bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE HISTOCHEMICAL PATTERN OF THE HUMAN ADULT TESTES
Authors: Koudstaal Joh. , Frensdorf E. L. , Kremer J , Mudde J. M. , Hardonk M. J.
Published: December 2008

The histochemical pattern of the human testes has been investigated. Steroid-producing Leydig cells are characterized by the enzymes 3β ol-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and secondary alcohol dehydrogenase. The presence of the last mentioned enzyme precedes that of the 3β ol-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Fibroblast-like interstitial cells showed only enzyme activity of the secondary alcohol dehydrogenase. The best results for indicating the presence of the enzyme 3β ol-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were obtained by the method of Allen (1960) with the substrate androst-4-ene-3β,17β-diol. No activity of 3β ol-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and the secondary alcohol dehydrogenase was found in the Sertoli cells.
HYPOTHYROIDISM INDUCED BY A TRANSPLANTED FIBROSARCOMA IN THE RAT
Authors: Claus-Walker Jacqueline
Published: December 2008

Rats bearing a methylcholanthrene induced fibrosarcoma showed a decrease in thyroid weight, a decreased responsiveness to the goitrogenous effect of PTU and a significant decrease in 24 hour thyroidal 131I uptake. The thyroid of the tumourous rats was also shown to have a marked inability to synthesize thyroid hormones. The effects on the thyroid were found to accumulate proportionally to the time during which the tumour grew in the rat, and lead to a fibrous and degenerative invasion of the thyroid gland.

In the rats bearing tumours, 1) the plasma and the pituitary TSH concentrations were within normal range; 2) large doses of exogenous TSH were able to stimulate the thyroid; 3) injection of saline extracts from the tumour elicited thyroid changes similar to those produced by the tumour. It is concluded from these data that the tumour produces an unusual hypothyroidism in the rat, which is caused by a substance elaborated by the tumour. The substance destroys progressively the thyroid tissue, leaving less and less thyroid parenchyma to respond to TSH and to secrete thyroid hormones. The substance seems to interfere with TSH at the thyroid level.
EFFECT OF bis(p-HYDROXYPHENYL)-CYCLO-HEXYLIDENEMETHANE (F6060) ON THE CONVERSION OF PREGNENOLONE TO Δ4-3-KETOSTEROIDS IN VITRO
Authors: Larsson Hans , Stensson Margareta
Published: December 2008

Bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)-cyclohexylidenemethane (F6060) is shown to inhibit the in vitro conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone and other Δ4-3-ketosteroids. A 50% inhibition was noted at ∼ 1·10−4 m F6060. Diethylstilboestrol also showed a comparable inhibitory action under the conditions used but 17β-oestradiol did not affect pregnenolone oxidation. Incubations were performed with the 10 000·g supernatant of human ovarian structures; rat ovaries and adrenals. As a substrate 14C-labelled pregnenolone was used. Radioactive conversion products were determined by thin layer chromatography followed by quantitative scanning. The part of reaction products more polar than pregnenolone tended to increase when progesterone production was moderately inhibited by F6060 in human ovarian homogenates.
MICRODETERMINATION OF PROGESTINS IN RAT OVARIES: PROGESTERONE AND 20α-HYDROXY-PREGN-4-EN-3-ONE CONTENT DURING PROOESTRUS, OESTRUS AND PSEUDOPREGNANCY
Authors: Lindner H. R. , Zmigrod A.
Published: December 2008

A method is described for the determination of progesterone (P) and 20α-hydroxy-pregn-4-en-3-one (20αOHP) in rat ovaries by combined paper- and vapour-phase chromatography. In pseudopregnant rats during the 4th to 7th day of leucocytic vaginal smear, the progesterone content of a pair of ovaries varied about a mean of 1 μg, and the ratio P/20αOHP ranged from 2.2 to 3.0. The ovarian progesterone content was minimal (0.15 μg/pair) on the morning of prooestrus, rose significantly on the afternoon of prooestrus (0.4 μg) and declined again before the morning of oestrus. Throughout dioestrus, prooestrus and oestrus the ovarian content of 20αOHP exceeded that of progesterone (P/20αOHP = 0.27–0.51). This inversion of the P/20αOHP ratio reflects the increase in ovarian 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity known to occur during follicular proliferation. Cyclic changes observed in the content of progestins in the ovaries, including the preovulatory rise, parallel those previously described in ovarian venous blood.
EFFECT OF ERGOCORNINE ON OVARIAN SYNTHESIS OF PROGESTERONE AND 20α-HYDROXY-PREGN-4-EN-3-ONE IN THE PSEUDOPREGNANT RAT
Authors: Lindner H. R. , Shelesnyak M. C.
Published: December 2008

The ovarian content of progesterone (P) and 20α-hydroxy-pregn-4-en-3-one (20αOHP) was measured in rats given a subcutaneous injection of 1 mg ergocornine methanesulphate (ECO) on day L4 of pseudopregnancy and in untreated pseudopregnant controls. The progesterone content in the ovaries of the treated rats declined, after a latency of 12 h, to 44% of the control level at 24 h, and to 30% at 30 to 72 h after the ECO injection. This fall in progesterone level coincided with a sharp rise in 20αOHP content of the ovaries and consequent inversion of the P/20αOHP ratio, from 1.9–3.8 in the controls to 0.24–0.45 in the ECO-treated rats. The total P + 20αOHP content of the ovaries remained similar in treated and control rats, except for a significant fall 48 h after ECO injection. The changes in ovarian steroid content after ECO administration mimic those observed during spontaneous prooestrus and oestrus and account for the interruption of the progestational state brought about by the drug. The results negate the postulate that ECO exerts its pregnancy-interrupting action in the rat by direct inhibition of ovarian 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and are consistent with the view that this action of the drug is mediated by suppression of prolactin secretion by the pituitary gland; such a suppression may be secondary to an excitatory effect on the hypothalamus.
PLASMA LEVELS OF PROGESTERONE AND CORTISOL, AND URINARY PREGNANEDIOL EXCRETION, DURING THE POST-OVULATORY PHASE OF THE CYCLE IN NORMAL AND ERGOCORNINE-TREATED WOMEN
Authors: Lindner H. R. , Lunenfeld B. , Shelesnyak M. C.
Published: December 2008

The plasma level of progesterone in 30 clinically normal women on the estimated 5th to 7th day after ovulation, determined by combined paperand gas-chromatography, was 1.39 μg/100 ml ± 0.14 S. E.

