Der Androgengehalt des Hodens während der sexuellen Entwicklung beim Schwein

Inhalt: Bei 56 Ebern der Deutschen Landrasse im Alter von 2 Wochen bis zu 20 Wochen sowie bei einem 40 Wochen alten Eber wurde der Testosteron- und Androstendiongehalt im Hoden mit einer gaschromatographischen Methode ermittelt. Erstaunlich hohe Konrentrationen (etwa 1 pg Androgenlg Gewebe) fanden sich bei 2 Wochen alten Tieren. Bis zur 9. Woche fie1 der Androgengehalt kontinuierlich und stark ab, danach kam es xu dem enuarteten Anstieg, der die puberale Phase einleitet. Der weitaus hochste Testosterongehalt wurde bei einem 4 0 Wochen alten Eber bestimmt; Androstendion lag bei diesem Tier dagegen unter der methodischen ErfaJbarkeit. Von der 2. bis rur 6. Woche ging das Verhatnis von Testosteron zu Androstendion von 1,75 auf 0,85 zurkck, in der puberalen Phase schwankte diese GroJe erheblich und bepug im Mittel 10.     

Endokrinologische Untersuchungen der peripartalen Periode und des Puerperiums bei Kaninchen

Div Plasmaprogesteronverlauf zeigte einen signifikanten Abfall in der Konzentrution zwischen den letrten Graviditätstagen (bei WNS = Weβ Neuseeländrr 4 d a. p. = 7,6 ng/ml, 2 d a. p. = 6,0 ng/ml, 1 d a. p. = 3,0 ng/ml) und 2 Stunden post partum (bei WNS 1,3 ng/ml). In der post partum-Periode bewegte sich der Plasmaprogesteronspiegel rwischen 0,5 und 0,9 ng/ml. Die Plusmaöstradiolkonzentration schwankte in der ante partum-Periode bei WNS zwischen 43,8 und 49,6 pg/ml, fiel dann 2 h p. p. signifikant auf 31,4 pg/ml ah, um danuch wieder uuf ante partum-Werte anzusteigen. Das Östradiol—Progesteron- Verhältni.s wur ab 30. Trächtigkeitstag sehr eng und verschob sich post partum zunehmend zugunsten des Östradiols (bei WNS am 29. Trächtigkeitstag = 1: 137, am 30. Trächtigkeitstag = 1: 60, 2 h p. p. = 1: 41, 6 h p. p. = 1: 22, 1–2 d p. p. = 1: 1 7–19, 4–6 d p. p. = 1: 11–12). Das Verhaltnis von 1: 17–191–2 Tage post partum entsprach dem Verhältnis bei nichtträchtigen, ovulationsbereiten nulliparen Häsinnen. Es war festrustellen, daβ Angoras ante partum geringere Östradiolkonzentrationen und auch etwas geringere Progestrronwerte im Plasma aufwiesen als Weiβe Neuseeländer. Dit, Hormonwerte der kurz- und langhaurigen Angoras unterschieden sich nicht .     

Prominent expression of spinocerebellar ataxia type-1 (SCA1) gene encoding ataxin-1 in LH-producing cells, LbetaT2

The LH-producing cell line, LbetaT2, and non LH-producing cell line, alphaT3-1 cells, established from a pituitary tumor, were employed for cDNA subtraction cloning to identify genes with expression unique to LH producing cells. Several cDNAs that code for known as well as for many unidentified clones were discovered. Most clones were the spinocerebellar ataxia type-1 (SCA1) gene encoding ataxin-1, the abnormality of which causes neurodegeneration and loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells. We examined whether the expression of SCA1 gene in LbetaT2 cells is related to hormone production. We also compared the expression of SCA1 with that in various other pituitary tumor derived cell lines, and confirmed the prominent expression of SCA1 in LbetaT2 cells. The effect of gonadal factor(s) for SCA1 gene expression was examined. The expression level in female rats was low and did not change during the estrus cycle, but increased significantly after ovariectomy and did not return to the normal level under low and high doses of estrogen. In the male pituitary SCA1 gene expression increased markedly after castration and was not decreased by estrogen or testosterone. The Ontogeny of SCA1 gene expression was investigated in porcine fetal and postnatal pituitaries and revealed biphasic and sexually dimorphic expression. Transient expression of SCA1 gene was observed at fetal day 50 and 65 in males and day 40 in females, followed by a decline and increased expression before birth in both genders. Thus the expression of SCA1 gene is prominent in LH-producing cells and is not under direct control of gonadal factor(s) in both genders. In addition to the variable expression of SCA1 gene during the fetus period, the present results provide a novel aspect to the understanding of Boucher-Neuhauser syndrome (Ataxia Hypogonadism Choroidal Dystrophy).     

