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Biomedical subjects

F A Harrison

Publications and source records attributed to F A Harrison.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Progesterone secretion during pregnancy in sheep with an autotransplanted adrenal and an autotransplanted ovary.

Secretion rates by the major sites of progesterone synthesis were measured during pregnancy in 3 ewes with single fetuses after autotransplantation of the left adrenal and the left ovary (containing the corpus luteum) to the neck. The total production of progesterone measured by tracer kinetics increased from 12.1 +/- 2.0 (s.e.m.) to 31.3 +/- 2.4 microgram/min between 66--103 and 133--145 days p.c. Ovarian and adrenal secretion rates measured directly at the same times decreased from 5.2 +/- 0.9 to 2.1 +/- 0.9 microgram/min (ovary), or remained unchanged, about 0.03 microgrom/min (adrenal). The difference between the total production of progesterone and ovarian and adrenal secretion showed that the contribution from other endocrine tissues (presumably the placenta) increased from 6.8 +/- 1.5 to 29.2 +/- 4.1 microgram/min (P less than 0.001) during this period.

Adrenal Glands↗

Progesterone and oestrogen in pregnancy and parturition: comparative aspects and hierarchical control.

The different ways in which the progesterone requirements of pregnancy are met in various species are reviewed here. Progesterone production expressed in terms of metabolic body weight lies within about one order of magnitude in several species (but not in the rat), whether the hormone is predominantly ovarian or placental in origin. Parturition is usually preceded by a decrease in the plasma concentration of progesterone and the evidence which suggests that a decrease in secretion involves enzyme induction is summarized. In the sheep a sequence of well-marked hormonal changes can be discerned--an increase in fetal cortisol secretion followed by a fall in placental progesterone and a rise in oestrogen and prostaglandin F2alpha secretion. This sequence has been interpreted in terms of hierarchical control theory which envisages a series of levels placed in a descending order of importance and in which there is a downward transmission of a signal from a higher level that modifies activity at a lower level. A dominant level in the hierarchy in the sheep and pig seems to be the fetal hypothalamus and pituitary, but in the rabbit the maternal hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary play a more dominant role.

Adrenal Glands↗

The effect of acetzolamide on Ion transport across isolated sheep rumen epithelium.

1. The net fluxes of sodium and chloride from the lumen to the blood side of isolated sheep rumen epithelium were reduced by treatment of both sides of the epithelium with acetazolamide. 2. The changes in the net fluxes of sodium and chloride were significantly correlated and showed recovery after removal of acetazolamide. 3. The net flux of potassium from blood to lumen side of the epithelim was not affected by treatment with acetazolamide. 4. It is suggested that acetazolamide blocks coupled sodium and chloride transport which may be mediated through 'low-activity' carbonic anhydrase enzymes.

Acetazolamide↗

Progesterone and 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone in sheep: a model of their distribution and metabolism.

The rates of metabolism of progesterone and 20alpha-dihydroprogesterone (20alpha-diHP) in sheep have been measured during and after the infusion of tracer amounts of [3H]progesterone. There were significant differences in the blood concentration of [3H]progesterone between experiments, but these were not attributable to the stage of gestation or to the difference between pregnant and non-pregnant animals. The mean (+/- S.E.M.) metabolic clearance rate of progesterone was 3-277 +/- 0-239 litres blood/min. The simplest model of the distribution of progesterone was one containing two pools, V1[P] and V2[P], where [p] is the blood concentration of progesterone, and in 23 experiments on 7 sheep the mean pool dimensions were 7-8[P] mug and 70[P] mug, respectively. This model was developed to include the formation of 20alpha-diHP from progesterone. Progesterone appeared to be the major source of 20alpha-diHP, though this did not seem to be an obligatory metabolite. The parameters obtained gave comparably low residual deviations for both labelled steroids and were consistent with other observations made on progesterone clearance.

20-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone↗

Production, chemical composition and prostaglandin F-2alpha content of uterine fluid in pregnant sheep.

