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Excessive sensitivity (levels 3 and 4) in a population of 1,122 Papio papio was related with age, sex, and geographical origin. (1) Age. There was no clinical response to intermittent light stimulation under the age of 5 months. These was no difference between animals 6 months to 2 years (J1) and those aged 2 to 4 years (J2). Adult females were less often light sensitive (levels 3 and 4 = 32.9%) than immature females (52.4%). Adult males could usually not be tested, but were probably less often sensitive than immature males. (2) Sex. Immature females (J1 + J2) were more often light sensitive (52.4%) than immature males (38.1%). (3) Geographical origin. No animals from East Senegal (Sansande Region) were very light sensitive. Animals from Casamance were more often light sensitive (56.2%) than those from the Niokolo-Koba National Park (N.K.N.P.) (20%). Of two samples taken at one spot between these two regions, one group resembled the population from Casamance and the second resembled that from the N.K.N.P. This observation raises several questions about the respective roles of genetic, ecological, and ethological factors.

SUMMARY The properties of the enzyme oestradiol-17β dehydrogenase from human umbilical cord serum have been compared with those of oestradiol-17β dehydrogenase present in the maternal peripheral blood. On the basis of studies on stability, specificity, optimum pH, rate of enzymic reaction and Km determinations it can be concluded that oestradiol-17β dehydrogenase in the umbilical cord arteries has an activity between 5 and 15 times higher than in the umbilical cord vein and about 65% of the activity of the enzyme present in the maternal peripheral blood. The present results strongly suggest that in pregnancy the enzyme oestradiol-17β dehydrogenase is elaborated not only by the placenta but also by the foetus.

Summary A case of a ‘Bombay’, Lewis negative blood type is described. The saliva of the Proposita has apparently failed to cross — react with anti-Pn XIV serum. Her red cells scored higher titers than red cells of normal ABO phenotypes with a lectins (Ricinus communis) known to possess anti-Pn XIV specificity.

A study of the cortical projections from the periocular and facial skin was carried out on photosensitive and non-photosensitive baboons ( Papio papio ). (In a photosensitive Papio papio , intermittent light stimulation at 25/sec induces myoclonus and EEG signs of epilepsy.) These projections were demonstrated by using subcutaneous electrical stimuli and recording at the cortical level with bipolar and monopolar surface electrodes, or concentric intracortical electrodes, or tungsten micro-electrodes. Various experimental situations were used, the animals being either awake in a restraining chair or immobilized with gallamine and local analgesia. The periocular afferents project to a large cortical territory, including the parietal cortex and a large part of the frontal lobe, occupying almost the whole of areas 4 and 6. Responses of maximal amplitude were observed in the region of the precentral sulcus. The latencies of the responses in the frontal area were longer than in the parietal area; however, intracortical records exclude the possibility that these frontal responses were due to simple diffusion from the specific territory, in particular because ablation of the specific area for the face did not suppress frontal responses to periocular stimulation. Finally, it was found that the responses occurring in area 16 to stimulation of the ipsilateral superciliary arch were always larger in amplitude than those obtained to contralateral stimulation. This feature distinguishes the frontral projections derived from the periocular zone from those derived from the limbs; it is not yet possible to conclude wether these projections are involved or not in the facilitation of photic epilepsy through tactile stimulation of the periocular zone of Papio papio (as observed previously).

A detailed study has been made of the urinary excretion of steroid hormones and their metabolities in an adrenalectomized woman during 3 successive pregnancies. The excretion values for urinary estrogens, pregnanediol, pregnanetriol, and testosterone were abnormally low. The levels for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) were also low, being generally undetectable by the assay methods used. Cortisol production rates (CPR) estimated in the mother during the third trimester of pregnancy were in the range normally encountered in the newborn infant. The data reported herein are in keeping with the view that the maternal adrenal is an important source of steroid precursors during pregnancy.

We have analyzed the influence of several physical parameters in photosensitive epilepsy in two baboons ( Papio papio ), one very photosensitive and the other only slightly photosensitive. In order to describe average reactivity of the animals to intermittent light stimulation we chose 3 indices: I = mean intensity of the paroxysmal discharges, L = mean latency of these discharges, E = ratio of the number of effective stimulations to total number of stimulations. Comparing stimulations of different wavelengths, the most effective in revealing photosensitivity were the colours blue-green and dark green (487 and 538 nm); the least effective were green (544 nm) and red (676 nm). The paroxysmal discharges triggered by intermittent light stimulation were more intense, more frequent and of shorter latency when the distance between the light source and the animal was decreased, or when the surface area of the source was increased. With white light, increasing the pupil diameter increased the intensity of paroxysmal discharges in both animals, but to a greater extent in the more photosensitive animal. Closing the eyes also increased the response intensity but only when the pupils were dilated with homatropine. The effects of eye closure and pupillary dilatation, using coloured light stimulation, were not constant and seemed to depend upon the degree of photosensitivity of the baboon under study. These effects and the validity of the selected indices are discussed; the indices I and E are linked by a simple relation which we were able to evaluate, whereas L generally varies in the opposite direction to the other two indices.

A detailed study has been made of the steroid excretion of an adrenal-ectomized woman during the last week of her pregnancy and following delivery. Cortisol production rates were also estimated in the pregnant mother and newborn child. The maternal urinary levels of oestriol, oestrone and 17β-oestradiol, and pregnanediol were markedly reduced. Little or no dehydroepiandrosterone could be found in the maternal urine. However, 11-oxygenated 17-oxosteroids and pregnanetriol were present in relatively large amounts. The results of the present investigation are consistent with previous evidence showing that there is little or no transmission of steroid sulphates from the foeto-placental unit in contrast to the relatively free passage of unconjugated steroids across the foeto-placental barrier. The course of the pregnancy was uneventful except for antepartum haemorrhage at the 36th week; the infant was normal.

