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Biomedical subjects

G W Davis

Publications and source records attributed to G W Davis.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Spatial organization of catfish retinal neurons. I. Single- and random-bar stimulation.

1. Receptive-field profiles of catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) retinal neurons were produced by a moving single bar or a moving random grating, which was swept across the cell's receptive field at a constant speed. 2. Bipolar cells form either an on- or an off-center biphasic field and are approximately linear in time and space. 3. Type-C or transient cells form predominantly monotonic receptive fields. We find two subclasses, one slow and the other fast transient cells. They can be identified functionally as well as morphologically. 4. Type-N or sustained cells form a biphasic receptive field, which is revealed by a bar of light. The monotonic field found by a spot or an annulus of light represents activity of the cell's field center. 5. There are two ganglion-cell types, small-field cells and large-field cells. It appears as if small-field cells copy signals in the bipolar cells and large-field cells, signals in the type-N cells. We suggest, however, that this observation represents the limitation imposed by our stimuli rather than an overall functional characteristic of catfish ganglion cells.

Animals↗

Effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin on the development of primary lung cancer in Syrian golden hamsters.

The effect of a single systemic or intratracheal administration of viable Mycobacterium bovis strain Bacillus Calmette-Guérin on the development of primary lung cancer in Syrian golden hamsters was assessed. M. bovis strain Bacillus Calmette-Guérin administered i.v. prior to, during, or after carcinogen treatment did not alter the incidence of lung tumors. Animals receiving intratracheal M. bovis strain Bacillus Calmette-Guérin had an increased incidence of lung tumors. Both i.v. and intratracheal routes accelerated the appearance of tumors.

Animals↗

Effect of systemic BCG infection in syrian golden hamsters.

The response of Syrian golden hamsters to systemic infection with several doses of Mycobacterium bovis (strain BCG) was assessed. Large numbers of organisms (10(7)), injected intravenously, were lethal for hamsters, whereas all animals survived infection with 10(4) colony-forming units of BCG. Animals responded immunologically to purified protein derivative as assessed by increased footpad swelling and splenic lymphocyte proliferation. The immediate cause of death was a diffuse granulomatous interstitial pneumonia.

Animals↗

Experimental oncornavirus vaccines in the cat.

An experimental approach to the immunoprophylatic control of feline oncornavirus-mediated diseases has included induction of antivirus immunity and antibodies to the feline oncornavirus-associated membrane (tumor) antigens. A suitable model for exploring the effectiveness of killed oncornavirus vaccines in the cat has been provided by the use of feline sarcoma virus. Immunization of seven pregnant queens over a 6-week period with ultraviolet light-inactivated Gardner-Arnstein feline sarcoma virus resulted in significant protection among 12 kittens challenged with a tumor-forming Dose 90 at 7 days of age. This immunity was not present in kittens challenged at 35 days of age. Among 12 kittens born of queens immunized during pregnancy with ultraviolet light-inactivated Kawakami-Theilen feline leukemia virus and challenged with the same live virus at 4 days of age, significant protection was noted, ranging from prolongation of survival time to complete protection in 3 kittens. In general, the higher the antibody titer in the mother, the more effective the protection afforded the kittens. Immunization of 43 kittens during their first 5 weeks of life with the same vaccines used in adult cats did not immunize sufficiently to protect against feline sarcoma virus challenge at 5 weeks of age. Neutralizing antibody responses in these kittens were significantly lower than in pregnant queens. That kittens of this age are immunologically responsive was established, since complete protection of 9 kittens to feline sarcoma virus was obtained by immunization with a crude tumor extract inactivated with 5 to 7 megarads of gamma-irradiation. All these kittens developed feline oncornavirus-associated membrane antibodies while 3 developed demonstrable levels of virus-neutralizing antibodies. The results of these studies are believed indicative that killed virus vaccines and tumor vaccines can be effective immunoprophylatic measures in the control of RNA tumor virus oncogenesis in the cat. Developments in this model system should be relevant to any consideration given similar vaccines in humans.

Age Factors↗

Effect of relative humidity on dynamic aerosols of adenovirus 12.

Dynamic aerosols of adenovirus 12 were generated in the same Henderson apparatus under conditions of high, medium, and low relative humidity. High relative humidities resulted in more recovery of adenovirus 12 from aerosols and lungs of newborn Syrian hamsters. At 89, 51, and 32% relative humidity, the total infectious virus recovered from a 20-min aerosol was 10(6.7), 10(6.0), and 10(4.3) TCD(50), respectively. Hamsters exposed to these 20-min aerosols retained measured lung doses of 10(3.0), 10(2.4), and 10(1.0) TCD(50), respectively. The measured retained lung doses were compared to calculated inhaled lung doses based on both total virus aerosolized and total virus recovery from the aerosols.

Adenoviridae↗