Construction vs. development: polarizing models of human gestation.

This essay argues that the polarization of our public debate over embryo-destructive research may be due, to a large extent, not to different valuations of individual human life but to different conceptions of the process of gestation, with one group treating the process as a making or construction and the other treating it as a development. These two incompatible models of reproduction are shown to explain the various positions commonly encountered in this debate over the treatment of embryos, and to a significant degree those encountered in the debate over abortion as well. Finally, the historical, theoretical, and intuitive strengths of each model are examined.

[Construction vs. development: the source of our misunderstandings concerning the beginning of life].

This essay argues that the failure of our public debates over abortion and embryo-destructive research is due, to a large extent, not to different valuation of individual human life but to different conceptions and intuitions concerning the process of gestation, one group treating the process as construction and another treating it as development. These two incompatible models of reproduction are shown to explain the various positions commonly encountered in these life-related debates. Finally, the historical, theoretical, and intuitive strengths of each model are examined.

Endocrine and carbohydrate responses to interleukin-6 in vivo.

The role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in carbohydrate metabolism beyond its inhibition of hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase has not been widely pursued. To describe such IL-6 effects, we examined in the rat the responses of plasma corticosterone, glucagon, insulin, and glucose levels and the hepatic glycogen content 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min after intravenous injection of recombinant human IL-6. The effect to increase plasma corticosterone was consonant with the well-known action of IL-6 on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex.

Peripheral endocrine and metabolic responses to centrally administered interleukin-1.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that interleukin-1 (IL-1) acts systemically and centrally to play an important role in regulating the hormonal and metabolic response to stress, infection, and trauma. The aim of this study was to observe the peripheral metabolic and endocrine responses to 15, 25, and 50 ng intracerebroventricular (i.c.

Pressor and endocrine responses to lesions of canine rostral ventrolateral medulla.

To understand the mechanism(s) of reduction in arterial pressure (AP) after kainic acid cytotoxic lesions in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), recordings of AP, cardiac output (CO), heart rate (HR), plasma catecholamines, and cortisol were obtained from awake relaxed dogs. Mongrels (n = 12) were instrumented with a solid-state pressure transducer in the descending aorta and a pulse transit-time ultrasonic flowmeter on the aortic arch. After the dogs recovered from thoracotomy, AP, CO, HR, and plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol were recorded periodically or measured at rest over 2-3 wk followed by unilateral, cytotoxic lesion placement in the rostral C1 area of the RVLM.

Relative contribution of type I and II corticosterone receptors in VMH lesion-induced obesity and hyperinsulinemia.

Ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) lesion-induced obesity is accompanied by hyperinsulinemia and hyperphagia, which are dependent upon corticosterone (Cort) for their expression. Whether Cort exerts these actions through its stimulation of type I or II Cort receptor populations is unknown. Therefore, food intake and weight gain were measured in obese adrenalectomized VMH-lesioned rats given continuous infusion of various doses of either a type I-receptor agonist (aldosterone), a type II-receptor agonist (RU-28362), or several combination doses.

Exercise endurance in rats: roles of type I and II corticosteroid receptors.

Intact and adrenalectomized (ADX) rats were mildly food deprived and administered dexamethasone (type II agonist), aldosterone (type I agonist), corticosterone (mixed agonist), or vehicle 24 and 2 h prior to forced exercise in a treadmill. The endurance of intact animals was unaffected by hormone treatments. Adrenalectomy greatly advanced the onset of fatigue, and aldosterone exacerbated the effect of adrenalectomy.

Analysis of metabolites in aqueous solutions by using laser Raman spectroscopy.

Laser Raman scattering is conducted on aqueous solutions that contain organic chemicals that include glucose, lactate, ascorbate, pyruvate, and urea. At the concentrations of interest (below 1.0 wt.

Myocardial contractile protein ATPase activities in adrenalectomized and thyroidectomized rats.

This report compares the effects of adrenalectomy and thyroidectomy, with and without hormone replacement, on loss of contractile protein ATPase activities. The rationale for this study was derived from the similarities in their intracellular receptors, mechanisms of action, and the large number of proteins regulated by both hormones. Rats were adrenalectomized, thyroidectomized, or both, and were subsequently treated for 6 weeks with hydrocortisone, triiodothyronine, or saline.

