Search

We propose an original, simple, and direct method for the simultaneous estimation of the self-steepening parameter and the fractional Raman contribution in fiber optics. Our proposal is based on the dependence of the modulation instability gain on both parameters, as obtained from a linear stability analysis of the newly introduced photon-conserving generalized nonlinear Schrodinger equation (pcGNLSE), and requires only the CW or quasi-CW pumping of the waveguide under test and a few direct spectral measurements. Further, we demonstrate the feasibility of the estimation procedure by means of detailed simulations for typical waveguide parameters in relevant spectral ranges. Last, we discuss the range of applicability of the proposed method and compare its results, advantages, and disadvantages with a recently introduced method based on short-pulse dynamics.

Backyard chickens are increasingly popular, and their husbandry varies widely. How backyard chickens are housed may influence the accessibility of chicken feed and water to wild birds, and thus, the contact rates between both groups. Increased contacts have implications for pathogen transmission; for instance, Newcastle disease virus or avian influenza virus may be transmitted to and from backyard chickens from contaminated water or feed. Given this potentially increased pathogen risk to wild birds and backyard chickens, we examined which wild bird species are likely to encounter backyard chickens and their resources. We performed a supplemental feeding experiment followed by observations at three sites associated with backyard chickens in North Georgia, USA. At each site, we identified the species of wild birds that: (a) shared habitat with the chickens, (b) had a higher frequency of detection relative to other species and (c) encountered the coops. We identified 14 wild bird species that entered the coops to consume supplemental feed and were considered high-risk for pathogen transmission. Our results provide evidence that contact between wild birds and backyard chickens is frequent and more common than previously believed, which has crucial epidemiological implications for wildlife managers and backyard chicken owners.

We have recently introduced a new modeling equation for the propagation of pulses in optical waveguides, the photon-conserving Nonlinear Schrodinger Equation (pcNLSE) which, unlike the canonical NL...

We present a complete analytical description of saturable photoexcited-carrier (SPCR) based broadening in graphene-covered nanowires (GNs), providing physical insight on its dependence on input pulse power and chirp.

We put forth a theoretical model allowing for the analysis of short-pulse interactions at time boundaries in waveguides with arbitrary frequency-dependent nonlinear profiles, in particular those exhibiting a zero-nonlinearity wavelength. Moreover, this is performed within a photon-conserving framework, thus circumventing use of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation in such scenarios, as it may lead to unphysical outcomes. Results indicate that the waveguide zero-nonlinearity wavelength has a great influence on said interactions, specifically by defining spectral bands where either signal total reflection or signal transmission can occur. We believe these findings to be of relevance in the area of all-optical switching schemes based on the interaction of short pulses in nonlinear media.

In this Letter we introduce a novel equation addressing the effect of quantum noise in optical fibers with arbitrary frequency-dependent nonlinear profiles. To the best of our knowledge, such an endeavor has not been undertaken before despite the growing relevance of fiber optics in the design of new quantum devices. We show that the stochastic generalized nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation, derived from a quantum theory of optical fibers, leads to unphysical results such as a negative photon number and the appearance of a dominant anti-Stokes sideband when applied to this kind of waveguides. Starting from a recently introduced master-equation approach to propagation in fibers, we derive a novel stochastic photon-conserving nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation suitable for modeling arbitrary nonlinear profiles, thus greatly enhancing the study of fiber-based quantum devices.

In this Letter, we revisit the quantum theory of propagation in nonlinear fibers. Unlike previous works, we present an effective propagation equation for the reduced density matrix of the complex envelope of the electric field. This original proposal is shown to be in agreement with the theory of quantum noise in fibers and puts forth a powerful tool for the study of fiber-based quantum devices. To underscore its applicability, we analyze the performance of a heralded single-photon scheme in terms of probabilities, an approach that conveniently lends itself to the optimization of such sources.

We present a study of self-steepening in supercontinuum generation in 2D-decorated nanowires with frequency-dependent nonlinearities. We show that there exists an optimum value of the self-steepening parameter which can be achieved by design of the nanowire.

We present results on dispersive waves radiated by solitons in the context of fibers with arbitrary frequency-dependent nonlinearities. In particular, we focus on the effect of a zero-nonlinearity wavelength within the spectral region of interest.

