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The influence of molybdenum and molybdenum plus sulphate-induced copper deficiencies on semen quality and peripheral plasma testosterone concentrations in South African Mutton Merino rams was investigated. All animals received an identical ration, supplemented with molybdenum in one group (M) and molybdenum plus sulphate in another (MS) while the control group (C) received additional copper supplementation. After almost a year on these rations, rams in Group MS produced ejaculates of lower volume, lower sperm concentration, poorer sperm motility and morphology than rams of the other 2 groups. The fructose concentration in the ejaculates of group MS rams was also lower than that of rams in the other groups. Peripheral plasma testosterone concentrations in Group MS were lower than in Groups C or M. Liver copper concentrations and clinical signs were consistent with a severe copper deficiency in Group MS and a mild deficiency in Group M. After the copper deficiency was reversed, the above parameters reverted to normal. It was concluded that an experimentally induced copper deficiency produced reversible impairment of testicular function in rams.

Forty patients with a well-documented history of seasonal hay fever and a positive skin-prick test specific to grass pollen, including Bermuda grass and maize pollen (Zea maize), were allocated randomly on a double-blind basis to receive either an oral mixed grass-maize pollen extract or a matched placebo during the 1981/1982 grass pollen season. After 12 months the code was broken and patients on placebo were transferred to active therapy while patients on active therapy continued with maintenance therapy for another 12 months during the 1982/1983 grass pollen season. The assessment of the effect of the orally administered grass-maize pollen extract was on the clinical symptoms. During the first year the patients on active therapy had significantly fewer hay fever symptoms during the summer months compared with the placebo group. During the second study year, with all patients on active therapy, both groups had markedly milder symptoms compared with the placebo group. Side-effects were negligible. This study concludes that oral immunotherapy with grass-maize pollen extract in grass pollen-sensitive seasonal hay fever patients is safe and effective.

Sera from 1575 black primary school children in Bloemfontein were subjected to serological screening tests for syphilis. Forty-six (2,92%) were found to be seropositive on screening; 32 (2,03%) of these were confirmed as true-positive reactions and 10 (0,64%) manifested only biological false-positive reactions. Four sera were insufficient for confirmatory tests. From published reports covering a period of over 60 years, it is evident that syphilis is widespread in South Africa, especially in black communities. There is no evidence of a decline in the prevalence of the disease but rather of an increase, including endemic syphilis affecting children. A nationwide survey is recommended to determine the magnitude of the problem and the need for a sustained treatment campaign.

Forty-two chronic asthmatic children, including 10 with associated eczema, were examined for lenticular complications. The children had received oral corticosteroids for a minimum of 3 years. Twelve were treated with beclomethasone inhalant therapy, and the children with eczema had had topical corticosteroids. Only one child was found to have cataracts commensurate with corticosteroid therapy. Possible reasons for the low incidence of cataracts in this study are discussed.

The macro- and microscopic changes of the testes caused by molybdenum as well as a molybdenum plus sulphate induced copper deficiency were investigated in S.A. Mutton Merino rams. Judged on testes measurements, the testes development of rams suffering from a severe copper deficiency was slower (P less than or equal to 0.05) when compared with rams in the control group. Histological examinations of the testes of the rams which suffered from a severe copper deficiency revealed that the seminiferous tubules were less developed and less active than those of the control group. This was mainly due to the inactivity of the Sertoli cells. Where rams suffered from a copper deficiency, the Sertoli cells contained only a small volume of cytoplasm. The typical fingerlike cytoplasmic evaginations of the Sertoli cells into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules were absent while the nuclei of these cells were darkly stained, in some cases even pycnotic. Spermatocytogenesis was normal because primary spermatocytes with dark stained thread-like chromatin were observed in most of the seminiferous tubules. The process of spermiogenesis (metamorphic phase) did not take place. This can be accounted for by the inactivity of the Sertoli cells.

We describe a 4-month-old girl with Estren-Dameshek variant of Fanconi's anemia (FA) presenting with a pancytopenia secondary to extranodal bone marrow malignant lymphoma as the first hematologic manifestation of the syndrome. Although she was phenotypically normal, her cultured lymphocytes showed an increased spontaneous chromosome breakage, which was enhanced by diepoxybutane (DEB). Cytogenetic studies showed that 7 of her 12 relatives, including both parents, were heterozygote carriers of the FA gene. This confirms the diagnosis of FA of the Estren-Dameshek variant. A complete hematologic remission was attained within 28 days, and she remained in continuous bone marrow remission till the age of 14.5 months, when she developed acute gastroenteritis and died. No unusual sensitivity to chemotherapy was experienced, though leukopenia and recurrent infections proved troublesome. FA has an incidence many times higher in the Orange Free State region of South Africa than reported elsewhere in the world.

