bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of α-Fetoprotein, Albumin and Total Serum Protein in Neonatal Pigs
Authors: Ingvarsson Bengt I. , Carlsson Roland N.K. , Karlsson Börje W.
Published: September 2009

Studies on the incorporation of 3H-leucine established that synthesis of α-fetoprotein (AFP) does occur in the neonatal pig. This synthesis probably accounts for the increase in AFP concentration from 0.46 mg/ml on the day after birth to the maximum value of 1.02 mg/ml found 5 days after birth. After the 5th day, the concentration decreases successively and AFP cannot be detected by electroimmunoassay in the sera of 8-week-old pigs. During the first 3 weeks of extrauterine life, the albumin concentration in serum increases from 3 mg/ml to approximately 30 mg/ml due mainly to increased synthesis of albumin. The concentration of AFP in the fetal pig serum decreases from 3 mg/ml at 6.5 cm crown-to-rump (CR) length to 0.8 mg/ml at 28 cm CR length, whereas the albumin concentration increases from 0.2 mg/ml at 6.5 cm CR length to 1.0 mg/ml at 28 cm CR length. The total serum protein content in the fetus is approximately 20 mg/ml irrespective of gestational age. During the first day after birth there is a marked increase in both the synthesis and the concentration of total serum proteins. The concentration rises to 70 mg/ml during the first day and then slowly declines to 65 mg/ml during the 3 weeks following birth.
Bubble Clicking in Pharyngeal Aspirate Compared with Lecithin/Sphingomyelin Ratio
Authors: Parkinson Christine E. , Supramaniam Ganesh , Harvey David
Published: September 2009

Tracheal fluid flows into the pharynx, so surfactant can be measured in pharyngeal aspirate. The walls of bubbles in air-free water show rhythmic movements (bubble clicking) if they contain surfactant. Babies with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) have very little lung surfactant which can be shown by a low lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio. To investigate surfactant in newborn babies we analysed 125 pharyngeal aspirates for the L/S ratio and bubble clicking. Both tests became more positive towards term and were related to the incidence of RDS. Babies with birth asphyxia or mild respiratory difficulties had lower L/S ratios and less clicking than normal babies. Both investigations could be used to chart the course of RDS. The L/S ratio is a chemical measurement of surfactant. Bubble clicking, which takes only a few minutes, demonstrates surface tension effects.
Agar in Control of Hyperbilirubinemia of Full-Term Newborn Infants with Erythrocyte G-6-PD Deficiency
Authors: Meloni Tullio , Costa Sinfarosa , Corti Rachele , Cutillo Stefano
Published: September 2009

40 full-term newborn infants with erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency were used for a study concerning the effectiveness of agar per os in preventing severe hyperbilirubinemia. 20 randomly selected neonates were given agar(l g/kg/day) orally in 4 daily doses from their 1st to their 5th day of life. 20 infants were not treated and served as controls. Three exchange transfusions were performed in the experimental as well as in the control group. According to these results, agar does not seem to be effective in preventing severe hyperbilirubinemia, which frequently occurs in newborn infants with erythrocyte G-6-PD deficiency.
Renal Response to Ringer Expansion in Developing Rats
Authors: Misanko B.S. , Evan A.P. , Bengele H.H. , Solomon S.
Published: September 2009

Male rats were studied between 20 and 60 days of age. Standard renal clearance techniques were used. The efficiency of the diuretic response, the sodium response, and the potassium response were calculated as defined previously. Results indicate that both diuretic and sodium efficiency is lower between the ages of 20 and 30 days as compared to 40 and 60 days of age, whereas potassium efficiency shows no age deoendence. In morphological studies, it has been observed that the proximal tubule cells of 22-day-old rats show changes in lateral intercellular spaces with comparable features to those of mature animals. The spaces widened during volume expansion. The change is quantitatively the same as that found in mature rats. Both blood pressure and hematocrit show continuous increase with age. The response of Ringer infusion in both immature and mature animals may be a mixed response involving changes in physical factors and renal responses to volume expansion per se.
Relationship between Maturity, Electrolyte Balance and the Function of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System in Newborn Infants
Authors: Sulyok E. , Németh M. , Tényi I. , Csaba I.F. , Varga F. , Györy E. , Thurzó V.
Published: September 2009

Simultaneous measurement of plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration (PA) and urinary aldosterone excretion (UAE) was made using the RIA method along with determination of Na and K balance in 1-week-old neonates with gestational age of 30–41 weeks (mean 35.9 weeks) and birth weight of 1,160–4,670 g (mean 2,680 g). It was demonstrated that PRA decreased from the value of 36.3 ± 6.3 ng/ml/h (mean ± SE) to a level of 10.2 ± 2.1 ng/ml/h (p < 0.001), PA did not change and UAE increased from 3.3 ± 0.8 to 7.8 ± 1.4 μg/day (p < 0.01) as the gestational age advanced from 30–32 to 39–41 weeks. There was no correlation between either PRA and PA or PA and UAE. PRA showed a significant positive correlation with urinary Na excretion (p < 0.001) and plasma K concentration (p < 0.05), but it was negatively related to Na balance (p < 0.001). Significant negative correlations were found between UAE and urinary Na excretion (p < 0.05), urinary Na/K ratio (p < 0.01) and plasma K concentration (p < 0.05); however, UAE positively correlated with Na balance (p < 0.01). It is concluded that, in response to renal salt wasting and to the subsequent negative salt balance, premature infants can augment their PRA above values found for full-term infants. Their adrenals, however, failed to respond adequately to this stimulation.
Evidence that the Renal Response to Volume Expansion Involves a Blood-Borne Factor
Authors: Solomon S. , Hathaway S. , Curb D.
Published: September 2009