A uterine pouch was prepared surgically in ewes before mating to study the production and chemical composition of uterine secretions during pregnancy. Pregnancy was established in 6 sheep and in the first 55 days uterine fluid was present in small amounts (less than 5 ml), whereas between 109 days post coitum and 3 days post partum the volume ranged from 90 to 775 ml. The chemical composition of uterine fluid in pregnancy differed from that of plasma especially in respect of its high concentration of total calcium (up to 83.5 mM) and prostaglandin (PG) F-2a (up to 1500 ng/ml). Progesterone was implicated as an important endocrine factor since uterine fluid (188 ml) with a high concentration of total calcium (53-5 mM) and PGF-2a(235ng/ml) was recovered from a non-pregnant sheep treated with progesterone for 115 days.

Animals↗

The phospholipase activity of sheep pancreatic juice.

Sheep pancreatic juice was found to contain at least two enzymes which hydrolysed biliary lecithin. One enzyme was heat and acid labile and hydrolysed the fatty acid from position 1 (phospholipase A1); the other was heat and acid stable hydrolysing the fatty acid at position 2 (phospholipase A2). Lysophospholipase activity was also present. The phospholipases were active at pH values greater than 4.2, and would therefore function in the acid conditions (pH 3-6) of the sheep small intestine. The activity of the pancreatic phospholipases, and A2 in particular, was dramatically stimulated by the presence of the secretions of Brunner's glands which could be important in accelerating the hydrolysis of biliary lecithin in the lumen of the intestine. Phospholipase A1 was sensitive to acid in the range pH 2.5-3.5 and could therefore be partially inactivated by abomasal digesta; but phospholipase A2 was resistent to acid treatment.

Animals↗

Renal excretion of monovalent cations during functional adrenalectomy in conscious sheep.

In sheep with both adrenals removed and one re-implanted in the neck, functional adrenalectomy was produced in conscious undisturbed animals by occluding the blood supply to the transplanted gland. Functional adrenalectomy caused a fall in potassium excretion and a very large increase in sodium excretion and was reversed by aldosterone. Hydrocortisone infusions slightly increased potassium excretion and reduced solute-free water reabsorption. Preliminary evidence suggests that potassium secretion into urine was still occurring during the 8 hr period of adrenal occlusion and functional adrenalectomy.

Adrenalectomy↗

Renal function in sheep during infusion of alkali metal ions into the renal artery.

1. The effect on renal function of 1 M solutions of LiCl, NaCl, KCl, RbCl and CsCl and 3 M-NaCl infused close-arterially to the kidney for 10 min at 0-7ml./min has been studied in nine experiments on four unilaterally nephrectomized sheep. The levels of flow, electrolyte concentration and electrolyte excretion in the urine were measured before, during and for 50 min after the infusions. 2. The infusion of 1-M-NaCl produced little change in urine flow and composition whereas 3 M-NaCl resulted in relatively small increases in urine flow and sodium excretion. 3. The infusion of lithium, potassium, rubidium and caesium resulted in marked increases in urine flow, urinary sodium concentration and excretion, urinary potassium excretion and osmolal clearance while the urinary potassium concentration decreased. 4. Changes in urine flow and urinary pH during the infusions of all the alkali ions except sodium were consistent with increased urinary bicarbonate excretion. 5. The osmolal clearance was increased by the infusion of lithium, potassium, rubidium and caesium, but equivalent increases in the rate of solutefree water reabsorption did not occur. 6. The infusion of caesium resulted in a depression of the glomerular filtration rate (G.F.R.) which was not observed when the other alkali ions were infused. 7. The effects of lithium, potassium and rubidium on urine flow and composition were rapid in onset and the residual effects on these ions, on cessation of infusion, were relatively short. The effects on caesium were slow in onset and prolonged in duration. 8. It was concluded that lithium, potassium, rubidium, and caesium altered urine flow and electrolyte excretion by acting upon common mechanisms which were predominantly intra-renal and located in the proximal segment of the nephron.

Aminohippuric Acids↗

The effect of ouabain on ion transport across isolated sheep rumen epithelium.

1. The net flux of Na from the lumen to the blood side of isolated sheep rumen epithelium was reduced to zero in the third 30 min period after treatment with ouabain. 2. The net flux of K from blood to lumen side of the epithelium was reduced from 0-34 to 0-13 mumole/cm2. hr in the third 30 min period after ouabain treatment. 3. The net flux of Cl from lumen to blood side of the epithelium was reduced from 1-4 to 0-72 mumole/cm2. hr in the third 30 min period after ouabain treatment. 4. The results support the existence of a Cl pump independent of Na transport and also a K pump in sheep rumen epithelium.

Animals↗