPC reverses the scopolamine-induced amnesia in the passive avoidance conditioning in young and old rats. Furthermore, the subchronic treatment with alpha-GPC positively and significantly influences the performance of both young and old animals in the active avoidance test.

Maitotoxin-induced intracellular calcium rise in PC12 cells: involvement of dihydropyridine-sensitive and omega-conotoxin-sensitive calcium channels and phosphoinositide breakdown.

The biological activities of maitotoxin are strictly dependent on the extracellular calcium concentration and are always associated with an increase of the free cytosolic calcium level. We tested the effects of voltage-sensitive calcium channel blockers (nicardipine and omega-conotoxin) on maitotoxin-induced intracellular calcium increase, membrane depolarization, and inositol phosphate production in PC12 cells. Maitotoxin dose dependently increased the cytosolic calcium level, as measured by the fluorescent probe fura 2.

A C-terminal alpha-helix plus basic region motif is the major structural determinant of p53 tetramerization.

The p53 gene product has been implicated in both human and animal tumorigenesis. p53 forms heterologous complexes with the transforming proteins encoded by several different DNA tumor viruses. p53 also assembles into stable homo-oligomers.

[Gingival hyperplasia induced by cyclosporin A].

Cyclosporine-A (Cy-A) selectively inhibits T cell function with minimal effect on humoral immunity. It is used specially in transplantation patients and in some cases, like other drugs, it causes gingival hyperplasia. In this article, after a review of the most recent pathogenetic hypothesis, the authors present their experience based on 10 cases of gingival hyperplasia in kidney transplantation patients in treatment with Cy-A.

[Surgery of epithelioma in the outer canthus].

We review the tumors localized in the orbito-palpebral region. Their prevalence varies between 2.5 and 16.

[Bilateral ovariectomy in gonadal dysgenesis with a Y chromosome].

The Authors report 4 cases of gonadal dysgenesis with a Y chromosome. Every patient underwent bilateral oophorectomy. Two cases of streak gonads, 1 case of streak gonad and gonadoblastoma and 1 case of non metastasizing bilateral gonadoblastoma with foci of dysgerminoma have been found.

Interleukin 6 modulation of second messenger systems in anterior pituitary cells.

We investigated the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on second messenger systems in anterior pituitary (AP) cells. The acute exposition of membranes derived from the pituitary gland to IL-6 did not modify basal and forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase (AC) activity, as well as inositol phosphate (IP) production and free [Ca(++)]i. Preincubation of AP cells with IL-6 for 20 min did not affect basal second messengers levels, while completely abolished the stimulation by VIP of AC activity, partially inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation and reduced TRH-stimulated IP production.

A human tumour-derived mutant p53 protein induces a p34cdc2 reversible growth arrest in fission yeast.

We have expressed wild-type and human tumour-derived mutant p53 cDNA genes in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. In the case of one mutant this resulted in a growth arrest of recipient yeast cells. In contrast, wild-type p53 and three other mutant proteins tested did not block outgrowth of colonies.

[Surgical lesions of the facial nerve: anatomy, semiology and nervous function].

The extracranial part of the facial nerve is a frequent seat of lesions, which can be either congenital, or traumatic, or surgical, or neoplastic. The authors review the semeiology of the lesion and discuss the techniques for the preservation of facial nerve function.

Role of interleukin-6 in the neuroendocrine system.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine exerting many immunological and non immunological actions. The cytokine binds to a specific receptor, whose activation induces the association with a novel transducer, the glycoprotein gp 130. Here we present our results about the effect of IL-6 on both hormone secretion and second messenger systems at pituitary level, and the production of IL-6 from cells of central nervous system.

Ion binding of cyclolinopeptide A: an NMR and CD conformational study.

CD and nmr techniques have been used to study, in acetonitrile solution, the ion-complexing capability of cyclolinopeptide A (CLA), a cyclic nonapeptide of sequence cyclo-(Pro-Pro-Phe-Phe-Leu-Ile-Ile-Leu-Val) endowed with remarkable cytoprotective ability in vitro, and the conformation of the Ba(2+)/CLA complex. At room temperature, CLA in acetonitrile shows a proton nmr spectrum characteristic of the coexistence of many different conformers in intermediate exchange. The backbone contains a cis Pro-Pro bond, with all other peptide bonds in the trans conformation.

Dihydropyridine modulation of voltage-activated calcium channels in PC12 cells: effect of pertussis toxin pretreatment.

In this study, we report the effect of pertussis toxin pretreatment on dihydropyridine modulation of voltage-sensitive calcium channels in PC12 cells. The rise in intracellular calcium concentration caused by potassium depolarization is not affected significantly by pertussis toxin pretreatment. Nicardipine, a dihydropyridine derivative, added either before or after potassium-induced depolarization, reduces the resultant elevation in cytosolic calcium level both in control and in pertussis toxin-treated cells.

Multidisciplinary treatment of primary orbital rhabdomyosarcoma. A single-institution experience.

Orbital rhabdomyosarcoma accounts for one-fourth of the primary tumors in the head and neck region. Modern treatment modalities have led to a 2-year survival rate of about 90% in these patients. However, new therapeutic trials are designed to reduce complications and salvage more than 90% of orbital cases.