The response of eight women to a single oral administration of 2 mg ergocornine methanesulphonate on the estimated 5th, 6th or 7th day after ovulation was examined, in order to evaluate the suggestion that this drug depresses the secretion of steroid hormones by inhibiting 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Plasma progesterone level (μg/100 ml ± S. E,) 5½ h after administration of the drug (0.91 ± 0.15) did not differ significantly from that before treatment (1.0 ± 0.18) or in placebo-treated controls (1.25 ± 0.16 and 1.15 ± 0.14, respectively). Urinary pregnanediol excretion (mg) was similar during the 24 h-period immediately preceding treatment (1.7 ± 0.34) and following it (1.6 ±0.19). The plasma corticoid (11β-hydroxy-Δ4-3-ketosteroid) level was reduced by 27.3% ±6.1 S. E. 5½ h after ergocornine administration, but this decline was paralleled by a similar fall (–24.5%) in placebo-treated controls. The results thus provided no evidence for the induction of luteal insufficiency or a specific enzyme block by the alkaloid. The difference from results obtained in rats may be due to species characteristics or dose rate.
THE EFFECT OF METHYLTHIOURACIL ON THE UPTAKE OF 131I-TRIIODOTHYRONINE BY THE RED CELLS: A TEST FOR THYROTOXICOSIS
Authors: Goolden A. W. G. , Gartside June M. , Osorio C.
Published: December 2008

The uptake of 131I-T2 by the red cells has been determined according to a standard method and with the addition of methylthiouracil in a series of one hundred thyrotoxic and fifty euthyroid patients. The addition of methylthiouracil increased the uptake of 131I-T3 by the red cells in thyrotoxic patients but not in normal people. This modification of the test makes it more precise in the diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis.
ÜBER DEN EINFLUSS VON SULFONYLHARNSTOFF, ACTH UND METOPIRON AUF ENDPRODUKTE DES KATECHOLAMINSTOFFWECHSELS BEIM DIABETES MELLITUS
Authors: Zicha L. , Engelhardt J.
Published: December 2008

Vanillic mandelic acid (VMA), vanillic acid (VA) and homo vanillic acid (HVA) were determined in urine (collection period: 4 hours) of 11 controls, 7 patients with latent and 8 with manifest diabetes receiving sulfonyl urea, ACTH and Metopirone. The three investigated groups showed no difference in the elimination of VMA, VA and HVA during a test-free four hours period. After the application of sulfonyl urea the VMA and VA values were lowered in the diabetic group in contrary to the control persons, whereas the elimination of HVA remained unchanged. There was no difference in the HVA values between latent diabetics and controls.

VA and HVA were somewhat increased after i. v. ACTH-application, VMA remained unchanged. In the diabetic group the three catecholamine metabolites were augmented up to twofold. Similar results were found during the endogenous ACTH-mobilisation by Metopirone where the diabetics also had the highest rise in VMA, VA and HVA. On account of these experiments it must be discussed that the sympathic-adrenal system of diabetics reacts more intensive to exogenous and endogenous ACTH.
GONADOTROPHIN PATTERNS IN MALE AND FEMALE RATS: PLASMA LH AND FSH AT VARIOUS AGES EVALUATED BY THE METHOD OF PARABIOSIS
Authors: Johnson Donald C.
Published: December 2008

Ventral prostates in hypophysectomized male parabiotic partners of intact animals were used to compare the amount of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) in males and females of various ages. Ovarian weight, histology, and augmentation with chorionic gonadotrophin, in hypophysectomized androgenized females were used to estimate plasma follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) activity in intact adult males and females.

In young animals, up to 50 days of age, males apparently have the same amount of plasma LH as females, but older cyclic females produced significantly heavier prostates in their hypophysectomized male partners than did males. The results are consistent with the interpretation that cyclic surges of LH added to a tonic level produced an average value higher for females than males. In contrast, males of all ages and particularly adults, have a significantly greater amount of circulating FSH than females.
THE EFFECT OF TESTOSTERONE PHENYLPROPIONATE ON THE INCORPORATION OF SODIUM FORMATE-14C IN VITRO INTO VARIOUS ORGANS OF THE CASTRATED RAT
Authors: Jakubovič Alexander , Čekan Zdeně
Published: December 2008

By means of the incorporation in vitro of H14COONa, metabolic changes in the prostate, seminal vesicles, m. levator ani, and m. solcus were studied in castrated infantile rats 48 hours after a depot administration of 1 mg and 8 mg doses of testosterone phenylpropionate. The activity was estimated in soluble, nucleic acid, and protein fractions of individual target organs. In all organs, an increased incorporation into all these subcellular fractions was shown to take place except for m. soleus, where an increase was observed only in the nucleic acid fraction.

