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cAMP-dependent protein kinase was examined in mitochondria and cytosol prepared from different-sized antral follicles and corpora lutea of porcine ovaries. In all ovarian tissues examined except small follicles, protein kinase-specific activity was significantly higher in mitochondria than in cytosol, with the highest to lowest activities being found in medium (4-6 mm) follicles, large (7-12 mm) follicles, corpora lutea, and small (1-3 mm) follicles, respectively. Using the photoaffinity analogue [32P]8-N3cAMP, two major cAMP binding proteins with Mr = 47,000 (the apparent regulatory subunit of protein kinase Type I) and 54,000-56,000 (Type II) were found in all ovarian preparations. Type II was predominant in the cytosol of all ovarian samples, with the cytosolic Type I to Type II ratio increasing from approximately 0.05 in small and medium follicles top approximately 0.20 in large follicles and corpora lutea. In contrast, ovarian mitochondrial preparations contained relatively more Type I than did cytosol, with the mitochondrial Type I to Type II ratio increasing from approximately 0.50 in small and medium follicles to 0.88 in large follicles and 2.96 in corpora lutea. Also, mitochondrial [4-14C]cholesterol conversion and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase activities increased with follicle size and luteinization. These results suggest that Type I may play a role in the regulation of ovarian mitochondrial steroidogenesis.

The State AIDS Policy Center at the Inter-governmental Health Policy Project (IHPP) at George Washington University surveyed all 50 states to determine state AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) expenditures, without Medicaid or federal funds, for fiscal 1984-88. During this period, state-only expenditures increased 15-fold, to $156.3 million. Between fiscal 1986-1988, the distribution of state funding for AIDS patient care and support services doubled from 16 to 35 per cent and the number of states supplementing federal funds for testing and counseling increased from eight to 20. Five states continue to account for the largest AIDS appropriations. Of these, California leads in funding research; New York, Florida, and New Jersey have directed funds to provide care and services to IV (intravenous) drug users, prisoners, and children. The average state expenditure per diagnosed AIDS case is $3,323 and an increasing number of states with relatively low case loads are appropriating funds beyond this level. Across states, AIDS expenditures per person average $.65 and $.21 for education, testing and counseling--below the level recommended by the Institute of Medicine for AIDS prevention activities. Some jurisdictions support AIDS activities indirectly by shifting resources, often from their STD (sexually transmitted disease) programs--this trend deserves continuing review given the rise in STD cases and their relationship to diagnosed AIDS.

The AIDS crisis challenges social workers to reaffirm their profession's traditional values of advocacy, community service, respect for differences, and commitment to social change. The authors discuss current and future legal and ethical issues with respect to the AIDS crisis.

Comparison of the information transmitted about the intensity of a steady "tactile" stimulus applied to facial skin by single trigemino-thalamic neurons in nucleus oralis and nucleus caudalis indicates that little information loss occurs at the medial lemniscal synaptic relay (nucleus oralis), but that it is gross within the nucleus caudalis.

1. In cats anaesthetized with Nembutal climbing fibre (CF) responses evoked in individual cerebellar Purkyne cells by mechanical stimulation of the skin were conditioned by preceding stimuli both to the periphery and to the precruciate area of the cerebral cortex.2. Cortical stimulation, generally subthreshold for evoking a CF response itself, induced an inhibition of cutaneous evoked CF responses in 65% of all Purkyne cells tested. The maximum inhibition ranged from 40 to 100% of the control responses at conditioning-testing intervals of 30-70 msec and the duration of the inhibition was usually 125 msec.3. In most cases the corticofugal inhibition of cutaneously evoked CF responses was mediated by inhibitory mechanisms outside the cerebellar cortex, probably at relays within the spino-olivocerebellar pathways. Purkyne cells undergoing corticofugal inhibition were distributed widely within both the vermis and the pars intermedia of the anterior lobe.4. In 40% of all Purkyne cells tested, there was evidence for afferent inhibition of their peripherally evoked CF responses as revealed by conditioning stimuli applied to the skin outside the receptive field. Again it was found that the inhibition was exerted at levels prior to the cerebellum.5. It is concluded that the afferent input transmitted to Purkyne cells via climbing fibres can be modified by corticofugal and peripheral influences exerted on the relays of the CF pathways outside the cerebellar cortex.

1. A technique of reversible block of synaptic transmission through the dorsal column nuclei and the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (n. caudalis) has been employed to assess the somatic afferent input to individual posterior thalamic neurones in the cat. The axon projection to the cerebral cortex of these neurones has been identified by antidromic activation following cortical stimulation.2. Unitary responses in the nucleus ventralis posterolateralis (VPL) evoked by cutaneous stimulation were abolished or depressed following block of transmission in the dorsal column nuclei. Block in n. caudalis, however, depressed unitary responses in nucleus ventralis posteromedialis (VPM) evoked by facial skin stimulation in less than 10% of cells.3. A more complex source of the somatic input to the posterior nuclear region of the thalamus (PO) was found. It was most commonly noted that PO unitary activity evoked by cutaneous stimulation of the face was unaffected by block of synaptic transmission in n. caudalis. No uniform effect was observed on unitary responses in PO evoked by limb stimulation when transmission in the dorsal column nuclei was blocked.4. Antidromic activation from the cerebral cortex was seen in 69% of ventrobasal neurones. Most cells (66%) had ;antidromic cortical fields' restricted to a region consisting of a third to a half of the specific somatic projection areas. In 10% of cells evidence was obtained for discontinuous cortical ;antidromic fields' suggesting subcortical bifurcation of the projecting axon.5. An axon projection to the cortex was found in 35% of PO cells, about half of which projected only to specific somatic projection areas. Evidence for subcortical branching of the axon was obtained for seven PO cells.

1. In cats anaesthetized with Nembutal, the cutaneous receptive fields of individual cerebellar climbing fibres were assessed by recording the climbing fibre responses of single Purkyne cells following controlled mechanical stimulation (air jets, vibration, taps, pressure) of the foot pads of all four limbs and of the hairy skin of the limbs and the body.2. Three major types of cutaneous receptive fields of individual climbing fibres were recognized: (a) restricted fields generally confined to the distal areas of one limb only; (b) circumscribed fields on the distal areas of two to four limbs (discontinuous fields); and (c) widespread continuous fields extending over all or almost all of the body surface. A fourth group appears to receive cutaneous inputs from one limb and sensory input from deeper structures in other limbs.3. Thresholds for tapping of the foot pads were often quite low (< 100 mum indentation), and there was no noticeable difference in the distribution of thresholds between the climbing fibres having restricted or more widespread cutaneous receptive fields. Similarly, the latencies of climbing fibre responses evoked by vibration and tapping were in the same ranges for climbing fibres with receptive fields restricted to one limb only and for those having more widespread fields.4. In regard to location in the anterior lobe of the cerebellum it was found that those climbing fibres receiving inputs only from the ipsilateral forelimb projected to Purkyne cells located almost entirely in lobule V, whereas all other climbing fibres with restricted or more widespread receptive fields projected to Purkyne cells distributed widely within lobules II to V.