Observations on the physiological effects of pithing cattle at slaughter.

Pithing cattle after captive bolt stunning, by thrusting a rod into the cranial cavity, causes violent muscular activity. The present observations have shown that this does not result in a rapid fall in the muscle pH similar to that occurring after electrical stimulation. The claim that pithing for a greater length than usual down the spinal cord causes marked enlargement of the spleen has not been substantiated.

Intracellular distribution of phosphate in cultured Humulus lupulus cells growing at elevated exogenous phosphate concentrations.

The distribution of inorganic phosphate (Pi) between the cytoplasm and the vacuole of Humulus lupulus L. cells grown in suspension culture at different exogenous Pi levels was examined by 31-P nuclear magnetic resonance. In growing cells excess Pi accumulated in the vacuoles and the inhibitory effect of high exogenous Pi was not associated with a change in the cytoplasmic Pi level or with a change in the cytoplasmic pH.