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Benzene metabolism was examined in hepatic microsomes from male Sprague-Dawley rats. In addition to phenol, a highly polar unidentified component was formed. Fluoride, but not other halides, stimulated in vitro formation of both metabolites. Fluoride did not affect covalent binding of benzene metabolites to protein. Other mixed-function-oxidase reactions, and codeine and ethylmorphine demethylation and benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation, were not affected by fluoride. The polar metabolite(s) was not retained on either a C-18 reverse-phase or a DEAE-Sephadex anion-exchange column. Thus, although highly polar, this component does not appear to be anionic. These results suggest that an enzyme with high specificity for benzene is responsible for microsomal benzene metabolism. Both phenol and the polar metabolite(s) appear to be formed through a common initial step, which is stimulated by fluoride.

The effects of varying culture conditions on glutathione content in A549 (human type II lung tumor derived) cells were examined. Parameters studied were growth time, serum concentration, and the presence or absence of a mixture of insulin, transferrin, and selenous acid. Glutathione content increased with serum concentration. When cells were grown with serum, glutathione increased sharply 24 hours after passage and decreased thereafter. Insulin, transferrin, and selenous acid had little effect on cell growth or glutathione content. Replacement of media with fresh media containing 10% serum did not prevent the growth dependent decrease in glutathione. These results demonstrate that glutathione content in A549 cells is strongly affected by culture conditions.

Leukemic infiltration of the urinary tract is most common in the kidneys. Other areas are involved much less frequently. We report a case of leukemic infiltration of the penis.

Leiomyomas may originate from any anatomic location of smooth muscle in the genitourinary system but are uncommon neoplasms. Five unusual cases of leiomyomas arising from the renal pelvis, bladder, spermatic cord, and glans penis are presented. The leiomyoma arising from the glans penis in a three-year-old boy is the first case of a leiomyoma in that location noted in the literature. A review of leiomyomas from each genitourinary structure of origin is presented.

Hypoxanthine was converted primarily to uric acid by thyroid tissue slices and homogenates with little inosine 5'-monophosphate formation while adenine was essentially all salvaged to adenosine 5'-monophosphate by similar tissue preparations. The ratio of hypoxanthine/guanine phosphoribosyltransferase activity to adenine phosphoribosyltransferase activity was 0.15 in the thyroid homogenates.

Results of HCG-determinations in human serum and cystfluid of benign mammary tumors are presented. HCG was determined gy RIA in 40 samples from 30 patients with different forms of fibro-cystic mastitis. In 60% of the cases positive results were obtained. It is still unclear, whether the demonstrated substance is native HCG, a free beta-subunit, a mixture of both or a different substance with immunologic properties similar to those of HCG.

Eighty-two coyote fecal samples were collected from eastern Colorado and examined for coccidia. Sporocysts of Sarcocystis were observed in 17 of the samples and oocysts of Isospora ohioensis were observed in two samples. Ten fecal samples contained eimerian coccidia thought to be pseudoparasites of the coyote acquired while ingesting heavily infected rabbits.

The effect of induction by phenobarbital (PB), beta-naphthoflavone (BNF), and benzene on benzene metabolism was studied in hepatic microsomes from male Sprague-Dawley rats. Two distinct forms of mixed-function oxidase activity appeared to metabolize benzene. One form was active at all substrate concentrations in microsomes from control, benzene-treated, and BNF-treated animals, and at benzene concentrations of 0.8 mM and below in microsomes from PB-treated animals. It was saturated at benzene concentrations above 0.4 mM, had a pH optimum of approximately 6.6, and was stimulated by fluoride. Pretreatment with benzene, but not BNF, increased benzene metabolism in these preparations. Benzene metabolism in microsomes from PB-induced rats was less active than in controls at benzene concentrations below 0.8 mM, but increased rapidly at higher benzene concentrations. Further characteristics of the PB-induced enzyme activity were that saturation was not observed at benzene concentrations as high as 4 mM, the pH optimum for benzene metabolism in these preparations was 7.1, metabolism was not stimulated by fluoride, and metabolism was inhibited by metyrapone. Both phenol and an unidentified polar component were formed from benzene in all microsomal preparations. Formation of the polar component was increased by PB pretreatment and inhibited by metyrapone, suggesting that formation of the polar component involves a step requiring cytochrome P-450.