The intracellular behaviour of the excess newly synthesized α-globin has been studied by incubating peripheral blood and bone marrow samples from 9 homozygous β-thalassemic subjects with labeled amino acids. The globin chains present in the cytoplasm and in association with the stromal material have been separated by column chromatography, and the incorporation of radioactivity has been determined for each globin at various incubation times. The results obtained show that the excess of α-globin is removed from the cell cytoplasm and becomes associated with the stromal material.

A method is described for the extraction and purification of estriol glucosiduronate from various sources. By the use of this method estriol glucosiduronate has been isolated and identified in extracts of human meconium. Another conjugated form, which might be an estriol sulphate has also been detected.

A method is described for the extraction and purification of sodium estriol-3-sulphate. By the use of this method sodium estriol-3-sulphate has been isolated and identified in extracts of human meconium.

The kinetics of incorporation of 3H-labeled amino acids into α, β, and γ globin has been determined, following incubation of intact reticulocytes, in stroma-free hemolysates and in purified Hb F and Hb A from homozygous β-thalassemic subjects. The labeled globins present in the cytoplasm as well as in purified Hb F and Hb A at various incubation times, were separated by CM-cellulose chromatography, and the ratios of [3H]α to [3H]counterpart globins were determined. The results obtained show that in the initial stages of incubation, the ratios of [3H]α to [3H]-counterpart globins are higher than 1 in the total lysate and in purified hemoglobins; these ratios, after long periods of incubation, decrease to values below 1. These findings suggest that the excess of newly synthesized α molecules flows very rapidly from the polyribosomes to the hemoglobins, and then, more slowly, to a “stromal”α pool. A model is presented, showing the most likely mechanism for the overall process.

While in some cases steroids can be measured directly in serum or plasma by radioimmunoassay (RIA), in other cases, especially when analyses are carried out in urine, the samples must be processed before RIA can be performed. The operations involved in the preparation of urinary or blood extracts suitable for the RIA of steroid hormones are examined and compared in terms of practicability with the analytical procedures currently used for the chemical determination of the same steroids or their metabolites.The comparative merits and difficulties of chemical and radioimmunoassay methods (RIA) for the measurement of steroid hormones are discussed. An advantage of RIA is that is some cases steroids can be measured directly in serum or plasma, thereby simplifying operations, but in other cases, especially when analyses are carried out in urine, the samples must be thoroughly and accurately processed before RIA can be performed. The operations involved in the preparation of urine or blood samples suitable for the RIA of steroid hormones are examined and compared in terms of practicability with the analytical procedures currently used for the chemical determination of the same steroids or their metabolites. The fact that RIA, while constituting a great technical advance, is still subject, as are the traditional methods, to the risk of contamination and interferences during the preliminary preparation of the samples. Therefore, great care and accuracy at this stage and in performing the analyses, as well as thorough testing of commercially supplied RIA kits, are still essential requirements.

This chapter critically reviews arguments supporting the role of the frontal cortex in light-sensitive epilepsy of the baboon Papio papio in the light of the most recent neurophysiological research. In particular, it is known that spontaneous or ILS-induced paroxysmal discharges, as well as generalized seizures, originate in the frontorolandic cortical region. In this region during ILS, neurons behave in the same manner as hyperexcitable neurons in focal epileptogenic lesions of animals and man. Aso, section of the corpus callosum causes deterioration or even destruction of the synchronization that exists naturally between the two frontorolandic areas. Lastly experimental focal irritative lesions enhance light sensitivity if they are located in the frontorolandic region and inhibit it if they are located in the occipital cortex. Opposing these arguments are those that support the important role the occipital cortex plays, since its ablation makes excessive light sensitivity in the baboon disappear. Studies of the primary and nonprimary visual messages and pathways have also contributed evidence. In particular, demonstration of the existence of large numbers of direct occipitofrontal connections may help reconcile the two opposing arguments. Other evidence favoring the role of the frontal cortex is furnished by the still fragmentary studies on activation of the motor pathways and by studies in neuropharmacology. The significance and value of this type of epilepsy as an animal model of the generalized reflex epilepsies of man are discussed.

HOMOZYGOUS β-thalassaemic subjects from the Ferrara region characteristically do not synthesise β globin1,2. Some of us have presented previously data which suggest that the addition of ribosome-free supernatant isolated from red blood cells of normal adult individuals or from subjects with homozygous haemoglobin S to Ferrara thalassaemic ribosomal material induces βA globin synthesis3; these results suggested that this de novo synthesis was not associated with free normal βA globin mRNA. From these findings it has been concluded that the mutation of the Ferrara β thalassaemia does not reside inthe gene for β globin, which is in fact transcribed into normal β globin mRNA; but in a gene coding for a previously unrecognised factor, indispensable for β globin translation. Here we report data which suggest that the reticulocytes from these patients synthesise β globin following normal blood transfusion.

Although the absence of pituitary response to the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) test has been considered proof of a lesion primarily localized at the pituitary level, the possibility exists that an absent pituitary response may represent only the effect of a chronic deficiency of hypothalamic secretion. To verify this hypothesis, 4 patients with primary amenorrhea, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and deficient or absent responses to a 25 mug LHRH rapid IV test were treated with 400 mug LHRH infused in 7 hours during each of 3 successive days. The finding that patients with deficient LH responses to a rapid LHRH test became normally responsive to a second equivalent test after a slow and prolonged treatment with the decapeptide suggests that, in these patients, besides a lesion at the pituitary level, a primary defect at the hypothalamic or higher centers may also be suspected.