Ultrafast mid-infrared response of YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta)

Optical spectra of high-transition-temperature superconductors in the mid-infrared display a gap of in-plane conductivity whose role for superconductivity remains unresolved. Femtosecond measurements of the mid-infrared reflectivity of YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta) after nonequilibrium optical excitation are used to demonstrate the ultrafast fill-in of this gap and reveal two gap constituents: a picosecond recovery of the superconducting condensate in underdoped and optimally doped material and, in underdoped YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta), an additional subpicosecond component related to pseudogap correlations. The temperature-dependent amplitudes of both contributions correlate with the antiferromagnetic 41-millielectronvolt peak in neutron scattering, supporting the coupling between charges and spin excitations.     

Plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations in the warmblood horse in response to a standardized treadmill exercise test as physiological markers for evaluation of training status

Reliable physiological markers for performance evaluation in sport horses are missing. To determine the diagnostic value of plasma ACTH and cortisol measurements in the warmblood horse, 10 initially 3-yr-old geldings of the Hannovarian breed were either exposed to a training schedule or served as controls. During experimental Phase 1, horses were group-housed, and half of the horses were trained for 20 wk on a high-speed treadmill. During Phase 2, groups were switched and one group was trained for 10 wk as during Phase 1, whereas the control group was confined to boxes. During Phase 3 horses were initially schooled for riding. Thereafter, all horses were regularly schooled for dressage and jumping, and half of the horses received an additional endurance training for 24 wk. During all phases horses were exposed at regular intervals to various standardized treadmill exercise tests. During and after the tests frequent blood samples were taken from an indwelling jugular catheter for determination of ACTH and cortisol. Treadmill exercise increased both hormones. Maximum ACTH concentrations were recorded at the end of exercise, and maximum cortisol levels were recorded 20 to 30 min later. Except for one test there were no differences in ACTH levels between trained horses and controls. There was no significant effect of training on the cortisol response (net increase) to treadmill exercise in any of the tests during Phase 1. During Phase 2 higher cortisol responses were recorded in controls than in trained horses (P < .05) after 10 wk of training (controls confined to boxes). During Phase 3 plasma cortisol responses were also higher in controls than in trained horses (P < .05 after 6, 18, and 24, P < or = .07 after 12 wk of training) when the inclination of the treadmill was 5%, but not at 3%. There was no overlap in net cortisol responses at 30 min between trained and untrained horses. An ACTH application after 24 wk of training resulted in higher cortisol responses in controls than in trained horses (P < or = .05), without any overlap between the groups at 30 min after ACTH. Plasma cortisol responses to either treadmill exercise or ACTH injection may be a reliable physiological marker for performance evaluation. Prerequisites are sufficient differences in training status and sufficient intensity of exercise test conditions.     

Cystic Degeneration in Porcine Ovaries - Second Communication: Concentrations of Progesterone, Estradiol-17β, and Testosterone in Cystic Fluid and Plasma; Interpretation of the Results

Contents: The content of progesterone, estradiol-17β, and testosterone of plasma and cystic fluid was determined in 79 sows with ovarian cysts. The average progesterone concentration of sows with dark corpora lutea (CL) was higher than of sows with pale or absent CL (39.4 vs. 8.7 vs. 8.0 ng/ml plasma; p < 0.001; and 7512 vs. 3644 vs. 2723 ng/ml cystic fluid, respectively; p < 0.001). The cystic fluid of animals with oligocystic ovaries (10 cystslanimal) had a significant higher progesterone concentration in comparison to potycystic animals (7200 vs. 3682 ng/ml; p < 0.001). Testosterone and estradwl-17β levels in plasma and in cystic fluid of polycystic animals were significantly higher in comparison to oligocystic animals (Plasma-Testosterone: p < 0.01; Plasma-Estradwl: p < 0.05; Cyst-Testosterone: p < 0.01; Cyst-Estradiol: p < 0.001). In oligocystic ovaries testosterone in cysts exceeded the estradiol-17β levels, whereas in polycystic ovaries the situation was vice versa (p < 0.001).
It is suggested that cystic ovarian degeneration in the sow is not exclusively a gradually progressing process, rather then a complex syndrome with three components, were characterized by a separate course of development (oligocystic, polycystic. oligo-polycystic syndrome).