Prolonged action of drugs in rats with flavonoid-deficiency.

In flavonoid-deficient Wistar-rats, the action of caffeine, harmine, hexobarbital, morphine and pentobarbital is enhanced. In contrast, the thiopental sleeping time is shortened. These observations may indicate impaired drug metabolism as a consequence of the flavonoid-deficiency state.

Embryo transfer for cows with reproductive problems.

Surgical embryo recovery and transfer methods were applied to 25 cows and heifers with chronic reproductive problems. In 16 of the 25 animals, abnormalities could not be detected by palpation per rectum and, at laparotomy, the probable cause of low fertility was found to be oviductal obstructions or periovarian adhesions in 6 of them. Four pregnancies were obtained from 3 of these 6 animals.

Coumarin toxicity in different strains of mice.

The general toxic effects of coumarin, as well as coumarin hepatotoxicity were found to be less in DBA/2J mice than in CH3/HeJ mice. These results are discussed in the context of a strain-specific coumarin metabolism and indicate the need for suitable animal models to assess the toxicity of a given substance in man.

Determination of vincamine in plasma by selected ion monitoring.

A sensitive and specific method for the determination of vincamine in plasma is described. The molecular ion (m/e 426) and the parent peak (m/e 367) of the TMS derivative are assayed simultaneously by selected ion monitoring. Sensitivity is 30 pg ml plasma.

Effect of tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane salt of prostaglandin F2alpha on post-thaw motility of bovine spermatozoa.

The effect of the tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane salt of prostaglandin F2alpha on the post-thaw motility of bovine spermatozoa was evaluated for two ejaculates from each of five bulls. This salt of prostaglandin F2alpha was added to the glycerol fraction of the extender to provide 37.5, 112.

Azoospermia in dogs induced by injection of sclerosing agents into the caudae of the epididymides.

Injections of sclerosing agents into the caudae of the epididymides of adult and prepubertal dogs induced a long-lasting and probably irreversible azoospermia. The technique is easy to do and inexpensive, does not seem to cause undesirable side effects, and appears suitable for large-scale sterilization programs in male dogs.

Effect of xanthinol nicotinate treatment on platelet aggregation.

Treatment of 24 male patients with 3 g/day of xanthinol nicotinate did not change the in vitro measurements of ADP-induced platelet aggregation but produced a marked inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. This effect may be connected with the drug-induced depression of the ATP level in platelet-rich plasma. Changes in the platelets in the patients' blood or in the lipid composition and the concentration of uric acid in their serum were ruled out as reasons for the decrease of the collagen-induced aggregation.

Harmine action in rats with lymphostatic encephalopathy.

In rats with lymphostatic encephalopathy the duration of harmine tremor was lengthened, and the brain concentrations of harmine decreased more slowly than in sham-operated controls. The tremor began simultaneously in both rat groups at coinciding brain concentrations of harmine. In rats with lymphostatic encephalopathy harmine concentrations in brain at the termination of tremor lay in the same range as in sham-operated controls.

[Different enzyme liberation in the liver of rats and mice by a combination of coumarin and rutin sulphate sodium salt (author's transl)].

In Wistar rats, combined treatment with ethanol or carbon tetrachloride and a mixture of coumarin and sodium salt of rutin sulphate (Venalot injectable solution) causes slight increases of some liver-specific enzymes in plasma. This effect was not observed in DBA/2 4-mice whose metabolism of coumarin is widely analogous to that of man. The LD50 for coumarin in those mice was twice that in rats.

Seminal quality, spermatozoal outpost, and testicular changes in growing Holstein bulls.

Nine Holstein bulls, initially between the ages of 17 and 22 mo, awaiting proofs in artificial breeding, were ejaculated each summer for 3 yr, and 8 and 7 survivors for 4 and 5 yr, respectively, to study changes in the same group of bulls and determine the predictive value of early measurements. Semen was collected twice a day, 2 days per wk, for 4 wk. Bulls differed in testicular size, consistency, ejaculate volume, total spermatozoal output, percentage of unstained spermatozoa and abnormal spermatozoa, and in several storage and freezing tests.

Evaluation of bovine spermatozoal morphologic features after staining or fixation.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate effects of 3 stains and 2 fixatives on morphologic features of bovine spermatozoa. In experiment 1, the morphologic features of acrosomes of raw and incubated, extended spermatozoa were evaluated after staining with Hancock's Blom's or Wells-Awa's stains or after fixation with buffered glutaraldehyde. Evaluations were done of stained smears by bright field microscopy and of fixed, unstained preparations, by differential interference contrast microscopy, using wet mounts.

In vitro fertilization, culture, and transfer of rabbit ova.

Ovulated rabbit oocytes were fertilized in vitro in chemically defined media supplemented with bovine serum albumin and either cultured up to the expanding blastocyst stage or transferred to recipients after varying periods of culture. Embryos transferred after up to 72 hours of in vitro culture were born as viable young. Oocytes from young virgin does were superior to oocytes from nonvirgin does for the purpose of in vitro fertilization (54% versus 26% fertilized, P less than 0.

Influence of surgical manipulations on hexobarbital effects in rats.

In rats the hexobarbital metabolism is impaired after different surgical procedures leading to muscle damage. This leads to a prolongation of the hexobarbital action. The prolonged effect of hexobarbital in rats with lymphostatic encephalopathy is considered an unspecific consequence of the tissue damage during lymphectomy.