The effect of blood volume expansion in immature rats by blood from infants (J to J expansion) and mature animals (A to J) has been studied. A to J expansion results in an increased renal response to expansion which is greater than J to J, but not as great as when mature animals are expanded with blood from other matures (A to A) or pooled blood from infants (J to A). A to A and J to A expansions show no significant differences in renal responsiveness. The lack of an immature response is not due to differences in animal hydration since 2.5% volume expansion is on the flat part of the dose response curve. Part of the scatter of the adult response is related to absolute levels of GFR which might indicate the existence of a filterable natriuretic factor or, alternatively, a dependence of renal responsiveness on filtered load. These results are interpreted to indicate that mature rats contain a natriuretic factor or an inhibitor of an antinatriuretic factor which is blood borne and is probably secreted in blood volume expanded rats.
Response of the Organs of Rabbits to Feeding during the First Days after Birth
Authors: Hall Rosamund A. , Widdowson Elsie M.
Published: September 2009

An experiment described previously showed a large increase in weight and protein of the intestinal mucosa of suckling piglets during the first 24 h after birth. This did not take place in piglets that were starved. The results might have been partly due to the inclusion of protein molecules in the mucosa in process of absorption. Rabbits do not absorb large quantities of protein after birth, and the experiment has now been repeated on them. The gastrointestinal tract of suckled rabbits also grew rapidly in the first 24 h, but again not in those that were given only water, which is in line with the suggestion that colostrum contains a factor which stimulates the growth of the gastrointestinal tract. The brain gained weight in the suckled animals, due to incorporation of lipid and protein. It gained weight too in the starving rabbits, demonstrating its high priority for nutrients at a time when its growth velocity is at its peak.
Comparison of Cardiovascular Reflexes of the Newborn and Adult Opossum
Authors: House E.W. , Hoffer T. , Ross B.K..
Published: September 2009

Neural control of the cardiovascular system was compared in the newborn and adult opossum by measuring changes in blood pressure and heart rate following carotid arterial occlusion and vagal stimulation. The percent change in blood pressure of the newborn was not significantly different from that of the adult following these procedures. This would indicate that even though the newborn opossum is incompletely developed for some time after birth, its neural development was adequate for control of the cardiovascular system.
Glucose Tolerance Tests in Women with Small-for-Date Fetuses and Newborns
Authors: Šabata V.
Published: September 2009

Peroral glucose tolerance tests were performed in women with small-for-date fetuses and in controls with healthy fetuses in the 38th week of pregnancy, 2 days and 6 weeks after delivery. 2 h after the load of 50 g of glucose, the blood glucose level remained significantly higher in pregnant women with small-for-date fetuses. The other parameters followed did not exhibit any difference from the control group. Since this deviation disappeared very rapidly after delivery it may be supposed that it is caused by hormonal and other influences of the atypical conceptus and not by a primary derangement of maternal metabolism or by a disparate responsiveness of the maternal organism to pregnancy.
Effect of Hormones on the Development of Creatine Kinase Activity in Rat Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Kloosterboer H.J. , van Faassen H. , Stoker-De Vries S.A. , Hommes F.A.
Published: September 2009

Various approaches have been used in order to determine whether or not a certain hormone is a stimulus for the development of the muscle-specific enzyme, creatine kinase. Both thyroxine and glucocorticoids can be considered as naturally occurring stimuli for the synthesis of creatine kinase. The maximum increase of creatine kinase activity after stimulation by glucocorticoids (about 25%) occurs between 5 and 7 days after birth. A single injection of thyroxine has virtually no effect during this period. However, when a pretreatment with thyroxine is given, cortisone acetate administration increases creatine kinase activity to about 155%. The effect of cortisone acetate is due to de novo synthesis of creatine kinase. The augmentation of the effect of cortisone acetate by thyroxine is dependent on DNA synthesis. Thyroxine administration apparently causes the formation of more competent muscle cells. The effects of both hormones are age-dependent. Thyroxine and cortisone acetate administration to fetuses can prematurely evoke the MM isoenzyme of creatine kinase. Both hormones probably play a role in the activation of the M gene during embryonic development. Sex hormones are able to influence neither creatine kinase activity nor muscle growth. However, castration of male rats immediately after birth causes an impairment of growth at older ages. The androgen production by the testes immediately after birth seems to be of main importance for body growth and development. It can be concluded from these results that creatine kinase in muscle is under multiple hormonal control, just as is observed for a number of enzymes in other tissues.
Fetal Thyrotoxicosis in utero
Authors: Serup Jørgen , Petersen Sten
Published: September 2009

