Insulin-Like Growth Factor II (IGF-II) Is More Potent Than IGF-I in Stimulating Cortisol Secretion from Cultured Bovine Adrenocortical Cells: Interaction with the IGF-I Receptor and IGF-Binding Proteins

Although the stimulating effect of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on adrenal steroidogenesis has been well established, the role of IGF-II in the adult adrenal gland remains unknown. We, therefore, investigated the effect of recombinant human IGF-II on cortisol and cAMP synthesis from adult bovine adrenocortical cells. IGF-II, time and dose dependently, stimulated basal cortisol secretion maximally 3-fold. In combination with ACTH, IGF-II (13 nM) synergistically increased cortisol secretion from 1-fold (10(-8) M ACTH) to 28-fold of untreated control levels. In contrast, IGF-I at equimolar concentrations did not show an effect on basal cortisol secretion, and in combination with ACTH elicited a significant weaker stimulatory effect than IGF-II (22-fold increase). The synergistic effect of IGF-II on ACTH-promoted cortisol secretion was paralleled by accumulation of cAMP in the culture medium. Although both IGF receptors are present in adult bovine adrenocortical cells, the effect of IGF-II seems to be mediated through interaction with the IGF-I receptor, as [Arg54,55]IGF-II, which only binds to the IGF-I receptor, was equipotent to native IGF-II, whereas [Leu27]IGF-II, which preferentially binds to the type II IGF receptor, did not show any effect. By Western ligand blotting, four different molecular forms of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) were identified in conditioned medium of bovine adrenocortical cells with apparent molecular masses of 39-44, 34, 29, and 24 kilodaltons. ACTH treatment increased the abundance of all binding proteins, on the average, 2.3-fold, except for the 29-kDa band, which was predominantly induced 6.8-fold. Additionally, [des1-3]IGF-I, a truncated IGF variant that exhibits only minimal binding to IGFBPs, was significant more potent than IGF-I and elicited the same maximum stimulatory effect on cortisol secretion as IGF-II and [des1-6]IGF-II. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that 1) IGF-II stimulates basal as well as ACTH-induced cortisol secretion from bovine adrenocortical cells more potently than IGF-I; 2) this effect is mediated through interaction of IGF-II with the IGF-I receptor; 3) bovine adrenocortical cells synthesize various IGFBPs that are induced differentially by ACTH; and 4) IGFBPs apparently play a modulatory role in IGF-induced stimulation of adrenal steroidogenesis. Therefore, bovine adult adrenocortical cells provide a useful tissue culture model in which the interactions among locally produced IGFs, IGFBPs, and the IGF-I receptor can be evaluated

Variations of Steroid Hormone Metabolites in Serum and Urine in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome after Nafarelin Stimulation: Evidence for an Altered Corticoid Excretion.

To evaluate the clinical relevance of testing pituitary-ovarian responses in patients suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with the GnRH agonist nafarelin, a 1.2-mg dose of nafarelin was given intranasally to 19 women with PCOS and 15 healthy premenopausal women. The subsequent analysis of steroids in both serum and urine during the test was carried out at several time points for up to 24 h. Serum levels of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone were elevated at all time points of the test in PCOS patients vs. controls [at baseline, 3.5 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.1 nmol/L (P < 0.001); at 24 h, 9.9 +/- 0.9 vs. 4.9 +/- 0.3 nmol/L (P < 0.001)]. Basal levels of androstenedione were higher in the patient group, but there was no significant change during the test in either group. Serum testosterone levels were also found to differ in PCOS patients compared with the control values at baseline (2.2 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.1 nmol/L; P < 0.05) and after nafarelin treatment (at 24 h, 3.2 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.8 +/- 0.2 nmol/L; P < 0.05). Serum estradiol levels rose significantly in both groups during the test; the posttest levels were significantly higher in PCOS than in controls. The PCOS patients displayed a significant increase in androgen and gestagen metabolites as well as in glucocorticoid metabolites excreted in the urine during the 24 h. In the control subjects, except for 17 alpha-hydroxypregnanolone, which rose significantly, none of the urinary steroids investigated showed relevant changes during the nafarelin test. The posttest excretion of allo-tetrahydrocortisol (1.4 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.3 +/- 0.1 mumol/g creatinine; P < 0.001) and the increase in 17 alpha-hydroxypregnanolone excretion (1.4 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.3 +/- 0.1 mumol/g creatinine; P < 0.001) were distinctly higher in PCOS patients than in the controls; the diagnostic sensitivity of the combination of both parameters was 89% at a 93% specificity. Thus, measurements of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone levels in serum and of urinary allo-tetrahydrocortisol and 17 alpha-hydroxypregnanolone after nafarelin treatment make this stimulation test a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying PCOS patients. The significant changes in the excretion of urinary androgen and gestagen metabolites, unmasked by GnRH agonist stimulation, suggest a functional alteration of the pituitary-ovarian axis. The reason for the increased excretion of glucocorticoid metabolites after nafarelin stimulation remains to be clarified

