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Biomedical subjects

R J Moffatt

Publications and source records attributed to R J Moffatt.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Secretory function of the ovine uterus: effects of gestation and steroid replacement therapy.

In Exp. 1, changes in uterine fluid content of protein, calcium and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF) were examined between d 30 to 144 of gestation. Volume of uterine fluid (mean +/- SE) in the nongravid uterine horn of unilaterally pregnant ewes increased (P less than .05) between d 30 (8 +/- 1 ml) and d 144 (749 +/- 46 ml) of gestation. Protein concentration and total protein in uterine fluid also increased (P less than .05) between d 30 (2.3 +/- .4 mg/ml; 19 +/- 7 mg) and d 144 (23.5 +/- 3.3 mg/ml; 17.4 +/- 2.0 g). Total recoverable calcium (mg) in secretions increased from .1 mg (d 30) to over 1.4 g (d 144) due to day of gestation effects (P less than .05). Total PGF also increased (P less than .01) from 7 ng on d 30 to 15.7 g on d 144. In Exp. II, ovariectomized (OVX) ewes were treated with either corn oil, estrone (E), progesterone (P) or P+E (PE) for 30 d. Treatment with P or PE increased calcium concentration and content (P less than .01) in secretions, but differences in uterine fluid volumes and concentrations of protein and PGF were not significant. Treatment of OVX ewes with P stimulated (P less than .05) in vitro synthesis of secretory proteins by endometrium, whereas treatment with E enhanced release of unlabeled proteins (P less than .05). The major endometrial secretory proteins were identified in allantoic fluids from d 60 to term and were detected along the mesenchymal border of the chorioallantois using immunohistochemistry. Results from this study indicate that P may be a primary hormone regulating accumulation of fluid, protein, calcium and specific endometrial proteins in the uterine lumen during gestation, and that uterine milk proteins gain access to the fetal-placental unit.

Animals↗

Suppression of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte blastogenesis by ovine uterine milk protein.

Two basic glycoproteins (UTM-P) with molecular weights of 57,000 and 59,000 were purified from ovine uterine milk collected on Days 125 and 130 of pregnancy. The UTM-P were evaluated for immunosuppressive activity in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-treated, mixed lymphocyte (MLC) and resting lymphocyte (RLC) cultures. For PHA and RLC cultures, UTM-P (2.5 to 800 micrograms UTM-P/ml) were added to 1 X 10(6) lymphocytes and 0.8 micrograms of PHA (for PHA cultures only), while for the MLC, UTM-P (50 to 1600 micrograms UTM-P/ml) were added to 5 X 10(5) lymphocytes combined from each of two ewes. Following [3H] thymidine addition, cells were later harvested for determination of thymidine incorporation. Lymphocyte blastogenesis was suppressed by UTM-P in PHA (R2 = 0.32 to 0.92, P less than 0.01 to 0.001), MLC (R2 = 0.8, P less than 0.001) and RLC (R2 = 0.65, P les than 0.01) experiments. To determine reversibility, PHA-treated lymphocytes were incubated with UTM-P for 6, 12 or 24 h, then washed to remove surface UTM-P. Incubation was continued in the presence of PHA as with other experiments. Exposure of lymphocytes to UTM-P for 6 or 12 h did not result in suppression of blastogenesis, whereas exposure for 24 h was sufficient for suppression (P less than 0.01). In an additional experiment, UTM-P were added to PHA-treated cultures at 0, 6, 12 or 24 h. Suppression (P less than 0.01) of blastogenesis was observed for each time period. Immunosuppressive activity was not mediated by overall cytotoxicity and was not affected by routine handling and storage of UTM-P. Data from these experiments provide one explanation for tolerance of the conceptus allograft during defined stages of ovine pregnancy.

Animals↗

Adaptations to reduction of endometrial surface available for placental development in sheep.

On Day 5 of pregnancy, before the blastocyst migrates to the uterus, one uterine horn was ligated to restrict the trophoblast to the lumen ipsilateral to the corpus luteum. The numbers of placentomes (caruncles and cotyledons) were reduced by half, but neither at 120 nor at 140 days of pregnancy (term 147 days) did the weights of placentae and fetuses of treated ewes differ significantly from those of control ewes. Amongst uterus-ligated animals prepared for chronic study, the rate of uterine blood flow (electromagnetic flow transducer, ml/min) to the pregnant horn was higher than in control ewes, as was the concentration of progestagens in maternal peripheral blood. There may be a compensatory response that causes hypertrophy of placentomes and that increases blood flow to the uterine horn containing placental tissue.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Dietary status of elite female high school gymnasts: inadequacy of vitamin and mineral intake.

In general, the diets of these athletes appeared to be nutritionally inadequate. Diets were judged to be inadequate for vitamins B-6, folic acid, calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium in 30% to 60% of gymnasts studied. Several reasons seem to make this population somewhat more vulnerable: (a) the desire to be light, lean, and aesthetically appealing; (b) the anaerobic nature of their sport, which does not lend itself to excessive levels of energy expenditure; and (c) the fact that these athletes are teenagers, subscribing all too often to typical teenage diets. It seems clear that this is a population which could benefit from nutrition counseling.

Adolescent↗

Height, weight, and triceps skinfold thickness of Michigan children, 1978.