A case of fetal thyrotoxicosis in utero in a boy with familial predisposition to thyrotoxicosis is reported. At 26 weeks of gestation fetal hyperkinesia and fetal tachycardia developed. This was preceded by a significant pathologic increase in long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS) in the mother. The fetal hyperkinesia and tachycardia were considered to be signs of fetal thyrotoxicosis, possibly induced by placentally transferred LATS. The fetal thyrotoxicosis responded well to propylthiouracil given to the mother. After birth the boy developed slight signs of neonatal thyrotoxicosis although his serum thyroxine values increased analogous to those of his elder sister, who had presented classical neonatal thyrotoxicosis.
Trait Anxiety and Defensive Functioning in Relation to Antidepressant Treatment Outcome
Authors: Sukul Yashvir R.M. , Birkenhäger Tom K. , van den Broek Walter W. , Mulder Paul G.H. , Bruijn Jan A.
Published: September 2009

Background: Depression can occur in patients with or without trait anxiety. Although it is assumed that assessment of defenses can be useful in planning biological treatment, no studies have confirmed this hypothesis. In this study we focus on the relation between trait anxiety and defensive functioning, and on the combined influence of these personality characteristics on response to antidepressants among inpatients with a major depressive episode. Methods: Major depressive episode was diagnosed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS) and the severity of the depression was measured with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). The level of trait anxiety was assessed using a questionnaire with 34 questions pertaining to trait anxiety. The Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ 88) was used to assess defensive functioning followed by a weighted overall defensive functioning score (ODF). Partial correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Results: The final sample included 85 patients. A significant negative effect of trait anxiety by ODF (p: 0.000) was found on the outcome score, i.e. the combination of a high score on trait anxiety and a low score on the ODF resulted in a significantly higher final score on the HAM-D. Conclusions: The most important finding in this study is that the combination of a high level of trait anxiety and immature defensive functioning evidently had a negative effect on antidepressant treatment outcome.
Oxidation and Synthesis of Fatty Acids in Human and Rat Placental and Fetal Tissues
Authors: Zimmermann T. , Hummel L. , Möller U. , Kinzl U.
Published: September 2009

The rat fetus (day 21 of pregnancy) covers its fatty acid (FA) demands at equal amounts both by maternal-fetal FA transfer and fetal FA synthesis. At the end of the first trimester the human fetal FA synthesis is too small to cover the fetal FA requirements. Therefore, the transfer of FA from the mother to the fetus seems to be the predominant source of fetal FA. The FA oxidation is greater than the FA synthesis in human and rat placenta as well as in the human fetus at the end of the ñrst trimester, whereas the rat fetus (day 21 of pregnancy) oxidizes and synthesizes FA at equal amounts.
Teratogenic Interaction of Hyperthermia and Vitamin A
Authors: Ferm V.H. , Ferm R.R.
Published: September 2009

Exposure of pregnant hamsters to 60–75 min of hyperthermia on the 8th day of gestation causes malformations in some of the fetuses recovered near term. The feeding of large doses of vitamin A to pregnant hamsters on the 8th day of gestation causes many of the same types of malformations. When pregnant hamsters are treated with the minimal teratogenic hyperthermic stress plus the minimal teratogenic dose of vitamin A there is a clear augmentation of the teratogenic effect on the embryo. The implication that maternal hyperthermia may be an important synergistic factor for a variety of potentially teratogenic influences during pregnancy is discussed.
Development of Jejunoileal Differences of Activity of Lactase, Sucrase and Acid β-Galactosidase in Isografts of Fetal Rat Intestine
Authors: Kendall Kevin , Jumawan Jocelyn , Koldovský Otakar
Published: September 2009

Jejunal and ileal segments from preterm rat fetuses were implanted under the kidney capsula of adult rats. Sucrase, lactase and acid β-galactosidase activities were determined in the isografts at different times after implantation, and in corresponding segments developing in situ. Whereas fetal intestine contains considerable activity of acid (β-galactosidase and lactase, no sucrase activity is detectable. Similarly – as in situ – 4 weeks after the implantation the jejunal segment exhibited higher activity of sucrase and lactase than the ileal segment. Acid β-galactosidase was more active in ileal than in jejunal segments – both growing in situ as well as isografts. Experiments have thus demonstrated that the expression of the jejunoileal gradient of activity of the 3 enzymes studied does not depend on direct contact with food or gastric, pancreatic and biliary juices. This gives validity to the suggestion that the gradient may already be programmed in fetal intestinal tissue, but other factors active in situ might be responsible for its magnitude.
Effect of Hypothermia on Plasma Metabolites in Preterm Newborn Infants with Particular References to Plasma Free Amino Acids
Authors: Schultz K. , Soltész G. , Molnár D. , Mestyán J.
Published: September 2009

Blood glucose, blood lactate, plasma free fatty acids, plasma α-amino nitrogen, plasma free amino acids and blood urea nitrogen were measured in 15 hypothermic preterm infants (mean rectal temperature: 34.5 ± 0.28 °C) during a 2-hour ‘warming-up’ period following admission to our neonatal intensive care unit. Hypothermia was. associated with lactacidemia and hyperalaninemia. The increase in body temperature of the infants resulted in the decrease of lactacidemia and hyperalaninemia. Normal levels of other metabolites remained unchanged.
Postnatal Development of Cardiac Distribution in the Pig
Authors: Parker R.O. , Williams P.E.V. , Aherne F.X. , Young B.A.
Published: September 2009