We propose an original, simple, and direct method to measure self-steepening (SS) in nonlinear waveguides. Our proposal is based on results derived from the recently introduced photon-conserving nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) and relies on the time shift experienced by soliton-like pulses due to SS upon propagation. In particular, a direct measurement of this time shift allows for a precise estimation of the SS parameter. Furthermore, we show that such an approach cannot be tackled by resorting to the NLSE. The proposed method is validated through numerical simulations, in excellent agreement with the analytical model, and results are presented for relevant spectral regions in the near infrared, the telecommunication band, and the mid infrared, and for realistic parameters of available laser sources and waveguides. Finally, we demonstrate the robustness of the proposed scheme against deviations expected in real-life experimental conditions, such as pulse shape, pulse peak power, pulsewidth, and/or higher-order linear and nonlinear dispersion. Fil: Linale, Nicolás Martín. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica. Gerencia D/area Invest y Aplicaciones No Nucleares. Gerencia de Des. Tec. y Proyectos Especiales. Departamento de Ingenieria En Telecomunicaciones; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina Fil: Fierens, Pablo Ignacio. Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Bonetti, Juan Ignacio. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica. Gerencia D/area Invest y Aplicaciones No Nucleares. Gerencia de Des. Tec. y Proyectos Especiales. Departamento de Ingenieria En Telecomunicaciones; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina Fil: Sánchez, Alfredo Daniel. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica. Gerencia D/area Invest y Aplicaciones No Nucleares. Gerencia de Des. Tec. y Proyectos Especiales. Departamento de Ingenieria En Telecomunicaciones; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina Fil: Hernandez, Santiago Martin. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Argentina Fil: Grosz, Diego Fernando. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica. Gerencia D/area Invest y Aplicaciones No Nucleares. Gerencia de Des. Tec. y Proyectos Especiales. Departamento de Ingenieria En Telecomunicaciones; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina

A well-known and thoroughly studied phenomenon in nonlinear wave propagation is that of modulation instability (MI). MI is usually approached as a perturbation to a pump, and its analysis is based on preserving only terms which are linear on the perturbation, discarding those of higher order. In this sense, the linear MI analysis is relevant to the understanding of the onset of many other nonlinear phenomena, such as supercontinuum generation, but it has limitations as it can only be applied to the propagation of the perturbation over short distances. In this work, we propose approximations to the propagation of a perturbation, consisting of additive white noise, that go beyond the linear modulation instability analysis, and show them to be in excellent agreement with numerical simulations and experimental measurements. Fil: Bonetti, Juan Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina Fil: Hernandez, Santiago Martin. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina Fil: Fierens, Pablo Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Grosz, Diego Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina

The Generalized Nonlinear Schrodinger Equation (GNLSE) finds several applications, especially in describing pulse propagation in nonlinear fiber optics. A well-known and thoroughly studied phenomenon in nonlinear wave propagation is that of modulation instability (MI). MI is approached as a weak perturbation to a pump and the analysis is based on preserving those terms linear on the perturbation and disregarding higher-order terms. In this sense, the linear MI analysis is relevant to the understanding of the onset of many other nonlinear phenomena, but its application is limited to the evolution of the perturbation over short distances. In this work, we propose quasi-analytical approximations to the propagation of a perturbation consisting of additive white noise that go beyond the linear modulation instability analysis. Moreover, we show these approximations to be in excellent agreement with numerical simulations and experimental measurements.

We show that, under certain conditions, modulation instability in nonlinear waveguides gives rise to the usual double-sideband spectral structure, but with a Raman gain profile. This process is enabled by the energy transfer from a strong laser pump to both Stokes and anti-Stokes sidebands in a pseudo-parametric fashion. We believe this striking behavior to be of particular value in the area of Raman-based sensors which rely on sensitive measurements of the anti-Stokes component.

Waveguides based on metamaterials may exhibit strongly frequency-dependent nonlinearities. In this work, we focus on the phenomenon of modulation instability in this type of waveguide, departing from a new modeling equation that ensures strict conservation of both the energy and photon number of the parametric process. In particular, we analyse the case of a waveguide with a linearly frequency-dependent nonlinear coefficient, revealing unique features such as narrowband and ultra-wideband gain spectra and the suppression of the power cutoff giving rise to an ever-growing MI gain. These markedly distinct regimes are enabled by self-steepening (SS) and manifest themselves depending upon the magnitude and sign of the SS parameter. We believe these findings to be most relevant in the context of mid-IR supercontinuum sources.

