Acute alcohol infusion does not alter plasma gonadotropins or prolactin in ovariectomized rats.

We examined the effects of acute alcohol on basal plasma FSH, LH, and prolactin in ovariectomized rats. Alcohol infusion and blood sampling were done via an indwelling atrial catheter. Blood samples for alcohol and hormone determinations were collected before, and 5 to 120 min after completion of saline (control) or alcohol in saline (experimental) infusion.

Inhibition of the RNA polymerase of vesicular stomatitis virus by ppp5'A2'p5'A and related compounds.

The diadenylate triphosphates ppp5'A2'p5'A and ppp5'A3'p5'A were found to inhibit the purified RNA polymerase ('nucleocapsid') complex from vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). The corresponding diadenylate monophosphate p5'A2'p5'A did not inhibit, nor did the triadenylate triphosphate ppp5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A; the diadenylate diphosphate pp5'A2'p5'A had intermediate inhibitory activity. Increasing the concentration of ATP, GTP or CTP in the reaction mixture decreased inhibition by ppp5'A2'p5'A, while UTP had minimal or no protective effect.

Effects of low doses of alcohol on delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol's effects in pregnant rats.

Pregnant rats were intubated with 50 mg/kg of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or with THC plus alcohol to determine if a low dose of alcohol (1 g/kg) would significantly increase blood levels of THC. On the basis of this study, a second study was conducted in which pregnant rats were intubated with THC (50, 25 or 0 mg/kg) plus alcohol (2, 1 or 0 g/kg) from gestation day six to parturition. THC reduced birth weights but did not significantly affect litter size or passive avoidance learning.

Maternal age does not affect tetrahydrocannabinol's in utero actions in rats.

The potential contribution of maternal age to tetrahydrocannabinol's (THC) in utero effects in rats was studied. Pregnant animals were intubated with 25, 10 or 0 mg/kg of THC from gestation day six to parturition. Animals in the 10 and 0 mg/kg groups were pair fed to those given the 25 mg/kg dose.

Vinblastine reduces progesterone and prostaglandin E production by rat granulosa cells in vitro.

To elucidate the possible mechanism(s) of vinblastine-induced premature ovarian failure, we studied the effect of vinblastine (VLB) on progesterone (P) and prostaglandin E (PGE) production by rat granulosa cells in vitro. Granulosa cells obtained from immature, pregnant mares' serum gonadotrophin-primed rats were incubated for 5 h in modified Medium 199 +/- LH (10 ng/mL) with varying concentrations of VLB (0.001 to 10.

Effect of varying dosages and adjuvants on antibody response in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) immunized with the porcine zona pellucida Mr = 55,000 glycoprotein (ZP3).

Using the porcine zona pellucida Mr = 55,000 (ZP3) glycoprotein as immunogen, the effect of varying ZP3 dosages (50 micrograms, 25 micrograms, 5 micrograms) or adjuvants (200 micrograms ZP3 with either Freund's, A1[OH]3, or a muramyl dipeptide analog [MDP] on antibody response was evaluated in female squirrel monkeys. Although the dosage range investigated did result in dose-dependent titration profiles, antisera from all dosage groups demonstrated in vitro contraceptive potential. MDP was as effective an adjuvant as Freund's in eliciting high titers of antibodies demonstrating contraceptive potential.

Porcine zona pellucida: association of sperm receptor activity with the alpha-glycoprotein component of the Mr = 55,000 family.

The immunogenicity and sperm receptor activity of five preparations of the major porcine zona pellucida glycoprotein family ZP3 (Mr = 55,000) were investigated. These included (1) ZP3, a chromatographically purified preparation of the 55,000 family; (2) ZP3 alpha, and (3) ZP3 beta, the two-component glycoproteins of the ZP3 family; (4) ZP3-EBGD, a partially deglycosylated preparation of ZP3 obtained by enzymatic treatment; and (5) ZP3-DG, a chemically deglycosylated preparation of ZP3. Titer studies using mouse and rabbit antisera prepared against each preparation yielded the following order of immunogenicity: ZP3 and ZP3 beta greater than ZP3-EBGD and ZP3 alpha greater than ZP3-DG, indicating that ZP3 becomes less immunogenic as more carbohydrate is removed.

Anomalous scattering study of the bi distribution in the 2212 superconductor: implications for cu valency.

The distribution of the bismuth atoms over the cation sites in the 2212 Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductor has been determined by anomalous scattering synchrotron crystallography. The analysis of reflection pairs measured at wavelengths of 0.9243 and 0.

Evaluation of the preovulatory rise of follicle stimulating hormone and progesterone in normally ovulating women of reproductive age.

Sixteen normally ovulating women of reproductive age were evaluated to determine the extent of the preovulatory FSH and progesterone rise in association with the LH surge. Highly significant differences were demonstrated between the baseline and peak preovulatory levels of both FSH and progesterone (P less than .0005).

Determination of isoniazid in pharmaceutical preparations by reaction with radiochloramine-B.

A method has been developed for the determination of isoniazid (INH) at microgram level in pharmaceutical preparations based on the oxidation of isoniazid by radiochloramine-B. Interference of vitamin C has been overcome by precipitation as lead ascorbate and that of rifampicin and p-aminosalicylic acid by selective extraction. Amounts as low as 25 micrograms of INH can be determined.

Bulk Superconductivity up to 122 K in the Tl-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O System.

New high-temperature superconductors based on oxides of thallium and copper, but not containing barium, have been prepared. A transition temperature (T(c)) of about 85 K is found for (Tl(0.5)Pb(0.

Human follicular fluid: prolactin is biologically active and ovum fertilization correlates with estradiol concentration.

The bioactivity of prolactin (PRL) in follicular fluid (FF) obtained from mature preovulatory follicles was measured by the Nb2 lymphoma-cell bioassay and compared with the immunoreactivity as measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA-PRL). There was a good correlation between the two assay systems (P less than 0.01), and when RIA-PRL was more than 25 ng/ml, both assay systems yielded comparable values, with a mean bioassay/RIA ratio of 1.

Crystal Structure of Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10, a 125 K Superconductor.

There is now a new series of high-temperature superconductors that may be represented as (A(III)O)(2)A(2)(II)Can-1CunO2+2n where A(III) is Bi or Tl, A(II) is Ba or Sr, and n is the number of Cu-O sheets stacked consecutively. There is a general trend toward higher transition temperatures as n increases. The highest n value for a bulk phase is three and is found when A(III) is Tl.

Superconducting and Magnetic Behavior in La2-xNaxCuO4.

New phases of the type La2-xAx(l+)CUO4-y have been prepared where A(l+) is sodium or potassium. The sodium phases are superconducting for x values from 0.2 to 0.