From a brief discussion of forms of meteorite carbon it is concluded that almost all the carbon in the carbonaceous chondrites is present as organic matter. Attempts to extract and identify this organic matter are then reviewed. It is shown that only 25 per cent has been extracted and only about 5 per cent chemically characterized. Of this 5 per cent, most is a complex mixture of hydroxylated aromatic acids together with various hydrocarbons of the paraffin, naphthene and aromatic series. Small amounts of amino acids, sugars and fatty acids also are present. The possible chemical nature of the major fraction is discussed. It is suggested to be a mixture of high-molecular weight aromatic and hydrocarbon polymers. Possible sources of contamination of the meteorites are described and evidence indicating a general lack of organic contaminants is presented. It is concluded, that most of the organic constituents are indigenous to the meteorites and are extra terrestrial in origin. Synthetic processes for the compounds are mentioned and it is concluded that the organic material is probably of abiogenic origin. A brief review on studies of "organized elements" contained within the meteorites is presented. Difficulties of identification are discussed and photographs of some microstructures of several carbonaceous chondrites are presented. No final conclusion about the nature of these objects is possible, but some appear to be various indigenous organic and mineral structures, while others are terrestrial contaminants.

Amino Acids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Biochemical basis for the selection of oral contraceptives.

Many specific plasma proteins show dose-related changes when oral estrogens are administered. Large increases in concentration are seen in many important binding proteins, such as the sex hormone-binding globulin, transcortin, the retinol-binding protein, ceruloplasmin, and transferrin. A smaller group of plasma proteins are reduced in amount. These changes are related to altered rates of hepatic synthesis and secretion. As the overall effect of estrogen is one of increased protein synthesis, there is a reduction in the amount of plasma-free amino acids and in the pattern of distribution. Oral contraceptive (OC) users frequently show significant alterations in biochemical tests of vitamin status, at least some of which are related to alterations in plasma proteins. Other biochemical changes associated with OC use include a fasting hyperlipidemia, due mainly to increases in triglycerides, although there is often also a small increase in cholesterol. These changes are due primarily to increases in several lipoprotein fractions and are related mainly to the estrogen component. A deterioration in glucose tolerance occurs in many OC users and is probably induced by both estrogens and progestogens. There is evidence that certain clinical side effects of OCs, such as depression, are associated with specific biochemical changes.

Amino Acids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Development of a monoclonal antibody for use in radioimmunoassay of ethynylestradiol.

Production of monoclonal antibodies (MABs) to a 17 alpha-ethynyl-1,3,5 (10)-estratriene-3,17 beta-diol (ethynylestradiol, EE2) hapten is described. Culture antibodies generated by hybridized cells tested in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) bound the 6-oxoethynyl-estradiol-6-(0-carboxymethyl) oxime-bovine serum albumin conjugate (EE2-6-0 CMO-BSA) but not BSA. On radioimmunoassay (RIA) with tritiated ethynylestradiol (3H-EE2), some of the antibodies demonstrated high binding affinity (Ka = 2.8 X 10(10) M-1) to EE2. Estradiol-17 beta, estrone and estriol did not show any displacement of 3H-EE2 from the MABs even at high concentration (1 X 10(4) ng/mL). Among the widely used progestins, norethynodrel and norethisterone exhibited considerable cross-reactivity (25.7-100% and 0.3-54.1%, respectively) but not levonor-gestrel with the MABs. The high affinity demonstrated by the MABs to EE2 3-sulfate but not to EE2 17-sulfate and EE2 3,17-disulfate suggests the dominant role of the 17 beta-hydroxyl group in immunogenicity.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Independence of oral contraceptive-induced changes in glucose tolerance and plasma cortisol levels.

1. Following a 50 g oral glucose load, plasma glucose concentrations and plasma cortisol concentrations were measured in twenty-five young healthy women. 2. When compared to controls, oral contraceptive users (OC-users) were found to show a small but significant decrease in glucose tolerance while plasma cortisol values were increased more than two-fold. 3. The decreased glucose tolerance in OC-users did not show a significant correlation with raised plasma cortisol levels.

Contraceptives, Oral↗