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Biomedical subjects

M L Green

Publications and source records attributed to M L Green.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Lack of a nocturnal rise of serum melatonin in prepubertal gilts.

Experiments were conducted to determine if a nocturnal rise in serum melatonin occurs in prepubertal gilts and whether acute exposure of gilts to light during the dark period abruptly reduces serum concentrations of melatonin. In experiment 1, 12 prepubertal crossbred gilts (Duroc x Hampshire x Chester White x Yorkshire) weighing 96.4 + 1.3 kg at 5.1 + .1 mo of age were housed in an LD cycle of 10:14. Following a 3-wk acclimation period, blood samples were drawn at 1-hr intervals from indwelling jugular catheters. Serum concentrations of melatonin were similar (P greater than .05) among blood samples collected during light and dark periods. In experiment 2, serum concentrations of melatonin did not change (P greater than .05) when gilts were abruptly exposed to light during the normal dark period. In experiment 3, serum concentrations of melatonin were similar (P greater than .05) in blood samples collected at 2-hr intervals under 700 lux of light or in total darkness from gilts maintained in either LD 9:15 or LD 24:0. Data from experiment 4 demonstrated that serum melatonin could be detected in nighttime samples if exogenous melatonin was ingested by gilts at night. Together, these experiments clearly indicate that prepubertal gilts do not exhibit a nocturnal rise in serum melatonin when maintained under short daylengths (10L:14D or 9L:15D), and serum melatonin concentrations are unaffected by abrupt changes in light/dark conditions.

Animals

Mycotoxins and reproduction in domestic livestock.

Molds are parasitic plants that are ubiquitous in livestock feedstuffs. Even though molds themselves reduce the quality of grains, their synthesis of chemical substances termed mycotoxins causes the greatest monetary loss to the animal industry. Five major mycotoxins that impair growth and reproductive efficiency in North America are aflatoxins, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, ochratoxin, and ergot. Aflatoxins are produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Consumption of grains containing aflatoxins by swine affects reproduction indirectly by reducing feed intake and growth. In swine, aflatoxins impair liver and kidney function, delay blood clotting, increase susceptibility to bruising, and interfere with cellular humoral immune systems. Ruminants are comparatively resistant to aflatoxicosis, but presence of aflatoxins in milk of dairy cows is closely monitored for human safety. Depending on environmental conditions, Fusarium roseum can produce either zearalenone or deoxynivalenol. Days 7 to 10 postmating seem to be a critical period of gestation for zearalenone to exert its detrimental actions on early embryonic development. Presence of deoxynivalenol in swine feedstuffs decreases feed intake, causes feed refusal, and induces occasional vomiting. Several species of Penicillium and Aspergillus produce ochratoxin, a mycotoxin that causes necrosis of kidney tissue. Ergot alkaloids produced by Claviceps purpurea on wheat can cause reproductive problems and are associated with lactational failure in swine. Various methods have been developed to remove mycotoxins from infected feedstuffs. Chemical analyses in laboratories as well as diagnostic kits suitable for use at the elevator or farm can be used successfully to identify which mycotoxins are present in suspect feedstuffs.

Animals

Effect of sampling interval on serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prolactin in prepubertal, ovariectomized, and cycling gilts.

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effect of sampling interval on serum concentrations of LH, FSH, and prolactin (PRL) in prepubertal, ovariectomized, and cycling gilts. In all experiments, blood samples were drawn at 2-min intervals for 4 h from indwelling jugular catheters. Mean serum hormone concentrations, mean number of peaks, and mean and maximum peak heights of LH, FSH, and PRL were calculated using values reflecting 2-, 6-, 10-, 20-, 30-, and 60-min sampling intervals. For LH, FSH, and PRL, mean serum concentrations can be obtained through blood samples drawn at hourly intervals. Since LH peaks are very distinct in pigs, the number of secretory peaks and mean peak height can be obtained via samples drawn at 20-min intervals. Since FSH and PRL peaks are less well defined, a more frequent sampling interval (10 min) is needed to determine number of peaks and mean peak height. To obtain the maximum peak height or the number of minutes for LH, FSH, or PRL to rise from its nadir to zenith, blood samples need to be drawn at 2-min intervals. Regardless of reproductive state, these data indicate that the sampling interval needed to characterize serum concentrations of LH, FSH, and PRL in the gilt is dependent upon the parameter in question.

