[4(-14C)]Estrone was injected intramuscularly into two mature laying Rhode Island Red hens. Radioactive steroids and steroid conjugates recovered from the urine on Amberlite XAD-2 columns were fractionated on columns (100 cm) of DEAE-Sephadex A-25 by NaC1 gradients. The presence of the following were confirmed, the figures in brackets indicating average proportions as per cent of total radioactivity recovered after Sephadex column chromatography:-the 3-beta-glucuronides of estrone (10.9) and of estradiol-17alpha plus estradiol-17beta(9.8): the 17-beta-glucuronides of estradiol-17alpha plus estradiol-17beta (2.1); the 3-sulfates of estrone (14.5) and of estradiol-17alpha plus estradiol-17beta(27.4); and the disulfates of estradiol-17alpha plus estradiol-17beta (2.3). The following additional conjugates were identified:-a beta-glucuronide of 16-epiestriol (0.2) and a beta-glucuronide of 16-keto-estradiol-17beta (0.2); the 3-sulfates of 16-epiestriol (1.4), of 17-epiestriol (0.9), of 16,17-epiestriol (0.7), of 16-keto-estradiol-17beta (1.1), and of 2-methoxyestrone (0.7). Some evidence was obtained for the presence of 16,17-epoxy-estratrienol-3-sulfate (1.9).

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The role of intra-ovarian interactions in the regulation of follicle dominance.

The processes that precisely control the selection of ovulatory follicles from a growing cohort are poorly understood. This reduction in follicle number occurs through several phases of selection, consequently we limit the use of the term 'selection' to the first major reduction of growing follicles, at the pre- to early antral stage. The final process of selection, achieving the appropriate ovulatory number, is referred to as 'dominance'. We discuss possible mechanisms that could bring about these reductions and highlight intra-ovarian involvement, particularly via follicle-follicle interactions. Analogies are drawn between local ovarian events and processes commonly reported in the determination of cell fate in developmental biology. Two facets of intra-follicular interactions are proposed: initially that follicle-follicle interactions mediate early selection processes at the preantral stage, and later that during antral development dominant follicles directly affect the fate of the subordinate cohort members.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Behavioral effects of 0 and 0.05% blood alcohol in male volunteers.

Five behavioral tests were evaluated to determine their sensitivity to the subtle central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects produced by ingestion of ethanol. Twenty-one adult male volunteers received 0 and 1.4 ml 100 proof vodka/kg body weight according to a "double-blind" crossover design. Behavioral tests were conducted between 15 and 65 minutes after ethanol ingestion, when blood alcohol concentrations (BAC's) were between 0.05 and 0.06%. Tests evaluated were Archimedes spiral, digit span memory, critical flicker fusion, stabilometry and tachistoscope. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) using composite scores representing the individual tests indicated that the battery as a whole was sensitive to ethanol effects. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) on each test indicated that critical flicker fusion, stabilometry and tachistoscope contributed more to the overall sensitivity of the battery than did digit span memory and Archimedes spiral.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Validation of human behavioral tests using ethanol as a CNS depressant model.

This study evaluated the sensitivity of a battery of tests proposed for use in determining the depressant effects of chemicals on human central nervous system (CNS) function. The first step in the development of such tests was to determine if the tests could detect the effects produced by a known CNS depressant, ethanol. Five behavioral tests, digit span memory, simple reaction time, tachistoscopic perception, flicker fusion and anticipation timing (velocity estimation) were evaluated to determine their sensitivity to the effects of ethanol at blood levels between 0.05-0.06%. Thirty-one adult male volunteers received 0 and 1.4 ml 100 proof vodka/kg body weight according to a double-blind crossover design. Tests were conducted before treatment and between 30 and 70 minutes after an ethanol or control drink was ingested. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), using composite scores representing the individual tests, indicated that the battery as a whole detected statistically significant ethanol effects. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) comparing performance after drinking ethanol to control performance on each of the individual tests indicated a significant decrement in reaction time, tachistoscopic perception and anticipation timing.

Adult↗