ICDP Oman Drilling Project: varitextured gabbros from the dike–gabbro transition within drill core GT3A

Typical gabbroic rocks from dike–gabbro transitions of fast-spreading systems are the so-called “varitextured gabbros”, often showing considerable variations in mineral mode, texture and grain size, which are regarded as the frozen fillings of axial melt lenses. Here, we present a detailed petrographic, microanalytical and bulk-chemical investigation of 36 mafic rocks from the drill hole GT3A, which represent mostly varitextured gabbros, revealing a complex formation with several evolution stages. Poikilitic domains formed first, corresponding to an early crystallization stage, where only plagioclase and clinopyroxene of more primitive composition crystallized. Later, domains of granular textures containing also interstitial amphibole and Fe–Ti oxide were formed. This stage is characterized by a magma evolution that underwent crystal fractionation established by lower temperatures due to more efficient hydrothermal cooling at the margin of the AML. A last stage is characterized by pervasive hydrothermal alteration, where all primary minerals have been altered under temperature conditions, varying from the magmatic regime down to greenschist facies. A highlight of this stage is amphiboles showing noticeable compositional zoning. The observation of peculiar microgranular domains, representing relics of stoped exogenic material from the sheeted dike complex, documents the upward migration of an AML in a replenishment event, forcing the AML to burn through previously altered sheeted dikes. This process is responsible for significant assimilation of hydrothermally altered components, indicated by a marked Cl enrichment in the outer zones of magmatic amphiboles. Petrological modeling involving gabbros and basalts revealed that the GT3A rock suite followed a fractional crystallization evolution trend, with a primitive MORB as parental melt with an estimated water content of 0.2 wt % to 0.8 wt %. The modeled liquid lines of descent suggest a magmatic evolution via fractional crystallization, where the basalts correspond to frozen liquids, while the gabbros, especially the more primitive ones, show a significant cumulate component

The BKG/IGGB VLBI Analysis Center

In 2012, the activities of the BKG/IGGB VLBI Analysis Center, as in previous years, consisted of routine computations of Earth orientation parameter (EOP) time series and of a number of research topics in geodetic VLBI. The VLBI group at BKG continued its regular submissions of time series of tropospheric parameters and the generation of daily SINEX (Solution INdependent EXchange format) files. Quarterly updated solutions have been computed to produce terrestrial reference frame (TRF) and celestial reference frame (CRF) realizations. Routine computations of the UT1-UTC Intensive observations include all sessions of the Kokee-Wettzell and Tsukuba-Wettzell baselines and the networks Kokee-Svetloe-Wettzell and Ny-degAlesund-Tsukuba-Wettzell. The VLBI group at BKG developed a procedure to get the most probable station positions of Tsukuba after the earthquake on March 11, 2011 for the epochs of the Intensive sessions. The analysis of the Intensive sessions with station Tsukuba could be resumed in February 2012. At IGGB, the emphasis has been placed on individual research topics

Flow of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet on the continental margin of the Bellingshausen Sea at the Last Glacial Maximum