These results are in good agreement with those of a similar study in vivo.
CONVERSION OF ANDROST-4-ENE-3,17-DIONE-4-14C TO OESTROGENS BY SUBCELLULAR FRACTIONS OF THE HUMAN CORPUS LUTEUM OF THE NORMAL CYCLE
Authors: Arceo Rosalinda B. , Ryan Kenneth J.
Published: December 2008

The subcellular localization of the aromatizing enzymes from four human corpora lutea was investigated. Subcellular fractions were prepared by differential centrifugation, and incubations of each fraction were carried out with androst-4-ene-3,17-dione-4-14C and a TPNH generating system. Oestrogen metabolites were characterized by phenolic separation, repeated paper chromatography, incubation with freshly prepared placental 17β-ol dehydrogenase, methylation and recrystallization to constant specific activity.

The experimental results indicate that the aromatizing enzymes were localized mainly in the microsomal fractions of homogenates of human corpora lutea.
EFFECTS OF INSULIN ON THE INTACT LEVATOR ANI MUSCLE OF THE RAT
Authors: Arvill A. , Ahrén K.
Published: December 2008

The effects of insulin on the rate of intracellular accumulation and incorporation into the protein of some normal amino acids (glycine-3H, leucine-14C and valine-14C) in the intact levator ani muscle of the rat were studied in vitro. The effect of puromycin on the accumulation of these amino acids as well as on the accumulation of the model amino acid α-aminoisobutyric acid-14C (AIB-14C) was examined. In addition the effect of insulin on the incorporation of adenine-14C into the muscle RNA as well as on the effect of actinomycin D added to the incubation medium were also investigated. The insulin stimulated AIB-14C transport is described by the formulation of Michaelis-Menten and approximate values of Km and Vmax are calculated for this transport in the levator ani muscle.

Insulin was found to stimulate the intracellular accumulation of glycine-3H and AIB-14C, while a significant decrease was found in the accumulation of leucine-14C and valine-14C.

Insulin also stimulated the incorporation of glycine-3H and leucine-14C into the muscle protein. When puromycin was added to the medium, no radioactivity was found in the protein fraction and insulin then stimulated the intracellular accumulation of glycine-3H, leucine-14C and AIB-14C. A slight but significant stimulation with insulin was found on the incorporation of adenine-14C into the RNA-fraction of the levator ani muscle. The addition of actinomycin D was found to inhibit this effect of insulin, but did not change the insulin stimulation of the AIB-14C accumulation.

The results are discussed in relation to our present knowledge of the different in vitro effects of insulin.
CUSHING'S SYNDROME ASSOCIATED WITH A »CORTICOTROPHIN«-PRODUCING BRONCHIAL NEOPLASM
Authors: Landon J. , James V. H. T. , Peart W. S.
Published: December 2008

A patient is reported who developed bilateral adrenal hyperplasia and Cushing's syndrome in association with an undifferentiated bronchial carcinoma. »Corticotrophin« was demonstrated by radioimmunoassay in the tumour and its metastases and »melanocyte-stimulating hormone« by bioassay in a metastasis. Treatment with Metyrapone resulted in bio-chemical evidence of improvement but side-effects limited its clinical usefulness. The use of pituitary-adrenal function tests in distinguishing patients with this syndrome from those with Cushing's disease is discussed.
SENSITIVITY OF THE RAT DIAPHRAGM TO GROWTH HORMONE
Authors: Hjalmarson Å. , Ahrén K.
Published: December 2008

The in vivo and in vitro effects of bovine growth hormone (GH) on the rate of intracellular accumulation of D-xylose and α-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) were studied in the intact rat hemidiaphragm preparation.

GH was added in vitro or injected intravenously (i. v.) to hypophysectomized rats 45 min before incubation. It markedly increased the accumulation of both D-xylose-14C and AIB-14C by the isolated diaphragm. This stimulatory effect of GH was almost completely abolished by pretreatment of the rats with GH, either intramuscularly for 4 days or i. v. 16 hours before the in vitro experiment.

An i. v. injection of GH (10 μg) to hypophysectomized rats 45 or 90 min before incubation gave a two-fold increase in the rate of AIB uptake by the isolated diaphragm while a similar injection 3½, 24 or 38 hours before incubation did not produce such stimulation. These injections, however, significantly decreased the sensitivity of the diaphragm to GH, added later in vitro. This type of inhibitory effect was seen after a single i. v. injection of as little as 1.0 μg of GH.

The results indicate that acute administration of GH to hypophysectomized rats may first produce a stimulatory effect for 2–3 hours, which is then followed by an inhibitory phase lasting for as long as 35 hours. The nature of these two effects of GH are discussed in connection with other experimental and clinical observations on the diversity of the GH action. It is concluded that the contrasting effects of GH found in the present study on the isolated diaphragm may be due, at least in part, to changes in the transport mechanisms of the cell membrane to amino acids and sugars.
ENDOCRINE STUDIES AT HIGH ALTITUDE. III.
Authors: Sobrevilla Luis A. , Romero I. , Moncloa F. , Donayre J. , Guerra-García R.
Published: December 2008

Total urinary gonadotrophins have been measured in 8 natives living at 14 000 feet (HA), in 10 natives living at sea level (SL), and 10 SL natives during exposure to 14 000 feet for 14 days. For the determinations the kaolin-acetone extraction technique and the mouse uterus test with NIH-HPG-UPM-1 as reference standard were used. HA natives excrete 1.25 ± 0.20 (S. E. M.) mgEq. NIH-HPG-UPM-1 and SL men 1.14 ± 0.31 (S. E. M.). No significant changes occurred during the acute exposure of SL natives to HA. The authors conclude that the unimpaired fertility of the HA native does not depend on adaptive alterations in gonadotrophin excretion, and that acute exposure of males to 14 000 feet for 14 days does not cause any alterations in the urinary excretion of gonadotrophins, detectable by the method used.
BIOGENESE VON ÖSTRIOL-3-MONOGLUCURONID
Authors: Dahm K. , Lindlau Monika , Breuer H.
Published: December 2008

The biogenesis of oestriol 3-monoglucuronide has been studied using different enzyme preparations of human intestine and placenta as well as of rat liver. After incubation of oestriol with the microsomal fraction of human intestine, oestriol 3-monoglucuronide was found in addition to oestriol 16α-monoglucuronide and oestriol 17β-monoglucuronide.