In this Letter, we present, for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the modulation instability (MI) gain spectrum of waveguides with an arbitrary frequency-dependent nonlinear coefficient ensuring strict energy and photon-number conservation of the parametric process. This is achieved by starting from a linear stability analysis of the recently introduced photon-conserving nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The derived MI gain is shown to predict some unique features, such as a nonzero gain extending beyond a zero-nonlinearity wavelength and a complex structure of the MI gain spectrum. Analytical results are shown to be in excellent agreement with numerical simulations.

Pulse propagation in nonlinear waveguides is most frequently modeled by resorting to the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation (GNLSE). In recent times, exciting new materials with peculiar nonlinear properties, such as negative nonlinear coefficients and a zero-nonlinearity wavelength, have been demonstrated. Unfortunately, the GNLSE may lead to unphysical results in these cases since, in general, it does not preserve the number of photons and, in the presence of a negative nonlinearity, predicts a blue shift due to Raman scattering. In this paper, we put forth a modified GNLSE that can be used to model the propagation in media with an arbitrary, even negative, nonlinear coefficient. This novel photon-conserving GNLSE (pcGNLSE) ensures preservation of the photon number and can be solved by the same tried and trusted numerical algorithms used for the standard GNLSE. Finally, we compare results for soliton dynamics in fibers with different nonlinear coefficients obtained with the pcGNLSE and the GNLSE.

We revisit modulation instability in optical fibers, including all relevant effects, such as higher-order dispersion terms, self-steepening, and the Raman response. Our analysis allows us to calculate the spectral evolution of a small perturbation to a continuous pump, and thus obtain an analytical expression for the small-signal spectral dynamics, showing excellent agreement with numerical simulations. We apply the expression for the spectral evolution to the case of white Gaussian noise and calculate some relevant metrics of the resulting signal, such as its coherence and signal-to-noise ratio. These calculations might shed some light on the nonlinear phenomena of supercontinuum generation.

We propose a novel and simple method for estimating the fractional Raman contribution, fR, based on an analysis of a full model of modulation instability (MI) in waveguides. An analytical expression relating fR to the MI peak gain beyond the cutoff power is explicitly derived, allowing for an accurate estimation of fR from a single measurement of the Raman gain spectrum. Fil: Sánchez, Alfredo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina Fil: Linale, Nicolás Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina Fil: Bonetti, Juan Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina Fil: Hernandez, S. M.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina Fil: Fierens, Pablo Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Brambilla, G.. University of Southampton; Reino Unido Fil: Grosz, Diego Fernando. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

We derive analytical expressions for the coherence in the onset of modulation instability, in excellent agreement with thorough numerical simulations. As usual, we start by a linear perturbation analysis, where broadband noise is added to a continuous wave (CW) pump; then, we investigate the effect of adding a deterministic seed to the CW pump, a case of singular interest as it is commonly encountered in parametric amplification schemes. Results for the dependence of coherence on parameters such as fiber type, pump power, propagated distance, seed signal-to-noise ratio are presented. Finally, we show the importance of including higher-order linear and nonlinear dispersion when dealing with generation in longer wavelength regions (mid IR). We believe these results to be of relevance when applied to the analysis of the coherence properties of supercontinua generated from CW pumps., Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures

The inclusion of self-steepening in the linear stability analysis of modulation instability (MI) leads to a power cutoff above which the MI gain vanishes. Under these conditions, MI in mid-IR waveguides is shown to give rise to the usual double-sideband spectrum, but with Raman-shaped sidelobes. This results from the energy transfer of a continuous-wave laser simultaneously to both Stokes and anti-Stokes bands in pseudo-parametric fashion. As such, the anti-Stokes gain matches completely the Stokes profile over the entire gain bandwidth. This remarkable behavior, not expected from an unexcited medium, is shown not to follow from a conventional four-wave mixing interaction between the pump and the Stokes band. We believe this observation to be of relevance in the area of Raman-based sensors, which, in several instances, rely on monitoring small power variations of the anti-Stokes spectral component.