Animals

Pupillary responses to pictures and descriptions of sex-stereotyped stimuli.

An attempt was made to replicate Hess and Polt's (1960) report of sex differences in pupillary responses to sex-stereotyped pictures. Some methodological refinements were used that seem desirable for future studies. College men and women were either shown or told they would be shown pictures of a semi-nude man, a semi-nude woman, a baby, and a landscape. With resting pupil size as covariate, a three-factor analysis of covariance did not show sex differences in response to visually presented stimuli. Men responded more to verbal than visual mode of presentation and more than women to verbal stimuli. Contrary to previous results, men responded as much or more than women to verbal or visual presentation of baby stimuli. The verbal or anticipatory mode seems to be at least as sensitive as the visual and eliminates problems of control of visual materials.

Acoustic Stimulation

Biochemical catalysis involving coenzyme B-12: a rational stepwise mechanistic interpretation of vicinal interchange rearrangements.

A mechanism is proposed for the catalytic action of coenzyme B-12 which is consistent with current knowledge of organometallic reactions and with the experimental data now available from biochemical studies. A key feature of the proposal is an electrocyclic cleavage of the coenzyme that reduces cobalt and also leads to a 1,19-seco-corrin. The seco-corrin serves as a tridentate ligand about Co(I). This arrangement permits the metal to take part in the kinds of organometallic reactions that are ideal for coenzyme B-12 catalysis, including oxidative addition and its reverse, reductive elimination. It is further proposed that the rearrangement steps involve cobaltcarbene complexes.

Catalysis

Calcium hydroxide and potassium nitrate as desensitizing agents for hypersensitive root surfaces.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate calcium hydroxide and potassium nitrate individually as densensitizing agents for hypersensitive root surfaces. The apparatus used in the experiment to measure hypersensitivity was (a) a thermo-electric stimulating device to measure hot and cold stimulation quantitatively and (b) a mechanical stimulating device to measure scratch stimulation quantitatively. The conclusions drawn from the study were: 1. Calcium hydroxide was more consistently effective in decreasing sensitivity then was potassium nitrate or the control. 2. Calcium hydroxide as compared to the control was statistically (99% level of significance) more effective in reducing sensitivity to mechanical, hot and cold stimulation immediately and at the conclusion of the experiment (3 months). 3. It appears that calcium hydroxide could be used as a desensitizing agent initially following periodontal surgery to reduce pain from hypersensitive roots in order that proper oral hygiene could be reestablished.

Adult

The effect of acid proteinase inhibitors on chicken pepsin.

1. The activity of chicken pepsin was partially inhibited by dimethyl-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl)sulphonium bromide, but was unaffected by p-bromophenacyl bromide. 2. In the presence of Cu2+, diazoacetylnorleucine methyl ester completely inactivated chicken pepsin with the incorporation of 1 mol/mol. The mechanism of the reaction was similar to that with pig pepsin. 3. Chicken pepsin was completely inactivated by 2-diazo-4-bromoacetophenone in the presence of Cu2+. 4. Chicken pepsin was almost completely inactivated by 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane at 25 degrees C, 3-4mol of inhibitor/mol being incorporated. The reaction at 10 degrees C was investigated briefly. 5. Calf chymosin was inactivated by 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane at 10 degrees C, the incorporation of 1 mol/mol being required for complete inhibition. 6. The characteristics of the reactions of chicken pepsin with the above compounds were compared with those of other acid proteinases.

Acetophenones

Crystallization of one of the chicken pepinogens and its derived pepsin.

Dodecahedral crystals of chicken pepsinogen have been prepared, one perfect cystal having the dimensions 0.090mm x 0.086mm x 0.009mm. The derived pepsin crystakkized in the form of flat plates, often with one rounded end. The dimensions of one such crystal wer 0.076mm x 0.043mm. Both types of protein crystals showed full enzymic or potential enzymic activity.

Crystallization