Geophysical data show that during the last glaciation the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) drained to the continental shelf edge of the Bellingshausen Sea through a cross-shelf bathymetric trough (Belgica Trough) as a grounded, fast flowing, ice stream. The drainage basin feeding this ice stream probably encompassed southwestern Palmer Land, parts of southern Alexander Island, and the Bryan Coast of Ellsworth Land, with an area exceeding 200,000 km2. On the inner continental shelf, streamlined bedrock and drumlins mapped by swath bathymetry show that the ice stream was fed by convergent ice flow draining from Eltanin Bay and bays to the east, as well as by ice draining the southern part of the Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet through the Ronne Entrance. The presence of a paleoice stream in Belgica Trough is indicated by megascale glacial lineations formed in soft till and a trough mouth fan on the continental margin. Grounding zone wedges on the inner and midshelf record ice marginal stillstands during deglaciation and imply a staggered pattern of ice sheet retreat. These new data indicate an extensive WAIS at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) on the Bellingshausen Sea continental margin, which advanced to the shelf edge. In conjunction with ice sheet reconstructions from the Antarctic Peninsula and Pine Island Bay, this implies a regionally extensive ice sheet configuration during the LGM along the Antarctic Peninsula, Bellingshausen Sea, and Amundsen Sea margins, with fast flowing ice streams draining the WAIS and Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet to the continental shelf edge

Determination of nutrient salts by automatic methods both in seawater and brackish water: the phosphate blank

9 páginas, 2 tablas, 2 figurasThe main inconvenience in determining nutrients in seawater by automatic methods is simply solved: the preparation of a suitable blank which corrects the effect of the refractive index change on the recorded signal. Two procedures are proposed, one physical (a simple equation to estimate the effect) and the other chemical (removal of the dissolved phosphorus with ferric hydroxide).Support for this work came from CICYT (MAR88-0245 project) and Conselleria de Pesca de la Xunta de GaliciaPeer reviewe

Die Gestaltung des Raumes in den Dramen Ernst Barlachs

The importance of spatial spheres in dramas has only slightly been researched. On the whole this problem has been considered relatively unimportant. Ever since the publication of Lessing’s Laokoon the distinguishing characteristic of a literary work was considered to be the element of “time”, in contradistinction to works of the visual arts (painting and sculpture) where “space” was primary. It will be demonstrated that in Barlach’s plays space assumes considerable importance. Although the dramatic concern is primarily expressed through successive dialogues and monologues, Barlach’s language nevertheless can imaginatively create spatial spheres different from those visible on stage. Both spheres of action, the visible and the invisible, are important for the function of the plot. This thesis tries to demonstrate: First, that there exists a specific dramatic problem as to spatial spheres in the plays of Ernst Barlach; Second, that the spatial spheres can be viewed as self-supporting elements contributing toward the interpretation of a given play; Third, that the interrelationship of the visible to the invisible spatial spheres and the lines of demarcation between them is of utmost importance. As representative of these two spheres in Barlach’s works, I have chosen Der blaue Boll and Der tote Tag. In Der tote Tag the relationship of the visible to the invisible leads to the problem of vision in a single-scene play. Decisive here is not the fact of the unity of place, but the perspective relative to the visible scenes in the total context of the play. In Der blaue Boll the invisible spatial spheres are realized through the stage setting; they project inner events – both visionary and real – of the individual characters. Decisive for the specific assertion of the existence of spatial spheres in a multiple-scene play is the relationship of invisible projected space images to the stage setting as well as the interaction of individual scenes to each other. A brief survey of the other six Barlach-plays shows the same development of the interrelationship of the visible to the invisible spheres; both are important for the interpretation. In the second part of the thesis the relationship of the spatial spheres to the dialogue, the characters, and to time are discussed. It is postulated that the formation of various spatial spheres can express the general ideological foundation and the specific intellectual position in a play. But beyond these assertions the conclusion is reached that the structure of spatial spheres indicates the development of the plot. Through widening, confinement, circular movement, or ascent of the various spatial structures, specific plot movements are made physically visible. Barlach strives for the synthesis of the sterilized realistic spatial sphere with an objective eternal space, between which the human soul appears to be the scene of action subjected to varying changes, yet at the same time remaining in a state of serenity. The final part deals with the specific problem of the production of Barlach’s plays. A synthesis between realism and symbolism, the empirical and the supernatural, has seldom been staged satisfactorily. Yet Barlach’s style combines both in various spatial spheres. In every one of Barlach’s plays the problem of the relationship of the visible-finite to the invisible-infinite, the obvious to the unprecedented, is characteristic. But the infinite can only be experienced by means of the finite. Only through the realistic portrayal of the finite can the invisible be made apparent