[Effects of tooth pulp stimulation on single unit activity of the amygdala in cats].

Responses induced by tooth pulp stimulation were studied in 27 gallamine immobilized adult cats. Single units were recorded from the amygdala using stainless steel microelectrodes. Of 57 amygdaloid neurons, 8 were responsive to only non-nociceptive (tap and/or hair bending) stimuli, 7 were responsive to both nociceptive (pinch) and non-nociceptive stimuli, 18 were responsive to nociceptive stimuli, non-nociceptive stimuli and tooth pulp stimulation, and the others did not respond to these stimuli.

Measurement of TSH in human amniotic fluid: diagnosis of fetal thyroid abnormality in utero.

Using a highly sensitive immunoradiometric assay kit for human TSH, we measured TSH concentrations in unconcentrated amniotic fluids in normal pregnancies and those complicated for example by maternal hyper- and hypothyroidism, and compared them with those in maternal and cord sera. In normal pregnancies the mean concentration of TSH in amniotic fluid samples was 0.129 microU/ml, ranging from 0.

Free thyroxine estimation for the screening of hyper- and hypothyroidism in an adult population.

Serum free thyroxine (FT4), total T4 (T4) and total T3 (T3) were determined by radioimmunoassay in 1,114 adults during a periodic health evaluation to detect unsuspected thyroid dysfunction. As a result, 3 patients with hyperthyroidism, 4 with hypothyroidism, 3 taking thyroid medication, 4 with chronic thyroiditis, 1 with simple goiter and 3 women under estrogen administration were found. Free T4 values were within the normal limits in the present four subjects taking estrogens, but all of them showed high T4 and one high T3 values.

Studies on the hypothermic response of capsaicin and its analogue in mice.

Administration of capsaicin (CAP) and its related pungent, nonanoyl vanillylamide (NVA) produced significant dose-dependent hypothermic response in mice at an ambient temperature of 24 degrees C. CAP was approximately equieffective to NVA in producing hypothermia. After large doses, desensitization occurred to the hypothermic effects of both CAP and NVA.

Potentiation of dermorphin-induced antinociception by peptidase inhibitors.

We have investigated the effect of amastatin, an aminopeptidase inhibitor, and captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, on the antinociceptive activity induced by intracerebroventricular administration of dermorphin, a heptapeptide. In addition, the potency of dermorphin was compared with that of one of its metabolites, N-terminal tetrapeptide (Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly), by using the tail pressure test. The antinociceptive activity induced by dermorphin was not potentiated by simultaneous administration of amastatin or captopril.

Effect of changes in thyroid state on metabolism of thyroxine by rat placenta.

We studied the effect of the state of the thyroid on T4 monodeiodination in the rat placenta, and it was compared with those in the liver and kidney. The tissues, maternal serum, and amniotic fluid were obtained from pregnant rats. The tissues were homogenized in cold 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.

Physical dependence of a dermorphin tetrapeptide analog, [D-Arg2, Sar4]-dermorphin (1-4) in the rat.

The characteristics of an analog of tetrapeptide dermorphin (H-Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-Sar-OH), [D-Arg2, Sar4]-dermorphin (1-4) were examined in comparison with morphine by the appearance of typical withdrawal signs upon cessation of administration or treatment with naloxone, an opioid antagonist. The dose of [D-Arg2, Sar4]-dermorphin (1-4) or morphine in the physical dependence test can be quantified by determining the ED50 to inhibit the tail-flick response to thermal stimuli. Doses from 8 to 64 times the ED50 doses were employed in the subcutaneous injection schedules.

Dermorphin analogues containing D-kyotorphin: structure-antinociceptive relationships in mice.

The antinociceptive effects of synthetic dermorphin and its analogues containing D-Arg in position 2 injected into the lateral cerebroventricle were examined in conscious mice. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.

Antinociceptive properties of a new tetrapeptide, Asn-Ala-Gly-Ala, in mice.

The effect of intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.

On the degradation of dermorphin and D-Arg2-dermorphin analogs by a soluble rat brain extract.

Degradation of dermorphin, [D-Arg2]dermorphin and [D-Arg2, Gly3, Phe4]dermorphin in a soluble rat brain extract was examined. The former two heptapeptides were degraded in a similar fashion to produce corresponding N-terminal tetrapeptide as the main degradation product along with the parallel release of Tyr5, Pro6 and Ser7-NH2. Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-Gly showed a good enzymatic stability.

Effect of carteolol, indenolol and metoprolol on the thyroid hormone of hyperthyroid patients.

Thirty-four hyperthyroid patients were divided into four groups: placebo, carteolol (20 mg/day), indenolol (60 mg/day) and metoprolol (120 mg/day) groups. The heart rate was determined before and two weeks after the treatment with each drug. Serum levels of T4, T3 and rT3 were measured before, and one and two weeks after the treatment.

Intrathecal substance P analogue causes motor dysfunction in the rat.

(D-Pro2, Trp7,9)-substance P injected into the subarachnoid space produced a severe faccid extension of hindlimb in a dose-related manner in the rat. This motor dysfunction was neither reversed by naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist nor by intrathecal SP. SP levels in the lumbar cord were markedly depleted in rats with hindlimb paralysis, though there was not significant changes in rats without paraplegia.

Determination of free triiodothyronine in serum: comparison of radioimmunoassay with equilibrium dialysis method.

In normal volunteers, serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) concentrations determined by Immophase FT3 RIA kit, Amerlex FT3 RIA kit and equilibrium dialysis methods (absolute FT3, AFT3: product of total T3 and percent FT3) were 4.03 +/- 0.65, 3.

[The relationship between serum IAP and peripheral K cells in patients with subacute thyroiditis].

In a previous study, we showed that the percentage of peripheral K cells of patients with subacute thyroiditis (SAT), determined by a plaque-forming cell technique, was significantly lower than that of normal controls, and that ther sera from SAT significantly inhibited the activity of K cells in normal lymphocytes, suggesting that in the sera of SAT there is some factor which inhibits K cell activity. In this study, we investigated the relationship between K cells and the serum immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP), the sex difference in percentage of K cells, and the absolute count of K cells in patients with SAT. In normal controls, there was a sex difference in the percentage of K cells in total lymphocytes; the percentage was significantly lower in women (mean +/- S.

The antinociceptive effects of histidyl-proline diketopiperazine and thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the mouse.

Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.

[Effects of serial administration of vanillyl n-nonoylamide on vocalization responses by arterial algogenics in guinea pigs].

Desensitizing effects of vanillyl n-nonoylamide, one of the synthetic capsaicinoids, were investigated by algogenics induced vocalization in conscious guinea pigs. Intra-arterial administration of bradykinin, acetylcholine and capsaicinoids (capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, vanillyl n-nonoylamide) evoked strong vocalization responses. Increasing doses (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg) of vanillyl n-nonoylamide were given to guinea pigs by subcutaneous administration for 4 days.

Human placental thyroxine inner ring monodeiodinase in complicated pregnancy.

Production of rT3 from T4 in the placenta were measured in four patients with induced abortion, in three patients with spontaneous abortion, in 19 patients with various complications of pregnancy including Graves' disease, and in 18 normal pregnancies. The placentas, obtained at delivery, were homogenized and centrifuged at 800 X g. Supernatants (1 mg protein) were incubated with 1 microgram of stable T4 and 50 mmol/L dithiothreitol at 37 degrees C for 60 minutes.