Distribution of cardiac output was measured in 0- and 12-hour-old piglets using 103Ruthenium-labelled microspheres, 15 ± 3 μm in diameter. The 12-hour-old piglets had remained with the sow and had suckled. Coronary and bronchial fractions of cardiac output were high in piglets at birth. The coronary fraction remained high at 12 h but the bronchial fraction decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Percent cardiac output to the liver and upper gastrointestinal tract, pancreas and salivary gland in 12-hour-old piglets was significantly increased (p < 0.01) by 138, 156, 85 and 109%, respectively, compared with piglets at birth. Preferential blood flow occurred to the lungs, adrenals, heart, thyroid and spleen at 0 h and to the adrenals, thyroid, heart, lungs and diaphragm at 12 h.
Postnatal Maturation of Phrenic, Vagus, and Intercostal Nerves in the Kitten
Authors: Marlot D. , Duron B.
Published: September 2009

In the present work, we have compared the histological maturation of the phrenic nerve, the internal and external intercostal nerves of the 8th space and the vagus nerve. At least three nerves from each category have been taken from different kittens each week during the first 2 months of postnatal life, and each month for kittens aged between 2 and 8 months. Compared to references obtained in the adult animal, the development of the number and diameter of myelinated fibers has been studied for each nerve. Moreover, the maturation of unmyelinated fibers of the phrenic nerve has been studied with the electrom microscope. There is a possibility of a cephalo-caudal maturation in the somatic nerves. Important differences exist between somatic nerve maturation and that of the vagus nerve.
Urinary Excretion of Glomerular Basement Membrane Antigens in Premature Infants and the Newborn
Authors: Lubec G. , Coradello H.
Published: September 2009

25 premature infants, 8 mature newborns and 25 children between 5 and 15 years of age were examined for urinary excretion of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antigens. For the characterization of the excreted GBM antigen, immunoelectrophoresis was applied. In the group of 25 premature infants 23 showed α-1-mobility, in the group of 8 mature newborns all showed α-1-mobility, and in the group of the 25 children aged 5–15 years 24 showed migration into the α-2-zone. Differentiating, whether the difference between the immature and mature GBM is quantitative or qualitative, the immunoelectrophoretical difference points to the interpretation that the premature GBM shows a unique chemical composition.
Effects of Maternal Hypervitaminosis A on Perinatal Rat Lung Histology
Authors: Armenti V.T. , Johnson EM.
Published: September 2009

Retinyl acetate (160,000 USP/day in corn oil) was administered orally to pregnant Long-Evans rats during the last third of gestation. Postnatal evaluation of this treatment was assessed by examination of histologic sections of lung taken from stillborns and from pups that survived several hours. In all sections from treated litters, expansion of lung either did not appear to have occured, or was not uniform. Control lung sections were uniformly expanded in all cases. It appears that hypervitaminosis A during the fetal period alters normal lung maturation. These data provide additional supporting evidence that the fetal period is susceptible to teratogens.
Development of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase Ferroactivator in Fetal and Young Rats and Guinea Pigs
Authors: MacDonald Michael J. , Kowalchyk Judith A. , Ames Liv A. , Bentle Larry A.
Published: September 2009

The development of ferroactivator, a protein that permits Fe2+ to activate the gluconeogenic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, was compared to that of the carboxykinase in rat and guinea pig fetuses and neonates. Significant ferroactivator was present in the liver of the fetal rat and in the liver and kidney of the fetal guinea pig in the last half of gestation. The development of ferroactivator does not parallel that of the carboxykinase which does not attain maximal levels until after birth. Thus, the ferroactivator cannot be rate limiting for neonatal gluconeogenesis. It was found, unexpectedly, that the carboxykinase was increased during suckling in the guinea pig.
Effect of Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone on Plasma Testosterone in Immature and Adult Male Rabbits
Authors: Berger Michel , Jean-Faucher Christiane , de Turckheím Marc , Veyssière Georges , Jean Claude
Published: September 2009

1 μg/l00 g body weight of synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) was administered to immature (25, 35 and 55 days of age) and adult (180 days) male rabbits. Testosterone was measured by radioimmunoassay in plasma samples taken just before and 30 min after LHRH injection. At all stages studied, LHRH significantly increased plasma testosterone. Expressed as a percent of over basal levels, the plasma testosterone was increased by 2,695% at 25 days, 3,955% at 35 days, 6,032% at 55 days and 3,766% at 180 days. Expressed in absolute amounts, the plasma testosterone levels showed an increase of 520 pg/ml at 25 days, 604 pg/ml at 35 days, 1,189 pg/ml at 55 days and 7,596 pg/ml at 180 days. The exact interpretation of the data was difficult since it is dependent on the mode of expression used. Nevertheless, the results support the observation that the hypophyso-testicular axis is functional in immature rabbits.
Metastatic Uterine Cervical Cancer Originating in the Lung: A Case Report
Authors: Kai Kentaro , Takai Noriyuki , Nasu Kaei , Kira Naoko , Ishii Terukazu , Kashima Kenji , Narahara Hisashi
Published: September 2009

We report a case of primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma which metastasized to the uterine cervix. A 69-year-old postmenopausal Japanese female was admitted to our hospital because of general fatigue and atypical genital bleeding. Four years before, she had undergone video-assisted thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy, for primary lung cancer (adenocarcinoma), stage IIIb, pT3N1M0. Gynecologic investigation showed a cauliflower-like tumor in the uterine cervix and parametrial invasion towards the bilateral pelvic wall. Metastasis of extragenital carcinoma to the cervix uteri is rare. Most such reported cases originated in the breast and gastrointestinal tract. In this case, cervical biopsy specimens were revealed to be adenocarcinomatous, similar in pathological features to the previously resected lung cancer. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for thyroid transcription factor-1 and pulmonary surfactant apoprotein A and negative for CA125 and thyroglobulin. Although rare, the respiratory tract should be considered as a possible primary site of uterine cervical metastatic carcinoma.
Postnatal Development of Mevalonate Phosphorylation in the Chick Brain and Kidney
Authors: Linares A. , Garcia-Martinez J. , Suarez M.D. , Garcia-Peregrin E.
Published: September 2009

