The presence of endotoxin activity in cases of experimentally-induced heartwater in sheep.

The presence of endotoxin was examined in 5 sheep with experimentally-induced heartwater. Two peaks in endotoxin levels were recorded in 4 out of the 5 sheep during the acute stage of the disease. The 1st peak coincided with or occurred shortly after the febrile reaction (over 40 degrees C).

Effect of side chain length on bile acid conjugation: glucuronidation, sulfation and coenzyme A formation of nor-bile acids and their natural C24 homologs by human and rat liver fractions.

The effect of side chain length on bile acid conjugation by human and rat liver fractions was examined. The rate of conjugation with glucuronic acid, sulfate and coenzyme A of several natural (C24) bile acids was compared with that of their corresponding nor-bile acids. The rate of coenzyme A ester formation by nor-bile acids was much lower than that of the natural bile acids.

Parasites in sheep grazing on Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) pastures in the winter rainfall region.

Regular worm counts were done post-mortem on sheep that had grazed on Kikuyu pastures at the Elsenburg Research Station near Stellenbosch, a winter rainfall region. Major species were Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Trichostrongylus axei, while Ostertagia circumcincta was usually present in large numbers. Minor species were Haemonchus contortus, Nematodirus spathiger, Dictyocaulus filaria, Oesophagostomum venulosum, Trichuris spp.

Validation of optional elastance-resistance left ventricle pump models.

Left ventricular pressure, P(t), and outflow Q(t), data were collected in anesthetized, open-chest rats and dogs. The data were used in a three-tiered validation procedure to evaluate 14 competing forms of elastance [E(t)]-resistance (R) left ventricle (LV) pump models. Competing models arose from considering two forms of parameterization of E(t), time variation versus no time variation in LV unstretched volume (Vd) and dependence versus no dependence of R on P(t) and isovolumic P(t).

Formation and secretion of glycolithocholate-3-sulfate in primary hepatocyte cultures.

Bile acid sulfation was studied in primary hepatocyte cultures. The primary hepatocyte cultures formed glycolithocholate-3-sulfate (GLC-S) when glycolithocholate (GLC) was added to the medium. The relative percentage of GLC-S formation increased when the GLC concentration was increased from 10 microM to 100 microM.

Separation, purification, and characterization of digitoxigenin-monodigitoxoside UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity.

Glucuronidation of digitoxigenin-monodigitoxoside was investigated in liver microsomes from spironolactone-induced male Wistar rats. Isolation of a specific digitoxigenin-monodigitoxoside UDP-glucuronosyltransferase was possible utilizing chromatofocusing chromatography with a gradient from pH 10.1 to 8.

Strain differences in purified rat hepatic 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid UDP-glucuronosyltransferase.

Qualitative and quantitative differences of purified hepatic 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid UDP-glucuronosyltransferase were investigated in Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats. Individual differences in the glucuronidation rate of androsterone and chenodeoxycholic acid were observed in hepatic microsomal fractions from Wistar but not Sprague-Dawley rats. No individual variation was observed in the glucuronidation of testosterone, p-nitrophenol or oestrone.

Androgens and estrogens affect hepatic bile acid sulfotransferase in male rats.

The effect of estrogens and androgens on hepatic glycolithocholate sulfotransferase activity was studied in male rats. Significant increases in specific activity were noted following treatment of rats for 21 days with 17 beta-estradiol, 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol, and the nonsteroidal estrogen agonists nafoxidine, tamoxifen, and diethylstilbestrol. Similar treatment of male rats with 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, hydrocortisone, norethindrone, and prolactin did not affect activity.

High-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance of inorganic solids.

Recent improvements in instrumentation and technique now permit the observation of high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of many nuclei in inorganic solids. The application of nuclear magnetic resonance to the study of the structures of materials of interest in chemistry, earth science, and materials science are discussed together with a prognosis for future work.

Effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on bile acid sulfation in male rat liver.

The sulfation of bile acids is hormone dependent, being increased in females and ethynylestradiol (EE)-treated males compared with normal males. Diabetes causes significant alterations in estrogen metabolism and uterine estrogen receptor kinetics. Male rats were given streptozotocin (90 mg/kg) and diabetes was verified.

Glucuronidation of bile acids by rat liver 3-OH androgen UDP-glucuronyltransferase.

The glucuronidation of bile acids is an important pathway for the detoxification and elimination of retained bile acids during cholestasis. A 3-OH-specific androgen UDP-glucuronyltransferase was purified from solubilized female rat liver microsomes using Chromatofocusing and UDP- hexanolamine -Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. The purified 3-OH androgen UDP-glucuronyltransferase is reactive towards bile acids, including lithocholic acid, deoxycholic acid, and ursodeoxycholic acid, in addition to the androgenic steroids etiocholanolone and androsterone.

U.S. North-South labor migration and trade.

The authors examine the roles of labor migration and commodity trade in the inter-regional equalization of the real wage rate in the United States. The emphasis is on North-South patterns. Theoretical models are first outlined and then tested using 1960 and 1970 census data and multi-regional input-output data for 1963.

Diurnal variation of rat liver enzymes catalyzing bile acid conjugation and sulfation.

This study investigated the diurnal variation in the activity of the hepatic enzymes catalyzing conjugation and sulfation of bile acids. A circadian rhythm was noted in cholic acid : CoA ligase and glycolithocholate sulfotransferase activity. There was no diurnal variation in lithocholate sulfotransferase activity raising the possibility of multiple bile acid sulfotransferases in liver.