Height, weight, and triceps skinfold measurements were made on 258 Michigan males and 225 females, age 2 to 18 years, comprising a representative sample of Michigan children in 1978. Boys of most age groups and younger girls were slightly taller, heavier, and fatter than their US counterparts, studied between 1963 and 1974. Older Michigan girls were slightly shorter but heavier and fatter than their earlier US counterparts.

Adolescent↗

Height, weight and skinfold thickness of Michigan adults.

Height, weight, and selected skinfold measurements were taken on 544 Michigan males and 557 females age 18 and over. Mean body weight showed a tendency to increase with age for both sexes up to age 64 while mean height progressively decreased from its maximum at age 18-24 years. Between ages 18 and 64 years, mean triceps skinfold thickness of men increased 10 per cent, female triceps skinfolds 50 per cent. Mean subscapular skinfold values rose consistently with age for both sexes. Comparison of these findings with those from earlier national studies suggest that Michigan adults are heavier and fatter but no taller than other US adults.

Adolescent↗

Secretion of riboflavin by the porcine uterus.

A study of 10 mature crossbred, ovariectomized gilts was conducted to determine whether riboflavin secretion by porcine uteri is regulated by estrogen and progesterone. A second experiment was performed to determine whether secretion of riboflavin occurs in pregnant animals in a temporal and quantitative pattern similar to that in nonpregnant animals. In the hormonal induction experiment, it was found that animals receiving daily injections of estrogen for 5 days followed by a daily injection of a combination of estrogen and progesterone were able to secrete riboflavin in quantities comparable to those secreted by intact animals. Additionally, it was found that the secretion of riboflavin appeared to be related to onsetn of treatment with progesterone in that riboflavin secretion increased in a time-related pattern after the beginning of progesterone treatment. In a second experiment, pregnant animals secreted riboflavin in their uterine secretions in quantities and in a time pattern similar to those found in nonpregnant animals. Nonpregnant gilts in the 8th day of an estrous cycle were used for comparison to the pregnant animals in this experiment, and the quantity of riboflavin uterine secretions in the nonpregnant animals was similar to that found on day 8 in the pregnant animals. Taken together, these two experiments indicate that riboflavin is secreted under hormonal regulation by the uterus in both pregnant and nonpregnant pigs at a precisely controlled time in the progestational phase.

Animals↗

Effects of severe prior exercise on assessment of maximal oxygen uptake.

Five moderately fit males (50.8 ml.kg-1.min-1) performed 14 continuous type VO2 max tests on a motor-driven treadmill. Randomly assigned experimental sessions, consisting of three tests each and separated by 10 (tests 1, 2, 3), 20 (tests 4, 5, 6), 30 (tests 7, 8, 9), or 40 (tests 10, 11, 12) min, were conducted at a consistent hour for each subject every 4th day. Two separately performed tests were also included in the random assignment with the test eliciting the highest VO2 max value designated as the standard reference (SR). VO2 max values for tests 1 through 12 were not significantly different from the SR in spite of elevated pretest blood lactate concentrations ranging from 5 mM to 16 mM. Performance time was reduced for all tests other than tests 1, 4, 7, and 10, reaching the level of statistical significance (P less than 0.05) in tests 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9. It was concluded that valid and reliable assessment of VO2 max is possible even though testing is initiated with subjects in varying stages of exhaustion.

Adult↗

Effects of pedalling rate changes on maximal oxygen uptake and perceived effort during bicycle ergometer work.

The present investigation determined the efficacy of progressively increased pedalling rate (P) or resistance (R) during assessment of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) on the bicycle ergometer. Twenty male and nine female university students performed randomly assigned discontinuous P and R maximal stress tests. Male subjects immedicately repeated each test within the same experimental session. Regardless of test protocol, VO2max was quite similar. Magnitude estimates of perceived effort were significantly lower for male subjects during P testing (P less than .05) and 80% of male subjects preferred P testing. Conversely, magnitude estimates were significantly lower for female subjects for R testing (P LESS THAN .05). P testing could be reliably repeated within the same experimental session whereas with R testing VO2max was significantly reduced (P LESS THAN .05). It was concluded that progressively increased pedalling rate offers a physiologically acceptable means to VO2max assessment on the bicycle ergometer for males and females. In addition, progressively increased pedalling rate offers a perceptually preferable means to VO2max assessment for males but not for females.

Adolescent↗

Status of police officers with regard to selected cardio-respiratory and body compositional fitness variables.

Physical performance and body composition characteristics of members (n = 75) and recruits (n = 61) of the Louisville Police Department (total n = 136) were assessed. Members were randomly selected males and ranged in age from 20 to 55 years and were ranked from the newest inductee through and including the Chief of Police. Members between the ages of 20 and 29 years assigned to active duty possessed average cardio-respiratory fitness (Vo2max). With age, cardio-respiratory fitness decreased and body weight and body fatness progressively increased. Male and female recruits entering basic training also demonstrated average cardio-respiratory fitness. Significant (P less than .05) increases for males and females in Vo2max and decreases in body fatness (males) were found following 4 months of physically rigorous recruit training. Fifteen of the male recruits who completed training were retested following 1 year of active duty. During active duty, physical activity involvement was limited to job requirements with no additional physical training imposed. Cardio-respiratory fitness and body fatness reverted to pre-training levels. It was concluded that the physical demands associated with police work are too low to permit maintenance of physical fitness.

Adult↗