The quantitative role of the brain and the kidney of the chick in the phosphorylation of mevalonic acid was studied in the early steps of development. In both tissues no significant differences were found in the amount of phosphomevalonic acid formed until 4 days, but a sharp decrease between 4 and 6 days was observed. The amount of pyrophosphomevalonic acid formed showed some change with age, but this change was relatively small when compared with the change in the phosphomevalonic acid formed. According to the function of the brain and the kidney in the sterol and nonsterol pathways in the metabolism of mevalonic acid during neonatal development of chick, an important role for the mevalonate kinase during myelination can be suggested.
Glycogen Reserves in the Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue and Energy Metabolism in Newborns of Diabetic Mothers
Authors: Přibylová H. , Rážová M.
Published: September 2009

Changes of glycogen content in the subcutaneous adipose tissue were followed in 43 infants of insulin-treated diabetic mothers, in 25 infants of gestational diabetic mothers and in 89 infants of healthy mothers. In infants of diabetic mothers and in infants of healthy mothers oxygen consumption and carbon dioxyde output were also examined. Newborns of insulin-treated diabetic mothers and gestational diabetic mothers exhibit in comparison with control newborns higher values and diverse dynamics of glycogen content in the subcutaneous adipose tissue as an indicator of glycogen reserves in the first hours and days after delivery. The low oxygen consumption and increased RQ indicate preferential utilization of carbohydrates possibly together with increased lipogenesis in newborns of mothers with overt diabetes.
Metabolic Responses to Alanine in Small-for-Gestational Age Infants: Developmental Aspects
Authors: Søvik O. , Selvig S. , Finne P.H.
Published: September 2009

14 small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants and 4 healthy adult volunteers were subjected to an intravenous alanine tolerance test. In 8 normoglycemic SGA infants studied during the first 6 days of life, the apparent K value for the disappearance rate of alanine was 3%/min. In 6 hypoglycemic patients studied between day 1 and day 12 the corresponding K value was 2.2%/min. In adult volunteers a Rvalue of 5.6%/min was obtained. Plasma pyruvate increased after alanine in both normoglycemic and hypoglycemic SGA infants. The blood glucose tended to decrease after the alanine load in the hypoglycemic infants, whereas an increase was observed in infants with normoglycemia. On reexamination of 4 hypoglycemic SGA infants after the blood glucose concentration had normalized, a blood glucose profile approaching that of normoglycemic infants was recorded.
Influence of Intrauterine Malnutrition on Brain Development: Alteration of Myelination
Authors: Bourre J.M. , Morand O. , Chanez C. , Dumont O. , Flexor M.A.
Published: September 2009

As compared to other organs, in intrauterine growth retardation brain is less affected; however, forebrain weight and total lipids are reduced. Myelin quantity is reduced by 27, 17, 9 and 6% at 15, 18, 30 and 60 days after birth, respectively. Thus, intrauterine undernutrition followed by normal diet after birth affects myelination, a postnatal event. Prenatal growth retardation moderately but irreversibly impairs brain maturation, whereas the composition of myelin during maturation is close to normal (when density profile, lipid amount and the fatty acid pattern are considered).
Cellular Retinol Binding Protein during Postnatal Development of the Rat Small Intestine
Authors: Kylberg H.K. , Ong D.E. , Chytil F.
Published: September 2009

Levels of the cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) were measured in extracts of rat small intestine from 1 day before birth to day 21 postnatally. Changes in the amount of CRBP per cell were observed. The highest levels were observed in the 1-day-old rat. The amount of CRBP gradually declined until the animals reached the age of 21 days. Thereafter only a slight decline was observed. The postnatal development of CRBP was similar in the jejunum and the ileum, with the jejunum always showing higher levels. However, CRBP was detectable in the jejunum but not in the ileum of adult rats.
Uptake and Release of Energy Substrates, Oxygen, and Carbon Dioxide by the Hindlimb of the Fasting Infant Baboon
Authors: Levitsky Lynne L. , Paton John B. , Fisher David E. , de Lannoy Clarence W.
Published: September 2009

Veno-arterial differences for energy substrates across hindlimb tissues were measured in baboon infants at birth and at 6 weeks. Hindlimb glucose uptake was 2.36 ± 0.80 μM/min in the newly born baboons and 1.81 ± 0.56 μM/min in the 6-week-old infants. The major precursor released by the infant baboon hindlimb was lactate, although release of alanine and glycerol was significant. These studies complement previous data suggesting that glycolysis is a major pathway for energy production in the infant primate.
Phototherapy in Gunn Rats
Authors: Wiese G. , Ballowitz L.
Published: September 2009

A new mathematical analysis is done with data from animal tests published 1977 in this journal. For the phototherapy-induced serum bilirubin decrease, reliable concentration-time functions can be ascertained for any starting level and for any type of fluorescent tube. No saturation point was reached although highly effective irradiances were used.
Biphasic Development of the Postnatal Mouse Pancreas
Authors: Dore Bruce A. , McLean Grogan W. , Madge Gordon E. , Webb Stanley R.
Published: September 2009

