Experience with nimodipine in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of nimodipine in preventing delayed ischaemic deficit in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Design: A continuous prospective audit of all patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage admitted to the joint neurosurgery units of Prince Henry's and Alfred hospitals, Melbourne. Patients were divided into two groups--135 in the pre-nimodipine group during 1986 to 1989, and 73 in the nimodipine group during 1989 and 1990.

Effects of modifying gonadotrophin-releasing hormone input before and after the oestrogen-induced LH surge in ovariectomized ewes with hypothalamo-pituitary disconnection.

The patterns of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) input to the pituitary gland that affect the expression of a positive-feedback event by oestrogen on LH secretion were investigated in ovariectomized ewes with hypothalamo-pituitary disconnection (HPD). In experiment 1, ovariectomized HPD ewes were given hourly i.v.

Effects of the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone on reproductive function in the ewe.

Glucocorticoids have been found to inhibit reproductive function in most domestic species studied but, in the ewe, preliminary reports suggest that glucocorticoids may have little or no effect. This study investigated the effects of the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone on oestrus and ovulation rate in ewes during the breeding season and gonadotrophin secretion in the breeding and non-breeding seasons. In cyclic ewes, dexamethasone treatment at rates of up to 2 mg/day did not affect the natural or pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin-stimulated ovulation rate, or the timing and incidence of behavioural oestrus (P greater than 0.

Valvular heart disease. Part I: Diagnosis.

Cardiac murmurs are common. The general practitioner is often the first person to detect a murmur. These are often asymptomatic, yet may be a consequence of haemodynamically significant valve disease.

Recognition of insulin-like-growth-factor-binding proteins in serum and amniotic fluid by an antiserum against a low-molecular-mass insulin-like-growth-factor-inhibitor/binding protein.

An antiserum (R8) raised against a purified specific low-Mr (16,000-18,000) insulin-like-growth-factor (IGF)-inhibitor/binding protein, which is immunologically related to the native growth hormone (GH)-dependent Mr-150,000 IGF-binding protein in serum, has been used to probe a possible additional relationship to the predominant non-GH-dependent IGF-binding protein (Mr approximately 30,000) of human amniotic fluid. Amniotic-fluid fractions and an IGF-inhibitory fraction of serum were analysed by covalent cross-linking, ligand-blotting and immunoblotting techniques. Western blotting of the serum fraction using the R8 antiserum gave five immunoreactive (ir) bands, of which at least three (Mr 38,000, 34,000 and 23,000) possessed IGF-binding activity, as indicated by ligand (125I-IGF-I) blotting.

Cloning and characterization of the growth hormone-dependent insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP-3) in the rat.

We report for the first time the complete amino acid sequence for the growth hormone dependent insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP-3) in the rat. A human IGFBP-3 clone was generated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and used to screen a rat liver cDNA library. cDNA clones of the rat IGFBP-3 were isolated and the full amino acid sequence deduced.

Cloning and characterization of the rat alpha-inhibin gene.

The gene for the rat glycoprotein hormone alpha-inhibin has been cloned and characterized. The entire gene was found to be contained within a 5.5 kilobase EcoRI fragment.

Inhibin concentrations in ovarian and jugular venous plasma and the relationship of inhibin with follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone during the ovine estrous cycle.

A heterologous RIA for ovine inhibin was developed which was sufficiently sensitive and specific to describe the peripheral concentrations of immunoreactive inhibin (iINH) during the estrous cycle of the ewe and to examine the effects of cautery of ovarian follicles on concentrations of iINH in ovarian and jugular venous plasma. Parallel logit-log dose-response lines were observed among ovine follicular fluid, ewe plasma, and pure native ovine (31 kDa) and bovine (31 kDa) inhibin. iINH could not be detected in ovariectomized ewe plasma, and there was no apparent cross-reactivity with a variety of structurally related and unrelated hormones and peptides, except a monomeric form of the alpha-subunit of INH, iINH in follicular fluid was 10(4)-fold higher than that in ovarian venous plasma, which was 3-fold higher than that in peripheral plasma.

Insulin-like growth factor-I and its autocrine role in growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in culture.

Human MCF-7 breast cancer cells have been studied to determine their suitability as an autocrine model for the synthesis, secretion and action of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Secretion of immunoreactive (ir-) IGF-I into serum-free medium was very low (less than 500 pg/10(6) cells per day). Northern blot hybridization detected at least two IGF-I messenger RNA transcripts (approximately 4.

Regulation of follicle-stimulating hormone beta and common alpha-subunit messenger ribonucleic acid by gonadotropin-releasing hormone and estrogen in the sheep pituitary.

The effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and/or estradiol (E2) on pituitary messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of luteinizing hormone beta (LH beta), follicle-stimulating hormone beta (FSH beta) and the common alpha-subunit were determined in anterior pituitary glands from ovariectomized (OVX) ewes. Hypothalamo-pituitary disconnected (HPD) ewes receiving appropriate hormonal treatment were used to assess the relative roles of GnRH and E2 in directly regulating FSH beta and alpha-subunit mRNA levels. Levels of LH beta mRNA were increased in OVX animals compared with intact controls, and E2 treatment of OVX animals significantly reduced mRNA levels of LH beta and FSH beta.