No oestriol 3-monoglucuronide was found when 16α-hydroxyoestrone 3-monoglucuronide, prepared biosynthetically, was incubated with a 24-fold purified human placental 17β-hydroxysteroid:NAD-oxidoreductase. On the other hand, no oestriol 3-monoglucuronide was formed when 17β-oestradiol 3-monoglucuronide was subjected to the action of the microsomal 16α-hydroxylase of rat liver. These results may be explained by steric hindrance of the enzyme system involved.

On the basis of the present findings it can be concluded that oestriol 3-monoglucuronide arises exclusively by direct glucuronidation of oestriol, and not by enzymatic reduction of 16α-hydroxyoestrone 3-monoglucuronide or by 16α-hydroxylation of 17β-oestradiol 3-monoglucuronide.
BINDING OF SEX STEROIDS TO RABBIT SPERM
Authors: Ericsson R. J. , Cornette J. C. , Buthala D. A.
Published: December 2008

Semen from rabbits treated with 3H-oestradiol was radioactive. Seminal fluids contained an average of 66.8% of the activity while twice-washed sperm had 11.2%. Comparison of binding capacity in vitro of tritiated sex steroids showed that progesterone and oestradiol had a much greater affinity (P <.05) for sperm than did testosterone (11.1, 7.8 and 1.1%, respectively). An increase in incubation time from 30 minutes to 20 hours did not significantly alter the amounts of steroid bound to sperm. The amount of steroid bound to washed sperm was increased three-fold by delaying steroid incubation until after removal of sperm from seminal fluids. Attempts to remove significant amounts of 3H-steroids from sperm by incubation of each sample with 10 times the amount of cold steroid were unsuccessful. Autoradiographs of sperm labeled in vitro with 3H-oestradiol revealed grains located primarily on the periphery of the sperm cell, which indicates attachment and not penetration of the steroid.
ENZYMMUSTER UND PROGESTERONSYNTHESE
Authors: Brandau Hartmut , Remmlinger Karin , Luh Wilfried
Published: December 2008

During the maturation of follicles and corpora lutea in the rabbit ovary the activity levels of oxidoreductases of glycolysis, citric acid cycle, glycerophosphate cycle, pentose phosphate shunt as well as the Δ5,3β-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase were studied in granulosa cells by histochemical technique. While the oxidoreductases of the glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and glycerophosphate cycle show continuously unvaried activities a remarkable increase was found regarding the activities of NADPH2-supplying enzymes and Δ5,3β-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase before resp. after ovulation. According to these relations the granulosa cells of rabbit ovary cannot produce progesterone prior to 8 hours after ovulation. Furthermore, the analysis of the sequence and the functional role of enzyme activation in the granulosa cells allows some conclusions about the mechanism of gonadotrophin action influencing the metabolism of steroid hormone producing cells.
A CIRCADIAN RHYTHM IN OVARIAN CHOLESTEROL
Authors: Clark J. H. , Zarrow M. X.
Published: December 2008

Total ovarian cholesterol levels in the Wistar and Holtzman rat were found to exhibit a circadian (= diurnal) rhythm in the mature female and in the immature PMS-HCG treated animal although certain differences existed between the two strains. Cholesterol levels were determined at 1:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on each day of the oestrous cycle in mature animals. A 19% depletion occurred at metoestrus in the Wistar rat but no significant change was noted in the Holtzman rat. During dioestrus a significant depletion occurred in both strains, i. e. 15% in the Wistar and 19% in the Holtzman strain. On the day of prooestrus the cholesterol levels in both strains showed a 50% depletion. During oestrus the values for the Wistar remained low while the levels in the Holtzman showed a significant increase of 25%. No diurnal rhythm occurred in mature animals kept in constant light or in animals which had been androgen-sterilized with 1.25 mg of testosterone propionate on day two of age. The cholesterol levels were also measured in immature animals of both strains that had been prepared for use in OCD assay for LH, i. e., 50 IU of PMS on day 22 and 24 and 25 IU of HCG on day 26. Measurements were taken at 8:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 2:30 a.m. on day 36 of age. The immature Wistar rat showed a highly significant diurnal rhythm with the highest value at 1:30 p.m. and the lowest value at 2:30 a.m. The immature rat of the Holtzman strain failed to show any rhythm but the cholesterol levels were twice as high as those noted in the Wistar rat. Androgen sterilization abolished the diurnal rhythm in the Wistar animals and significantly increased the ovarian cholesterol values in both strains. The results indicate that a diurnal rhythm in ovarian cholesterol is present. The cholesterol depletion on the day of dioestrus is discussed with regard to its role in the timing of ovulation.
DISTURBED ORGANIC BINDING IN THE THYROID: ONE OR TWO DEFECTS?
Authors: Bax G. M. , Wiener J. D.
Published: December 2008

Defective binding of iodine accumulated in the thyroid gland to tyrosyl radicals of thyroglobulin (organic binding) has been found in goitrous, mainly hypothyroid patients by a number of investigators since its first description by Stanbury & Hedge in 1950. A hypothyroid goitrous cretin with this defect is briefly described in this paper.

Defective organic binding of iodine has also been found in goitrous, mainly euthyroid patients in association with deafness. This disorder has become known as Pendred's syndrome. A systematic search in two schools for the deaf yielded nine patients with the syndrome and nine cases (including the mother of one of the first-mentioned patients) where the diagnosis was probable.