Conventional biochemical and histological methods along with DNA flow-cytometric analysis were used (1) to define development of the mouse pancreas from birth to day 90 and (2) to provide information critical for studies on isolated islets and their component cells. Pancreas development in the mouse followed a biphasic pattern. Phase one extended from birth through day 15 and was dominated by proliferation and growth of endocrine cells as most islets attained adult form by day 15. Phase two, from day 15 through 30, was dominated by proliferation and growth of exocrine cells which became maximal by day 20. These data provide evidence suggesting that the optimum age for islet isolation is toward the end of phase one and before phase two, between days 10 and 15, and the optimum age for isolation of endocrine cells for proliferation and growth in culture is during the early part of phase one before most islets have attained adult form, between days 5 and 9.
Fingernail Nitrogen Content in Infants of Diabetic Mothers and in Macrosomic Neonates
Authors: Brans Yves W. , Shannon Donna L.
Published: September 2009

Fingernail nitrogen content (FNC) was determined on nail trimmings obtained within 24 h of birth from 21 infants of diabetic mothers and 82 infants of nondiabetic mothers. Macrosomic infants of nondiabetic mothers had higher mean FNC than their normally grown peers. Both normally grown and macrosomic infants of diabetic mothers had higher mean FNC than normally grown infants of diabetic mothers. These data suggest that fetal macrosomia and maternal diabetes may independently increase the rate of nitrogen accretion in fingernails.
Lack of Effect on Body Weight and Content of Nitrogen and Fat after Insulin Administration to Fetal Rats
Authors: Stangenberg M. , Eklöf A.-Ch. , Dahlquist G. , Persson Bengt
Published: September 2009

The effect of fetal insulin injection on body weight and carcass lipid and nitrogen content was studied in four groups of rat fetuses. In each litter, one fetus in each horn was randomly chosen for treatment with either insulin injection, saline injection, insulin solvent injection or sham operation. Injections were given subcutaneously to the fetuses on days 18½, 19½ and 20½ of gestation. The experimental model and the statistical evaluation took into consideration the influence of the fetal position in the uterine horn as well as the variability of fetal size between different litters. Using this experimental model we found that insulin injections to the fetal rat had no effect on body weight and body composition.
Fetal 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenase Is Altered by Maternal Ethanol Exposure
Authors: Pennington S.N. , Rumbley R.A. , Woody D.G.
Published: September 2009

Several studies have suggested that ethanol consumption may alter prostaglandin metabolism and that this alteration may represent the molecular mechanism underlying certain of the pathophysiological consequences of chronic alcoholism. Our laboratory is investigating the hypothesis that ethanol induced changes in prostaglandin metabolism may be volved in the etiology of the condition termed fetal alcohol syndrome. In this study, pregnant rats (Holtzman) were exposed for 2 h each day throughout gestation to ethanol by vapor inhalation. Ethanol exposure resulted in retarded fetal growth and changes in the prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity in homogenates from placental amnion and maternal and fetal kidney.
Changes in Metabolic Rate and Brown Adipose Tissue Composition during Nutritional Rehabilitation of Postnatally Undernourished Rats
Authors: Rothwell N.J. , Stephens D.N. , Stock M.J.
Published: September 2009

Rats previously undernourished (PU) during the first 3 postnatal weeks gained less weight than controls during the subsequent rehabilitation period, in spite of similar levels of food intake per body weight0.75. Resting oxygen consumption (ml/min/kg0·75) was significantly elevated (15–22%) in the PU group after 36 days of age but this difference was almost completely abolished by β-adrenergic blockade with propranolol. PU rats also showed a greater thermogenic activity after noradrenaline (25 μg/100 g b.wt.) than controls. The mass of brown adipose tissue (BAT, mg/100g b.wt.) was reduced by undernutrition but during rehabilitation BAT increased in PU rats to a value greater than that of controls. These results indicate that the low weight gain of PU rats may result partly from a high metabolic rate due to sympathetic activation of BAT.
Bile Acid Composition in Neonatal Life in Rats
Authors: Yousef Ibrahim M. , Tuchweber Beatrice
Published: September 2009

Bile acid (BA) metabolism was studied in the intestine, liver and plasma of rats at 0–1 day (neonates); 14 days (preweaning); 22 days (weaning) and 60 days (young adults) of age, as well as in the maternal tissues. In the intestine, total BA content (μmol/l00g body weight) decreased during neonatal life and reached maternal levels at 60 days. In the liver, BA increased up to 14 days and then decreased at 22 and 60 days of age, but these concentrations were higher than those found in the neonate and the mother. The serum concentrations in 14-and 22-day-old rats were more than 30 times higher than in the newborns. At 60 days, serum BA content was still twice that of the mother. BA composition in the intestine and the liver showed a reduction in 12α-hydroxylated BA associated with an increase in chenodeoxycholic acid and 6β-hydroxylated BA during neonatal life. These data indicate an increased synthesis of chenodeoxycholic and 6β-hydroxylated BA after birth. It further suggests a possible defect in excretory mechanisms in neonatal life.
Effect of Body Weight on Postnatal Development of the Proximal Small Intestine of the Rabbit
Authors: Gall Grant , Chung May
Published: September 2009