We developed a scheme for the rapid identification of Mycobacterium species based upon PCR amplification of polymorphic genetic regions with fluorescent primers followed by restriction and analysis by fluorescence capillary electrophoresis. Mycobacterium species were identified by restriction enzyme analysis of a 439-bp segment of the 65-kDa heat shock protein gene (labeled [both strands] at the 5′ end with 4,7,2′,7′-tetrachloro-6-carboxyfluorescein) using Hae III and Bst EII and of a 475-bp hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene (labeled [both strands] at the 5′ end with 6-carboxyfluorescein) using Hae III and Cfo I. Samples were analyzed on an automated fluorescence capillary electrophoresis instrument, and labeled fragments were sized by comparison with an internal standard. DNA templates were prepared with pure cultures of type strains. In all, we analyzed 180 strains, representing 22 Mycobacterium species, and obtained distinctive restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns for 19 species. Three members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex had a common RFLP pattern. A computerized algorithm which eliminates subjectivity from pattern interpretation and which is capable of identifying the species within a sample was developed. The convenience and short preparatory time of this assay make it comparable to conventional methodologies such as high-performance liquid chromatography and hybridization assays for identification of mycobacteria.

Phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1; EC 3.1.4.11) hydrolyzes phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to generate diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and is activated in response to growth factor stimulation and tyrosine phosphorylation. Concomitantly, the enzyme translocates from the cytosol to the particulate cell fraction. A similar process of activation-induced translocation from the cytosol to the cell particulate fraction has also been described for protein kinase C (PKC). We have previously shown that activated PKC binds to specific receptor proteins, receptors for activated C kinase, or RACKs, of approximately 30 kDa. Here, we show that PLC-gamma 1 bound to these RACKs and inhibited subsequent PKC binding to RACKs. However, unlike PKC, the binding of PLC-gamma 1 to RACKs did not require phospholipids and calcium. After epidermal growth factor treatment of intact A-431 cells, the binding of PLC-gamma 1 to RACKs increased as compared with PLC-gamma 1 from control cells. This increase in PLC-gamma 1 binding to RACKs was due to the phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1. Additional data indicated that PLC-gamma 1 binds to RACKs in solution; epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent PLC-gamma 1 phosphorylation and activation decreased in the presence of RACKs. It is possible that, in vivo, PLC-gamma 1 associates with RACKs or with other PLC-gamma 1-specific anchoring proteins in the particulate cell fraction. Since a PKC C2 homologous region is present in PLC-gamma 1, the C2 region may mediate the activation-induced translocation of the enzyme to the cell particulate fraction and the anchoring protein-PLC-gamma 1 complex may be the active translocated form of PLC-gamma 1.

This study investigates the regulation of protein-tyrosine-phosphatase (PTPase; EC 3.1.3.48) activity by epidermal growth factor (EGF). Cytosol from EGF-treated A-431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells was used as a source of PTPase activity, and tyrosine-phosphorylated ErbB2, EGF receptor, phospholipase C-gamma 1, and the Ras GTPase-activating protein were used as substrates to monitor PTPase activity. EGF stimulated PTPase activity that was selective toward these substrates, as it dephosphorylated ErbB2 and the EGF receptor, but not phospholipase C-gamma 1 and the Ras GTPase-activating protein. EGF stimulated PTPase activity in several cell lines, regardless of EGF receptor number, and the activity was localized in the cytosol. The dephosphorylation activity in vitro was dependent on the presence of reducing agents and was inhibited by orthovanadate. Agonists such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, isoproterenol, or ATP were unable to stimulate PTPase activity. Physiological relevance is indicated by experiments showing that EGF treatment of a human mammary cancer cell line rapidly induced the dephosphorylation of ErbB2.

Activation of protein kinase C promotes heterologous desensitization of hepatic adenylate cyclase. The basis for this desensitization was explored by use of a strategy with several independent approaches. Although not influencing the amount of forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity (catalyst), treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) decreased adenylate cyclase activation in response to either sodium fluoride or guanylyl imidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p]. Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation in cholera toxin-treated hepatocytes and both the basal and GTP-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity of membranes from toxin-treated cells displayed a marked reduction in response to PMA. The ability of cholate extracts of hepatocyte membranes to reconstitute beta-adrenergic-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity of membrane of S49 mouse lymphoma cyc- cells was reduced by treatment with PMA. Cholera toxin-catalyzed labeling of Gs alpha-subunits was likewise diminished by phorbol ester treatment. Immunoblots of membranes from control or PMA-treated hepatocytes showed no difference in the amount of Gs alpha. Immunoprecipitation studies failed to detect phosphorylation of this G protein alpha-subunit. The data demonstrate that PMA induces an alteration in the functional status of Gs without altering the amount of this transmembrane signaling element. The alteration in Gs function may play a significant role in heterologous desensitization.

Phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1), an isozyme of the phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C family, which occupies a central role in hormonal signal transduction pathways, is an excellent substrate for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor tyrosine kinase. Epidermal growth factor elicits tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma 1 and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis in various cell lines. The ability of tyrosine phosphorylation to activate the catalytic activity of PLC-gamma 1 was tested. Tyrosine phosphorylation in intact cells or in vitro increased the catalytic activity of PLC-gamma 1. Also, treatment of EGF-activated PLC-gamma 1 with a tyrosine-specific phosphatase substantially decreased the catalytic activity of PLC-gamma 1. These results suggest that the EGF-stimulated formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol in intact cells results, at least in part, from catalytic activation of PLC-gamma 1 through tyrosine phosphorylation.

Activity of H(+)-ATPase of Trypanosoma cruzi (RA strain) submitochondrial particles is increased in parasites which have a low spermine content caused by growing in a polyamine free medium or in a medium containing inhibitors of polyamine synthesis. Under these conditions, the proliferation rate is markedly decreased. Kinetics of the enzyme inhibition by spermine indicates a non-competitive inhibition. Spermine, through its action on the H(+)-ATPase hydrophobic environment, affects the enzyme activity. Together with the ATPase protein inhibitor, this could be a mechanism regulating ATP levels needed for the parasite proliferation.

Growth and polyamine content of epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi were studied in the presence of precursors or inhibitors of putrescine synthesis. Arginine and agmatine turned out to be better precursors than ornithine. alpha-D-difluoromethylarginine, an inhibitor of arginine decarboxylase, inhibited cellular proliferation and decreased putrescine, spermidine and spermine contents while that of cadaverine remained unchanged. These effects were reversed both by agmatine and putrescine. alpha-D-difluoromethylornithine, an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase did not inhibit growth of parasites grown in a polyamine free medium. These results suggest that epimastigotes need polyamines to grow, and that the parasite are able to synthesize them mainly through the arginine decarboxylase pathway.

The actions of hormones which are associated to cAMP-dependent and calcium-dependent mechanisms of signal transduction were studied in hepatocytes obtained from rats with different thyroid states. In cells from euthyroid and hyperthyroid rats, the metabolic actions of epinephrine were mediated mainly through alpha 1-adrenoceptors; beta-adrenoceptors seem to be functionally unimportant. In contrast, both alpha 1- and beta-adrenoceptors mediate the actions of epinephrine in hepatocytes from hypothyroid animals. Phosphatidylinositol labeling was strongly stimulated by epinephrine, vasopressin and angiotensin II in cells from eu-, hyper- or hypothyroid rats. However, metabolic responsiveness to vasopressin and angiotensin II was markedly impaired in the hypothyroid state. The glycogenolytic response to the calcium ionophore A-23187 was also impaired, suggesting that hepatocytes from hypothyroid rats are less sensitive to calcium signalling. The persistence of alpha 1-adrenergic responsiveness in the hypothyroid state suggests that the mechanism of signal transduction for alpha 1-adrenergic amines is not identical to that of the vasopressor peptides. alpha 1-Adrenergic stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation was not detected in cells from hypothyroid rats. These data suggest that factors besides calcium and besides cAMP are probably involved in alpha 1-adrenergic actions. Metabolic responses to glucagon and to the cAMP analogue dibutyryl cAMP were not markedly changed during hypothyroidism, although cAMP accumulation produced by glucagon and beta-adrenergic agonists was enhanced. In hyperthyroidism, cell responsiveness to epinephrine, vasopressin, angiotensin II and glucagon was decreased, but sensitivity to cAMP was not markedly altered. The factors involved in this hyposensitivity to hormones during hyperthyroidism are unclear.

Melittin stimulates glycogenolysis and induces vasoconstriction in perfused rat liver. The effect was rapid and associated with production and release of prostaglandin D2 and thromboxane B2. Indomethacin blocked the release of these eicosanoids and the stimulation of glycogenolysis induced by melittin. Ibuprofen blocked the release of prostaglandin D2 induced by melittin and markedly attenuated that of thromboxane B2. Interestingly, the initial burst of glucose output induced by melittin was not inhibited by ibuprofen, although the duration of the glycogenolytic action of the peptide was greatly diminished.