Evidence is further presented in this paper that Stanbury & Hedge's defect and Pendred's syndrome are expressions of essentially the same disease, presenting quantitative rather than qualitative differences.
THE EFFECT OF HYPOTHALAMIC DEAFFERENTATION UPON PUBERTY IN THE FEMALE RAT
Authors: Ramaley J. A. , Gorski R. A.
Published: December 2008

Neural connections of the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) were completely or partially severed in 180 22-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats by means of the Halàsz knife and the subsequent gonadal development studied. Surgical transection of all neural input (complete deafferentation) or of only the fibers reaching the MBH from anterior resulted in precocious vaginal opening followed immediately by the onset of persistent vaginal oestrus. Surgery which transected the lateral and posterior connections had no effect, while sham surgery delayed puberty slightly. Animals with anterior or complete deafferentation of the MBH failed to ovulate at puberty. Upon necropsy at 90 days of age, the ovaries of the latter animals contained large follicles but no corpora lutea and weighed less than control ovaries. The deafferented region associated with precocity and persistent vaginal oestrus extended from just behind the optic chiasm to the mamillary body and about 1.2 mm dorsally and laterally. Prepuberal injection of 25 IU PMS accelerated vaginal opening and ovulation in intact controls. Ovulation did not occur after PMS in animals with anterior deafferentation of the MBH although the ovaries at necropsy equalled in weight those of intact PMS-treated controls. It appears that the neurally isolated MBH can sustain precocious maturation due presumably to the removal of inhibitory influences, but it cannot support regular ovulatory cycles.
STUDIES ON ESTER SULPHATES
Authors: Boström Harry , Wengle Bo
Published: December 2008

A survey of the distribution of phenol and steroid sulphokinases in various adult human tissues has been undertaken by the use of 35S-labelled 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulphate (PAPS). The following healthy tissues were studied: adrenals, jejunal mucosa, kidneys, liver, ovaries and spleen. In addition, some determinations were made on pathological tissues, i. e. cirrhotic liver, an adrenal adenoma, hypernephromas, nephritic renal tissues and various thyroid adenomas.

Phenol sulphokinase was present in all the tissues studied. With one exception, the various steroid sulphokinases (dehydroepiandrosterone, androsterone, aetiocholan-3α-ol-17-one, testosterone, pregnan-3α-ol-20-one, pregnan-3β-ol-20-one, 11-deoxycorticosterone and oestrone sulphokinase) were detectable in three organs only (liver, adrenals and jejunal mucosa). The exception was the presence of oestrone sulphokinase in a thyroid adenoma of »foetal« type. In the pathological tissues, the level of the enzyme activities did not deviate significantly from that in normal tissues. The pH optima of some sulphokinases were estimated and found to be 5.8 for DHA sulphokinase, 5.5 for androsterone sulphokinase and 6.8 for phenol sulphokinase in the liver preparations. In the adrenal preparations the pH optimum for DHA and DOC sulphokinase was 6.3 and that for androsterone sulphokinase 5.9.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF TESTOSTERONE BY HUMAN TESTES AND A VIRILIZING INTERSTITIAL CELL TUMOUR
Authors: Sharma D. C. , Racz E. A. , Dorfman R. I. , Schoen E. J.
Published: December 2008

A comparative in vitro study of an interstitial cell tumour of the testis from a virilized patient and »normal« testes from another male has been made by incubating homogenates of these tissues with radioactive progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone and androst-4-ene-3,17-dione-4-14C. The patient with the testicular tumour was a 14-year old boy whose clinical studies, reported in detail elsewhere, revealed a history of early puberty and laboratory findings of markedly elevated levels of urinary total 17-ketosteroids and pregnanetriol. These urinary values fell to normal following removal of the right testicular tumour, which was interpreted as being a benign interstitial cell tumour on histologic examination. The radioactive metabolites from the testicular tissue of both subjects were separated, purified and identified by partition column chromatography in various systems with authentic standards, formation of derivatives and isotopic dilution analysis. The interstitial cell tumour converted a significant amount of the substrate progesterone into 16α-hydroyprogesterone, besides testosterone and androst-4-ene-3,17-dione; reduction at C20 was also a major reaction when either progesterone or 17α-hydroxyprogesterone was the substrate. On a comparative basis the activity of C17-20 desmolase was about five times more in the tumour as compared to the testicular tissue.
STUDIES ON THE HYDROLYSIS OF GEL-FILTERED URINARY OESTROGENS
Authors: Adlercreutz H.
Published: December 2008

The effect of pH, enzyme concentration, administration of corticotrophin and cortisol on the enzyme hydrolysis of gel-filtered urinary oestrogens was studied. Special attention was directed to the hydrolysis of oestrogen conjugates in the first fraction (peak I) following gel filtration. In addition, the effect on enzyme hydrolysis of D-glucosaccharic acid added to urine before gel filtration was studied and some comparisons between acid and enzyme hydrolysis were also carried out.

It was found that for peak I oestrogen conjugates, higher enzyme concentrations of β-glucuronidase (600 Fishman units per ml) are needed to give quantitative results than for peak II conjugates (second fraction obtained by gel filtration) (200 Fishman units per ml), but otherwise the same conditions for hydrolysis can be used for both fractions. These conditions are 0.15 m sodium acetate buffer, pH 4.1–4.2, 37° C, and overnight incubation with a Helix pomatia extract.