The effect of oral intake and body weight on postnatal maturation of the small intestine was examined in infant rabbits with accelerated weight gain. Intestine from immature animals is characterized by large unidirectional Na fluxes, failure of Na absorption to respond to glucose but increased ability to absorb monosaccharides, and an enzyme pattern of high lactase and thymidine kinase and low sucrase. Postnatal development was monitored by measuring Na and glucose transport in short-circuited jejunum and enzyme activities in jejunal mucosa. Accelerated weight gain was achieved in the experimental group by reducing litter size to 3 animals at 24–48 hours of age. Under glucose-free conditions unidirectional Na fluxes were significantly smaller in tissue from the heavier experimental animals compared to controls. The addition of glucose had no effect on Na fluxes in control tissue but significantly increased Na absorption in the experimental group. Unidirectional and net fluxes of 14C-D-glucose were significantly smaller in the heavy experimental animals compared to controls. Isolated villus enterocytes from the experimental group had reduced lactase and thymidine kinase activities. Sucrase activity, which did not differ in isolated cells, was increased in total mucosa from the experimental group. Solute transport and the enzyme profile in jejunum from the heavier experimental suckling rabbits is characteristic of intestinal epithelium from more mature animals, indicating accelerated postnatal maturation. The findings suggest that oral nutrient intake and body weight, rather than chronologic age, act as the physiologic trigger for postnatal maturation of the small intestine.
Pattern of Liver Erythropoiesis in Embryos of Polycythemic Mice
Authors: Notti I. , Bessler H. , Djaldetti M.
Published: September 2009

Polycythemia induced by hypoxia in pregnant mice caused a marked reduction in the total number of erythroid precursors in the 10th, 11th, and 12th day embryonic livers, as compared with controls. In addition, the maturation of the erythroid precursors in the 11th day embryonic livers of polycythemic mice was markedly inhibited in comparison with that of controls, whereas on the following days of gestation the erythropoiesis in embryonic livers of both polycythemic and control mice exhibited a similar pattern. It is suggested that the reduced erythropoiesis in the 11th day embryonic liver of polycythemic mothers provides a stimulation for embryonic erythropoietin production. Subsequently, it triggers the maturation of progenitor erythroid cells in the livers and induces an increased erythropoietic activity in the plasma of 12th and 13th day pregnant polycythemic mice as was observed in our previous study.
Age-Dependency of Adenosine Deaminase and Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase Activities in Rat Spleen and Thymus
Authors: Peters G.J. , Oosterhof A. , Veerkamp J.H.
Published: September 2009

Activities of adenosine deaminase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase were determined in thymocytes and splenocytes of rats of 0–423 days old. Activity of adenosine deaminase per cell is highest in newborn rats and decreases with postnatal development, while in splenocytes adenosine deaminase activity increases. No significant age-dependency is found with purine nucleoside phosphorylase in thymocytes and splenocytes. During whole life adenosine deaminase activity is higher in thymocytes and purine nucleoside phosphorylase activity is higher in splenocytes. With thymocytes, adenosine deaminase activity was higher with deoxyadenosine than with adenosine. The Km values of both nucleosides were comparable in 3- and 40-day-old rats.
Evolution of Plasma Dopamine-Beta-Hydroxylase in Hypo- and Hyperthyroid Young Rats
Authors: Gripois D. , Valens M.
Published: September 2009

The influence of neonatal hyper- and hypothyroidism on plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was studied in young rats from 5 to 30 days of extrauterine life. In the newborn rat, plasma DBH activity was four times higher than in the adult. In the control animals, the enzymatic activity increased for 15 days after birth and then decreased. In the hyperthyroid rats the first part of this evolution (i.e. the neonatal increase) is accelerated, while in hypothyroidism the following decrease is retarded. The significance of these changes is discussed in relation to the functional development of the sympathetic nervous system.
Brain β-Hydroxybutyrate Utilization in Neonatal Hypothyroidism in Rats
Authors: Crane Susan Carney , Morgan Brian L.G.
Published: September 2009

The in vitro and in vivo utilization of 14C-β-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) by the brain in neonatal hypothyroidism was studied in rat pups made hypothyroid by feeding dams a diet containing 0.02% propylthiouracil during pregnancy and lactation. In the in vitro studies, the oxidation of BOHB to CO2 was lower at 14 and 21 days of age in hypothyroid pups than in pair-fed controls but higher at 35 days. The incorporation of BOHB into brain lipid was significantly higher in hypothyroid pups at 14, 21 and 35 days. In contrast, in the in vivo studies, incorporation of BOHB into lipid was significantly lower in hypothyroid pups at 14 and 21 days. These results suggest that hypothyroid pups may have a normal or increased capability to use BOHB for lipid synthesis, but were unable to achieve normal rates of utilization in vivo, possibly due to a decreased substrate availability. These findings may have implications for the decreased brain lipid content characteristic of neonatal hypothyroidism.
Nuclear Receptors for Thyroxine in Rat Liver during Postnatal Development in Relation to DNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Activity
Authors: Brtko Július , Knopp Ján
Published: September 2009