Binding sites for growth hormone in rabbit placental cytosol.

A soluble GH-binding protein, which cross-reacted with a monoclonal antibody (Mab) to the rabbit liver membrane GH receptor, has been identified in cytosol preparations from both fetal and maternal portions of rabbit placenta. Structural studies using gel filtration chromatography and chemical covalent cross-linking techniques have shown that the GH-binding protein in fetal/maternal placental cytosol has a native mol wt of 104,000 and a denatured subunit of about 57,000 mol wt (with or without dithiothreitol). Very low levels of GH-specific [125I]human (h) GH binding were observed in membrane preparations from the corresponding placentae, even after desaturation of any endogenously bound hormone by 5 M MgCl2.

GnRH agonist administration in polycystic ovary syndrome.

The study was designed to examine (1) the effects of the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, buserelin, on pituitary and ovarian hormone secretion, and (2) the effect that pituitary-ovarian suppression with a GnRH agonist has on subsequent ovulation induction with exogenous gonadotrophins (hMG), in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Two protocols were studied where buserelin was administered intranasally to all patients in a dose of 200 micrograms, six times daily. Ten patients received buserelin until an oestrogen withdrawal bleed occurred while a further 12 patients received buserelin for 4 weeks, before hMG was co-administered.

Induction of ovulation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone--life-table analysis of 50 courses of treatment.

Ovulation induction by means of the pulsatile subcutaneous administration of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone by way of an infusion pump is described. The clinical outcome in 50 courses of treatment, which totalled 116 treatment cycles, was analysed and was compared with the pregnancy rates that were obtained with the administration of human pituitary gonadotrophins. We found that the pregnancy rates for these two treatments were similar.

Purified FSH stimulates production of inhibin by the human ovary.

Ovarian inhibin production is stimulated by the administration of human menopausal gonadotrophins or following a rise in endogenous LH and FSH. In order to determine whether FSH specifically stimulates inhibin secretion in vivo, immunoassayable serum inhibin levels were measured following the administration of a highly purified preparation of urinary FSH free of significant contamination with LH. Ten anovulatory women underwent a protocol of induction of ovulation with purified FSH and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG).

Ruptured intracranial aneurysms: a 12-month prospective study.

A prospective study was undertaken of all cases of ruptured intracranial aneurysms that presented to Monash Medical Centre's neurosurgical service over a 12-month period. Forty-seven patients had proved aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhages. The management mortality rate over all was 23.

Effects of bovine follicular fluid on pulsatile secretion of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and gonadotrophins in ovariectomized ewes.

Abstract Ovariectomized ewes were injected with charcoal-extracted bovine follicular fluid (n = 5) or with hypophysectomized ewe serum (n = 5) after which hypophyseal portal blood samples were taken to monitor the release of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Peripheral blood samples were also taken to monitor plasma luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations. Bovine follicular fluid treatment caused a 50% decrease in plasma FSH concentrations whereas hypophysectomized ewe serum did not significantly alter plasma FSH levels.

Identification and tissue distribution of messenger RNA for the growth hormone receptor in the rabbit.

Rabbit liver, a rich source of specific growth hormone (GH) receptors, contains three mRNA transcripts (4.2-4.5 kb, 3.

Human chorionic gonadotrophin-induced suppression of serum inhibin involves reduction in ovarian inhibin alpha-subunit messenger RNA levels in the pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin-primed female rat.

We have investigated the effect of administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) to immature female rats pretreated with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) on ovarian inhibin alpha-subunit mRNA, serum inhibin and circulating gonadotrophin levels. PMSG stimulation alone caused a 5-fold increase in relative inhibin alpha-subunit mRNA levels and a 12-fold increase in serum inhibin by 48 h. However, injection of hCG at 40 h suppressed PMSG-stimulated ovarian inhibin alpha-subunit mRNA and serum inhibin to levels at 48 h not statistically significantly different from controls.

Inhibitory effect of pure 31-kilodalton bovine inhibin on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-induced up-regulation of GnRH binding sites in cultured rat anterior pituitary cells.

Primary cultures of enzymatically dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells were used to examine the effect of pure 31 kilodalton bovine inhibin on GnRH-induced up-regulation of GnRH binding sites. After 2 days in culture, the cells were exposed to stimuli with or without test substances for 10 h, followed by evaluation of GnRH binding sites using iodinated GnRH-A (Buserelin) as tracer. Inhibin suppressed GnRH-induced up-regulation of GnRH binding sites in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 0.

Inhibin, a member of a new peptide family.

There is considerable experimental evidence that follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are regulated by separate mechanisms in some circumstances. Part of this differential regulation involves the gonadal factor inhibin, which preferentially affects FSH. A sensitive and specific bioassay based on suppression of FSH cell content in dispersed cultured pituitary cells was used to monitor the purification of inhibin to homogeneity.