It was also found that if the Kober reaction is used as the final step for oestriol estimation by the method of Beling, impurities occurring in the final extract decrease the recoveries to some extent by interfering both with the development of the Kober reaction and with the Allen correction of the estimated absorbancies. This phenomenon occurs predominantly if peak I oestrogens are estimated. In addition, some inhibition of the β-glucuronidase occurs in peak I, varying in degree from one urine to another, while the administration of ACTH and cortisol increases both the amount of impurities interfering with the Kober reaction and the amount of enzyme inhibitors present in urine and occurring mostly before, but also partially in the peak I fraction.

It is concluded that peak I and peak II oestrogens following gel filtration should be hydrolysed separately and with a higher enzyme concentration for peak I. In addition, it is concluded that both glucose, D-glucosaccharic acid and a large number of impurities are eliminated from the oestrogen fractions by gel filtration, and that this procedure represents a great advance in oestrogen methodology.
THE LIPID-MOBILIZING EFFECT OF SOME PITUITARY GLAND PREPARATIONS
Authors: Trygstad Olav
Published: December 2008

Clinical observations and endocrinological research have provided evidence of the existence of a specific pituitary regulation of triglycerideolysis in depot fat.

A lipid-mobilizing fraction was prepared from deep-frozen human pituitary glands by slightly alkaline extraction followed by acetone precipitation at a pH below the isoelectric point for growth hormone. This crude fraction was purified by Sephadex gel filtration and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Preparation of this lipid-mobilizing fraction failed when acetone-dried pituitary glands were used.

The obtained lipid-mobilizing factor (LMF) had two bands on polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis, and the molecular weight was determined to be in the range of 5000. There was loss of lipolytic activity when partly purified LMF was incubated in physiological saline at 37° C.

No somatotrophic or thyrotrophic activity was observed in LMF and only traces of prolactin, ACTH- and MSH-like activities. The LMF was lipolytic both in vivo and in vitro on rabbit and human adipose tissue. The effect on mouse and rat was questionable. In rabbits LMF also caused ketonaemia, hyperlipaemia, increased liver fat, decrease of liver glycogen, prolonged hyperglycaemia and decrease of serum calcium and inorganic phosphorus. High doses of LMF induced a hypermetabolic state in the rabbit with marked hypocalcaemia usually accompanied by convulsions and death.

It is concluded that the prepared LMF is probably an aggregation of a lipotrophic and a rabbit serum-calcium-lowering factor. The lipotrophic factor may be a specific pituitary 'adipotrophin' or a denaturation product from a previously accepted pituitary hormone. A possible relationship between LMF and a diabetogenic-adipokinetic core of growth hormone is discussed.
CHARCOAL-DEXTRAN RADIOIMMUNOASSAY OF HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE
Authors: Wool Marvin S. , Selenkow Herbert A.
Published: December 2008

A simplified procedure is described for radioimmunoassay of human growth hormone (HGH) in serum using 125I as a label and dextrancharcoal separation of antibody-bound from unbound HGH. Serum HGH levels were measured fasting and after insulin induced hypoglycaemia in four normal subjects, five patients with hypopituitarism and seven with acromegaly. These values agreed well with similar reports by other investigators.
THE METABOLIC EFFECT OF A SMALL UNIFORM DOSE OF HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE IN HYPOPITUITARY DWARFS AND IN CONTROL CHILDREN
Authors: Prader A. , Zachmann M. , Poley R. , Illig R.
Published: December 2008

The results of a metabolic test with short-term administration of small doses of human growth hormone (2 mg/m2 of HGH Raben daily) in 17 hypopituitary dwarfs and in 15 control children are described. A much greater N-retention is found in the hypopituitary patients. The excretion of creatinine and creatine decreases and the excretion of calcium increases in both groups. Serum urea-N decreases in both groups. Serum α-NH2-N increases and the α-NH2-N-clearance decreases in the hypopituitary patients, while this is not the case in the control children. Serum inorganic phosphorus increases and alkaline phosphatase decreases in the hypopituitary patients. An attempt has been made to correlate some of the metabolic responses.
EFFECT OF GRADED DOSES OF CARBIMAZOLE AND PROPYLTHIOURACIL ON THE SYNTHESIS OF THE THYROID HORMONES
Authors: Bois-Svensson Ingeborg , Blomstedt B. , Einhorn J.
Published: December 2008

The effect of graded doses of carbimazole on hormonal synthesis in the thyroid gland was studied in the rat, and compared with that of graded doses of propylthiouracil. The synthesis of thyroxine and triiodothyronine was totally inhibited by 3–5 mg of carbimazole daily; at this dose the ratio was the same as for untreated controls. A dose of 1–3 1− mg of propylthiouracil also inhibited the synthesis of thyroxine and triiodothyronine, but at this dose the ratio was much lower than for the controls. The dose of carbimazole that inhibits the formation of thyroxine and triiodothyronine seems to have little effect on the icdination of the tyrosine radicals and on the formation of mono- and diiodotyrosine.
STUDIES ON THE METABOLISM OF C-19 STEROIDS IN THE HUMAN FOETO-PLACENTAL UNIT
Authors: Mancuso S. , Benagiano G. , Acqua S. Dell' , Shapiro M. , Wiqvist N. , Diczfalusy E.
Published: December 2008

Previable foetuses were perfused with 3H-labelled testosterone (T) plus 14C-labelled androstenedione (A), or with 3H-labelled dehydroepiandrosterone plus 14C-labelled A. In addition, in two experiments half of the liver and one adrenal of foetuses perfused with 3H-labelled A were incubated with 14C-labelled A. From the various tissues several products of aromatisation and hydroxylation were isolated in a radiochemically homogeneous form.