Mimicking corticosterone's daily rhythm with specific receptor agonists: effects on food, water, and sodium intake.

The endogenous pattern of type I and II corticosteroid receptor stimulation was systematically assembled from specific agonists in order to detect any unique receptor interactions in the control of ingestive behavior. The type II agonists dexamethasone (0, 5, or 25 micrograms/kg) or RU28362 (0, 5, or 25 micrograms/kg) were injected daily in the final hour of the light phase of the illumination cycle of adrenalectomized rats. This was carried out in the presence or absence of continuous aldosterone (type I agonist) infusion.

Tocainide and mortality after myocardial infarction: a prospective study in conscious dogs.

The production of an anterior myocardial infarction as part of an experimental animal model for sudden death was burdened by a persistently elevated mortality rate (30%) despite the use of traditional antiarrhythmic drugs. Mortality was reduced when tocainide (600 mg three times daily) was empirically administered for 4 days before and 4 days after myocardial infarction. Retrospective analysis showed that mortality at 4 days after infarction was significantly lower in the tocainide-treated dogs than in the preceding large group of dogs that had not been so treated (5 [9%] of 55, versus 64 [32%] of 199, p less than 0.

Effects of riboflavin analogues and diuretics on the spontaneously hypertensive rat heart.

The chronic treatment of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with 7,8-dimethyl-10-(3-chlorobenzyl) isoalloxazine [CBI], 7,8-diethyl-10-aminol isoalloxazine [DEAI], enduron (methyclothiazide) and amiloride were studied for their effects on blood pressure and cardiac contractile protein ATPase activities. After 35 weeks of treatment all the above antihypertensive agents showed a decrease in blood pressure in the SHR (p less than 0.01).

Mortality and bacteriology of sepsis following cecal ligation and puncture in aged mice.

Epidemiologic data suggest that elderly adults are more susceptible to invasive bacterial infection by indigenous gut flora than are younger adults. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize a murine model of clinically encountered peritonitis in the aged. We subjected three different age groups (young, 16 weeks; mature, 12 months; senescent, 24 months) of C57BL/6NNia mice to surgically induced peritonitis by the cecal ligation and puncture procedure.

Changes in myocardial contractile protein ATPases in chronically adrenalectomized rats with and without glucocorticoid replacement.

Studies were conducted to examine the effects of chronic adrenalectomy (Adx) and adrenalectomy plus glucocorticoid replacement therapy on rat cardiac contractile protein ATPase activities. The Ca2+-dependent Mg-ATPase activity of myofibrils isolated from rat ventricles 3 weeks postadrenalectomy (Adx) was significantly decreased at all pCa2+ concentrations (P less than 0.01), compared to sham-operated (SO) rats.

Cardiovascular changes in chronically adrenalectomized conscious rats.

Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), heart rate (HR), stroke volume index (SVI), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), and central venous pressure (CVP) were measured in conscious, freely moving, sham-operated (SO) and chronically adrenalectomized (ADX) rats. After 3 weeks of ADX, the rats exhibited hypotension, tachycardia, and diminished SVI and CI. From 3 to 6 weeks after surgery, the HR decreased and SVRI increased.

Effect of interleukin-6/interferon-beta 2 on glucocorticoid action in rat hepatoma cells.

Reuber hepatoma cells (RHC) were treated 4 h with dexamethasone (dex), with and without simultaneous fibroblast-conditioned medium (cIL-6). A cytosol fraction, prepared in the presence of molybdate and dithiothreitol, was analyzed for [3H]dex (20 nM) binding in the presence and absence of 1 microM dex at 4 degrees C. Receptor levels declined from 76.

Failure of glucagon to induce hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in endotoxic shock.

We have determined that one reason for diminished PEPCK activity during endotoxemia is the inhibition of glucocorticoid action in hepatic cells. Since glucocorticoid and glucagon hormones act cooperatively to regulate the expression of PEPCK mRNA, we examined whether endotoxin also inhibits the action of glucagon to induce this enzyme. Treated mice were injected intraperitoneally with endotoxin and glucose after a 24 hr fast and given ad libitum access to food and water.