We review our studies of mate choice with two MHC-congenic strains of mice. This work was stimulated by findings from Yamazaki and colleagues showing that male mice exhibited mate preferences for females whose MHC-haplotype was different from their own, while female mice exhibited either no preference or a weak preference for males of a particular MHC-haplotype (see Beauchamp et al., 1988). Since these findings were unexpected (mate choice theory predicts that females will be more selective than males), we studied the preferences of mice from two additional MHC-congenic strains to assess the generality of the previous findings. Specifically, the goals of our research were: (1) to determine the mate preferences of congenic mice with MHC-haplotypes derived from wild populations, (2) to compare the mate preferences of male and female mice in a test situation where each sex has a clear opportunity to make a choice, and (3) to estimate effects of cross-fostering on each sex.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of Goldmann applanation and applanation resonance tonometry in a biomicroscope-based in vitro porcine eye model.

We have developed an in vitro porcine eye model based on a biomicroscope, to simulate a clinical situation for IOP measurement on enucleated eyes. The aims of this study were to evaluate the model and to apply and compare Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) and applanation resonance tonometry (ART) measurements in porcine eyes. The GAT measurement (IOPGAT) showed a lower pressure, mean - 14.0 mm Hg (SD = 1.7 mm Hg) as compared with the reference pressure. For in vitro measurement with GAT on porcine eyes the linear calibration was IOP = 1.14 IOPGAT + 12.5 mm Hg (R2 = 0.99, p < 0.001, n = 280, four eyes). ART measurements correlated significantly to reference IOP, R = 0.86 (p < 0.001, n = 252, six eyes), with a mean difference of 5.4 mm Hg (SD = 6.7 mm Hg). GAT could only be used on porcine eyes if the IOP exceeded 13 mm Hg. Evaluation of the ART in this in vitro model showed position dependence for the sensor. To facilitate centre positioning a guiding tool is suggested. Porcine eyes are a possible substitute for human eyes in in vitro models for pre-clinical evaluation of new tonometry methods.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of ethylene glycol in postmortem blood by capillary gas chromatography.

A simple procedure for the determination of ethylene glycol in blood by capillary gas chromatography was developed. The proteins are precipitated by the addition of perchloric acid which includes the internal standard 1,2-butanediol. The extract is neutralized and the solution is directly injected. The assay is linear and the precision, expressed as coefficient of variation, is 4-11% (within run). The detection limit is about 0.05 g/L. The method also seems applicable for the determination of ethylene glycol in urine.

Chromatography, Gas↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Two fatalities from ingestion of acetonitrile: limited specificity of analysis by headspace gas chromatography.

A married couple was found dead in bed at their home, and the police investigation indicated that they might have ingested methanol and/or ethanol the previous evening. Postmortem examinations were performed and samples of femoral vein blood, urine, and stomach contents were submitted for toxicological analysis. Headspace gas chromatography (HSGC) using two different column packings (Carbopak B and Carbopak C) was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic volatile substances. The apparent concentrations of ethanol in blood and urine were 0.20 and 0.27 g% w/v, respectively. On reanalysis of body fluids by another HSGC method and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), the presence of ethanol was not confirmed. Instead, acetonitrile was identified at concentrations of 0.8 g/L in blood, 1.0 g/L in urine, and 1.3 g/L in stomach contents. Inorganic cyanide, the toxic metabolite of acetonitrile, was identified in blood from both victims at concentrations of 2.4 micrograms/g (female) and 4.5 micrograms/g (male). Despite the use of two different column packing materials for HSGC, acetonitrile was mistakenly identified as ethanol.

Acetonitriles↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A procedure for simultaneous screening and quantification of basic drugs in liver, utilizing capillary gas chromatography and nitrogen sensitive detection.

This paper describes a method used for the comprehensive screening of 80 and quantification of 49 basic drugs or drug metabolites in liver specimens taken from medical examiner's cases. A simple, versatile liquid/liquid extraction procedure was employed, and the analysis was carried out by glass capillary gas chromatography with nitrogen specific detection. In this procedure, a 15 m AR-glass capillary leached with HCl, deactivated with cyclic siloxane and coated with SE-52 was utilized. Data on precisions from the quantitative analyses carried out within-day or day-to-day yielded standard deviations on the order of 2-5% and 5-25% of the mean values, respectively, when performed at concentration levels of 10 or 100 micrograms drug per gram wet liver tissue.

Chromatography, Gas↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Phagolysosomal morphology and dissolution of cobalt oxide particles by human and rabbit alveolar macrophages.

The effect of phagolysosomal size on dissolution of cobalt oxide particles was evaluated in two different macrophage systems: alveolar macrophages (AM) of human smokers with phagolysosomes enlarged by ingested cigarette smoke products, and rabbit AM incubated in vitro with sucrose, which causes swelling of the phagolysosomes by osmosis. Human AM from smokers and nonsmokers were studied in vitro. There was no significant difference in particle dissolution between AM obtained from smokers and nonsmokers, although there was a clear difference in the morphological appearance of AM, including significantly larger phagolysosomes in smokers. Rabbit AM were incubated for 24 or 72 h with or without 80 mM sucrose in the medium. The sucrose-treated cells had 3-4 times larger phagolysosomes than untreated cells, with no major change in phagolysosomal pH. The increased size of the phagolysosomes did not affect the ability of the AM to dissolve cobalt oxide particles. Furthermore, rabbit AM showed the same ability as human AM to dissolve the cobalt oxide particles, in spite of the fact that they had markedly smaller phagolysosomes. Another difference between human and rabbit AM was that phagolysosomes in human AMs increased in size with time in culture, while rabbit AM phagolysosomes decreased in size.

Adult↗