The histology of the growing, secreting and regressing CL of thirty-five cycling and early pregnant mares with known breeding histories was studied by light microscopy. Thecal cells are best developed a few days before ovulation. They regress very quickly and within 24 hr after ovulation all remaining thecal cells are in an advanced stage of degeneration. Hypertrophy and luteinization of the granulosa cells commences 10 hr after ovulation and maximum size (37-5 mum) is reached later. The luteal tissue enlarges mainly through hypertrophy of the lutein cells. Two types of lutein cells are found in the CL, a large light-staining cell and a small dark-staining cell. Degeneration of the lutein cells in the non-pregnant mare commences on Day 12 after ovulation and in the pregnant mare on Day 38 after ovulation. The primary CL of pregnancy regresses after the secondary CL are formed. The progesterone concentration in the peripheral plasma is closely correlated with the morphological changes in the CL.

Evidence of helminthic intestinal parasites was found in 97,0% of stools of 544 Xhosa schoolchildren living in Cape Town. The commonest parasite was Trichuris trichiura, which infested 89,9% of the children. In contrast, only 9,8% of 387 Xhosa children living in the Tsolo district, Transkei, had evidence of intestinal parasites in their stools, Hymenolepis nana being the commonest. In spite of the unsatisfactory sanitary conditions in the Tsolo area compared with those in Guguletu, Cape Town, where all sewage is waterborne, few rural children were infested. The high prevalence of infestation in the Guguletu children suggests extensive contamination of the soil in the area by parasitic ova. In view of the magnitude of the extent of parasitic infestation in the Guguletu children, a vigorous and sustained programme of medication and education will have to be undertaken if the problem is to be resolved.

An epidemiological study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of asthma in young urban and rural black (Xhosa) children. One thousand three hundred and seventy five children were studied, 694 from a Cape Town african township and 671 from a rural area in Transkei. The exercise tolerance test which required free range running at maximum effort for 6 min was used to identify asthmatic subjects. A fall of 15% or more in the post-exercise FEV1 and PEFR values was regarded as a positive result. Twenty-three children were found to be asthmatic, twenty-two from the city area, but only one from the country, giving a prevalence figure for asthma of 3.17% in the first group and 0.14% for the second. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. The exercise tolerance test was found to be a useful tool for epidemiological studies of asthma.

Fifty-one patients suffering from symptomatic seasonal rhinitis were studied in a double-blind comparative trial using nasal sprays containing 2% sodium cromoglycate (Rynacrom; Fisons) (group 1) or 2% sodium cromoglycate plus 0,2% chlorpheniramine (group 2). Dosage was two sprays into each nostril 4 times a day. There was a marked clinical improvement in both treatment groups although the differences between the two regimens were not significant. In group 2 80% of patients thought the treatment had been effective within 2 days and in group 1 58% of patients also experienced relief of symptoms within 2 days. At final assessment, full or reasonable control was achieved in 22 of 25 patients in group 2 and in 21 of 25 patients in group 1. These differences are not significant. Fourteen patients in group 2 and 6 patients in group 1 reported a burning sensation in the nose when the spray was administered, but this was usually mild and transient. No side-effects from the use of the intranasal antihistamine/sodium cromoglycate spray were recorded.

Transplantation of the Fallopian tube is a technically feasible operation. Previous authors have reported pregnancies following turbo-ovarian transplants, but there appears to be no record of gestation following transplantation of the isolated oviduct. This communication illustrates the method that we have used to perform Fallopian tube transplants in the ewe and documents our first full-term pregnancy following this operation. It provides further evidence of the technical feasibility of Fallopian tube transplants.

A technique for the radioimmunoassay of progesterone in plasma is described. In one trial the oestrous cycles of four cycling cows and in another trial of one non-cycling cow and two cycling heifers were synchronized by the administration of progesterone. Each female received either 50 mg or 0,1 mg/kg of progesterone intramuscularly on alternate days in two courses of four and six injections respectively. Blood samples of the animals were collected either daily or two-daily before, over the entire period of treatment and for eight days after the last progesterone injection. The results of the progesterone assays are represented graphically for each individual cow or heifer. The plasma progesterone levels during treatment were maintained reasonably well at levels corresponding to those normally encountered during the lluteal phase of the cycle. The progesterone levels, however, did not drop as rapidly as desired after the last injection but might have been influenced by a residual corpus luteum from a previous ovulation.