Oestrogens were present only in the extracts of livers and in the perfusates. From the livers oestrone, 17β-oestradiol, 15α-hydroxy-oestradiol and oestriol were isolated. Following reduction with KBH4 of the fraction containing 16epi-oestriol together with ring D hydroxy-ketones, 15α-hydroxy-oestradiol, oestriol and 16epi-oestriol were isolated. These oestrogens, which were present exclusively as conjugated material, were only formed from A and T, but not from dehydroepiandrosterone. Conjugated oestrone, but no 17β-oestradiol was isolated from the perfusates. No oestrogens were detected in the extracts of the adrenals, not even following the perfusion and subsequent incubation with large amounts of A. Oestrogens were also absent from the combined extracts of all other foetal tissues.

Unconjugated 11β-hydroxy-androstenedione was isolated from the adrenals as the principal metabolite of A both in the perfusion and incubation studies. It was also isolated from the perfusates. Conjugated 11β-hydroxy-testosterone was isolated from the adrenals as a major metabolite of T. No unconjugated 1 1β-hydroxy-testosterone was detected in any of the perfusion or incubation experiments. Little, if any adrenosterone was present in the adrenals. However, this compound was isolated from the extracts of the lungs and residual tissues. No qualitative sex difference was found in the formation of any of the compounds isolated.

The formation of 15- and 16-oxygenated oestrogens by the liver was contrasted by the absence of 15α-hydroxy-androstenedione, 15α-hydroxy-testosterone, 16α-hydroxy-androstenedione, or 16α-hydroxy-testosterone from any of the tissues. Lack of 16α-hydroxylation of A was also demonstrated following the incubation of A with homogenates of adrenals and livers.

It is concluded that:

aromatisation in the foetal organism takes place only in the liver and exclusively from α,β-unsaturated 3-ketosteroids,

part of the conjugated oestrogen formed by the foetal liver is released into the foeto-placental circulation, mainly, if not entirely, in a ketonic form,

15α- and 16α-hydroxylation of A and T is preceded by aromatisation and takes place only in the liver,

part of the A secreted by the placenta to the foetus is returned to the placenta in the form of 11β-hydroxy-androstenedione.
EFFECT OF TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE ON THE RELEASE OF FSH FROM THE PITUITARY GLAND
Authors: Steinberger E. , Duckett G.
Published: December 2008

On the basis of a study of changes in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in rat pituitary glands, obtained at various times after orchiectomy, it has been previously suggested that the Leydig cell secretions may regulate the release of FSH from the pituitary gland (Steinberger & Duckett 1966). This hypothesis was put to test in the present study. FSH levels have been determined in the pituitary gland and plasma of normal, testosterone-treated, orchiectomized, and orchiectomized testosteronetreated rats. A marked drop of pituitary FSH levels, associated with an elevation of plasma FSH levels, was observed in orchiectomized rats. Administration of testosterone to orchiectomized rats prevented the drop in pituitary FSH levels and rendered the blood levels undetectable. These results are interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that testosterone has an inhibitory effect on the release of FSH from the pituitary gland.
THE IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIVITY AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF IODINATED INSULIN
Authors: Brunfeldt K. , Hansen B. A. , Jorgensen K. R.
Published: December 2008

Pig insulin substituted with 1.0–10.8 I/mole was made in preparative quantities and analysed by elementary analysis, paper electrophoresis at pH 1.8, and UV spectroscopy. The preparations were tested for biological activity by intravenous injection into rabbits, by the mouse convulsion method, and by the effect on the 14C-D-glucose turnover in isolated rat fat cells. The reactivity of the preparations with pig insulin antibodies from guinea-pigs was tested by the double-antibody method in competition with 125I-insulin iodinated to about 0.7 I/mole. The reactivity with insulin antibodies was also tested with 125I-labelled insulin having a higher degree of iodination, by simultaneous iodination with 127I.

Agreement between the calculated and the actual amount of iodine was demonstrated up to 8 I/mole. The UV absorption showed that at even higher degrees of iodination, iodine could be substituted into the tyrosine residues, showing that iodine also reacts with other structures in the insulin molecule. Weak non-covalent binding also seems to occur.

The iodination was found to have a reducing effect, as a function of the number of iodine atoms per mole insulin, on the reactivity with antibodies as well as on the biological activity. A reducing effect was also found, on the reactivity with antibodies as well as on the biological activity, when insulin was substituted with 0.9 mole fluorescein-isothiocyanate per mole insulin.
STUDIES OF THE INSULIN-LIKE ACTIVITY OF SERUM
Authors: Gjedde F.
Published: December 2008

A modification of the adipose tissue bioassay for insulin is described. The glucose uptake or the 14CO2 production from 14C-1 glucose of adipose tissue, pooled in 8 flasks from 4 rats, is used as response parameter. Comparative determinations of the insulin-like activity of the same sera were made with the adipose tissue and the rat diaphragm bioassays. Blood samples from healthy fasting males were used as a normal material. The method of collecting the sera was found to markedly affect the insulin-like activity.

When plasma was separated from the formed elements of blood, using cooling at 4–8° C as an anticoagulant, and allowed to clot at 4° C, the mean insulin-like activity by the adipose tissue bioassay was found to correspond to 98 μU and by the rat diaphragm to 97 μU per ml (48 sera).

Sera, obtained from blood that had been left at room temperature for 3 hours, showed a mean insulin-like activity of 321 μU per ml determined by the adipose tissue bioassay and of 307 μU per ml determined by the rat diaphragm method, while the same sera, prepared at 4–8° C showed an insulin-like activity of about 100 μU per ml by both methods.

By dilution to 25 per cent with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer, the insulin-like activity of serum did not fall proportionally to the degree of dilution, but corresponded, after multiplication with the dilution factor to 200 μU as against 100 μU per ml undiluted serum determined by both methods.

