Identification of quantitative trait loci regulating haematopoietic parameters in B6AKRF2 mice.

The haematopoietic system is a complex organised tissue with a hierarchical structure. Identification of organisational pathways within the haematopoietic system is relevant for a better understanding of haematopoiesis in health and disease. We have analysed numerous haematopoietic parameters in two panels of a total of 157 genetically distinct B6AKRF2 mice, derived from an intercross between AKR and C57Bl/6 mice, strains known to differ in various stem cell traits.

Impaired hematopoietic stem cell functioning after serial transplantation and during normal aging.

Adult somatic stem cells possess extensive self-renewal capacity, as their primary role is to replenish aged and functionally impaired tissues. We have previously shown that the stem cell pool in short-lived DBA/2 (D2) mice is reduced during aging, in contrast to long-lived C57BL/6 (B6) mice. This suggests the existence of a genetically determined mitotic clock operating in stem cells, which possibly limits organismal aging.

Chemotherapy prior to autologous bone marrow transplantation impairs long-term engraftment in mice.

Objective: Autologous bone marrow transplantation in cancer patients is often preceded by multiple cycles of chemotherapy. In this study, we assessed in a mouse model whether stem cells were affected by prior chemotherapy.

Methods: Donor mice were treated with three consecutive injections of 150 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).

Growth factor treatment prior to low-dose total body irradiation increases donor cell engraftment after bone marrow transplantation in mice.

Low-toxicity conditioning regimens prior to bone marrow transplantation (BMT) are widely explored. We developed a new protocol using hematopoietic growth factors prior to low-dose total body irradiation (TBI) in recipients of autologous transplants to establish high levels of long-term donor cell engraftment. We hypothesized that treatment of recipient mice with growth factors would selectively deplete stem cells, resulting in successful long-term donor cell engraftment after transplantation.

[Familial erythermalgia treated with pizotifen].

Introduction: Primary erythermalgia is a rare acrosyndrome due to paroxystic arteriolar dilatation of extremities that become red and congested with warmth and burning sensation or pain.

Observation: We report herein the observation of a primary erythermalgia affecting 3 degrees in the same family (grandfather, uncle/mother, and children with early onset at 6 years): pizotifene, an antiserotoninergic drug proved to be effective in mother and 14-year-old child who had never drawn benefit from any previous treatment.

Discussion: Several etiologies may be responsible for erythermalgia according to the clinical type: primary erythermalgia with pediatric onset, and secondary erythermalgia as a reaction to myeloproliferation, other diseases, drug or heavy metal poisoning.

[Ethical assessment of biomedical experiments in The Netherlands].

The ethical evaluation of biomedical experiments is loyally accepted in the Netherlands. It was introduced everywhere during the last 15 years. Among the targets we find not only the protection of the experimental objects--animals and humans--but also the protection of researchers who may find moral support in the approval of their projects by a Committee of Ethical Evaluation.

Appetite regulation by serotoninergic mechanisms and effects of d-fenfluramine.

In this literature review, evidence is presented for the theory that the neurotransmitter, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT), in medial hypothalamic centres is an important regulator for appetite and for the selection of major food constituents. High local levels of 5HT cause a reduction of appetite and a preference for protein, low levels the opposite. The main antagonistic system is noradrenergic.

[Localized recurrent light-induced Darier disease following Blaschko lines].

Introduction: Occurrence of localized Darier's disease was discussed. We report one case of photo-induced and localized Darier.

Case Report: Our patient had had a linear eruption every summer for ten years.

[Hypertrichosis of the elbows].

Introduction: A new case of hairy elbows is reported. This localized hypertrichosis, which appears in the first months of life, deserves to be individualized. CASE-REPORT.

Temporal patterning of ultrasonic distress calls in the adult rat: effects of morphine and benzodiazepines.

Opioids and benzodiazepines modulate the ultrasounds that rats emit before being presented with aversive stimulation. Mild, intermittent 10 s electrical tail stimulation induces rats to emit 20-30 kHz ultrasounds before and after the stimulation. Analysis of the temporal parameters of the sounds via a customized computer system reveals them to be emitted in bouts of about five sounds, each sound being separated from the next by 0.

Monitoring the specific activities of dopamine and its metabolites in striatum and olfactory tubercle after intravenous administration of l-[(3)H]tyrosine: Complex relations, indicating more than two compartments.

It is still a matter of debate whether in dopaminergic nerve endings dopamine (DA) is present in different functional and/or metabolic compartments. To investigate this, DA metabolism was studied in vivo by measuring the specific activity of DA and its metabolites after intravenous administration of l-[3,5-(3)H]tyrosine (200 ?Ci/rat) to freely moving animals. The incorporation of (3)H into DA and metabolites was determined in striatum and olfactory tubercle at 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 min after [(3)H]tyrosine administration.

Potential radiopharmaceuticals for the detection of ocular melanoma. Part II. Iodoquinoline derivatives and 67Ga-citrate.

The uptake and distribution of several 4-(substituted amino)-iodoquinolines, 131I-labelled, and of 67Ga-citrate were investigated in Syrian golden hamsters with Greene melanomas. Because of its uptake in the melanoma (tumour/eye ratio 8.9), 4-(dimethylamino-ethylamino)-7-iodoquinoline (NM113) was selected for further investigations as a possible radiopharmaceutical for ocular scintigraphy when labelled with 123I.

Folic acid and the protective action of diphenylhydantoin against maximal electroshock in rats after single doses.

Conflicting evidence regarding the antagonistic action of folic acid (FA) on the efficiency of the antiepileptic drug diphenylhydantoin (DPH) led us to study this problem in rats. From the results it is concluded that the enteral absorption of particularly higher doses of DPH is slightly hampered by FA. When the dose of DPH is high enough, this diminished absorption will not manifest itself in impaired protection.

Assay of HA-966 in rat plasma by capillary gas-liquid chromatography with nitrogen-selective detection.

A gas-liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the gamma-aminobutyric acid-like drug 1-hydroxy-3-aminopyrrolidone-2 (HA-966) in plasma is described. HA-966 was converted into its diacetyl derivative AC2HA-966 with acetic anhydride. This compound could be suitable eluted from a capillary OV-17 support-coated open tubular column.

Differential effects of acute and subacute HA-966 treatment on storage and release of striatal dopamine.

Acute injections of HA-966 (100 mg/kg) into rats caused a rapid elevation of dopamine (DA) content in the striatum. 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels increased after a latency period of 0.5 h and 1 h respectively.