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Biomedical subjects

W B Essman

Publications and source records attributed to W B Essman.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1977

Serotonin and monoamine oxidase in mouse skin: effects of cigarette smoke exposure.

Mice were exposed to either air or cigarette smoke and the content and uptake of serotonin and activity of monoamine oxidase were determined. Serotonin concentration increased as a function of the frequency of exposure, while serotonin uptake by the skin was maximally increased after two 8 min. exposures. MAO activity for serotonin, but not for tyramine, was decreased by cigarette smoke exposure of more than 8 min.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Concentration of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, homovanillic acid, and tryptophan in the cerebrospinal fluid of depressed patients before and after ECT.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA), tryptophan (TRYP), and homovanillic acid (HVA), were determined prior to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and after an average course of 6.7 ECT in six endogenous depressed patients. Depression rating scale (DRS) scores were also obtained by a "blind" research psychiatrist before and after ECT at the time of each lumbar puncture. ECT markedly reduced DRS scores but did not significantly alter CSF levels of 5HIAA, TRYP, or HVA. We found no correlation between ECT-induced DRS score reductions and changes in any of the CSF constituents studied, or between the absolute DRS score and the corresponding CSF concentration of any of the compounds. These data are consistent with those previously reported for ECT and do not suggest that ECT alters cerebral amine metabolism in depressed patients. Neither do they provide any evidence for direct amine mediation of the depression-relieving effects of ECT in man, nor for any relation between severity of depressive illness and CSF concentrations of 5HIAA, TRYP, or HVA.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Lithium.

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Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sex differences in fetal sheep adrenal steroidogenesis.

The formation of several steroids was determined in vitro in adrenals removed from 18 female and six male fetuses of 113-115 days' gestation and in two female and two male fetuses at near term (137-143 days). Samples were incubated with 14C-acetate and the formation of labeled steroids was determined by two-dimensional paper chromatography. Protein and corticosterone concentrations were determined by chromophore absorption and acid hydrolysis fluorescence methods, respectively. Tissue corticosterone concentrations were significantly higher in female (0.145 +/- 0.010 microgram/mg protein) than in male (0.083 +/- 0.010 microgram/mg protein) adrenal tissue at both stages, whereas corticosterone formation was similar in both sexes. Cholesterol formation was significantly higher in female (0.103 +/- 0.079 muM/mg protein) than in male (0.044 +/- 0.011 muM/mg protein) adrenals at both stages. Both testosterone and estradiol were synthesized at higher rates in female than in male adrenals (52% and 33%, respectively), whereas pregnanediol formation was 21% higher in the male. These results indicate that significant sex differences exist in the formation of various adrenocortical hormones by fetal tissues. The relevance of these findings to better survival of female premature newborns from respiratory distress syndrome in contrast with male, is discussed.

Adrenal Cortex↗