Addition of anti-insulin serum to sera from normal fasting subjects reduced the insulin-like activity of sera from an average of 94 to a mean of 71 μU per ml determined by the adipose tissue bioassay, and from 100 to 76 μU per ml determined by the rat diaphragm bioassay.
INTERFERENZMIKROSKOPISCHE UNTERSUCHUNGEN AN ZELLEN VERSCHIEDENER HYPOPHYSENADENOME
Authors: Sehrbundt H.-J. , Müller W.
Published: December 2008

The dry mass of the cells of a chromophobic, eosinophilic and basophilic adenoma of the pituitary gland is calculated with the use of a Zeiss interference microscope. The dry weights per unit area of the eosinophilic cells are the largest, followed by the chromophobic and the basophilic. The dry weights are compared with the activity of the cells. The errors based on the method are discussed.
UPTAKE OF INTRAVENOUSLY ADMINISTERED PROGESTERONE, PREGNANEDIONE AND PREGNANOLONE BY THE RAT BRAIN
Authors: Raisinghani K. H. , Dorfman R. I. , Forchielli E. , Gyermek L. , Genther G.
Published: December 2008

A method has been developed for the detection, isolation and quantitation of progesterone, pregnanolone and pregnanedione in brain tissue of rats receiving pharmacological hypnotic doses of these three substances. Prior to extraction radioactive tracers were added to brain tissue obtained from animals receiving these agents and the brain tissue extracts were purified by paper and thin layer chromatography. The material administered as well as some of the major metabolites were quantitated by gas liquid chromatography, and corrections for losses throughout the entire procedure and up to injection into GLC were based on recovery of added radioactive markers. The possible significance of the conversion of progesterone into hypnotically more potent metabolites is discussed.
INCREASE IN TRANSMITTER CONTENT OF ADRENERGIC NERVES IN THE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT OF FEMALE RABBITS AFTER OESTROGEN TREATMENT
Authors: Sjöberg Nils-Otto
Published: December 2008

Changes in the noradrenaline content of adrenergic nerves innervating the reproductive organs in rabbits treated with 17β-oestradiol were studied by fluorescence microscopy. The changes were correlated with alterations in the total noradrenaline content of the organs as determined fluorimetrically. The heart was used as control tissue.

17β-oestradiol produced a marked increase in noradrenaline of the neurones innervating the muscle coats of the uterus and vagina, both in intact and oophorectomized animals. A similar, though less regular, increase was found in the oviduct, but no such increase was observed in the ovary or the heart. Thus, adrenergic nerves to the female genital tract can be influenced by hormonal treatment to behave in a way similar to that previously found during the early stages of pregnancy.

The results are discussed in the light of observations showing that the uterus and vagina are innervated by a special type of short adrenergic neurones; the heart and ovary, by ordinary long neurones from the sympathetic chain; and the oviduct by both types of nerves.
THE EFFECT OF EXOGENOUS RIBONUCLEIC ACID ON ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY IN THE OVARIECTOMIZED MOUSE UTERUS
Authors: Mansour A. Maher
Published: December 2008

RNA from tissues subjected to very high doses of 17β-oestradiol in vivo and in vitro was injected into the uteri of ovariectomized mice before and after ether washing of the RNA.

Alkaline phosphatase content of the atrophied uterus was measured after the RNA injections.

Results indicate that alkaline phosphatase induction is due to RNA and that ether washing completely eliminates hormonal contamination.

The role played by the hormone-cytoplasm requires further attention.
CATECHOLAMINES AND MEDULLARY VOLUME IN THE ADRENAL GLANDS OF YOUNG MICE
Authors: Lagerspetz Kari Y. H. , Hissa Raimo
Published: December 2008

The adrenaline and noradrenaline contents of adrenals of mice aged from 1 to 28 days and of adult controls were determined fluorometrically and the volumes of the adrenal medulla were also estimated. A steady 200-fold overall increase in the content of adrenaline was found to occur during growth. This was paralleled by the growth of the medulla. During the first few postnatal days there was no growth of the medulla, its catecholamine content was very low and the noradrenaline/adrenaline ratio was high.
STUDIES OF THE INSULIN-LIKE ACTIVITY OF SERUM
Authors: Gjedde F.
Published: December 2008

The insulin-like activity (ILA) of serum and serum protein fractions was investigated by the adipose tissue and the rat diaphragm methods of bioassay.

When undiluted serum was dialyzed against tap water at room temperature an increase in the ILA of the dialyzed serum was observed. The increase, which was localized in a precipitate of denatured globulins, corresponded per ml dialyzed serum to the effect of 100 000 μU crystalline insulin, measured by both methods. It was found that in the presence of calcium ions, a pH value between 7.7 and 8.1 and a temperature of about 37° C favoured the increase in ILA by dialysis.

Treatment of serum protein fractions, separated in starch block electrophoresis, with dialysis by a standardized procedure against calcium containing water of low ionic concentration increased the ILA from about 4000 to 450 000 μU ILA per ml of fractionated serum.

Of the ILA in the serum protein fractions, before and after dialysis, about two thirds was localized in the alpha globulins, and about one third in the beta-two globulins. A varying proportion of from 50 to 80 per cent of the ILA was suppressed by the addition of anti-insulin serum. Three serum proteins, found in other studies to bind radioactivity when incubated with labelled insulin, showed ILA. Following dialysis, a very marked increase in the ILA of all three globulins was observed. The ILA in the three serum proteins was found to account for most of the ILA in the serum.

These findings were obtained by both the adipose tissue and the rat diaphragm bioassay, no significant difference being found between the results obtained by the two assays.

Some hypotheses on the state of insulin in the blood are discussed in relation to these observations.

It is concluded that the main part of ILA of serum is due to insulin associated with the three globulins, and that the activity of insulin is probably potentiated by binding to serum proteins.