SAP Levels Research Articles

Genetic and behavioral studies of female sex appeal in Drosophila.

The sex appeal of a Drosophila melanogaster female is defined here as the stimulus (or set of stimuli) which induces wing vibration in courting males. A quantitative measure of sex appeal is the cumulative duration of wing vibration induced by a given female averaged over several consecutive test intervals using different standardized male testers (sex appeal parameter, SAP). By use of SAP, both males and females are found to have the same amount of sex appeal on the first day after eclosion. However, males rapidly lose it by the next day, so that mature males become distinct from females. We report the ontogeny of the male's response to sex appeal. By the SAP method, we also demonstrate that the male's response is dependent on his previous encounter with females. The sex appeal of 287 gynandromorphs was examined in order to localize the sex appeal focus by means of blastoderm fate mapping. Most mosaic flies were classified as either positive (femalelike, with high SAPs) or negative (malelike, with SAPs of zero). Sixteen percent of the gynandromorphs had intermediate levels of SAP, inducing only short vibrations, a response which males rarely give to normal females. Assuming that the gynanders with such intermediate sex appeal must have both female and male foci, distances to the foci from external landmarks were calculated. The center of the focus seems to be an internal structure mapping to the ventroposterior region of the blastoderm fate map, close to the primordia of the anterior sternites. The focus might include a large mesodermal area, but only part of it must have a female genotype for the sex appeal to be expressed. A possible involvement of the fat bodies in production of the sex appeal stimulus is discussed in relation to these findings. Consistent with this conclusion is the fact that females whose abdomens were amputated still retain enough sex appeal to induce male wing vibrations.

Diurnal Patterns of Transport and Accumulation of Minerals in Fruiting Plants of Lupinus angustifolius L.

Fluctuations in mineral elements id xylem (tracheal) sap, fruit phloem sap, leaflets and dmloping fruits were studied in a field population of Lupinus angustifolius L. by three-hourly sampling over a 39 h period. Elements usually reached maximum contents or concentrations at or near noon, minimum levels during the night. Amplitudes of diurnal fluctuations in minerals lay within the range ±4–33 per cent of the mean content of leaflets, and ±17–157 per cent of the mean concentrations in xylem and phloem sap. Most minerals elements fluctuatcd in phase with daily changes in sugar level of phloem sap and dry matter and carbohydrate fluctuations of leaflets, suggesting a coupling of translocation of photosynthate and minerals from the leaflets. Rates of import of minerals by shoots wereestimated from shoot transpiration and mineral concentrations in tracheal sap. Average day time rates of import of most elements were 12–25 times those at night. Translocation of minerals, nitrogen and carbon to fruits also exhibited diurnal periodicity, average rates of import king three to seven times higher in the day than at night. A model of transport based on the carbon and water economy of the fruit suggested that P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu were imported predominantly by phloem. Estimates of vascular import accounted for 87–104 per cent of the fruit's actual increment of these elements. Na and Ca were gauged to be imported mainly by xylem, Mg almost equally by xylem and phloem. However, large discrepancies existed for these three elements between estimated vascular import and actual intake by the fruit.

Effects of feeding lindane to dogs for periods of up to 2 years

Lindane was administered to male and female Beagle dogs at dietary levels of 25, 50 and 100 ppm for 104 weeks, and of 200 ppm for 32 weeks. One death at 25 ppm and one at 200 ppm were not considered to be related to the test compound. At 100 and 200 ppm, SAP levels were raised and the livers were dark, friable and slightly enlarged but without any detected histopathological change. HVSA changes, possibly indicative of non-specific neuronal irritation, were recorded in the EEG tracings at 200 but not at 100 ppm. There were no other indications of an adverse effect of lindane. The negative findings at 50 ppm are consistent with a ‘no-effect level’ for this species of 1.25 mg/kg body weight, comparable with that for the rat, and with the proposed human ADI of 0.0125 mg/kg body weight.

The relationship of serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations to sex maturity ratings in adolescents.

The relationship of serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations to sex maturity ratings, age sex, and race was studied in healthy prepubertal and adolescent patients. Previous data concerning SAP concentrations in adolescents have been age related and do not give primary consideration to biologic growth during adolescence. The highest mean concentrations for girls occurred at SMR 2 and for boys at SMR 3, coinciding in each instance with peak height velocity and thus correlating with presumed maximum osteoblastic activity during growth. With increasing SMR or age, the SAP levels in both sexes decreased markedly. Black boys had higher SAP concnetrations than white boys at SMRs 2, 3 and 4, whereas black girls had higher values than white girls only at SMR 4. This study demonstrates the value of correlating the enzyme activity with sex maturity ratings rather than with chronologic age.

Effects of Vaccinations with Strain 19 Brucella abortus, Triple Bacterin, or Endotoxins on Serum Alkaline Phosphatase in Dairy Calves

Routine vaccination of dairy heifers for brucellosis, with Strain 19 Brucella abortus, and with triple bacterin for blackleg, malignant edema, and pasteurellosis (shipping fever) is followed by a very large depression in serum alkaline phosphatase activity (SAP). This was serendipitously observed in another experiment and subsequently verified in controlled experiments. The reduction in phosphatase activity was not accompanied by important reductions in feed intake. Phosphatase activity levels were depressed from two to eight days after vaccination and probably to a lesser degree after 11 days. Additional experiments indicated that Strain 19 brucella vaccine from different manufacturers had a comparable effect on depressing phosphatase, but that the diluent for the brucella vaccine and the triple bacterin did not have an important influence. Phosphatase activity in bull calves was affected comparably to that in heifers. Endotoxins in amounts comparable to those in the Strain 19 brucella caused a significant reduction in SAP in one experiment, but not in another. There were considerably different levels of phosphatase activity in calves of comparable age, size, and condition in different herds, and also of individual animals within herds. Within treatments, there were large positive correlations between SAP levels for the same animals in samples obtained prior to vaccination and several days later.

Effect of in vivo administration of various oral hypoglycemic agents on hepatic protein synthesis.

SummaryThe effects of the in vivo injection of two oral hypoglycemic agents (tolbutamide and phenethylbiguanide) upon the in vitro incorporation of leucine-14C into hepatic protein were measured. The acute injection of a large amount of either agent impaired the ability of the animals liver to synthesize protein. This impairment was seen to occur at the level of the cell sap and was not associated with the microsomes. The daily injection of smaller amounts of these compounds resulted in no significant effect on protein metabolism. The data appear to indicate that these agents may, under certain circumstances, have a deleterious effect on the protein balance of the organism.