Specific binding of 125I-thyroxine on liver nuclear extract of rat fetuses aged 15 and 18 days, of young rats aged 1, 2, 7, 12–14 and 18 days and of adult rats was quantified. The highest value representing the capacity of specific 125I-thyroxine binding was noted in rats aged 7 days. A marked diminution of specific 125I-thyroxine binding was demonstrated in rats aged 12–14 days. Practically the same values of Ka in liver nuclear extract were found in fetuses aged 18 days (Ka = 4.44 × 1091 mol––1) and in a group of young animals aged 7 days (Ka = 4.17 × 1091 mol––1) In nuclear extract of the animals aged 12–14 days and in adult rats diminished values (Ka = 2.72 × 1091 mol––1 and Ka = 1.18 × 1091 mol––1, respectively) were noted in comparison with the above-mentioned groups of rats. A positive correlation between the binding of 125I-thyroxine and Mn2+-activated DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity in liver nuclei of rats aged 4 and 14 days and adult rats was found (r = 0.700). These results support the suggestion that thyroxine in the perinatal period of life plays an important role in the induction of mRNA.
Murine Neonate Hemopoiesis following in utero Total-Body Irradiation
Authors: Weinberg Sheila R.
Published: September 2009

Irradiation (50–200 rad of cobalt-60 gamma rays) on day 10.5 of gestation in the mouse had the following residual effects on neonate and juvenile hemopoiesis: (a) greater damage observed in the day-15 juvenile than in the day-9 neonate; (b) greater fluctuation of peripheral blood hemogram indices from normal values in the day-15 animal than in the day-9 animal; (c) spleen cellulanty affected more than bone marrow cellularity; (d) greater radiation injury reflected by bone marrow hemopoietic progenitor cells (erythroid: BFU-E and CFU-E; granulocyte-macrophage: GM-CFC; megakaryocyte: Meg-CFC), and (e) a more pronounced decrease in medulla- and spleen-erythropoietic activity with each increase in dose of irradiation.
Respiratory Pauses in Normal Prematurely Born Infants
Authors: Curzi-Dascalova Lilia , Christova-Guéorguiéva Emilia
Published: September 2009

To assess the influence of gestational age (GA) and sleep states on respiratory pauses (RP), apnea index (AI) and periodic breathing (PB), we made polygraphic recordings on 40 normal newborns with GA of 31–41 weeks. Only 2 out of a total of 2,406 RP were obstructive. We never recorded > 15-second duration central RP. 10–15 s RP were rare, 2% of the total number observed in newborns with a GA of 31–38 weeks. Selective flattening of thoracic respiratory movements (while abdominal and nasal respirations persisted) were observed in all age-groups. In all GA groups, RP frequency, AI and percent of PB were significantly higher in active sleep, compared to quiet sleep. In indeterminate sleep, values were intermediate. RP frequency and AI were high in newborns with GA of up to 38 weeks; they decreased significantly only at GA of 39–41 weeks; i.e. according to RP criteria, newborns with a GA of 37–38 weeks were similar to prematures, but not to 39- to 41-week GA newborns. There were no significant differences between twins and singletons. We did not find significant correlations between RP incidence on one hand and respiratory rate or out-of-phase occurrence of thoracic and abdominal respiratory movements in the other. 17% of RP occurred after gross body movements.
Thymidine Factor in Human Cord Sera and Relationship to Birth Size, Gestational Age and Insulin
Authors: Nagashima Kanji , Suzuki Shigeyoshi , Toda Masaru , Uchida Satoshi , Kuroume Takayoshi
Published: September 2009

Thymidine factor was studied in human cord sera from 44 neonates with gestational ages ranging between 36 and 43 weeks. Thymidine factor was determined by the uptake of 6-3H-thymidine using isolated chick embryo cartilage cells. The thymidine factors increased with gestational age and those of neonates at 40 weeks of gestation were 0.89 ± 0.17 U/ml (mean ± SD), but were significantly lower after 42 weeks of gestation. There was no correlation between thymidine factor in cord sera and birth weight or size. There was a positive correlation (p < 0.02) between insulin level and thymidine factor in cord sera. Our data suggest that somatomedin measured as thymidine factor might not have a major role in fetal growth and insulin might be an important factor in the synthesis of somatomedin by the fetus.
Uteroplacental Vascular Perfusion and Blood Flow during Pregnancy in the Guinea Pig
Authors: Garris David R.
Published: September 2009

The relationships between regional uterine blood flow (UBF), placental blood volume (maternal compartment) and fetal-placental weights and size were determined at specific gestational stages in the guinea pig. Regional variations in UBF were noted between days 27 and 65 of pregnancy (day 0 = ovulation), with the tubal third of the uterus receiving a greater flow rate than the cervical region. The middle portion of the uterus consistently received a lower UBF than did the tubal or cervical zones. Between days 35 and 50 of gestation, UBF rates were consistently lower in the middle portion of the uterus as compared to the tubal and cervical regions in animals possessing exactly three pregnancy sites in a cornu. In contrast, placental blood volume in the maternal compartment from each of the three uterine zones was quantitatively similar, even though lower placental and fetal weights were found in the middle pregnancy sites as compared to either the tubal or cervical zones. When vascular perfusion rates were calculated by determining arterial-venous flow rate differences, both the tubal and cervical uterine zones were found to be preferentially perfused as compared to the middle uterine zone. These studies demonstrate that the correlation between regional UBF rates and fetal-placental development in the guinea pig is primarily due to the greater perfusion rate through the tubal and cervical zones of the pregnant guinea pig uterus, and not due to an expanded vascular volume of the placentae in these zones.